Chapter 15: Daum

  The group had spent close to two full days traveling down the road without anything of note. They had not seen any sign of civilization that would indicate that they were headed in the right direction. Instead, all they could see around them was a forest on both sides of the road.

  Simeon’s hope was to find a town or any group of furtives that could guide them toward Belaran, but it seemed this search would take them longer than they anticipated.

  “How is it possible that we have not seen even a single furtive so far? I thought Khorsor was full of different furtive tribes and their settlements? How is it that all we’ve seen are three people that we can’t even communicate with?” Corin asked.

  Khorsor was big, but he was growing exasperated at their lack of contact. In this time, he would have seen several towns in Trinixo, but here not even the slightest hint of civilization had been observed.

  “Well, my boy, you are not wrong that Khorsor has many furtive communities, but you forget that Khorsor is large, very large," Simeon replied.

  Although he didn’t want to admit it, Simeon was beginning to feel disheartened himself. It had been a long time since he had traveled Khorsor, but even then he could remember furtives traveling along roads in the past.

  After some time, Simeon once again broke the silence. The same concern that had been gnawing at Corin was also bothering Simeon.

  “I will say, I don’t remember roads here being this empty,” Simeon added, finally voicing his unease.

  “Do you think there is a reason for that?” Livia asked.

  All of them were beginning to question their apparent lack of contact.

  “I’ve been thinking about it. If a titan had been spotted in an area, that would deter people from leaving their homes," Simeon replied.

  “But the three men directed us away from the giant. Or do you think they were lying to us? Do you think they were sending us toward the giant?” Livia asked, concerned.

  “I believe wholeheartedly that they were trying to stop us from going down a road that would lead to a giant,” Simeon said.

  “So what could cause this?”

  “That’s the problem. I don’t know," Simeon replied.

  “We need to break for today. I don’t think I can go on anymore,” Zhi said with difficulty as she caught her breath.

  She had been trailing far behind and had only caught up when the group slowed down their pace as they talked.

  Nanaua had slowed down to keep pace with her.

  “Right,” Simeon looked toward the setting sun.

  Simeon was hesitant about stopping. He did not understand why they were not coming across other furtives and wanted to move until they made contact with anyone, but he understood that continuing at this time could be more perilous than beneficial.

  “Yes, night is almost upon us. You are correct," Simeon replied as he quelled the unrest within him. “Rest will serve us well.”

  The group ventured into the forest that bordered the road and set up camp.

  As Corin took out his belongings from his supply pack, Simeon called out to him.

  “Corin, we are running low on water. Would you be able to get us some more?” Simeon asked without raising his head.

  Simeon’s abilities at setting up camp were unique. Once he began the process of preparing it, there was nothing that could distract him from his task at hand.

  “Oh sure,” Corin replied as he grabbed the water canteens.

  “The river should not be too far in that direction.” Simeon pointed away from the road without raising his head or looking at Corin.

  “Got it,” Corin said as he set out.

  As he entered deeper into the forest, the sun had set even farther, and dusk was upon them. The little light that permeated the forest cast everything in a bluish tint and made it difficult for Corin to parse details in front of him. All he could do was follow Simeon’s directions and wait until he heard the rushing water.

  Soon he heard the water and followed the sound. Walking through the forest, Corin noticed something odd. Aside from the rushing water, he could not hear anything else. He had never ventured into a forest this quiet before.

  Guided by the sound of the water, Corin found the narrow stream and collected water. He filled the canteens. As he brought up the last canteen, he heard a splash.

  Corin’s head snapped as he searched for the source of the sound.

  Across from him, a man filled up a canteen and looked at Corin. He was on the opposite side of the narrow stream. At this distance, he would reach Corin within five strides. Corin was apprehensive of the stranger, but the man did not seem to share Corin’s apprehension. He smiled at Corin.

  “Hello there, friend,” the stranger said to Corin. The man spoke in a kind gentle voice, one that would put anyone at ease.

