Call of Descent
Chapter Twenty-Six

Renikoawoke to sunlight bathing her as it filtered through the tree that wasoverhead. The breeze was rustling the branches and the sunlight danced acrossher closed eyes. With a stretch she awoke and gave a smile to greet the day.She was alone hidden behind the dancing branches of a huge willow tree anhour’s walk from Crosshatch. Malik had left for town the night before aftersharing a cold meal with Reniko. They had both agreed that it would be best forhim to leave and stay at an inn while Reniko remained behind. She was glad forthe time alone. Although traveling with Malik and Orric had been nothing buthelpful as she traversed through this unfamiliar world, she also noticed thedifferences between them. It was nice to be able to sit alone with her thoughtsand not have them complicated by the trappings of Vespen culture. Smiling atthe simple pleasure of relaxing and enjoying the day, she rummaged in her packfor something to eat. Minutes later, she had a small cook fire burning and wasstirring the boiling contents of a small pot.

Asthe morning progressed, so did the heat. As midday came and went, Reniko feltthat the shade of the tree was not going to be enough. Running low on water,she ventured away from her camp into the open heat of the day. Fields of wheatstretched in every direction. The tree she had been sitting under stood nearthe centre of one of these fields and chest high plants were singing in thelight breeze. She saw the gates of Crosshatch in the distance, however, therewas no sign of Malik on the road. Scanning with her eyes, she looked for thenearest body of water and realized that with so much wheat in every direction,she was unable to see anything but the sea of wheat. Retreating back under theswinging vines of the willow, she removed her shoes and, barefooted, began toclimb the boughs of the tree. Finding a comfortable perch, she gazed at hersurroundings, now having a distinct advantage. She watched as villagers cameand went from the small town, some with carts loaded down with goods to selland others burdened with packages on their way home. Past that, she watchedfarmers tending to their fields, fending off the crows that were hidden amongstgrass. Boys and girls ran up and down the rows screaming and laughing as thebirds took flight. It was such a peaceful scene. Something that Reniko hadrarely seen on this planet. It was nice to know that even with all theoppression these people faced, they were still able to smile.

Hergaze traveled away from the city, farther south. There she saw more workerstending their fields and was greeted with the grateful sight of a smallwatering hole where no less than four children were replaceing relief from thegrowing heat. Hoping they wouldn’t mind the company of an adult, she climbeddown from the tree. As she landed and turned to gather her things, she wasgreeted by the smile of an unfamiliar face. Startled, she gasped and stumbledback against the tree at her back.

“Sorry,ma’am, I didn’t mean to startle you,” the young boy said as Reniko regained hercomposure. She stared at the boy. He was no older than ten years old with coalblack hair and inquisitive brown eyes. He was a farmer’s son, by the toughtanned skin that covered his body. Even at his young age he worked hard.

“Myfault, I was too intent on that pond over there,” Reniko said smiling.

Theboy returned the smile. “Is that what you were doing in my tree?”

“Well,yes. Your tree, eh? I’m sorry for trespassing, it was rude of me,” Reniko saidbowing in apology to the young boy. When she gazed at him, as she stoodupright, his cheeks were growing red with embarrassment.

“Idon’t mind so much, just never seen a woman so close to town before.”

“Oh,yes.” It was Reniko’s turn to look embarrassed. She wasn’t planning on such astraightforward comment from the boy. “I’m just passing through town with afriend of mine. We are on our way Tresca. He went in to get supplies.”

“Oh,”the boy said as he pushed the dirt around with his foot. “It’s pro’bly a goodidea that you stayed here. My sister went into town, and never came back. Iwould hate if that happened to you too.”

Reniko’sheart skipped a beat. She had been hoping what Orric had said had beenunfounded, but to hear the pain in this boys voice… And there is nothing Ican do to help him. Not unless I think I can stand up to a whole town of Rükand walk out alive. Reniko shook the thoughts from her head and insteadwrapped a consoling arm around the young boy.

“I’msorry. I know that one day you and your sister will be able to walk this landfree. It can’t be like this forever.” Reniko said.

Theboy looked up at her incredulously. “It’s always been this way, why would yousay such a thing?”

“Well,I know this is all you have ever known, and all you father has ever known, but,you see that wheat field over there?” Reniko asked sweeping her hand out infront of the boy.

