Editor’s Note:  The Infamous Gio is sharing Part 2 of his companion story to the fiction in the developing Agogex canon.

Even though SAFREN: Alpha Agogex belongs to the same fantasy universe written under the pseudonym of Abigail Lakewood, the direction Gio decided to take this concept was quite different from the other stories.

Author’s Note: Welcome to Episode 2 of Safren: Alpha Agogex. If you made it even this far, a big ‘Thank You’ goes without saying.

By now some of you might have caught up with the whole creative drive behind this story. Even though this belongs to the same universe as the rest of the INFAMOUS stories I am writing, respecting both lore and continuity, it takes up a personality of its own, mixing fantasy with adult sense of humor—plus plenty of action.

In my opinion there is no other MC quite like Safren out there, not just because she is essentially a villain but because of all the big and small peculiarities that make her who she is. If you think you’ll be reading about the next ‘strong independent woman’ you might be somewhat disappointed!

In episode 2, I wanted to push the envelope—and please be advised this content is NOT suited for children. We deal with a good deal of nakedness, primarily because our MC and her team members must use an ‘invisible cream’ that only works on their naked bodies; violence; blood-lust. However you will never see any F bombs or S  bombs being dropped, oddly enough.

There will be action, romance, betrayal, impalings, eye gouging, and the body count will rise exponentially as we keep flipping pages.

This new adventure was so BIG that I had to split it into two parts. Here, you will read part 1 of Stealth Mode in its entirety.

Hope you enjoy and will stick around,

INFAMOUS🦀

SAFREN

Alpha Agogex

Stealth Mode

(Part 1)

 

Introduction

Each young Agogex picks up a practice wooden weapon from the long table set up on the training field. Excitement can be felt in the air as they get to learn Flying Dragon with actual weapons-though only wooden practice ones. Two full hours are spent by Agogex trainers on teaching the young Agogex how to handle their weapons, how to stand, and how to parry. Moves and countermoves are demonstrated. The young students are like sponges sucking in every bit of information and putting it into practice. 

Safren immediately stands out for her dexterity and ability, mastering her weapon and the art of the Flying Dragon so fast she needs to spar with older and more experienced Agogex and sometimes even with some of the Agogex trainers.

We were 10 years old at the time we started training with weapons, but what the others didn’t know, and what gave me such a net advantage during practice and sparring sessions, was the fact that I had already mastered solid combat skills by training with Father at home, before I was even transferred to Holy Camps permanently.

Did I ever tell the others about it? Oh no. It was none of their business anyway. All they needed to know was that I was better than all of them!

My name is Agogex Safren, daughter of the legendary Carrialan warrior Mouslenix Dottir. I come from a family of military leaders going back generations—to the times before the last Holy War, when giants still roamed among us. I was born to lead and bred to conquer… and to kill.

I am the ALPHA AGOGEX

Stealth Mode

(Part 1)

1

It’s freakin’ cold in Carriala City at five o’clock in the morning, in the winter. Or so it seems. I’m not cold. Never am. I carry enough lean muscle mass on my frame, and my resting metabolic rate is so high, I would have to soak in ice water to start getting any real sense of cold. But looking around me in the Holy Camp, I can see that all the Carrialan soldiers are freezing; and even some of the smaller Agogex, to be honest.

I see some of the usual suspects, some of whom were in my class when I first got transferred to camp at the age of 7.

Having my parents reside not even three miles away from camp, and having a legendary Carrialan warrior and general as father, didn’t hurt either. When most ‘divinely chosen ones’ had to spend long weekends within the depressing walls of the camp’s facilities, I was hanging out with my parents at home, eating more food than 6 adult humans combined, and learning advanced fighting techniques from Dad.

Mother always loved to read to me, so I have deep knowledge of our history and heritage. Mom is particularly proud of her giant lineage and I slowly learned what traits I might have inherited from my ancestor, the legendary she-giant Safren. Why is Mom so proud of her giant heritage? To be honest, all giants did was destroy and pillage everything in sight and, oh yea, eat humans.

At first I thought there was really nothing within me of my giant descendance. Or in Mom. Sure, we are naturally big and strong women both, but far from being giants; and sure as hell we don’t eat people! But my mom swears, based on paintings and drawings of Safren, that both of us look a lot like her. Particularly when it comes to our strong square jaws. Over time, I found out that my bone density is like that of giant’s too, as my bones are as hard as steel.

