Valor and Violence

Levi woke to someone shaking his shoulder. He sat up and looked around, blinking as he tried to remember who and where he was. He worked a kink out of his neck and gazed up at the sky. The full moon was hanging low in the west, drowning out the stars and leaving the sky pitch black.

“Guess that explains why I’m groggy,” he muttered, turning to whoever had woken him up. “Bopau, this better be good or I swear to the Ancestors- “

Bopau held a finger to his lips, then leaned in to whisper. “You might want to see this.”

Levi nodded and extricated himself from his hummock, then followed Bopau silently through the scrub to the edge of the foreigner’s camp. In the moonlight, he could clearly see their entire compliment gathered around a central figure, though he couldn’t make out what they were doing.

“Go rouse the others,” he said.

“And the porters?”

Levi shook his head. “Let them sleep. They’re unarmed. Either we won’t need them at all, or we will, and they’ll just be put unfairly at risk.”

Bopau nodded, then scurried off the summon the rest of the Aluwai. As Levi watched him go, he heard a clinking sound coming from the group, like two rocks being knocked together. He dropped onto his belly and crawled towards it, careful not to brush up against any vines or branches that might make a noise. He was only a few meters away when the torch in the central figure’s hand burst to life, its orange glow illuminating the mages and their bodyguards. The guards were armed and armoured, and every one of them held a torch. One by one, they lit them and started walking towards the swamp.

“What the Pit is going on here?” Levi thundered, standing up and striding out in front of them, barring their way. Hamzir the… Harsehole? Groaned and rolled his eyes, while Adrian’s tic started, one handed as the other was wrapped firmly around his torch. It would have been comical if it weren’t for the situation. Eric just looked sad, averting his gaze when Levi looked at him.

“Well?” he asked, again.

“Stand aside, Mardukian. This is no concern of yours. You were to get us here, and get us back. You made it clear you had no care for the sanctity of this land.”

Levi narrowed his eyes at the man. He noticed the mage was leaning ever so slightly to one side, something bulging beneath the robes at his waist, giving some clue why. As they stared each other down, the other hunters arrived, weapons in hand, falling in behind Levi.

“I don’t care,” Levi said. “Unless you’re planning on heading into the Entrance itself. That’s what the torches are for, right?”

Hamzir scoffed. “Of course. You think we’re interested in the swamp? True, artefacts were found here. Bowls and beads and other such trinkets, but look around. There are no structures, not even the hint of a ruin. Whoever lived here lived inside your precious ‘Entrance’, so that’s where we’re going.”

“I told you already,” Levi said through clenched teeth, “that is a terrible idea!”

“Why? Because of the vengeful spirits of your ancestors?”

“Because it’s a dark cave in the middle of fucking Marduk! Who knows what horrors have made their home in there?”

Hamzir shook his head and made to push past. “What utter nonsense. Your men’s earlier display was thoroughly unimpressive. We are more than capable of handling whatever beasts are inside.”

Levi ground his teeth as, behind him, someone growled. Probably Derek. He held a hand out to quiet them. “Fine. Do what you want, but pay us first.”

Hamzir threw his head back and laughed. There wasn’t a hint of mirth in it anywhere. “So, you noticed this?” he asked, patting the bulge. “I think not. If we pay you, you’ll be long gone when we come back out, no doubt having robbed us blind first.”

This time it was the brothers, Maba and Manuwai, who bristled, pushing past Levi with their spears extended. In a flash, a pair of guardsmen were barring their way, scythes drawn. Levi wasn’t sure, but he fancied black smoke danced along the edge of the blades.

“Easy,” Levi growled. “Lower your weapons.”

These were the finest fighters the Aluwai had to offer. They’d come through the pitched battle with the Skjar drenched in blood and glory. But he wouldn’t let them fuck around with magic weapons.

The brothers looked at him, the irritation plain on their faces, but they complied.

“So you aren’t as stupid as you look. Good. You two,” Hamzir said, gesturing to the guardsmen, “stay here and watch them. Eric, you stay as well.”

