A Warrior's Path Read online

  “Indeed,” said King Orbein, unsure if the thing was pleased. “And in return...” he let the statement hang.

  Gayossha looked to the king with a gleam in its eye, “Ah, yes. What of these services you requested?”

  Orbein nodded, glad to see the creature was still interested in business instead of dinner. “Yes, the services. I require...a scout of sorts,” he said tentatively.

  Gayossha's face twisted again, “A scout? Where? To what end?”

  The king, likewise, frowned. “Of that I'm not entirely sure,” he said.

  The creature's pupils dilated quickly as they focused on the king, “I warn you, highness, waste not my time.”

  The king was beginning to lose patience with these threats. “I have paid you in advance, Gayossha, so you will find the time to listen to my requests. There are few who would threaten me so openly, for many know to do so brings about great consequence.”

  The Fiu-Het licked its eyes thoughtfully. “I see,” the oozing creature reluctantly conceded. “Continue.”

  “As I said,” the king began, “I am not sure where my request will take you. If you can truly assume any shape, then anywhere I ask you to go should not be beyond you. My first request will bring you over the mountains to the east. Go there and tell me what you discover,” he explained in an eager tone.

  Gayossha eyed the king curiously. “To what end?” the creature repeated.

  The king took a breath. “That all depends on your findings.”

  “Am I looking for a something or a someone?” the creature probed for some clue to the king's intent.

  King Orbein paused thoughtfully, closing his eyes to recall the details. “The stories of my city's founding tell of a great empire over the mountains from whence our forefathers came,” his solemn voice echoed through the empty hall. “The main archway of my city contains an inscription that was written there after the empire conquered this place. It tells of how the original city's inhabitants were slaughtered and how the abandoned soldiers then had to rebuild here as their emperor had forgotten about them. Our city has always lamented the injustice of this empire’s sins. To send an army to murder the innocent people living here, and for what? They did not even come to take their spoils. They left us here...forgotten."

  Orbein leveled a purposeful gaze at the shape shifter. "I feel it is my duty as king to revisit the suffering of our ancestors upon this empire. The vengeance of generations of all those who suffered because of their bloodlust shall be ours. That should be more than sufficient an explanation for you.”

  Gayossha was silent for a moment, caught in the hypnotic effect of the king's story. Then, he burst into a gleeful giggle that sounded like a drowning cat. “Excellent!” the beast shrieked between gurgles. “Highness, I believe that doing business with you will be much more pleasant than I expected.”

  Orbein smiled and nodded, but within his mind he cringed. This creature's services were an unfortunate necessity. The king knew beyond all doubt that that this campaign of justice, if successful, would inspire the fervent allegiance of his army. And once he had their complete fealty, no force in the world would be able to stop him.

  * * *

  Kiusu sat on a large, flat boulder, legs crossed, body completely still. His eyes were closed, and he breathed slowly. Small stones lined the perimeter of a circle that surrounded his perch from three meters on all sides. At each quarter of the circle stood a tall, wooden pole that supported a disk made from a metal ring over which was stretched a small hide.

  The man at the center of the circle fought to clear his mind. Never before had he experienced so much difficulty in his meditations. Usually, he could clear all thoughts from his head and focus on the air moving slowly in and out of his lungs. But now he could not push out the silent whispers of all the preparations that still needed to be made. He knew he was trying too hard. He had to stop for a moment and just relax.

  Slowly, step-by-step, he made his way deeper into his true self. Each step brought him further from his noisy thoughts and closer to his inner spirit. Soon, the only sound he could hear was his breathing. It was a rhythm that offered him a hold deep within. In time with the rhythm of his breath, he could hear the symphony of all that sped infinitely through the multiverse. It was the rhythm of everything, the undeniable flow that sustained the multiverse and all its life. The energy knew no evil, no good; it set no expectations, yet it was the order of everything. It simply flowed, and Kiusu flowed with it. In a moment, he felt his connection with all of infinity and felt what it was like to breathe, and be the breath of, everything.

