Revenant's Resolve Chapter 10

-Note: I changed the name of the enemy nation from Zerbajia to Bessarba as I wrote. nothing else was really changed in the long run, just wanted to avoid confusion! 

Chapter 10

Reznik took in the sight laid before him with a spine-tingling sensation.

After a long night of running through the woods, crossing over roads, and clearly doing everything in their power to avoid notice, the scouts had led him here.

On the opposite side of a steep hill that Reznik would almost call a cliff, sat a massive encampment of soldiers.

Hundreds, possibly thousands of men in tents, behind sandbag fortifications, and milling around the cramped lanes of what felt like a hastily-constructed city as dawn broke in front of Reznik, illuminating the army.

Instead of following the men through the cramped ravine, Reznik had elected to climb the hill and watch them from above, and that single snap decision was probably the only reason why Reznik had avoided detection.

As Reznik had climbed higher along the slope, trying to keep an eye on his quarry below, he’d spotted a pair of torches close to the other end of the draw’s mouth, which was in reality, something of a gate to the camp in the valley beyond.

This… this is an invasion force, isn’t it?

That’s what the scouts were doing, they were watching the town, sizing it up to take it by force.

Fuck. Hell.

I can’t… I can’t stop them alone, can I?

Reznik knew that if he chose to simply sprint down into the enemy camp and start fighting, it wouldn’t end well.

He might kill a dozen.

Maybe a hundred.

But it wouldn’t stop the army, not even close.

It wouldn’t be long before they threw something at him that he couldn’t handle.

A part of him shuddered when he remembered how easily the Elven telepath had beaten him. With a single thought, she’d simply kicked him to the floor.

I Need to warn the town.

Somehow tell them all to run, call for reinforcements, something!

You hear that, body?

Reznik tried for what felt like the millionth time in his life to rationally communicate with his body. Talk to it like it was a person, communicate with it on a level beyond the base hunger that it felt.

Summoning his imagination, he sent it images, thoughts, and feelings of what an army like this would do to the people of the comparatively defenseless town.

He’d ran far over the night.

Not far enough that this army couldn’t cover it in a day or three, however.

Reznik could also smell their horses from here.

They would likely be coming far faster than it took the scouts to get here.

As usual, his body gave no reaction to his thoughts.

Reznik couldn’t waste time bumbling through the woods in the way he normally would without some kind of stimuli before him, either. He would have to run at full speed back to the town and do… something to let them know of the impending danger.

Fine.

If you won’t listen to reason, perhaps you’ll listen to this…

Reznik then mentally visualized two thoughts. A choice for his body.

One thought was of him starving on this mountain. Wasting away as Reznik refused to let his body eat even a single bite.

The other was an image of him consuming the enemy army outside the gates of the town. Reznik put all his effort into showing and feeling the concept of the largest meal that his body had ever seen. Every single soldier in the enemy camp, all free for consumption.

A full belly in the bottomless pit that was his body.

Then, as if stomping his foot down with all his force on the idea, Reznik cast it to his body. Shoved it through the same little gate that let him force his body to stop whatever it was doing.

It would run, or it would starve.

No room for argument or discussion.

As if struck by lightning, his body snapped ramrod straight.

Then, Reznik repeated the process.

His body listened to suggestion when there was food right in front of it.

Reznik could convince his body to stalk, to hide, and even to an extent, how to fight.

His head snapped back in the direction it had come, tilted in the same way it would when it saw food.

Then, Reznik mentally shoved the idea a third time.

With a wild, screeching howl, his body leapt down the steep hillside, bouncing off a rock, then a tree as it haphazardly tried to run on a forty-five degree angle.

Now that’s what I like to see, bud!

Reznik would be smiling if he had control over his face.

His body slid the final distance down the hill and set off into the trees like it was pursuing a fleeing animal, wholly focused on its task of going “there”.

Not for the first time, Reznik felt something coming back to him from his body. Not a thought in the traditional sense, but a feeling, faint as a gentle summer breeze.

Reznik probably wouldn’t have noticed it if it weren’t for the fact that he was actively focusing on what his body was doing.

