The Happy Few

Notes: Hello all. Glad some of you are still hanging on; you have my thanks and I truly hope you’re enjoying the story, messy as it is.

Kylee: Thank you so much for being encouraging and hanging on with us. I hope you’re enjoying the story!

Krystal: You point out a very important detail/flaw in the Ari/Kir relationship, which is that they do indeed seem to like sex with each other more than being with each other sometimes. Part of it comes from, as you said, their relationship did begin as being purely sexual. Also, I hope it makes some of you wonder whether it is a true relationship or a one-sided one. I was actually surprised that you took their relationship the way you did. But to directly answer your question, I will be expanding their relationship and there are plans for them in the future. It’s a matter of getting to that point and adding all the subtleties. I’ll make a conscious effort to elaborate more on their relationship, but as of now it is officially labeled ‘complicated’. Thank you for the review!

Chapter 11

It was difficult to leave Pascal after enjoying a two days rest there. Despite the constant stares and whispers, the town was quite welcoming. Kir found distraction ogling the people and the riches that the town boasted on each corner, the food enticed Emery into dining at nearly every back alley stall, and even Ari found a comfortable spot of trees by a manmade pond that reminded him of a favored niche of his on his island. What they would sorely miss though would be the comfort of a soft mattress for the next several days.

They had calculated that a two-day journey through the forest would take then to the third artifact, if all went well. While they gathered equipment the day before, Ari had asked around about the dangers one might encounter in the forest. Numerous people warned them of natural pitfalls, like quicksand or poisonous fungi, but very few made mention of dangerous beasts. The townsfolk held that the woodland creatures were too frightened of the town to venture close. Even several days journey away, they did not think there was anything particularly dangerous to be cautious of. Jungle cats and venomous snakes seemed the worst they would encounter.

“It seems much different than Gal,” Emery mused aloud as they traveled through the thick forest brush, “where there are tiny mechanics of death around every corner.”

The man nodded in agreement. On Gal, people tended to walk with their heads down to make sure they did not tread on scorpions or snakes or deadly insects. Still, they had to keep their guard up on Omar as well.

They made good time during their travels with the new map Emery had acquired. The first time they had traveled through the dessert in Gal, they had gotten lost numerous times and had to backtrack. This time, luck seemed to be on their side and they stayed true to their set course. Once or twice, Kir had wandered off, finding something of interest, but even those distractions did not last long.

Two full days of travel and a morning later, they found themselves at a mass of crumbling stone ruins, partially hidden by the dense foliage that had been allowed to grow over it for centuries. As they approached, Ari wondered about the safety of the place and tested a pillar. Putting his shoulder to the stone, he gave one strong push and, to his surprise, the column toppled over.

Kir looked at him in surprise. “Wow, Ari! I didn’t know you were that strong!”

“I’m not.” the elf grunted, dusting his hands on his tunic, “This place is a deathtrap, it’s gone untended for so long. Watch where you step and do not touch anything unless I say so!” He looked sternly at the small human and the thief gulped.

Emery smiled lopsidedly at the two, then stepped over a fallen wall into what had once been a grand courtyard. He looked around, noting that, under a layer of moss and lichen, there were still intricate carvings on some of the stones. Gently, he swiped his hand over the face of one and found a depiction of a group of men hunting what looked like a large cat. The craftsmanship was amazing, considering how old it must have been.

The sound of Kir cursing as he tripped over something brought the boy back to the moment and he moved on. Luca had written that he thought the artifact, like the other two, was a weapon of sorts. He hoped it was still in the ruins, but several people in town had mentioned the place, so it was possible the ruins had been plundered years ago.

A short distance away, Kir sighed and looked at Ari. “I don’t think it’s anywhere out here.”

“You haven’t even been looking.” The man said, scanning the top of the ruins, looking for places that might once have been towers or second level rooms. It was likely that the thief was right; no great artifact like the one they were searching for would be hidden in the outer walls of a once grand palace. With a sigh, he motioned the human over.

When Kir came to stand by his side, he said, “We’ll get Emery and go inside. It will be very dangerous inside. I would wager there are traps set, not to mention the danger of being crushed by a crumbling ceiling. I repeat my plea that you do not touch anything.”

