The Gates of Iron

by David Debord

  Gillen, Naseeb, and Dacio began flinging fireballs at the cats. They erupted in gouts of orange flame and the creatures squealed with feral rage, but still they came. Finally, one of the creatures fell, and then another. And then the cats were upon them.

  All was chaos. Hierm thrust his sword at the nearest cat, driving his blade deep into its flank. It roared and lashed out, slashing him across the chest. He fell back and then Lizzie and Heztus leaped upon the beast, gashing it with their knives until it lay in a bloody, twitching heap.

  Hierm whirled about, sword upraised. He saw Colin drive his sword into the heart of one of the beasts. Nearby, Krion was locked in battle with another.

  Dacio went down beneath one of the massive creatures. Hierm ran to the young man’s aid. He raised his sword and brought it down with all his might on the unprotected base of the ice cat’s neck. He felt his blade cut through flesh and bone, and spurts of icy cold blood splashed his face. He stabbed again and again until it no longer moved. He threw his shoulder into its bloody side and rolled it off of Dacio and his heart fell at the sight. There was no hope for the young seeker. There was also no time to mourn.

  Another cat flung itself at him, but it was taken down in midair by the twin spells hurled by Gillen and Naseeb.

  Lizzie screamed and Hierm whirled about to see her desperately fending off another cat. She drove a dagger into its throat and his claws raked her face. Heztus ran forward, rolled beneath the beast, thrust two daggers up into its unprotected belly, and rolled free of its slashing claws. Hierm ran forward and finished the cat with a deft stroke of his sword.

  The cats continued to try to break through their line, desperate to get inside the grove and into the passageway between the standing stones. Colin and Krion fought like wild men. Naseeb and Gillen hurled spells in every direction. Hierm chopped and hacked at every flash of gray he saw.

  A cat sprang seemingly out of nowhere and caught Allyn from behind. The young archer went down and did not rise.

  “We can’t hold on much longer!” Heztus snarled.

  A cold feeling of doom rose up inside Hierm. Perhaps this was the end.

  Chapter 55

  Shanis stood stock still. Cold sweat dripped down her face, and she repeated the words of the ritual as if in a trance. Beneath her feet the island on which she stood had begun to swirl and pulsate with the same bluish light that had filled the cavern beneath Murantha when she’d first found the Silver Serpent.

  Before her eyes, the sword burned like a tiny sun, blotting Oskar and Aspin from sight. It was a good thing. If she had looked at either of their faces, her resolve might have crumbled.

  She was desperately afraid, not of the pain, but of what lay beyond. What if death was a cold, empty place? What if there was nothing at all?

  It made no difference. She had but one choice if she were to save everyone she cared about.

  As if from far away Aspin spoke the final words.

  “I freely give my life.”

  “I...”

  “I freely give my life!” A voice behind her shrieked. She whirled about to see a tall, thin figure burst through the curtain of mist. She saw Larris reach out to grab the intruder. Steel flashed and Larris fell back, a knife hilt protruding from his stomach.

  She had only the time to shriek “No!” and then the newcomer was upon her.

  But he was not coming after her. He shouldered her aside and hurled himself onto the blade of the Silver Serpent.

  Everything seemed to freeze as she tried to comprehend what had just happened.

  And then the ground shook so violently that she was knocked off her feet. Oskar fell back, staring at the stranger who had, unbidden, given up his life in her place. Who was he?

  But Shanis had no time to wonder. She hurried to Larris’ side. The prince lay clutching the wound in his stomach. Blood soaked his tunic. The bloody dagger that had done the work lay discarded nearby

  “Larris. Oh no.” Tears streaming down her face she pressed her hands to his wound and tried to hold in his lifeblood, but she knew he was dying. Her life had been saved, and his taken from him.

  Lerryn knew he stood no chance against the Ice King. The god could crush him with a wave of his hand, yet still he rode. For months now, he had sought to atone for his past transgressions. Finally, he had his chance. He knew he would die, but before he perished he would cast his defiance in the face of the Ice King. And he would die with his sword in his hand.

  The Ice King held out his hand and Lerryn’s horse skidded to a halt. The frightened beast began to buck and Lerryn jumped free. He hit the ground hard but regained his feet immediately. He raised his sword and began to walk slowly toward the terrible glowing figure before him.

  The Ice King raised his sword...and froze.

  The burning blue light that shone from his body flickered, and began to die. The frosty ground beneath his feet thawed and the Ice King let out a mournful wail that boomed like thunder in the night.