“Yeah,”he responded.

“Wellwhen it grows you cut it down right?”

“Yeah.”

“Thenthat entire field there is bare. Life is like that. Sometimes things need timeto grow and when they are ready they can change.”

“Soyou think that my sister is going to come back?”

“Shecould, but just like it takes hard work to harvest the wheat it’ll take hardwork to change what is happening in this village. Do you understand?”

“You’resaying that I can’t just sit and wait, that I have to do something about it?”

Thiskid catches on fast, Reniko thought.

“Don’tbe reckless. Patience is the hardest but most rewarding thing you’ll everexperience.”

“You’restrange,” the boy said letting Reniko’s words slide over him like water. “I’mToby. Do you wanna go down to the pond? I’ll introduce you to the other kids.”

“Iguess that means you want to know my name,” Reniko said as she slipped her packonto her back.

“Ohyeah,” Toby said. Reniko smiled and shook her head slightly, kids.

“I’mReniko. It’s nice to meet you Toby.”

“Reniko–” Toby let the sentence trail off, his thought wandering to other things, andwith a shrug he gestured for Reniko to follow him and they headed off towardthe water hole.

Theyarrived at the water hole a few minutes later and the screaming and laughterthat they had heard on their way there stopped immediately as the childrenrealized that there was an interloper.

Tobystepped forward as fearless as ever amongst his peers. “This is Reniko, I foundher in my tree.”

Anotheryoung boy with blond hair stepped forward and looked at Reniko giving her aninformal appraisal.

“Iknow you. You’re that girl that the Rük are looking for.”

Renikoswallowed a large lump in her throat.

“Reniko,that’s where I heard that name before,” Toby said the pieces finally fallinginto place in his mind. He looked at Reniko with awe. “What did you do that theRük put posters up everywhere for you? They’ve never done that before. Anyoneelse that does stuff the Rük don’t like just disappear.”

Therest of the boys that had been swimming stopped and were gathering aroundReniko at the shore, all intently listening for the answer.

Renikofelt uneasy. She didn’t realize that her presence on Vespen was this widelyknown. “I cut down the wheat,” Reniko muttered. Toby was the only one thatunderstood her answer.

“Whatabout your friend. You said he went into town?”

“Yes,he should be back soon.”

“Notif he is the one on the posters with you.”

Reniko’sface widened in horror, I’m not the only one the Rük are looking for. Ofcourse they would be looking for Malik as well. “I have to go,” Reniko saidas she began to race back to the road, however, Toby put a hand out and stoppedher in her tracks.

“Youcan’t go into town you’ll just be giving them what they want. That won’t helpyour friend.” Reniko glanced at Toby, his eyes pleading with her not to go.“You told me not to be reckless.”

Renikonodded, “You’re right Toby. I think I have a plan.”

“All you have to do is surprise me,”Dertrik said. Reniko looked at him with a frown.

“That’s it? That’s all I have to do?Surprise you? That doesn’t seem very hard.” Reniko was sitting crossed leggedon the grass in Dertrik’s backyard trying not to laugh at this new assignmentthat Dertrik was placing upon her.

“Have you ever snuck up on me?” Dertriksimply asked.

Reniko paused and thought about that.“Well, no, but I’ve never tried before.”

“I’m giving you the chance. No timelimit on this, Renny,” Dertrik had said and simply walked away, leaving thefifteen-year-old to stare after him in confusion.

She didn’t try at all for the first fewweeks proceeding the assigning of the task. She knew that Dare would beexpecting her to, and of course, that made everything more difficult, so shewaited and was quite flustered when Dertrik remained silent on the subject. Henever once asked her why she hadn’t even tried or if she had given up, he justresumed normal training like he had never asked her in the first place. Thissent Reniko’s mind reeling in a thousand different directions. Nevertheless shedecided some weeks after receiving the task to surprise her master.

She considered it for a long time andwhen she finally thought she had a foolproof plan, she executed it. It was pastmidnight when she snuck out of her house, unnoticed by the household. She hadcrossed over onto Dertrik’s estate with much difficulty having to bypass hissecurity and avoid various cameras that dotted the grounds. She had slippedinto the house with ease and silently manoeuvred her way to Dertrik’s bedroomwhere both he and Claire slept. She eased the door open and walked cautiouslyover to his bed. She had decided not to involve Claire in this exercise andtherefore had decided to blow gently on Dertrik’s face until he awoke. As shestood over Dertrik however, his eyes popped open surprising Reniko.

