Last Life

IT WAS SURPRISINGLY EASY to pull the bolt from Samdan’s neck — I thought it would take longer.

After a quick search of the steppe native’s body as well as the saddlebags he’d already thrown over Snowball’s back, I became the proud owner of a small but tightly packed coin purse, one gold ring, a silver bracelet, and three small sacks containing crimson, emerald, and dark amber magic dust. Hm… Thanks for that. I was starting to like frontier living.

I also found three phials of crimson healing infusion, one of which was already partly used. That explained why Samdan recovered so quickly.

Beyond that, I packed up the throwing knives Samdan had twice used to try and kill me, then requisitioned his short bow and tightly packed quiver of arrows.

Once finished searching, I listened to the slowly growing din in camp. Then I looked with pity at Snowball, turned and saw the peacefully sleeping Punkin, my other horse, which I was using as a spare, and breathed a heavy sigh...

Samdan was right — I had to run. We didn’t stand a chance against mages. But on open terrain, they would surely track me down and catch me. So the only way to run was into the mountains. Then, I would at least stand a chance of escaping. And of leaving some “party favors” for my pursuers in the form of various nasty traps.

Up above in camp, I still had a sleeping bag, set of backup clothes and a bit of food. Nothing particular worth grieving.

All the most important things, such as magic potions, I always carried on me in special pockets on my sash and belt. I also had a backup set of everything I needed in the backpack hanging next to the sleeping Punkin. That was my so-called “go bag,” which I had prepared specifically for cases such as this.

It was of course a shame to abandon the horses, but my life was worth more than a pair of animals. Furthermore, they were in no danger. Wildlings were just people, after all. I could be sure my mares would be well cared for and cherished by their new masters.

I was no one to them, just like they me. Furthermore, over the last five days, both Chevalier Vidal and the barons had started growing distant from me. We sat together at rest stops, and went on watch duty together but, despite all that, I was given the distinct impression that I was all on my own against the Vestonians. If Bertrand were there, it would have been a different matter. But he was not. Nor were any other people that could have made me want to go back and do battle...

Reloading the crossbow, I untied the strings of one of the looted bags. Feeding a bit of emerald energy to my energy system, I drew a small mass from my reservoir and pushed it down the channels. I was still in no rush to sample the dark amber dust. I could figure it out later when I found somewhere safe.

I said goodbye to the horses, looked around, and nodded to myself in satisfaction. Okay... Done...

Between the backpack, arrow quiver, looted bow, my crossbow and its bolts, my two swords, the looted knives and my daggers — I was fully encumbered. But I was not going to leave anything behind. I would need all this soon enough. I was not nursing any illusions that I would be left in peace.

The energy surging out of my body made me shake like an animal and start climbing. Once up on a cliff that gave a good view of our camp as well as a large part of the valley, I stopped for a moment to look around.

Down in the camp, no one was sleeping anymore. The troops hurriedly took position, readying their crossbows and bows. Sergeant Ravel was directing all the apparent chaos in a business-like fashion. His harsh, choppy commands were given in a confident tone I could hear even from far away.

I wondered if they’d already noticed me and Samdan were missing.

The cause of the alarm raised in the camp was the appearance of several dozen torches at the foot of the cliffs. The wildlings had arrived with torches in hand, not hiding. I counted up thirty flames flickering in the darkness. Like a long red and orange snake, they quickly came closer to the crevasse where we’d left our horses.

I snorted and nodded at my own thoughts. I did the right thing deciding to leave on foot through the mountains. In the valley, they’d surely catch me.

But I was bothered by how conspicuously the wildlings were acting. I figured they could have snuck up carefully under cover of the moonless night and fell upon our camp with much less fanfare.

I frowned. There was only one conclusion to be made. The riders with torches were both driving and distracting the Shadow Patrol scouts. They wanted to make sure not a single person escaped because Samdan, whose tracks they had followed here, might have shared the secret information with anyone of us...

If that was truly the case, then where were their real hunters hiding?

I drew in air through my nose. After that, turning my head, I listened to the sounds below. Essentially, nothing had changed. I also couldn’t see anyone other than the men from my squad. Then what was that nagging feeling?

What if... It was pretty far of course, but I had to try... A moment later, I switched to true vision. No, nothing... I was up too high.

I had to test my theory. I needed to be sure of my potential opponent’s capabilities.

Pulling off my backpack and other junk, armed only with a crossbow and my swords, I came down a few yards.

On a narrow ledge, I laid down on the stones and crawled slowly to the edge. A quick scan of the camp revealed nothing. After that, I looked carefully at the nearest boulders and piles of sharp stones. Nothing... Actually...