Eric opened his mouth to protest, but Hamzir stopped him with a glare. Looking glum, he nodded, taking a seat on the ground while the senior mages took the remaining guardsmen into the swamp. The group left by the camp watched the torches bob across the water, blurring together as they pulled further away, before finally merging into one faint source of light as they entered the cave. After a few more moments, it disappeared completely.

The Aluwai stood, glaring at their captors, the seconds ticking into minutes, then into an hour. The threat of violence bubbled just below the surface until Isakoa abruptly sighed and plonked down on the ground.

“What are you doing?” Bopau hissed.

“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m having a sit down.”

“You’re showing weakness!”

“Boy, I’ve more strength in my tackle than you have in your whole body. It’s how I made it to the age that my bones hurt if I’m standing around gawking at a bunch of suicidal dickheads for hours on end. If you’ve any sense, you’ll join me.”

“We won’t give them the satisfaction,” Manuwai interrupted, wringing his hands on his spear. Levi interrupted them all.

“Listen to Isakoa. We won’t fight these men. Sit down and wait.”

“For what?”

“If I’m being optimistic? For them to finish what they’re doing, come back, and pay us when we get to port.”

“And if you’re being a pessimist?” Isakoa asked from his position on the ground. His eyes were downcast, a faraway look in his gaze. Levi clenched his jaw but didn’t answer. Eric took the silence as an invitation.

“You don’t need to worry, Levi. I know this seems… rude,”

Isakoa interrupted him with a snort.

“But!” he continued, “we will honour our deal.”

“You may not be able to,” Levi muttered.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing. Nevermind.”

Eric sighed and climbed to his feet, dusting off his robe with his hands as he walked over. “Levi, I’m sorry, I didn’t want it to happen like this.”

Levi whirled on him, poking a finger hard into the mage’s chest. “Bullshit, Eric. How this plays out doesn’t matter to you in the slightest. But tell me, why? Why betray us? Betray me?”

He hadn’t meant to yell, but as he spoke, his tone rose higher and higher until the spittle flew from his mouth. To his surprise, Eric yelled right back.

“Don’t get self-righteous with me! You have a family, a place where you belong! What do I have? Grunt work for the least tolerable people in an intolerable cloister-” he stopped, looking down at his feet as his voice returned to a normal volume. “I’m sick of being at the bottom. Sick of being looked down on by insufferable pricks. Adrian and Hamzir are idiots, but they’ll be climbing the ladder once they get back with the spoils from this place, and I’m gonna be hitching a ride right up there with them. People will respect me again. I’ll belong, like I did before they stole me from my family.”

Levi shook his head. “That’s your excuse? Very sad, Eric. I think I can hear the world’s smallest violin, playing just for you.”

Eric looked up sharply, but his shock quickly gave way to a shake of the head and a small smile. “By the Pantheon, Levi. You are a hard man. It’s… a little terrifying, if I’m being honest. But I think we’re all just a little emotional at the moment. Once Adrian and Hamzir get back with some ancient goodies, we’ll share a celebratory drink, head on back to port and part as friends, right?”

“Damnit, Eric. Did you listen to a word I said? It’s not safe in there!”

“Damnit, Levi,” the mage replied, sarcastically imitating the Aluwai. “We’ve got an Umbral Adept, and Aetherial Adept, and the world’s fiercest fighters, all armed to the teeth with Resonance weapons. I don’t mean to be flippant, mate, but they’re far more capable in combat than you and yours.”

Levi crossed his arms over his chest. “I guess we’ll find out.”

One of the guardsmen tapped Eric on the shoulder, inclining his head towards the cave. Levi followed the man’s gaze, squinting at the yawning black maw. There was the faintest glow coming from within.

“Surely they haven’t- “Eric said, before Levi cut him off with a shush. He strained his ears. There were snatches of something on the wind.

Screaming.

Shouts joined the screaming as the glow rapidly brightened until they could see a solitary torch bobbing in the cave’s mouth. Its bearer was running. And suddenly it was gone, as though sucked back into the Entrance’s depths, a single scream lingering in the air.

