EA#31:
Read From the Beginning or the start of Trial Two or Three or Four or Five
The Mountain in the Clouds, Part Thirty-Four
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“You’re a worthless piece of shit, you know that?”
Zel continued to badger me, even as we walked towards Holderstown.
“You are pathetic,” she went on. “Your behavior has been nothing but despicable, poor, base and mean. You left me and the children. You ruined our family. You and that whore. If I even had an inkling of love left for you, I’d have forgiven you by now. But I can never forgive you for tearing out my heart. And I’ll never understand why you left me. I loved you so much when we were together. I gave you everything. What happened to you to make you so cruel, foolish, selfish and small? You arrogant, self-serving asshole.”
The gang of outlaws continued their path into the market district. There was a hubbub of activity as all sorts of unsavory folks criss-crossed paths. Vendor stalls lined the streets with stolen goods of all manner, from blades and armor to crafting materials, fine jewelry to gems. There was one stall that had jars of some unknown objects floating in thick liquid, and I could only imagine what was in them. Another man had firecrafts and smoke bombs, another lockpicks and thieving gear, and on and on. It was a criminal’s heaven.
Zel could not stop her rant as we walked. “You pompous, heartless, pig. You show no remorse. You don’t even care. You didn’t even care that you left your children crying, lost and scared without their father. You just put your own selfish interests ahead of everyone else, me, even the kids. You disgust me. You miserable wretch. You deserve to be punished. You deserve recrimination. And what did you get? You got to go off and live your life. I don’t even know where you went, what you did, you never told me. But you never came back to check on me, your children. You’re worthless. Your worse than shit. You can rot in hell. I hate you!”
For some reason, despite all her terrible words, I felt like saying only this, “I never hated you…”
But whatever my intentions may have been, conscious or unconscious, it was too late. Something had already happened. An energy had been unleashed. A change occurred in the landscape.
There was a terrible cracking noise, the loudest thunder, that echoed from far away. The earth shook, the sky darkened, and a strong wind picked up. The ground below seemed to dry and harden and plants began to wither. Cries of alarm lifted throughout Holderstown.
“Boss?” one of the outlaws said, as if curious whether they would go forward.
“By the gods, what is this?!” cursed the blacksmith. “Ok, we are still doing this. Follow the plan. Whatever this is, it may be a blessing in disguise. Add some chaos that could really help us. Eyes open, find what you need, and let’s get out of here. Quickly now!”
Zel looked at me, eyes wide, and said, “What did you do?”
I furrowed my brows and said, “Do?” and looked around in puzzlement with my hands raised.
“You said something and this happened… Are you not who you seem to be? Are you the Magi you spoke of? Is this some cruel test of me?” Zel blathered on.
“What in the gods’ names are you talking about?” I asked her. “Have you gone mad?”
The wind grew stronger, pushing people and knocking over awnings and wares across the market. Everyone began to panic and hurry about in every direction.
“Go!” shouted the outlaw leader, and the team spread out. Zel looked confused, but then seemed to decide on something she wanted.
The blacksmith had a strong hand on my arm and held me fast. He didn’t move, but he looked around and watched the multitudes swarming around us. With the dark sky and the wind and the movement of so many bodies, us at the center, I began to feel like we were in the heart of some storm. Like there was some maelstrom all around us, and it seemed imminent that it might swallow us up.
Seconds felt like minutes, and a minute like an hour. I had this otherworldly sensation of time itself slowing down and of myself watching those around me move as if in half speed. Meanwhile, the ominous skies kept rolling towards us like a plague. Deep black clouds rumbled and now began to flash with lightning.
Whatever it was, it was big, and it was headed right this way.
“Hurry!” shouted the blacksmith, as if he could be heard over the din of confusion and wind in that crowded and panicked market square. We spun around, again and again, and every time we did the blacksmith’s eyes peered intently at the crowd, seeking his own people.
Then I noticed him start to nod, first this way, than that. At last he seemed satisfied, put goggles over his eyes, and lifted his free hand overhead. He held it there for several breaths, poised himself, and then released it to the ground with such a thrust that it about lifted the man off his feet in the effort.
Immediately I was aware of the thick, grey smoke in my eyes and lungs. I couldn’t see. I coughed. I sputtered. The blacksmith, stilling dragging me along, began to run out of the square. There were shouts of alarm, different than those before that had been in response to the storm. These shouts sounded authoritative, demanding. But I couldn’t make out any words as my head reeled and my body hurt from the hot smoke.