“You have more patience than I did,”Dertrik whispered into the night air.

“Dare, how?”

He pointed at the window that stood behindReniko. She looked and saw the moonlight filtering through the sheer curtains.When she looked at Dertrik she realized that she was casting a shadow on thebed.

“I await your next try. Until then,Renny, get some sleep. It’s three in the morning. Your mother will be worriedif you are not in bed when she wakes up in the morning.” Dertrik laid his headback down on the pillow and soon Reniko could hear the even breathing of sleep.Stunned, she retreated.

She had tried numerous times after thatfirst endeavour to surprise Dertrik, a task she soon deemed impossible. Itwasn’t until she was seventeen that the opportunity finally arose.

Two years to the day after Reniko hadbeen assigned the task, Dertrik went riding into the forest behind his estate.Reniko had come onto his estate just as he had left, grinning as she realizedthat Dertrik had not seen her enter his yard she decided it was time to showDare what she had learned. She knew the woods better than Dertrik did, she hadtraversed all the paths that led through the woods both manmade and animal madeand she knew where Dertrik was headed. She headed out on foot, traveling fast.She skittered along the path soundlessly until she saw Dertrik ahead. Changingher trajectory, she skirted through the woods and around Dertrik. Finding abranch that hung low over the path below, she jumped and swung quietly into thedepths of the foliage. She didn’t have to wait long for Dertrik to come up thepath. Locking her legs around the branch she swung down startling the horse andDertrik. With her face inches from him and her outstretched hand touching thebase of his throat, she grinned.

A smile finally spread across Dertrik’sface as Reniko swung down from the tree branch and landed soundlessly onto theground.

“Let me guess,” Dertrik said.

“Two years to the day. I thought youwould be expecting it.”

Dertrik smiled, “I was.” He turned hishorse around and headed back home. Reniko frowned and followed.

“So what does that mean?”

“It means that even though I wasexpecting you to try, you still managed to surprise me.”

“So I’m done my task?”

“Do you know why I asked you to surpriseme two years ago, Renny?”

Reniko knew. “To teach me stealth,silence, the ways of an assassin.”

This comment surprised Dertrik as well.

“Assassin?”

Reniko grabbed hold of Dertrik’s reinsand began leading his horse down the path. “Well there are various arts, aren’tthere? Honour can’t always be used, sometimes there are going to be times whereI will have to sneak in and acquire things in secret.”

Dertrik nodded. “It’s an art, but notone to be used lightly. I taught you the skills of an assassin for purely onereason and one reason only.”

“What is that?”

“Those skills can also help you be deftin the blade. Good or evil, Renny, always remember that.”

Iwill.Reniko thought as she stood outside the gates of Crosshatch. She was covered inshadow in the middle of the cool night. Dressed all in black, face hidden, shelooked the part of a ninja, a night-time assassin. It is days like thesethat I am glad that Dertrik had the sense to teach me the less honourable arts.

Thecity sounds had died hours before. She had waited patiently until all that washeard were the footsteps of the sentries that stood watch around the walls ofthe town. Men had been posted during the day, but as the sun began to set, theRük had taken their positions, intent on making sure no one disobeyed the lawsthat they had placed. As the Rük had become more prominent, the city’s culturehad died. She could hear the boisterous talk of the nearby guards who seemed tobe more intent on their drink than on their duty. There was no way she wasgoing to get through the gate, having seen only sober Rük roaming close by, soshe had chosen a spot on the wall where she could climb over with ease.Silently, she began her ascent, her form hugging close to the shadows. She madeno sound as she slid over the wall and landed softly on the other side. The twoRük she had heard earlier were to her left, bathed in a glorious array oftorchlight. Reniko stood just outside the ring of light and watched as theyspoke their crude language. The two Rük, of a forest green colour, seemed to behaving a match in a game that Reniko had never seen before. As she turned toleave, she heard one of them shout loudly. She turned only to see that the twosentries had begun a fight and were attracting the attention of other Rüknearby. As they converged on her point, she slipped down the other side of thewall and stood amongst the shadows of the city buildings. She paused for amoment as she heard the fighting directly overhead. Daring to look up, she gavea quick glance only to look straight into the eyes of an emerald green Rük.Holding her breath, she waited for the inevitable call that would give heraway, only to have him walk away without even a second glance in her direction.Letting out her breath she moved deeper into the city using the shadows as hershelter.