It was single-minded and simple, lacking nuance or clarity, but Reznik could feel the confusion and raw fear that the idea of starvation so forcefully thrown at his body had elicited.

Reznik remained quiet in his own mind as his body ran through the gloomy, foggy trees - following something Reznik didn’t understand. Reznik didn’t actually know where they were, as the woods looked completely different now than they did hours earlier.

But his body seemed to know.

It dodged over fallen logs, around trees, and burst through bushes without care.

The only way Reznik could actually tell that he was actually on the right path was the occasional footprint left in the mud, likely by the scouts he’d followed.

He even found one of his own along the way, screaming past with just enough time for Reznik to recognize the barefoot print as being his doing.

In what felt like the blink of an eye, Reznik found himself passing by the scout’s camp, noting that apparently the town guard had found it.

Nearly a dozen soldiers were searching the location, clearly looking for anything of note.

Wait! Wait wait wait!

Stop!

Those aren’t the town guard, those are Riverguard. Sir Botezatu’s men.

He… he knows undead, doesn’t he?

I wonder if we just showed up and did nothing threatening, could we convince him not to kill us?

Show him that I’m not a threat to him?

Reznik considered the idea carefully. It would either turn out wildly successful, or would just end up with him needing to feed after being riddled with bullets.

His body had slowed its running, but didn’t stop moving.

I said stop! No!

Stand here and let me think.

That did it, and his body came to a stumbling halt, staring directly at the soldiers as if debating to have a snack today.

It was good enough for him.

The idea was a gamble, but if Sir Botezatu was the man with the most experience wrangling undead, it would likely be his best shot at distinguishing himself from the other monsters that lie on the other side of the river.

Even if he went to Luminita, who clearly had ideas about what he was, and how he was protecting her that night, he would still have to get through the gate. And the guards. And then somehow convince her that he wasn’t a threat, likely while being shot at, stabbed, or possibly having magic hurled at him.

Going to Botezatu was a gamble, but less of one than that.

Let’s hope you have half a brain on you, Sir Botezatu.

Fuck it, looks like we’re in for the whole pound.

No pennies allowed.

Reznik directed his body to slowly shamble towards the Riverguard with a tight hold on what little reins he had. Even if Botezatu could see that he was different than other undead, his men might not be so discerning.

Reznik slowly approached and internally prepared himself for either running or forcing his will to not kill the soldiers on his body. One of the men searching the camp clearly noticed Reznik as he stepped into a gap between trees, squinting into the dark of the trees at Reznik.

“You! Stop! Identify yourself!” the man shouted, standing from where he was crouched and raising a rifle at Reznik in a snap. The others searching clearly picked up on what he saw, as Reznik suddenly found himself at the mercy of no less than a dozen rifles pointed directly at his skull.

Well.

Here goes nothing.

Reznik continued batting down all the small jumps of desire his body presented as he approached in a slow shamble.

Then, he stepped out from a canopy in the trees, making eye contact with the soldier aiming at him as the light from the sky spilled over him.

Stop. Stop here!

Do -nothing- at all.

Just stand completely still.

His body came to a stop.

“You there! Identif-…I… oh fuck.” Reznik’s head turned slightly as a different soldier spoke. “R-REVENANT! OPE-“

“Quiet!” Sir Botezatu hissed as he leapt forward, Grabbing the soldier’s muzzle and wrenching it skyward. “This Revenant is either blind or something we’ve never seen before. If it wasn’t, we’d have been dead long before now. So keep. Your. Voice. -Down.-“

The soldier turned and watched Botezatu with wide, fearful eyes for a moment before Botezatu nodded sharply once and turned to face Reznik, pistol raised.

Reznik followed him with his eyes, trying to communicate that he was not, in fact blind.

“Spread out, surround him and keep your distance.” Botezatu ordered his men in a low voice that was honestly harder for Reznik to hear than a sharp whisper. “If he turns on us, it’s easier if we’re spread out.”

The Riverguard slowly fanned out wide around Reznik, not lowering their guns for even a moment as they moved.

Botezatu, however, kept eye contact with Reznik - seeming for all the world as if he was sizing him up.

