Call of Descent
Chapter Twelve

Whenthey left the valley Reniko watched for Penumbra’s family, but with hisdecision made his family had accepted and left, going to a place that Renikohoped was safe from the murderous Rük.

Shefound out soon enough that the mental speech did not work both ways. Penumbrawas unable to hear Reniko’s thoughts, only able to transmit specific thoughtsto whomever he chose. It was an interesting compensation for being unable toform human speech with his vocal cords. The whole process fascinated Reniko andalong with that fascination came the wish to harbour the same ability. If notto use, then at least understand how it worked. Unable to do this, she probedPenumbra for answers. He, however, was not one for small talk and left most ifnot all of Reniko’s questions unanswered.

“Youcould at least tell me where your family has gone,” she said as Penumbranavigated the path before him.

I almost regret that I spoke to you, Penumbrasaid, leaping over a large root that crossed his path. Reniko stepped over itas well and hastened to catch up with the stallion.

“I’msorry, it’s just that everything here is so new, and, well, I’ve never met atalking horse before.”

Unicorn. And mind speech is differentthan your speech, which is open to the world. You would do well to guard yourtongue.

“Areyou trying to avoid my question or just mad that I called you a horse? I didn’tmean it as a bad thing. You do look like a horse.”

Horses have lesser minds.

“I’llkeep that in mind and I apologize.”

They went to join the rest of the herd.They plan on leaving Sortaia. I was against it. I thought that they shouldn’tlet the Rük drive us from our own home without a fight, but I was in theminority.

Renikonodded her head. “They plague everything on this planet, don’t they? Why werethe others against fighting for their home?”

They don’t want the Rük to start huntingus as they hunt the Teoko. If we run them out now, there will just be more tocome. I feel we should do something. My mate Scintilla was the only one thatagreed.

“Butfighting might not be the way. Is that why you came with me?”

Will you ride me yet?Penumbra asked stopping his stride and swinging his head to face Reniko. Renikostopped and fiddled with the straps of her backpack.

“Iknow it seems odd to you that I chose not to ride, it just didn’t seem rightfor me to be riding a creature such as yourself.”

I would be honored if you did. You savedmy life whether you want to admit it or not and for that I wish to help you onyour journey. The best way I can do that is to give you my speed. You do not come from a swift species.

Renikothought about his statement for a moment and finally spoke. “All right, but ifI become an encumbrance to you don’t hesitate to make me walk. I don’t mind,you know.” Reniko pulled herself onto Penumbra’s bare back and settled in.

You really are quite light. There willbe no worries about me tiring.

“Gladto hear that, and thanks again. It’s nice to have a companion again, evenbetter to have one that I can talk with.”

Where are we headed anyway?

“I’mheaded to Rownie, on my way to the ancient city Reflaydun.”

I have a feeling I found myself entwinedin a very interesting story. Care to appease my curiosity?

“Ithought you didn’t like me talking so much,” Reniko countered.

Penumbrawhinnied, I don’t mind conversations.It’s all the questions that send my head spinning.

“Wherewould we all be if we didn’t question things?”

True enough, but some things I have inmy head you are not ready for. All in due time, for now I would like to knowyour story.

“Iwill oblige,” Reniko said smiling as Penumbra carried them through the foresttoward Rownie.

Malikhated this, glancing over his shoulder afraid that each step he was taking wastaking him closer to his death. He had a sudden wish that Orric was nearby, andregretted the fact that they had parted. He stepped quickly into hisdestination, a small trading post, and closed the door behind him, letting outa quick sigh of relief as he did so. The owner of the shop looked at Malikquizzically. Malik just nodded in greeting and made his way over to thecounter.

“Nottoo many outsiders are coming into town these days. Not with so many Rük roamingthe streets. What brings you to my small shop my friend?” the shopkeeper saidas he saw Malik relax.

“Justneed to refresh some of my supplies before I head out again,” Malik said as hejoined the shopkeeper at the counter.

“Whatdo you need?”

“A newwater canteen for starters, I wore through my last one.”

“Musthave been traveling for some time for that to happen.”

“Fiveyears.”

“Youmust have a least a small idea of why the Rük activity has stepped up in allthe occupied villages. Any word? I heard that someone has been causing troublefor the Rük,” the shopkeeper glanced around the store and out the window beforecontinuing on. “I sure hope what I heard was right. They say a human killedsome Rük and got away from them without a scratch. If that’s the case I hope hecauses more damage to them before they catch him, alleviate some of theoppression—maybe even get rid of them all together, though that’s wishfulthinking.” He stopped when he saw the look on Malik’s face. “You’re not fond ofthe Rük, are you?”

Malikshook his head, still staring intently out the window.

