Castle Kingside

Chapter 27: Dirt Cartography

Iron grinding against stone interlaced with the rhythmic snoring of swine. They worked in tandem to fill the void of an abandoned village that, except for interspersed hoots, lay silent. Faint green moonlight and cold air filtered through the barns cracked wooden walls. In the center, an oil lamp struggled to brighten the silhouettes of a sleepy horse, a mother pig and her snoozing babies, and three weary travelers. Or would criminals be a more appropriate term?

Dimitry, hands around a cozy flame, watched Saphiria sharpen the tip of a foot-long dagger with a flat rock. Her practiced hands moved with precisionevery stroke identical to the dozens before it.

Is that another skill you learned in Malten? he asked.

No Her voice was grim. Estoria.

Lying on a fire-warmed towel, Precious yawned. Judging by the self-hatred, Im guessing thats something youre not very proud of.

The dagger flew out of Saphirias hand and stuck into a support column. Staring at the faerie, she walked to retrieve her weapon. Still not sharp enough.

Dimitry sighed. Maybe he gave Precious too much credit. You really should think twice before provoking her, or else we might end up having faerie fillet for dinner.

Ooh, scary. Besides, I dont think Id make for a filling meal.

Saphiria sat back down and picked the grinding stone off the floor. You may not be aware, but faeries are demonic creatures. Dont trust it.

He glanced at Precious, who lazily polished her wings with a tiny fistful of cloth. Although the critter riled up everyone around her, from stupidity or instinct, she didnt look particularly demonic. Why would you say that?

Faeries are known for killing travelers and farm animals.

Ironic how a murderer calls me a killer, Precious said.

Is what she said true? Dimitry asked.

The Church refers to everyone who disagrees with them as corrupted or demonic. When you slaughter a cow out of hunger, does that make you a demon?

Maybe if we lived in a society ruled by cows, he said, but thats not the point. Saphiria and I dont want to get stabbed in the back.

If youre that worried, Precious muttered, tell me to leave and I will.

Between her and a Church that marketed their slave trade as salvation, the choice of who to trust was easy. Dimitry smiled. I already told you I wont. Besides, I still owe you for your help back in Ravenfall.

The faeries face brightened. A-anyway, weve got some planning to do. She struggled to lift a small branch and dragged it across the barns dirt floor to draw a cross. Lets say were here.

Saphirias gaze shifted away from her knife and towards the beginnings of a makeshift map.

To get to Malten, we have two choices. Precious drew two arrows.

Saphiria pointed to the arrow facing northwest. We cant go that way.

Why not?

Because, Dumitry, that one goes through The Holy Kingdom of Zera. I dont think any of us would be welcome there.

That made sense. Dimitry assaulted a bishop, Saphiria was an escaped servant, and Precious was a so-called demonic creature. Finding a less pious group would prove difficult.

So our only option is to go west? he asked.

Saphirias raven black hair poured from her hood when she leaned forward. To Estoria.

Yep. The Church will be there too, but they have less authority in Amalthea than in their own borders. Precious drew an arc opening upward to the left of Estoria. Then we have to cross the gulf.

Youre knowledgeable for something that shouldnt be able to speak, Saphiria said.

Live as long as I have, and that sort of thing comes naturally.

Based on facial structure, the faerie looked no older than a girl in her late teens. Dimitry leaned back against a wooden column. And how long is that?

Dont ask a lady her age.

Then dont bring it up.

Saphiria dragged her daggers hilt to draw a long landmass extending upwards to the west of the gulf. Well have to find a ship to take us from Estoria to Coldust. Has anyone been there before?

Nope, Precious said. I heard theres only sand wherever you look, and its always freezing. She snuggled into Dimitrys cloak. But something tells me that staying warm wont be a problem anymore. Maybe Coldust will make a good vacation spot.

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Do you speak any Melvum?

Barely.

Saphiria glanced at Dimitry. How about you?

He stroked his chin. Ever since arriving in this world, every language sounded and read like English. Dimitry couldnt name individual characters, nor did he know the dialect, but as far as he knew, he encountered only two languages: the one written on Ravenfalls sparse signs, and the other in the dark halls magic tomes.

Im not sure, he said, but I might.

Preciouss face scrunched up. You dont even know what languages you speak?

Wondering if it was best to keep his mouth shut, Dimitry spoke the truth to avoid excess suspicion. After some weird stuff happened, Im not sure whats what anymore.

What kinda stuff happened?

As I said, Im not sure.

Saphiria brushed her hair back behind her ear to reveal a glint in her indigo eyes. Do you know where youre from?

Somewhere really far away from here. Really, really far.

Well Precious said, hes not lying, at least. Probably hit his head on a low ceiling somewhere. Doesnt know truth from fiction anymore.