The small human put his hands on his hips and glared up at the man. “Why do ya always warn me like that? You don’t yell at Emi like that!”

“Emery I trust to have enough sense to keep his hands to himself.”

“What a comment to make to yer special buddy.”

Ari glanced down at the thief, a furrow between his brows. Words filled his mouth, but now was not the time to voice them, so he shook his head and gestured with a hand to where Emery was. When the boy saw them coming, he stalled in his search and walked over.

“We’re going inside. Whatever we’re looking for, it will likely be in the belly of the ruins.” Ari informed him. “Just be careful.”

The soldier nodded and followed after the man as he led them inside. The face of a crumbling ruin was only a façade masking the intricate labyrinth that was inside the structure. After descending a treacherous spiral of stairs, they had to maneuver through a forest of pillars, looking much like the one Ari had toppled outside. He repeated his warning to be careful, lest one pillar was knocked down and the others followed in a domino effect. There were numerous archways that they passed and it took a good deal of time, pausing at each one and venturing in, to see if they lead to viable places or were dead ends.

At one point, Kir found a small flight of stairs that led to an upper level, but after walking down twisting, narrow corridors, they came to another dead end. Their task was beginning to look as if it would be fruitless when they reached the end of the pillar forest and they were faced with the task of choosing one of three paths.

Emery glanced at the elf. “What should we do? We’ve already wasted so much time…” He trailed off, leaving his suggestion unspoken.

Beside him, Ari glanced at him, frowning, then looked at Kir. The thief looked back at him, curious. With a sigh, he took a step towards the left side tunnel. “We’ll split up then to cover more ground. I have no idea how long these tunnels are, or if they lead to more rooms or another wing, but do not venture too far. We’ll meet back here in an hour, at the latest, understand?”

The two humans nodded. As Emery walked to another tunnel entrance, Kir called out,

“Wait.” The two looked back at him. “What about if one of us finds the thing?”

Ari shared a glance with the small soldier. “Then we’ll meet back here sooner. Give a shout to the others that it has been found. And if they’re out of hearing range, then wait until the hour is up.”

Kir frowned, not liking the idea of searching the tunnel alone, but he had little say in the matter. Emery and Ari had already disappeared. He wished he had been able to go along with Ari; the man was always quick and efficient. He felt oddly safe with the elf. Shaking his head, the young man steeled himself, lifted his torch so that the light illuminated a ways down the tunnel, and stepped forward.

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His tunnel led to a dead end. Ari stared at the blank wall in front of him and frowned. Whoever had designed the ruins had done so in a maddening fashion. Carefully, he checked the solidity of the walls, making sure there was no hidden room he had missed. As he bent, pressing his palm to the stone, a hand reached out and squeezed his rear. Hissing in alarm, the man jolted upright and whirled, fixing Kir with a dark look.

“What are you doing?” He ground out, his heart hammering in his chest from the scare.

In answer, the small human extended a hand. In it, he held a tall, metal spear. The elf blinked. He could hardly believe that Kir had actually found the artifact, much less done so and not gotten himself killed. Opening his palm, he took the spear from the thief and examined it. It was light, considering that it was made of some sort of metal. Gently, he tapped the floor with the bottom of the spear and was surprised to see a small crack form in the slab of stone. Whether the crack had appeared incidentally or was caused by the artifact’s power, he could only guess, but in either case, they were able to leave.

“Come then. Let’s retrieve Emery and be on our way. We don’t want to be down here any longer than we have to be.”

“Wait,” Kir said, tugging on the elf’s shirt as he walked past. “Emi’s probably busy looking at stuff. Why don’t we fool around for a bit, while we have some privacy? Ain’t gonna have it for the next few days.”

The young man flashed a grin up at him and let his hands drop to Ari’s belt, but the elf took a step back and grabbed him by the arm. “Later. This is more important.”

