Clash of Men Read online

  Ohitekah did not like the sign of that. It was definitely time to leave this town. But first, he needed to talk to the man that had defended him.

  He left Bolt at a nearby post and walked into the inn. It was dark and dusty, not too many tables inside. The only people there were the large soldier and the bartender. The rest of the bar’s patrons must have left during the fight. Ohitekah sighed and walked up to the bearded man.

  I need to thank him somehow.

  He paused before taking his seat, as the man had not noticed him yet. “Why did you help me?” Ohitekah asked, trying to start a conversation.

  The large man raised his eyebrow and faced Ohitekah. He looked him once over, then turned away. He patted the seat next to him with the palm of his hand.

  “Take a seat, lad. Let me buy you a drink,” the man said in a groggy voice. He raised his hand and signaled for another goblet of mead. The innkeeper timidly poured him another and slid it across the bar. “What’s yer name, kid?”

  “Ohitekah.”

  “Owehka?”

  Ohitekah cleared his throat in an attempt to speak clearer. “Oh-itek-ah. Ooh-eh-tic-ah.”

  The man nodded his head slowly. “Oh. Well, nice to meet ya... kid.”

  “Well, what is your name?” Ohitekah asked, trying to be friendly. He realized his name was probably hard to pronounce to foreigners.

  “Nicholas!” he said boldly, changing his tone. “Nicholas the Brute, that was my name back home. If you couldn’t guess, I’m not from ‘round ‘ere.”

  “I can see. Where is your home?” Ohitekah inquired.

  “Mmm,” he said, acknowledging the question while in mid guzzle of his drink. He slammed the goblet down and continued. “The Vatnic Isles, ever heard of ‘em?” He raised his eyebrow to Ohitekah, who shook his head.

  Clearly, I need to work on my geography.

  “They’re west!” Nicholas leaned back in his seat, as if trying to get a better view of his memory. “As far west as you can go. Other side of the world even. The land of ice and water, where we live off the sea and her bounty. It’s beautiful…” Nicholas trailed off in thought.

  Let’s cut to the chase.

  “Why did you help me today?” Ohitekah asked again.

  Nicholas laughed and finished his drink. He wiped the foam off his mustache before continuing. “Because we don’t belong ′ere, kid. Us foreigners have to help each other out!” He slapped Ohitekah on the back, and Ohitekah acted like it didn’t hurt.

  “Can you help me with something else then?” Ohitekah asked nervously, knowing what happened last time.

  “What help would ya need, boy? In some sorta trouble? Have a little bully or somethin’?” Nicholas gave a laugh.

  “I need to kill a Mythic.”

  Nicholas almost spat his drink out. He took a moment to collect himself and grew solemn, setting his drink down calmly this time. “You know what you’re sayin, kid?” he said with a new tone.

  “Not exactly, no.”

  Nicholas leaned closer, now giving his full attention. “What do you know about Mythics?”

  “Well, I only know my cultures Mythic, the Thunderbird.”

  “That’s the one you’re after then? I’d hope,” Nicholas asked.

  Ohitekah nodded his head.

  “Why do you need it dead?” Nicholas leaned back.

  That’s a good question.

  He paused. “A spirit vision told me to do it.”

  Nicholas gave a loud laugh, “Well, kid, I like ya, but I can’t help ya.” Nicholas rose to leave the room. He flicked a gold coin to the innkeeper, who was more than happy to see him leaving. “The Mythics aren’t to be messed with. The only person who ever killed a Mythic disappeared hundreds of years ago.”

  “So, they can be killed!” Ohitekah shouted and stood up. He followed the man out the door.

  Nicholas paused, and waved his hands dismissively. “Never mind that.” He shook his head. “It’s impossible, just quit now before you get yerself killed.” He turned around and stared at Ohitekah intensely. “Listen to me carefully, and trust me, no man can kill a Mythic.”

  Ohitekah stared back at him, Nicholas was very serious. Ohitekah clenched his fist. “How could you know?!” Ohitekah yelled. “You’ve never tried!”

