Ashborn Primordial

Chapter 29: The Taste Of Progress

The coast was safe, he said! Travel by night, he said! Im going to wring Riyans throat when we get back! Maiya shouted from behind Vir as they fled from the pirates.

What rotten luck, Vir thought. Theyd avoided the road. Theyd traveled by night. They took every precaution possible. Who couldve predicted pirates showing up on the beach?

Weve got two Ashva on our tail! Maiya cried, spotting two black silhouettes against the rays of the rising sun.

Complaining would come later.

The pirates had forced them to flee into the desert, where the endless dunes slowed Bumpy down. The sand would impede their pursuers too, but Vir knew Bumpy grew tired quickly. He didnt know how resilient the enemys beasts were, but he doubted theyd be any worse than their own.

Vir pulled out every trick he knew. He led them behind sand dunes before turning abruptly, hoping to throw them off. He made it look like he was headed one direction to get them to intercept him, only to change directions.

Theyre gaining on us! Maiya shouted. Sure enough, the enemy was closing the distance despite Virs efforts.

We cant keep this up for much longer! he said. His ignoble steed bucked and snorted, unused to being pushed this hard.

Bumpys breaths were much more audible now. The beast panted hard, and its gait became even more ungainly than usual. Hed already slowed down. Vir felt bad for pushing the Ashva, given its injury. The beast was no doubt in great pain. He had to act fast.

Vir racked his brain for ideas, but came up empty. There was simply no way they could outrun their pursuers, and engaging them in combat was a death sentence. These were no doubt hardened criminals, and while Vir had concealed his katar, he didnt think he could go up against two or three experienced fighters and win, even with Maiyas help.

Gods forbid if they carried bows or crossbows with them.

Think! What can you do?

Vir! Maiya shrieked.

Vir snapped to his senses to see a boulder protruding from the sand just ten paces away, and they were headed right for it. Bumpy was so exhausted that the beast hadnt even noticed it.

He did exactly what he shouldnt havehe panicked. The boulder loomed closer and closer, filling his entire field of view.

Theyd be doomed if they crashed into that! The shock of the impact was one thing, but theyd be easy pickings for the pirates in hot pursuit if they fell off Bumpy, and Ash'va lacked the self preservation instincts to avoid obstacles like this.

Vir's body threatened to freeze up on him. He summoned up every drop of willpower he could muster and yanked on Bumpys reins. The Ashva turned at the last second, clearing the boulder with less than a single paces width to spare.

They were still on Bumpy, but the close call had cost them their lead.

The pirates were now so close, Vir could make out the scars that marred their faces. And when he stared into the whites of their eyes, he saw only bloodlust. Their hooting and yelling sent shivers up his spine.

He couldnt do this. He couldnt control Bumpy and think about warding the pirates off at the same time.

Maiya, take the reins, he said, handing her the leather controls.

O-okay, she said meekly, not having recovered from the shock of their close encounter. She shook it off and grasped the reins confidently. Shed been learning Ashva riding from Vir, and this was her chance to show off her progress. You have something in mind?

Vir didnt answer; he was a little preoccupied in turning in his seat. Now, he faced backward, towards Maiya. Toward their pursuers.

Decorating each of his wrists were three chakris. On his neck, two chakrams. But he could not use them. If he threw them, he doubted hed ever find them in the sand again, even if they did double back to search the area later. He doubted theyd have that luxury.

To use them was to lose them. And he loathed losing his only ranged weapons so early in their trip.

We havent even made it to Saran, for Veras sake!

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Vir hesitated. That the pirates hadnt struck with bows yet could only mean one thing: they werent carrying any. And now that the sun was higher in the sky, he confirmed that fact visually as well. Perhaps they hadnt had the time to equip bows, or maybe they simply didnt have them.

It was a mistake on their part that Vir could exploit. He reached into a pannier and came away with a handful of stones.

Youre gonna throw pebbles at them!? Thats your plan?

Vir scowled at her. Let me know if you have any better ideas! And they're stones, not pebbles!

I do! Use those chakrams of yours! You crazy?