Toby,the day before had drawn a rough map of the city. As crude as it had been, hehad shown Reniko the only possible location at which Malik could be. She madeher way there as quickly as possible, not daring to breathe as she crossed thepath of vicious Rük. As she neared her destination the amount of passers-bygrew as well. As the streets filled with Rük, Reniko took to the rooftops,gliding on top of them. The groups of Rük below never saw her. Occasionally,she would pass by leaving a shadow on the roof, and knowing as much, she hid asa nearby Rük glanced in her direction. It was lucky for her that the Rük onthis planet felt as secure as they did--in their wildest dreams they couldn’timagine a human that would take a stand against them, so to them, her minormistakes were no threat at all.

Afteralmost an hour of hidden traveling, Reniko made it to her destination. The Rükhere had set up a centre of operations inside the city, unlike Rük from otherareas that lived in their own centres and only came into the human towns toterrorize and plunder. Here the centre of the city housed the pride of theCrosshatch Rük, a fortress that no human had ever willingly entered. Those whowere taken there never left, and this was where Reniko was to replace Malik, if,as she hoped, he was still alive.

Shestood on the nearest rooftop and listened. A party was raging inside. Toby hadtold her that this was not unusual for the Rük who were seen more during thenight than they were in the day. The whole building was ablaze with light; thiswas to Reniko’s immediate disadvantage. The only shadows on the building were inaccessible,which left Reniko the roof as her only route in. Toby had told her that atnight screams could be heard from the building, all of which originated fromthe lower levels. He said that he had been told there was a labyrinth ofpassages deep underground that crisscrossed under most of the buildings ofCrosshatch. Reniko had agreed that that would be the place where they werekeeping Malik. Resigned to a long and perilous journey down, she skated acrossthe rooftop and landed softly onto the slanted roof of the Rük fortress.

Runningon a burst of adrenaline, Reniko slid into a nearby window emerging into thedank confines of the Rük’s domain. She nearly gagged when she inhaled. Thesmell of rot and filth a miasma in the air. Thankful for the cloth covering herface that helped filter the smell, she navigated the empty bunk room andquietly opened the door. The hallway before her seemed to be empty, so she slidout of the room. She could hear the music and laughter filtering up the hallwayfrom below. The noise seemed to be more confined to the right, so she headed tothe left, away from the concentration of Rük. The stairs she found herself onspiralled down into a black void. Cursing silently, she navigated downwards,wishing that she had been better prepared with a layout of the building. Shehated the fact that she was running through this fortress so blindly withhundreds of Rük within a hair’s breadth of catching her.

Thesmell of death became more prominent as she spiralled down the stairs: she hadchosen correctly. She passed hallways that ended at the staircase on everylevel of the fortress. Each time she would pause and wait until the Rük thatpopulated the areas close by were distracted. On two occasions she had todivert their attention away. As she neared the bottom of the stairs, she beganto feel uneasy. The way down had been too easy to traverse, the Rük in thebuilding had been too distracted, security too lax. Unnerved by this suddenrealization, she hesitated to go on. She was about to turn back when two thingshappened. The first was she heard footsteps coming down the stairs, and thesecond was a cry she heard from deep within the confines of the underground, acry that could not be mistaken. Malik was down there and he was alive, but forhow long Reniko could not guess. Unsure whether she was walking straight into atrap, she headed farther into the labyrinth following the sound of voices andMalik’s screams.

Sheknew she had found the place she was looking for when she saw two cream Rükguards posted outside a door. Light filtered from behind the door as well asscreams and the harsh voice that could only be formed by a Rük. Hiding in theshadows around a corner, Reniko reached into a pouch on her belt and pulled outan array of throwing knives. Breathing deeply, she tried to calm herself forthe actions she was about to commit. Dertrik had always told her that throwingknives was not her specialty; she just hoped that this night she performed wellenough. With one last cleansing breath, she darted around the corner. With hertargets in sight, she threw the deadly projectiles and was rewarded with thebest result--no sound as the life seeped out of the two Rük guards.

