"Can you walk?"
Hirodias turned his head at the whisper.
"Up here."
The whisper was as low as the rustling of leaves. Hirodias looked up at the night. He must have fallen asleep, as the torches below were out and he was surrounded by the darkness of the trees. A man was clinging to the top of the cage, his face covered in black soot.
"I'm going to get you out of here," the man whispered.
"The guards below..."
"Your friends are waiting outside the gates. Once I get you to them you'll have to leave this place quickly. How's your leg?"
"I have lost some blood but I can walk."
"I'll need you to climb," the man said. He moved down the side of the cage without any noise. Dressed completely in black, even Hirodias could barely see him move. He pulled a short rope from his side with hooks on both ends. He ran the rope around his back and under his arms, then latched both hooks onto the cage, freeing his arms. He pulled a small waterskin from at satchel on his belt and squirted the liquid contents into the hinges of the cage door. He reached back into his belt and retrieved a couple of small pins and began picking the lock. "This part I am not so good at."
As soon as he finished saying it the lock popped open. The door opened without a sound. "I've greased the hinges so they won't make a sound when you move," he whispered. "Follow me."
Hirodias held out his shackles.
"Oh right, for that I have the key," the man said, digging into his satchel. After he removed the shackles, the man climbed back up to the top of the cage. He climbed up the rope and pulled himself onto the tree. Hirodias tried the same, but his weight caused the entire cage to sway. The man in black hopped back down onto the cage and climbed down to the bottom of the opposite side of the cage. He hung on with his fingers and leaned back to counterbalance Hirodias' weight. Hirodias was able to climb to the top and soon reached the tree.
He breathed heavily as he did not expect the climb to be so difficult. The man was already next to him. "If you can bear the pain for just a bit longer," he whispered to Hirodias. "We're going to climb through this cluster of trees and descend at the far gate. From there we will have to move quickly on foot."
"I do not know you, friend."
"We have a friend in common," he said. "Let's move now so all the friends can reunite, alright?"
The man moved through the trees like a cat, being swift when he could and staying patient when guards were nearby. Hirodias at all times followed the man's lead until they arrived at the point where the trees ended.
The man hung from a limb and dropped down about six feet. He motioned for Hirodias to do the same. Hirodias hung from the limb and when he dropped a stabbing pain ran up his leg and he fell to the ground. The man helped him up. "We'll take care of that leg soon, but stay with me for a few more moments, we're almost there." They moved between shadows of the trees until they could see the gate.
"There are four sentries at this gate," the man said. "There are three on this side of the gate and one on the outside. All of them have horns to alarm the others. I will take on the three on this side and when I open the gate if you can, take out the guard on the other side. Remember, don't let him sound the alarm."
"You speak as if you are sure you can take three guards," Hiroduas said.
"If I am fast enough, yes," he said. "If not then it'll be the both of us hanging from the trees, and maybe not in cages."
The man darted into the shadows near the gate and waited. When the guards were shifting in their positions the man leapt out and pulled the head of the first man back until it broke, and then leapt to strike the throat of the second. The third turned around and the man leapt and kicked him in the head, then jumped back to the second who was fumbling with his horn but couldn't blow on it with his crushed larynx. The man swept the second guard off his feet and struck him on his head as he landed. He walked back to the third guard and pulled out the guard's dagger and ran it through his heart. Other than the gurgling of blood from the third guard's mouth, there was not a sound.
The man unlatched the gate and pulled the door open. Hirodias marched toward the opening. The remaining sentry was there, just as the man in black described. The guard reached for his horn but Hirodias grabbed it and crushed it in his hand. The guard made a motion to scream but Hirodias grabbed him by the back of the head and punched through his mouth, crushing the guard's face.
"That's one way to do it," the man said as he passed the guard's body. "This way now."
They ran as fast as Hirodias' leg would allow. When they reached a cluster of trees away from the stronghold, Hirodias found Palimedis and Symian waiting. He embraced them.
"Glausus' men have made camp a bit further out," Palimedis said. "We should rejoin him soon."
"Velias…" Hirodias started until the pain in his leg forced him to breathe.
"She was just here," Symian said.
"Shhh!" Palimedis hushed them and squatted down.
There were two guards approaching them. Based on their gait and half-hearted conversation with each other, they were probably on patrol.
Palimedis put his hand on the hilt of his sword but a whizzing sound ripped through the air by their heads and struck one of the guards. Another whizz and the other guard was struck.
Velias emerged from tall reeds carrying a bow.
"I am glad you are safe," she said.
"Gratitude to my friend here," Hirodias said, turning to the man in black, but the man was gone. Hirodias spun around looking for him.
"Who are you looking for?" Symian asked.
Hirodias squinted in the dark but saw nothing. "We will need to move soon. Take me to Glausus' camp."