“AGOGÉ! COME—FORWARD!”

That would be Agogex Captain Sorraya. She is considered hot stuff because she’s been in several victorious tours, including some with Master General Megax herself at the lead. Please, don’t get me started on Meg. One day I will have to smash her face and steal that purple streak from her.

“We have 4 Agogé and 500 Carrialan soldiers who will join this campaign. This, very important campaign. Our troops being killed in the East and too weak to keep defending borders alone. We go help!

I need Agogé Safren, Turma, and Karlin, right here! Now!” Sorraya orders.

The three of us come forward. I remember Turma. She is good. Big. Strong. She likes to see her enemies squirm, has field experience, and you can count on her to watch your back, to a point. I’m not too familiar with Karlin. I’ve seen her in camp before, but I’ve never actually spoken to her. Karlin has this pretty face like a natural woman (is that light makeup she’s wearing?) and she seems to even act kinda feminine for an Agogex, swaying her hips when she walks like natural women do.

“You three have been selected for secret mission! Mission will be explained once we reach trenches! It is most secretive, and only I and Patrarchons know about it! Safren will be second in command. If mission fails and we enter open battle with barbarians, you take orders from Safren,  if I get killed or captured!”

Of course I am second in command. I am ALWAYS second in command! And you tell me I shouldn’t be pissed? Puh-lease.

“I, Agogé Safren, divinely selected at birth by the gods. Forged in body and spirit by the Patrarchons.” As I speak the words, I thump my chest with my fist while nodding my head in agreement.

“Remember, this mission is good opportunity to prove yourself and get promotion. You want to be Agogé captain? Accomplish mission and you be captain!” Captain Sorraya concludes.

After exchanging a few words with the other Agogex, we mobilize our troops and head off. The East awaits.

2

The march to the Eastern front is always long and tedious. Carrialan armies don’t make use of horses, so we’re always on foot. We have with us a few wheeled carts pulled by donkeys, loaded with weapons, foods and supplies not only for us but to refuel the depleted troops fighting at the borders. Our Carrialan soldiers are in charge of the carts.

We can only push the pace so much, since the limited endurance of the men is to be accounted for, but I can see how Captain Sorraya is really pushing us to make time.

Myself and Turma coordinate our moving troops and schedule some breaks so that the men can rest. We understand that, though Agogex may have nearly infinite endurance, these men can’t just walk all day, particularly when wearing battle gear and weapons.

Carrialan soldiers. If you think marching with 500 men could be problematic, you are obviously forgetting that at the head of this army we don’t have four women, but four Agogex. Our men fear us and respect us, so they follow orders. Do we catch some of them gazing once in a while, particularly with some Agogex like Karlin, who wear light makeup and shake their butts when walking? Sure. But no-one cares, really, as long as it doesn’t get in the way of their duties as soldiers of the Carrialan army.

If anything, most of them won’t even look us in the eyes when we address them or order them around. And yes, we call them ‘goats’, but only among us Agogex. Not to their faces, unless they piss us off, that is.

“Hand me some,” I say to Turma, pointing at the satchel of dry meat she is carrying. I gotta eat and can’t wait for our next stop to grab some food. Turma was smart to carry dry meat on her so she could constantly snack on our trip. Turma is the second biggest Agogex in our group after yours truly, so it’s no surprise that her appetite may rival even mine. She is the younger sister of Captain Oxilia, one of the highest ranked captains and a decorated war hero who has fought side by side with Master General Megax on numerous tours. Imagine two parents finding out their first daughter is among the ‘divinely selected’ baby girls, and then later on being told that their second daughter too was ‘divinely selected’ as well! They’re probably the happiest and proudest parents in Carriala.

“Here!” Turma hands me a handful of dry meat. “But no more, Safren. Go to carts back over there if you want more food.”

I should punch her for talking to me that way, but she is strong, and we need her.

“How Oxilia?” I ask, just to make conversation.

“Sista good. She leads own army now. She inspire me.”

Turma and Oxilia are almost identical, other than perhaps Turma being younger and smaller in size. Both sisters are characterized by very shiny black skin, their curly hair always shaved in a crew-cut style.

They both wear the same leather collar around their massive necks; a family loom of some sort?

I ask. “Leather collar you and sister wear, family thing?”

Turma touches her leather collar with her hand. “This, symbol of Tikuren warriors. My family comes from Tikuren line. Many generations of shiny black-skinned warriors from southwestern region.”

