Survivors of Corrica

by Courtney Bowen

“We’ve helped you as much as we can, supplying magic for your weapons. You’ve gotten dozens of other less powerful weapons, not to mention these main ten magical swords, that’ll help you defeat them. After that, it’s up to all of you.” Paracleus said.

  “We can’t interfere more than we’ve already done. We’re lucky we’ve gotten away with taking those samples of elemental powers. If we push too far and get involved in actual combat, then we’d surely be caught.” Fato said.

  “Will we see you all again?” Mogame asked.

  “That’s hard to say, but maybe someday.” Rhona said.

  “We’ll miss you all, but we wish you good luck in your endeavors.” Geneva said.

  “Good luck to all of you, too.” Paracleus said.

  Rhona and Paracleus vanished, but before Fato left, Corr yelled, “Wait!” He raced forward and hugged his Fay friend. “Good-bye, Fato. I hope you’ll be okay.”

  “Good-bye, Corr. Things will be fine. You’ll see.” Fato smiled and hugged Corr in turn before they parted. He waved farewell to Corr and all of the other humans before he disappeared, too, and headed back home.

  The people of Bahealfisaba were alone once more, but at least they had each other, and together they’d handle the Savorre. The newly established warriors and their attendants clapped themselves on the back, hugging each other, their friends, families, and neighbors, to encourage themselves before they started to prepare for battle.

  ℜℜℜ

  Though the Savorre tried to conceal the location of their communities to outsiders, the powers gained and enhanced by the magical swords allowed the people of Bahealfisaba to better sense and pinpoint the main settlement. They knew it’d be heavily guarded and fortified, possibly with a palisade, and that it’d have magical deterrents, maybe a dampener on their abilities.

  The swords and magical weapons might help them in retaining their powers, but they couldn’t rely on that. They’d have to be ready for a harsh clash that could drain them and leave them vulnerable. They intensified their combat training in reconnaissance, stealth maneuvers, dueling, demolition, marching and survival techniques.

  Once they were organized, Rowena created a portal late one night with assistance from the others and stepped through it, arriving several miles away from the Savorre settlement. She immediately shielded the portal’s presence with her shades and then Anya disembarked from the portal, sending out her spirits to scout the area and listening for responses from other ghosts.

  Porran came as well, shifting the breeze to mask their presence and feel around for anything else that might be hidden here. Huette followed him, identifying the animals and people lurking nearby, while Oran and Demetrius appeared, too, able to get an impression of the lay of the land, what terrain they were dealing with, if there were any obstacles in their way, and what spots to avoid.

  Zeldos and Kozu treaded through the portal, with Zeldos ready to clear any vegetation that might undermine them while Kozu could part any waterway that might block them. Lapida and Hasbas finally showed up to defend the others as the rest of their attendants and militia trooped through the portal.

  Once they were all there and knew that they were in no immediate danger of being discovered and attacked, Rowena closed the portal, sealing them off in enemy territory. They proceeded through the forest towards the Savorre community, avoiding any patrol or guards with their ability to detect them. They dodged a couple of traps they discovered, magical and nonmagical, that would’ve alerted the foe to their arrival.

  The palisade loomed ahead of them, and they might’ve gotten through it without sounding an alarm, if a fighter on the outskirts didn’t accidentally trip into a hole with an arachnid-drake or spider-dragon confined down there to ambush any prowlers before they could rescue him. The man’s screams as he was tackled and assaulted before being devoured would surely be heard inside the settlement, they realized.

  They quickly rushed the fence and started to demolish it in several spots using various methods, breaking and passing through even as the enchanted boards tried to repair themselves. The guards, Vanahatora, warlocks and warriors roused themselves, realizing they were under attack, and scrambled to fend off the invaders or assemble into formation.

  The Bahealfisaba coalition, on the other hand, launched into the fray by splitting up and dashing through the settlement in smaller groups, ten of which had a sword wielder and their attendant amongst them. They found that with the magical swords and enchanted weapons at their sides, they could still use their powers despite the safeguards and dampeners the Savorre warlocks had deployed.