  Lerryn didn’t know what was happening, but he could recognize when the enemy was vulnerable. Fear coursing through every vein, he sprinted forward. He felt as though he were moving in a dream, scarcely able to lift his feet. In six strides, he reached the Ice King, raised his sword, and drove it into his heart.

  A cold so intense that it burned shot up his arm and coursed through his body. Every muscle jerked spasmodically, but he could not let go of his sword.

  Before him, the Ice King fell to his knees. Lerryn’s blade shattered and he stumbled backward, his eyes still locked on the trembling god, whose unearthly glow was dying like a guttering candle. With an ear-splitting roar the Ice King fell face-first onto the ground.

  And then he was gone.

  Lerryn dropped to the ground, powerful shudders racking his body, but somewhere deep inside he felt warm.

  “It’s Pedric Karst!” Oskar shouted.

  Shanis turned and gaped. Through a curtain of tears, she saw Oskar lean down and haul the young man’s body free of the blade. As his lifeless form dropped to the ground, his hood fell back and Shanis recognized the familiar lean face and dark hair of the young man she had hated for so long. The young man who had died in her place.

  “Where did he come from?” Oskar asked.

  “Oskar, get away from there!” Aspin grabbed Oskar by the arm and pulled him away. “Look at the sword.”

  The Silver Serpent now pulsed with alternating blue and white light. It began to vibrate and then jerk back and forth as if trying to work free from the tree, and Shanis somehow knew that it was the movement of this sword that shook the world.

  “What’s happening?” Oskar said

  “Karst is the King of Kurnsbur,” Aspin said. “His sacrifice drew the Ice King into the sword, just like the rulers did when they formed it.”

  The blade emitted a high-pitched whine that rose above the rumbling of the earth.

  “They’re battling inside the sword.” Shanis didn’t know where the thought had come from, but she knew it was true. “The gods are fighting the Ice King.”

  As they gazed at the blade, which now writhed like its namesake serpent, cracks began to form across its surface.

  “We should get out of here,” Aspin said. “We don’t know what might happen.”

  “No, wait!” Oskar shouted. “Shanis, you can heal him with the sword. Quick, before it’s too late!” He grabbed Larris under the arms and dragged him closer to the sword.

  Shanis could scarcely think, so great was her grief, but she was willing to try. Still nearly blinded by tears, she took Larris’ hand and reached out for the sword with her other hand. Her hand closed on the point and she felt it pierce the flesh of her palm.

  “Please,” she whispered. “My life or his. My life or his. I freely give my life.”

  For the final time, she felt the power of the Silver Serpent flow into her, filling her, and then she poured it into Larris.

  The power waned as the light from the sword dimmed. The force drained from
her and her eyes grew heavy.

  She was vaguely aware of blinding flash and a loud crack as the Silver Serpent flew apart.

  And then all went black.

  Epilogue

  “Are you really going to wear a dress tomorrow, or will you wear your usual getup?” Hierm lounged against the low wall that enclosed the private garden just off the throne room at the palace in Karkwall. “You know we’re all dying to see you dressed like a girl.”

  “I think a hunting shirt and breeches would look grand,” Oskar said. “She wouldn’t look out of place at all.”

  Shanis rolled her eyes. “I am a queen, and apparently a queen is expected to wear a dress at her wedding. Not that I’m happy about it.” From her seat on the soft grass, she shot a dark look at Larris who raised his hands in mock protest.

  “It’s not my fault. It was the custom long before either of us came along.” He dropped down to the ground beside her, laid his head in her lap and gazed up at the night sky.” Besides, Lothan is your country. If you want to change tradition, that’s up to you.”

  “This time tomorrow it will be your country too. I suppose I can wear a dress for one day,” she sighed. “Besides, Mistress Faun spent years trying to get me into a dress. Considering she traveled all the way here to attend our wedding, it’s the least that I can do.” She absently stroked Larris’ hair and gazed up at the stars.

  It was late at night. All the evening’s obligations had been met. She’d greeted more self-important nobles than she could count, eaten far too much food, and smiled until her jaws hurt. It was, as Bertram had reminded her, all part of being queen. She was still amazed that royals from all over Gameryah had come to Lothan for her wedding. She supposed she shouldn’t be too surprised, though. Since the Battle of Calmut, as it was being called, her story had apparently spread far and wide. Now everyone wanted to meet the farm girl who saved the world. She didn’t believe she deserved such accolades, but there was nothing to be done about it. For now, she put those thoughts aside and simply enjoyed being with her friends.

