The Last Citadel

by Kevin Ashman

  ‘Do you think the councillors fell for the invitation?’ asked Bennett.

  ‘We will soon see. Make sure the men are armed with Narwl spears and keep themselves hidden in the servant’s quarters. When their people are all in the keep, let the men loose. Spare no one. Without the controlling influence of the trades, the rest of the city will soon crumble.’

  ‘What about the Stargazer?’

  ‘No luck there,’ said Petit, ‘he was the one person I genuinely wanted alongside me. He alone had the courage to stand up to me, the only man amongst the bloody lot of them.’

  ‘Where is he now?’

  ‘Packing his things in his room,’ said Petit.

  ‘Are you going to let him go?’

  ‘I can’t,’ said Petit, ‘he has spent the last few months organising the population and gained a lot of admirers. He could easily gather a following and we can’t risk that, we have come too far.’

  ‘Do you want me to deal with him?’

  ‘That would be good, do you want some help?’

  ‘No, he is an old man, I will go immediately.’

  ‘Bennett,’ said Petit, ‘make it quick, he has been a good friend.’

  Kenzo heard the sound of a knife being unsheathed.

  ‘I understand,’ said Bennett, and the two men went on their own way.

  Kenzo stood behind the door, knowing that the Stargazer was about to be killed. Though he owed the Stargazer nothing, there was no way he could stand back and allow an old man to be murdered in cold blood. He looked down the corridor to make sure Petit had left and with a deep breath, walked in the opposite direction, following Bennett up to the Stargazer’s chambers.

  ----

  Pelosus had a woven bag open on the bed and was busy putting his most valuable possessions inside. He heard steps coming along the corridor and turned to see Bennett entering the room.

  ‘Bennet,’ he said, looking at the knife in the man’s hand, ‘don’t tell me you are part of this as well.’

  ‘Sorry, Pelosus,’ said Bennett, ‘this thing is bigger than any of us. The very future is about to change, and unfortunately that means some will fall by the wayside.’

  ‘You’ve come to kill me?’

  Bennett nodded.

  ‘We can’t afford to let you organise any sort of resistance.’

  ‘I thought this Crispin creature was all powerful?’

  ‘His name is Arial, and indeed he will be, but don’t forget he is still relatively young and all this is new to him. He needs the guidance of the Brotherhood until he reaches his prime, then he will decide his own future.’

  ‘But what if that future doesn’t include you and your friends?’ asked Pelosus, ‘have you thought about that?’

  ‘Then it is a fate that I will accept with all my heart,’ said Bennett.

  ‘By all that is holy, you really are fanatics,’ said Pelosus.

  ‘Your words, Pelosus. Now, this is unpleasant enough as it is, I suggest you turn around and kneel down. I will make this as painless as possible.’

  Pelosus stared at him for a while longer, before doing as he was ordered.

  ‘Cut deep, Bennett,’ he said, holding his head back to reveal his wrinkled throat, ‘the world you desire so much holds no attraction for me. I would rather explore the next world, than remain with you in this.’

  ‘So be it, old man,’ said Bennett and stepped forward, his eyes focussed on the outline of Pelosus’s prominent jugular vein on the right side of his neck.

  Pelosus closed his eyes and despite being a man of science, muttered a prayer under his breath, waiting for the exquisite pain that would signal the end of his life. A few seconds later, he heard what sounded like a grunt and opened his eyes again.

  ‘What are you waiting for?’ he asked, ‘get on with it.’

  When there was no answer, he looked over his shoulder and scrambled along the floor away from the horrific scene behind him. Bennett was still standing where he had been a few seconds earlier, but the smug look had been replaced with one of pain and horror, as a clawed hand squeezed tightly around his throat. Pelosus stared above Bennett’s head at the beast that had curtailed his imminent death and realized with mind numbing horror that all the incredible stories he had heard in the past few days were all true. This was undoubtedly Arial and mankind’s legacy had at last come back to haunt them. The Sark had returned to Bastion.

  ----

  Kenzo ran up the familiar stairs he and Leona had trodden all those weeks ago. He hoped it was not too late to save Pelosus, as he had stupidly taken a wrong turn, but had now regained his bearings. With no time for caution, he ran as fast as he could, calling out the Stargazer’s name.