They moved through a dense part of the forest to arrive at Glausus' camp. Velias whistled toward the trees and the camp revealed itself. Glausus greeted him first.
He put his hand on Hirodias' shoulder. "Damocle is not a good man, I said so ah? We are safe here, away from Damocle's eyes."
"He betrayed my father and took the men loyal to him," Hirodias said. "By rights his army is mine. He killed Iosifus because he heard the betrayal. There is nothing I can do. He has too many under his command."
"Iosifus is dead?" Symian asked, putting his hand over his mouth. "His poor grandson Niko. He doesn't have anyone now."
"He has you," Palimedis said, putting his hand on Symian's shoulder.
"We are now fewer and fewer", Glausus said. "You want Damocle's army?"
"I do not wish for any army," Hirodias said. "I came here looking for a life of peace and freedom. I saw Damocle's army and saw only fathers and sons that were taken from their families to serve in war."
"But war is what will come, heir of Hesperyon, if we are to be against Damocle," Glausus said. "We are not much, but what we have is a good start."
"And now people know you have returned," Symian added. "Others will hear of you, and will seek you out. Iosifus had said so."
"I've always wanted to be part of a clan," Palimedis said. "I think it's time for us to become that clan that unites all the clans, and for you to take your place in it. Be our Yon."
The others agreed.
"Yon can only be made with the true heir while Mother is watching," Glausus said. "Good for you I am Her priest. Do you freely seek this?"
"No, I do not freely want it," Hirodias said. "But I have a duty for it."
"Good answer," Glausus said. "Now kneel before eyes of Mother."
Hirodias kneeled before Glausus.
"Mother has gentle hand and firm rod," Glausus said. "Will you have both?"
"I will."
"Will you keep safe all Mother's children?"
"I will be the Keeper of all houses of men."
"Are there any confessions from any of you to Mother about this man's heart?"
None uttered a sound.
"Then with Mother watching through my eyes I see you kneel as Hirodias, son of Herodotis and heir of Hesperyon. With Mother speaking through my tongue I say now to you Anodos os Yon. Rise as Yon."
He stood before Glausus and looked at the men behind him. They all kneeled.
"You are now Hirodyon, Sixth King of the Sunset Lands."
Cheers erupted around him. The men chanted his name. He embraced Glausus and the two Gamesh boxers that had come so far with him. He turned to Velias, who remained kneeling.
"There will be a great danger in the name," she said. "I will be there to protect you from any danger that comes, in the light of day or dark of night."
He helped her rise. They cheered for him again but a sudden silence fell on the men. There were some riders approaching. Two of them were walking and leading their horses. The man in black that had aided Hirodias was one of the ones walking. His face was now wiped clean, revealing a clean shaven face with a long black braided hair wrapped in a top knot. The other walking was a woman with a hood and a scarf wrapped around her face. The rest were on their horses."
"It is you," he said to the man in black.
The man smiled and reached inside his bag. "Here, catch," he said, tossing an apple.
"The juggler from Old Menathinion," Palimedis said. "Jester."
The man smiled. "This is the friend we have in common."
Hirodias looked at the woman whose face was covered with a scarf. Her eyes were familiar. "Singis," he said.
She pulled her scarf down and smiled at him. She handed her reigns to the man in black and approached him. "It seems that we see each other once again, and indeed you are now Yon."
"You came with the juggler from Old Menathinion."
"This is Tenzin of Angshar," she explained. "He is a great warrior of the realm. A Peer, he is called by his people. And on the horse is Prince Agalric of the mountain kingdom and these are his men. We have been tracking you for quite some time. Tenzin told us what happened back in Old Menathinion."
"When she found us, we were surprised as well," Symian said. "We told her of our intentions and the Peer snuck into Damocle's fortress and told us you were imprisoned. Your escape was her plan."
"It would seem to always be so," he told her. "If you only had a plan for where we go next."
"We go one place where Damocle will not follow," Glausus said. "South."
"Toward the turmoil in the south…the same place from where so many refugees flee."
Glausus nodded. "Clans must follow Yon before they are trapped by Damocle. South is where you must go, to meet Magnius. My daughter is right. There is great danger in your name. Yon is your destiny but until Magnius accept you and you take Seat of Kings, we keep safe your new name. In our heart you are Yon, but when we speak you remain Hirodias, son of Herodotis."
Hirodias nodded and made sure they all understood. He turned and bowed to Agalric and Tenzin. "Come with us to the south to find the Magnius."
"We will go with you to the end," Singis said.
"I do not understand what bonds you have to me," Hirodias said. "I do not know why you do this."
Singis removed her hood. Her brown hair was tightly braided against her scalp. She loosened the silk scarf around her neck and slid it off. Her neck was long and slender. She showed him the side of her neck. There was an old scar, but behind the scar there was a tattoo that was unmistakeable.
"I too have the mark of the Yon."