Leaving Paradise by Christopher Pastrana (new ebook reader .TXT) 📕

            “The Great War? Do you mean the War of Greed?”

            “I didn't think people still called it that. You must be from the southern part of the country. Word doesn't spread to quickly down there and they lag behind in tradition a bit. The empire before Master Joer took over decided that calling what the Icileans did during the Great War was wrong. They believed their actions were not wrong, go figure. That was fifty years ago I think.” Everything felt like it was spinning out of control now. How long had he been unconscious?

            “How long has the Great War been over?”

            “There are debates about the date the war actually ended, but it is known that it ended roughly around the time Nivged fell. That would have been about three hundred years ago.” Reinhardt’s heart felt like it skipped a beat.

            “I didn't think it had been that long ago. What happened after Nivged fell?”

            “Do you not have scholars where you’re from? This is all traditional history.”

            “No, I grew up on a farm. We never had any traditional schooling available to us.” At least Reinhardt didn't have to lie about this fact.

            “Well after the fall of Nivged they built the Temple of Six. This was a gesture of good faith between all of the world powers at that time. Scholarly books tell us that the world was at piece for a short period of time following this event, but that didn't last. Icilee fell into the hands of a new Master after Joer was assassinated. The Joer who rose to power is a direct descendant of that man, though he changed his real name to help build a following of loyalists.”

            Reinhardt thought everything over for a few minutes. Between the fall of Nivged and his awakening in the wagon almost three hundred years had passed. How could that have been possible? He had so many questions that needed to be answered, but asking to many would raise suspicion.

            “It’s funny that you brought this up actually,” Isolde chuckled to himself before continuing, “The Temple of Six collapsed only a month ago. People are claiming that it was a structural problem, but nobody really knows.” The old man in the caravan said that he found Reinhardt in Duzee at about the same time. Had he somehow been involved in the collapse of the temple?

            “Thank you for the lesson Isolde. It’s odd that nobody ever explains things like this to the common people.”

            “My house has been preparing a caravan of scholars and teachers for just that purpose! You are the perfect example of the people we are trying to help. Soon we will have enough books, scrolls, and workers to bring education to the southern section of the expanse.” Reinhardt admired the man’s enthusiasm, and his love to help people, that was a rare trait.

            A large stone structure began cresting the ridge of the road they were traveling on. The large structure grew slowly with every step, towering over their heads. This was most likely the local security tower for this stretch of road and it told them that they were within a day’s march of Ela Meda.

            As they approached the road split into a large network of trails and roads alike, all heading to different section of the empire. The one road that led into Icilee from Duzee had to reach this point before it split into hundreds of possible paths. Though it seemed like a strange process, this would prevent anyone who was traveling by road from getting into the country without crossing this checkpoint. It always seemed strange to him that they had to travel for weeks on one stretch of road till they could resupply. The first few hundred miles within Icilee were used as a buffer against invading armies, limiting civilian casualties if an assault into the country occurred.

            Even with the limited light of morning Reinhardt could tell the stone blocks of the tower were stained from being in the sun for hundreds of years. Their pale color showed to everyone that approached how old the Icilean Empire was. Little specks of black were scattered across the walls of the tower from repairs being made over the years, leaving newer brick contrasting sharply with the pale larger slabs of granite that surrounded it. There looked to be nobody on the roads, or in the large structure. Isolde looked around concerned, this was apparently not normal for this time of the day.

            “Is something wrong?”

            “Yes there is. This tower is manned at all times by almost twenty men. There doesn't appear to be anybody here, and that’s a problem.”

            “Let’s go take a look around.” Reinhardt pushed his horse a little faster, pulling ahead of the group. Isolde urged his mount to catch up to the much larger Icilean. There was very little noise in the area, even the animals were quiet. An unnatural eeriness rested over everything. Overturned carts littered the road, goods still in them.