  When he had started, a small part of Kiusu wondered if he would make it this far, for it had been a long time since he had meditated so deeply. To go within and become aware of the unseen realm and travel the vast interconnectedness was no easy task. Concentration was a word that implied an effort that was counterproductive to this type of meditation. What was required was to defocus on such a large scale that the entirety of existence would become visible while the relatively minor details of the perceived world faded away. Kiusu was no novice, but the last time he had truly attempted to transcend the limitations of the corporeal realm, his failure came at a steep price.

  It had been decades ago. Kiusu and his master Iou-Liu were a part of the great struggle to save the people of the Kesitul plains from the evil dragon Reisothin. Then the old man had been a student of many years, and his master had been the elder sage. During the final battle that drove the beast’s evil from the land, Kiusu had tried to harness the universal power, as his master had taught him. He tried to control the energy to save his master's life.

  Kiusu had failed. He could not stop thinking of the physical world and of all the dangers around him and, especially, of his master. He had never forgiven himself for the events of that day. It was his one weakness; for all his wisdom, he still blamed himself for his master's death.

  Today was different from that day so long ago. Sitting peacefully upon the large stone within the circle, he escaped the world's distractions. For a time, he relaxed peacefully on the winds of eternity and let them take him where they would. But this trip did have a purpose.

  Subconsciously, Kiusu willed himself near his door to the corporeal realm, his own body. His spirit focused upon the area around the living vessel. He flowed with the energy through the stone upon which his body sat and felt the pulsing of the grass below as it breathed.

  In this state, the essence that was Kiusu was capable of seeing all things, no matter how large or small, no matter how far or near. He saw the tiny things, imperceptible to the naked eye, which composed the wind, the earth and every other thing in this universe. He willed the flow of which he was a part to move the particles within his own body, to energize them with his very intent.

  The response was immediate. The wind began to blow, and the area within the circle seemed to get a little brighter. Kiusu's spirit gave no thought to the physical intuitions of the world that made this seem impossible. In the astral realm, nothing was impossible, and through the astral realm, the impossible could be manifest in the corporeal multiverse. With the ultimate confidence that only a higher being could possess, Kiusu willed the flow of energy within and around him upward.

  Almost imperceptibly, the old man's body moved. An onlooker would have thought that the man merely straightened up more, but Kiusu's spirit could easily see the open space between his body and the stone. With a little more force he urged the flow up again, and his body lifted noticeably from the rock.

  Kiusu opened his eyes. The conscious part of Kiusu's mind that controlled his physical body celebrated briefly as he hovered over the big rock. His higher self kept such thoughts in check. He would have to finish quickly before he became too fatigued. Despite his strong connection with his higher consciousness, this feat was physically and mentally taxing. He unfolded his legs and stood ready in mid-air. The flow of energy swirled about him and shaped to his will. He took it all in. A yellow halo of ligh
t surrounded his entire body.

  Kiusu shot out his left fist impossibly fast, but his spiritual eyes followed its motion effortlessly and used it as a conduit for the energy that now filled him. A bright yellow flash tore through the radius of his circle and demolished the disk that stood directly before him, ripping the wooden pole from the ground and flinging it several meters. His fist opened and came around to protect his ribs as he half turned and sent another blast of explosive energy to the disk behind him with a rolling right backfist. This disk was similarly annihilated, and the pole that supported it cracked in half. He destroyed the disk to his left with a burst that came from a devastating sidekick. He withdrew the leg, drove himself a little higher and snapped out a toe kick with his right foot. The ensuing blast hit with such force that the remaining disk momentarily lit ablaze and was launched, pole and all, into the sky only to come tumbling down the mountainside several seconds later smoldering as it went.