“Thenwhat is it? You look as if you were staring at the Goddess herself.”

“Notquite, but close enough. It’s your Rük slayer, and she’s about to cause a lotmore trouble for herself. And me, I might add,” Malik mumbled as he headed forthe doorway.

“Whatabout your supplies?” the shopkeeper asked as Malik pushed open the door.

“I’llbe back if I don’t get myself killed.”

Renikohad arrived at Rownie fourteen days after meeting Penumbra. They had bothagreed it would be better if Penumbra stayed out of sight since a human ridinga unicorn would have grabbed too much attention. However, it would have beenbetter attention than what she was getting now.

Themoment she stepped into the streets of Rownie she was tense; Rük wereeverywhere. Only those humans that were loyal to the Rük were roaming thestreets and even then, none of them carried a weapon of any kind. Reniko haddecided upon seeing this that concealing Imako would be a good idea and so shehad secured the sword to the small of her back and covered it with both hercloak and back pack. As she got deeper into the city she noticed some smallerchildren hiding in the shadows attempting to avoid the gaze of the hulking Rükthat dominated the streets.

Achild of about twelve attempted to leave her hiding spot and cross the streetwhen one of the Rük, of a deep forest green, caught the movement and graspedher as she went by him. His hand completely engulfed the girl’s neck and helifted her off the ground to meet his face.

“Aren’tyou a pretty thing,” he sneered at the young girl as she clawed at his hands,trying to release his grip so she could breathe again.

Renikotensed and began to reach for her sword, her anger growing as each step carriedher closer to the malicious scene.

“Don’t!”she heard a voice whisper in her ear. With an immense force Malik grabbedReniko’s arm and pulled her into the shadows of a nearby alley.

WhenReniko finally pulled free and turned to her captor her face was contorted withsurprise. “You!” she spat, even angrier than she had been with the namelessRük.

“Wellit’s good to hear that you learned something at Savonly, even if it wasn’tdiscretion. Were you trying to get yourself killed?”

“Iwas trying to save that little girls life.”

“She’llbe fine. They do it all the time. They like to assert their control over us.”Malik said at the same moment the small child ran by the alley tears streamingdown her face. “You would do well to learn to pick your fights.”

“Whoare you to tell me what I should and should not do? You just left me there,stranded!”

Maliklooked taken back. “I was trying to protect you.”

“Youwere the only person I even sort of knew in this world and you just handed meover to a bunch of strangers and abandoned me. Don’t ever touch me again,” shesaid hot with anger.

“Ididn’t abandon you! Orric and I were trying to clean up your mess! You killedthree Rük. Do you understand the consequences of your actions?”

“Iwas trying to preserve my own life, that’s all.”

“Welleven if you were only trying to save your own skin, you pissed off the peoplewho rule this world. The Rük have all the power, so you’ve made yourself themost wanted person in existence. I was trying to make sure they didn’t replace outwho had done it. I have been protecting you. I went back to Cabitora after Ileft you. I had to make sure no one talked, that no one told the Rük that agirl fell from the sky and killed three of their soldiers. I had to make surethat the Rük didn’t replace out you existed. Not only to protect you, but becauseonce they know someone from Terra has arrived on Vespen, you’ll be in moredanger than even I can imagine.” Malik stopped as a shadow fell over the alley.When it had passed Reniko looked deflated.

“Ishould have let them kill me. I’m sorry I put you in this position Malik,”Reniko whispered as she slumped down on a rotting wooden crate.

“It’snot your fault. You didn’t ask to come to Vespen, and you sure as hell didn’task for the Rük to be the ones to discover your existence.”

“Howdo you know so much about Terra, and about me?”

“Idon’t know a lot about either, actually. I just know that we had trade routeswith a planet called Terra a very long time ago and that you came from there.”

“Youwere right and we call it Earth now.”

“Aboutwhat?”

“Aboutme not wanting to come to Vespen. I fell into this strange pool of light andthe next thing I know I’m waking up with my hands bound in the custody of thosemonsters.”

“Wheredid you learn to fight? Do you have so many enemies on Earth that you have tobe so skilled?"

“No,no enemies. I guess we consider sword fighting a sport. It’s not like it ishere, where you live or die depending on how skilled you are. A man namedDertrik taught me. I’m trying to get back to him and Earth.”

“That’swhy you left Savonly?”

“Yes.I discovered an ancient map that shows the location to one of the Levanithcities. I’m on my way there.”

“Comeon, I’ll take you back to the Inn. We’ll be safer talking there than we are inthis alleyway.”

Renikonodded and followed Malik back onto the bustling street.

