Kitabı oku: «Elinor. The Deserted Valley. Book 1», sayfa 6

2

The life of the Itoshins was a constant war against the demons. The Dotsu Code said that a person was born for fearlessness, for only fearlessness could help him in a severe war. The Code did not call to strive for death; humans must live. But they must live with dignity! Do’Ayve was trying to live with dignity, to live by the Code, and the example of the udoğan E’Do inspired him.

E’Do (Son of the Sword) was born in a small village north of the Empire, near the Path of Horror. His father Tsu’O-nɛ (Infinite Courage) went to the Valley, being the Law’s Detachment commander, when his wife was about to give birth to the firstborn. Tsu’O-nɛ left his wife his sword, Hanvet, and asked her to give it as a present from father to newborn child, for he did not know how long he would stay in the Valley.

And then one day, the village was attacked by demons. How many were there nobody knows, for there is no one left who could describe the heroic deeds of the local residents in the battle against the terrible creatures. No survivors remained after that attack, except one. When the soldiers of the Emperor entered the devastated village, a miracle appeared! Among the dead bodies of people and monsters lay a baby, tightly grasping the sword of Hanvet in his small hands. Next to him spread-eagled lay a dead demon, and there was no doubt that it was Hanvet which had made the deadly wound! The baby was so small the warriors realized he had been born during the battle. But was it possible that a child who had just come into the world could have picked up a sword and hit a demon? There was no answer! Two opinions existed: either the demon was killed by someone else, and the baby grabbed the sword that belonged to him by right afterwards, or the unexplored power condescended on the wonderful child and helped him perform an incredible feat!

The Emperor took the child to the court, gave him a nice name, and personally took up his education. There were even rumors he allowed his daughter, the beautiful Tsvetsho whom he was hiding from the eyes of other men, to spend time with the unusual boy.

E’Do grew up very quickly. He was singled out by reasonableness, strength, intelligence, and iron character. When he passed the initiation and began to fight with the demons, the inhabitants of the Ito Empire began to talk less and less about his miraculous appearance, discussing more often the feats of the young warrior. Broad in shoulders with long dark hair and a rough, manly face, he became a welcomed guest of any settlement of the foggy north. E’Do justified the Emperor’s trust by becoming a nightmare for demons and a role model for young soldiers of the Empire. By the age of nineteen, E’Do received the title of udoğan. Modern history knew no examples of someone getting such a responsible title at such a young age. Although the life of the Itoshins was short, the soldiers usually became commanders at around the age of thirty.

Unfortunately, E’Do never got to know the father who gave him that wondrous sword. In the Valley, the brave Tsu’O-nɛ and his detachment confronted the gang of a notorious pirate and bandit from the Guawarian people called Trouble. Whether this was a name or a nickname is still unknown. However, judging by the stories, his gang proved to be real trouble for the whole Valley. The pirates plundered caravans and killed people while constantly escaping justice. Valiant Tsu’O-nɛ and his troop surrounded the lair of Trouble and destroyed the dangerous gang – but one Guawar managed to escape. A few days later, the corpse of Tsu’O-nɛ was found in the square of the city of Dalaal with a knife in its back.

This sad story was told many years later to the still young E’Do by the udoğan Goro, who once fought under the leadership of Tsu’O-nɛ. E’Do swore to take revenge on the murderer, sooner or later. He told Do’Ayve the story of his life one dark night by the fire when they were on a demon raid. A young Do’Ayve was so impressed by his commander that the next day he killed as many as a dozen creatures.

Do’Ayve also knew of E’Do’s cherished dream: to find an ancient relic called the Demon’s Flesh. It was with the help of this object, endowed with ancient magic, that the traveler from the south, Azir Amunjadee, once passed through the Path of Horror and got to the country of the Ulutau. E’Do, in turn, wished to cleanse the Path of Horror from terrible creatures forever, thereby ending the demons of the northwest and freeing the path to the allied nation.