Almost, Kir protested, but the grip on his arm was bruising and he only wanted Ari to release him. It bothered him no small bit that the man had dismissed him so quickly, but the rational part of his mind, the part he tried not to listen to, told him that the man did have a point. Still though…

They had not walked far when the small soldier appeared in the dark tunnel.

“My tunnel led to a dead end and I heard voices.” The boy said in ways of explanation as to why he was there. He glanced at the spear in Ari’s hand. “I see we were fortunate. Shall we leave then?”

“Let’s.” The elf said, ushering the humans forward.

As they passed through the tunnel’s archway and started back the way they came, a deep, angry growl reverberated off the walls behind them. The trio froze, warily turning back to look at the channels.

Kir looked up at Ari. “I really hope that was you.”

“Elves don’t growl.” He said, tightening his grip on the spear. Beside him, he saw Emery place a hand on his sword, fingers twitching anxiously. He pushed Kir behind him, not entirely confident that the thief could protect himself, should they be attacked.

“Did you see anything when you got the spear?” Ari asked, glancing over his shoulder.

Kir shook his head. “I didn’t really look. I just grabbed it and ran.”

“Leave it to you to find the one artifact that has a guardian.” The boy grumbled, unsheathing his sword when another loud roar warned them of approaching danger.

A nasty comment hovered on the thief’s tongue, but he sensed that now was not the time to get into another childish squabble with the soldier. They stared at the middle tunnel expectantly, knuckles white on their weapons, waiting to see what monstrosity emerged from the cavernous passageway. Their attention was so fixed that they did not realize until much too late that the sounds they had thought were coming from the middle passage were only echoes; the real threat emerged from the far left passage.

When it emerged, the ferocious beast let out a final low snarl before crouching back on its haunches and leaping. Too late, Ari had turned his head to see the creature and felt his body slammed into the stone floor that had been under his feet moments before. Claws ripped into his shoulder, but the pain did not register, could not break through his initial shock at having been surprised by its direction of approach, until a second swipe of the paw raked down his chest, leaving oozing rents in his flesh.

A garbled scream of agony ripped itself from his throat and he flexed the fingers of his one hand, realizing belatedly that the spear had flew from his grasp when he had been mauled. Looking up, he saw the creature for the first time. It looked like a giant bear, to his eyes, though its long tail and tapering ears proved it to be no such thing. No one in Pascal had warned them of monsters. It was bulky and blocky, all muscle with fearsome sharp teeth and claws. Said claws were poised once more, angled towards his face and Ari knew that, should that paw connect, he would be dead.

After the creature had launched itself at Ari, Emery had made a rush forward to keep it from eviscerating his comrade. He hadn’t kept his head about him though, and a single flick of the thing’s great tail sent him sprawling. His head hit stone and left him dazed for a moment. The man’s scream brought him back to himself a second later and he scrambled back to his feet, taking up his sword and plunging it into the animal’s side. It roared in pain and rage, twitching its flank and transferring its attention to the small nuisance at its side.

Dodging the thing’s angry grabs for him was difficult, but staying clear of its tail at the same time was impossible and once again it whipped out and knocked the soldier off his feet. This time, he was not able to gather his wits before he was attacked again. Searing agony lanced through every nerve in his body as the creature bit down on the juncture between his neck and shoulder, sinking its teeth in deep and then tearing its maw away. The pain was so bright and vivid, the boy could not find enough breath to scream.

A short distance away, Ari struggled to sit up, but his wounds allowed for no such thing. Blood poured from the gauges on his chest, soaking his shirt. Moving was nothing if not an agonizing endeavor, but instinct drove him. His comrade was in danger. Even with that instinct singing through his veins though, he could not force his body to cooperate and move. He collapsed on the floor again, wondering helplessly if it were his fate to die there, after his comrades had been shredded to pieces by a foreign monstrosity. The man closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and trying again to work himself into a sitting position. Again, he failed.

The next sound that reached his ears was a high-pitched screech that ended in a wet gargle. The last cry of the dead, Ari thought, having participated in enough battles to recognize the sounds of the dying. He thought of the small soldier and thought that seventeen human years was not a long enough life. Several more disheartening thoughts filled his head and the man became so distracted that he did not notice when Kir knelt beside him until the thief put a hand on his injured chest and jostled him.

