Clear My Name

I'm dead.

Clara closed her eyes as the bull-man brought his sword down, but instead heard the sharp sound of metal hitting metal. When she felt that she still had all his limbs, Clara opened her eyes. The bull-man had an arrow in his shoulder, and was standing blade to blade with another man. He was wearing dark infantry armor, his helmet tight against his head. Despite the large size of the bull-men, the stranger seemed to stand eye-to-eye, and pushed the bull's blade back as the second bull swung his own sword. The man swung as well, their swords sparking as they leaned together. Both yelled, and the bull man snorted before falling back again, gripping his shoulder. Another arrow embedded deep in his body, and Clara could see Vasil loading up to fire again. Clara took the opportunity to begin to cut the ropes. She began desperately sawing, trying to keep her eyes on the battle.

"Is that all you got?" The stranger screamed as the bull man staggered, grunting as he tried to keep his balance. His friend roared back, sword raised. The first charged, and as the bull reached the man, the stranger swung, catching the bull in the arm, his sword embedding deep in his flesh. He screamed out, a deep bellowing noise that shook the clearing. The stranger stood over the bull, and didn't seem to notice the second making another charge.

"Look out!" Clara yelled out and the man turned, just as the second bull swung, hitting him right on the side of the head, knocking his helmet clean off. The man's red hair shone in the light as he fell, and he tumbled a few times before landing on his hands and knees.

"You half-breeds are weak!" the bull man roared. Clara kept sawing, freeing up one of her hands. The man on the ground spit, and even from this far away, Clara could feel the anger coming off the man in waves. He pushed himself up, and Clara watched as the man's veins glowed a bright yellow, his hands engulfing in flames as he rose to stand. The man roared, and the noise seemed to raise the air temperature ten degrees, the air shimmering with heat.

"Clara." Vasil whispered, startling Clara as she turned. Vasil began to get the rest of the net off, and as he pushed off the last of it, they watched the stranger send a fireball at the bull man, then punch the second, sending his body flying. They both lay still on the ground, and the man stood, breathing heavy. Vasil helped Clara stand, and she felt a pain in his side. She winced, and gripped the knife in her hand tightly as the man turned. His red hair was cut short and shaved on the sides. His arms still glowed as he turned, and Clara could see a stripe of black war paint across his eyes. Even from a distance, she could see that even his eyes glowed with the same yellow fire. His skin looked ashen, and Clara could see the large pair of incisors sticking out from his lower jaw.

He began to walk towards them, but as he approached, Vasil quickly drew an arrow, stepping in front of Clara.

"Unless you want an arrow through your chest, I wouldn't take one step closer." The man stopped, raising his hands in a gesture of defeat.

"I'm surprised you didn't kill me the moment I stepped into the clearing with the bounty that's on my head," the man said, then glanced down at the knife in Clara's hand. "Hey, I've been looking for that," he said, smiling up at Clara. The smile looked awkward on his face, as if it wasn't meant for that kind of emotion.

"What do you mean bounty? Who would set a reward for the capture of the king?" Vasil kept his arrow trained on the man's head, but it didn't seem to faze him.

"I'm not the king," he said matter-of-factly, and Vasil lowered his arrow.

"What do you mean, 'not the king?'"

"I mean, I was kicked out, over-throwned, replaced," the man shrugged. "By the way, nice to see you too, Vasil. I'm glad to see you haven't changed your greetings," the man smiled, holding out his hand to Clara. His arms showed no trace of the glow they had before. "The name's Hacco." On his hand Clara noticed two rings: one white and one green, then with a glance he saw a red ring on his other hand.

"The Summer King," Clara said as she took Hacco's hand, giving him a firm shake. Hacco winked.

"Well, like I said before, ex-king," he let go of Clara's hand. "I'm more like the outlaw king." Vasil shouldered his bow, gathering his horses' reins.

"Then what are you doing out here?" Vasil asked, a tinge of uncertainty still held in his voice. Hacco shrugged, running a hand through his hair. Clara was afraid he might set it on fire.