In the life of Do’Ayve, it should be said, there was nothing that he himself considered truly heroic. He had been born into a simple family and he fought decently, like an ordinary warrior. But to fight with dignity is a duty, an obligation of any Itoshin, and it is improper to wait to be praised for a fulfilled debt.

Two years earlier, during the Battle of the Sharp-Toothed Gorge, Do’Ayve met E’Do, who appreciated his military skills and took him into his troop. Do’Ayve gladly accepted the offer. Besides, in that battle, his first udoğan had fallen, and the young man remained without a commander. Recently, E’Do made him his first assistant and began to prophesy Do’Ayve the title of udoğan. It began to embarrass the young warrior. He was only eighteen years old.

Glorious E’Do became udoğan at nineteen! And to him, to Do’Ayve, there were still many more years of fighting until the title!

But the young man tried to think less about the future. He did what he had to do – he served the Emperor, listened to his commander, and killed demons.

He had not expected to go to the Valley. But he was glad that it had all worked in this way.

He considered the Valley to be a place of merchants, not warriors, but everything had changed now. Uncertainty awaited them ahead. “To walk without fear and doubt into the unknown is the essence of the warrior,” said the Code.

Moreover, if Do’Ayve stayed to live in Shohan, he would have certainly been overwhelmed by his spiritual anguish.

It all started recently, when during one glorious evening he met the beautiful Reyve on the shore of Moon Lake. Do’Ayve was practicing with his sword. Do’Ayve could tell that she momentarily evaluated his swordplay as she walked by.

Not only the men of the Itoshins are able to handle weapons – both boys and girls take up steel at the age of six. And though there are fewer female warriors than male, it is believed that a woman should also be able to protect her home during a sudden attack of demons.

But that evening, Reyve was just strolling. She walked along the shore, a light wind ruffling her hair. Do’Ayve asked her name, she answered. He gave his, and she smiled and left. Do’Ayve tried to continue practicing, but realized his hands could no longer hold the sword. It embarrassed him. He returned to his house upset and couldn’t fall asleep for a long time.

Since then, he saw Reyve several times on the streets of Shohan, and she would sweetly smile at him. He didn’t know what to do with himself! Although his favorite spot to practice was on the lake shore, he knew he could no longer work there because if he saw her, he would clumsily drop the sword.

But he soon realized he it wasn’t about Moon Lake! When he was thinking of her, he wasn’t thinking about the battles and the Dotsu Code. His hands could not hold the sword even when training in other places. Yes, the Itoshins are just people. They build their families, give birth to children… but these feelings prevented him from being a warrior! The body didn’t obey, the head didn’t work! Even E’Do noticed him changing. But Do’Ayve said nothing to the commander.

When E’Do announced that in a few days their detachment was heading south, Do’Ayve sighed with relief. At last he would get rid of the torments and temptations!

He also decided to tell E’Do about his experiences in the hope of receiving some sensible advice from the elder comrade.

3

They had breakfast in a large circle; the udoğan, soldiers, and apprentices – all together. E’Do appreciated the unity.

They ate vegetable stew, wheat scones, and boiled eggs. E’Do did not refuse the plentiful breakfast offered by the udoğan Goro. The awaiting path wasn’t as difficult, but it was still a tiring pass through the foggy hills. And from now until the Valley, the main food of the Itoshins would be the yauls’ jerky. Not the most pleasant prospect. You can endure anything, but a hearty meal both strengthens the spirit and gives new strength in battle.

The attendant of the inn was taking the yauls out from the stock stand as E’Do gave the command to load them with baggage.

When they were walking out of the gate, Do’Ayve cordially bid farewell to Mitsu and wished his fortress a long peace.

From Lauhan to the south lay a straight path, passing between the gray rocks. The danger of falling into the abyss was no longer there. The mighty mountains of the north gradually grew lower and lower until they turned into gently sloping stone elevations. On such roads, it was possible to walk unaccompanied by an illa. Of course, demons could attack. More precisely, within a couple of weeks they would attack at least once. But each Itoshin had to always be ready to repel a sudden attack.

