The thin range of mountains parted as Dalmar's cart edged its way into large green expanse marked by rolling hills and even greener treelines to either side. The tall, yellowed grass swung back and forth in the breeze of the late day as tiny birds raced atop the chaff blowing in the wind. The roadway cut the landscape like a pair of ribbons rising and falling, disappearing and reappearing in time with the fluttering stalks of grass. Dalmar's eyes scanned the distance for signs of life, but fell only on a small group of deer that quickly darted off to the treeline as he approached. The long journey across the top of the low hills seemed like hours, and soon dusk struck the earth as Dalmar's cart reach the edge of a a dense forest. The pathway through the tall trees was well defined, and the years of travel did not diminish from the wide open areas before it that Dalmar had just traveled. The sun eventually crawled down from its throne and bore the moon trickling the silvery light of its scepter through the branches of the tree. The ground lit by the opalescent moon, Dalmar found travel relatively easy.
It was a lonely path, and Dalmar had only his thoughts and the sounds of the forest at night. His cart jostled over roots and broken limbs as he turned to look at the body of Sa'Vahn and his cargo, his eyes running the edge of the hilt that remained upright through Sa'Vahn's shoulder and ribs. Dalmar sighed and yawned. The day had been exhausting, and his body began to feel the strain of his ordeal. He pulled at the reins slowing his horses to a stop in the forest. Hopping down from the cart and stretching mightily, arching his back and extending his arms, he walked around to the back of the cart where the large crates and barrels stood in the bed. He gave the first barrel a hard rap on the top as he split to the wood top of the barrel revealing salted meat and he gave a small smile. His stomach returned to to his mind once again, and his head felt light as the aroma of meat hit his nostrils. Dalmar stuck his hand through the top of the barrel and took out some meat, and stuffed it into his mouth as he ravenously swallowed the meat - barely chewing from his difficult days without sustenance. The water from his jug streamed down his face as he gulped the precious liquid. Within moments, Dalmar's eyes drooped and the fatigue of travel beat on his limb with a mighty hammer of insolence. He walked around to the rear of the cart and lowered the gate in the back. He stared at Sa'Vahn's stiffening corpse and the flies buzzing around its gaping wounds. The pungent odor of death seeped into Dalmar's senses, but he ignored it wrinkling his nose only slightly. Jesting, Dalmar said, "Move over old man, and don't steal the covers" as he crawled into the back of the cart. Within moments, Dalmar was asleep.
As the screech of a hawk in the sky echoed through the forest early the next morning, Dalmar's eyes opened slowly to reveal the light of the sun peering through the trees above him and directly in his gaze. The sounds of horses in the distance quickly alerted him to the presence of travelers upon the road, and he sat up with a flash. His head swiveled around him looking for signs of his discovery, swiftly turning to the surprise of anyone coming upon him and his cart littered with Sa'Vahn's corpse. Dalmar slid off the back of the cart and quickly closed the gate on the back of the cart, and hopped into the driver's seat once again as two horsemen appeared in the distance before him. Directly behind the first armored men followed another three, each wearing a familiar set of silvery armor. Within moments, Dalmar found himself face to face with the armed men, and he smiled and laughed a little at his good fortune. Dalmar clapped his hands and raising them into the air as he dropped his reigns, exclaiming "Glory be to Polias and the fair sight of his men!". The leading horseman stopped in front of the cart with his four other men, each wearing helmets about their face. Removing his helmet, the captain of the men revealed his face. It was the same face of the man he and Sh'lzzt had met coming into Altendon.
"My, you certainly do get around, Zeke, don't you?" the captain said to Dalmar. The captain's eyes eyebrows were lowered at Dalmar as his gaze surveyed the immediate area with that of his men. "But as I recall, you said you were heading north to...Irongard was it? And where's your partner, Lanthis?" The captain moved his horse around Dalmar's cart as he did once before many days before as they entered the lands of Polias and Altendon.
"I've come to bring a message to Polias...." Dalmar said as the captain spied the corpse of Sa'Vahn in the back of the cart.The familiar sound of a drawn sword ringing against its sheath pierced the air as the captain brought his horse around to face Dalmar. Pointing the tip of his blade at Dalmar he motioned for the men to surround the cart.
