Thorne Grey and the City of Darkness

by Farrell Keeling

  ‘My lord,’ Bardolf bowed his head.

  ‘It has been a while since I heard a Regal scream. Break her arm,’ Zolft said.

  ‘No!’ Thorne did not know why he was saying it, or where he gained the courage from but, before he knew it, he was standing in front of Illumina blocking Bardolf’s path. His hands alight with flames.

  Zolft looked at Thorne and frowned, ‘a Warlock? Well this is certainly a most interesting gathering.’

  ‘Just say what you need to say and be done with it,’ Zaine spat.

  ‘Always to the point, Zaine,’ the Hunter Lord said, ‘I admired you for that… what a pity… anyway you know the rules, you came when you were forbidden and that means only one thing.’

  Zolft turned to leave, his cloak waving behind him, signalling his departure.

  ‘You have until sunrise, Zaine,’ the Hunter Lord barked behind him, ‘don’t keep me waiting.’

  Bardolf followed behind, tipping an imaginary hat to them all and bolting before Boulder could reach him.

  ‘Snakes,’ Boulder grunted, ‘the pair of them.’

  Thorne extinguished the flames and stepped away awkwardly away from Illumina.

  ‘Well, that was expectedly unpleasant,’ Zaine said, appearing suddenly in front of them before Thorne could say another word. With a heavy sigh he turned to Thorne, ‘so, it seems I’ve dragged you into trouble again, haven’t I?’

  Thorne grinned, ‘I couldn’t think of a better person to be in trouble with.’

  Zaine snorted, ‘well, you may just end up regretting that.’

  ‘So… What’s going to happen? Are we going to be thrown out?’ Thorne asked, hopefully.

  The Hunters looked at each other uneasily; none of them would even look at Zaine who had become visibly sullen.

  ‘At… at sunrise…’

  ‘I’m going to die,’ Zaine finished for Dez, abruptly. ‘I will be executed when the sun rises.’

  The room went deathly silent.

  Zaine growled and then headed towards the door.

  ‘Where are you going?’ Dez demanded, grabbing his arm.

  ‘Where do you think? I stay, they won’t just stop at me, they’ll kill the rest of you. Or worse, banish you all.’

  He threw off Dez’s arm and pulled the door open. Thorne could see the horizon, it had become considerably lighter since they’d last been outside, a blend of colours ranging from amber to dark red.

  ‘Wait!’ Illumina shouted, running up to the Hunter.

  ‘Illumina, I cannot, I need to go now,’ Zaine growled.

  ‘You listen to me now, Zaine or, Gods help me, I’ll execute you myself!’ she snapped.

  Zaine turned back to her, a bemused expression on his face.

  ‘There is another way,’ the Regal explained, ‘you were unsuccessful the first time, but you’re stronger, you can beat him!’

  Zaine shook his head, ‘I can’t, he would… you saw what happened last time.’

  ‘Come on, Zaine!’ Boulder growled ‘are you telling me you’re just going to give up? Give him what he wants?’

  ‘No…’ Zaine began, ‘I just–’

  ‘Zaine, what would Amric want?’ Charmer asked quietly.

  ‘Who’s Amric?’ Thorne frowned; he’d heard that name before.

  ‘You have not heard of him?’

  ‘No,’ Thorne replied. It was starting to annoy him how little he knew.

  ‘He was the greatest Hunter Lord of our generation,’ Zaine said, ‘but, more importantly, was like a father to us all.’

  ‘Was?’ asked Thorne, guessing the answer.

  ‘He was murdered, betrayed, by Zolft.’ Boulder said.

  ‘Then why wasn’t he banished?’

  ‘Nobody would dare challenge Amric’s right–hand man, based off a rumour,’ explained Dez.

  ‘Especially not after the example he made of me,’ Zaine said.

  ‘Everyone knew?’

  ‘Mostly, but he has a considerable number of Hunters on his side.’

  ‘He lied and those idiots believed him!‘ Zaine said.

  ‘They were scared, Zaine,’ Illumina said softly.

  ‘They were fools, they should have – they should have…’ Zaine stopped and traced the scar on his face from top to bottom, ‘I’m a fool.’

  Zaine slid down and sat by the door, his head in his hands.

