‘No matter,’ he thought as he left the campsite and continued on, he would have her within the next couple of days. He rode on throughout the afternoon and it didn’t take him long to realize that she had picked up the pace the following day, but he still believed he was gaining on her rapidly. He followed her tracks along the river, not stopping for food and only once for water. The dogs drank also, but they were eager to continue after their prey.
About an hour before sundown, the dogs, which normally ranged far ahead of him, trotted back and began to move alongside. Navarra smiled. It was their signal that something or someone was up ahead. They were well trained to wait for his command before initiating any contact, but when he gave that command they were relentless. He pulled Chaos into a walk, moving as quietly as possible, and it wasn’t long before he heard voices up ahead. They were close, maybe a few hundred paces ahead. He dismounted and tied Chaos to a tree near the river then crept forward slowly and almost immediately realized that all the voices he heard were male. It was unlikely that the Fultan girl was present, but perhaps those up ahead would know of her passing. He moved carefully off the path and into the nearby woods. Vesania and Furia slunk low at his side, their breathing coming easily despite they’re growing excitement. It took nearly five minutes of silent maneuvering before he could actually see that it was a group of five men sitting around a small fire a few paces off the path. There was no sentry and they were all talking animatedly. Navarra watched them for several moments and was about to step out, when one of them said “Afton Sath.”
He quickly crouched back down and reassessed the men before him. One was wearing a short sword about his waist, but most of the others just carried knives. Although the local Massi were still allowed to carry knives and bows, swords and kali, weapons specifically designed to kill other men, were forbidden. It was a law the Deutzani strictly enforced, though it would take many years before most of the weapons were rounded up. Navarra spotted a bow leaning against an oak not far from the man sitting to the right of the fire. With only a look to Furia, he sent the dog off to the right, with the complete confidence that he would attack the man with the bow before any of the others. Navarra gave the dog nearly a minute to move into position, then suddenly stood up and walked into the clearing. Vesania went with him. He was able to move about five feet out of his hiding place before one of the men spotted him. They stood as one.
“Good evening,” Navarra said softly, barely loud enough to be heard. The men said nothing and just looked back and forth between him and the dog at his side.
“You were saying something about Afton Sath, I believe,” Navarra continued, still moving forward. Instantly the short sword was out, along with three knives. The man by the bow lunged for it, but before he even got close Furia bolted from the bushes and leaped for his throat. The man instantly went down, his screams mingling with the growls and snapping of the attacking dog. For a split second, the attention of the men facing Navarra was drawn to the commotion in their rear, and neither the Executioner, nor Vesania missed their opportunity. The dog attacked the man nearest her, while Navarra drew his kali and went after the one with the sword. The man was better than expected and blocked his first attack, but as Navarra glided by he lashed out at a man wielding a knife. The man went down with a slit, like a new smile, in his neck. Vesania furiously attacked one of the other knife wielding men, dragging him down by one bloody arm. The last man backed away a few paces before moving forward in an attempt to help his screaming friend. This left the man with the sword facing the Executioner alone.
A moment later the man had lost his sword and most of his right arm. He screamed and went to the ground allowing Navarra to move off to the other men engaged with the dogs. Soon, with very little effort the two occupied with Vesania were also dead, while Furia was trying her best to rip the throat from the man who had made for the bow. The man was using all his strength to hold off the snarling dog, his hands and arms bloody from numerous scratches and bites.
Navarra whistled and immediately Furia pulled back, leaving the man groaning and bleeding into the leaves on the ground.
Navarra knelt down next to the owner of the sword. His right inner forearm sported a large gash from elbow to wrist and was bleeding freely. The man was cradling it next to his body. He looked into Navarra’s face hoping to find compassion, but seeing none.
“Your name?” Navarra asked quietly. He was a young man, barely able to grow a beard, but his shoulders were broad and strong.
“P…Pater,” the man stammered.
“Pater,” Navarra said sweet and smooth. “I need to know where Afton Sath is.”
The man hesitated, looking from Navarra, then to the fierce looking dogs at his side.
“Pater,” Navarra repeated and when he still did not say anything, the Executioner gave the slightest nod of his head and at once both dogs leaped, not at Pater, but at the man still down and groaning by the bow. Navarra allowed Pater to turn just a bit and watch as the dogs tore into his friend. Vesania caught his arm and the man screamed loudly, before Furia managed to get to his throat. She tore into him, and with a wet ripping sound, pulled most of the skin and veins loose. The screaming stopped abruptly, but the man still kicked spasmodically while the dogs began to feed.
“Pater,” Navarra repeated softly, but still the young man jumped. “You know what I want.”
Pater swallowed, finding it hard to take his eyes from the grizzly scene before him. Navarra reached up and placed a hand on his chin and slowly moved his face so the man’s eyes met his.
“Pater, where is Afton Sath?”
“He…he,” Pater stammered still distracted by the sounds coming from behind him. Pater stopped talking for a moment.
“I will let them have you next Pater.”
“I don’t know for sure,” Pater answered and Navarra clucked his tongue.
“He’s in the mountains somewhere around Koshka,” Pater said hurriedly. Navarra smiled at the confirmation. At least Thomas Fultan had not lied to him.
“And just what is he doing in the mountains around Koshka?” Navarra asked and Pater looked at him for a moment as if he couldn’t believe the question.
“Raising an army,” Pater answered.
“And have you perhaps seen a girl pass by this way?”
“A…a girl?”
Navarra smiled again, knowing immediately this man had not crossed paths with Samantha Fultan. He reached out and grabbed Pater’s left arm. He held it in place with a strong grip, as he slowly sliced through the man’s neck. Navarra reveled as Pater’s shock quickly turned to fear and panic. Navarra continued to watch, a smile never leaving his face.
“Thank you Pater,” Navarra crooned and stood, completely oblivious to the thrashing and kicking of the dying young man. He went and collected Chaos and rode back up along the path. He whistled and at once Vesania and Furia stopped feeding and trotted over to their master, blood and gore still clinging to their jaws.
ǂ
Gwaynn grabbed his bags and prepared to board the Carol-Anne, waiting patiently for it to be pulled close to the docks. Jon, as always, supervised the entire process. Krys waited expectantly on Gwaynn’s right and on his left stood Vio, Tar Nev, and finally Tar Kostek. Tar Amon was away at the moment on the Isle of Light.