14 The Nameless

_The Nameless_

His feet thundered against the ground as he ran, completely ignoring the feeling for rocks beating against his bare feet. He hadn't the time to grab shoes when he left. It was then or never and he couldn't stay. Neither of them could. It was leave with the chance to live another day, or stay and die any day fighting for a cause he didn't believe in.

The penalty for deserting would be worse now that he was of age. Though still a teen, the seventeen year old boy was considered a man to his people. Children were reprimanded for deserting. Men were killed. So he couldn't be caught, because then he would die anyway, all too soon. He wanted to live, like anyone else. But what kind of life did you have if you only spent it fighting for someone else's war? An old war- older than you were.

His entire life was spent either poor as dirt, fighting to survive, or in the war from the time he could hold a sword properly until now. He couldn't even remember the faces of all of those who died at his hands, and he wondered if he were to be killed, if the person would remember his face. It was a morbid thought, but he felt morbid. He felt dirty from his years being one of the many disposable pawns of his nation. A decade spent slaughtering both the soldiers on the other side, but also innocent people at the commands of war leaders.

It was a disgusting prospect and he had decided he wanted no more part of it. Him and his brother. Well- the man wasn't really his brother but they had been close for many years and saved each other's lives on multiple occasions. In the boys opinion, this man was closer than a brother, blood be damned.

One afternoon, preparing for the next battle that was not looking good for their side, the both of them had decided what it was that they were going to do. Done were they of letting their lives be controlled by malicious puppeteers. They wanted to be free- to live a life worth living. Unfortunately that life could not be in their home land. It was too war torn and toxic to them- do dangerous to stay in whether in the military or not. Definitely if they deserted. So they had decided that after noon, that they were going to leave.

But this wasn't a decision one could sit on and plan out. People often listened, and any suspicion or evidence directed in their direction would bring death to their door. Upon deciding, they had to leave right then, before anyone was to find out. They had packed the only things they owned and had gone swiftly- so swiftly the boy hadn't even grabbed his shoes.

They had been traveling for three days now, walking and running and sleeping only a handful of hours each night for fear of being caught up with. Most nights were restless, the two of them hardly slept with the danger of the military lurking around the corner. They had to get off of this continent and find a way to someplace safer. From what the two knew of the world, the closest continents were The Midlind and the southern Continent of wild people.

The midlind was a safer place to be- but not for them. The lords of the continent would send them back, or execute them for fear of being dragged into the West's bloody affairs. As far as the two knew, it was the south that they had to get to. The place was full of wild tribes of people who would leave you be if you left them be. If they could only get down there, and get some land, they could farm and make a life there.

However, first they had to get off of this continent, and the closest to them now was the Midlind. They would have to swiftly make their way south without being too noticed. However, this would be difficult. He had heard the people of the Midlind were not very diverse unless you went south. His dark skin would stand out from the pale people of this land, and he had heard that these sickly looking pale fleshes did not appreciate that difference. This would be a real challenge.

They would have gone straight south, but that would require them crossing over more of their continent, which was far worse since they were so far north. It had to be the Midlind. They had to take the chance.

So here they were, running barefoot through the woods, running to the long sea, unsure of how they would cross but for now that did not matter. Their last rest had stolen hours from them, conveniently sleeping past the time they had agreed. It seemed you could not tell sleep deprived bodies when to wake up- because they had slept far into the noon.

What was so grave about this mistake was that the military had caught up with them. The two brothers had heard them off in the distance- a valley that echoed. They had been lucky to have decided to camp where they had in order to hear the men approaching. It was almost if fate graced them- but if it were to have really blessed them, he supposed there would be no danger after them at all.

Now they ran, pushing through bushes and tree limbs that slapped around, either on or behind them. Their already weathered and callused skin was still reddened and cut by such things but the adrenalyn kept them from fully experiencing the stings. This was most likely the reason why his bloody bear feet didn't bother him at all at the moment. He saw the seagulls up ahead.

"Brother," The boy called to his older friend. "Seagulls! We must be close!"