  ‘Zaine, what would Amric tell you before a fight? What did he tell you the first time you picked up a sword and fought me when we were younger?’ Charmer placed his hand on Zaine’s shoulder.

  Zaine removed his head from his hands and stood up facing Charmer with the biggest grin Thorne had ever seen.

  ‘He’s crafty, but I wouldn’t worry about him unless you’re playing cards,’ Zaine said.

  Charmer smiled, ‘yes, he did say that didn’t he? Old man never did get over me beating him in poker… and what did he say after?’

  ‘Many times in your life you will fail, you will fall.’

  ‘And then?’

  ‘Never forget, you must rise, and rise again. Your victories are the sum of all your failures, rise above them and stand!’

  Chapter 23

  ‘So, you have come to make a fool of yourself yet again?’ Zolft laughed.

  Thorne saw Zaine’s grip on the pommel begin to shake uncontrollably and his features contort.

  ‘Do you accept my challenge, or not?’ Zaine demanded.

  A hush fell over the Hunters, who had gathered in a circle around the pair.

  Zolft narrowed his eyes at Zaine and snapped his fingers, ‘Bardolf!’

  The small Hunter pushed his way through the crowd and offered the giant his long sword.

  Zolft took the sword and Bardolf scurried out of the way as he took a test swing, the metal screaming as it cut through the air.

  ‘I accept!’ Zolft barked, ‘and I choose Bardolf as my second!’

  Bardolf bowed and hurried to the Hunter Lord’s side with a wry grin.

  ‘Who is yours?’ Bardolf sneered.

  Zaine turned back to the group behind him, of Boulder, who stood expectantly forward, Dez, Illumina, Charmer… and Thorne. Zaine’s eyes finally rested on Thorne and he beckoned the Warlock to follow.

  ‘Me?’ Thorne asked, surprised.

  ‘Him?’ Boulder’s mouth fell open, ‘no offence,’ he added quickly, glancing at Thorne.

  ‘Thanks,’ Thorne said.

  ‘Yes him,’ Zaine replied. ‘Do you doubt my choice?’

  ‘No, but this is a Hunter matter. Is a Warlock the right choice?’

  ‘This is my choice.’

  Boulder opened his mouth to retort but then stopped and folded his arms, ‘fine.’

  Dez pushed Thorne forward, ‘good luck,’ he whispered. Thorne forced a grin, catching a glance at Illumina, who stood staring at him with a mortified expression and then suddenly he was walking along with Zaine.

  Thorne smiled weakly and turned back to Zaine ‘I’m not going to have to fight right? A second is there to jump in if you fall first right?’

  ‘No,’ Zaine shook his head, ‘different rules, I’m afraid. You have to fight the clown, while I fight Zolft.’

  ‘You’re joking right? Right?’

  ‘I may not have been entirely forthcoming with the nature of this…’

  ‘Not entirely?’

  ‘Anyway, after the blissgiver, he’ll be easy, heh?’ Zaine gave a wry smile and nudged Thorne with his elbow.

  Thorne scoffed.

  Then again, he did, on paper, seem to have the better chances in his fight. Bardolf looked far less menacing than Zolft. But he did not like the confident sneer on the smaller man’s face. Thorne looked around as he walked trying to ignore the horrible churn he was feeling in his stomach. They were surrounded by Hunters in a large circle. No escape, it was either success or death.

  ‘Oh, and Thorne, before I forget,’ Zaine tossed the rod to the Warlock.

  Incredulous, Thorne caught the rod and snapped
it onto his belt. He’d almost completely forgotten about it.

  ‘The Warlock?’ Thorne heard Bardolf snigger, as they approached.

  ‘Ignore him,’ Zaine muttered, ‘there will be plenty of time to get your own back soon.’

  Thorne grinned. They stopped a few metres away from their opponents and Zaine drew his sword and held it up so the edge touched the tip of his nose. ‘My weapon of choice,’ Zaine barked to Zolft.

  Zolft waved his own long sword and Bardolf a pair of daggers. He then pointed at Thorne, ‘what are yours Warlock?’

  Thorne took a deep breath, this was actually going to happen, he was going to fight… a Hunter. He snapped his fingers and flames emerged in the palm of his hand. Then, without any warning, the Hunters were upon them, the large Hunter’s feet pounding the ground with his sword aloft.