Saphirias eyes narrowed. With a dozen mugs of ale a day, any blacksmith would slave away.

Dimitry blinked at the sudden poetry recital. Blacksmiths sure sound like a demanding bunch.

Her slender hand lifted to cover an open mouth.

Whats so impressive? Precious waved her tiny arm. I can speak Whorlfahst too, you know.

Whorlfahst was a language, and apparently, Dimitry spoke it.

Saphiria leaned forward, studying his face. I never saw anyone with your features. Do you remember which region of the Gestalt Empire you lived in? Im guessing youre from Einheart with Zeran roots. Am I right?

Sorry, its as Precious said: I dont know much about anything.

Leave it to me. She flashed a stunning smile. If you come with me to Malten, Ill introduce you to my father. Someone at the castle will definitely help you remember. I promise.

C-castle?

She nodded.

Although the girl mentioned her fathers fiefdom before, Saphiria left out the part about having a castle. Was it similar to the one in Ravenfall? If so, her family was wealthy. Maintaining a private army and garrison alongside a separate set of walls required vast fortunes. Fortunes that could hire Dimitry. That would keep him and his patients safe. Id love to take you up on your offer.

Precious raised her hand. How about me? Can I

The sound of crunching grass drew nearer.

Saphirias smile vanished. She held a finger to her lips and extinguished the lamp.

Footstepsthey trailed around the barn and stopped at the front door.

Precious dived into Dimitrys cloak and whispered. Three people. Theyre hunting for something, and I dont think its those pigs.

Dimitry tugged on Saphirias hand and held up three fingers. Hostile.

She nodded before picking up her dagger and the sharpening stone. Her crouched figure was almost imperceptible in sparse green moonlight.

Unlike her, Dimitry was useless. Ever since the escape, pulsating aches consumed his arms. Both Saphiria and the man in the dark hall advised him to avoid using magic to prevent aggravating his overloaded palms. Dimitry agreed with their advice but held a vol pellet just in case.

It was better to live in pain than die in regret.

Straw rustled as he stepped away from Saphiria; her dispelia scarf would nullify invisall.

The barns door burst open.

Three intruders shuffled in: a man with a sword and leather armor, another with a dagger, and a portly one carrying a bow in the back. Green light lit the sides of their faces.

Dimitrys heart beat faster. As he crouched past composting straw and wood chunks, something round jabbed into his boots sole. Although darkness hid the objects identity, its rusted iron texture made it a good weapon.

He picked it up.

The purple vasculature bulging from his palm pulsed in agony.

Come out ye fuckers, the man with a dagger said, we saw yer lot extinguish the light!

The mother pig and her piglets emitted ear-piercing squeals.

A green glint ejected from the shadows. When it reached the man with the sword, he collapsed with a thud softened by dirt.

John, get up ye cunt! The dagger-wielding man kicked his downed compatriot in the hip. John, are ye

Another projectile flew across the room, disarming the portly bowman.

Bon! The dagger-wielding man shouted. What the fucks up with both of ye!

Their inattention presented a chance.

Dimitry dashed forward, tightening his grip around the metal object. All of its weight smashed into the third mans temple.

They fell to the barn floor.

In his opponents moment of weakness, Dimitry retrieved a dagger from an unresisting hand. Precious, is that all of them?

I dont sense anyone else.

The portly one tried to back out, but it was too late.

Saphiria slammed her knee into his groin, threw his quiver and arrows across the room, and locked the doors with a rotating plank. There was no escape.

A half-conscious Julia arose from her slumber. The black horses wide-open eyes scanned the room, examining all three downed men. She approached Saphiria and nibbled her cloak.

I know youre scared, sweetheart. I know youre scared. Give me a moment. After briefly stroking the animals neck, Saphiria fished the lamp from its burial spot and hovered her palm over the wick. Ignia.

Feeble flames illuminated the barn once more.

Dimitry knelt beside a man with a dagger buried in the left side of their chest. In the operating room, he would have performed a sternotomy to open the chest and identify the damage. However, given the blades length, the weapon had breached the chest wall and lodged into the heart. Distended jugular veins hinted that the blood seeping into the victims tunic also pooled in the pericardiumthe chamber encasing the heartreducing the muscular organs stroke volume and therefore its ability to pump blood.

Pressing two shaky fingers against the victims wrist, Dimitry discovered what he feared mosta pulse that grew rapid. The man presented with the symptoms of cardiac tamponade. At this rate, shock and death would occur within the next few minutes. Attempting a resuscitation was pointless.

Like a virulent disease in a nursing home, Dimitry left dead bodies wherever he went. Saphiria, you can come get your dagger. This ones basically dead.

Understood. Saphiria placed her foot against the mans chest and, after some difficulty, retrieved her dagger.

W-wait. The bowman scurried into a barn corner. Dont hurt me.