They walked in silence.

According to the Code, any soldier on the crossing was obliged to remain silent, and speak only when the situation required it. If the enemy was near, if it was an unknown creature, a beast or a man, or maybe you hurt your foot on a sharp stone – speak then. And if you don’t like that the fog is damp, that it’s cool around, that you want to eat – keep quiet!

Do’Ayve would prefer to wade through dangerous mountain trails, as they had done over the previous seven days. As throughout all those days, he had been thinking about how to make the right step, how not to fall into the abyss, and how to catch up with the illa.

On an even path, the only thing left was to remember Shohan. Remember Moon Lake… remember Reyve!

Do’Ayve thought about her, and it frightened him. And what if the demons? And he suddenly wavered!

At last, the young man decided to discuss it with E’Do at the next night’s stop, to not postpone such an essential conversation for a long time.

I wonder what’s going on in the heads of my comrades-in-arms now? We move forward, measuring steps through this dense fog. There is nothing to think about, therefore I remember the past, so I’m floundering between my temptations. What’s E’Do thinking about, I wonder? What do the focused Todo and Ğan-Iolai think about? The hot-tempered Joe and Lado? Could it be that I’m the first warrior who was subjected to such tests? Most likely not! There were others. But they had overcome their passions! For the Code still exists, and we live by the Code!

4

They sat by the fire. The image of Reyve did not leave Do’Ayve’s head.

Why did she attract me so much? What is so special about her?

Do’Ayve looked closely at the faces of the twin sisters Leerie and Nainuk; both apprentices were still very young. He decided they were beautiful. Both were pretty, with light-golden hair. It was only possible to distinguish them by the hair: Leerie had short hair, and Nainuk had hair below the shoulders. But the sisters didn’t awaken such emotions in Do’Ayve. He simply treated them as his sisters-in-arms, his comrades-in-arms.

Why Reyve?

Now Do’Ayve had a look at Biu, a field chronicler. She sat and wrote something down on a sheet of parchment. She noticed Do’Ayve was watching her and looked up.

“Did something happen? Is everything fine?”

“Yes!” Do’Ayve came to his senses. “What are you writing about?”

“About today’s pass.” Biu was a little surprised at the question.

“But nothing happened today, did it?”

“We left Lauhan, walked along the path for a long time, fixed a camp… all these are also events. They are important. The history of the people is written just like that.”

Do’Ayve realized that now he might look stupid and decided to walk around the camping area for a bit.

Joe whacked his blunt sword across the huge stone. He chopped zealously and frantically.

Those like Joe cannot live without battles.

The a’jo’ğan are distinct Itoshinian warriors. The most violent are brought to the battles with demons on chains or in steel cages, and then released. Then a’jo’ğans take out all their wrath, their fury, their anger.

In Joe, a violent disposition had been noticed since birth. That’s why they had given him such a name. He was destined to be an a’jo’ğan. He could often control himself, but not always. Should one make him angry – he became demonic. Who knew what would happen in six years? Perhaps Joe would also need a cage.

Well, Lado, too, had a complicated temper, but he was unlikely to become an a’jo’ğan. Lado knew how to restrain himself. Joe did not.

On the other side, sparks flew from the fire. Todo, appointed to be duty officer, was sharpening swords for himself and the novices.

All the soldiers sharpened their own swords. Those who didn’t undergo initiation were not allowed to do so on the way. The Code said that competent sharpening was just as important as the strength and speed of a stroke. Those who didn’t know how to sharpen the sword weren’t taken to be soldiers. And if one received the title of a warrior, he was required to take care of his own sword!

E’Do, for example, never did it in public: either he walked away from the camping place, or waited for everyone to fall asleep, and then would take up the duty. And, it seems, that the time of this covenant rite was now approaching.

“Curfew!” E’Do commanded. “I’ll go on watch first; once the brume ends, Lado; at dawn, Todo!

