We seek, we fight, we die. We are simple men. Nothing more, nothing less. Some people think we’re heroes, saviors, and others think we’re demons and destroyers. But frankly, we don’t care. We don’t care about what the law has to say, let them hunt and let them starve, and certainly we don’t care what the civvies think.
We will do what we always do. Do what we have to do.
But I’m not your hero, I’m not your savior, and don’t go looking for me when everything is all said and done.
Understand that, boy?
And the boy nods, scared to say anything. His eyes tell me he wants to spit in my face and hit me. It was him or his mom and I hope he understands some day. His shaking head, his shaking body tell me that he wants to run away, to be far away from here. To grieve. To scream at the gods from the edge of the world. And maybe, if he really lost it, he would give himself to the ocean.
I hear whimpering and it’s not from him, but from a kardyu, a beast. In the boy’s eyes, there’s a glimpse of hope. Maybe the kardyu belongs to him. So I follow the noise. And lo and behold, underneath a toppled wooden garden wall, there is a geesh.
A special one at that, as this geesh has two white spots over its eyes, acting as its eyebrows. Supposedly, these dogs have the greatest psychic abilities, they’re empaths that understand humans to well… a human-level. Still they can’t speak as if they’re a genuine psychic.
I lift the wall and the geesh is able to crawl out. And right on cue, it rushes to the boy. It licks his face a few times and then immediately, it whirls around at me. The geesh is the protector, but the boy is not the master. It barks once but it doesn’t growl or bare its fangs, then it stares. It’s telling me that I can’t come any closer, but it won’t do anything if I stay or turn my back and walk away. Maybe it wants an explanation. I’m inclined to believe a four-eye would understand to some degree. Not full, word by word understanding, of course.
Listen boy. What happened here, the carnage, the destruction, it wasn’t us. It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t your parent’s fault. We came riding, chasing a storm created by dinehs, the raging thunderous wolves you might’ve saw, and their masters. They want death and they want gold. Death because that is how the dinehs retain their power. We were too late. We did what we could, but it was too late for you, for your village. I’m sorry.
You don’t need to come with us, but if you do, you got a long road ahead of you before we get anywhere safe. And you’d have to work. The geesh can come with. Your choice.
Can we bury them first?
Yeah, yeah we can.
And that is we do. It takes a few days. It could’ve took a day if we all we did was bury the villagers, but that’s not us. We performed the ceremonies required to prevent this village from becoming haunted and infested with dark energy. And we had to burn the bodies of the ravagers and their dinehs, perform ceremonies for them as well. It’s not because we respect them, it’s because if we didn’t do the rites, their evil would linger in the world. They’d look for hosts so one day they could get their revenge.
But the boy didn’t come with us. He stayed with the survivors. His extended family. If he was a few years older, likely he would’ve come with us. When we come across teen boys, they want to be with us, they want to learn, they want the adventure and the gold, the honor and the glory. They want to be someone. And some just want the women.
When we leavin?
I change my gaze from the blaze that is consuming the bodies to the man in the scorched and scratched up long mahogany leather coat. A strong and tall, bald man with a chestnut beard and intense blue eyes. He was known as Achi.
At dawn. Need a good sleep.
Sounds about right.
And at dawn, we mount our ahauths and ride south, a different way then the path of our chase. This way is smoother. A gradual, zig-zagging descent through the hills. A few of our men fly on the back of their faldors to prepare the ship for another voyage. I envy them as they get to enjoy a better view of the changing foliage and also the sea on the horizon.
By noon, we arrive at the beach. And there, the crew had prepared lunch for us. Roasted fish and nuts. Not bad at all. Everyone seems to be in high spirits. The client made good on his promise. His crew transfers crates of gold, ammo, sugar, and beer onto the ship.
After finishing his drink and throwing the bottle off to the side, the client speaks to me. They say revenge is never worth it, but… this. I don’t know how to describe it. It’s as if I woke up from a deep slumber and refreshed for a new day and a new life. They can rest now, I hope. But thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
I’m glad. We do what we can.
Where are you off to now, if I may ask?
Don’t know. Wherever the winds takes us. I’m sure the men and the kardyus need a bit rest. Maybe Solton.
Solton? Huh. Haven’t been there in a while.
Me neither. Figured it be best for the crew.
Yeah. It’s a good time there. And well, if I ever need your services again, I’ll let you know. Pleasure doing business with you.
Yeah, you too.
And with that, he mounts his stahkstra and flies back to his ship.
Achi comes over to me after he leaves.
So. To Solton?
To Solton.