Revenant's Resolve Chapter 14

Days went by in a blur as Reznik dodged patrol after search party after death squad, all looking for Bessarbans.

Or at least that was what he hoped.

If these were all for him, or even searching with him as a top priority, Reznik was surely in trouble. In trouble in a meaningful and dangerous way, that left him little option to escape from without killing people he frankly didn’t want to.

Soldiers defending their home from an invasion didn’t deserve to be eaten by a monster, regardless of the danger they posed to Reznik.

It wouldn’t stop Reznik from defending himself if left no other option, but he sincerely wished it wouldn’t come to that.

Prayed, even.

The first glimmers of dawn on a new life for him had cast their hopeful gloom on his heart, and he wouldn’t be giving that up, for any reason.

Stumbling through a dense bramble, Reznik found himself - for the third time since escaping the town - back at the crumbling statue.

How do we keep going in circles?!

How?

Did we lose our left foot back in the city and it grew back wrong?

Why here?

With a short, sharp “Caw”, a crow hopped down from a branch and landed on the statue’s shoulder.

As Reznik’s body continued to meander into the clearing, the bird refused to cease its nagging, shouting at him in a way that felt decidedly chastising.

Oh for fucks sake.

What is it with this land and these damned birds?

You know, I actually used to like crows. Before you assholes kept showing up everywhere and shouting at me!

Why is it the only ones that are willing to actually hold a conversation with me are damned birds?

With a deep mental sigh that was surprisingly echoed in a hoarse wheeze by his body, Reznik felt like scoffing at his body.

That it was its fault that he was forced to flee the town.

That if it had just allowed Reznik an ounce more control, he could have changed the situation for their better.

Then he dropped that idea.

No. No that never would’ve worked, would it?

It might’ve taken an hour longer, at most a day, but eventually someone would’ve ordered my head on a pike.

Yes, that’s exactly what would have happened, isn’t it?

Feeling somewhat defeated, Reznik only had a moment to lament the fact that his hopes wouldn’t have been realized even had everything gone perfectly.

Then the bird began to shout again.

Oh my lord, what do you even want, crow?

Reznik made direct eye contact with the animal as he thought angrily at it.

The corvid cocked its head and squawked rhetorically. With a small flap and a hop, it leapt from the statue’s shoulder to its head.

Surprisingly, Reznik’s body had stopped in the clearing to ogle the petulant creature.

The whole experience put an idea into Reznik’s head. A consideration that perhaps this bird, or maybe all the crows of the area were something more than just mindless beasts.

The crow jumped down to the outstretched hand of the statue and pecked, then pecked again. It came up with a scrap of paper in its teeth.

I… is that the piece of paper that Luminita left with the sacrifice?

How is that even still here?

It’s rained no less than twice since then, not to mention the winds…

The crow flapped up into the air and landed on a low-hanging branch on the opposite end of the clearing. It leaned down and secured the paper beneath a talon before making a chirping noise that sounded almost like a “hey.”

Then it snatched the paper back up in its beak, and flapped skyward. The bird climbed above the trees, circled twice, and then set off away from the town, barely visible in the pre-dawn gloom.

Reznik felt a strange inclination to follow it, that wherever it was going, he should follow. He couldn’t explain why, but began to cajole his body in the direction the bird had flown.

Well, I mean…

If the birds are going to be this annoying on a regular basis, I might as well see if I can get something out of it.

Perhaps he’s headed towards a carcass I can eat.

We passed quite a few dead the last few days.

I’m pretty sure by now this entire area is one big battlefield, or at least the remnants of it.

Screw it, what’s the worst that could happen?

It’s not like Zarah could save me if she tried, now.

* * *

It was now clear to Reznik that this bird was indeed heading somewhere.

Reznik didn’t have the foggiest idea where that was, and worried in part that neither did the bird, but he kept trekking along into the rising sun, his body carrying along at a steady trot.

Two days he’d been walking now, following the crow that clearly wanted him to follow.

It could have left him in the dust dozens of times, but instead he often found it floating on the firmament’s winds, waiting for him as he found his way out of a dense wood or tangled bramble.