That would explain the remarkable military career of sister Oxilia and now of sister Turma. These two had warrior blood flowing in them before they even became Agogex. I’m glad to have Turma as an ally today. But tomorrow? Well, tomorrow is another day.

The following day, we make another pit stop and I realize I really have to relieve myself. I need to find a bush to do my business behind, and quick! Hey, do not laugh! I need to squat down like a natural girl due to my female anatomy, can’t help that. And I hide behind a bush because of the men. We learned that in training. You don’t want to ‘distract’ the soldiers. The other factor is the Agogex mystical scent, particularly mine which is stronger than the average Agogex. I pick a bush that is a good distance away from camp. As I’m relieving myself, not too far off from my location, I see Turma and Karlin walking behind a bush of their own to do their business.

I hear them chatting and I hear Karlin even laughing while they are soiling the grassy field. Obviously Karlin doesn’t seem too concerned with what awaits us ahead as this is her first tour. The truth is that no Agogex comes  back the same from a tour out East, if they come back at all. As I’m standing here (well, not exactly standing, since I’m squatting down to pee), I think of my first tour, and how, to an extent, I too was not quite prepared for any of that. I was kind of naive to the hell we had to plunge ourselves into, for the good of Carriala.

When I’m finally finished, I wait another few seconds before standing up and pulling up my trousers. Tailor-made trousers, I might add, specifically made to accommodate my ‘tree trunk’ legs, since standard-cut trousers never fit, or end up ripping, unequivocally, every time. When I’m off duty at my parents’ I can just wear what I call my ‘cozy shorts’. These are very short shorts that are very light and soft and let my legs ‘breathe’. I could never ever wear my cozy shorts anywhere but at home since they would call too much attention out in public. I wonder what type of trousers my giant ancestors used to wear. They must have had even bigger wardrobe issues than I.

When I return to my post I see Captain Sorraya already signaling everybody to pack up and move out. They really need us at the front ASAP, it seems. I instruct the men to the rear to get the wheeled carts ready to go. Only 6 hours away from our destination and from smashing some barbarian skulls.

3

Hours later. We’re at the end of another rest stop during which we are able to eat and even sleep. As we’re getting ready to move out, I approach the rear and I notice the soldiers have attempted to kindle a small fire to stay warm. When I see it, I kick the fire to put it out and shout: “You goats forbidden to make fire without asking!”

One of the soldiers approaches me. Gotta give him credit for his display of bravery.

“Permission to speak, Master Agogex Safren,” he says humbly, his eyes pointing down.

“Speak, goat!”

I know, I know. We’re not supposed to call our soldiers goats, but they piss me off when they do stuff without asking for permission.

“My name is Private Carpiax, Master Agogex Safren. My deep apologies for starting that fire, for it was I who did. But we asked Master Agogex Turma if we could light a fire to keep warm on two previous rest stops, and both times she declined for no specific reason. I respectfully remind you, it is in the ‘manual of war and conduct’ that all Carrialan soldiers must be granted certain basic necessities due to our human frailty. We tire, we get hungry, and in the winter months, we get cold.”

I ponder the words I hear from Private Carpiax. Not sure whether his initiative to start a fire was very brave or very stupid now. Then, after some consideration, I proceed to say to him: “Wait here, Private Carpiax,” and I stroll straight to where Turma is at to get this thing resolved. I walk up to Turma and grab her by the collar forcefully, while I ask her: “You decline request for making fire to men, Turma?”

Turma grabs my wrists and yanks herself free from my grasp. She’s strong!

“I did! What is to you, Safren? Now you care about goats?” She answers in a loud voice.

The other Agogex, including Captain Sorraya, gather around upon hearing yelling. They separate us.

“Explain yourself!” Sorraya asks both of us.

Instead of saying anything, I go get the ‘manual of war and conduct’ booklet from amongst my things and toss it at Turma.

“Turma break rules!” I shout.

In the meantime, I notice that all the loud Agogex verbal exchanges have gotten the attention of the soldiers. They’re probably amused by the whole scene. A nice break from the monotony of long days of marching, I’m sure.

“You told us we need to move fast, Agogé Captain! Fires slow us down! Men complain too much!” Turma defends her case as best as she can.

“Agogé Turma! We not deny food, rest, or fire in winter time to Carrialan g… to Carrialan men! It is in manual, you know it! 20 lashes when we go home! For now, we forget about this and think of mission!”