  A flush of rage flooded Nicholas’ face red and he stormed out of the room.

  Why do I keep angering everyone? Why is this so sensitive?

  Ohitekah stood in the inn discouraged and confused. He thought he had found someone who could help him, but this was turning out more difficult that he imagined. He collected himself after a moment and walked outside to his only friend in this strange world… Bolt. He thought it best to make a camp outside of town in the forest.

  That night was very long and lonely for Ohitekah. He did not know what to do, or who could help him. He thought that man could help him but did not understand why he became so angry at the inn. Ohitekah tossed and turned. He stared at the stars again, then closed his eyes and listened to the forest. Beyond his depression, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being watched. Sleep was not easy that night.

  The sound of the trees had changed. The casual talk between the birds was interrupted with startled silence. There were horse steps coming this way. Ohitekah fluidly rose from his mat and knocked an arrow in silence. He listened intently while remaining crouched, his muscles becoming perfectly still. Bolt lifted his head to listen as well, sensing to also be on alert. Soon, Ohitekah could identify the sight of twenty knights thundering down the road towards the town. Some were armed with swords, most with crossbows. Commander Julian himself lead the charge.

  “This is the town men!” Julian shouted from the front. “Find the Vatnic man and that savage he was protecting!”

  Chapter Six:

  Payback

  Oh no, no, no... Ohitekah froze. They had come back for him! Him and his new friend. Ohitekah had to do something, to warn Nicholas. He waited for the last of the horsemen to ride past him before running into the town as quietly as he could.

  It was almost midnight, so it was easy for Ohitekah to navigate the streets unseen. He kept his arrow on the string for a quick shot if necessary. Stealthily, he followed the knights into the center of the town to the inn. Before the guards broke the door down the innkeeper ran outside.

  “No. No, please!” he pleaded with the armored men. “Don’t damage my property! Don’t fight here!”

  Julian rolled his eyes while on his horse and ignored the innkeeper. “Come out now Vatnic! You are coming with us!”

  Ohitekah did not have a clear view from the alley he was hiding in. He quickly climbed to the top of a small building and crouched in the dark. Readying his bow, he took aim. He had a clear shot at Julian.

  If I take this shot, I can save Nicholas. If I want to fight a Mythic I need to be brave.

  Ohitekah brought the string to his face. The shot was easy, Julian’s armor was weak at his throat.

  Can I kill a man?

  His hand started to shake. After a moment he lowered his bow.

  There has to be a better way.

  Nicholas stepped out of the doorway. He guzzled a mug of something and tossed it down. “You fellas are doin’ all of this on my account?” He looked around. “I’m flattered.”

  “Make this easy for yourself. You’re vastly outnumbered, come with us,” Julian ordered.

  “And what if I do?” Nicholas asked.

  “You will face the executioner’s block, and die with some honor.”

  Nicholas shook his head. “Now where I come from, Ashlander,” He drew his massive sword off his back, “we have a different way of dying with honor.” Nicholas took a fighting stance.

  “Archers!” Julian raised his fist in the air. Every man with a crossbow raised their weapon and aimed it at Nicholas.

  There was a moment of hesitation between the two men. They stared down one another, neither giving in.

  He can’t beat all of them, th
ere’s no way. I have to do something!

  “After we kill you,” Julian began again, “We’re going to arrest that tribe boy for causing all this damn trouble.”

  Nicholas lowered his sword and thought carefully to himself. “If I go with you, will you leave that boy alone?”

  What?

  Julian paused. “If you go without a fight, yes.”

  Ohitekah was shocked. Why would this man do that for me? Ohitekah had no idea why Nicholas would sacrifice himself, but he needed to do something. This man was giving his life to save me! For no reason! Ohitekah raised his bow again and aimed it at Julian.

  He wanted to do it; he needed to do it, to save his friend. He held the strain of the bow for a long moment before collapsing again. I can’t. Ohitekah had never killed a person before. He was so angry with himself. He looked back down at the scene below him.