He had many questions for the animal, none of them he could reasonably ask, nor the crow answer.

Reznik crested a hill, then down into a valley, doing his best to quell the boredom that was now actively consuming him. The novelty of his predicament had worn off the first day, and now he was at war within himself as to whether or not he should even be following the creature.

Perhaps he would be better suited meandering back to the undead lands and waiting for Zarah’s return there, or even finding an unsettled piece of land to haunt like a wraith and live out his days.

Without warning, the crow dove down behind the swell of the hill Reznik was climbing.

It hasn’t done that yet…

Perhaps it is tired after three days of flying.

I would be too, were I not what I am.

Pulling back on his mental reins, Reznik attempted to slow his body’s pace to a walk.

Instead, it slowed to what could at best be described as a trudge.

Making it over the hill, Reznik could see a winding road in the next valley. It looked wide, and relatively well-traveled.

Hmm.

I wonder if there’s a town nearby, or at least a waystation of some kind.

It’s doubtful that the crow would land after all this while for no reason.

That, or there’s a dead thing nearby.

It’s probably a dead thing.

Reznik shambled down into the wide, wooded valley, following in the rough direction that his avian compass had dived.

He began to worry as his body continued to shamble ever deeper into the wood - no sound could be heard, not the caw of a crow, or the flutter of feathers frivolously flapping.

I… is the bird dead?

The dive didn’t look like aimless falling, though.

He looked like he was diving for… something.

Reznik continued on his no-longer-guided trudge until he heard something on the edge of his perception.

It was a quiet, almost-muffled sound that as Reznik grew near clearly distinguished itself as voices.

Is this what the crow was trying to guide me to?

People.

But who?

Why?

Reznik’s body also recognized the sound of voices and instantly changed its movements, going from a borderline directionless shamble to a hunched stalk in a snap. Steadily, it crept towards the sound of voices, and would have likely been intent on ambushing and eating whoever lay deeper in the trees were Reznik not ready to belay it in a flash.

Shortly after, he grew close enough to discern what was actually being said among the party.

“…But- but why me? I have no experience being the assistant to an inquisitor.” The voice pushed at Reznik’s memory, but he couldn’t quite place it. “I’m not opposed to a job, now that master Geralt is… well, dead.

“But that doesn’t explain why you’d simply pick me out of the crowd and pull me along with you like some adventuring hero rescuing the lowly serving girl.”

“Oh, darling, I assure you - I am no hero.” A brassy, authoritative woman argued with an amused chuckle. “And I haven’t been for some time now. As to why I recruited you? Well, being a telepath offers me some unique opportunities that others might miss.”

-That- voice Reznik knew.

Seared into his memory like a brand on his soul.

Zarah.

But who was the other woman?

“I imagine I know more about you than anyone other than your parents, Luminita. Perhaps even more than them.” Zarah continued as Reznik managed to see the dim light of a fire that was sunk into the ground. “By Elven standards, I’m not all that old.

“By human standards, I’m more than old enough to be your grandmother, possibly even with a great or two thrown in there. I like to think I have an eye for talent.”

“I’m afraid I don-“ Luminita began to say before she was cut off sharply by Zarah.

“Don’t play stupid with me. I know you know what the word telepath means. You’re far too smart a woman to be wasted on an outpost town like that. Far too brave as well.

“I’ve taken a peek through your memories, I know that you hide yourself from your equals, and have since your parents brought you out of Crai to live in Carcal.”

There was a long pause as Zarah appeared to wait for Luminita to respond to the remark.

Zarah and Luminita… here?

But why?

And why alone? I don’t hear anyone else around us.

“I… people don’t like being told they’re wrong. Or that I know better on something because I read a book on it in the Lord’s library.” Luminita huffed in a way that held quite a bit of bitterness in reserve. “But there’s plenty like me in the world, what I’m asking is why me? If you wanted someone to help you with research, there’s more than plenty back in the capitol, I’m sure!”

“I wish I could say that it’s out of the benevolence of my own heart, or that I have means to rescue every diamond in the rough from the gutter, but no.

