The Eye of Souls

“ Great now you come to me. Where were you two days ago when I needed you.” Peter Smith tried to blink or rub his eyes to help clear the mud from his eyes but could not. “ Who are you? Where am I?” His whole body seemed to move as whatever he was in hit a bump. “ Yes, my spirit. I am Dramix of the house of Thimus of the people of the Drakans and we are currently in a slaver cage.” Peter paused remembering the introduction to the game he started before he blacked out. “ Welcome new soul to a world of magics and fantasy. A world of strange strangers and wondrous wonders. In this journey you will experience things never experienced before. You and your fellow new souls will lead this ancient world into a new dawn or it's final dusk. But first be warned every action you preform has consequence in the world around you. How will you play?” Peter stopped his pause in remembering the entrance to hearing Dramix speaking to him again. “ Please tell you are a spirit of strength. I have tried to escape this cage a few times now but lack the strength of my ancestors to break free.” Peter realized this was a part of the game that defined his playing style. “ I prefer a balance but favor wisdom.” 

Dramix sighed disappointed. “ I was told the spirit you desired may not be the one you got but it will be one you will need.” Peter remembers the next line of the intro before he blacked out. “ And remember, you must never reveal that this is a game.” Peter's thought broke as they hit another bump. He really wished he could see clearly. “ Would you mind, if you are able, to clear my sight for me?” Dramix grunted as a shadow moved over his sight and after it was gone he could see clearly again. “ Thank you.” Dramix grunted again. “ Great a kind spirit.” 

Peter grew angry and wanted to confront this Dramix but could not see anyone within his reach to confront. Then he noticed he could not turn or move at all. Before he spoke again they hit another bump and and he was bounced to find himself on the neck of a red scaly being. Peter thought this appropriate. With his physical form it would be hard to survive a primitive world. He might as well play the role he was cast into. “ No, but I am appreciative. As well this may help me free you.” 

Dramix shook his body as he laughed quietly. “ Now I have not had my humor touched like that in years. You help me escape. You are an amulet with a soul and I do not feel any stronger or wiser.” Peter looked around and noticed the cage they were in had no solid floor. It's gaps were large enough for a hand to reach threw. He then looked at the door to the cage. The lock was simple and the door was as well. If they had something of leverage either could be beaten. “ Can you watch the road ahead and reach down to grab a stick or a rock to use. Dramix turned to have his back beside the door. “ I can do something less obvious but yes I can get us something along the road. After I get your item what then?” 

Peter looked around in the new angle. The driver was protected by a steel plate. “ You have been in this cage long enough to notice how the lineup of wagons is. How many are behind us and with what and who in them?” Dramix chuckled amused. “ Perhaps you are wise. There are two wagons behind us. One holds a single man who they are caring for as if they need him alive. They also have my belongings in a lockbox there with others stuff. The next wagon is a supply wagon for the slavers. Food and water mainly.” Peter thought on that as he noticed the road ahead of them. If they did escape there would be nowhere to run before being taken down. It may be best for them to wait till dark. “ Do you think you will last till dark and they camp?” Dramix growled annoyed. “ I thought of that last night. Before I could escape I found a group of four broke out. They killed each of them and dragged their copses from the lead wagon.” Peter considered that. If they are to escape it will be in a way they would not follow. “ How long do you think you will have the strength to escape?” Dramix growled angry. “ I am the legacy of dragons. I can hold my full strength for days without nourishment.” 

Peter had doubts he was at full strength now but had to go on what Dramix believed he could do. “ Do you know of anything of the route we are going or what awaits us?” Dramix sighed slightly ashamed. “ Alas no. I was on my way to my birth home from the Drakan capitol city. After I got drunk in a bar I found myself in this cage. I do not know where we are but every break we have had has been by a river. I have no doubt there is one ahead.” Peter sighed not knowing what else to do. “ I got my stick. What now?”

Peter watched a break happen for himself. The men that were the guards were more cautious around Dramix than the others. They fed him a bowl of something he did not question about asking what was. Then a cup of water. They noticed him playing with a twig and decided he could not be any more dangerous with it than without and none of them really wanted to go take it from him. It was several hours later when Peter finally came up with a plan. “ And then on my third trial I was asked to mine the crystal that houses you. I tell you it was not easy.” Peter would have leaned forward surprised. “ That is it.” 