  Kiusu saved his satisfaction for a time when he could afford to concentrate on it. Now the old man, almost completely exhausted, folded his legs and lowered himself back onto the stone. His eyes closed, and he slowly returned to his usual state of consciousness.

  He had done it. Now he was confident that he would be ready to pass on his knowledge, no matter what other preparations were left undone. It was the finer points of this sacred lesson that were most important of all, for although such things may seem like magic, it takes an ultimately disciplined spirit to accomplish them without all the trappings of spellcraft. A truly disciplined warrior with a genuine understanding of reality could, in theory, call upon these abilities at a moment's notice during battle.

  Kiusu opened his eyes. It was done, and he was tired. It was time for him to return to his hut. The old man pushed himself to his feet. Exhaustion overwhelmed him. He swayed and put out his arms to steady himself. It was no use. Darkness crept in from the edges of his vision, and the last thing he felt was the sparse grass against his cheek.

  * * *

  “You asked to see me, sire?” the aged high priest Shiu Hi prompted, bowing before his emperor.

  Geilo looked up from his scrolls suddenly, completely unaware that the elderly cleric had entered. “Ah yes! Shiu Hi, my old friend. How glad I am that you came to me so quickly, we have much to discuss.” He stood and motioned to his guards. “You are dismissed.”

  The guards turned and exited quickly, pulling the magnificent doors closed behind them.

  Once the doors were shut, Geilo stepped up to them quickly to make sure they were secure. Satisfied, he turned to the high priest and offered him a grave expression. “I have news of the utmost importance to share with you.”

  “Indeed, sire? What is this news?” Shiu Hi asked with sudden concern.

  “I have foreseen...” he paused, “I have foreseen terrible things.”

  The old priest grimaced. “Have you, sire? Please, continue,” he urged, unable to contain his curiosity.

  “I have foreseen the march of a wicked army over the mountains. They come with a black cloud that rains fire upon our people. Their eyes glow with a murderous contempt for all life. They are clad in blood-soaked clothes and armor. These creatures...these evil creatures march upon our empire!” the emperor shrieked as little droplets of sweat beaded upon his brow.

  The priest nodded slowly, “Yes, highness. We too have seen omens warning of an impending danger, but none of us have had such detailed visions. We have been working feverishly to discover the source of this danger so that we may better advise you. It seems, however, that you have been given this information by God. Praise Minotros!”

  “Yes,” replied Geilo, “and with this knowledge we shall make ourselves ready!”

  “How do you propose this? If your vision is to be taken literally, how can our small empire stand against such a foe?” the old priest asked.

  The emperor nodded. "I have been giving that some thought," he said. He then leaned close to the priest and raised his eyebrows. “Magic,” he whispered.

  Shiu Hi's brow furrowed. “Magic?” he repeated.

  “Of course! Magic!” the emperor shouted excitedly. “General Etrusin is well on his way toward raising an army. His forces will be invaluable if an enemy marches upon us, but there is only so much that swords and arrows will do against an army of such demons. If we had a force that could assist them magically...” he let the statement hang.

  The old priest's eyes opened wide. “Sire, do you propose that I teach soldiers the secret ways?” he asked, incredulous at the emperor's suggestion.

  “Of course not!” the emperor answered with a hint of annoyance. “I am suggesting that you raise your own force! Take men into the fold of your order, teach them your priestly ways, and share with them the secrets of your brotherhood.”

  The priest made a choking sound. “Highness, men are not recruited into the brotherhood! They join of their own volition. They come to us because their paths have led to our door. And even a man who truly seeks the path cannot know the secrets tomorrow. He must study. He must go within and discover certain wisdoms that are offered only by our cloistered life. Only when God has bestowed such wisdom is a man capable of channeling His power.

  “This process takes years, decades even. So you see, highness, though our empire could benefit from such a venture, it would be impossible to achieve it in time. There is no man who can learn the secrets in mere days, or even weeks, or months, for they are bestowed by God in His own time,” the priest finished, raising a hand to the heavens.

