“I can manage,” she grinned.
Rashiel handed her a silver and gold gilded bow that was hard to the touch, but light as a feather in the hand.
“Only someone with your strength can draw this bow. You believe your strength is still from the demon that possessed you, and at one time it was – but not anymore. Your strength is from a different source now and goes well with this bow. You’ll find a quiver of arrows in the chariot. It contains all the arrows you’ll need,” said the angel. “Master Dodie, are you ready?”
“No, but that never stopped me in the past,” said Dodie as he patted his tractpouch.
Nathan signaled the commander with a nod and roared a battle cry that was echoed by the warriors.
“Ariel for Elyon!”
At that, Rashiel popped the reins, urging the incredible steeds toward the advancing giants with a speed that caught the giants off guard. The Arielian Calvary rode beside him for a moment in a glorious charge, but couldn’t match his speed and quickly fell behind. Hanoch’s skill and adaptability showed as he maneuvered his chariot behind Nathan’s, but he had trouble keeping the transport from throwing them out.
“Close the distance and take me in the center of the horde,” shouted Nathan.
“As you wish,” the angel replied.
The giants began throwing burning balls of tar that sent thick clouds of smoke high into the air. To their horror, the group discovered these spheres were the tar-filled heads of victims they collected from defeated cities. Nathan grit his teeth, biting his cheek to keep from swearing in front of the angel.
“Faster,” Nathan yelled.
Rashiel took the whip and snapped it above the horse’s heads. The steeds bolted forward, causing a burst of speed that almost toppled Nathan from the rig. They connected with the first row of giants with a crash, sending some goliaths scrambling out of the way while others fell beneath the wheels to be crushed.
At that moment, the air filled with the sound of screaming as giants began bodily hurling live captives into the path of the chariots in order to slow them down. Hanoch strained against the power of the horses, trying to avoid the grim projectiles flying their direction, but were too slow to avoid them all. The chariots jumped and jolted, spilling Nathan and the rest onto the field of battle. Nathan turned to find Rashiel, but the angel was nowhere to be seen and the chariots were gone.
Twenty-Nine
“Torn Hinges…”
“This is madness!” Shouted Dodie over the clamor about him. Without warning, the giants were on them, fixing them in their gaze with a smile of cruel delight. Nathan once again saw the black mist of demon possession as the giants approached.
“Get behind me,” Nathan ordered, giving the advancing goliaths his full attention.
An ethereal fire took light in Nathan’s eyes causing them to sparkle as before. Advance forward, Nathan touched the giants arm as casually as one might turn an upset child. The giant instantly howled with pain, falling to the ground in a convulsive fit and then lay still. Nathan stood over the still form for a moment, watching the giants eyes roll in his head as drool ran from his mouth to the turf. The demon mist no longer clouded the air about the fallen titan, giving Nathan the information he needed.
“Is this one of the giants we saw on the plains,” asked Dodie.
“It is,” snapped Nathan.
“How can you be sure?” asked Dodie.
“I’m sure,” said Nathan.
Dodie thought to question him more, but the flickering light in his eyes said all that needed to be said.
Far ahead of them, through a path of chariot-mangled enemies, Nathan could see the transports turning to return to his position. This became harder by the second due to the horde’s efforts to flock to Nathan’s location with a vengeance. The horde couldn’t injure Rashiel or the chariots, but they did hinder their progress by throwing rocks, tar and bodies in their path.
Due to the close fighting quarters, Isha and Dodie could only slash, swing or dodge to keep from death while Hanoch found this situation to his liking. The youth spun, kicked and struck with the force of a small tornado. In hand-to-hand, this was his element and the culmination of all his training. He was of the White Branch and the sworn enemy of any demon user, and it showed. Any giant who reached toward the group found himself either thrown in another direction, or falling to the ground breathing his last. Hanoch’s blows hit with blinding speed, snapping bones in the face, chest and neck with smooth efficiency. Armored or not, the horde could not approach and resorted to throwing stones at the group. The White Venger smashed many of the projectiles in mid-air, but couldn’t hope to intercept them all. One rock caught him from behind as he shattered two from the front, spinning him around and dazing him for a moment. He felt the fresh flow of blood on the back of his neck, but shook off the pain and kept attacking.