The camp came to life. If E’Do gave an order, it had to be carried out. Five minutes later, everyone was lying on the ground, covered with yauls’ skins.

E’Do tossed the thorns into the fire and only then noticed Do’Ayve nearby.

“What about you?” The udoğan was surprised. “I gave the order!”

“I do not want to,” Do’Ayve replied, crouched by the fire.

“What do you mean ‘I do not want to’? Today you must sleep! You’ll be on duty tomorrow!”

“I won’t fall asleep,” Do’Ayve insisted, choosing his words carefully, “I wanted to ask you… to ask for help… advice. I’m distraught in my soul, and I cannot overcome it.”

“Well, well, well,” E’Do changed his tone. “Distraught is no good! Distraught is death for a warrior, for the warrior who is distraught ceases being a warrior. This feeling overrides the essence of the warrior!” The udoğan quoted lines from the Code, but then turned to his assistant. “Tell me!”

“I do not know… how should I start? Tell me, what is the most beautiful thing you’ve seen in your life?”

“Battle, Do’Ayve, battle – this is the most beautiful thing for a warrior!” The answer was rather careless, but seemed sincere.

“That’s true… but I mean something other than battles. The Imperial Palace? Is it beautiful?”

Only udoğans were allowed to visit the palace of the ruler of the Empire. Yes, all the guards and caretakers also held a title. Women were treated in the same way, except for the venerable widows who had lost their husbands in battles. They were disposed to cook, clean, and carry out other household chores in the Imperial Palace.

“It is majestic,” said E’Do, giving his assessment.

“And the Emperor’s famous gardens? The hall of valor? And… the daughter of the Emperor? Tsvetsho? You are the only man who has seen her, aren’t you?

E’Do was silent. Do’Ayve even assumed that he wasn’t listening. Or maybe he is thinking? Remembering? But then he saw E’Do’s face turn pale, and a vein twitched in his cheekbone. Suddenly, the udoğan unfastened Hanvet from the belt, removed it from its sheath, picked up a flat stone from the ground and began to sharpen his sword.

For the first time, E’Do was sharpening his sword in front of him, in front of Do’Ayve!

The grinding stone slid gently along the sparkling blade, striking golden sparks. It looked fascinating.

“This is wonderful!” the udoğan finally uttered, nodding at the sword.

Do’Ayve thought that the commander had not understood him.

“I’m talking about a different thing. You see, in Shohan, shortly before we set off on our trip, I met the young and beautiful Reyve… and since then only she is in my heart,” explained Do’Ayve, who got carried away spilling out everything that was boiling up inside him.

“I can’t think about battles! I can’t hold a sword in my hands! I want to be with her, and not to go to war, yet I’m a warrior and I want to be one! But somehow, I’m drawn away. Why? This is feeling, right?” he looked at E’Do.

“Yes,” E’Do replied.

“And you… was it ever like this for you?”

“Like that, never!” E’Do’s responses became exceptionally dry.

“Is the feeling a bad thing?” the young man continued. “For if it’s interfering with battle, then, I’d think, yes. Am I right?”

“Right.”

“You know, it seems to me I was incredibly excited about our journey when I realized that I could escape from my feelings! But it turns out that that is not how it is! I’m running from Reyve, but not from my feelings for her. The feelings take over again and again! Perhaps you don’t understand me. You said it yourself that you have never felt anything like that.”

“Go to sleep!” E’Do suddenly grabbed his sword and plunged it into the ground to the very hilt. “You’re on duty tomorrow! Therefore, you have to sleep! That’s an order!”

All thoughts left Do’Ayve’s head at once. That’s what was good about the Itoshin philosophy. At the exact moment that you are unable to act by the Code, you will be put in place by an order!

Do’Ayve received this order from E’Do, and then gave himself the order to fall asleep. This time, the power of the udoğan’s word overcame his own emotional sufferings. He had to obey.

