Content Warning: Some profanity, physical violence, and mention of corpses
Murat shut his eyes and braced himself for the arrow's impact when he suddenly felt himself being knocked over. His back pounded against the grass. He opened his eyes.
“Beslan,” he breathed. His kunak was staring down at him.
“Run!” Beslan grabbed Murat’s arm and yanked him to his feet. Then he pushed Murat’s head back down again to avoid another incoming arrow. He gripped Murat’s hand and pulled him forward. They ran into the forest, with other villagers following close behind.
Beslan pulled Murat into a thicket and they crouched down. Murat’s heart was pounding and he tried not to exhale too loudly. Through the leaves, they saw villagers run past followed by Vargoranth soldiers on horseback. After that, they heard swords slashing and pained shrieks. Murat winced.
“Beslan,” he whispered. “Where are my father and Temur? Where’s Nadya?”
“Don’t know,” Beslan whispered back. “We were attacked without warning.”
“Is it because my father rejected the envoys’ offer a few days ago?”
“Who knows? Those bastards would’ve attacked us sooner or later.”
The branches and leaves of the thicket were pushed aside and a grim-looking soldier on horseback stared them down with murderous intent and saber drawn. Murat curled up and shuddered.
With an anguished shout, Beslan drew his qama dagger and stabbed the horse’s front leg. The horse whinnied and reared, throwing the soldier to the ground. He landed with a thud and his saber was thrown to the side. When he got up to reach for it, Beslan kicked him in the face and grabbed it instead.
“Let’s go!” Beslan shouted. Murat got up to his feet and followed him. The trees blurred around him as he ran and focused only on Beslan. His heart pounded wildly and his legs ached as if acid was leaching into his muscles and bones. Sweat dripped down his forehead and stung his eyes. He tripped on a tree root and hit the ground with a yelp.
Beslan turned around and ran back to help him up. A whistling sound pierced the air and Beslan screamed. Murat’s eyes widened when he saw the arrow shaft sticking out of Beslan’s left arm.
Soldiers armed with crossbows materialized between the trees and closed in on them. Beslan held up the saber with his right hand and held Murat close to him with his other injured arm. Murat clutched the fabric of Beslan’s chokha and his eyes began to water. Were they going to die here?
The soldiers aimed their crossbows at them. Murat shut his eyes. He heard the pull of the triggers and the whistling sound of the arrows cutting through the air. Beslan wrapped himself around Murat to shield him and they both fell onto the damp detritus. Murat was pinned under Beslan’s weight and could not move. He heard the horses galloping closer. His heart pounded faster at the same time Beslan’s heartbeat was ebbing away.
Please! I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die!
There was a flash of light. Then came the darkness.
***
Murat opened his eyes and saw the light filtering through the leaves of the forest canopy. It was eerily quiet. He sat up quickly but immediately regretted it when his head spun. He clutched his forehead and took a few moments to remember what had just happened. The strap of his satchel was still slung across his chest.
“Beslan?” he called out. No answer.
He looked down at his chokha. There was dried blood on the fabric, but he did not feel any injuries on himself. Was it Beslan’s? Where was he?
Did we both die? Is this the afterlife?
A bell chimed and he abruptly turned. His eyes widened and he gasped. Before him stood the silver-haired stranger that he had encountered before.
“W-what are you doing here?” Murat asked. The stranger tilted his head and raised an eyebrow.
“I saved you,” he finally said. His voice sounded similar to Murat’s.
“Saved me? Then, I’m not dead?”
The stranger gave him a look as if he asked a foolish question.
“Where’s Beslan? Did you save him too?”
“No.”
Murat’s voice grew tense. “Why? Why didn’t you save him?”
“It was too late.”
Murat’s heart sank and tears welled in his eyes. “He was only protecting me. If I hadn’t tripped and fallen…” The tears began to roll down his cheek. His voice lowered to a whisper and he cast his gaze downwards. “Why did you save me then? Why didn’t you just let me die?”
“Because you didn’t want to die.”
Murat’s eyes widened and he looked up.
“Those were your thoughts, were they not?”
“Yes…they were…Was that why you saved me, because you could hear my thoughts?”
“Perhaps.”
“Are you…the Silver Sorcerer? Khamzat thought you might have been after I described you, but we weren’t sure.”
The stranger smiled. “Yes, I suppose you could call me that.”
“Oh…do you have a real name?”
The stranger smirked. “Names are for other people. I have no need for such things.”
“Um…”
“But if you must call me something, Silver Sorcerer is fine.”