"And is it a message of death, Zeke? Whose body litters your cart? How did this man die? Speak quickly and true, sir, or I shall surely cleave your head from its shoulders right here!" The captain stared an icy gaze into Dalmar's eyes and Dalmar lowered his own gaze and peered into the back of the cart at the spot of blood covering Sa'Vahn's tattoo.
"No, no message of death, sirs. I bring news of what I expect to be your enemies of which I assure you I am no part. Indeed, as sure as the sky is blue, Lanthis and I entered into Altendon looking to supply ourselves for the journey that laid ahead. But instead, we were attacked. When I awoke from a poison coursing through my veins, I was holed-up in the desert to the southwest of here. I swear it!" Dalmar raised his hands in the air. "I don't know where Lanthis is, captain, sir! There's been no sign of him since that day!" Dalmar added.
"And again, whose corpse is that in there, damnit?! Who did you kill?" the captain shouted accusingly at Dalmar.
"His name is Sa'Vahn. I met him in the cells within which we were held in the desert. There! Wipe the blood on his shoulder clean...you will see! He bears your mark...your Eagle of Illdriss!" Dalmar pointed to the eagle insignia on the armor of the captain.
"You two, do as he says. Let's see this tattoo!" the captain said as he motioned for the two armored men in the rear of the cart to dismount and verify its remains. The cart shimmied as Sa'Vahn's corpse was pulled to the gate and splashed with water. From behind him, Dalmar heard a gasp as he looked for the captain's reaction.
"Aye, captain!" said the guardsman. "It is as he says, the Eagle of Illdriss, mightily stretched across his right shoulder, sir." The captain cut his eyes at Dalmar with an accusing stare once again.
"I did not kill him, I swear!" Dalmar exclaimed.
"Well, Zeke, we shall certainly see. You and your cart will come with us back to Altendon. It is out of my hands now. May Polias have mercy on your soul. Men! We will escort this man and his cart to the keep. Follow closely, Zeke, and do not wander or we will cut you down and throw you in the back of the cart with the other corpse." The captain motioned for the men to remove Dalmar's swords to which Dalmar did not resist. Dalmar was sure that once his story was told in full that things would be set right. Surely, right? Dalmar snapped the reigns against the horses drawing the cart and followed the captain and his men through the forest back tot he edge of Altendon where the trees parted and he saw the familiar path leading to the town. Entering the clearing on the hill from the west, Dalmar slowly followed the men of Polias through the front of the walled city to the front of the keep. Once in the shadows of eagles again, Dalmar was lead off his cart and through the large stockade of iron and stone. It was there that Dalmar's cart and the body of his friend were last seen by him as the eyes of the onlookers pierced his soul, digging deep into his consciousness. Despite his momentary feelings of shame, Dalmar did not struggle, he did not shout, he did not resist. He was lead through the halls of the keep, down dark staircases to the depths buried deep within the earth. The sounds of the castle eventually disappeared behind him as a thick door of black wood with iron banding creaked open and he was pushed inside. As the door swung shut and latched, he turned and looked through the slit in the top, meeting the eyes of his only companions disguised as the guards of Polias. He lowered his eyebrows as their gazes through the slit disappeared and the sounds of their footsteps pacing the hallway echoed into the cell. Dalmar gripped his bars within the slit, and then turned to meet his his new home of the moment.
Dalmar knew the door would be no match for him should he decide, but he kept faith that his wait wouldn't be too long. The long outcropping of cut stone in the corner served little comfort as he sat upon its surface and leaned against the wall. The odor of dried hay hung in the dusty air, and the light beaming in from the bars on the window to roof were highlighted by the tiny particles excited by the warmth of the sun above. He sighed, bored and anticipating both fortune and misfortune equally. He kept faith, however, trying to remember verses from his hometown of Wahskre to pass the time. But at no time during the day did anyone come to his door except to slide a small, hand-sized bucket of water and bread underneath his door through a slit that nearly matched the one at the top of the door. The stone walls were cold and uncaring to his restless mind, and did not partake in his attempts to rid his mind of careless thoughts and boredom. The etchings of the cell's previous tenants stared down at Dalmar like the ghosts of men forgotten by time, and he wondered if that would be his fate. Once again, though, he summoned his faith and shrugged the despair that crept in upon him off his back like a bundle of straw. He smiled slightly as he reassured himself, and then without warning, he fell asleep against the wall.
Invino Veritas
11/26/11
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