Dramix growled annoyed. “ Tired already? You were the one wanting to learn about me.” Peter sighed. “ Not that. You have had a rather entertaining life Dramix, that is for sure but I am speaking of where you are to break out.” Dramix looked at the road ahead. He sees they have been traveling along a river but soon they will have to go up the cliff 's pass. It was narrow and there would be little room to get around the wagons. “ A good spot indeed, and the river flows back this way. So they will have to turn the wagons around after the pass in order to search for us.” Peter was thinking the same. “ The trouble will be the escape itself. That I can not help you with.” Dramix chuckled humored. “ That I can handle. At first I was disappointed when you told me you were not a spirit of strength. I am glad to be wrong.” 

Peter laughed. “ Do not thank me yet. I could just get you killed.” Dramix chuckled again. “ At least I die fighting. And for a Drakan that is all we can ask for.” Peter paused feeling a little happy but worried. “ So tell me about this third trial. You said you had to mine a jewel.” Dramix relaxed his shoulders and leaned against the bars he was in. “ Ah yes, a soul gem. In the mine of the dead. Spiteful and bored. They toyed with me for days in the dark. In the end I made it to their treasury and passed their trials. I do not have the time to tell you about it with full detail.” Peter was a little relieved of that. “ Do you think we have time to be told of your parents?” Dramix tensed up before relaxing again. “ My father was a tailor and proud of it. He made simple or leather clothing and other things. He worked most of his life like this and one day felt a void in his life so he sought out a clutch mother. After my birth and she paid for the service I do not know more about her. He raised me to take his skills and shop one day. Then my coming of age tests happened.” 

Dramix sighed. “ None expected it to be me. Most shamans come from the great bloodlines. Most come from the lines of heros and champions.” Dramix was easily read as being unhappy for his fate. “ You miss the simple life?” Dramix gripped the side of the cage as they hit a rocky patch as they were entering the pass. “ I am not sure about that. Right now I am not sure what I want. Except out of this cage.” 

Peter could agree with that. He noticed that they all were in the pass now and a short distance into it. “ I do have one more idea for you. If you can disable one of the wagons it will hamper their search for you. They may even give up on you to save on the trouble.” Dramix grunted. “ Leave the escape to me. You have helped enough.” Suddenly Dramix turned and jammed the stick in the keyhole and turned it hard. The stick buckled and snapped but not before unlocking it's goal and Dramix was threw the opening a moment later before jumping out toward the lead horse pulling the wagon. It turned to avoid the creature with claws and fangs coming toward it. Right over the cliff. Not before Dramix jumping again on the driver and driving his knee into the driver's face.

As he was moving he rushed over the prisoner there and jumped over the horses to the ones behind and landed square on the hitch that held the horses to the last wagon. The driver there tried to grab his sword but was too late as Dramix grabbed him and threw him over the edge of the cliff. “ Dramix you got to get out of here. Grab something to survive and go.” Dramix raised his head and looked over his shoulder. The slavers had already took notice that one of the wagons went over. The noise of it could not have been missed by them. Yet they did not notice him yet. He hurried behind the wagon and grabbed a knapsack and started throwing whatever he could in it before grabbing a cooking knife and run. “ Get out of here. They noticed this wagon.” Dramix took two steps toward over the cliff and was extending his wings but as he was going over the ledge something wrapped around his left wing. Without it he went over the cliff and into the river below.

“ Dramix! Grab that rock!” Dramix opened his eyes surprised being like a log going down a raging river. He sees a rock coming toward him and he extended the hand with the blade in it and managed to get it in a split. The blade held only a moment before snapping but that moment he was able to get the hand with the sack in it into the crack. He tossed the remnants of the blade hilt away to be washed into the waterfall before climbing on the rock. He then worked the binding on his wings off before grabbing the knife's blade and trying to fly to the shore. He makes it to the bank before crashing to the ground again. “ You all right?” Dramix raised to his hands and knees before slowly standing. “ My ancestors would be so ashamed to see me right now.” 

Peter could not help but laugh. “ All great legends have their low points. What they do when they fall is get back up. You are not dead yet so keep moving forward. Would your ancestors be proud of you for doing that?” Dramix chuckled as he started walking up the river and opened the sack. He found it's insides was remarkably dry. The sack must have had some magic put on it. He noticed some fruits and dried meats. A jug of wine and several pouches. He tasted them and he found most of them salt. The others were not of quantity to be truly useful in his current situation. After half an hour the fruit and meat was gone and the wine jug empty. Dramix was on his forth trial when they broke threw some tree cover to where they were before. “ Why come back?” 

Dramix kept quiet and low as he took the blade from the rock and made a makeshift spear. “ They likely scavenged what they could from the food wagon but most of it they could not haul in the cage wagon. We are in the middle of nowhere so scavengers could not have picked it clean. We need supplies and I want my stuff back.” Peter remained quiet as Dramix sneaked in close and found the dead slavers stripped of their gear and some of the boxes missing. The cage that was on the wagon broken open. Dramix noticed most of the boxes had their locks broken open. He looked threw the open ones before going to the last three and breaking them open with a rock. The last one had his gear in it. It was well past dark at the point of him being back from being bare flesh and looking into the other chests for anything of use. “ There is someone behind you.” 