"But how will we cross?!" The man asked him back, shoving shrubbery from his path, stumbling over roots as he did so but attempting to keep up his run.

"I do not know- if worse comes to worse we swim!"

The man looked at him with a shocked expression. "Are you mad?! The Midlind is miles from here! We cannot swim that far!"

He gave his brother a determined look. "We either let those bastards kill us for deserting, or we face the danger of drowning! This was your idea, if we stay we die, but if we make it across, there is still a chance!"

"Gods, I hate when you are right!"

The two continued to run, their lungs feeling as if they would burst, but they had to beat the horses. They gained some time by going through thick forestry but if they slowed down the horses would have no doubt rounded the forestry and beat them to the beach. This entire ordeal was a gamble but they had gone too far to turn back. All they could hope for was for fate to be on their side this day.

The older brother fell, smacking his head on the roots sticking out of the ground. He shouted, which caused the boy to nearly fall over himself. "Kehan" He yelled back, running to the man and pulling him up onto his feat. "We have to keep going," He urged. Kehan nodded and the two continued on, running as fast as their burning lungs and bloody feet would allow.

"Ryus," Kehan said now, his voice lower than the others. "If we have to swim, our bags are too heavy to take with us, they'll pull us down- there is no time to save what we need," He pointed out.

Ryus grit his teeth. The prospect of being with nothing in a strange land was daunting, but he understood. "We'll have to leave them in that case,"

"Aye," Kehan agreed.

When the forest broke apart they hesitated for a half second. It was not wise to break into the open sand if the military was already here on their horses. They could do a number of things to take them out easily. Cut them down on horseback, simply trample them with a horse, or even shoot them down with arrows if they willed.

But time was ticking so they broke into the sand, towards the water. The long sea seemed to go on forever- you could not see land on the other side. Kehan did not wait to start trudging into the water, taking the strap of his bag, ready to throw it aside.

"Wait, brother," Ryus said from shore. He pointed to a boat, a ways off in the sand. It was as if the heavens were looking unto them with beams of hope. But the boat was a long way off- if the horses got here by that time, there was no telling what would happen. They were at a loss here, but the longer they stuck around and thought about it, the more time they wasted.

Kehan nodded and trudged out of the water- now the two of them were running down the beach towards the boat. It felt like forever that they ran on the soft sand- and the both of them were growing quite weary. If they swam it was likely that they would drown. This boat was their lifeline now.

Approaching the boat proved a small disappointment.

"It is old, I do not know how long it will hold in the water," Ryus said grimly.

"It does not matter, an hour or ten minutes- anything gives us a leg up in this time,"

Ryus shook the disappointed thoughts from his head. "You are right," He said now, helping his brother push out the boat into the water. They both got into the boat when they saw horses in the distance.

"How are your arms, brother?" Ryus asked the man. Kehan nodded, picking up the singular oar that was left in the old boat.

"Never better," He said as he started swiftly rowing. The man had never rowed a boat before, and he did not know how to use only one oar. It seemed immediately that the boat started to turn in the water.

"Row on both sides, dickhead! Alternate!" Ryus scolded the man who merely laughed and did as he was told.

"We are going to die, brother. Let's face it," The laughing man said now.

"Look who the mad one is now, Kehan! We are not going to die, not yet!"

The horses were closer now, and Ryus lifted both of the bags over their heads just as arrows flew over head, sticking into the bag and flying into the water around them.

Kehan looked panicked but Ryus only glared at his friend. "Keep rowing!"

"Aye aye, Captain," he said with a smirk. Ryus had no choice but to smile in response. Neither of them could lie, their circumstances were exciting. There was something riviting about the rush and the chase- and it was the gamble.

Ryus's smile fell and he yelped as he felt an arrow lodge into his side. He shut his eyes tightly, groaning as his arms struggled to keep the bags held up.

"Ryus!" Kehan exclaimed in worry.

"Keep rowing!" He yelled yet again. "Do not worry about me," he managed to grunt out.

Kehan gave him a single serious nod and rowed as if his life depended on it- which was quite easy seeming as his life did in fact depend on it.