The smoke bombs of the blacksmith had done the trick, alright. The whole band of outlaws had escaped the market and found each other in the streets of Holderstown, one after the other, dashing back the way they’d come. As the smoke began to clear from my eyes, I squinted to see where I was being dragged. I saw great big grins spread over each of the outlaws’ faces in their sureness of their success. They had all gotten away with their stolen items in their arms. And they were well on their way to getting out of Holderstown without hassle.
“Stop!” yelled a voice from behind them. I turned to see a group of guards running after us with swords and spears at the ready.
We kept running. Me, I had no choice. I was being dragged. Some of the outlaws knocked over carts and other obstacles to block the path of their pursuers. Others of the gang threw daggers and darts. But it did little except to annoy the guards behind us.
Then the sound of clanking metal and heavy boots from the alley ahead of us caught my attention. Another group of guards stepped out directly in our path, one of them saying, “You’ve got nowhere to run!”
We were surrounded, penned in. I was trapped within a trap. A prisoner of a criminal gang who were soon to be prisoners to these angry guardsmen.
“What do we do, boss?” asked one of the outlaws.
“Don’t worry,” the man holding me captive said. “I was ready for this one.”
The blacksmith reached for something hung on his belt that I hadn’t paid attention to before. It was a long, hollowed-out horn, like from a bull. He lifted it to his lips and blew. One loud bellow of earthy horn note that echoed across Holderstown and out into the desert beyond.
“Calling the cavalry, Evenhand?” said one of the guards.
“How do you know me?” the blacksmith asked. “How do you know that name?”
“Oh, I know you. And I know what you’ve done,” the guard replied. “Did you really think you could sneak in here without us knowing? And get away with whatever you want? You really are a fool. You were always much better with the forge than with thievery. Leave the real crime to us professionals.”
“Who are you?” my captor, called Evenhand, asked.
“I know who he is, I recognized him,” one of the outlaws spoke up. “I can tell by that scar across his eye. It’s Leatherman.”
“Leatherman?” said Evenhand with some knowing. “Aren’t you the one who broke into the T’hor vault and escaped?”
“I’ve done more than that,” said Leatherman proudly. “But now, I’m pleased to have caught you. Finally, the famous Evenhand…”
“Abe, what’s this name he called you… Evenhand?” Zel inquired suddenly.
The blacksmith looked at her, “It’s a long story, Zel. Not the time for it.”
“I’ll tell you,” Leatherman goaded him. “Evenhand was renowned for his fine weapons and he sold them on the black market to criminals of all kinds. Best lockpicks in Paelstor, too, I’ve used some. His downfall was when he armed the slave rebellion in Kanubien province. Raised a lot of hell and landed him in a Kanu work prison for life. But that was no problem for him, because no prison could hold this man. Not with my help in escaping anyways. Now I see that was a big mistake on my part.”
“But I’ve never met you,” Evenhand said.
“You didn’t need to. But did you ever wonder who got the key and slipped it into your cell?” Leatherman cackled. “And now, to find you stealing from me? The man I used to look up to…”
“Enough talk!” Zel intervened, to the surprise of everyone. “This old story bores me. You let us go, or Abe and his gang will pound you into rubble. Believe me, I’ve seen it done.”
“Zel!” Evenhand, whom she called Abe, cautioned her. “There’s no need for fighting words,” he finished with a wink.
“What’s that?” Leatherman said with ridicule in his voice. “A wink? You think I can’t see you do that? What the hell do you have to wink about?”
There was no need for anyone to answer, as it revealed itself fast enough on its own. Even over the thunder of the oncoming storm, the enormous footfalls were unmistakable. And after a half dozen frighteningly quick stomps, the giant was standing right above us: Evenhand and his gang of outlaws, me, Zel, the Holdestown guards and all.
“My cavalry,” Evenhand said with a smile.
Leatherman looked more annoyed and angry than scared, but the guards went white and witless and began to run. Zel stood there, mouth agape. The other outlaws did not seem as surprised as they were relieved.
As for me, I was actually pleased for the first time since I had arrived in this trial.
“Gumpel?” I said, smiling up at my friend.
“Magi Man!” the giant beamed down at me.
“Wait, you two know each other?” Zel said, incredulous.
“We go way back,” I answered. “One of those amazing friends I’ve made since leaving you. The best things have happened since then.” And now I winked.
“Damn you!” Zel cursed again, foaming with such rage that her hate was almost palpable.
And that’s when the storm broke loose. But instead of coming from the sky, the waters rushed in across the town itself, up from the ground in a rushing wave. We were all caught up, tossed about, and carried off in the massive flash flood.
Holderstown was completely submerged and all who had partaken in the day’s events were swallowed up in deep, dark water.
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Thanks so much for reading.
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Blessings to you,
Matthew