  They went from shelter to shelter, picking off any stray combatants they came across and avoiding harming innocent civilians that fled. They headed towards a large, central target, the temple at the heart of the Savorre community, coming at it from different directions.

  Porran and Dahlia’s squad headed south along the fence line, with Porran using the Air Sword to blow away guards and clear a path for them. Dahlia followed along in his wake, mostly keeping up with him and occasionally attacking anyone who was left standing. Hasbas and Corr’s team raced through the settlement on the most direct route to the temple as Hasbas brandished the Black Sword that struck down their foes with a swipe. Corr avoided looking at them as he wondered if there was a better way to fight.

  Zeldos and Mogame were among those protecting their escape route, with Zeldos ensnaring and trapping guards with vines and tendrils sprouting from the Green Sword as he also fought the regenerative capabilities of the enchanted palisade. Mogame shielded him and the gap in the fence with a cloud of shades, which he also sent out to terrorize the guards.

  For a moment, Zeldos half wondered if there might be a Savorre child in the midst of the fleeing crowd who might lose their home and family tonight because of the Corricans and Bahealfisaba villagers attacking them, because of his actions. Was this what it was like, when the conquered became the conquerors, and vice versa for the Savorre? Was he really no different than the Corricans at heart?

  Oran split the earth with the Brown Sword and sent tremors rumbling through the village, upsetting the warriors in their way, while Buzzbo and others blocked any attackers from coming after Oran. Demetrius pummeled their pursuit with the Stone Sword while Marko barked out orders to the troops, sending detachments out to achieve various objectives as he fortified their weapons and shields with his stone magic.

  Kozu with the Blue Sword and his sister Kiki were flooding houses and buildings with their water powers, sweeping away the Blood-Drinkers’ stain that had killed their parents, while the fighters accompanying them picked off any stragglers. In the midst of this, Huette paused with the Bone Sword in her hand as she strengthened her companions and wounded the enemy.

  She could almost sense that Wilama was still alive and here somewhere in this settlement. She rallied her group and headed towards Wilama’s location, the temple itself, swearing she’d save her.

  Rowena employed the Gray Sword, calling upon the shades and demons surrounding them to threaten, terrify, and destroy all of the warlocks in the area. The warlocks ran away from her shadow army, screaming, while other mages harried them along. Cassandra used her plant magic to block their getaway and capture them to face their punishment.

  Lapida burned the palisade and various buildings with her Red Sword, thinking of what happened to the Bahealfisaba blacksmiths, while Geneva exercised her earth powers to ambush any assailants by literally pulling out the ground from beneath their feet, and then burying them in the dirt. The combatants that fought alongside them took advantage of such hindrances.

  Anya healed anyone on her side that was injured, using the Spirit Sword, and frightened away the villagers with the ghosts of the people their Blood-Drinkers had killed. Wintha sat off to the side, concentrating on her prophetic abilities, and she managed to predict any oncoming assault so that they could get away and evade getting hurt while the rest of their troop defended them.

  During a momentary
lull after such an escape, Anya turned to Wintha, wondering how she was faring as the girl frowned. “What’s the matter? We’re okay for now, right?” Anya asked her.

  “I think we’re fine, but there’s something troubling me. Where are all of the prisoners, the people that the Savorre have captured? Is Wilama still alive?” Wintha said.

  “I don’t know, but maybe we’ll find out at that building.” Anya nodded at the temple in the distance, shuddering. They were close enough to see a hint of the cadavers ornamenting it. She didn’t want to go there, but she feared they’d have to. “Come on, we’re almost there.”

  ℜℜℜ

  Minutes ago, Yagidehama stirred in her sleep, restless from disturbing dreams, while a tree branch clattered against her home. She rolled over, mumbling, when something smashed through the shutters, startling her awake. She sat up and stared at a guard lying on the floor while a wind howled outside.