"What else is there for me to do? It's not like I have an army to go and take back the throne."

"No, but you have us now," Clara said, and Vasil looked at her like she was crazy. Hacco smiled at them, his whole face lighting up.

"Really? You'll help me?"

"If it means we can get the Summer piece, then yes," Vasil said, glaring at Clara. Hacco shook his head in agreement.

"Whatever it takes, I'll do it, let's go," he whistled, turning towards the blackened tree line. Both Vasil and Clara turned as a dark horse emerged. Not a horse, Clara thought as the creature drew closer. It's thick neck shone like oil in the daylight, and it had not a tail, just a skeletal stump covered with dark skin. It's eyes shone a bright red and it stood much taller than a normal horse. The creature stopped quite close, snorting hot breath on them as Hacco approached.

"Did you miss me? Did you miss me?" He seemed to be baby-talking the horrifying creature, and it rubbed its head on Hacco's armored arm. He laughed and two more animals broke from the tree line. Vasil drew his knives and Clara fumbled for her own before Hacco held out his hand. "Are you two planning on killing my other pets?" He asked as the dogs reached Hacco, knocking him down and licking his face. He sat as they continued their praise, and finally he pushed them off, standing, but they still stood almost underneath him. Hacco mounted his own horse, smiling as he turned, galloping off to the trees.

"Show off," Vasil mumbled as he climbed into the saddle, and Clara followed suit. They galloped after him, racing through the burned forest.

"So," Clara began as they slowed down. They had caught up with Hacco by now, but were following a good distance behind. The dogs seemed to make their horses uneasy. "What, uh, is...is there…" Clara stumbled around her words, trying to be discreet about the question but Vasil seemed to understand where she was trying to go.

"What is Hacco?" Vasil asked, and Clara nodded. They both looked forward to the outlaw king, who sat comfortably in the tack, his two dogs circling. Vasil took a breath as he composed his thoughts. "He was destined to rule from even before he was born. His mother was an esteemed Orc warrior, the previous Summer King." Clara opened her mouth to ask a question, but Vasil was already answering. "The titles of the Seasonal Kings don't hold gender. We call whoever is ruling, the King." Clara nodded as Vasil continued. "She came from a long line of Orc rulers and warriors. But she had one fatal flaw." Vasil paused. "When Hacco was born, they instantly knew something was astray. Rumors circled that he was a half-breed, a cross of Orc blood." Clara looked at Hacco's back, at his hands as he swept them up to the sky in a stretch. "He was the successor to the throne, and many Orcs threatened to secede if he ever became King. But she was loyal to Hacco, and his father, whoever it was," Vasil added. "She never gave him up, knowing it would mean certain death for him."

"But he was King?" Clara asked, piecing together the history.

"He was, and a good one. He fought hard for his place on the throne. He trained harder than any Orc before, learned magic when he discovered an affinity for the art. And for a while, the people accepted him as their leader." Vasil's face darkened. "But something changed."

Clara looked up, sensing that the trees had opened, and heard herself gasp. In front of them stood a huge black castle. It's exterior walls were shiny and reflective, reminding Clara of the blade she carried. Hacco stopped, and Vasil and Clara stopped next to him. Clara patted her horse's neck.

"Easy there, Buck," she said, and Hacco looked over at him.

"You named your horse Buck?" Hacco asked, and Vasil looked at him with just a hint of anger in his eyes.

"I really wish you'd come up with something other than Bucky," Vasil said, and just to hear the name come out of Vasil's mouth made Clara laugh.

"Yeah, but if I can't have much in this life, I want this," Clara buffed. "How's Gerald?"

"I'm not acknowledging that you want to call my horse that, but he's fine." Clara was about to say something else, but Hacco shushed her, then pointed out. Clara followed his finger to where he was pointing, seeing an abandoned hay cart.

"You have got to be kidding me," Vasil sighed.

"What could go wrong?" Hacco asked.