“Didja see that Ari! I always told ya, I’m useful!”

It took a moment for the elf’s thoughts to clear after being assaulted by pain. “Get your hand off my injuries! And what are you babbling about? Where is Emery?”

Kir pouted; clearly Ari had not seen. “He’s over there whinin’. You didn’t see it, but I totally beat that bear! Right when it was about to eat Emi, I grabbed the spear you dropped and then WHAM! I stabbed that bear and you’ll never guess what happened next! It turned to stone! That’s some weapon we got!”

He did not catch half of what Kir said, but Ari had managed to comprehend that Emery was alive, if only for the moment, and the creature was defeated. A glance at the thief told him that the young man was waiting for praise, so he pat the young man on the head.

“Help me up. We’ll need to bind our wounds and get out of here quickly. The sooner we get back to Pascal, the sooner we can get treated.” Kir nodded and grabbed the man’s arm, pulling with all his might as the elf used his other arm to push himself up. Blood flowed anew and Kir cringed. “Give me your over shirt so I can bind this, otherwise I may bleed to death.”

The colored drained from the young man’s face and he quickly took off his shirt and handed it to the man. He watched helplessly, unsure what he could do to help, as Ari tore the fabric into long strips and wrapped them tightly around his torso. The makeshift bandages were restricting, but they would help staunch the flow of blood. Despite what he had told the thief, Ari doubted he would bleed to death. Not immediately at any rate. He thought there was a needle and thread in the small medical kit they had and he would be able to sew the wounds closed long before blood loss became a possibly fatal threat. With the final bandage in place, he looked at Kir, smiling softly. He had greatly underestimated the human. He had never been more pleased to be wrong, and he was about to voice that sentiment when a new thought came to him.

“Where is Emery?” He repeated his earlier question.

Kir jerked his chin. “Over there.”

Turning his head, he saw the boy lying on his stomach, one hand grasping loosely at the shoulder of his bloodstained tunic. Wet eyes flicked over to them and the soldier tried to make words, but the pain was too excruciating. The most he could manage was a fleeting smile that quickly changed into a grimace.

Ari took in a large breath of air and got to his feet, wobbling slightly. “Come, we have to get out of here and start our return journey. Try to get him to his feet, but don’t touch his wound.”

Kir nodded, going to the boy’s side and assessing the damage. His hands fluttered over Emery’s one side helplessly, not knowing where to put them, then settled on his hip and under his uninjured arm. While he urged the soldier to his feet, Ari walked over to the petrified beast and stared at it. As the young man had said, it was now a figure of stone. He stared at the creature for a long minute before gripping the spear that protruded from its body and wrenched it free. A small spot of black fur had been left from where the spear had entered the monster’s body, but it covered with stone as soon as the tip of the spear left it.

Rather suddenly, Ari could see why these weapons were coveted by the human forces his people were allying themselves with. Their power could wipe out entire armies. And they were going to be put to just that purpose.

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They had patched up their injuries as best they could with the little medical equipment they had. It had been a painful but necessary task to stitch up all five gashes down his chest, and Ari was greatly agitated when the chore was finished, flesh burning in pain and flaring each time he moved. It was slightly more difficult to repair the damage to Emery’s shoulder, the flesh having been completely torn away. Ari had scavenged the forest floor for roots and plants his people used for healing purposes and found one that would serve as a good ward against infection. After crushing the plant into a coarse paste, he slathered the boy’s wound in it then did his best to sew the flesh closed. The damage was too great for his limited healing abilities though and the stitching would tear whenever the boy moved his arm. At length, the elf made a sling for the soldier and instructed him to keep his movement limited until they got back to Pascal and found a doctor who could properly treat his arm.

Beaten as they were, the sight of Pascal after a three-day journey was welcome, suspicious stares or no. The guards at the town entrance frowned at them, unsure whether to allow them entrance, but the trio proceeded unmolested. Ari gave Kir a small parcel of money and sent him off to procure a room at the inn they had stayed at before and told him to wait for them there. The thief nodded, glancing at the two before running off.