"They will be sending a ship- likely a small one- after us to cut us off from shore. Kehan, we have to beat it," Ryus told him seriously.

"The boat will never make it, I can feel the wood under us weining!"

"Then we swim!" Ryus yelled back at him. The arrows soon stopped- well in truth they could no longer reach them, but that did not stop the soldiers from shooting at them on shore as they shouted.

Ryus dropped the bags with a sigh, cringing at the arrow in his side. "Can you swim with that, brother?"

"I will have to," Ryus admitted, "Get the boat as far as it will make it. We do not start swimming until there is no more boat left floating," Kehan gave another serious nod.

Ryus pulled arrows out of one of the bags, ripping them out one by one and throwing them into the ocean. The bag was in bits now, but it did not matter. He did not plan on them making it to the other side anyway. He pulled out a shirt, his only spare and set it aside. Next he placed a weary hand on the arrow that stuck out of his side. He let out a soft exhale before he ripped it free, yelling out in the process.

Kehan grimaced at the sight, watching as his brother proceeded to take off his current shirt and rip it. He took the rippings and tied them together to make one long cloth, before he wrapped it around his waist tightly and securing it in another knot. He grunted in pain at the movements, not at all enjoying this. It did not take long for blood to completely make it through his make-shift bandage but he paid it no mind. This was the best he could do for himself at the moment. If he was going to die, it sure was not going to be by an arrow. The boy would rather drown.

Ryus put on his spare shirt and looked back, the land behind them was steadily fading. It was only a matter of waiting now. How long would it be until Kehan was too tired to row? Was Ryus in any condition to row? He did not know, but it did not matter, he would row.

_____

The two had switched a few times, but Ryus could not row for as long as Kehan could- luckily the man was very accepting of that.

"Practically shielded me with your body," He had said to him. "Saved my life again,"

The boat had been filling with water for some time now, their bags completely soaked- not that it mattered. Their bloody feat and woodland scratches ached and stung, but it kept them awake and alert despite their weariness. The sun was starting to go down by the time the water reached inches above their ankles, but despite the cold salt water engulfing their raw feet, the two said nothing.

When it was eventually pitch black out, the moonlight was the only thing that kept any light out. In fact, it was this light that allowed them to see the larger than expected ship- a ship with their military sigil on it. The two looked at each other, weary.

"Think they've seen us?" Kehan asked a bit nervously.

"I do not think so... not yet at least. We may have to swim to shore from here."

Kehan gave him a weary look. "I am not so confident about swimming in my condition... but you... you are worse off than I, I doubt you could swim for long- let alone at all..."

Ryus shook his head. "I can do it. You can do it." he assured.

"I do hope you are right." Kehan said.

The two of them waited now, waited for the ship that searched for them to leave the area- well they hoped it did. Soon it seemed that it would not be as they hoped. The ship grew closer, and they grew far more nervous. The brother's had agreed that rowing the sinking boat of theirs would be too noticeable, and so would jumping out when the ship was close enough to hear them. They would have to get into the water sooner than either would have liked to.

Luckily enough, dawn was approaching and it seemed that the two might be close to shore. Normally a trip like this would take days, but it seemed this season's tides were in their favor, speeding up their journey. If they had been reversed, there would be no doubt that they would have only been a few miles from their own shore.

Reluctantly, they went overboard into the water when the ship got closer. They did not want their splashes to be heard, so they were quick about it, trying to swim fast and hard away from the enemy. It was a scary thing, swimming in deep water with no shore in sight, but it was all they had left they could do- that and prey they were not spotted. If only the sun would stay hidden for longer... It was another foolish hope.

Neither of them knew how long they had been swimming for after what felt like a long while. Likely the only reason they had been able to go on this long was due to their military training. Still however, neither thought they had ached and burned this bad in their entire lives. It certainly was a challenge to them, burning limbs threatening to fail them at any moment. The salt water burned their eyes and choked their throats, but still they carried on.

It was cold, and they shivered as they swam. Neither of them wanted to acknowledge the chances of hypothermia, but that wouldn't be a fear as long as the sun came up soon. The sun would both be a blessing and a curse.

