Crime and Punishment (15)

“And we are left in the mortal coil once more.” I murmured to them. I sat across from them with the embers between us. “What have you learned so far?” I asked softly. I began rebuilding the embers into a small cook fire to prepare breakfast.

“That wherever we were last night is not where we awoke.” Meli stated. Sert nodded his agreement in silence before going to gather water for the day. “How often will it be possible for us to use magic outside of Atlantis?” she whispered once Sert had left.

“Very rare unless we are near a mystical place that are dwindling fast or a Node.” I answered quietly. I would not reveal to her that I was not restricted like the other mystical or spiritual entities that existed. “This is why leaving Atlantis is more dangerous than some of your kind would imagine.” I added in a whisper.

“So you and Sert have a better chance surviving than I do unless I learn to fight in the mortal way.” Meli replied. A look of resignation had entered her eyes making me smile sadly back.

“Are you asking me to train you to fight as well as heal?” I returned. “Maybe best for both of you if I teach you the mortal healing methods that does not require magic.” I added with a small chuckle.

“I believe both would be useful if I visit the world.” she said with a smile. “But I doubt Sert could learn the art of non magical healing.” she concluded. A slow laugh build up in me at her words gaining me a dark scowl from her.

“He already knows how to field dress most common injuries by practicing on himself for the last four years after our sparing sessions.” I answered between chuckles. She stared at me in amazement before turning her gaze toward the returning Sert.

“I will learn to fight as well as heal without relying on magic to serve Atlantis better as I bring their words of peace and honour to all who will listen.” she stated loudly. I could feel here conviction in her words.

We ate quickly and stored this campsite, tents and all, into a secure spot for others to find and use if they passed this way. We mounted to head toward the verdant strip surrounding the blue waters of the Nile river which was home to the majority of the Egyptian people. Night was gathering but I order them to continue bring up objections from my companions.

“It will be harder and dangerous moving through darkness Kestrel!” Sert complained. “It would be better to stop for the night and continue once the sun has returned.” he added grumbling.

“Lighting will not be a problem shortly Sertian.” I replied casually. “Give it time and you will see.”

“But stopping would give us a chance of exploring the flora and fauna of the area.” Meli suggested. "It would be nice to have a chance to see the land we are walking through.” she added quickly. A hint of annoyance had coloured her tones and I felt from her mind.

“There is a much better place to examine and learn all you seek further along our path.” I replied with a sigh. “I have arranged a special stop so both of you can be enlightened about Egypt.” I continued with false casualness. “I have sent my little thunder ahead with messages to make all this available but we must hurry to reach that place.” I added. They followed forcibly while still grumbling at my back.

As darkness fell softly around us, clouds of glowing insects lit our path with a dusky light. I felt Sert relax in his saddle as he looked at our surrounding noting the beauty and not just possible threats. Meli practice the Egyptian pronunciation out loud of phrases from her book which I corrected when and if needed. She would ask questions about the plants and insect absently as her eyes seemed stuck to the pages of her book. She learnt quickly the base of this language making me grin as we rode in the false darkness into dawn reaching the pillars of the village I had selected.

“Halt!” I exclaimed. My hand raised in the military halt signal as I spoke the words. Sert looked around before following my gaze to the left road pillar of the village. Little thunder sat upon the pillar of stone squawking madly at us. I responding screech escaped me as I flipped myself from the saddle pulling out my sword as I landed. I signalled the bird with a flick of my fingers to my shoulder.

I did not need to look to know that Sert had followed suit and moved to my side holding a defensive stance. Two dozen men looking like bandits came rushing from the between the pillars at them. My bird sunk claws into the lead man as I began hacking my way through their left flank while Sert sliced into their right side. Like Sert, I became stone faced with no emotion showing as I butchered these men. Sert fought hard to keep up with me as the words from my little thunder rang in my ears driving me forward faster.

“They have killed the adults and have violated the fledglings” echoed in my thoughts. My bird would dive in to rip at the faces while Sert and I dispatched their bodies with quick merciless sword strokes. I could sense Meli in the back of my mind watching and ready to rush in with her healer's bag if either of us would get hurt. The last man fell with little thunder grasped to his face, my sword in his heart, and Sert's sword having disemboweled him.