  “I still can’t believe Mother made the journey,” Hierm said. “But it will be her last chance to see me, Rinala, and the baby for a while.”

  “So you’re really going through with it?” Oskar asked. “You’re going to live among the clans?”

  Hierm nodded. “Rinala is the daughter of a clan chief and she feels it’s her responsibility to help them rebuild their home. Besides, Lothan should be as safe a place to live now as any. No more clan war.”

  “Never again if I have anything to say about it,” Shanis said. She turned to Oskar. “How about you? Once our wedding is over will it be time to start planning another?”

  Oskar choked on his wine. “What’s that?” he blustered. “No, Lizzie isn’t exactly the marrying type. At least that’s what she tells me. She says I promised to travel the world with her and she won’t marry me until I’ve proven myself to be a man of my word.”

  “You’re not going back to the Gates then?” Hierm asked.

  Oskar shook his head. “I’m going to stay in Lothan for a while. I’ll spend some time in Calmut at the magic school, and then Lizzie and I will decide where to go from there. Besides, Aspin says, even though the Gates has been reclaimed from the coldhearts it will be a long time before its reputation is restored.

  “Does Naseeb ever plan on going back?” Larris asked.

  Oskar grinned. “Naseeb will go wherever Gillen goes. The two have been inseparable since the battle.”

  Larris looked up at Shanis. “Perhaps there’s a match to be made there if you’re so eager to attend another wedding. Of course, I expect Lerryn to marry soon. He needs to get busy producing heirs to the throne. His only problem now is choosing between the suitors who all want to marry the man who killed the Ice King.”

  “Pedric Karst killed the Ice King,” Shanis whispered.

  Larris took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I know. We’ll make sure his story is told. He did some terrible things, but in the end he was a hero.”

  “We lost a lot of heroes.” Oskar gazed down into his cup.

  Sadness welled up inside Shanis. The pain of losing so many who were dear to her still cut deeply.

  Larris sat up, filled an empty cup, and stood. “Let us drink to fallen friends.”

  The others rose and formed a circle.

  Oskar raised his cup. “Whitt and Dacio.”

  “Granlor,” Shanis said.

  “Khalyndryn,” Hierm added.

  Larris smiled sadly. “Allyn.”

  Shanis knew that the loss of his friend would haunt Larris for years to come

  “They will not be forgotten,” she said.

  “They will not be forgotten,” the others repeated.

  They drained their cups and then stood in silence, listening to the whisper of the wind.

  Finally, Larris sighed. “Now that I’ve dampened everyone’s spirits I should be away to bed. It’s almost midnight and it’s bad luck for me to see the bride on our wedding day.” He leaned down and kissed Shanis on the forehead. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “And every day after that,” she said.

  After Larris had left, she, Hierm, and Oskar sat there for a long time. None of them seemed to know what to say, but neither did they want to leave. It felt right that they should be here together again.

  Finally, Oskar chuckled. “Do you remember the fight we had when Shanis and I decided to leave Galsbur?”

  Hierm nodded. “You were going to travel to some place over the sea where women could be soldiers.”

  “Hallind. You know what I found out while I was studying at the Gates? It isn’t even a real place. Your father’s book had it wrong.”

  They all laughed. It felt to Shanis like her first real laugh since the war had ended, and for a moment she was transported back to Galsbur. They were simple townspeople again, youngsters with daydreams and small problems that seemed huge.

  “Well, it sort of worked out,” Hierm said. “Shanis got to be a soldier and you got to see some of the world.”

  “Do you ever wish we had just stayed home?” Oskar asked, his eyes fixed on some point in the distance.

  “I don’t think we had a choice,” Shanis said. “The gods, or the universe, or the prophecy had bigger plans for us all.” She reached out and took their hands. “But I’m glad that, at least for tonight, we’re together again.”

  -End of The Absent Gods-

  If you enjoyed The Absent Gods, try Neptune’s Key!

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  About the Author

  David Debord is the pen name of action-adventure author David Wood. In addition to the Absent Gods, he is also the author of the Dane Maddock Adventures and several other series. When not writing, he hosts the Wood on Words podcast and co-hosts the Authorcast podcast. He and his family live in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Visit him online at http://www.davidwoodweb.com or http://www.daviddebord.com.