  ‘Pelosus,’ he screamed, ‘don’t trust him, Bennett’s going to kill you.’

  He burst through the door of the Stargazer’s chambers and stopped in horror at the scene before him. Pelosus was sprawled in a crumpled heap at the far end of the room, his face pouring with blood as a result of a severe blow. Bennett’s body lay on the floor but the most horrific thing of all was the creature standing in the centre of the room.

  Arial stood upright, his naked skin shining black in the dim light of the Plankton lamp. He was almost half as tall again as Kenzo, but with wiry legs and arms. His chest was broad, and his shoulder blades rose higher than his head. His face was definitely human, but much narrower with an elongated chin and his prominent eye ridges slanted sharply upwards, away from the black eyes with white pupils. He had no hair on his head or indeed any part of his body, and the pointed ears swept backwards alongside the wrinkled skull. Despite all this, Kenzo was transfixed by one thing and one thing only, the sight of Bennett’s severed head dangling from one of Arial’s clawed hands.

  ‘Get out,’ screamed Pelosus from the corner, ‘it’s too late, save yourself.’

  The creature looked up and stared at Kenzo, his jagged predatory teeth laced with torn flesh and dripping with blood. He opened his jaws to their full extent and let out a soul-searing scream, forcing the man back in fear as the stench of death swept over him like a wave.

  ‘Run!’ screamed Pelosus from behind the creature, ‘save yourself.’

  Kenzo knew it was too late for the old man. There was no way he could tackle the monstrosity, so with the primeval scream still ringing in his ears, he turned around and ran from the room as fast as he could and down through the gloomy corridors, closely followed by the pursuing figure of Arial. Just as he thought he was going to be caught, he saw an opportunity and after running through an open doorway, slammed it shut behind him and wedged a chair beneath the handle. Immediately, the creature crashed into the door and Kenzo put all his weight against it to ensure it stayed shut. After a few attempts, the creature gave up and Kenzo heard him walking back the way he had come. After a few minutes Kenzo turned and run out of the building. As he burst out of the door, he smashed into a group of people and fell sprawling to the floor. Immediately he jumped up, but was grabbed by an enormous man who pinned him against the wall.

  ‘Steady on, son,’ said the big man, ‘what’s the rush?’

  ‘Who are you?’ asked Kenzo.

  ‘My name is Helzac.’

  ‘The Governor?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Helzac, ‘and these good people are the council. Now why don’t you tell me who you are?’

  ‘I am Kenzo,’ said the young man, ‘and I serve in the Citadel Guard.’

  ‘Shouldn’t you be on duty?’

  ‘Looks like a deserter to me,’ said Razor.

  ‘No, I’m not,’ said Kenzo, ‘I was given leave by Pelosus to seek a boy called Crispin and got isolated in one of the towers. I have only just returned and was looking for Pelosus when we were drugged by the cook and locked up in the keep.’

  ‘Why would anyone do that?’ asked Razor, ‘and how did you get into one of the trade towers in the first place? You know they are off limits.’

  ‘We got lost in the Catacombs,’ said Kenzo, ‘and ended up in the
Watcher’s-tower. Look, if you don’t believe me, ask him.’ He pointed toward De-gill

  ‘Do you know this man?’ asked Helzac.

  De-gill stared at Kenzo for a while wondering whether to support his story or dismiss him as a liar.

  ‘I do not know if he tells the truth over the keep,’ said De-gill, ‘but he was indeed a guest of ours for a month.’

  ‘Still doesn’t mean he wasn’t involved in all this,’ said Razor, indicating the scene around him, ‘we already know that Petit has most of the Guard working for him.’

  ‘I know nothing of this,’ said Kenzo, ‘only that we are wasting time and if we don’t get out of here pretty quickly, we may not get another chance.’

  ‘Explain,’ demanded Helzac.

  ‘There is some sort of creature back there,’ said Kenzo, ‘up in the Stargazer’s rooms.’

  ‘Describe him,’ snapped De-gill.

  ‘I didn’t hang about too long,’ said Kenzo, ‘but he is roughly human in form, but much taller with clawed hands and a horrifying face. When I left, he had just killed someone called Bennet.’

  ‘And what of Pelosus?’ asked Petra.