Herheart beating with the rush of danger, she stepped out from the shadows andsearched the guards for the key to the cell. When she found it, she peeredovertly into the window in the door. She was greeted by a terrible sight. Malikhung suspended from the ceiling by two chains that shackled around his wristsand twisted his arms up behind him. He wore no shirt, only pants and what skinthat was exposed was burned or bleeding. He seemed barely alive. Worst of allwas the form that stood beside him. Reniko had never seen a Rük that was sotall. He stood over nine feet, his bone crown stood tall and pristine,untouched and razor sharp. His gray skin rippled with tension and joy as hewatched Malik suffering before him.

“Tellme where the girl they call Reniko is and all this pain will end.” His voicewas throaty and menacing, it made Reniko shiver to hear him talk.

Shewatched as Malik tried to breath, the weight of his own body hanging pressinghard against his lungs. She was surprised when she heard him respond.

“Iwill die before I let you lay a hand on her,” Malik looked at the Rük withrebellion and spat the blood that had collected in his mouth onto the Rük’sfeet. This was rewarded by a hand on his shoulder that tore through his skinslowly and with intense pleasure. The scream that issued forth made Reniko’sbody tense. With a vehemence she had never felt before, she plunged into theroom, pulling out a pair of daggers as she blazed through the door.

Notat all unnerved by this sudden intrusion, the gray Rük turned to look at thesmall fuming figure before him. He smiled and this action caused Reniko to comeout of her blind hatred. She had been right. It was a trap; she knew by thelook on Malik’s face as he saw her step into the room. He tried to scream forher to run, but the gray Rük slapped him hard knocking the words from hismouth.

Renikobegan to ease back into the hallway. The gray Rük advanced, the smile stillspread across his face.

“Whereare you going, my dear? Would you leave without your friend?” He was getting soclose to Reniko. She had never felt so frightened in her life as this imposingcreature fell upon her, his gaze and words holding her in place, daggers posedfor the kill.

“Whatevermade you think that you could stand against the might of the Rük?” the grayfigure asked. His question reintegrated the rage that Reniko had felt and sheglared at the nine-foot figure with disdain.

“Youbleed just as I do. What makes you think you are so powerful?” Reniko asked.The gray Rük sneered at her. Reniko took a threatening step toward the Rük onlyto stop as she heard footsteps in the hallway behind her. She paused andglanced over her shoulder slightly.

TheRük’s smile reappeared. “There is no way out. Come along quietly and there willbe no need to hurt the boy further.”

Renikoglanced at Malik, his body sagging with defeat. He looked at Reniko withpleading eyes and whispered hoarsely, “Run, Reniko, run away. Leave me here,save yourself. Just run.”

Renikopaused unsure what to do. Every moment she stood there waiting, the closer thefootsteps came, but how could she just leave Malik here? I can’t condemn himto death. She looked again at the gray Rük, his smile piercing her like hotknives.

“IfI promise to stay in his place and not kill anymore Rük, will you let him go?”Reniko asked, seething.

Inresponse to her words, the gray Rük loosened the chains holding Malik and Malikdropped to the floor. Reniko dropped her daggers and ran to Malik’s sidehelping to hold him as he tried to lift himself from the ground. The footstepsconverged on the room as Malik lifted his head to look at Reniko.

“Why?Why didn’t you leave?” His eyes pleaded with her. She had never been so hauntedby a sight in her life. He looked as if every piece of him had died.

“Icouldn’t. I couldn’t leave you to die. I’d rather you live than I. Theresistance needs you. You’re the only one that can stop them, Malik.” Renikofelt a hard grip on her arm and she was torn away from Malik’s grasp. Heslumped again to the floor as two Rük converged on his position. Reniko feltthe mask she had over her head being ripped away, her hair tumbling gracefullydown her back. With an unexpected gentleness, the arm that held her turned heraround. She stood looking at the face of the gray Rük who hovered over her, adaunting ten feet as he raised himself to his full height, her strength drainedby the sight of her distraught comrade.

TheRük still held the smile, the smile of victory. Reniko couldn’t help but hopethat when she won, she never held the smile that this creature before her wore.

“Soyou are the mighty Reniko. You’re the first human to kill a Rük and the last.I’ve waited a very long time to meet you. I am Orborok, ruler of EdonalEclith.”