Wait! What was that? How did I miss that!? On a small ledge, just a few yards from camp, in the midst of some shadowy chunks of ore, I saw a faint dark purple glow. It nearly blended in with the pitch-black of the cliff.

What the...? When I realized what I was seeing, an icy chill ran down my spine.

Trying not to breathe out of turn, I again looked around at all the boulders and stones around camp, counting up another two spots of glowing magic.

There could be no doubt — these were the strykers Samdan had warned me about. While the riders with torches distracted everyone, the combat mages circled around the camp defenders’ backs.

So, their armor could make them invisible? But then... The emotions surging through me made me lose my breath. I suddenly wanted a set of armor like that for myself.

At the same time, the three dark purple silhouettes as if on cue started slowly, silently crawling toward the camp. And again they stopped.

The “fire snake” had already reached the cliff, transforming into a big party of many riders. Three split off from the group and slowly started coming forward. One of the riders waved a curved stick with a white rag tied to the end. A peace delegation.

“Hey, Ravel!” a broad-shouldered bearded man riding in the middle cried loudly. “I know you’re up there! Your belching has stunk up the whole valley!”

A loud laugh came from the wildlings. Was it just me, or did some snickering also come from our camp?

“Ah!” the sergeant immediately started trying to take attention away from his affliction. “Look who came to visit, Claude Bunel in the flesh! And here I was wondering whose beet red mug I kept seeing in the valley! I could even see it in the dark!”

No one laughed at that. The sergeant’s joke was just not funny. However, knowing Ravel, I could not be sure he was even trying to make anyone laugh. If he was, in any case, Claude Bunel’s underlings were in no great hurry to laugh at their commander’s flawed appearance.

“Ravel!” Bunel shouted. “We’ve known each other for many years now! And all this time, we’ve only ever passed like ships in the night. Why try to change that this time? Let’s make this easy and try to settle it like civilized people! What do you say?”

The sergeant did not continue provoking and asked in a calm tone:

“What do you want?”

“That jackal Samdan!” Bunel shouted.

“Why did you attack him and his brother?” the sergeant asked.

“They insulted our elder!” he said, provoking a buzz among the wildlings. “His brother has already taken his punishment. Now we have to settle the matter with Samdan the rat! Give him to us! He is after all not one of you anyway. Why die to protect him?!”

“He’s not here,” the sergeant called back. “Neither are his things.”

Bunel sighed and shook his head.

“Why insult me with a lie, Ravel? We know for certain that no one has left your camp.”

Aha... So before showing their faces, the wildlings were watching all the roads in and out. Trying to run across the plains would have been a doomed strategy. My sixth sense again did not let me down.

“Let me repeat!” the sergeant shouted. “He is not here! He ran away!”

“There’s no way that could have happened, Ravel!” Bunel responded with annoyance. “He’s there with you! I know that for certain! Hey, you there! The ones who came to the frontier to serve in the shadow of the Wing of Strix! We wish you no harm! We are only after the man who insulted our leader! Give him to us! Why die for a crime you did not commit?”

“You deaf, wildling?” I heard Chevalier Vidal’s jeering voice. “Our commander already told you that the man you’re looking for is not here! He ran off with some other ugly bastard!”

Heh... That was me.

“And if you don’t believe us,” Vidal continued. “Then come up here and see for yourself if you’re brave enough!”

“Enough!” Bunel barked. “We gave you a chance to settle things peacefully! I’ll be going up there now, but by the time I get there you’ll all be dead! Begin!”

As soon as he said that, the dark purple shadows burst from place. Bolts, arrows, and curses flew from the camp toward the riders.

Okay, there was no more reason for me to be here.

Pressing myself down on the ground, I crawled away from the ledge and, getting up on all fours, raced to the cliff wall. I only needed to take a couple more steps. I even extended my right hand to grab the stone and start climbing but, alas, it didn’t work out. I heard a faint rustling to my left.

Instantly shifting to true vision, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a dark purple spot flickering next to me. Mother... There was no way they could have tracked me down so quickly! I would have noticed. There must have been another cloaked mage watching me all that time. What bothered me most was the fact I was unable to detect him. Damnation! I was so upset with the feeble body I’d inherited!

Without another second’s delay, I fired on the sound and somersaulted to the right. A moment later, a bright flash of magic stung my eyes. I hit... But my bolt flew off somewhere to the side. That must have been the magic defense of stryker armor.

Meanwhile, the dark purple shadow started sneaking around me in a circle. Cutting off my path of escape. Based on the way he was behaving, the ugly bastard must have thought I couldn’t see him. And that the shot was at random... That was good. I could play on that.