Thankfully, a thunderous clashing of steel resounded behind the group as they turned to see the Arielian Cavalry, engaging from the south followed shortly by the foot soldiers. The horde ignored Nathan’s group for the moment and stared with wide-eyed horror at the ferocity of the Arielian warriors visiting death upon them. The riders struck like a hurricane, plowing through the ranks of the Demon-horde, shearing head from shoulder and bone from bone as they carved a path to Nathan. Leading the charge was the commander himself with his red sash waving behind him, signaling death to any giant within his reach.
“Stay behind me,” Nathan said. “I have an idea.”
“We’re with you,” said Dodie.
Nathan sprinted toward the on-coming commander as fast as his feet would move. Several clubs swings grazed his face and head as he ran, but the giants were more focused on the cavalry than the small group beneath their feet. This was the mistake he counted on.
“The chariots are to the north,” shouted Isha, but the seer appeared to ignore her comment and continued running.
“And greater works shall you do…” Nathan whispered to himself, encouraging himself with scripture.
Dodie struggled to match the young man’s speed, but it wasn’t Nathan’s swiftness that amazed him as much as his method of combat. The moment he touched them, they yelled as though set on fire. The enemy quickly fell to the ground, screaming in a convulsive fit until finally laying still. Nathan’s slightest touch removed their demons, bringing the giants to their knees and allowing the cavalry to attack at will. However, this ability didn’t go unnoticed. Soon, the giants began fleeing at his mere approach causing a panic to erupt among the giant ranks. When they were finally within earshot of the cavalry, Nathan called.
“Commander!”
Red sash flying, the commander signaled his riders. As he approached the seer, a giant tried to cut them off but was quickly pinned to the earth with a spear throw from a female warrior. The riders quickly snatched Nathan’s group from the ground, swinging them up and over to sit behind them as they galloped.
“Hold fast. We’re making for the chariots,” said the commander.
His face was bruised and spattered with blood, but the focus in his eyes stood firm.
“Commander, ride me through the enemy ranks,” stated Nathan.
He gave the young seer a questioning glance, but nodded agreement.
“Captain, take them to the chariots. We will be right there,” yelled the commander, pointing at Isha and the others.
Turning his mount into the thickest part of the battle. Nathan leaned out of the saddle with his arm extended, but almost fell with every attempt. Finally, the commander put his axe away and grabbed Nathan’s tunic, leaning the seer away from the horse but counter-balancing so he wouldn’t fall. Like this, Nathan could extend his arm.
“All I have to do is touch them,” said Nathan.
The commander sensed his intent and maneuvered their approach so the seer could hit the giants from behind. In this way, they rode through the horde dropping the demonic titan’s like wheat in a field. This sent the giants into a raged panic, causing
them to break ranks and attack each other out of distrust. After several passes through the enemy, the commander put a halt to the attack.
“That’s enough, if you don’t get to Pelan, we could be doing this again,” said the commander.
Nathan nodded in agreement and they raced for the chariots. Just before they reached the chariots, an extremely large giant made a mad leap at their horse, taking them by surprise and tackling them to the ground.
“You can’t exorcize me that easy, filthy seer,” said the giant, pounding the two with his hammer-like fists.
The blows broke some of Nathan’s ribs and caved in part of the commander’s chest-plate.
“How about now?” said Isha, as she sent several arrows, rapid-fire, through the giant’s neck and eyes.
The mammoth staggered for a moment before sinking to his knees and falling on his face to the earth with a gurgling sound.
“The seer is injured,” said the commander, as he carefully placed an unconscious Nathan in Rashiel’s chariot. “Get him out of here, he may have turned the tide of battle in our favor. But if not, please tell them Elhen’an, Commander of the Arielian Army, and his warriors died well this time.”