If Reznik understood the point of the Riverguard correctly, their entire job seemed to be keeping the undead at bay across the river. It was a job that likely ended many men early. Given the scars, deep crows feet, and salt-and-pepper hair of Botezatu, it was clear that he had what it takes to survive fighting the undead long-term.

Botezatu fractionally raised his chin and regarded Reznik with a mix of curiosity and determination, like he was mentally psyching himself up to put Reznik down by any means necessary.

He probably was.

As his men finished their wide, half-circle around Reznik, Botezatu tilted his head fractionally and grunted.

“Damnit Zarah.” He growled, slowly shaking his head with an annoyed expression. Then he sighed and adjusted the grip on his handgun. “You know, I almost wish Zarah hadn’t told me about the little ‘friend’ she made in the land of the dead.

“Then, instead of a fucking massive question mark, I’d just have to fight a Revenant.”

Reznik caught the moment Botezatu’s finger tensed a fraction harder on the trigger, as if arguing with himself on opening fire regardless of Reznik’s lack of action and whoever this Zarah was.

Don’t do it, Botezatu. Don’t fucking do it, please.

The more I get hit, the more I have to heal and eat.

And right now, my body is fat, happy, and compliant.

Then another thought came screaming into his mind. A thought that slammed home with a resounding mental impact that felt equal parts a light in the dark and a club across the forehead.

Wait.

She’s someone who made a friend in the land of the dead.

I… Zara is miss Elf, isn’t she?

Who else would make a friend like me?

“Can you talk? Wave? Do something besides stand there menacingly?” Botezatu demanded, still watching Reznik like a wild animal to be put down.

I’m not being menacing.

I’m just standing here.

Reznik rolled his eyes as he remembered that him being who he was was a threat in and of itself.

Then realized that he rolled his eyes.

He had control of his eyes.

He tried to blink.

He couldn’t blink, but he could move his eyes of his own volition. This wasn’t him suggesting a movement to his body either, he realized - He was in -direct- control of his eyes.

Botezatu also seemed to notice the roll, and raised an eyebrow skeptically.

Botezatu opened his mouth as if to speak, breathed in a deep breath of air, and paused.

“Huh. Never seen that before.” Botezatu squinted and took a step forward towards Reznik. “Okay, Revenant, I want you to look to your left, your right, and your left again if you understand me.”

Pointedly, Reznik pointed his eyes left, right, then left again before refocusing on Botezatu.

“I’ll be damned! H-he’s actually doing it!” one of the soldiers, a younger Elven man, exclaimed with a broad smile. He was cut off by a sharp look from Botezatu.

“It would seem he is, Aerhin. Don’t lower your guard yet.” Botezatu instructed sharply as he looked back to Reznik. “I’ve dealt with Revenants before. Never once without losing over a dozen men, but more often than not, entire squadrons, Mages included.

“Count yourself lucky for now, but realize that he could turn at any moment.”

Botezatu maintained eye contact with Reznik for several long seconds, scratching at his short beard with his unoccupied hand before inspiration seemed to strike him.

“I’m guessing you can’t talk, can you, monster?” Botezatu waited briefly for Reznik to respond before continuing: “I thought not. You can move your eyes, but not talk. Very well. Look up and down like you’re nodding with your eyes for yes, side-to-side as if shaking your head for no, understood?”

Oh thank fuck.

Yes, yes!

I understand, Sir Botezatu!

Reznik began rapidly pulling his eyes up and down as his body let out a slow, bored-sounding wheeze.

“It would seem that you were right, Zarah…” Botezatu slowly shook his head and lowered the pistol to his side. He didn’t put it back in its holster, but lowering it in and of itself communicated to Reznik that he was making progress. “I suppose I have you to thank for dealing with those bandits a week or so ago, and the… Bessarban chew toy left on my doorstep the other day, eh?”

Gleefully, Reznik replied with his eyes in the affirmative.

“Very well then. You did good work there, apart from sending the town rumor mill alight with tales of monsters.” Botezatu gave Reznik a small, respectful nod as the corner of his mouth ticked up. “I take it you don’t mean us harm, because you would have done so already, so I’ll ask a different question.