A girl child appeared creeping out toward them with a blood splattered peasant's tunic moving unsteadily on her feet. Her shuffling walk showed she had been forcibly and violently deflowered by the bandits. My sword was driven into the ground as I moved to catch the girl before she could fall. I carried her cuddled to my chest to Meli placing the poor child in her lap while she still sat upon her camel.

“Take her!” I ordered. “Once we have you securely placed in the village, treat her wounds.” I continued bluntly. “Sert take the hovels on the left while I search the ones on the right for other survivors.” I added. I lead the camels at a walk into the centre of the village near the fountain for Meli to start treating the one she had and any others we found still alive in the village.

“They butchered all the adults and male children in the village.” Sert announced. We returned with a dozen girl stumbling between us. “We will not mention how these animals treated the girls.” he added.

I felt the sickening anger swelling in my two companions but together they barely could equal the rage that course through me. One look at Meli told me that she knew what was going through Sert's heart at that moment. Sert glared around him before marching to the farthest point of the open area.

“How could they do this?” Meli growled disgusted. She had already pulled out and was mixing Atlantian herbs to heal both the body and spirit. I had seen traces that other bandits had escaped the village without paying for their immoral actions.

“This is the way of some beings in the outer world.” I stated hiding my anger. I stood by the first girl we found waiting for my bird to tell me he had found the ones that had escaped. Little thunder flew circles around the edges of the village squawking in what could only be seen as anger for the actions here. “Many would rather destroy the strong and abuse the weak to make themselves feel superior than helping the strong protect the weak to make them stronger and noble.” I explained not moving. My downcast eyes only looked with sadness upon the victim that found us, my niece and grand-daughter of Thoth.

Little thunder circled once more before releasing a long echoing screech and winged his way toward the desert area they had left the night before. My shoulder straighten as I moved to follow my bird to end this group's sickness. Sert moved to join me in my quest for vengeance but I stopped him with a single pointed finger back toward Meli.

“Protect them!” I ordered harshly. I turned without caring if he listened returning to the path shown to me by my winged pet. Once out of their sight I portalled myself to where my bird's mind showed the bandits made home. The first of the man that spotted me did not have a chance to make a sound as my clawed hand ripped out his throat. Little thunder dove in to claw at their head making them scurry while I transposed myself from spot to spot clawing at them. They screamed in terror as I slaughtered them nearly to the last man.

I found the lone man barely out of childhood curled in a ball in one of the badly erected lean-toes. He heard me as I entered and move at him my face set in a snarl. He turned and I saw his mind clearly with his life path laying before him. He stared at my blood soaked clothing and armour trembling. He knelt before me with his hand stretched wide as tears that were not born from fear running down his face. He had heard the other speaking of what they had done to the girls of the village making him sick in his heart. He held his head high as in his mind he sacrificed himself for the crimes the others had performed.

My fist closed before my claws touched his face turning a deadly blow into a simple punch. He crumpled on the floor as I crouched in front of him. I checked his mind to see he could read before writing a message of where he must go to redeem himself for having joined a band of animals that pretended to be men. I had seen this boy growing to be upon a vessel doing great good in the world. I created a duplicate of his body lying clawed apart on the floor next to him. If any found this place, they would think that all were destroyed and not search for this lone boy.

“Heed the words of the one that spared you for what other have paid for. Leave this place in the shadows of night heading for Aqaba to meet the ship Nomad. Show him this letter to be taken on as a cabin boy and be away from the curse joining these men has brought upon you.”

Signed: Kestrel, Hand of Vengeance

I placed the letter firmly in his hand before preparing to leave this hovel. I spend half the day scouring the encampment making sure none escaped vengeance before preparing to return to Meli, Sert, and the village filled with pain and death. I walked back in silence with little thunder flying over head circling back to let me keep up to him. I felt the boy following but hoped he would decide to change his path before I reached the town.

I arrived slightly before night fall still coated in the blood of my vengeance. I said nothing as Sert glanced at me smiling a grin smile as he nodded in satisfaction of my state. Meli glanced up once at me and I felt her shudder before she looked away. I walk in silence to the side of the first foundling kneeling beside her. I place the head of the bandits' leader upon her chest so she may see that I have brought her redemption as she lay half asleep.