  ‘I don’t know, but he was trapped in there so is probably dead by now. There is no way anybody could overcome that thing.’

  ‘It must be Arial,’ said Helzac, ‘he must have been in the central tower all this time.’

  ‘It certainly sounds like it,’ said Razor, ‘we should go back in there now, while he is cornered and stop this charade once and for all.’

  ‘Are you crazy?’ gasped Kenzo, ‘have you seen this thing?’

  ‘Boy, I have killed two Ranah in my time and more Narwl than I care to think of, each ten times his size. This thing holds no fear for me.’

  ‘Then you are mad,’ said Kenzo, ‘he will rip you apart in a blink of an eye.’

  ‘Perhaps we can reason with him,’ said Petra.

  ‘Reason with him?’ Kenzo sneered, ‘that thing is like nothing you can imagine. I don’t even know if it can talk.’

  ‘This is an opportunity too good to miss,’ said Razor, ‘kill the beast and we hamstring Petit, there will be no need to bring our people into the city.’

  ‘You can’t bring your people here,’ said Kenzo, ‘I overheard Petit plotting against you.’

  ‘But he invited us to join him,’ said Petra.

  ‘Governess, as we speak, his followers are getting ready to surprise you and cut down your trades without mercy. You need to get out of here and rally your people. Group together and fight this man, otherwise, who knows what will happen?’

  ‘How do we know you are telling the truth?’ asked Razor.

  ‘I don’t know any way of convincing you,’ said Kenzo, ‘but I give you my word, everything I have just said is true. If you don’t believe me, go in and see for yourself.’

  The group of Governors looked between each other, all looking for answers. Finally, it was Razor, who once again broke the silence.

  ‘I have heard enough,’ he said, ‘I am going back in there to deal with this thing once and for all. Who else is with me?’

  ‘We will need weapons,’ said Kelly the Brewer.

  ‘There are weapons aplenty in the barrack rooms,’ said Kenzo, ‘I can show you where.’

  ‘I will come too,’ said De-gill.

  ‘As will I,’ added Rimmer of the Weavers.

  The two other Governors confirmed their involvement before they all turned to Helzac.

  ‘You are the best of all of us, Helzac,’ said Razor, ‘our chances would be enhanced with you there.’

  The Governor looked at Petra for a long time and squeezed her hand before turning to the men.

  ‘I too will come,’ he said.

  ‘Helzac, no,’ shouted Petra, ‘who will lead the city if you fall?’

  ‘Petra,’ answered Helzac quietly, ‘everyone here has led privileged lives, enjoying the best this great city can offer. We have accepted the riches and the accolades in return for spouting out edicts as we see fit. Bastion is on the verge of collapse and we alone now have the chance to avoid catastrophe. How could we ever face them again knowing that when we were needed most, we turned and ran?’

  ‘Then I will come too,’ she said.

  ‘No, you won’t,’ said Helzac, ‘I need you to provide a figurehead to the trades. If we all fall, act quickly and nominate successors to each of us. You will have to assume the Governorship and lead them forward. They will need strong leadership and will have to gel quickly if they are to have any chance of putting down this uprising. If worse comes to worse, at least the towers can be defended while you negotiate a peaceful outcome.’

  ‘But Helzac…?’

  ‘But nothing,’ said Helzac, ‘this is now no longer a request, it is an instruction. Do as you are told.’

  Petra shut her mouth, knowing fully that arguing with the giant man was futile. Helzac turned to Kenzo.

  ‘As for you, young man, I appreciate the offer of help but I have a far more important job for you. I am placing the safety of the Governess in your hands. You grew up on these streets and know how the city works, take her into your care and see her safely back to her tower. Our normal routes are denied us and over the years, we have lost sight of the ways of the people. I suspect that on her own, she would not last more than an hour.’

  ‘And my own family?’

  ‘Take them with you. They will be far safer with the trades than out on the streets at the mercy of Petit’s thugs. Right, tell us where to find these weapons you speak of and be on your way.’

  ----

  Five minutes later, Kenzo had left the keep and was leading Petra through the narrow streets of the city. All around them, they could hear shouting interspersed with the occasional scream. The air was thick with smoke from unseen fires and people ran everywhere, trying to escape the madness. Kenzo grabbed a small boy as he ran past.