With that task being taken care of, they set about finding a physician. Unfortunately, their haggard appearance drove people away instead of inspired sympathy and they found it difficult to ask for directions.

Emery kicked at the dirt angrily, the wound at his shoulder burning, and cursed. “How can they just ignore us like that? Damn it, I need a doctor!”

Ari was about to agree when someone answered,

“They fear foreigners. Especially foreigners who look as disheveled as you. You look like you may bring trouble.”

The man turned around even as Emery’s shoulders hunched in agitation, unable to control the reaction, though the movement irritated the skin of his shoulder. He looked as well, glowering at the soldier that stood behind the elf, smiling pleasantly at them.

“I don’t really give a shit what they fear right now. They’re being rude.” The boy spat.

Noir chuckled. “Perhaps they are. I’ll gladly show you to a doctor, if you wish.”

“Just point us in the direction and we can find him ourselves.”

“I could do that, but I do not know if he would be quite so welcoming of strangers if I were not there.” The Omar soldier looked at Emery and the boy swore there was laughter in his eyes, mocking them. “What do you say? Will you let me guide you?”

Emery bit his lip, tempted to simply walk past the man and not give him any answer, but he was not foolish. Both his and Ari’s wounds needed to be treated and in order for that to occur his pride needed to be set aside. Glancing at the elf and receiving a nod of approval, Emery sighed and did his best to smile and bow.

“There’s no need for such formality.” The foreign soldier said in an amused tone. “Just follow me.”

As he passed, Noir glanced at Ari, brows furrowing slightly in a look the elf could not place. He paused near Emery, nodding his head politely, then gesturing the direction to go. They followed the soldier for a small distance before he said rather abruptly,

“I have it on good authority that you all went to the ruins of Kenzel. And that is where you received your wounds, am I right?”

“Perhaps.” Emery hissed.

“That’s rather interesting. I hear rumor there’s an ancient artifact there, a spear of great power my people say, guarded by a monstrous beast.” Noir’s eyes flicked to Ari and then to the spear the man had in his hand.

Seeing the dark haired boy’s look, the man moved the spear to his other side and minded to carry it somewhat behind his back. His action caused the dark soldier to smile and laugh.

“Perhaps I’ll sit down with you some day and you can tell me all about your visit to the ruins—here we are. Let me speak with the physician first, just to be certain he knows that it is my desire that you’re tended to with the utmost care.”

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Emery lay awake, watching the shadows of trees dance across the moonlit ceiling. In the next bed, Ari was sleeping restlessly, the new binding on his ribs tight and rubbing his skin raw in places. The elf was lucky, the physician had said. If his wounds had been any deeper, then he certainly would have succumbed to blood loss before he could treat himself. The man’s stitches had to be removed and redone, but this time he had the benefit of numbing salve to ease the process.

As for himself, the physician was not pleased. His stitches needed to be removed as well, as his arm would not heal properly if his skin was pinched together like that. A scab had begun to form on part of his shoulder, which would help stop the flow of blood, but the rest of the injury was still raw. The physician spent over an hour working on his shoulder before covering it in a foul smelling paste and then binding a piece of gauze over it. He still had to use the sling to prevent excess movement, otherwise the scab would break and the new formed skin would tear.

Upon arriving at the inn, Kir eyed his arm and asked Ari, “How come everything always happens to him?”

Ari, still sore from his treatment snapped back at him, “This happened to both of us, idiot! May I point out that you’re the only one who escaped that monster unscathed!”

They had retired early, but sleep did not come to the young soldier. Pain radiated from his shoulder and kept him awake. The physician had given him some numbing salve, but he did not want to use it. Not if they were to travel again soon. He would need it on the road.

Sighing, the boy sat up in bed and stared out the window at the night. The wind was blowing, but it was otherwise a pleasant evening. Maybe a walk would cure him of his restlessness, he thought. It was an alluring idea and Emery slipped out of bed eagerly and pulled on his boots. The rest of the town was likely long asleep, so he did not bother changing out of his sleeping shorts and shirt into more appropriate clothing. Pocketing a key, he crept from the room, down the inn stairs, past the dozing clerk, and out into the open night.