A glance over Ryu's shoulder proved that the ship was still close by, and no doubt they had found the boat. That only spurred him on faster. As fast as he could go with a screaming side that was. He was bleeding into the water, likely having reopened his wound. However, he did not fear any sea creatures that would investigate the blood. He had never heard of sharks in the Long sea before, but if they by any chance happened across any, Ryus would gladly rip the beast apart. In fact, he would eat it raw right there- his empty stomach likely had something to do with that last thought.

When the two caught sight of shore, it took a lot not to hoot and holler in cheer. They were almost there. They had only needed to get to shore. But their limbs were too sore to carry on, so the two joined hands as they floated on their backs, letting the slow but steady tide bring them in- or at least keep them coming closer as they rested.

"Are you alright?" Croaked out Kehan.

"I feel faint," Ryus responded.

"As do I, but I can only imagine what it is like for you..."

"I... I grow stiff. It is hard to keep myself afloat, brother." Ryus admitted.

"Then I will carry you,"

"Do not be an idiot, Kehan." Ryus scolded the other. "If I start to drown, you will keep swimming. Promise it."

Kehan scowled. "I refuse to promise that,"

"Promise it!" Ryus raised his voice, cringing at the feeling in his side from doing so.

"I will do no such thing! I will not leave you to die- not when we are so close!"

"Close? To what? We are far from the southern tribes. I do not know if I can make it there without my wound festering."

"You do not know. That does not mean you can't. We did not know if we would make it this far, but we are still here, aren't we?"

"By a stroke of incredulous luck, we are!"

'Don't you think we have been lucky for a reason? The ship should have spotted us- that arrow that hit you should have hit a little higher- we should have never heard them coming! We are so lucky, Ryus! Because the gods are smiling upon us! They wish us as free as we wish to be!"

"The gods?"

"Yes, the gods,"

"Why us? There are so many more like us that do not make it."

"Aye there is. Perhaps the gods are ready for a change."

"Change? Things do not change so easy," Ryus said now, his eyes looking over the clouds in the sky as they seemed to be lit up by the rising sun. Now was a time for danger- they could be seen from boat or shore.

"No, they don't. That is why it starts with us- two deserters looking for a better life."

Ryus sighed. "I do not believe it. But I do respect you, brother. I look up to you and if you say it is this way, then I will take your word on it,"

Kehan smiled now, "That is all I could possibly ask for."

"You are a sap," Ryus said with his own smile.

"And you are a dying man. Can you swim more yet?"

Ryus nodded, though not sure if he actually could do so just yet- but it didn't matter, they needed to keep moving. He turned back onto his stomach and started swimming alongside his brother, grunting at the effort. Surely his whole body was raw- like a sausage easy to bite into. His flesh tingled and threatened to rub right off of him. It was a hindrance.

Off in the distance, dark clouds seemed to rush in, greeting them with the sounds of thunder and the grace of hard drops of rain. Winds picked up and the water got restless, tossing them about. A few times, the two thought they were going to drown. Neither did.

When they reached land, it was a struggle to pull themselves from the water. Ryus only managed to pull himself up to shore where the water could not so easily pull him away. The boy faded in and out of consciousness then, as rain beat down on him and the shore licked at his ankles tediously.

"Brother," Kehan said, kneeling next to him. "Now is not the time to rest. We landed close to a watch tower- there are people here. We need to find shelter from the rain and get out of sight,"

Ryus coughed, trying to push himself up with shaky arms, but his body had given up on him." I cannot..." He croaked out.

"Ryus please," Kehan said a bit frantically. "If you stay out in the rain you will catch something. We cannot take care of you if you are sick!"

"Leave me, Kehan. It is for your best," He advised.

"I will do no such thing! Not when we've overcome the hardest part- it is all downhill from here, it gets easier- please Ryus! Get up!"

Ryus blinked a few times, his word seeming to fade away from him uncontrollably. Soon, everything went dark. Kehan would not leave him however, not even when he heard bells start ringing in the distance.