Chained By Oaths

All Kaido wanted to do was sleep. 

He was more tired than he expected after the fight. The pain from cuts on his back and the cut on his ankle would not follow him in his dreams. Neither would his hunger nor thirst. But Horros's voice would not let him rest. 

If you fight a fire-type Ash Beast in a forest, cut down the trees that it burnt to avoid a forest fire. 

Kaido cut down all the burning trees so the fall would smother most of the flames. He took care of the rest by personally smothering the fires with his cloak. He could not explain why he did it. 

Keirian law dictated that by virtue of being Skarred, he was no longer a citizen of the realm. If the forest burned down, so what? It was no longer his to protect. He should not have to take care of land that was no longer part of his inheritance. Still, the voice of his mentor would not leave him alone after his selfless action.

Do not let an injured horse suffer by living with the injuries. Do right by the beasts that carry our burdens. 

Kaido limped to the whimpering horses. He was swift with it. He could no longer hear cries that reminded him of Stormling. He wanted to rest. He had done enough. Captain Horros's voice insisted otherwise. 

The first oath you will take as a Volcanic Scout is to protect the subjects of the Keirian Empire. Administer first aid to the injured under your protection. 

Kaido sighed to himself. Hobbling exhaustedly, he collected whatever goods survived the Ash Beast's attack from the wagon. Even he, with the poor fortune of a man born both a twin and Skarred, found a leather flask of water, and the cloth from the carriage apron was more than enough to cover his own wounds as well as Xaine's. The steward gained consciousness while Kaido cleaned his head wound and wrapped it in torn cloth.    

"I apologise for the smell of the cloth, my lord," Kaido said as he finished wrapping the cloth around Xaine's head. "Though it was you who made the decision to travel with horse manure."

"Yes," chortled the steward, "in hindsight, it was also not wise to travel with a wagon after being warned that there is an Ash Beast about. I should have taken you out of the manure and had us ride the horse by ourselves. The manure is on my face in more than one way, I'm afraid." 

Kaido leaned his back against the same tree that Xaine was. He wanted to rest but knew he could not. 

"Volcanic Scouts will be here soon enough," said Kaido. "Fire-type Ash Beasts are easier to track as they leave scorch marks as they travel. We need to leave."

"I'm afraid I couldn't even if I wanted to," said Xaine. He motioned to his ankle. "It's broken."  

The steward reached for his purse and handed it to Kaido. 

"There should be a lumberjack not far from here. Use this to buy a horse from him and make your way to Scoria. I'll get the Scouts to take me back to the castle. I'll be needed there now that the Imperatus is dead."

Kaido took the purse. From its weight and size, the purse held gold. Most likely the last gold he would ever have; the life of a Skarred is not one of riches. He rose to his feet. The cut on his right foot was not as painful as before, now that he cleaned the wound and wrapped it in cloth. He began to make his way before curiosity stopped him.

"What awaits me in Scoria, Lord Xaine? What have you been leading me to?"

"Destiny. Truth. Peace. Now please, my prince. Hurry on."

 Kaido did as he was bid. He left one of the men that raised him alone in the forest. The last piece of home he would ever see. Still, he did not look back.  

Basic logic dictated that the home of the lumberjack the steward spoke of would be by the river. That logic proved to be sound. After half an hour's walking, Kaido arrived at a small cottage on the riverbank. There were three horses tied to as many posts. All looked to be labour horses. They would do for Kaido's purposes.  

The only thing that seemed to be missing was the actual lumberjack himself. Kaido knocked on the door several times; no answer. Desperation made him consider stealing one of the horses. But Horros's voice would not let him betray the oaths of the Volcanic Scouts, even though the order would now be his enemies. The horses would be his only means to escape them should they arrive here. 

Patience was ever the virtue; it brought the lumberjack back to his cottage. Kaido could hear a man approaching with the voice of a child in his company. The child sat upon a horse while the man walked beside him. The false Scout bowed his head to hide the markings on his skin and face. The pair's approach slowed as they noticed Kaido standing by their door. 

"Good noon, stranger," said the man. He did not have the sort of voice that Kaido imagined a lumberjack could have. It was soft with a higher pitch. 

"Yes, good noon," said Kaido in the accent he heard from the workers at his family's castle. His own accent would raise suspicion. Well, more suspicion than he already mustered with his hidden face.

"I want to buy a horse from you, sir," continued Kaido. "If you have one to spare, that is. I will pay you handsomely."

"How much is handsomely?"

The caution of the lumberjack was his own. The small child beside him did not share it. The boy jumped down off the horse and began to approach Kaido. 

"I can show you all the horses if you like," said the boy. 'You can't have the pony, Lucky; he's going to be mine-

"Please, come no further! I... I have leprosy. I just want a horse. I'll pay you for it."

"Come back here, Cork!" the lumberjack barked. 

The boy stopped in his tracks. Whining, he turned around and returned to his guardian's side, who now held the axe he was holding over his shoulder in a defensive stance. 

"Prove that you have leprosy! Take off your hood. You can't infect us from here. Show us your face, and I will sell you the horse."

Kaido did not move an inch. He was caught in the lie. 

"That was not a convincing deception," said the lumberjack. 

Everything about him, his stance, his voice, became aggressive. 

"The most common trick the Skarred demon-spawn use in their deceptions is to say they are lepers. But a leper would not have a penny to his name. A leper could never have the means to 'pay handsomely' for a horse... You know, they say that you people were born from a union between an Ash Beast and a woman. That's why you lot have the same markings and demonic sorcery. That three-headed beast out yonder had orange markings on its skin. I'm betting that's your partner. And I'm betting that money you mean to offer me is cursed too? What happens when I take it? Will my son die? Will my house catch fire?"

Kaido's hand reached for his sword. He wanted to activate the edged-light blade. He wanted to take the horse and spare himself from trekking ten miles with an injured foot. This man definitely had food in his house. He could help himself to some bread.  

It would be easy. He just defeated an Ash Beast on his first try. It would take a special person to stop him from doing whatever he pleased. People already saw him as equal to vermin; why not embrace being the beast? The little boy would do fine at an orphanage. In Kaido's experience, parents were not worth much.  

I am the sword of man. I am the shield of women. I am the armour that protects the future of all children. 

The oaths that he meant to swear. The oaths that never would be sworn. The oaths of the men who meant to kill him. They were heavy chains. They pulled his hand down and away from his weapon. 

"Cork," said the lumberjack, "ride back to the place with the monster. Tell the Scouts that they are needed and must come quickly. I'll keep the monster occupied."

Before the boy could even start, the man ran at Kaido, wielding his axe. His eyes read: murder. Unfortunately for the man, Kaido did not mean to stand as still under assault as a tree. His battle intention was easy to read. Kaido dodged left, then kicked his opponent in the neck. 

The man fell to the ground as if dead, but Kaido could still see him breathing. The son could not. He ran to the lumberjack, crying. Kaido did not have time to comfort him with the truth. 

He ran.