  Corin tensed as he stared at the man, who continued smiling. Either the man did not notice Corin’s unease or he did not care that his presence in the middle of a dark forest in the night was alarming.

  “My name is Daum, friend. I have not seen many faces around this area.” The man continued smiling at Corin and gently drank from his canteen.

  Corin could see the man clearly now. He was of dark complexion just like Corin, had close cropped black hair and was cleanly shaven. He had dark deep eyes that seemed to give an air of friendliness. The man wore a simple outfit, with a long-sleeved white shirt and black trousers.

  Corin was unsure of how to react. The first thought that flashed into his mind was to pull his blade out and stab the man quickly. If he was fast enough, he could kill the man without making too much noise and not alerting anyone else.

  He began to slowly move his hand toward his waist, but he stopped.

  What am I thinking?

  Corin was horrified at his first thought and his reaction. The man in front of him had done nothing wrong to him, and his first thought was to gut him like an animal. Corin eased up as he put his water canteens on the ground.

  “I am a traveler. My name is Corin. It is a pleasure to meet you, Daum,” Corin said with a twinge of guilt in his voice. Only a moment ago he was thinking of killing this man.

  “Oh, a fellow traveler!” Daum replied with glee. “Would you not agree that there are few joys in this world that compare to the thrills of adventuring, of going out into the world and discovering new things?”

  Corin was taken aback by the man’s enthusiasm. Prompted by the man’s question, he began to think about his adventure’s so far with the group. Although they had faced quite a lot of hardship, the joys of discovery, of seeing new things, had been one of the best rewards.

  “Oh.” Corin was unsure of how to proceed. “Discovering new things? Well, I hadn’t given it much thought, but I guess you are right. Being a traveler or adventurer is quite an exciting endeavor.”

  “Of course! You only have to look to songs of great heroes to see how adventures can inspire all of us. ‘The Epic of Tallon,’ ‘Tor’s March,’ the ‘Sacrifice of Tanok,’ these and other stories, all great tales that challenge its hero through adventures like none other and inspire any would-be adventurer like yourself and I!” Daum said with even greater enthusiasm.

  He rattled off these names in quick succession, as if Corin would know them. He spoke of them with passion only reserved for items of great meaning.

  “But most listen to these stories and only think about the hero, about Tallon, or Tor, or Tanok, but I don’t think they see the most important thing,” Daum continued.

  Corin was curious about the man’s enthusiasm.

  “What is the most important thing?” Corin asked.

  “To me, I would say it is the companions in these stories. Tallon was able to receive a dragon’s blessing, but only after his friend Tirono sacrificed himself in their duel against the leviathan Alcidu. In ‘Tor’s March,’ it was his steadfast love for his bride, Na’alla, snatched by the golems of the evil giant Bolno that gave him the resolve to pursue her across the continent. And while Tanok did help Troento’s forces rise victorious over the dread dragon Thane’s forces, he was only spurred to fight after his squire Troclios fell in battle while pretending to be Tanok. It is only by the help of their companion’s that these heroes were able to accomplish what they did.” Daum looked straight at Corin now.

  Something about Daum seemed to have changed. His warm smile had dissipated.

  “Like the Onsiel, who has accomplished so much thanks to you and her companions.” Daum shot an icy glare at Corin.

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  Corin reached for his blade, but he felt a sharp poke against his back.

  “I wouldn’t try it if I were you,” a new voice spoke behind Corin.

  Enthralled by Daum’s enthusiasm Corin had not noticed the other assailant approaching.

  How could I have been so foolish?

  Corin still gripped his blade.

  “If you don’t let go of it, we will have no choice but to kill you right now,” Daum said.

  Corin let go of his blade and felt somebody grab his arms. His arms and feet were tied with rope. A piece of cloth was wrapped around his mouth, leaving him unable to speak.