  Thorne threw his first fireball at Bardolf but the man dodged it, a small circle of flames lying in his wake. That was fine; he had plenty more where that came from.

  Thorne closed his eyes and drew on his Majik and gasped.

  Nothing… Just nothing. His Majik had suddenly disappeared.

  But he had only used a small portion to create that fireball. What was happening? He wiped his forehead with the back of his sleeve, frowning when he saw it come back drenched with sweat.

  Thorne felt the rod vibrate at his side.

  ‘What’s happening?’

  ‘Oh, now you wake up?’

  ‘Move!’

  Thorne jumped back just in time to avoid Bardolf’s daggers.

  ‘Do you have a weapon on you?’

  ‘Obviously not!’ Thorne thought back urgently, keeping his eyes trained on the small Hunter.

  A pause, ‘use me.’

  ’How?’

  ‘Thorne, you have to– look out!’

  With Thorne distracted, Bardolf took his opportunity and jumped in, cutting across the Warlock’s left calf with a dagger. Thorne cried out in pain and fell to one knee on the ground, his leg burning.

  He closed his eyes expecting the inevitable rain of blows but he felt nothing. Thorne looked up to see the Hunter above him, grinning maliciously.

  ‘Get up Warlock! I’m not finished with you yet,’ Bardolf kicked him in the side and jumped back, before Thorne could catch him with the sharp end of the rod.

  Thorne groaned and then slowly pulled himself back to his feet.

  ‘Not much fight in you, is there Warlock?’ Bardolf giggled, ‘pity…’

  Thorne snarled and ran at the man, ignoring the painful protests from the back of his leg. However, whatever he tried, he could not land a single blow on the Hunter. Wherever he swung the rod he ended up hitting nothing but thin air, hearing the man’s annoying triumphant giggle behind him soon after. He was being toyed with.

  ‘That’s not what I had in mind.’

  Thorne lowered the rod, his breathing heavy. He was exhausted, yet the Hunter still appeared to be full of energy.

  ‘Are you finished?’ Bardolf asked.

  Thorne swore at the laughing Hunter and swung the rod again, missing the man by inches.

  ‘Oh, dear me, you almost got me there!’ he cackled.

  Thorne paused and frowned. He could feel something… something within him… small, but it was there, like a flicker of light from a dying candle flame.

  ‘Thorne! What are you waiting for? Press the attack!’

  Majik… Thorne thought. Would it do? Perhaps, just maybe it might catch him off guard, but it might go over his limit. He had to try.

  He closed his eyes. ‘Bardolf?’ Thorne said.

  ‘Do you want me to end the game now, Warlock?’

  ‘Burn!’ Thorne growled, whipped out his hand and let loose a burst of flames.

  The man jumped back but his scarf had caught fire, the flames eating their way up to his neck. The man yelled in surprise trying to beat away the flames. Thorne collapsed on the floor. That had done it… now he had no energy left whatsoever; he’d just signed his own death warrant.

  A second later he felt a hand at his robe and his face was pulled close to Bardolf’s. ‘That was my favourite scarf you idiot!’ he spat, his eyes full of malice.

  Thorne could feel his consciousness beginning to slip as time slowed with him. He turned his head. Zaine was bleeding from numerous cuts and the larger Hunter had a few as well, but it was Zaine who seemed to be losing the fight, being slowly backed into the crowd. He looked back at his own opponent. He could see the man’s daggers rise above his head, arcing straight down into his chest. He felt his blood surge as warmth suddenly radiated around his body. He rolled out of the way and launched his fist into the Hunter’s side. Somehow, the punch connected. The man uttered a surprised yelp, as he was flung several yards away, rolling before the feet of the crowd.

  The crowd fell silent for a moment. Thorne was as stunned as they. He stared down at his hands, twisting them in front of his eyes, half–expecting his skin to have transformed into rock. Bardolf jumped back onto his feet and slowly advanced towards him whilst clutching his side, flinging a variety of curses at the Warlock. He leapt in the air, daggers raised. Thorne didn’t panic, he didn’t even think, he just took a step back and knocked the daggers out of Bardolf’s hands.

  ‘What Majik is this?’ Bardolf demanded.

  Thorne grabbed the Hunter by the scruff of his neck before he could manage to scramble for his daggers and smashed his head into the ground. Then as quickly as the heat had rushed to his body, he suddenly felt the bite of the wind around his neck and his legs went weak. A moment later he crumbled, landing beside the fallen Hunter.