Precious flew out from under Dimitrys cloak and grinned. Still think Im a backstabbing demonic creature?

I I appreciate the help, Saphiria said.

Sp-speaking f-faerie? The bowman blurted. Who who are you people?

Shut up a moment. Dimitry examined the unconscious man he assaulted with a horseshoe to discover a regular heart rate. He heaved a relieved breath. This one might live.

Understood. Saphiria pressed her bloody dagger to the mans throat.

What the fuck are you doing? Dimitry said.

We have no need for him.

No need for him? Who the fuck says something like that? Look at him! Hes in his twenties. What if he has a wife and kid waiting for him back home? Theyll die without him.

Saphiria bared murderous eyes. Youre nave to think we should let him live. We must consider only ourselves if were to ever reach Malten. Pity is a fools errand.

What if theres a better way? There has to be a better way.

For people like I, there isnt. Her words crude and her movements jagged, she watched Dimitry as if awaiting a better solution.

He didnt have one.

Whether he put the man to sleep or tied them up, leaving witnesses would only bite them in the ass. He didnt want to kill. He didnt want to see Saphiria kill. And yet

No.

They werent killing. They were putting someone out of their misery. Dimitry couldnt watch someone suffer in their final moments.

Severe blunt head trauma from a horseshoe impact left the man with a bump on their temple. Although there wasnt evidence of a skull fracture, the victims pupils were bilaterally dilated, neither shrinking or expanding in response to the lamps light. In an unconscious patient, the cause was often intracranial hemorrhagea death sentence unless surgically treated in a modern facility.

If anything, they would be rescuing the man from around ten agonizing final days. A simple administration of medieval euthanasia.

That was what Dimitry told himself.

Feeling something dark and festering and clawing into the deepest pits of his gut, he massaged his eyelidsperhaps so he couldnt see himself. Please. Make it painless.

I will. Saphiria tightened her grip around the dagger and plunged it into the mans heart. She retrieved it, wiped the bloodied iron against the lifeless victims cloak, and slid the weapon back into the sheath strapped to her leg.

You two get along like an old couple, Precious mused. Except, you know, the murdering people part.

Dimitry buried his self-disgust and turned his attention to the bowman. Whyd you make us do this?

A-are you going to k-kill me?

"Answer me!"

Im s-so sorry

Seething rage from being forced into murder erupted within Dimitry. He slammed his boot into a dilapidated barn wall, whose fragile wooden plank shattered on impact. We dont give a fuck about your excuses! Why did you attack us?!

T-the town crier. Just this evening. He he said a man with p-pale green eyes, a companion, and a b-black horse I didnt know anything about a faerie. The bowman held an arm towards the roof. Zera, save me from the corruption.

Precious burst into laughter. Oh, Zera cant save you now. Us demonic creatures will eat your soul.

Celeste guide me!

Ha! I love this guy.

Did word of their crimes spread this far already?

How did you know we were here? Saphiria asked.

My neighbors d-daughter was p-playing by the river. She said something about a b-beautiful black stallion following a man. My wife my wife saw a woman go the same way later. We thought you were the ones the town crier spoke about, s-so

Julia isnt a stallion. Saphiria frowned. Shes a lady.

W-what? the bowman muttered.

Really? Correcting the horses sex was what concerned Saphiria most? Dimitry stepped forward. Is anyone else coming?

N-no, sir. I swear.

Did the town crier mention anything about a Zeran servant, a holy cleric, or a surgeon?

I I dont think so, sir.

Does anyone else know were here?

The bowman shook his head. W-we just tracked your f-footprints, s-sir.

Youre poachers? Saphiria asked.

Y-yes, maam.

Dimitry glanced at the faerie on his shoulder. Did he lie at any point?

Precious wiped joyful tears from her eyes with the edge of her tattered gown. No, but I think he mightve soiled his braies.

Dagger drawn, Saphiria approached the man.

Knowing her intentions, all anger drained from Dimitry. Wait. This one doesnt have to die. Please, lets just use the snoozia canister. Well be long gone before he wakes up.

Even if he sleeps throughout the night, he will alert the shire-reeve by noon, messengers will alert every surrounding settlement, and we will be killed or captured halfway to Estoria.

I-I wont tell anyone, the man uttered. I swear I wont tell anyone!

Nice try, lying guy!

Precious, are you sure hes lying now? Dimitry asked. Youre not misleading us?

Look, I may be a 'corrupted creature', but I still hold myself to a standard, okay?

Dimitrys heart dropped. Would he rather harm Saphiria and Precious or the man who tried to kill them? The answer was obvious. Hounding guilt forced him to avert his gaze. Forgive me.

Saphiria continued her approach.

P-please. Im s-so so sorr

That night, an agonized scream lodged itself into Dimitry's mind.