Tossing aside my useless crossbow, I unsheathed both blades and, feigning incomprehension, started turning my head from side to side. The key here was not to overdo it. If he had been watching me all that time, he must have seen what I was capable of. The only thing he did not suspect was that I was a seer. He must have bought the act.

Continuing to turn my head, I started walking backward toward the upward slope. The invisible man smoothly came on the approach, looking like a purple shadow. A slightly curved strip of purple lit up in his hand. Must have been a sword. It was clearly made of the same material as his armor.

When I was one step from the wall, the invisible man quickened his pace. Swung the purple strip. A brief flash. And the blade of one of my swords blasted into several sharp fragments as if it were made of glass.

That was fast... Very fast... I wasn’t even able to properly react. And my energy system was being pushed to the limit.

I could say confidently that I got lucky. For some reason, the mage decided to play cat and mouse. Hm... I’ll give you games...

Feigning astonishment and slight fear, I raised what was left of my sword to my eyes and threw it aside.

“I assume I’m being hunted by a renegade stryker?” I said floutingly into the darkness. My voice was slightly quavering with all the energy overflowing my body, but my opponent probably chalked it up to fear and anxiety.

While I spoke, the invisible man silently walked around to the other side of me. I had a hard time not staring at him. Turning my head, I only slid my gaze over him a few times.

“Don’t wanna talk?” I kept speaking to thin air. “And you don’t have the guts to come out of the shadows and fight without magic like a real warrior? But why am I surprised? It would be foolish to expect some defector who broke his oath of loyalty to the king to behave like a true warrior! Nonsense...”

Either I got through to him, he got sick of the game, or he heard the short battle down below quieting down — I did not know... But in any case, the stryker came on the attack.

And again he aimed at my weapon. Seemingly, he had decided to take me alive.

I though was ready for his onslaught. Well, as much as I could have been. Drawing nearly all the energy from my reservoir, I pushed it down the channels. Most of them were likely not going to be able to take the strain. I would now again have to repair tears and reinforce energy nodes. Hm, that was only if I won this fight though.

I turned my head to face the shadow barreling at me. Up close, I was able to see the mage’s energy system through the purple armor. It glowed with a bright purple light. Mana circulated through his broad channels and pulsating nodes. There was a very, very large amount of it. And of course! I counted four large bruts serving as the mage’s reservoirs. With energy storage and channels like that, he didn’t have to worry about strains!

Compared to my opponent, I probably looked completely lame... The mage could see that, so he was not expecting what I did next.

Praying to all the gods that the steel could take it, I pushed a large mass of energy into my blade. At the same time, not expecting a blow from the mage, I jumped forward with my sword hand thrust as far to the front as possible. Mamoru Yamada called this move King Cobra’s Strike. Powerful, lightning fast. A proactive move. A last ditch.

I put all my energy into it. I could feel my channels bursting with extreme strain as my muscles burned and tendons snapped. But I was concentrating on one thing — the tip of my blade pulsating with a mass of energy.

Despite the fact I had pushed my new body for all it was worth, it still was not enough. I’d come up against too powerful an opponent. He was not merely stronger than me, he was immeasurably stronger... And faster.

I missed. I couldn’t even land a glancing blow. The mage easily stepped out of my attack line, even making it look playful. In addition to all that, before coming in for a landing, I was no longer able to hold my concentration and the energy mass on the tip of my blade took on a life of its own. In the space of an instant, it lit up brightly, transforming into a cloud of steel and dust.

My landing on the sharp stones was a hard one. I tried to regroup, but my body refused to obey. Like a ragdoll, I rolled over the sharp stones, no longer even feeling the pain. Surprisingly, I still had yet to lose consciousness.

Lying on my back with my arms splayed uncomfortably, I stared up into the dark sky. I had badly underestimated my opponent and subsequently paid the price. All I could say in my defense was that if I had my old body back even in top form, I still would not have been able to compete with this stryker. Today, I came up against a level of power I had never seen before...

I was scarcely able to hear the approaching footsteps. I didn’t have the strength to turn my head or even focus my eyes.

A moment later, a vile bony monster was looming over me baring a set of curved fangs. Ah, no... Not quite. It was just a helmet made from the skull of a creature I had never seen before.

My opponent “turned off” his cloak and removed his helmet. Now looking back at me was a forty-year-old man. He had a week’s worth of stubble and a short crop of hair with a streak of silver. He bore a thoughtful look on his narrow, carved-stone face. His harsh gray eyes contained interest and, seemingly, slight incomprehension.

And that was all I saw before my consciousness left me. Before falling into darkness, I heard a far-off rasping voice:

“This little piece of shit almost hurt me...”