20 lashes when we go home? Our Captain is being way too gentle on Turma. I guess having a highly decorated captain as one’s sister pays off. My father is a legendary warrior but that never spared me at least 50 lashes or a good old beating from my superiors, and for way smaller transgressions.

As we get ready to resume our march, I see Private Carpiax with some of the other men not too far off. I approach him and say to him: “Agogé Turma will receive just punishment. Next time you want fire, Private Carpiax, ask me.”

“We all heard that, Master Agogex Safren, and we thank you,” he says to me in a very cordial tone while smiling, which sends this fuzzy feeling—like warm waves—right through me, for some strange reason.

“Agogé not get tired and cold like men, so Turma forgets, maybe,” I say to him to break this awkwardness or whatever it is I’m feeling.

“Permission to speak, Master Agogex Safren?”

I nod.

“We, men, fight and put our lives on the line just like mighty Agogex, but we are treated like dogs—no, worse than dogs. We are almost invisible to you and your kind. Yet we are the first on the front lines to spill our blood for Carriala. Master Agogex Turma denied us the warmth of fire because she thought us too small and insignificant for others to even notice, or for other Agogex to go out of their ways to abide by the ‘manual of war and conduct’.  These men are too scared to walk up to you with the manual and make a case for themselves. But it gets to the point where some of us… some of us get fed up and just decide to make a fire, hoping Agogex will not notice.”

I wasn’t expecting that from a small Carrialan soldier. They are indeed the first to die on the front lines, that’s a fact, but nobody ever sings any songs about them.

“You, brave and honest soldier, Private Carpiax. I make sure you and other men are fed and stay warm from now on. If we meet on battlefield, I fight by you!” And as I say so I thump my chest with my fist. He bows to me with a smile and again, that same funny feeling—the warm waves—that just came to me a few minutes ago, repeats itself, only even more intense now. I stand there in awkward silence for what feels like a good five minutes to me (but I’m sure it is only for a few seconds) before finally, somehow, I manage to regain my composure and turn around to go rejoin my group.

As I walk (still sort of baffled at what just happened to me back there, while speaking with Private Carpiax), I can see Turma with the other Agogex and she gives me the coldest ‘Agogex’ look. You won’t know that look until you see it. It’s the look that basically says ‘You crossed me and now I’m gonna screw you over when you least expect it’.

I would be concerned if this was the first time I found myself in this type of situation but I have a tendency to ‘make friends’ with other Agogex. When you are the Alpha Agogex, you must have eyes in the back of your head, cause your allies might want you just as dead as your foes do. I could rely more on Private Carpiax than on my Agogex colleagues, at this point.

We march for a few hours. I’m getting hungry, but I won’t ask Turma for some of her dry meat again. I’d rather walk to the back of the line where the wheeled carts are carrying our food. Maybe I’ll see Private Carpiax again and get to talk to him some more.

4

One week later, and we reach our destination, bordering with the vast isolation of the Eastern tundras of Boulukavitz. We are met by Captain Anessa, who has been in charge of the Carrialan lines of defense now for several months. She explains to us how they have suffered major losses and how now they are even running out of food. “Barbaric hordes do surprise attacks, kill some, then retreat. They pick us apart little by little.” Anessa explains.

“We lost many men and some Agogé. Just yesterday we lost Agogé Lysara and Tynne. These savages set traps to isolate troops in small groups and isolate Agogé like a wall surrounding on all sides,” Anessa continues. “No matter how strong, how skilled, when they isolate Agogé, it’s like a wave crashing down from all sides. Agogé cannot defend.”

Captain Sorraya at this point chimes in. “We have plan. If plan not work, we stay here with you and fight to death. But if plan work, we win, and no need to fight to death,” she explains.

At this point all eyes are on Sorraya, including those of the Carrialan men. She pulls out a jar from a satchel she’s been carrying the whole time, now that I notice. The jar has no label but it seems to contain a creamy substance, opaque in color.

“This, how we win!” Sorraya holds the jar up high so that we can all take a good look. “This, magic from Patrarchons. Patrarchons show me how it works and they say: this, how we win!”

“How we use magic cream to kill barbarians?” I ask

“This no cream, Agogé Safren. This, invisible wax,” answers Sorraya.

“It only works on Agogé body. Skin, hair, everything. You rub on 8 points of contact like Patrarchons show me, and Agogé invisible for short time. We need three Agogé to volunteer.”