“You see, we have a, mmm… friend in common. And no, it’s not Sir Botezatu - though he is a good man. No, fate has played yet another confusingly fortuitous hand for me, as our mutual friend is actually nearby.”

“I- friend? I don’t know anyone outside of Crai, and we went around the city to avoid the Bessarbans.” Luminita scoffed in confusion as Reznik finally found himself a small gap in the trees and forced his body to a stop. He saw both of them seated on an overturned tree beside a fire dug into the ground that released no smoke and little light.

“That night when your caravan was ambushed, you saw something - someone. A hero to you, a hideous monster to everyone else - no offense.”

Why would she take offense to that?

Reznik briefly looked around and took in the surroundings. Only a single horse was tied to a tree in the camp, blissfully eating out of a bucket around its head.

The place where Luminita and Zarah had set camp was in a low draw, and wouldn’t be visible to anyone from the road, or even nearby until they stumbled directly into the pair of women.

“I- I, well he could have ea-“

“I already know, Luminita.” Zarah interrupted with a quiet but nonetheless bright laugh. “I have met our dear eavesdropping wanderer myself. In fact, I believe it was I that caused him to find his way to your city.

“What brought him here confuses me, however.” Zarah paused just long enough for Reznik’s heart to pulse a steady, punctuative drumbeat in his chest. “You can come out now, Thinker.

“No use hiding in that bramble on our account. She believes you a hero, and I can feel the thoughts grinding away inside your head. I can’t quite grasp them yet, but I understand that you mean no harm, unlike the Baron.”

I… oh… um… fuck.

We ate this morning, snacked on that Bessarban cavalryman we found dead.

You’re going to behave, yes?

Receiving no reply from his body, Reznik reasoned that this was his opportunity. This was his only real hope at changing, as Zarah had put it, the hand that fate had dealt him.

Go. To the camp. No eat.

No eat.

No fight.

No killing.

Not even a single hair on their heads.

His body shambled forth through the trees and into the open air of the small, walled draw.

As Reznik approached the women, Zarah stood and folded her hands behind her back with an expectant grin. Luminita stared at him with a mix of wide-eyed fear and happy shock.

“Oh my, look at you. I must say, you’ve done quite admirably since we met in the south. I can admit, had I known you would end up pursuing me like a puppy all the way into nearly the center of eastern Wallach, I would have made a larger effort to acquire you. I’m impressed.”

Zarah approached Reznik with her hands still folded behind her back, looking him up and down in an appraising way.

Reznik pulled back the reins on his body and came to a stop. His body let out a quiet, bored wheeze as it simply stood still, staring off into the last magenta hues of the sunset.

“Goodness, you are a specimen, aren’t you?” Zarah half-spoke, half-murmured as she stepped around Reznik, her eyes trailing up and down his body. Appearing off his left shoulder, Reznik caught the moment her eyes trailed beneath the nonexistent belt and back up. “Impressive indeed…”

Reznik suddenly found himself somewhat embarrassed. If he still had control of his hands, he imagined that at this moment he would be using them to close the proverbial curtains on the show.

Like I’m a damned piece of meat to her…

Maybe following her wasn’t such a bright idea after all.

“Oh come now, no need to be bashful. You’ve been running around eating people while in the nude for years now!” Zarah smirked and raised her eyebrows in a way that screamed “Really?” to Reznik. “I do have a question, though. How did you find us? I like to think I chose this spot to camp rather well.”

Well, you see, I ju-

“Not by talking to me in your head. I don’t really understand why, yet, but your words are a lot like someone shouting down a tunnel to me from far away. Think in pictures for me, if you would be so kind - it will make this a lot easier.”

Mentally shrugging, Reznik obliged, simply sending her a visual account of his past few days.

Zarah pursed her lips and furrowed her brow, seeming mildly confused at the information.

“Either you’re one astoundingly lucky birdwatching fanatic, or something else is going on. Because you’ve just given me a hundred and one wonderful thoughts of a singular crow. And several corpses. And a statue…”

Luminita took in a sharp breath that was loud enough for Zarah to turn her head and watch her for a moment.