5

The next morning Do’Ayve woke up in a disgusting mood. He felt that black circles had crept out under his eyes. His temples felt as though someone was squeezing them. But even more, so the young warrior was amazed at E’Do’s face. Not only could the traces of obvious insomnia be read on it, it seemed the udoğan had aged in one night, as though throughout the entire night there was some sort of inner struggle, much more powerful than fighting against demons.

There was also a struggle going on in Do’Ayve, but he understood that the scale of his struggle was much smaller.

What was the reason for the udoğan’s struggle? What is his secret? What lies in his heart? What did he hide from his loyal warriors?

For several days, Do’Ayve did not talk to his commander. And every day, he saw E’Do grow more and more grim, and in turn became gloomier himself.

My question awoke some of his inner turmoil… that which had almost been won over by the udoğan. But what had I said?

The Itoshins made five similar crossings with five stops.

They walked as a black column along the long path, enveloped in white fog. Their swords clanked against the steel protection on their hips. Shoulder and breast shells seemed to absorb all the cold of the stale mist and transmit it to the body. But a true warrior couldn’t be scared of the cold!

On the sixth day, there was an event that became a landmark for Do’Ayve.

About a dozen demons rushed at them from nowhere. It was as though they had long taken them into a ring, slowly crept up and suddenly decided to attack.

Lado struck the first one, thanks to his lightning-fast reaction. With an easy movement, Ğan-Iolai took off the clawed nipper of another one. Todo ran up and finished the third demon with a stabbing blow. Joe screamed wildly and rushed towards two at once. He waved his sword in all directions and soon turned the monsters into a bloody mash.

Do’Ayve rushed forward, exposing the blade in front of him without shouting a war cry or making any drastic, unnecessary movements. While he was emitting as much fury as Joe in that moment, the fury was directed more towards himself and the inability to overcome his passions. Do’Ayve simply cut the first demon in half, evaded the attack of the second, and quickly slashed the third, which let out an ominous screech. He then returned to the second, pushing the blade into its mouth to the very hilt. But he miscalculated the demon’s strength.

While pulling out the strip of steel from the flesh of the monster, Do’Ayve felt his legs tied by an unknown force. He lowered his eyes and saw a disgusting tentacle curl around his limbs. He wanted to slash it with a sword, but it was tightly stuck between the teeth of the previously murdered creature. And the tentacle had already started to drag the warrior. As Do’Ayves let go of his sword and fell, he got a glimpse of the huge jaw, ready to swallow him.

At that moment, the mighty figure of E’Do jumped out of the fog. Hanvet danced a semicircle from shoulder to earth and the tentacle tying the legs of Do’Ayve was cut off. However, another dozen tentacles on the huge monster immediately rushed towards the udoğan. The speed of E’Do’s movement was incomparable. Simultaneously, the commander did not lose composure, doing his job clearly and confidently. Soon the ominous jaw no longer made any sonorous squelching noises; instead it roared with extreme pain. Its two huge eyes filled with red and quickly died out as Hanvet crashed down between them.

Do’Ayve was on his knees breathing heavily.

“Any demons left?” E’Do screamed into the fog.

“No,” answered Lado.

“No!” confirmed Todo.

“This is my first one! This is my first one!” a sonorous girl’s voice babbled joyfully, which Do’Ayve recognized as Leerie.

“Well done, apprentice!” E’Do approved. “Today you took a great step towards becoming a warrior!” After that the udoğan came up to Do’Ayve, who was burning with shame. “Bad, warrior! Very bad!” he began, quickly jumping to quotes from the Code. “The essence of the warrior is not in a rage, but in fearlessness! Fearlessness is not the absence of reason, for mind is necessary to the warrior in battle. And the mind of a warrior must be cold. The essence of the warrior is not in anger, for anger obscures the mind. The essence of the warrior is in the veridical power that is hidden in him!”

Do’Ayve knew the Code by heart. But these words would forever be stuck in his head. Throughout the following days on the way to the Valley, he repeated them over and over again, whenever he began to experience emotional turmoil again.