  He was on the ground, face down, unable to move, tied in place. He tried to free himself from his restraints, but they were too tight. Corin was trapped, and there was nothing he could do.

  He felt a boot on his stomach. He was unceremoniously kicked over and flopped onto his back. He now faced the sky, and an unfamiliar face looked at him.

  “I still don’t trust this plan of yours, Daum. We should kill him now when we have the chance. You heard what happened to Yoren Dok and the other Zifors,” the second man spoke as he looked at Corin.

  This second man was markedly different from Daum. He was of lighter complexion and had long hair and beard. His beard and hair were gray, he was much older than Daum as well. Where Daum was tall and strong looking, this man was short and plump. As they spoke Daum put on a leather vest and picked up a weapon.

  “Not with this again, Caleb.” Daum began to sound exasperated. “We kill him and then what? How do you plan on subduing the Onsiel without killing her? Or even better, how exactly do you plan on dealing with the protectorate? She could cut half us down before we even get a chance to attack. That is the same plan that idiot Dok and his Zifors followed, and that is why they’re all dead.”

  Caleb grew agitated as Daum spoke, and he moved up to him, standing face-to-face and seething.

  “How dare you speak of Yoren Dok in such a disrespectful manner? If Yoren Asheri heard you right now, he would cut you down where you stand!” Caleb stared down Daum.

  The men’s petty squabble made it seem as if they forgot about Corin.

  Daum laughed in Caleb’s face. With the men standing above Corin he was able to better discern their features.

  “This is why Asheri did not ask for your advice. The only thing you are useful for is singing the praises of those above you,” Daum said with a scoff.

  Caleb put his hand on his sword and unsheathed it. He pointed the tip right at Daum’s face.

  Daum was nonplussed about his agitated companion.

  “Enough with the theatrics, Caleb,” Daum said and swatted the blade away. “We have the captive. Now signal Asheri.”

  Caleb was silent as he held onto his sword and stared at Daum. It was clear that he struggled with whether he should kill Daum then and there. Corin wanted him to do it, to kill the bastard who tricked him, but then he realized that after Daum, Corin would be his next target. Corin’s enthusiasm about the prospect of Caleb killing Daum faded.

  The one who finally yielded was Caleb, as he stepped back.

  “Yoren Asheri will hear of this insolence!” Caleb said while he still held onto his sword.

  “Of course he will. You complain about everything,” Daum replied with an air of exasperation. “Now go on and signal him.”

  Caleb put the blade away and cupped his hand over his mouth. He whistled a strange tune. If Corin had not seen him with his own eyes, he would have thought it was a strange birdcall.

  After several seconds, the birdcall was answered with several unique whistles. They came from deep within the forest, short in duration and sounding slightly different.

  Once the calls ceased, Caleb replied with another short whistle.

  “It seems as if Asheri has located the rest of the camp. They are headed toward the main road. Let us bring the prisoner,” Caleb told Daum and walked away.

  “Help me with him, will you?” Daum replied as he stooped over Corin.

  “You’re the one with the ideas. I know you’ll figure it out,” Caleb replied as he continued walking.

  “Damned fool,” Daum muttered under his breath.

  Daum grabbed Corin’s blade and admired it.

  “Hmm, such a fine blade! I think I will keep this for now,” he said and smiled at Corin.

  He put a blindfold over Corin and picked him up. With some difficulty, he was able to drape him over his shoulder. Corin struggled as Daum picked him up, but Daum hit him over the head with something hard. It left Corin in a dazed state and unable to do much.

  “Stop struggling. You’ll be dead soon enough,” Daum said.

  Corin was carried along for a brief period of time, until he heard another whistle ring out.

  “Hold,” Caleb muttered.

  Corin heard rustling near them, and new voices joined the quarrelsome duo.

  “Yoren Asheri, we have the prisoner,” Caleb said. His tone sounded different, a much more muted voice.

