Even with as much distance from the camp as he had and fresh air flowing through his lungs, Holden could still catch the faintest hint of burning flesh. It made him want to vomit even more, though all he could manage was a series of violent dry heaves. His heart was pounding furiously, looking for an escape from his chest, and his mind failed to wrap around what he witnessed.
“Holden?”
Whirling around, Holden notched an arrow and drew back his bow, but stopped when he recognized Tamef. He said nothing, and slowly eased the tension on his bowstring.
“Well,” Tamef started, clearing his throat, “I guess you--” The fist landing a heavy blow on his face ended him abruptly, and sent him to the ground in a daze. Holden moved overtop of him, and readied another swing before Tamef raised his hands. “Easy lad, easy! What in Byzix’s name has gotten into you?”
“People!” Holden blurted out, his tone both panicked and angry, “They were burning people!”
“Who was?” Tamef asked. When he saw Holden struggling to answer, he sighed, and shook his head. Pushing Holden off, he got up and massaged his jaw. “You’re a heavy hitter, I hope you know. Haven’t felt something like this since my found me in bed with a dozen pretty lasses!” Tamef clasped Holden’s shoulder. “We’ll head to camp, give you some time before you can explain what you saw out here.”
With a slight nod, Holden got up and tried calming his nerves as he followed Tamef. The darkness of night settled within the forest once more, though it seemed far more menacing than it was the evening prior. Perhaps it was the idea of those men in the valley watching them, waiting for the moment to strike. Holden glanced over at Tamef, and felt even less secure. The uncertainty in Tamef’s eyes gave away not only awareness of how the grim the matter was, but of Tamef’s fear.
“I’m sorry that you got roped up into this, Holden,” Tamef said.
“Roped up in what?”
Tamef sighed, and scratched the back of his head. “Have you ever taken a life? Not of just some rabbit, but of another being.”
“Well, no.”
“Then this is going to be a long night for you. Just remember; kill in the name of survival. That makes you lose the least sleep at night.” Tamef continued down a path which showed signs of rare usage, with nature working steadily to reclaim it. “I heard talk of some small vessels slipping past On’hinian naval patrols. Some speculated that they were of Aradian make, and with business returning to usual in Lerem, it surprises me little that they visit violence upon us.”
Before Holden could ask any of the questions that formed in his mind, he found himself following Tamef into a clearing. Moonlight illuminated the dozens of people moving about a camp in the clearing. Some sat around a campfire, kept dim to leave their location undisclosed to uninvited guests. A few rested in tents scattered about, while others stood as sentries for their comrades. This was Tamef’s camp.
“Everyone, up!” Tamef ordered, stirring the sleeping ranks and the rest to life. As they gathered around Tamef, he cleared his throat. “A day which many have feared, but all have accepted as inevitable has come. While you may ask how it concerns us, remember for whom we oppose the poison seeping into this nation’s order. If you will not come with me to deal with this threat to our friends and loved ones, then you’d be better clear off from this site, else you become a prime target when the rest of us return.” There was a brief silence as the others weighed their options. Those who readied themselves for combat were spared the scorching gaze of Tamef. “Hino will thank us for our bravery,” he said, before motioning for the volunteers to follow him, and Holden followed suit.
“Business in Lerem?” Holden asked, picking up his pace to talk to Tamef. “What did you mean by that?”
“Some day soon, you’ll understand what a man will do for the gain of power.” Tamef stopped and knelt down, feeling over a boot print. “This is your trail, Holden.” He motioned for everyone to stop the unneeded chatter. “Lead us there, and stay ready for anything. I wouldn’t past the elves to have several tricks up their sleeves, and several traps lying in wait.”
“Are you sure we should take on the Aradians?” one of the volunteers asked.
“Would you rather watch them destroy innocent lives before the soldiers finally step in? Or drive these knife-eared scum into the ground?” Tamef gestured for Holden to go on, as each of the rebels found themselves off to fight for their cause, whispering their final prayers before going off into the night.
***
The passage through the broken rock was akin to the maw of a dragon in the dead of night. Though the stench from before had long since passed, it was all that lingered in Holden’s mind. It made him nauseous, just to think of the burning corpses. However, his anxiety overwhelmed that. He was merely a farmer’s boy with some archery training, and now he was expected to kill. A firm hand on his shoulder pulls him back into reality.
“You want someone else to lead?” Tamef asked, keeping his voice low. “You’re making the others nervous.”
“I’m fine,” replied Holden, shaking Tamef’s hand off. Steeling himself for what was to come, he pushed the thought of joining the burning corpses to the back of his mind. As the canyon opened, the rebels spread into the open expanse, finding cover and waiting for the battle to begin. Quiet as a mouse, Holden began to carefully sneak forward. No sooner had he seen the glow of firelight when he was pulled back by Tamef, as something whistled past his ear. He opened his mouth to demand an explanation, but Tamef only had to point to the arrow that struck the ground, where Holden was standing.
The elves were ready.
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