030 - A Few More Straight Answers

The next morning, Caspian cast a scrying spell to locate Roxanne specifically. Steven did not mention yet, but he had once been an avid reader of fantasy, starting with Tolkien, moving through much of the rest of the published library as it then existed and interested him. The falling out he had with the SCA had closed that chapter. As Caspian worked on his pan of salt water, he responded that he had a clear image, and had found Roxanne: she was in a fortress-structure, in a city in the kingdom west, whose boarder they were to cross before leaving the forest, if they had not passed it already. After cleaning and packing up, the two men started off. Caspian encouraged Steven to practice his sword work as they travel, and know that this will somehow work out for the best.

Steven was still irritable, but he found it easier to marshal his senses and focus on the job at hand. Now he had more information, if the source was to be trusted.

They left the forest and entered the highland farmlands that surrounded the next village. Caspian could tell that Steven was upset again, and was waiting for him to express himself. He was getting a bit irritated himself at that point. Steven was continually walking what felt like a half step too close or several too far, varying his pace as his thoughts affected his mood. Then he stopped in the middle of the road as they past a cornfield nearly ready for planting.

“Caspian. I want a straight answer.”

Steven had found an instinctive way of hitting just the right tone to get Caspian’s nerves. He stopped but did not turn to face him.

“You want.” Caspian let his irritation loose with that phrase, but spoke slowly to keep it in check. He could sense mana start to swirl around them, like a light breeze. “That is about all I have heard out of you for the last week. Don’t you ever think of anything besides what you want?”

Steven all but snarled back, waving his hands about to emphasize his words, unaware of any mana buildup, just that he was starting to proverbially see red. “Yes, I do. I think of my children being somewhere that God only knows. Of my wife being somewhere else. All of them in jeopardy. Of my business in trouble without me there to solve the problems. Of…”

Caspian rounded on him at that point, just missing the top of Steven’s head with his staff. Cyrril complained as he dug in to keep from being thrown off.

“You are still thinking only of what you want. What about the farmers we have been passing? The merchants and their businesses? Do you think of them? Do you have any idea what will happen to them it we do not get your kids back into your hands?” Caspian continued, moderating his tone and speed, trying not to loose control.

Steven stepped up to argue. “How can I?” He was yelling now. “You won’t tell me anything. I have no idea what makes my kids special to whoever has them. I don’t know that my problems affect these farmers. You seem to, but have refused to let me in on the secret, instead keeping the whole world on your shoulders.”

This statement could not have hurt more if it had been a sword running Caspian through, wounding him with its truth. He took a step back, and a deep breath.

Cyrril was picking up on the agitation, and if Caspian was not careful, would make it worse.

“All right. Try this.” Caspian took a breath. “The people who have your kids are the retainers of the dominant evil rulers in that part of this world. They want to have your kids raised to become purely evil. Then turn them loose to conquer as far as they can. They don’t care what this means to you, or what it will mean to that farmer, or anybody. And right now you are acting the same way.” Caspian pointed out into the cornfield as he spoke.

“Well, Atlas, I am, am I?”

“Yes. And you’re irritating me greatly.”

“Well gee. I wouldn’t be acting this way if you would just tell me what’s going on.”

They stood almost nose to nose, Steven most of a head taller, in a ridiculous shouting contest.

“Right now we are going to get your wife, before continuing after your kids.”

“Yeah. Right. So where are we going?”

“To the capitol. I don’t remember the name just now.”

“What will we have to do to get there?”

“Walk. And not kill each other.”

“And after that?”

“Figure out how to get your wife back.”

Both of them were too disciplined to throw the first blow. But they also were to the point of needing a physical release, or this would not end. All through the argument Cyrril had been hissing and spitting in tune to Caspian; his fight-or-flight was at a much baser level than either of the men. Cyrril took the first swing, and swatted at Steven.

Steven slapped Cyrril off Caspian’s shoulder, and into the ditch at the side of the road. That set Caspian off. The staff almost moved on its own, right into Steven’s chest knocking his wind out and him down.

Steven lashed out and kicked Caspian’s feet out, he went down. They both got to their feet, already covered in road dust.

Steven was shrugging off his pack, crossbow, and great coat, as he drew in more air. He threw them as one pile to land almost on top of Cyrril as they cleared the ditch. The little beast did not see them coming and Steven was not looking where he was tossing. Unburdened, he drew his sword.

Caspian simply adjusted his grip and started in on him with the staff.

They both stopped for a moment, looking at each other to see if they were going to commit to this. Then they closed in a clash of staff and sword, fists, arms, legs, and bodies. The dust up could not have gone very long.

When it was done Caspian had a few more nicks in his staff, and a bloody mouth and nose. He also needed a new outer cloak, or to repair a slash the length of his arm. Steven was limping and cradling a sore shoulder

Cyrril, for his part, was the most upset having landed in an irrigation ditch full of mud.

Steven and Caspian kept their silence until nightfall. As they sat by the campfire, Caspian mended his cloak, and thought about what he knew and did not know about their situation and the lands they were traveling through, and how much he could tell Steven, and how to say it. He finally spoke.

“Steven. I’m not used to having traveling companions. You are not used to this land. I have to learn to share my information. You need to learn to better keep an even temper. So here is where things sit. You need some more experience with this world, and to continue to change your costume to look more like a native. I have more information to share, but need to check with some sources first, to get it right. We also need to go retrieve Roxanne. From there we can get on with retrieving your kids. They will all be safe enough until we can get to them.”

“How do you know that?”

Caspian held up the small amulets he had made some days before.

“Aside from this, I know because of what my sources told about what is wanted with your kids. To get them, you and Roxanne need to be together, at least in spirit. As for Roxanne currently, last I knew The King here is as good a king as anybody can expect. I remember something about a habit of looking for new recruits for his harem. Once he learns that she is already married, he won’t touch her. More so they will be expecting us to come and get her.”

“I look forward to meeting these sources of yours. Maybe they can give me some comfort about my kids.”

They sat and watched the fire for a while. Then Steven spoke up. For the first time in a while he was asking questions about this world, rather than about their plight.

“Something happened while we were fighting. Normally, when a person’s heart rate goes up the motor controls get dull, and perceptions focus to the exclusion of the peripheral. I felt like the opposite happened for a few moments. Like I could sense everything, and see your moves before they happened, but not always.”

“You were tuning in to the mana of this world.”

“That sounds like ‘the force’.”

“Similar idea; and it is found in virtually every civilization, in their history and literature. The summary is this: As you focus yourself, you become more effective and aware of what the energy of the world is trying to tell you. You eventually get to the point where you open up to direct unfiltered input from the world around you. You can then use this power to increase your natural abilities. Like anything, the more you do it, the better you get.”

“I think I have experienced this before, shooting. You say it has something to do with this mana? Does that mean that I am going to go into a fugue like that the more I fight?”

“Something like that, if you are open to it. You need not worry about casting magic about; that is an inborn talent, and none native to your world are able to use it. Does all this worry you?

“I’m not sure.”

“This world is saturated with mana – with life energy. Eventually everyone becomes what he or she thinks they are. The natives are trained from their infancy to be who they are, just like anywhere else. As a visitor, you are bound to experience some strange things. Tell me, what do you see yourself as, not just your costume, but your person?”

“A protector, a former Marine officer. And a businessman. A father and Husband.”

“In time you will be able to draw on the magic of this world to enhance those rolls. Not in any way you can conceive of now, but you will,” Caspian assured Steven.