“Vengeance is given to you to heal your soul little princess.” I whispered to her in Egyptian. I rose slowly to circle the fountain setting and lighting torches to push the darkness away from the wounded girls. I built a grand pyre and then collected the bodies of the dead placing them in the fashion of the unjustly killed upon it. I stood waiting while the moon rose to its highest point as glowing insects filled the darker sections of the village with soft light.

Sert sat in a half sleep mode of a trained soldier while Meli moved around the wounded to make sure all were covered with blankets. She curled up by the fountain once all were checked sleeping lightly to be easily awoken if one of her patients need her though this first night. I remained standing like a statue of blood by the pyre as the moonlight bathed the scene with a soft glowing light.

I felt my niece rise fighting off the effects of the sleeping draught Meli had given her. She walked over to join me clutching the bandit's head to her chest. She stood at my side for a moment before I handed her a pointed end stick from the pyre pile. She took the staff and planted the pointed end into the ground at her feet. She drove the open neck of the head on the top of the stick with both hands so he would face the pyre mass.

“See what evils you have done.” she whispered into the head's ear. “Know that these crime weight against your soul at grandfather's Thoth's hands.” she added in his ear. “Send them to Thoth my blade of vengeance.” she ordered to me. I reached out my hand toward the pyre as white flames roared to life in it.

“I have sent word to the temple in Cairo to send a detachment to help rebuild or relocate your people to a new home.” I informed her softly. “If you wish me to wait until their arrival, I am at your command and your sword of protection little princess.”

“Do as you wish now that you have given me vengeance.” she answered in an empty voice. “You are free of any binding to my family Uncle Melchia.” she added in a stilted form of Atlantian. I chuckled softly at her.

“They know me there as 'Kestrel' once again.” I answered in Atlantian. “You have learnt quickly since my last visit.” I continued quietly. “I know your healer was happy to have a book written in Atlantian to teach her your native tongue.” I added. She giggled and smiled at my last words.

“So that is why you asked me to write that book for you?” she asked with a lilt in her voice. “I thought it was to help you finally understand real Egyptian speech.” she mocked in Egyptian. “Thank you for your actions my acting Uncle.” she added suddenly and seriously.

“I stay with my Atlantian people to keep you and your people safe until the ones from the temple arrive to relocate you my adoptive niece.” I returned while correcting her. The truth of her bloodline hid deeper in my mind knowing she had her true mother's ability to see into others' minds, hearts, and souls. “You may repay me by helping my accompanying warrior learn your tongue since I fear he cannot learn it from a book.”

“As what is due between family,” she began bluntly, “I will teach him to order bandits to die before his thirsting blade.”

“I was hoping you could teach him to ask how he may serve a noble lady in need.” I returned with a half smile.

“If he travels with the dread bird Kestrel, words of vengeance will be more useful for him to learn.” she returned softly. “You always arrive when a bloodied sword is needed the most to keep honour alive.” she added. She turned to face me showing the unshed tears she still held back for her people. I opened my arms to her as she clasped hers around my waist burying her head into my chest. I closed my arms tightly around her as her tears of pain flowed freely in a silent wailing for her fallen people.

“Cry my niece.” I whispered. “Lament your people so Thoth knows your love for them and shows your right to lead them little princess.” I continued as her tears pour out like a torrent. We stood like this for a few more minutes before I felt her anguish finally emptied from her. As she pulled herself back, I held her from falling knowing that Meli's draught was able to take hold of her fully. I scooped her into my arms as I had when she stumbled from the village to carry her back to her makeshift bed. I covered her with the blanket kissing her forehead softly. She clung to me not allowing me to leave her.

I smiled gently at her before softly kissing her lips. She smiled back but still held onto my shoulders while the sad smile turned into a frown of worry. She hide her mind from me as I always hide parts of mine from her. “Tell me that you will always be my Uncle in all ways?” she asked mentally. I saw in her eyes and felt in her grip the fear in her about my answer to this simple question.

“No matter what happens, I am and will always stand for you as your Uncle, your blade of vengeance, and your sword of protection.” I answered. Her grip loosened allowing me to rise and bow to her in full flowing Egyptian style. She smiled up at me as her eyes half closed. I knelt by her side until her breath told me that she truly slept. I turned as I stood moving like lightening across the fountain area to Sert's side. He was on his feet with his sword already arcing down at the boy's head. I did not waste time drawing my sword as I grappled Sert's blade bare handed.