Kruokhad concealed herself in the shadows on a rooftop and had watched the humanmale pull the human female into the alley. She had listened to their whisperedconversation, smiling. It was a shame for the two below her that they had notreturned to the inn sooner, for the information she had gleaned from theirconversation was definitely going to cause them both a lot more trouble. Shehad been prepared before this exchange to kill the human male as soon as hestepped through the door of the shop, however, the human female’s movements hadcaught her attention. She was glad she had waited.

Kruokpulled out the round orb her lord had given her and activated it. A pale greenglow emanated from it and soon formed the face of her Lord Orborok.

“MyLord Orborok, I have some information that may be of some consequence to mymission.”

“Speak,”Orborok said, irritated. Kruok was well aware that he was annoyed with herprogress in this mission. It should not have taken her this long to locate anddestroy the Rük slayer, but the pesky male, Malik, had been in the ongoingpresence of a Teoko and tracking them had been quite trying.

“I’vefound out that we have a new target. The human male was not the one that slewour kin, it was a human female.”

“Killthem both,” Orborok said.

“Ithink it would be wise of me to add that this girl was the cause of the bluelight in the sky near Cralay. She’s come from Terra, Milord.”

Orborokpaused, a sneer forming on his lips. “I must speak with Lord Trokar. Keep aneye on them, but do not proceed until you hear from me.”

“Yes,Milord.”

“Thisis very interesting news indeed Kruok, I am pleased with your services. Youwill be well rewarded.”

“Thank-you,Milord.” The image faded, the glow slowly dispersed, and Kruok was left tofollow the humans back to the inn.

“Whereis Orric?” Reniko asked as she stripped off her backpack and cloak.

Malikcast his gaze on Imako which was still securely strapped to Reniko’s back, heldthere by the same yellow silk that Milla had provided as a belt to carry Imakoby her side.

“Wheredid you get that sword?” Malik asked reaching to touch the elegant but deadlyweapon.

Renikoturned her head and looked at Imako, and reminded that it was there, unfastenedit from her back and held it respectfully in her hands.

“ThePriestess Milla gave it to me when I left Savonly.”

“Shemust see something great in you. You hold the sword Imako.”

“Youknow of this sword?”

“Itis said that the Levanith made it as a gift for the goddess Shyla. It was shewho was to wield that sword; the priestess class of Savonly was to keep it safeuntil her return. They must believe that you are going to meet the Goddesssometime in the future.”

Renikolooked down at the sword in her hands, now feeling the full weight she carried.“Why on earth would Milla think that? She knows that I’m just trying to gethome. Why would she think that?”

“Whatwas your ribbon reading?”

Renikolooked at Malik. “Don’t tell me you believe in all that.”

“No,actually I don’t, but it might explain Milla’s actions.”

“Itdoesn’t matter why Milla did it, it’s done isn’t it. I’ll make sure Penumbrareturns it to her when I leave Vespen.”

“Penumbra?”Malik asked as he too stripped off his cloak.

“My travelingcompanion.”

“FromSavonly? Why did she not come into town with you?”

“Heand because it would have looked strange.”

Maliklooked quizzically at Reniko.

“He’sa unicorn. I met him in the Sortaia forest. I saved him from being slaughteredby a couple of Rük.”

“Whichyou killed no doubt.”

“Ihad no choice. I’m not the murderer you think I am.”

“Idon’t think you are. You’re just brash. I was awake that night in Cabitora youknow.”

Renikowithdrew into herself, hugging her arms to her chest. “I didn’t know.”

“Everyonegets confused. No one has done what you are doing Reniko, and there are a lotof people out there that support you. I’m one of them. I just don’t want to seeyou get killed before you can do more good.”

“I’mnot doing anything! I’m just trying to get home. I’m not trying to causetrouble for anyone or save anyone or be anyone’s hope. I just want to go home!Why does everyone think I’ve come here with the intention of saving?”

“Hope?”

“It’snothing, forget I said it.”

“Millasaid that didn’t she? It’s why she gave you Imako.”

“Regardlessof what everyone thinks, I’m going back to Earth the first chance I get.”

“Inthe meantime you are saving people.”

“Ibelieve in doing the right thing, that’s all. Can we drop this subject,please?”

“Yes,of course.”

Renikoslumped onto the bed and began staring out the window into the street below.

“Didyou say your companion was a unicorn?” Malik asked suddenly. Reniko burst intolaughter wiping away the tears that had come unbidden to her eyes.

“Yes,as a matter of fact I did.”

Kruokwatched the window of the room. She could no longer hear what the two humanswere saying but whatever it was no longer mattered. She jumped slightly as thecommunication orb let out a low hum. When she brought it to her face, Orborokhung suspended above it.

“Trokarhas instructed me to bring in the girl. She will pay for what she has done toour kin, but first she has information that may be important to us. The boy isto be killed.”

“Iunderstand.”