Isha nodded as the remaining cavalry fought to cover their retreat. Hanoch’s left arm swung uselessly by his side as he climbed into the chariot and wrapped the reins around his right hand.
“Young one, can you manage?” asked Rashiel.
Hanoch nodded and replied, “Just hurry.”
“As you say,” replied the angel. He then took Nathan, putting him over his left shoulder as he turned the fiery horses to the north. “Hold on tight, and cover your ears for a moment. This will be different.”
They covered their ears as Rashiel gave an ear-splitting whistle that echoed all around them. The horses reared high and bolted toward the north at an incredible pace. The landscape flew past them, as they appeared cover several miles each minute. Isha glanced behind them and noticed their tracks left smoking marks in the earth where the wheels had passed. She checked on Hanoch who had nothing but a look of exhilaration on his face in spite of his injury. It was no more than half an hour before the white spires of Pelan were visible in the distance, and another fifteen minutes before they passed the gates themselves. Oddly, the normal busy streets were empty when they arrived and yet there appeared to be a crowd gathering at the citadel. Isha’s sharp eyes told her that they were about to be too late.
“Let us out, now,” said Isha.
The chariots stopped close to Pelan Castle but by some heavenly gift, didn’t appear to be visible to the crowd. Nathan was coming around, but holding his side and finding it hard to breath.
“Some of your ribs are out of place, hold still while I set them back,” said the angel.
Rashiel pressed his hand on Nathan’s ribcage, resulting in a crackling noise that caused the young seer to cry out. However, once it was over, he breathed easier and the pain disappeared. The angel moved quickly to Hanoch who didn’t resist the angel’s help. Holding the arm securely, he pulled firmly resulting in a loud popping noise and an ever so slight twitch of pain from the young Venger. After that, Hanoch found he had full use of his arm again.
“Thank you,” said Nathan. “For everything.”
“Thank Elyon, he cares for you all,” said Rashiel. “Honestly, I never liked mortals and found them to be selfish and petty. But maybe that’s why Elyon gave me this assignment, so I can learn something. We have great power, but we don’t know everything. Now use caution, when I’m gone you will be visible again.”
With that, Rashiel turned the chariot and rode off toward the south. But as they watched him go, the chariots appeared to rise into the sky and disappear from view. The crowd near the castle began taking sideward glances in their direction. So they quickly went behind the nearest building where they could gain a better vantage point and assure some concealment.
“Nathan, look,” said Hanoch, pointing in the direction of the castle.
High above him, on the execution platform outside of the castle where all could see were three large crosses holding the motionless bodies of Jackabo, Elhan and Sapha. For an instant, anger flashed through his mind but yielded quickly to the urgency of his present situation. Dodie also saw the grim spectacle, as did Isha. Seeing this, her muscles and face twisted in unyielding fury.
“That jackal,” she yelled to no one in particular, dodging an on-coming assault.
She left her companions and raced up the nearest ascending causeway in a full run heading in the direction of the crosses.
“Isha, no,” shouted Dodie, but too late to stop her panther-like ascent.
She arrived at the execution platform, surveying the situation with catlike speed. Elhan and Sapha were not dead, as she thought, but simply unconscious. Unfortunately, she couldn’t definitely say the same for Jackabo. He appeared more brutally beaten than the others. They were all chained and dangling above the platform like low hanging fruit.
“Probably couldn’t keep his smart mouth shut,” Isha whispered to herself.
Large wooden planks made up the total of the execution platform attaching itself to the side of castle by large support beams. A long oaken stairway wound itself downward from the platform to the ground so bodies could be disposed of without bringing them back into the castle. The only opening into the castle from the platform consisted of a small door that opened flush to the outside of the castle from the stonework. It also served as a defense during an invasion since the platform could be set on fire and burned, securing it from the castle itself. In front of the doorway sat a viewing stand for the regent, so he could see his justice being done in person.
