Call of Ring(Compleled)

15 Twelve Traps

It was midday, and although Apollos reeked yet again of alcohol, he seemed coherent enough to join the group. Shamos was waiting alone in his yard, anxious to see Blake. A moment after they arrived, the three volunteers showed up.

After a brief conference, the group headed out on the scouting trip, following Blake’s lead. Within a few minutes, they found themselves back in the fields where they had been earlier just before the break of dawn. Blake knew that the wild beasts often looked for food in the early hours of the morning before the sun gets too hot. He also knew that the safest time to wander in the fields was now, during high noon. In other words, in the heat of the day.

Regardless of their perceived thoughts on the patterns of these animals, they had agreed to approach the first trap as carefully and as quietly as possible.

From a distance, Blake spotted the first trap. Although they were yet a hundred yards away, he was confident that the shape of the trap looked different.

“Could it be? Was there an animal trapped inside?” he thought silently to himself, trying to contain his emotion.

Blake turned slightly, motioning his fellow explorers to remain quiet. He signaled this with a finger to his closed lips. The party slowed its pace. Together, they cautiously approached the trap.

A large rodent lay motionless in the trap, seemingly asleep in the early afternoon sun. The animal looked like a two-hundred-pound rat. They could tell it was still alive because its chest was moving in and out confirming the beast was still very much breathing.

“The liquid sedative worked!” exclaimed Blake out loud, hoping he hadn’t spoken too loudly. One of the volunteers had brought a spear. He wanted to pierce the rodent right then, but Blake objected.

“We need to view the other traps first. If we kill the rodent now, the smell of blood could lead other wild beasts to our location before we can check the other traps. Besides, the sedative should last for at least twelve hours.”

The group consented to the logic of their leader and moved on quietly. They were all in a bit of shock. No one in their lifetime had ever claimed seeing one of the wild beasts in person. This would be the first actual sighting of the previously unseen enemy.

The second trap also contained a wild beast. A large wolf. The beast was lying on its side, chest moving in and out, just like the oversized rodent. The group moved on and discovered that the third trap contained a napping wild boar.

To Blake’s surprise, all twelve traps had captured wild beasts. Six large wolves, four oversized rodents, and two wild boars.

Because of Blake's earlier caution, the group seemed hesitant to begin killing the beasts. Shamos spoke up: “What if there are more that emerge as soon as we begin killing them?”

“It is a risk we have to take. We must move quickly and efficiently,” replied Blake with some apprehension.

Internally, Blake became more confident in the number twelve. He had superstitiously believed this was the actual number of wild beasts in Stella Woods. Blake kept his thoughts to himself.

Shamos spoke up again. “There is something I’d like to say before we begin this process. My three friends have volunteered for a specific reason. Each of them has lost a child to these beasts. They would each like a turn with the spear to deliver a death blow to one of these animals. In so doing, they hope to bring vengeance to the death of their own children, but also symbolically for all the children who have been lost over the years.”

Blake was speechless.

Apollos spoke first. “Justice will be served today. We can never bring your children back, but I’m honored to be on this mission with you. May your children now rest in peace.”

“There is something else I need to say,” said Shamos.

“I swore an oath that I would never speak of this again. And although I’m conflicted, I feel that this is the moment for confession. I too lost a child, decades before most of you were born, except for you Apollos. I falsely assumed I would never have a chance to avenge my son’s death. But here we are. Thank you Blake for your genius. I owe this moment to you and your plan. We know not where you come from, or how you arrived, but we are grateful to call you friend in our world.”

Again, Blake didn’t know what to say. He bowed in response to the kind words, and finally managed a few of his own knowing the moment required it.  

“Let us begin. In honor of the memory of your children. Let’s avenge their premature deaths!”

They each took turns piercing the hearts of the napping wild beasts. Six in their party, they each killed two. At least two of them held watch at all times while blood spewed from the guts of the animals. No movement was detected, neither in the fields nor from Stella Woods beyond. The killings were routine, except for three chilling observations. One boar, one wolf, and one rodent were all found to be very pregnant. As they were pierced, their guts spilled open revealing the unborn baby wolves, boars, and rodents. The shock of this revelation required no exchange of words. Somehow, they were all silently thankful.

Twelve traps, and twelve dead beasts along with several unborn baby animals. Blake had instructed them to leave the trap doors open. He explained that they would return the following morning. If the bodies were left untouched, it would confirm that there were only twelve wild beasts in total from Stella Woods. If not, they would have to hatch a new plan.

Shamos led them from the fields back to his yard. He went into his house and came out with a bottle of Singani and five small glasses. He poured liquor into each glass.

“In memory of our children. We drink now to their memories.”

He poured once again into each glass.

“Drink again, for today we have avenged their death.”

A third time he poured into the glasses.

“And to our new friend Blake. We thank you.”

After three shots, Blake looked for a quick excuse to exit this impromptu memorial. He knew he needed to keep his routine of afternoon reading with Gaius and Dorkus. Blake was not surprised when Apollos turned to him and asked,

“Will you join me for a drink? You have indeed proved your worthiness.” As he said this he winked.

“I’m afraid I have a previous engagement Apollos. I do look forward to seeing you tomorrow, and we should spend some time together then. I am eager to learn as much as you are willing to impart.”

  Apollos appeared somewhat disappointed, but also seemed content to stay drinking with the other men. Blake excused himself, confirming that he would see them all tomorrow. He parted by asking them to keep the activities of the day confidential until they could confirm the next day if they had succeeded outright in eliminating the wild beasts from Stella Woods. Everyone agreed to the terms of his request.

Blake left the group and wandered through the market on his way home. At the last booth, he made eye contact with Sharina. They both smiled as he walked by. He made a right hand turn down the path toward the home in which he was staying. As he walked, he looked down at his rings again. He thought of Sadie, and his mind wandered, wishing he could see her beautiful face again. He then looked at the other ring, “The Ring of Cora”. He wondered why it was so valuable as described by the book he had read. Why did he stumble across the ring on his first day at the market? Why had Apollos spoken to him at the time as a complete stranger, recommending that he buy that ring?

His thoughts were cut off prematurely, as he arrived at the home of Gaius and Dorkus. As if by habit now, he entered the home, but chose to exit the back without stopping. Looking both ways, he nudged the strange piece of wood with his foot. Seeing light from below, he knew that Gaius and Dorkus were waiting for him to join.

“I will look for a book with more information about the Ring of Cora,” he thought as he descended the make-shift dirt stairs.