  No, not just any wind, but an unnatural hurricane steeped in elemental forces. Her heart pounding in her chest, Yagidehama quickly changed into her armor, grabbing her weapons, as she heard the screams and roars from outside, could feel the shadows and spirits rousing around her, and the earth shifted beneath her feet.

  It was just like any other day, but it was beyond anything she could’ve imagined, probably what all the other people thought when she and the Savorre confronted them. She got out of her home as water started to seep in, certain to wipe it away soon.

  She saw the trouble that her fellow Vanahatora, warlocks, and warriors were in as they tried to defend their community and allow ordinary people to flee, just like every other place they’d raided before. But now they were the ones being overwhelmed by invaders and mages on their own turf.

  How could this have happened to them? She didn’t know exactly what was going on here, who out of all the countless people might be brave and strong enough to face them now, and how they were able to do this. But monumental powers were being drawn upon and unleashed on all of them, after everything they’d done to destroy other people and sap their blood and strength.

  She didn’t think that any of them would be spared when this was over, especially her, when there were many who’d lost their loved ones to her, and would remember her face, even when it was painted red. She’d have to get out of here now, but there was one last thing she had to do before she went.

  Yagidehama quickly summoned a small portal, not too big when it might be detected by the others, and she was only traveling a short distance away. She jumped through it and closed it up behind her, looking around as she prepared to defend herself. The vault underneath the temple hadn’t been breached yet, one good thing still in her favor, though water was dripping in here.

  Yagidehama sealed up the patches and bolted the door, ensuring that nothing and no one would get in here before she was gone. She turned around and faced Wilama, who was getting up from her bed in the corner.

  “Yagidehama, what’re you doing here?” Wilama asked, staring at her.

  “We’re under attack. We’ve been invaded by a powerful, well-organized army who’ve procured some enchanted weapons, have some strong mages, and are bent upon destroying us.” Yagidehama said, arranging the altar with various accoutrements for a ritual sacrifice.

  “It must be the Corricans and the Bahealfisaba mages. They’ve come together and built themselves up against the Savorre.” Wilama said, facing Yagidehama. “What’re you doing?”

  “I can’t let you go. Even if it isn’t your people, you’ll still be found down here, one of the last captives still alive, unharmed and unmarred by our blood drinking? No, they’d be suspicious of you, wondering why you were spared, if you’re really one of us instead, a spy. I have to drain you, Wilama, just enough that they can think you were an innocent victim.” Yagidehama said.

  Wilama stood up and joined her at the altar. “What about the others that were taken and brought down here? Would they be able to question the other captives about what happened in this room?”

  “No, anyone that ever saw you here and what you did to them would be dead. None of the surviving captives ever saw you and I was the only Savorre who knew about you, Wilama.” Yagidehama said, clutching her wrist.

  Wilama shuddered and gazed upon Yagidehama. “This is the only way I can return to the Corricans and Bahealfisaba without any doubt about me?”

  “I’m afraid so. I promise I won’t take more than I need. I’ll leave you alive, Wilama.” Yagidehama said, pulling her close.

  “Fine then. Drain me.” Wilama murmured, kissing and biting Yagidehama on the lips.

  Yagidehama responded in kind and then growled, “You asked for it.”

  She lifted Wilama up onto the altar, laying her down and restraining her with ropes as they continued to make out, and then Yagidehama called forth her shades and began to chant. Wilama rolled back, preparing and bracing herself as the shades entered her once more, only this time they drew out her blood and magical energy, swallowing it up.

  Wilama gasped and convulsed, going into spasms and shock at the suddenness of the rapid, intense loss, and soon passed out from exhaustion. Yagidehama continued to consume her energy to the very grasp of death, but let her go before she keeled over completely.

  Once that was done, Yagidehama wiped off a couple drops of blood from Wilama, licking it up as she checked out the other woman to ensure that she’d be safe. Yagidehama inspected her surroundings again, confirming that it’d fit with Wilama’s story as an innocent victim and that she’d left nothing behind to give away their secrets.