So this is ‘the great plan’. Relying on some magic goop concocted by the Patrarchons with very limited testing, to make three of us temporarily invisible (and I must stress ‘temporarily’ since not even the Patrarchons were able to give Captain Sorraya an estimated duration time of its effects) to sneak into enemy lines and murder the chief of the barbaric hordes before their next organized attack. Really!

“Chief Luftax leads barbarian troops and he the one who knows how to set up traps to kill Carrialan men and Agogé. If we kill him, barbarians left without leader, and they flee, for sure,” Captain Anessa explains while drawing the enemy camp and our camp in the dirt with her hands, to show us where the tent of Chief Luftax is located from our position.

“I go,” Turma says as she comes forward.

“Good, Agogé Turma. Agogé General Oxilia will be proud of you,” nods Captain Sorraya. “I too go, for I Captain, and Captain always go to special mission,” Sorraya adds.

“I too go,” I say, and come forward.

“You cannot go, Agogé Safren. You, second in command. If I perish, you need to lead army for me,” Sorraya objects.

For those of you who don’t understand how this works, you don’t get promoted to captain by simply responding to the call of duty. You have to prove yourself above and beyond the call of duty. Turma understands that, and that is why she was the first one to volunteer. Her sister has been a great role model and a teacher to her. She understands how the game works. If I want a chance at getting my promotion, I must be included in this mission and have my name praised by the people of Carriala.

“Agogé Captain Sorraya, mission needs big, strong Agogé to keep barbarians off you and Agogé Turma, if magic cream not work very long,” I say, to convince the captain.

“It no magic cream, Agogé Safren, it magic wax,” Sorraya corrects me, “but I understand why you want to go. You ambitious. Yes,  true, you are biggest and strongest Agogé, so you go, I stay. And Agogé Karlin go with you to gain experience.”

Karlin comes forward, she recites her Agogex creed, thumps her chest with her fist, and nods in agreement with Captain Sorraya.

Karlin? What is she going to do? Bend over to keep the barbarians distracted while we assassinate their leader? What a mess!

Having settled on the three volunteers—actually two volunteers since Karlin was handpicked by Captain Sorraya—we are now ready for an actual demonstration of the magic cream—excuse me! Magic WAX!

“Magic wax only works on Agogé body, so you three must take off all clothes,” Sorraya tells us. “That also means you cannot carry weapons with you, either,” she adds.

Wait a minute now, so the secret mission consists in sending three naked Agogex into enemy-infested land, with no weapons, to kill the barbarian leader?

“You rub just a little of magic wax on 8 major points of contact: your forehead, your shoulders, both sides of your thighs, both sides of your calves, and over your lips. You need just very little too work,” Sorraya explains. “Now, take off all your clothes and put away all your weapons,” she orders.

The three of us proceed to undress while Captain Anessa makes sure that the men are at a good distance aways from us, so as not to get them too… distracted. Karlin is the smallest one of us three, her body is very curvy almost like a natural woman, despite the obvious Agogex muscular development and the lack of female breasts. We’ll see what she’s made of once we’re in no man’s land.

Turma is just huge! I know she was big but even since the last time I saw her naked she’s put on a ton of new muscle! I used to say that she looked like a smaller version of her sister Oxilia, but I can’t honestly say that anymore.

Now, before you jump to conclusions and think all this is weird, let me explain something about Agogex and their sense of modesty: there is none. Ever since we are born and given dark potions, and especially once we transfer to Holy Camp, we lose all sense of modesty. Being naked is just as normal to us as for you to wear a bathing suit at the beach. As we grow up, however, we are taught we can’t just walk around naked out in public. But it’s more a learned notion than instinctive. At camp, in the dorms, even at some training sessions, Agogex spend most of their time naked or almost naked. That’s just a fact.

So here we are, three naked Agogex waiting for instructions. I notice some staring. There is always a sense of rivalry among us, so every Agogex always tries to be bigger and stronger than the next Agogex. As we stand there naked, we get scrutinized. I can see the looks on some of the other Agogex faces, and even on our captains. Reality is, I’m still the biggest, strongest, baddest Agogex there’s ever been, and standing there naked—no padded combat suits, no clothes—among these other Agogex, only solidifies that notion in their minds.