But on this occasion, the stand held three thrones instead of the usual one with additional guards posted throughout. It seemed odd to Isha that such a public display should occur in the middle of a siege on the city, but possibly they believed themselves all but invincible by now. No, this display demonstrated power and the futility of resistance. She stalked up the stairway like a tigress, waiting for the right moment to begin her attack. But just before she lunged, the door came open, spilling out several more guards and three figures that set Isha teeth on edge. Malkandia entered with her customary pomp followed by Conner stalking behind her with distrustful sideward glances, trailed by a figure that Isha didn’t know. He wore vestments similar to Hanoch, but his face was hawkish and cruel. Isha did not need Nathan’s special sight to tell he held a high level demon. They each paraded before the crosses, inspecting the condition of Elhan and Sapha with marked contempt. They even went so far as to slap Elhan in the face to see what reaction it may bring before finally settling in their seats.
“These should add nicely to our sacrifices,” said Malkandia to the guards nearby. “Begin.”
The guards produced a bucket filled with liquid and began splashing it on Elhan and Sapha in generous amounts. The fluid ran through the planks and dripped down toward Isha’s hidden location. She went unnoticed since the guards were more engrossed in the spectacle before them than with doing their job. She reached a questioning hand toward the fluid, catching some of the liquid on her fingers and testing it with her tongue.
“Strong wine,” she whispered to herself, “and oil.”
A soldier took a torch from its resting place, confirming the horror that Isha already knew. They were going to burn them alive. This is the end then, she thought to herself. For she knew in her heart that she would never stand by and let that happen, even if it cost her life. Quickly, she took a knife in hand and moved to strike the torchbearer as he approached Elhan. Without warning, someone brushed past her, springing up the stairway like a gazelle. There were sounds of a struggle above her as guards began flying off the platform in all directions with some hitting the stairway in free-fall on their way to the ground below. Isha raced up the stairs to find Bena in whirling combat, fighting like a trapped tiger. His axe hit with a force and precision that snapped bone as easily as straw. The guards
struggled to match his speed and, more often than not, struck each other instead of their attacker. Malkandia and her companions jumped to their feet with blank expressions of confusion on their faces.
“Bena, you treacherous dog,” she roared.
“Our deal was for the protection of my daughter from Conner’s demons, and this is how you repay me,” he returned. “Do you think this blood-bath will bring you power? Look around you, demons only listen to their master and that’s not you.”
The Ahaziz left his seat and crossed the platform with one easy motion, moving toward Bena with murder in his eye only to be stopped short by a thundering voice.
“Don’t touch him, he’s mine,” said a voice that boomed like thunder as the owner emerged from the darkened hallway leading to the castle. The giant’s chest and arms rippled with savage power as he moved, and his cruel smile twisted with the scaring of claw-marks across his face. “Besides, we have old business to attend to, don’t we Bena.”
“If you mean your screaming entry to Hakkor, then yes,” Bena snarled through clinched teeth.
For he’d learned, after years of tracking, that Zan killed his wife and somehow evaded capture. Now it was clear that he’d took help from the powers that ran Pelan. He thought to leap upon the giant and cleave his head from shoulders, knowing full well it would cost him his life. However, several archers held arrows ready to pierce him through the moment he made a move, which would rob him of his dying satisfaction. Zan knew he had the advantage, and so strolled over to the unconscious Sapha and ran his fingers through her matted black hair.
“She’s even prettier than her mother,” the giant grinned.
“Keep your filth away from her,” Bena snarled.
Malkandia opened her mouth to order the guards to attack Bena, but quickly reconsidered.
“Let them fight,” she laughed with amusement.
Bena immediately threw his axe just before bodily sailing himself across the platform toward the giant. But this giant proved more agile than most and rocked back on his heels to avoid the axe while taking Bena’s blow on his chin. Though stunned by a blow that would have shattered the skull of a lesser opponent. He didn’t fall and quickly recovered.
The Last Refuge Page 30