  She noticed a parchment paper in the corner, which she’d been studying for a while now, and decided to take it with her. Then she vanished from the room, leaving Wilama alone to be discovered by her rescuers. She hoped that they’d come soon, and they’d look after Wilama, whoever they were.

  Chapter Eighteen:

  Celebration

  Hasbas and Corr’s group were the first ones to reach the temple, soon followed by Huette’s troop, and they stared up at the horrific façade, desecrated with the remains of those who’d been sacrificed to the Blood-Drinkers. Corr might’ve heaved and thrown up, but he tried to stomach his bile, knowing it wouldn’t do any good, and he didn’t want to quail here and now.

  This was why they’d come, to confront this revulsion and save anyone left alive, and he didn’t want his brother to think he was afraid to enter the place. Yet Hasbas seemed to have forgotten about Corr, so focused on his task during the fray that he didn’t realize he was exposing his brother to this dreadfulness.

  But then again, Corr had seen some terrible things in the last few months, ever since Corrica was destroyed. This was just a different level to it, the way the Savorre both mocked and revered those they’d killed. They broke through the barred doors into a nightmarish, visceral scene that alluded at the carnage and bloodshed that must’ve taken place here over the years and in recent days, even if nothing like that was happening at the moment.

  There were still some captives barely left alive, trapped inside pits and cages, wasting away as they’d already been supped upon, but not totally consumed yet. All the Vanahatora had fled and vanished from this place, or else the Bahealfisaba fighters would’ve dealt some serious blows to the Blood-Drinkers who’d committed such atrocities, if they hadn’t already during the battle.

  While everyone else rescued and freed everyone in the pits and cages, Huette went straight to another set of doors, pounding on them. “Wilama! Wilama!” She shouted.

  “Do you think she’s in there?” Hasbas asked, coming up alongside her.

  “I know she is. I can sense her in there, and she’s dying.” Huette told him.

  Hasbas clutched the Black Sword. “You’re right. It’s like I can feel death’s presence.” He muttered, and he called upon others to assist them.

  They smashed through the physical and magical safeguards blocking them and raced down the steps into the vault, where they discovered Wilama, splayed out on an a
ltar and half deceased. Huette attempted to revive her right then, giving her some life and strength back, but she still seemed weak and listless.

  They dragged her out of the vault and outside the temple, where Anya and Wintha had already arrived with their crew and were tending to the captives, too. Anya rushed over to Wilama as soon as she could, with Wintha hovering beside her, and rejuvenated her spirit as best she could.

  Anya sagged, exhausted as she told the others, “Wilama should be fine with some rest now. She lost a lot of power and energy, but she should make it and recover, I hope.”

  Wintha winced and cried out, clutching her head as the others turned to her. “What’s wrong, Wintha?” Corr asked.

  Wintha shook her head, gazing in horror at something only she could see. “So much darkness and pain, bloodshed and claws tearing, with animals howling in the forest and neverending laughter.”

  “It’s just a vision of the past, Wintha, they’re okay now.” Anya hugged Wintha and tried to comfort her. “We’ve saved them, Wilama too, from such monstrosity.”

  “No, Anya, I think it’s still from the future.” Wintha said, staring up at the temple towering over them like a fortress. “I don’t know who or where it’s coming from, though.” She refused to look at Wilama for a moment, just in case her worst fears might be confirmed.

  Everyone else from the Bahealfisaba coalition converged on the same spot once it appeared the enemy was routed and defeated, and they cared for and carried out the wounded prisoners. Once the temple was cleared, with no one being able to stand the sight of it anymore, Lapida burned the place down and then Kozu and Kiki deluged the ashes.

  The brother and sister hugged each other and wept, mourning the loss of their parents once more. Everyone else examined the captives and established that Wilama was the only survivor to have come from the Bahealfisaba raid, with the others having been captured in more recent raids on other towns and farms. Everyone else who had been seized in Bahealfisaba had died, and they grieved the loss of their friends and family members.