  “Good. Remember, as soon as we have the Onsiel and the rest of them distracted with the negotiations, the four of you go around the back and kill the others. We only need the Onsiel. The protectorate will be too much trouble to try and contain. We’ll say she died in the crossfire.” It was a deep voice that Corin had not heard previously.

  Upon hearing this, Corin began protesting, shouting out as loud as he could in his muffled state, but it did no good. A kick to his abdomen took out all the air from out of him and left him gasping. The cloth around his mouth made this even harder for him.

  “Let’s move,” Asheri ordered.

  Corin was picked up again and moved around like a dead kill from a hunt.

  After some more time being dragged by the men, Corin felt them come to a stop. Their presence was quickly detected.

  “Who’s there?” someone shouted. It was Simeon.

  Corin started to struggle but was quickly thrown on the ground. He could hear shuffling around him as people moved. He felt a sharp object pressed against his neck and a heavy weight on his back. The slightest move and Corin’s head would be separated from his body. The blindfold was taken off, and he saw his friends staring in horror at him.

  “If any of you move, he’s dead!” Daum shouted as he held the knife to Corin’s neck. He pushed it deeper into his neck. Corin could barely breathe.

  Corin wanted to move, to break out of his situation, but the knife on his neck and Daum’s weight on top made it impossible for him to move or even breathe.

  “You know what we want. You!” Asheri pointed to Zhi.

  “What—” Zhi began.

  “No talking! Come forward!” Asheri ordered.

  Corin could see the back of Yoren Asheri. He unlike Yoren Dok, was not wearing armor. He and the rest of the Zifors wore leather armor. There was nothing about him that would indicate he was the leader of this squad. It seemed they were intending to blend in as opposed to Yoren Dok.

  Zhi stepped forward as she looked at Asheri.

  “Were you sent by Tonatiuh? Are you another squad of Zifors?” Zhi asked.

  Behind her Simeon, Nanaua, and Livia were too focused on the captured Corin or the bargaining Zhi to notice anything else.

  “Does it matter who sent us or what we are?” Asheri shot back. “What matters is this. We have your friend, and if you don’t cooperate, he’s dead. No more talking. Come here.”

  He held a rope in his hand.

  Corin could see Zhi looking at him. Her face was a twisted display of fear and uncertainty. Corin wanted to scream, to let her know to refuse him, but he could not do anything. Corin saw movement beyond Zhi.

  Beyond her, behind his friends, the other Zifors got in place. Corin began to struggle to try to warn them of the danger, but he was surprised when he heard someone speak to him in a quiet tone.

  “Behind us are six men. Your blade is right behind you. Leave the ones on the right to me. You take the ones on the left,” Daum said.

  He spoke so quietly into Corin’s ear that he was not sure if he had imagined what he had heard.

  But it was no hallucination. Corin felt the weight of his back slowly come off, and the knife at his neck move away. Several moments later, Corin felt the knot around his hands and feet cut loose. Daum’s weight came off of him.

  Corin instantly removed the gag.

  “Behind you!” he shouted to his friends.

  He quickly turned around to grab his blade as he stood up. The assailants Daum mentioned closed in.

  Less than a second later, Corin heard the sound of thunder cracking in the air and the pained deep voice of Asheri screaming out. The sound of a solid object hitting the ground followed.

  Daum had already run one of the assailants through with the same knife he had been threatening Corin with. Caleb collapsed, looking at Daum with a mix of surprise and hatred.

  “Feel free to spill your guts now!” Daum seethed as he twisted the knife inside Caleb.

  Corin lunged at the assailant closest to him. In the short amount of time since Corin had risen, the man had only managed to take his sword out of its scabbard. He was too slow and could only stare in panic as Corin ran him through with his blade.

  From a distance, Corin heard a shot ring out, Nanaua shouting as her pike struck something solid, the twang of a bow as arrows flew, and several more cracks of thunder ringing. The remaining four men standing between him and Daum fell onto the ground in quick succession, their bodies smoldering from the intense heat of the lightning. Now only one of the Zifors was left, Daum.