Reznik felt something drop onto his shoulder, followed by a loud squawk.

“What did you bring me?” Zarah asked with an inquisitive grin, extending out her hand. The crow on Reznik’s shoulder deposited a slightly weathered strip of paper into her palm. “Oh, well, thank you friend. Tell me, what master do you serve?”

The crow squawked twice in rapid succession, took a small hopping step to the right, and then crooned.

“Mmm, well, it’s a shame I’ve never had an audience with your benefactor. I imagine the king would love to know of a minor god that protects his eastern lands, regardless of how weak he is currently.” Zarah bowed her head respectfully at the bird before holding the scrap of paper between her index finger and thumb. “Luminita, it appears the deity you pray to has… taken note of you. Very interesting indeed.”

Luminita was sitting on the overturned tree with wide, almost mortified eyes.

“Does this ring any bells?” Zarah questioned, extending the small scrap of paper to Luminita.

“I… I wrote this. I wrote this after that night in the woods.” Luminita offered in a stunned tone, staring blankly at the strip in her hand. At the same time, the crow on Reznik’s shoulder hopped away, flying off into the night. “I… I thanked the spirits of the wood for sending a protector to me in my time of need. A-an offering of thanks. It was my mother’s idea.”

“Interesting. Would have been enlightening to meet a god in person. I do hope his messengers come about again, I have questions to ask. But, we have priorities.” Zarah spun sharply back to face Reznik. “Such as what to do with the Revenant in our midst.”

Reznik did his best to push a mental shrug at Zarah in the hopes that she was listening.

“I feel the same. Were it my primary objective to capture and study you, I would’ve come with the proper equipment. However, I am unfortunately bound by duty to a different matter.

“I’m returning to the King to inform him of what is happening in the east. This leaves me with a conundrum, Thinker. How on earth am I to get you into the capitol in your state without a writ of passage?

“It’s likely that if anyone sees you as a Revenant, you’ll just end up in the same situation as Carcal, with the Baron ordering your death.”

Reznik didn’t have an answer to that.

At least not a good one.

Of course, he could try and sneak in over the wall, but an unhinged naked man was likely to cause a commotion, even at night in a city that was likely far larger than Carcal.

“I mean… he doesn’t look that far off from a Human or Elf. If we could squeeze him into some clothes, I imagine we could talk our way past the guard.” Luminita offered after a brief shake of her head, looking back up from the note in her hand. “Convince them that he was kicked in the head as a babe or something. A mute simpleton that you’ve taken in as a stable-hand or something.”

Zarah frowned, smirked, and then began to nod.

“I think it will take a little more work than you’re expecting, but the image of him getting his hair done like a girls slumber party is certainly an amusing thought.

“Though… truth be told, you actually could be on the right train of thoughts.” Zarah pondered out loud. “He really shares little resemblance to the legends of Revenants that are told over campfires. Only those truly experienced with crossing the Dan, or those close to them would be able to identify him. Especially given the fact that he currently shares little in common to the wild, shrieking, warped monsters they become.

“If we put him in a good set of clothes, untangle that mop on his face and head a bit, and make sure he doesn’t soak himself in a sea of blood, it might be possible to bluff our way back to my home.

“I have the necessary facilities to test and experiment on him there.”

“Then we do that.” Luminita nodded sharply before Zarah stared at her with an amused and mildly nonplussed expression. Hastily she added: “My lady.”

“No need for honorifics when it’s just us - that being said, I do agree with you. However, I personally don’t want to deal with the risk of putting a live Revenant into a cloak and ill-fitting pants.” Zarah admitted, chewing on the inside of her lip and turning back to Reznik. “Now. Thinker. I’m going to warn you - this will hurt, and I’m sorry. Trust me that it is, in fact, necessary.”

Zarah smiled kindly at Reznik.

Then, Reznik was hit by a wave of power on his head that felt like a thousand hammers clanging together inside his skull.

Another wave came, then another.

Then, for the first time in many, many years, Reznik passed out.