“Then, thank you, Silver Sorcerer, for saving my life.” Murat lowered his head in deference. The Silver Sorcerer nodded in acknowledgment. Murat stood up and then remembered something. “The village…what’s become of it? I have to go check.”
“Go ahead,” the Silver Sorcerer said. He pointed straight ahead. “It’s that way.”
Murat began to run. He wasn’t sure if there were still Vargoranth soldiers around so he kept himself on guard. The Silver Sorcerer might not save him a second time.
He felt like he was running for a long time. How deep in the forest did the Silver Sorcerer transport him? Every tree looked the same and he could not get his bearings. Did the Silver Sorcerer point him in the right direction or was he deceiving him? He had no choice since he did not know where else to go.
When he smelled smoke, he knew that he was getting closer. The pungence was no longer overwhelming so the fires must have died down. He slowed down, worried that soldiers might be lurking nearby. He crouched and made his way through the thicket. When he reached the edge of the forest, he looked around. No soldiers were patrolling. He ran across the grass and into the village.
The buildings of the village were blackened by fire and some structures had fallen over. Mangled corpses lay in the streets, their faces burnt and unrecognizable. Clouds of flies buzzed over them and Murat clamped his hand over his mouth to suppress the urge to vomit. He ran to where his house was. The stone walls were charred and surrounded by ash. Where were his father and brother? Did they perish in the house or did they die in the streets fighting off the soldiers? He walked through the empty rooms, leaving footprints on the ashy floor. It was familiar yet so alien. He felt as if he were walking through a mausoleum.
The next place he went to was Nadya’s house. Its condition was even worse. Half the roof was gone. The door was burnt and falling down. Stones were dislodged from the blackened wall. He went in and quickly looked around. Nobody. Was she out there among the corpses? Or was she taken away? He shuddered at the thought.
He continued down the winding streets, stopping at the village square. This place, where joyous people had once gathered for festivities, now lay silent with lifeless bodies that would never sing and dance again. He wiped the tears that were starting to form, smearing ash on his face.
He felt physically and emotionally exhausted and sat down in the shadow of a stone tower. Why was he, the most useless of all the villagers, the sole survivor of this invasion? The only reason he was alive was because he was out daydreaming and leisurely gathering plants while everyone else was hard at work in the village. And he wouldn’t have even lived this long if Beslan had not rescued him, had not bravely sacrificed his life to protect his weak, cowardly self. Fate was cruel and unjust. He drew his knees to his chest, buried his face in his arms, and wept.
A bell chimed and he looked up. The Silver Sorcerer was walking toward him.
“Did you find what you were looking for?” he asked.
Murat shook his head. “I can’t find my family or Nadya. I don’t know whether they are here among the dead or somewhere far away. It would take a long time to check every corpse.”
“I am sorry for your loss.”
Murat sighed bitterly. “Khamzat said that he didn’t know whether it was a good or bad omen that I saw you that first time in the forest. And then all this happened.”
The Silver Sorcerer narrowed his eyes and frowned. “The fact that you encountered me before your village was destroyed does not mean that I caused this. You saw the invaders yourself. Also, I saved you, did I not?”
Murat grit his teeth. “But why?! Why didn’t you save anyone else?”
The Silver Sorcerer glared at him. “You ask for too much.”
Murat winced and looked downward.
“If my presence offends you, then I shall take my leave,” the Silver Sorcerer said. He turned and began to walk away.
“Wait!” Murat stood up. The Silver Sorcerer paused. “I-I’m sorry. You did save me, even though I still don’t understand why, and I am grateful. It’s just that, amongst everyone in the village, I’m probably the least deserving of being saved, and none of this makes sense.”
“Things generally do not make sense,” the Silver Sorcerer replied. “One realizes this after being around for centuries.”
“Huh…you really are that old…”
The Silver Sorcerer smirked. “Do not let appearances deceive you.”
“Why do you have my face?”
“Would you prefer a different one?”
“What does your real face look like?”
“I have neither a real name nor a real face.”
Murat blinked.
The Silver Sorcerer continued. “Anyway, I am returning to the forest.”
“Oh…what should I do then?”
“You decide what you want to do.”
Murat inhaled deeply and let out his breath slowly. “There’s nothing left for me here.”
The Silver Sorcerer continued walking away.
I don’t know whether I can trust him but he also saved my life, Murat thought. If I stay out here by myself, I will probably not live long. If I can survive, I could find out why we were attacked and avenge everyone.
The Silver Sorcerer heard hurried footsteps behind him.
“Wait!” Murat said. “Can I…go with you?”
The Silver Sorcerer nodded. “If you wish.”
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