  ‘You,’ he shouted, ‘come here.’

  The boy looked petrified and rivulets of blood ran from a wound above his eye.

  ‘Please, Sir, don’t hurt me,’ he cried, ‘I haven’t done anything, honest.’

  ‘Whoa, slow down,’ said Kenzo, ‘what makes you think I am going to hurt you?’

  ‘You’re one of them, Sir,’ said the boy, ‘the soldiers who are killing everyone.’

  ‘Did they do this to you?’ asked Petra, wiping the blood from his face with a handkerchief.

  ‘Yes, lady,’ he said, ‘when my dad wouldn’t let them in, they broke down the door and beat me up.’

  ‘Where is your dad now?’

  ‘They killed him, miss,’ sobbed the boy, ‘stuck a knife right into him.’

  ‘What about your mother?’

  ‘They dragged her and my sister into another room and I heard the soldiers laughing even though my sister was crying. I tried to help them, miss, honest I did, but they beat me up and threw me into the street. I was going to get my uncle to help but I can’t find him.’

  ‘Okay,’ said Petra, crouching down so she was the same height as the boy, ‘first of all, what is your name?’

  ‘Lenny, miss.’

  ‘Right, Lenny, I promise you this man is not one of those soldiers, his name is Kenzo and he is on our side. My name is Petra and I want you to come with us and show us where you live. Perhaps we can help, okay?’

  ‘Yes, miss,’ said the boy, grabbing her hand, ‘it’s this way.’ Within minutes, they were at the end of a street that had obviously seen the efforts of the Brotherhood’s soldiers. Furniture was burning in the streets and smoke billowed from windows. Bodies lay everywhere and at the far end, Kenzo could see the retreating figures of at least ten men as they sought new victims.

  ‘Which house is yours?’ asked Petra.

  ‘That one, miss.’

  ‘You stay here,’ said Kenzo, ‘I’ll check it out.’ Within a few minutes, he returned and Petra knew by the look in his eyes, that the news wasn’t good.

  ‘Where are they?’ asked
the boy.

  ‘They are…um…not there,’ said Kenzo, ‘they must have escaped.’

  ‘Then, I have to find them,’ said the boy and tried to get past the two adults.

  ‘No,’ said Kenzo, grabbing his arm, ‘I think you should come with us, you will be safer.’

  ‘But I have to find them,’ said the boy, ‘if my dad is dead, how will they live? I am the man of the house now.’

  ‘Oh, sweetheart,’ said Petra, embracing him in her arms, ‘I’m sure they will be fine for a while. You come with us and when this is over, we will try to find them together. How about that?’

  ‘Promise?’ asked the boy.

  ‘Promise,’ said Petra.

  ‘Okay,’ said the boy and took her hand once again. They made their way out of the street and toward Kenzo’s own quarter.

  ‘That’s one promise you will not be able to keep,’ whispered Kenzo.

  ‘Why not?’ answered Petra in similar tones.

  ‘Because they are both dead.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Both had their throats cut, though not before they were raped.’

  ‘Oh my God,’ said Petra, ‘what is happening to this city?’

  ‘I don’t know, Governess,’ said Kenzo, ‘but it is not looking good.’

  ----

  The members of the council followed Kenzo’s directions and entered the temporary barrack rooms. The first reaction was horror when they saw the blood sodden mattresses.

  ‘Drugged and murdered,’ said Razor, ‘these must have been the ones loyal to the council.’

  ‘Nothing we can do now,’ said Helzac, ‘look for knives or swords.’

  ‘Forget knives,’ said De-gill, ‘you need Narwl spears.’

  ‘We can’t go back to my tower now,’ said Razor, ‘there is no time.’

  ‘We don’t have to,’ said De-gill, ‘these soldiers carried out guard duty, so they had access to ceremonial spears. They should be here somewhere.’ Within a few minutes they found the armoury and each armed themselves with one of the highly polished spears, engraved with scenes from city life all along the shaft.

  ‘These wouldn’t last one strike on a Narwl,’ said Razor, ‘far too thin.’

  ‘We don’t need them to last,’ said Helzac, ‘as long as one finds its mark I will be happy. De-gill, you said you studied their physiology, is there anything you can tell us about the best place to strike?’