  Corin tried his best to catch his breath in the manic chaos that had unfolded. He heard a familiar sound, static beginning to crackle in the air.

  “Wait!” he shouted as he put up his hand.

  Daum had his back to the group as he stood over Caleb’s body. He put his hands out and dropped the blade in his hand. He turned slowly toward Corin. His face was covered in blood. He once again had the same friendly smile Corin had seen when they first met.

  “What do you mean? He was ready to kill you!” Livia shouted as she pointed her rifle at him.

  Corin stepped in between the two.

  “But I’m not dead, am I?” Corin asked his wife, who looked beyond him with hatred in her eyes.

  “Let us hear him speak then,” Simeon said. “Corin is right. He did help us. The least we can do for him is to hear him out.”

  Livia put her rifle down, ran over to Corin, and embraced him. “Are you hurt? Did they do anything to you?”

  “My ankles and wrists don’t feel the best, but beyond that they didn’t do anything to hurt me.” Corin looked at Daum. “It was he who insisted on keeping me alive. If not for him, they would have killed me there.”

  “I did help get you captured,” Daum added with a smile.

  Livia shot him an angry scowl.

  “But I saw you arguing with the other Zifor. He would have killed me had you not intervened on my behalf. Why?” Corin asked.

  “Why? Simply put, I am tired,” Daum replied.

  “Tired?” Corin asked.

  “I’m well aware of your encounter with Yoren Dok, you know what Zifors do. We hunt those who only want one thing, freedom. Anyone who escapes from the dragon temple knows they will be hunted and either brought back and tortured or killed, but that does not stop furtives from escaping. Because that small taste of freedom, that time they spend free to do as they please before they are caught, is worth more than life itself. When we catch up to them, most of them will hopelessly attack us, run, or simply drive a knife through their hearts. They would rather die than return to the dragon temple.” Daum stared at the ground.

  “When I heard the Onsiel had escaped, the first thing I felt was a visceral hatred. I did not even question it. Anytime we are given a new mark to hunt, I cannot help but hate them. I hate the things I do because I have to hunt these people down. I hate these people who make me feel like such a coward for hunting down those who only want freedom.” Daum could not look at them. “But then I heard about Yoren Dok and what happened in the aftermath of your encounter with him, my reaction surprised me. I was elated.”

  Daum sighed, “Out of all the Zifor squads, Dok’s was especially known for its cruelty. It was well-known that they took immense pleasure in torturing their targets, bringing them in so broken that they were in a state beyond death. When I heard about his death, something within me awoke. I knew that if I came across you all that there was a chance for me to finally break free from this system. To help someone get their freedom, rather than take it away from them.” Daum met Zhi’s gaze.

  “So you help us and you get your freedom? Is that it?” Zhi responded, anger rising. “There are none more deserving of death than Zifors.”

  “I don’t expect freedom,” Daum said. “You are right. There are few who are more deserving of death than Zifors. If I spoke to you of the families I tore apart in my many years as a Zifor, your hatred for me would be insurmountable and fully deserved. There is nothing I can ever do to atone for what I have done. The only thing I am deserving of is death.”

  Silence ensued.

  “I was hoping you would do me this kindness as well,” Daum said.

  Zhi raised a hand toward Daum, who only closed his eyes. The air around her began to crackle as static built up. Moments passed, and nothing occurred, until Zhi finally lowered her hand, and the air around her calmed down.

  Even though Zhi felt no compassion for the man, she could not kill him in cold blood.

  “My love, if you command it, I will do it,” Nanaua said as she stepped next to Zhi.

  “No, of course. I’m sorry I asked you to do something so heinous. It was wrong and cowardly of me,” Daum said with shame. “You already helped me rid myself of these people who caused others so much pain. Asking more of you is too much. I will do the deed myself.”

