Bartak Cry

I watched as Tame slowly pulled the young lord up over a builder as we all ascended Sleight Mountain. His plan was a sound one. Track the river up the mountain to find any clues as to what caused the draught. I knew the plan well it was one I had thought of before. But my men weren’t mountaineers so I originally discarded the idea thinking maybe we could try something else. But when I told the Lord that he just laughed saying, “It’s easier to take the road than it is to make one.” I had never heard that quote before, but it certainly rang true. Still, I was shocked by his actions today. For him to address the village like he had was amazing. Never had the young lord been able to talk so well before such a large crowd. It was so bad he had been called the cowardly lord by other nobles and even commoners.

Yet, he faced the whole village of Cal’sar today without even once batting an eye. I had seen him practice countless times to make speeches like he did today only for when the time came, he shrunk before his audience and had me to take over. He never had the confidence to face so many people before. Yet today he not only was able to face all of Cal’sar but he even followed through with his plan to march up the river.

“My Lord, maybe you should turn back with Tame. I can finish this investigation with the men.” I called out as I climbed forward easily reaching the young Lord and Tame. While my second in command looked as fresh as he did this morning, the young lord was panting obviously exhausted from the climb. After the last three weeks of exercising with me and my men he had come a long way, but he was still not at the level that he should be joining us on this investigation. If I had my way, he would never have to go on another investigation like this again. If he hadn’t ordered me to bring him, I would never have put him in such danger. We had no idea what was on this mountain after all. That and with the rains from little over a month ago its highly likely that there could be a rockslide if we weren’t careful and stepped in just the wrong place or gods forbid the weather takes a turn… well the weather wouldn’t change so quickly but still I didn’t like putting the young lord in danger.

“You can ask to send me back all you want.” The young lord locked eyes with me. His gaze was sharp, determined, and defiant. “But I have to do this. I only barely convinced the village and its elders that they can trust me. If I don’t show them that I am willing to work to solve our problems I will be throwing that trust away. They need to know that I will not leave matters to another if I can help.” I wanted to argue but bit back any remarks. Damn you boy. Why must you argue with me. I grit my teeth and nod my consent. Tame watched as the young lord passed me still panting but moving none the less. His gaze shifted over to me and I could see his question a mile away.

“I know, but we can’t argue with him. I will reach the head of the column and continue the march.” Tame sighed and moved behind the young lord ready to protect him. It was odd to see the normally boastful man so quiet. Seems even he knew how dangerous this situation was. While we knew no scourge beasts called this mountain home that didn’t mean the mountain was safe. The natural animals of the mountain could easily be a threat on their own.

I could understand why the young lord wanted to do this, but he was not ready yet. Not to mention it hasn’t been that long sense someone tried to take his life. He should still be recovering. But even I could see that, that was never going to happen. The young lord was just too restless after what happened. From trying to regain his memories to trying and improve himself, I could see how lost the young lord really was. He most of felt like a fish out of water being thrown in this position. He must have been so lost. I couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to have no memories. If I forgot who I was and was forced to face my past actions and behavior I don’t know if I would have been able to handle it. The young lord though, was trying to overcome his past self.

I was proud of him; I doubted many people could overcome such a trial. But I didn’t want him to put himself in danger. But I had no choice but to obey his orders. I had to show him that I supported him fully. He was my boy after all. I turned back to look down the column. We were making good time even with the young lord needing to rest every now and again.

Sparing a glance over to the riverbed I wondered what was causing this. It didn’t feel natural. But that was why the young lord wanted to investigate it. still my nerves seemed to flare at the sight of the riverbed. Nothing but gagged rocks and mud now without the river. There were still some fallen tree logs that littered the riverbed as it continued up the mountain. I was certain all debris that would be found in the riverbed was from rockslides. Yet something caught my eye. Something that glinted. “Hold!” I ordered. My men can to a stop and quickly circled around the young lord with Tame drawing his sword as he got in front of him. The young lord flinched in surprise as he looked around.

“What happened?” He asked as he moved towards the riverbed. Carefully I lowered myself into the riverbed careful not to slip over the rocks. With a heavy thump I landed at the bottom of the riverbed. It was like a scar running down the mountains face more than three times my height at its deepest point. I could imagine it running like a rapid in this part with how steep the incline was at this point of its path. I didn’t have to head to the center of the riverbed thankfully as he knelt at the edge of the incline. Lodged in the mud was a sword hilt. I wouldn’t have noticed it were it not for some of the mud being smeared across its guard.

I gripped it in both hands and yanked it out from the mud with a splatter. The sword was broken the blade split down the middle missing half its length leaving a gagged forked end. It was a simple blade from what I could see, nothing ornate like what most common folk would carry to war. I wondered how it got here, but I was sure if any poor fool tried traveling up the mountain and not been careful, they easily could have ended up falling in the river when it was running. Accept, this blade wasn’t rusted over and worn from the river eroding it.

No, this blade was fresh like it had only just been broken and lost to the river. I hummed as I looked for any identifying markers. After all, while a simple sword like this wouldn’t cost much to replace, many would mark their equipment with something of their home to identify their belongings. But this blade had none of that. Odd, most men valued a good sword. I thought as I tossed the blade back into the mud and looked up towards the young lord and my men. Before I could speak though, a crack echoed out through the forest. My eyes flashed left and right as I drew my battle axe from my back.

“What was this?” Tame asked as he looked out into the forest. I did the same as I bound back to the edge of forest with arching strides before leaping back up onto the stone edge falling in with my men. “Prepare yourselves!” I boomed as I let my eyes zeroed in on a large section of stones farther up the mountain ahead of me. The rocks shifted ahead as more cracking rang out till it was finally visible around its base. My eyes widened at the sight, and I spun locking two of my men in the crooks of my elbows. “Jump to the sides! It’s a rockslide!” I quickly threw my men left and right sending on tumbling into the riverbed and the other back towards the tree line. My other men jumped in both directions even as Tame quickly picked up the young lord and jumped into the riverbed with him. Good man. I thought as I spun around just in time to see the giant boulder break free and come crashing towards me.

I had no time to dodge it. With a curse I moved to try and fall flat and hope the boulder would sail over head as it approached. But even I knew I was too big, for once my giant body was a detriment to me. “No Bartak!” I heard the young lord shout out. I winced knowing that I would die. Forgive me my boy I am sorry I won’t be there to see the man you become. I thought sadly ready to accept my end. But instead of die, I watched in shock as the boulder exploded before me as vine like tentacles shot out from the ground smashing the boulder away into little pebbles that tinkled off my armor.

I stared in shock at what was before me. a giant purple root like vine wriggled before up towards the sky before sinking back into the ground. That can’t be. how is that here. I thought as I turned to see Tame holding back the young lord who was hung over the older man’s arm. The young lord must have tried running to save me. if it were any other time, I would have been proud of him. But now, was not that time. My eyes zeroed in on the mud in the riverbed as it began to dry at a rapid rate. Tame locked eyes with me, recognition flashing over his face.

Both of us knew what this was. “Men! To arms!” I howled as large pods began sprouting out of the ground all around with loud cracks and growls. I watched as each pod burst out as twisted beasts seemed to grow out of the beast. Plant like creatures formed of a root like skin over a bipedal body with a long twisting snouted head that looked like a thorn rolled forward with deep orange eyes. The sword in the riverbed made sense now. why it was broken and what happened to its owner. “Rot thorns!” I growled as the beast let its winding snout snap open in loud clicks as almost a hundred or so beasts looked at me and my men. Hell broke loose as the beast shot towards us.