I feel Turma’s eyes on me. I know what she’s thinking. I can’t trust her. Ever since the incident with the soldiers she has been plotting against me. You think I’m being paranoid? Oh you don’t know Agogex then. She is just waiting for her opportunity for payback.

We start rubbing the magic wax on the eight points of contact as instructed by Captain Sorraya. We all dip two fingers into the jar and start rubbing the stuff over our forehead, shoulders, thighs, and calves. But when it comes to our lips, Sorraya stops us abruptly and says: “No. Not those lips. Those lips,” and she points down toward our female parts.

“You must rub magic wax over your lower lips so magic wax can hide Agogé smell,” Sorraya explains.

“This, stupid!” Shouts Karlin. “I not rub magic goop on my female thing!”

“No good to be invisible if enemy can still smell you!” Sorraya shouts back at Karlin. “You part of mission now! You rub magic wax everywhere you must!”

I proceed and rub the stuff on my ‘lips’ and it feels cold down there! The things we ought to do for our country!

We wait 10 minutes before the stuff takes effect. Then, judging by the gasps of those around us, I assume we’ve become invisible, even though nothing has changed for me and I can still see Turma and Karlin just fine.

“It worked!” Captain Anessa says in disbelief.

Captain Sorraya did not look as surprised. “Now, go, you three! Go, go! We know not how long magic last!” She yells.

So off we go! Three temporarily invisible naked Agogex, carrying no weapons, step into the foreign land of Boulukavitz, past all enemy surveillance, to kill Chief Luftax.

Dad would be proud of me right now.

5

As we move into enemy territory in ‘stealth mode’, several thoughts occupy my mind.

First of all, we quickly scheme a plan of action on the spot. We decide that once we reach our target, I, being the strongest of the three with my bare hands, will be the one to go in to kill Chief Luftax in his sleep, while Turma and Karlin will stand watch outside the Chief’s tent. I still do not know what Turma has in mind, but this feels all wrong already from the get-go.

Then I think about Private Carpiax. Why in the world do I keep getting this weird, funny feeling that sends warm waves through me every time I’m around Private Carpiax—especially when he says ‘thank you’ with that smile of his? And why does it seem like ever since the ‘fire’ incident all I’ve been doing is looking for reasons (or excuses?) to walk over to the mens’ lines just to see Private Carpiax and talk to him?

“Tents ahead!” Turma’s voice brings me back to reality.

“You trying to get us killed, Turma?” I say in an irate yet low voice. “From this point forward, no loud talking!” I warn my two Agogex partners, as we reach the perimeter of the enemy settlement.

It’s funny how I can still smell both Turma’s and Karlin’s mystical scents and my own, very thick in the air. But if Captain Sorraya swears on the efficacy of this magic goop, I’ll have to take her word for it. The only problem is, if the magical effects can disappear at any moment, how are we supposed to know if and when that might happen?

Karlin seems to be reading my mind. “Are we still invisible? How we know for sure? And what about our mystical scent?” She asks in a low, whispering voice.

“We know not,” I whisper back. “We just hope magic cream last long enough.”

“It no magic cream, Safren. It magic WAX!” Turma quickly corrects me.

Why do I have a feeling that only one of us two will get out of this alive? Turma is really pissing me off!

We spot their watchdogs, they’re chained to trees. Good. The magic wax must work or else those dogs would be barking by now. We take account of their guards on duty. They walk the perimeter and they’re looking too relaxed and wobbly—drunk, most likely, based on their stench. They obviously don’t expect an attack, knowing their makeshift control towers can spot anything coming out of our camps.  This is the moment of truth. Walking right under their noses with the sole protection of Patrarchons’ magic!

Light on your feet.

Small breaths. 

It worked! We’re through and those barbarian guards didn’t even flinch!

But I don’t even have time to turn around when I see Karlin frozen in place. “Karlin,” I whisper, “we must move.” But Karlin is not moving. And neither is Turma, now that I notice. They both seem in a trance. And then I realize the source of their hesitation!

The air hangs heavy with the stench of death as the three of us stand frozen before the ghastly spectacle. Two severed heads, once proud Agogex warriors like ourselves, stare blankly from atop crude wooden stakes driven into the blood-soaked earth.

Just yesterday we lost Agogé Lysara and Tynne.