            “Nothing was taken.” Isolde noticed the discrepancy as well. Something wasn't right. Reinhardt came to a stop and dismounted. Taking a few moments to look the scene over he searched for anybody, any sign of people. Outside of the tower there was nothing but disarray. Cart carrying goods had been overturned or destroyed, but nothing had been taken. The rest of Isolde’s company dismounted and drew their weapons.

            Reinhardt approached the door to the tower and pushed it open. Blood covered the walls everywhere. Whatever happened here had been a slaughter. Bodies were lying all over the hallway, having dropped where they stood. Deep gashes covered everyone, cut by a very sharp blade. After a few seconds of looking he closed the door and backed away.

            “The only people that killed were soldiers. Whoever did this avoided killing any of the civilians. How many people did you say were stationed here at any one time?”

            “Typically twenty, but that can change depending on needs.” Isolde didn't look well anymore. His carefree face covered with horror and doubt. It would be hard to believe this many people could be killed without any signs of a fight.

            “Has anybody ever attacked here before? How large of a force would it have taken to do this?”

            “There are reports of a few instances where up to one hundred soldiers have been successfully fended off without losing this post. If a hostile force approached it would have taken a great deal of people to take this tower.” Isolde didn't look to be exaggerating any of his facts. The entire tower was backed with hundreds of feet of wall on both sides, and a canyon funneling everybody to this point. There would be no way past here without entering the tower.

            “Somebody wanted to get through this gate, and they cut everyone down to accomplish it.” Reinhardt never took his eyes off the door to the tower. The archway would allow a few people through at any time, but wouldn't let a large force through. Merchants would be able to pull their carts through to the other side of the wall after they were searched, but it was still one at a time. “Does this tower exit onto the top of that wall?”

            “Yes it does.” Isolde drew his sword and pushed through the doorway ahead of Reinhardt. If the main gate hadn't been open during the attack the attackers would have been forced to surge through here, the dead bodies littering the hallway spoke of that truth. Since no other exit to the tower was possible, the assailant would have climbed to the top of the tower, most likely searching for another way through.

            Blood covered the walls and floors as the group of soldiers climbed towards the top of the wall. Bodies became less frequent as they walked, careful not to move to fast and stumble upon an enemy waiting for them. The last door was pushed open as sunlight burst into the stairwell. A figure stood near the edge of the tower. Reinhardt couldn't tell exactly what they were doing but it looked like they were tying ropes onto the supports of the wall.

            The guards spread out and circled the intruder, cornering them against the side of the tower. Without warning the fighter turned, two blades reflecting the light of the early morning sun. To Reinhardt’s surprise it was a woman. Her face was masked below her eyes, but the pale grey of her eyes was an eerie display of blindness. Could this really be the person who slaughtered all of those guards?

            Isolde’s men moved in to halt the woman but were met with the skill of a trained killer. Every strike of her blades was placed with care, drawing blood every time. Men began falling in pairs as she turned her way through a mess of bodies and bloodcurdling screams. It hadn’t taken more than a few seconds of fighting before half of the guards had fallen to her relentless attacks.

            In a moment of panic Isolde struck out against her, catching one of her blades before it cut down another one of his men. Before he could react she was coming for him. Reinhardt watched as she turned and drove the larger of her two swords towards his throat. He would have no time to block or dodge that attack.

            With only enough time for one move Reinhardt freed his sword from his back and closed the distance between him and Isolde. He struck in the blink of an eye. From where he had been standing the woman wouldn't have been able to see Reinhardt approach. An explosion of dust and rock erupted from where she had been standing. The size and weight of that massive sword crushed the floor of the wall, sending cracks out for a few feet from the impact site.

            Dust still filled the air but he could tell he’d hit nothing. As the debris settled he searched for where she had gone. Near the side of the wall he spotted her. She had managed to move back over to the ropes she had been setting when they arrived. No words were spoken but they watched each other. Even though she was clearly blind he could tell she was watching him.

            After a moment of silence she picked up a piece of metal that was previously attached to her waist and linked the rope into it before attaching it to her belt. With one leap she fell back over the side of the wall and disappeared.

More to come