  Corin looked around to the group. Livia, Zhi, Nanaua, and Simeon all were quiet and observant. None of them knew what to say to Daum. Corin did not know how to react to the unlikely ally, if he could even be called that.

  “But before I do, I must warn you. The next town down this road has a Zifor squad hiding in its outskirts, waiting for your arrival. If they know you are nearby, they, like Yoren Dok, will use the populace to try and coax your submission,” Daum said. “But if you go across these woods, on the other side you will find a small village that borders a mountain. I found it while scouting the area. It was not on any maps of the area I had seen, and I did not inform any others of it. If you want to avoid more Zifors and more bloodshed, I suggest you go to that village.”

  Daum walked over to his sword. He picked it up and began to walk into the woods by himself.

  Corin tried to think of something to say, but nothing came to mind that could reach the Zifor. He did not even know if he wanted to try and stop him from what he planned on doing.

  “Young man, what good will ending your life provide to those you wronged in the past?” Simeon spoke up.

  Daum kept walking, and Simeon caught up.

  “I know you heard me,” Simeon said with authority. Daum stopped now. “How exactly will going through with this help them? It will not make those families whole. It will not bring back from the dead those who you condemned, so what good does your death do for them?”

  Daum was silent.

  “It haunts you, doesn’t it?” Simeon followed up. “That is why you want to do this? Because the pain is too much to bear?”

  Daum finally turned around. His eyes glistened. “Of course they do. Every night in my dreams, their faces are all I see. What I did was evil, cowardly! While I live, their families cannot know peace, knowing that those who are to blame for their pain walk free. I deserve death!”

  Daum was distraught now. A battle within him raged, one he could not calm.

  “You are right. You have caused pain, and I can see that it haunts you. Some are capable of inflicting pain without remorse, but that is not you. Because you are no monster. The pain you carry is great. Of that I do not have any doubt, but your story is not complete," Simeon replied.

  Daum’s eyes widened.

  “If you go into these woods with that blade, all the world will know of you is that you were Daum the Zifor, a person who caused misery for others,” Simeon began. “But if you decide to live another day, you can choose a new life for yourself. Don’t let your story end here. Let others remember you as someone who strived to better the world around himself, not someone who brought only pain and misery.”

  Daum looked away from Simeon.

  “Old man, I can tell your words come from a good place, but you can’t possibly know the pain I have caused others. Your intentions come from a place of kindness, but that’s better suited for someone else who deserves them,” Daum replied.

  “You think I don’t know what Zifors do? Is that it?” Simeon asked incredulously.

  As he stood right in front of Daum, he pulled up his right sleeve. A large patch of his forearm had a large scar. Daum’s reaction to the marking made it clear he understood quickly what it meant.

  Simeon went on, “The first time I escaped, I did not make it very far. A large group of us thought with numbers our chances would improve, but it did not make a difference. The Zifors they sent were ruthless. By the time I was brought back, I was so broken I was sure I would die from the injuries. I was one of the lucky ones, a majority of those who escaped did not survive the journey back to the palace.”

  “I’m sorry. I really am, but I don’t—” Daum replied.

  “You say you are sorry, but I don’t believe it. If you really mean it, then do something that will make up for what you have done.”

  “Do you really think there is any good I can do? Do you think it is possible for me?” Daum asked, he looked away from Simeon.

  “Yes. It will not be easy, and some will hate you always for what you were, but I think you can make a difference for the better. If you follow this path, some might remember you for your acts of bravery,” Simeon added.

  Daum looked into the forest and then to his blade. He was transfixed, locked in deep turmoil, unable to decide. After some death breaths, he sheathed his blade and turned back. He began to move into the forest.

  “So what will it be?” Simeon asked.

  Daum halted, looking over his shoulder. “Daum the Zifor is no longer. I will now go to see what the future holds for me. Thank you,” he said as he disappeared into the deep forest.