Maybe he was crazy. But these werent just any stones. Vir had learned from his experience in the Godshollow. Hed handpicked the most angular of rocks. Then hed chiseled them on Riyans grinding wheel to sharpen their edges. They wouldnt kill a man, but getting hit by one of these would give anyone a bad day.

Assuming he hit them, of course, but hed never once ceased practicing his technique, not even after coming to Riyans place.

Vir began hurling the stones. But with both Bumpy and their pursuers on the move, hitting his target was no simple task. He couldnt really predict how the enemy would move. Not to a sufficient degree to anticipate and compensate for in his throw. The first one went wide. The second and third shots came close, but then the pursuers moved and the fourth and fifth went long.

Yet, with each shot, Vir learned something new. How to brace himself against Bumpy to stabilize his aim. How to guess the movements of the Ashva, and what tactics its riders might use to throw him off.

Taking each of these factors into consideration,Virs sixth pebble made contact, slicing across the nearest Ashva riders face.

He may as well have splashed the pirate with waterthe man barely even reacted.

Grak it! Vir only had a couple of stones left. Im gonna have to do it

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Hed been intentionally avoiding the pirates Ashva, but unarmored as they were, they made for a far easier target. Ashva were no bandies; their soft pink snouts were especially sensitive, so that was where he aimed.

The next throw connected, causing the animal to suddenly buck, throwing its rider off.

The pirate tumbled end over end on the sand. He didnt get back up.

One down. One to go. Maybe I wont have to waste my chakrams after all

The other Ashva was now only ten paces away. But the closer the enemy got, the more accurate Virs throws became.

Vir threw his final pebble, but this pirate was far more experienced. The man kicked his beast, causing it to veer to the side at the last moment.

The pirate then reached down to his boot and retrieved a knife. Vir could tell by his grip that he was planning on throwing it. And with Maiya sitting at the back, shed be the one to take the hit.

No Badrakking way, Vir thought. The mere thought of Maiya getting injured made him all sorts of upset.

The chakram was in his hand before hed even realized it, the blade of the disk biting into the leather palm of his half-finger gloves.

Training chakrams though they may be, Vir had sharpened their rusted edges against Riyans grinding wheel. Maybe they werent seric, but theyd suffice. He hoped.

The pirate took aim. So did Vir.

Slowing! Maiya announced right before she had Bumpy reduce his speed.

In doing so, she threw off the pirates aim, forcing him to reacquire his target. Vir, having the benefit of forewarning, threw first.

The chakram sailed through the air, its razor edge glinting with the promise of destruction.

It slammed into the mans forehead, gouging a terrible cut before bouncing off and landing in the sand.

Yessss! Nice going, Vir! Maiya shouted, pumping her fists. Now why couldnt you have done that sooner!?

The mans eyes rolled up into the back of his head and he fell off his Ashva, causing the beast to careen off wildly.

Did-did you kill him!? Maiya asked.

Nah. Looks like he just fell unconscious. Uh, maybe? You think hes dead?

Vir took the reins back from Maiya and turned around, so he was facing forward again. He slowed Bumpy down to a fast trot, but he didnt dare take a break until theyd penetrated many miles into the desert. As much as he wanted to go back and collect his weapon, there could be more pirates on their tail.

I dunno, Vir, you tell me.

Sweat broke out on his forehead as he considered the implication.

Even if the man was dead, hed gotten what was coming to him. Right?

It wasnt like Vir was going to grieve for a pirate whod tried to kill him. Even so, he found his hands trembling, and an odd chill seeped through his bones despite the desert heat.

He ruminated over that thought for the next half hour in silence. Both Vir and Maiya continuously scanned the horizon behind them for any signs of further pursuers, but thankfully, there were none.

Vir brought the animal to a halt at the bottom of a large dune. He dismounted, only to realize that his arms were still shaking.

Maiya held his hands in hers before embracing him. Its okay now, Vir. You saved us.

Vir finally let out the breath hed been holding. His legs buckled under him, but Maiya held him up.

Thats that was the first time I actually fought someone. Like, for real, he rambled. I mean, I couldnt do anything against the knight in the Godshollow. I just

I know, Vir. I know, Maiya said softly. You were amazing, Vir.

