The Jackal

***Chapter 1***

Zerif’s eyes flew open. He had had a nightmare. A dream. He had seen a great Ape. It was sitting in a giant hole. He had great big red eyes that looked like it could kill a man with his glare. He saw The ape roar and then he saw him gripping a shining staff. Then he heard a voice, “ Zerif get up and go to muttering rock in Stetroil.” The voice had an eerie tilt to it, like it was being pulled up from the very depths of the oceans. And he had known those eyes. The red eyes of Kovo. Zerif had of course heard of Kovo and the story of the Devourer. But Zerif also knew that you never say no to a Great Beast. Today Zerif knew that he had been chosen to meet a great beast and he would follow that message. He packed and got up and walked out the door. Soon he would be more than a retired merchant. Zerif would be a name all would know, fear, and respect.

Zerif got off the ship. He was in Stetriol. He saw the dock worker get up in surprise. “well

Where do you come from sir?” Zerif looked at the man briefly, or rather the boy. “I hail from all corners. What is your name boy?” “Names Alec'' he replied. “Take me to muttering rock Alec.” said Zerif, slipping a coin in his hand. The boy bristed. “Muttering Rock sir? Nobody has been there in many, many years.” Zerif looked straight at the boy and pulled out his sword slowly. “Allow me to rephrase. You will take me to Muttering Rock. I have urgent business with a… certain someone there.” The boy asked no questions. He simply nodded and said, “we can leave at first light if it pleases you sir.” Zerif shook his head. “No, we leave now.”

Three hours later the sun began to set. They had started out and were now in the dessert. They had bought horses and were on their way. To Muttering Rock. All the people of Stetriol knew about it. The Mutters shook the earth and occasionally the Ape would roar and shake Stetriol. The Tremors from the Apes muttering were getting closer. Soon they would be there. But it was getting extremely hot. Even though he was from Nilo Zerif this was still stupefied at this heat. It was hotter than any summer day in Nilo and that was a statement. As a boy Zerif had always dreaded the heat of Nilo and longed to travel. And he had traveled as a merchant. That's when he had met a woman by the name of Aidana. Aidana was pregnant after a few months after his meeting with her. But her mother had hated Zerif and forced him to leave. She had been the love of his life and he had lost her. Her mother had a spirit animal. A crow. The crow had pecked at him all the time trying to claw his eyes out and Aidana’s mother had taken that sign to heart. Before he left he told his love that he wanted the boy to be named Rollan. Then he had left and his life had been lonely ever since. His girlfriend’s mother had been a green cloak but was retired. And Zerif swore he would do everything he could to stop the Green Cloaks and he would start with that witch of a mother that Adania had. The night Zerif was to leave Amaya he went to Aidana’s house when Aidana herself had left . He snuck in the back door and in the middle of the night attacked the witch. She however reacted faster than Zerif had thought an old woman could react. She called on her spirit animal and with a screech it dove for Zerif’s eyes. But Zerif had been ready. He had wanted this to happen. With one graceful stroke of his short sword he cut at the bird and it flew right into his sword reacting too late.The sword went right through its neck and its head fell from its body and the bird hit the floor in half with a resounding thud. The old woman cried out as the bird was ripped from their bond. Zerif didn’t stick around to see what the woman would do next. He fled leaving the old woman and Adania behind. Last he had heard of the old woman, she had abandoned Aidana had taken to drinking her pain away. Filthy old witch, Zerif thought with a smile. I should have killed her too. Maybe he would if he ever saw her again. That moment would be joyus. And he couldn’t wait.

“Sir.” The boys call startled zerif out of his daydream.

“What boy?” Zerif snapped. The boy looked startled at Zerifs sternness.

“I think it would be good if we bed down now sir. It's pretty dark and It will be a dangerous climb to The Great Rock. How about we bed down for the night.” Zerif wanted to argue with the boy but that wasn’t going to get him anywhere. “Fine, we’ll bed down.” He huffed. “Help me set up this tent.”

The boy said, “ I haven't ever been somewhere where I have to set up a tent.” Zerif shook his head pitifully. “Can you cook at least?”

“Yes Sir” the boy said, “I can cook just fine. My father showed me how to use spices and mix flavors.”

“Fine, do that.” Zerif said and then he turned to set up the tent.

“Why do you want to go up the rock sir?” The boy asked after about two minutes of silence.

This boy just won’t shut up and leave me be,Zerif thought. “Why does it matter to you my reasons boy?”

“I mean no disrespect sir, I just am curious. They say that nothing good comes from Muttering Rock.”

“Who says that?”

“The people in town. They say Kovo is up there. You know, Kovo the terrifying Great Beast.”

“All Great Beasts are terrifying.” Was Zerifs reply.

“Maybe but Kovo is different.”

“Of course he’s different!” Zerif boomed. “What else would you call a giant ape who could crush a whole city with his foot, who could kill you with a flick of his finger, who can talk in all the languages of the world.”

Alec coughed uncomfortably obviously uncertain by the explosive retorte Zerif had just given.

“So yes, Kovo is different.” Zerif said, his voice lower. “Are you done cooking supper?”

“Uhh… just about sir. I can start to set up.”

Then the boy went to the busy task of setting up the food for their meal.