Dramix reached slowly for his spear but an arrow landed by his hand. “ You could have got me killed. My men were in wait in ambush on the other end of the pass.” Dramix withdrew his hand from the spear reach. “ And would your men do anything to help me stranger?” Dramix gripped the dagger at his belt. “ He has range on you and your back is to him. You will lose. Continue talking.” Dramix sighed and released his dagger. “ And how do you know your men are actually there? As far as you know they may be all dead or abandoned you. Even then would your escape be assured?” Dramix heard the bow be released of it's tension. “ That is true. However I will still be going there myself. I was just checking the resources around and waiting for dawn break to continue.” 

Dramix was tempted to go after his blade again but had his suspicions that would lead back to the situation from before. “ We broke out well over an hour ago. Why stay around here?” The man behind them took a cautious step forward. “ Because Drakan I wanted to know if you survived or not. I know you tough bastards but a fall like that I am surprised I survived.” Suddenly there was something that hit the ground behind him and Dramix looked over his shoulder to find the man on his knees and blood coming from his mouth. Dramix grabbed his spear and moves over to the man. “ How bad is it?” 

Before getting a response the man fell to his side. “ Can you help him?” Dramix goes to a knee and inspects the womb. “ It is bad and he has lost much blood, but I might be able to save him.” Peter paused considering the paths that could be taken. He realized this was the second possibility of choice he has to make now. The first was obvious in escaping to becoming a slave. Dramix desired his freedom so he helped him attain it but this time Dramix was not sure if he wanted to save the man or not. “ Would it haunt you if you knew you left this man to die?” 

Dramix raised his head surprised and rushed over to the boxes of random belongings and found something he could make bandages out of and made some before creating a small fire. “ Without you I may have left this man here to die without ever giving it a second thought till something similar happens to me. I would curse the cruel irony of fate but accept me being it's fool. I will not regret giving him a chance. I will not regret giving him a strangers kindness.” Peter felt proud of himself and hopes all the decisions made in this game go as easily as those already done.

Dramix was resting half asleep as the sun rose and the man raised up. “ Your awake.” The man acted as if he did not hear Peter as Dramix responded. “ I am now. He stirs. That is a good sign.” Dramix tossed the wine jug he filled with water from the night before at the man. He grabbed it and drank heavily from it. “ Why help me stranger?” Dramix sighed as he stood. “ Because I want to believe I have a good heart. You have not wronged me so I could not leave you to just die. Besides you seem to act as if you know where we are. After some thinking on it I can not go back the way we came. Not alone. I am sure they have put on an alert by now of an escaped slave Drakan if your people did not kill them.” The man turned to put his back against the tree he was set beside of. “ I see. Most consider you Drakan dumb drunken brutes. You prove that fairly well when you broke a man's jaw.” 

Dramix grabs his dagger and goes to the chunk of cooked horse meat over the fire and cuts off a piece and tosses it to the other. He then gets himself a piece. “ I lost awareness after the third mug. They must have drugged me.” The man laughed. “ It took six to take you down.” Dramix grunted annoyed. “ Only? I would have been laughed at for that many back in my home.” The man starts laughing some before coughing in pain. “ Oh, please do not make me laugh. It hurts too damn much.” Dramix chuckled before setting back down on the pile of clothing. “ I figure I will leave you here and make something to help haul you and prepare our departure. That will take most of the day. After another nights rest.” The man interrupts. “ We should be long gone by nightfall. If my men are not here by now then they really are all dead or deserted me. I have no doubt those slavers will have bounty hunters on our trails soon.” 

Dramix paused wondering if they were sending them for him mainly or this man. Peter was wondering similar. “ I'll ask this. Can you live with abandoning him now in order to save yourself. Even if you had his blessing to do so?” Dramix paused in thought to that. He did not realize he was thinking the same thing. For some strange reason this man's fate was tied to his own now. At least for the moment. “ I was hoping to bring some of this loot along with us but if we are to hurry I must abandon most of it. One of the horses made it relatively lame coming down the cliff. I found it last night while scavenging the wagon above and should last a short time. It was not as high as you thought. The wagon landed on the other. This is it's meat. They took most of the food and things but they left some and several water containers. I used whatever salt I could get to preserve some of the horse meat.” The other man laughed lightly as he held his side in pain again. “ Not stupid at all.”