  Nicholas threw his weapons to the ground, and fell to his knees. Two knights stepped off their horses and bound his hands. Another guard attempted to pick up Nicholas’s sword, but he needed to use both hands and still had trouble lifting it. They packed his sword and shield on Julian’s horse. They tied a long rope from Nicholas’ neck and the group started to ride off with Nicholas walking behind, tethered like an animal to a guard’s horse.

  I didn’t deserve that. I need to save him. If this were not the time to fight the guards, maybe a right time would appear. He decided to follow them. Ohitekah climbed off the roof and ran to Bolt.

  He thought carefully about his next move. The guards were riding with Nicholas on foot, back to the same trail they came in on. Ohitekah needed to stay a long distance behind the caravan of soldiers to remain unnoticed. If, while tracking them, the men decided to stop, Ohitekah might intrude upon them by mistake, a move that could get him killed. He decided to wait until morning and let the soldiers gain a head start. That way, he could track them to their destination while staying safely out of sight. He returned to his camp in the forest but did not attempt to sleep. He laid down on his mat, and waited for the sun to rise.

  What am I going to do? Ohitekah’s mind fought to prevent him from resting. Yeah, I did not want to shoot anyone today… But why would tomorrow be any different? I still may have to fight to save Nicholas. Am I just prolonging the inevitable? Ohitekah tossed in his bed of grasses and leaves silently. I never wanted to fight. I have a hard enough time taking the lives of animals for survival… But another person… I don’t think I can do it…

  Ohitekah lay patiently until the sun made an appearance. At the first moment of red in the sky, Ohitekah jumped on his horse. He directed Bolt to the trail that the soldiers used. Tracking them would be fairly simple for a plainsman such as him. If he could track a hare through a field of grass, following twenty men down a road was child’s play.

  First of all, they were a large group of soldiers, so they would stick to wide paths. They rode horseback, which was easy enough to identify. The last thing to look for was Nicholas’ boot prints. He was walking in the back of the group, so his tracks would not be covered by anyone else’s. When Ohitekah looked at the road for tracks he could see all the horse hooves, and on top of it all were the very large boot prints of a man.

  They were only half a day’s ride ahead of him, their pace never quickening. Ohitekah and Bolt walked along the road and followed it closely. Whenever there was a fork in the road, Ohitekah would just follow the boot prints. He was glad Nicholas was not riding a horse. If he was, Ohitekah would need to look for an individual horse print—like if a horse had a limp or a damaged iron shoe—as something that would distinguish it from the others.

  The tracks were starting to become fresher; their distance ahead was closer now. Ohitekah was satisfied with this. He figured their destination had to be coming up soon.

  After some time, the trail lead to an opening in the forest. This was surely where Nicholas and the guards were. Ohitekah dismounted and used some bushes on the side of the road for cover. There was a huge structure in front of him, the biggest thing Ohitekah had ever seen. It was a great building made of stone, with archers pacing along the walls.

  Now, to that of an Ashlander, this basic fort was nothing to admire. But to a young man from the tribes, it was quite the sight to behold. Ohitekah had no idea what this building was, but he knew Nicholas was inside it. If he had known this fortress was their destination, he would have reconsidered his strategy for a rescue, but now he had run out of options.

  Ohitekah assessed the building itself. He could tell the clearing in the forest around the fort was man-made, and formed a near perfect circle around the rectangular outpost. The wood must have been used in the construction of the fort itself however long ago, and was reinforced recently with a stone exterior. Flying proudly in each of the corners of the towers were the triangular red and black banners of Ashland, he could hear their fluttering in the breeze even from his distance. The charcoal dragon on the scarlet backdrop was an intimidating sight, even on a banner. Ohitekah had heard there was a dragon once in Ashland. He was unsure if those legends were true or not, or if the dragon was maybe still alive somewhere.

  Ohitekah wanted to avoid this place. Under normal circumstances, he would have turned around and never looked back. However, Ohitekah needed to help Nicholas. He still knew better than to walk up to the main gate and ask to come in. He was clearly unwanted here. But the longer he took, the closer his friend was to being beheaded. He looked around at the walls. Ohitekah could probably climb the stones that were sticking out of the wall and climb to the top.