  The emperor thought for a moment before speaking. “I understand what you say, old friend,” he said finally, “and that is why I must ask you to beseech Him. We must ask for His benevolence and mercy. Surely there is some way that we can assist Etrusin's men when they march against these monsters.”

  Shiu Hi hesitated a moment. “There may be some things that we can do,” he said at last.

  “Go on,” the emperor prompted eagerly.

  “We could bless their weapons,” the priest began thoughtfully, “so they may be more effective against these evil creatures. There is also the horn of Reisothin. It is a very powerful relic and can be manipulated safely by those who are instructed properly. It is the wicked Seilen's beneficent legacy. In this way we can, in essence, have powerful magic on the battlefield.”

  “Excellent!” Geilo cried, his eyes lighting up.

  “But be warned, highness, this is not a matter to be taken lightly. It takes training and great strength of faith to work with the horn. It will take some time,” the priest cautioned.

  Geilo understood the priest's apprehension, but he was quickly growing weary of his constant hesitancy. “Get to work, then!” he yelled, “Gather your brothers and whoever else you need, and do what you must to protect our empire!”

  Shiu Hi bowed contritely. “Sire,” he said respectfully.

  Geilo nodded. “I need more counsel,” he said much more calmly. “I request conference with Minotros.”

  The old priest bowed his head. “Praise His name. We shall begin preparations,” he said quietly, hiding for now his thoughts on the subject.

  “You are dismissed,” Geilo said.

  The old priest bowed again, turned and exited, leaving the emperor with his meditations.

  4. Start of the Journey

  Ninei conferred with her two most talented students. Every day they studied with the advisor, and she put forth challenges that mimicked her responsibilities in the imperial court to watch them role play the part of the mediator. At any one time she had several students, as did many of the advisors, who were all eager to pass their trade on to the first generation born of the reunified empire, but none of these hopefuls had ever shown as much promise as the two before her. They knew how to be objective mediators and could improvise in any situation. It would be these two who accompanied her on the trek with Etrusin's group to the mountains.

  Her first student, Ini’io, was a tall, handsome young man with fair hair an
d rounded eyes that were uncommon to the east lands. In fact, most of his features were in contrast to that of the society in which he lived. His sharp, high cheekbones stood out among the usually smooth curves of his people's faces. His anomalous features, however, were seen as exotic and quite attractive. He had a sharp intellect and a very charismatic demeanor, but truthfully, diplomacy was not his passion. He was a good student because Su-Ni was a good student.

  Su-Ni, the Giunin’s other pupil, was Ninei’s adopted sister. She had been born in conflict, when the empire fought against the terror of Reisothin. Shortly after her birth, both of her parents were killed as the dragon torched their settlement, one of the last to fall to the beast before he was slain. Ninei was a distant family member from the same tribe and had insisted that her parents take Su-Ni in. When they died of natural causes only a few years later, Ninei finished raising Su-Ni on her own. It was only natural that the younger woman would follow in the footsteps of her adopted big sister.

  Su-Ni was an energetic young woman with a quick wit and an almost mischievous sense of curiosity. She stood about chest high to Ini'io and slightly shorter than her teacher. Her features were more often seen among the people of the empire. Indeed, her dark eyes swept out and up delicately and flashed with a keen intensity. Her straight, dark hair lay against her shoulders reflecting the light with a sleek sheen. She was considered classically beautiful by the empire’s standards, and it was the study of her that inspired Ini'io's study of diplomacy.

  “Do you know why the emperor asks this?” Ini’io prompted.

  Ninei frowned as she considered his question. After a long pause, she admitted, “I’m not entirely sure. There seems to me to be an element at work that the emperor is not sharing with us. But I trust that if there is anything the emperor is keeping to himself, it is with good reason. The duties of the emperor are monumental and we cannot begin to guess all of his intentions and motivations.”