Breathing in the fresh air was a balm to his nerves and Emery felt his anxieties and concerns slip away with each step he took. Careless thoughts of his home and family returned to him and he laughed quietly when he remembered his cousin putting on his tunic that sported his uncle’s livery and prancing around the house with it on, making even their uncle laugh. She had danced around him, kicking up her feet and making the hem of her dress fly as she chanted about how she was going to war. She had tried to convince him to trade places one day with her, to wear her dress and tend to the home and hearth while she put on his uniform and went through a day of training. Almost, she had convinced him of it when Luca came in and chastised the both of them for thinking such foolish things. So far from home and friends, Emery missed the girl.

“Lovely evening, isn’t it?”

His foot froze in midair. All pleasantness evaporated from the air and Emery growled low in his throat, narrowing his eyes and turning slightly to address his new company.

“What are you doing out? Isn’t a soldier’s duty done after sunset?” He sneered.

Noir laughed; the sound was beginning to grate on Emery’s nerves. “So you can tell I’m a soldier. Good. But you should know how being a soldier is, Emery. Our work is never done.” He stepped closer to the boy, smiling. “Your arm looks better.”

“It is. Thank you.” The boy bit out.

“No need to thank me. It’s my job to see that all of those in town are taken care of. Even foreigners. How is your friend doing?”

“He’s well.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

A silence passed between them. Etiquette dictated that it was Emery’s turn to begin a conversational topic, but he clenched his jaw shut, having no intention or desire to speak with the young man further. When he realized that the boy would speak no further, the look on Noir’s face changed from one of calm pleasantry to concern. He folded his arms over his chest and fixed the young soldier with a stern eye.

“I hope you and your friends don’t take me or my people for fools. I know that you went to the ruins of Kenzel and I know that you stole the Spear of Pacifying.”

Emery’s brows lifted in surprise. Noir had made it quite clear earlier that he knew where his team had been and what they had been about. That the spear had a name and a reputation was more of a surprise to him. “I find that name somewhat misleading for what it does.”

Noir ignored him. “That spear is a treasure of my people. For generations, people have told stories of the magical spear and have prayed to it as a manifestation of the gods.”

“That sounds superstitious.”

“As do all religious beliefs to those that do not practice them. In any case, it is a holy relic to my people.” He paused, looking at Emery, noting the pinched and wary expression. “So I suggest that you do not make it known where you got that spear from or what it can do.”

Surprise colored the boy’s face. “You won’t tell?”

“I won’t tell.” Noir nodded then gave his back to the Emery. He began to walk away, but the small soldier called him and he glanced back.

Emery stared at him, confused. “Why? Why won’t you tell?”

The foreign soldier faced him again. For a moment, Noir was silent, contemplating his motivations for himself. Finally, he sighed and shrugged his shoulders delicately. “I suppose because I understand the plight you’re in. We’re not as clueless about the conflict in Gal as you would like to think. And your traveling companions only compound the knowledge we have about a pact between elves and a rebel group opposing the tyranny of your king.”

“That’s a lot of trust to be giving someone you don’t know. It sounds suspicious.”

Noir shrugged again. “Perhaps you and I will have occasion to meet again and I can explain further, hmm? Until then, good night, Emery.”

The young man left him then. The realization that people knew of the civil war on Gal and, more disturbing, that someone knew about the spear, did not sit well in Emery’s stomach. He knew better than to trust Noir unquestioningly and wondered what type of retaliation the foreign soldier could bring down on their heads, if he so chose. If the spear was indeed a holy relic, the man might be able to incite a mob. He dearly hoped that did not happen; they would all be torn to shreds by angry peasants if it did.

The night was no longer calming; new anxieties churned in the boy’s stomach and he turned and headed back to the inn. He slipped inside, unnoticed, and tried to sleep. Rest did not come to him before and it refused to come to him then, not with all the new worries running wild inside his head.

END

Well now, Omar seems to be filled with trouble. Between monsters, strangely friendly soldiers, and personal matters getting in the way, the boys may have their hands full.