The words of Captain Anessa reverberate in my head. Agogex Lysara and Tynne: lost in action. Now we know exactly what happened to them. The barbaric handiwork was unmistakable—jagged cuts marr the necks where axes have hacked through sinew and bone, leaving tattered flesh to dangle like grim banners. Their faces, though lifeless, bear the remnants of defiance: eyes wide with final fury, mouths twisted in silent screams. Flies buzz in greedy swarms, feasting on the gore that drips steadily downward, staining the sticks a sickly crimson.

One of the Agogex’s braided hair hangs in matted clumps, tangled with dirt and clotted blood. Her head tilts unnaturally, the stake piercing through her jaw and out the top of her skull, splitting her once-fierce countenance in two. The other Agogex eyes have been gouged out, leaving dark, hollow sockets. Her tongue is lolling grotesquely, severed at the root and dangling by a thread of flesh.

I clench my fists, my nails biting into my palms as I imagine the horrors inflicted on their bodies, a custom practice of these barbaric tribes: defiled first (if captured alive), then desecrated, finally dismembered—for the barbarian hordes believe, in their deranged minds, that eating the entrails of Agogex will give them increased strength.

Turma’s breath hitches, her gaze darting to the shadows beyond, as if expecting the perpetrators to emerge, laughing at their savagery. Karlin, steely-eyed, covers her mouth with the hand, so as to not make any loud sounds or vomit, perhaps. The scene is a brutal testament to the enemy’s cruelty, a warning etched in blood and ruin—and now, fuel for the wrath of one pissed off Alpha Agogex

6

The stench of death mixed with the strong smell of alcohol is a constant reminder that we are alone now in their world. Beasts more than men, both in how they look and in how they behave. Their only strength has been their numbers. What good is it to be the strongest of Agogex, when overwhelmed by a sheer multitude of mindless beast-men? By the time you get to kill two or three of them, 10 more have already grabbed you, disarmed you, and pinned you to the ground, while dozens upon dozens will quickly join in, until you are literally buried under this mass of savage humanity.

Karlin is moving along, trying to control her sobbing. She is such a ‘sensitive girl’. “Remember training, Karlin,” I whisper into her ear. It seems to help, as she wipes her tears and her sobbing becomes more like a strained breathing now. Turma also goes up to Karlin and whispers something to her ear. Perhaps more words of encouragement. Turma seems more calm, watching her steps and looking all around, as we can now see the multitude of the barbarians either sleeping on the ground or by the trees, while others are walking aimlessly with drinks in their hands, or eating, or playing some stupid game with sticks made out of bones. They’re like ants—just about everywhere you look. This place is teeming with the scum of Boulukavitz. These men make our Carrialan soldiers look like the clean and neat High Knights of Greater Valley.

Our Carrialan soldiers… Private Carpiax! How would I much rather be with him right now, and feel those warm waves go through me every time he looks at me with that smile of his—Wait a minute, what am I thinking? The guy is a freakin’ goat! A common soldier. I don’t think he even has any war heroes or legendary warriors in his lineage. He told me that his father is an artisan and his mother is, or was,  a nursemaid, before becoming a full-time housewife. And he himself is what? Five feet and seven inches tall, one hundred and seventy pounds at best? What would a goddess like me, the Alpha Agogex, ever  want, or even have in common, with a puny man like him?

I see Turma signal with her hand that she can see Chief Luftax’s tent ahead. I can see it too. I give the signal to Turma and Karlin to spread out around the tent to keep watch while I go in to put this nasty goat out of his misery. I wish we could have carried at least a small blade to gut him like a pig. The idea is to not only kill the Chief, but to get  back to camp all in one piece, possibly. ‘No weapons’ means I gotta kill this guy without making any noise.

I’m in. The tent is a filthy conglomeration of half empty platters of rotten food, bones, broken jars, and about 1, 2… 5 barbarians lying on floor mats, asleep. The problem is, how do I know which one of the five is Chief Luftax? He wouldn’t exactly carry a sign around his neck or a name tag reading Hello! I’m Chief Luftax! These disgusting goats all look the same to me. They’re hairy, greasy, smelly abominations of nature, and they all look alike. I’ll have to kill all five without any of them waking up to alert the others. I see some weapons lying around, rudimentary knives and a hatchet, but honestly, I think I’m better off getting the job done with my bare hands.

I approach the first barbarian, I slide my arm under his neck while pulling my other arm over as to cover his mouth with my hand to avoid any unwanted grunting. The snapping of his neck is pretty quiet, I’m not to worry about that. He dies instantly. I wonder if THAT was Chief Luftax.