  Seems doable.

  Staying in the forest for the time being, he slowly circled the fortress to get a look at it from every angle he could. He wanted to wait for nightfall but feared that would be too late. He studied the guards, watching them walk around the wall. They kept no particular pattern, just walked around the edges, sometimes stopping to talk to one another. They were clearly not expecting anyone to try to scale the wall anytime soon. There were two guards that stayed close to the corner that Ohitekah chose to climb. The rocks looked easier to grip and the corner was slightly lower than the others.

  Adjusting his bow and arrows on his back, he waited for the archers to turn around, and held his breath. Eventually the two knights looked down into the fort at something he could not see. Now! Ohitekah sprinted to the wall and cleared the gap in only a few seconds. When he arrived at the wall he pressed his body flat against it and held his breath. No one seemed to notice, no alarm was raised. He took a moment to catch his breath. Bolt was standing in the forest watching, unsure of what to do. Ohitekah waved his hands and shooed him to leave. Bolt turned and walked into the woods.

  Once Ohitekah could breathe again he started to climb the wall. Finding the rocks that jutted out from the surface, he made his way up. The wall was about the size of a large tree. It took Ohitekah a few minutes but he made it to the top with relative ease. Before coming over the ledge, he hung below the edge for a moment and peeked up. Seeing that the guards had walked away, he decided to test his luck again and climb to the awning over the lookout. He stood up quickly, wanting to minimize the time he was exposed. He grabbed the bottom of the wooden roof above him, and pulled himself on the awning as fast as he could. There he checked his bow and arrows and took a moment to rest, listening to the Ashland banner flutter above him.

  He decided to peek over the roof and look down. From up so high he could see the whole structure. The fortress was square in shape, a lookout station in each corner. Above those stations was a wooden roof of sorts to keep the guards dry in case of rain, which is where Ohitekah was hiding on top of, the highest position on the fortress. If he stayed low no one could see him up here. Inside the walls below him, there were rooms where the men appeared to live. In the open courtyard was a stable for the horses, and a raised wooden platform directly in the center.

  A crowd of knights were beginning to gather around the platform.

  Something’s happening here, thought Ohitekah, t
rying to understand the situation.

  When the crowd settled a man in a dark hood walked up to the platform wielding a large black axe. A few of the men cheered when he walked up to the crescent shaped block on the platform. Next, Julian walked onto the stage in shining ceremonial armor. Behind him shuffled Nicholas, dressed in rags with a hood of his own over his head. Even from this distance he dwarfed those around him.

  There he is, it’s happening now.

  There was a man who caught Ohitekah’s eye for a brief moment. He seemed distant from the rest of the crowd, like he did not belong. His armor gleamed like the sun and looked magnificent. It was blinding silver with blue accents. Flowing from his shoulders was a long, blue cape. The inside of the cape was shimmering silver, which seemed thick and metallic. His helmet was silver, gold, and blue. It looked expertly designed and crafted, like the rest of his armor. He had golden hair that peaked out from his helmet.

  The strange man’s face was clean-shaven but seemed troubled. He stood in the back of the crowd and watched Nicholas climb the stage steps. He seemed upset about something. Before Nicholas reached the top of the platform he turned, mounted his armored horse, and rode out of the fortress accompanied by men also with armor unlike the average guards. The soldiers at the gate saluted him and closed it behind after they had passed through.

  Who could that be?

  After he left, Ohitekah returned his attention back to the stage. Julian was reading something but Ohitekah could not hear specifically what. After a moment, Julian rolled the scroll up and stepped back three almost ritualistic steps. Nicholas took a step to the block and was pushed to his knees. Julian ripped the hood off his head and the crowd cheered. Nicholas rested his head on the wood and the man in the black hood raised his axe in the air. Nicholas’ eyes scanned the crowd.

  At least I could save one person before I went, Nicholas thought while he closed his eyes.

  Chapter Seven:

  Clean Slate