“The men at this camp, did you see them?”

Reznik nodded his eyes again.

“Did you see where they went?”

Reznik found it interesting that Botezatu was asking questions about the scouts, instead of what Reznik wanted or intended, even as he answered in the affirmative.

Perhaps he’s sharp enough to put together that I’ve been trying to help, and to some extent believes I’m on his side.

Therefore, the main problem becomes the enemy soldiers.

“Can you lead us to them?”

Reznik paused at this question.

Yes, he was able to lead Botezatu to the enemy camp, but doing so was not the right move. Or at least, he didn’t think so.

They were likely to set out soon, given that one of their men had gone missing in the field.

Whatever attack they were planning could even happen while Reznik was leading Botezatu to them.

It was an answer far too complex for a simple yes or no.

Let’s hope you can ask follow-up questions.

Reznik shook his eyes in the negative.

Botezatu cocked his head to the side and frowned spectacularly.

“Why not?” Botezatu asked as Reznik froze, considering how to reply. then, he simply crossed his eyes in the closest approximation of a shrug he could manage. Botezatu pinched the bridge of his nose and nodded, seeming to realize his mistake. “Very well, let’s do this another way… Is it because you can’t find your way back?”

Reznik shook his eyes no.

“Is it because they went somewhere we can’t get to?”

Reznik’s body gnashed its teeth as he shook his eyes no, causing several of the men who had slightly lowered their weapons to snap them back into position.

“Mmm. Is it because the scouts are coming back here?”

Reznik almost moved his eyes in the affirmative, but paused. The scouts weren’t coming back to their camp. The army was coming back, likely for the town.

Fuck. Okay. Town is… that way, right? Right.

Come on, Botezatu, see what I’m looking at? They’re going there.

Botezatu grunted once, causing Reznik to look back at him.

“Town’s that way. Are you saying they’re coming back for the town?” Botezatu questioned, leaning his head forward with raised eyebrows. “This looks like a small camp, I doubt the soldiers here would have what it takes to overtake the town… so… then there’s more?”

Frantically, Reznik bobbed his eyes up and down, to the point where his eyes actually began to unfocus.

Yes! A whole army to our west!

If I had control of my arms, I’m sure I could paint you a picture.

Even if Reznik’s thoughts didn’t make it to Botezatu, the message being sent by his eyes certainly did.

Botezatu watched Reznik with a somewhat hollow expression, chewing thoughtfully at the inside of his cheek. With a deep exhale, Botezatu holstered his pistol and cursed under his breath.

“Fuck. Gentlemen, it would seem that Bessarba might be electing to strike while Prussany is busy in the north.” Botezatu announced, taking his eyes off of Reznik and looking to both sides of his men. “The Baron needs to be informed about this. Along with the king, and the regency council.

“As soon as we’re back to town, I’ll pen a letter. Aerhin, you’re our fastest rider, so you’ll be setting off to the capitol with my letter. If you ride fast enough, you might even stand a chance of beating the Baron’s messenger that left the other day.”

The boy looked unsettled at the instruction but nodded regardless.

After a brief moment of pointed staring at Aerhin, Botezatu nodded in return and looked back to Reznik.

“And as for you, Revenant… you’re coming with us.” Botezatu ordered with a sharp finger pointed at Reznik. A split second later, and Reznik heard two sets of boots approaching from either side. “You’ve done us a service today, but I still don’t trust you to be out and about on your own.

“From now on, you’re officially property of his majesty’s Royal Riverguard. More importantly, you’re the ace up my sleeve if Bessarba does make it to Carcal. So please, don’t fight my men.

“It would be a shame to turn you over to Zarah as a corpse.”

A loop was placed around Reznik’s chest as he processed what Sir Botezatu had said. Quickly, and before Reznik could process what was happening, he was bound tight with rope wrapped around his arms, chest, and hands.

Then a bag was thrown over his head.

No!

Don’t move!

Let this happen, body of mine.

It’s the best way of finding our Elf friend.

On top of that, Botezatu clearly doesn’t want us dead or harmed, he likely wants to keep the town safe from us.

That or use us as a weapon.

Probably both, come to think of it.