Tears welled up in his eyes, but he blinked them back. Hed die of shame if he actually cried in front of Maiya.

He didnt even know why he was crying. It was like a dam had been burst, unleashing a torrent of emotion that swept him away.

Yet above all that, he felt pride. Pride over the progress hed made. Just a few months ago, hed have frozen up against those pirates. Forget coming up with a plan to fight themhe doubted he could even have run away as he was back then!

Back in the Godshollow, the knight had forced him to flee like prey. Hed basically done the same thing today, but there was a difference. Hed risen to the occasion. Hed saved his friend from a knife in her back. Because of his actions, no harm had befallen Maiya or Bumpy.

Virs mind drifted back to Apramors speech on the day of his fifteenth birthday. It felt like an age and a half ago, but he could recall every word. Hed etched the entire sermon into his mind.

Before he realized it, hed started whispering Apramors words that day.

So that their place shall never be among those cold and timid souls, who know neither victory, nor defeat.

Maiya suddenly broke her embrace and stared him in the eye.

So Im not the only one about to cry, he thought.

My fathers speech, she said. He spent an entire month coming up with that, yknow? Teardrops began streaking down her face. He was worried sick about how youd feel after you learned the truth about your magic. He didnt want you to feel bad, yknow?

Vir hugged her tightly. This is so dumb, he whispered. It was just a couple of pirates. Its nothing to get so emotional about.

Maiya laughed. Right? So dumb.

And yet, the tears continued to come. The two friends remained silent for several minutes before Vir finally let go.

Wiping his tears, his face flushed with embarrassment, Vir cleared his throat. So, erm, we should probably set up camp.

Yeah. Right. And Im gonna have to reapply this makeup now that youve gone and ruined it.

Vir cocked a brow. Me? What about you?

She poked her tongue out at him. No point doing it now, though. Well just mess it up again.

Maiya paused. Wait, she said, retrieving the tent fabric from a pannier. Gotta do something first. You stay here and relax. Ill handle this.

Vir watched as she mounted Bumpy and retraced their path, disappearing off into the distance, leaving Vir alone on the dune.

She didnt even say where she was going

She returned several minutes later, walking behind Bumpy, dragging the fabric behind her.

Youre hiding our tracks! Vir exclaimed. Thats a great idea, Maiya!

I shouldve thought of that, he belatedly realized. The stress of the pursuit had his mind all rattled.

His friend beamed at the praise. Just figured there hadnt really been any wind. Didnt want our tracks to lead those pirates right to us. Theyre gonna have a hard time doing that now, though. I made sure I did a good job.

I have no doubt, Vir said, letting out an enormous yawn, which triggered the same from Maiya. The exhaustion of the day was finally catching up to him.

The long journey had left them both exhausted, and the pursuit afterward had completely drained whatever energy they had left.

Lets get some rest, he said, taking the tent from Maiya.

Unlike the tents Vir was familiar with, this one was merely a large, square piece of fabric, stretched out and raised a few paces in the air, allowing Vir and Maiya to crawl in underneath from any side. It did nothing to protect against the wind, but it did shield them against the heat of the blazing sun somewhat. It wasnt perfect, but it was far better than nothing.

Vir began erecting the structure by first retrieving four rounded stones from his rucksack. He inserted one into a corner of the fabric, twisting the surrounding cloth before tying a knot to capture the pebble within it. He then lashed that to a wooden spike theyd brought along, driving the pointy end into the sand.

After repeating this process three more times, he finished constructing the rectangular desert shelter.

Bumpy folded his legs and rested next to the tent. The Ashva had nodded off before theyd even removed the panniers off of his back.

Vir moved as many of their supplies as possible under the protection of the tent, then crawled in next to Maiya, who was gulping down mouthfuls of water. She wiped her mouth and passed him the leather waterskin, and he followed suit, relishing the delightfully cool water.

Guess were sleeping in the wild after all, she said, scrunching her face.

Its really not that bad, is it? Consider it a novel experience. And tonight? Tonight, were gonna sleep on a nice, comfy bed at Saran.

The delight on Maiyas face almost washed away Virs fatigue. Almost.

Next time: 30 - The Road to Saran