No time to think. On to the second neck to snap.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

I work my way around the tent until there are only two necks left to snap. I bend over to grab the second-to-last neck when I notice the eyes of the other barbarian still alive staring at me with eyes wide open. But I’m invisible, right? I’m sure that, though he is looking this way, he can’t see me, right?

As I’m thinking these thoughts, I feel the head of the barbarian in my death hold move, and his mouth utter some words that sound like What’z that smell?

SNAP!

As soon as I break that neck, the other barbarian that was staring at me jumps out of his rest mat screaming AGOGEZ! AGOGEZ!

Holy gods! He sees me!

I can hear hollering outside. I must kill this last goat and rejoin the other two Agogex for our grand escape!

Good, he just grabbed a knife. Better than nothing!

He thrusts and misses me by a mile while I grab his thrusting arm, disarm him, snap the arm, and strike goat on the esophagus for a quick death. If Chief Luftax was in this room, he is history now.

I run outside.

“Turma, Karlin. We must go! The magic wax stop working—”

And immediately, reality strikes quicker than lightning. They left me. As soon as I walked into that tent both Turma and Karlin made their way back to camp, leaving me here to perish, by myself. So this was Turma’s plan for payback all along. Capitalize on Karlin’s growing fear to convince her to get out of this hell hole before it’s too late, and simply tell our captain that I was taken down while trying to accomplish the mission, I’m sure.

I will kill you Turma. If I ever get out of here alive, I will KILL YOU!!!

Epilogue

“Calm down, you two! Tell us exactly what happened!” Captain Sorraya screams at Turma and Karlin as they both put their Agogex uniforms back on. Both Agogex and Carrialan soldiers are all ears (and all eyes, some of the latter, before the two Agogex get dressed).

“Invisible wax not work very long, Captain Sorraya! They see us before we find tent of Chief Luftax! We run, but too many wild goats! They grab Agogé Safren, and she falls! They take her! We try to help, but too many!” Turma replies, as she breathes nervously.

Karlin is sobbing, her nose making sniffling sounds. “Yay, Captain. Agogé Turma speak truth. If we stay, we all die!”

“This no good for Carriala. We lost our most powerful Agogé warrior and Chief Luftax still alive. This means, we alert capital while we stay here and fight to death.”

Among the men around listening, a certain Private Carpiax is present, and he dares to approach Captain Sorraya. “Permission to speak, Agogex Captain Sorraya!”

All eyes are now on the Carrialan soldier.

The captain seems willing to listen. “Speak, man!”

“Agogex Captain Sorraya, we don’t know if Agogex Safren is dead or alive by now, but I think she has done much for Carriala to at least attempt one rescue mission to get her out, dead or alive!”

Sorraya looks at Private Carpiax with grave eyes. “No Agogé can infiltrate enemy camp in suicide rescue mission. You crazy goat!” She yells at the private.

“Is this the Agogex bravery Carrialan songs sing about, Captain? How many times did Agogex Safren put her life on the line for your people and mine? Yet you cannot do the same for her now?” Private Carpiax asks, his arms moving in front of him as to demand an answer.

“Are you calling me coward, little man?” Replies Sorraya.

Private Carpiax tries to compose himself. “No, Captain. I am not calling you a coward. But if you won’t at least try to rescue Safren, me and my men will!”

Laughter bursted among the Agogex, and Turma speaks next. “Private, you are what? Five feet seven? One hundred seventy pounds, maybe? With small muscles? And you going to take on barbarian camp by yourself with other weak, small men?” And she laughs some more.

“You should know, Agogex Turma, that unlike other Agogex around here, Agogex Safren has treated us with kindness, respecting the ‘manual of war and conduct’ from the beginning of this tour, and by all the gods of Carriala, the least I and my men can do is give it our best shot to try and rescue her from those savages! And I have a plan, if you would just hear me out!” Private Carpiax looks toward Captain Sorraya as he speaks those words.

“Captain, I think goat crave the lash,” Turma says, looking at her captain with cold eyes.

But Sorraya did not become captain by being a coward or by taking the easy way out. “And I think Agogé listen to what puny man want to say.” Sorraya says to Turma, to the latter’s utter disbelief. “Speak, private,” Sorraya exhorts Private Carpiax.

“We all heard about this magic wax used in Agogex Safren’s mission. Do you have any left?”

 

To be continued…

Next episode: Stealth Mode (part 2)

Abigail Lakewood