Eric and the guardsmen didn’t waste time with words. They splashed into the swamp and sprinted for the cave. Levi and his men watched them go. When the light from their torches had disappeared inside, Isakoa sighed and stood, groaning as he twisted, working the kinks out of his back.

“Damned if I do, damned if I don’t. I should have died as a young man when I had the chance,” he muttered, putting his hands on his hips and arching his back. “Alright, Levi, shall we?” he asked, motioning to the camp with a sweep of the arm.

“You want to rob them and leave?”

“Something tells me they won’t be needing their things anymore. It’ll be tight, but one of the porters mentioned he found some nice things when he… inspected their belongings.”

“He what!” Levi roared, though Isakoa tried to settle him, hands held up in a calming gesture.

“I asked him to. He didn’t take anything, but I knew something like this might happen, so I wanted to have a back-up plan.”

That mollified him a little. “There’ll be enough to pay the porters as well?”

“Comfortably.”

Levi sucked his teeth, eyeing the camp. Isakoa, as always, showed the wisdom of his age. The Aluwai would survive. Levi personally would be rid of the arsehole mages, and that backstabber, Eric. He turned and faced the Entrance.

“Levi,” Isakoa said, a low warning tone in his voice. “Don’t, boy. We warned them. They disrespected us and the jungle and they’ve paid the price. We needn’t pay it as well.”

“We won’t,” Levi said, spinning on his heel and marching into the camp. He crouched by a pack and rummaged through it until he found what he was looking for.

A torch and flint box.

“Damnit, boy, don’t be a fool!”

Levi ignored him. The old man was right, of course, but that didn’t matter. Levi had to do this. Not for the mage’s, nor their guardsmen, nor Eric. They might salvage enough to save the Aluwai, but they would still be vulnerable. After all, a full storehouse wouldn’t replace their dead fighters. The tribe needed more from him. Men and weapons. Stronger alliances with their friendly neighbours.

They needed coin, and a lot of it.

He lit the torch and strode towards the swamp, grabbing a spear as he went. His men followed him, Isakoa grumbling while the others remained stoic. Levi stopped at the water’s edge to face them.

“What the Pit do you all think you’re doing?”

“What does it look like?” Isakoa asked. “We’re coming with you.”

Levi shook his head. “Not a chance. There’s too much at stake for the Aluwai. Ransack the camp, rouse the porters and get ready to go. If I’m not out by morning, leave.”

“But- “Isakoa protested.

“You’re in charge,” Levi said firmly, cutting him off. “You always should have been in charge. Not me. Look after the men. Save our people.”

“I- “Isakoa stopped, working his lips over his gums. “Yes, leader.”

He grabbed the others and turned back to the camp. Levi watched them long enough to be sure they were actually following his instructions, then he ploughed into the swamp. The frigid water set the nerves in his calves on fire, and he kept stumbling on submerged roots and rocks. One particularly memorable moment saw his foot snag, and he dropped to a knee, the water rushing up above his waist. He almost squealed, and for a moment he thought his ‘outtie’ had turned into an ‘innie’, but a quick cup assured him it was still intact, if a little shrivelled.

“Fucking mages,” he growled as he climbed to his feet and resumed sloshing to the cave, the night breeze playing across his drenched trousers in an extremely unpleasant manner. “I’ll kill them myself. If they aren’t already dead,” he added after a moment’s thought.

He managed to avoid any more accidents for the rest of the trip, and soon found himself loitering outside the Entrance, fruitlessly peering into the pitch black cavity. He took a few steps towards the cave, and stopped, chewing his lip. Eric had made sense when he pointed out how formidable the group was. If the worst thing waiting in the cave’s depths was drakes, they should have been fine. And the way the runner had vanished… May as well hedge his bets.

“Pit. Never thought I’d be doing this again.”

He dropped to his knees, put his hands on the ground in front of him, and touched his forehead to the mud.

“Ancestors, hear me. Ancestors… forgive this transgression.”

And then he stood and strode into the Entrance.