  *

  ‘Thorne! Hey, Thorne!’

  Thorne groaned and groggily opened an eye. His vision was blurred but he could just about make out the outline of the large man in front of him.

  ‘Boulder?’ Thorne mumbled.

  ‘Yeah,’ Thorne heard the man say, his voice was urgent and strained… emotional.

  Thorne turned his head to the side. He could make out another person… no… a body lying beside him. It couldn’t have been Bardolf’s – it was too big.

  Who was it?

  Wait… Boulder emotional?

  No!

  It couldn’t be Zaine, surely!

  Boulder had left him and someone else had replaced him at his side but he couldn’t make out who it was.

  ‘–has been decided!’ Thorne heard someone shout, ‘proving his tremendous valour in battle once again.’

  Thorne didn’t want to hear this.

  ‘Brothers and sisters! Your Hunter Lord! The worthiest of us all!’

  Why Ozin? Why?

  ‘ZAINE!’

  *

  ‘Leaving us so soon?’

  Thorne turned to find Zaine before him, bruised but well. ‘Sorry, the City of Light’s calling.’

  Zaine’s grin suddenly dropped and he adopted a more serious expression and tone. ‘I don’t like you going up there alone. I’ve talked with the others and there’s something… amiss with that place.’

  Thorne smiled wryly.

  Thorne looked down at his feet uncomfortably and muttered, ‘well… I’ll see you later then.’

  ‘Of course,’ Zaine grinned and grabbed Thorne in a brief, one–armed hug.

  ‘Look, I think, no, I know you’ll be a brilliant leader,’ Thorne said, ‘these people all trust you and will follow whatever you say.’

  ‘Not all of them,’ Zaine scoffed, ‘Boulder never does anything I tell him to.’

  ‘I never do what?’

  Boulder, much like his compatriots, suddenly appeared as though out of thin air. His footsteps not betraying a single sound, despite his hulking mass.

  ‘Nothing,’ Thorne snorted.

  ‘Right,’ Boulder shook his head and grinned, ‘you leaving then?’

  Thorne sighed, he really wished he could stay…

  Thorne did his best not to look into Zaine’s eyes, as he nodded his farewells and then began to awkwardly walk off in th
e opposite direction.

  ‘Hey!’

  Thorne twisted his head, to see Zaine waving something in the air to him.

  ‘Catch!’ he yelled.

  He then threw the item; Thorne caught it with both hands and opened them to see a small green ruby attached to a thin circle of string. It was his old cracked pendant.

  ‘Bring it back to me,’ he said.

  Thorne shouted his thanks in reply and continued to trudge on. If he squinted his eyes he could just make out the shape of the City of Light in the horizon. Zakariyanna’s words had never left him, plaguing his every thought.

  ‘I saw you being consumed by flames.’

  He was almost there. His journey would soon come to an end and quicker than he realized.

  Chapter 24

  The Hall of Light loomed over Thorne, flames crackling in the middle of the building from torches glaring down at him, like the amber eyes of an enormous beast. This was where Thorne had been told the Steward of the city lived. The Steward apparently governed the city, but of what he was still in charge, Thorne had no idea; the city was slowly crumbling to pieces.

  Fissures had formed in the fine details of the magnificent crystal statues that stood near the walls of the city, which had, over time, been worn by rain. Ivy was growing over the buildings and plants were pushing their way through cracks in the cobblestoned streets. If it wasn’t for the people running around the city, Thorne would have assumed it had been abandoned. The Hall however, stood completely apart from the rest of the city, its marble walls and steps in perfect condition, unblemished. The doors were gigantic and had swirling patterns indented in the thick wood.

  The Warlock sighed and glanced behind him. The Hall stood at the far end of the city on a hill, although the walk had been tiring it was well worth the view. He could see the hundreds of buildings and monuments that towered above the ground and the streets writhing with movement. Beyond the city, Thorne could make out the dark blur of the city’s graveyard, where the dark portal resided. He shivered at the memory of passing by it. As soon as he’d come within a hundred metres of it he’d felt a tremor, the sensation was… uncomfortable.

  He closed his eyes and breathed in the air, exhaling slowly. I’m not going to die, Thorne thought.