Born of the Phoenix

by Forrester, David Murray

  Undaunted the banshee’s riposte was another mighty scream hurling Ravage to the ground once more. The banshee hovered above her, dark blood dripping from the dismembered limb. Patsy leapt into the air, driving her sword into the banshee’s torso she brought the monster down, the pair sprawling across the hard stone. With an unbreakable grip the banshee clasped onto Patsy face and began to breathe her poisonous miasma onto her, corrupting her mind and soul, bending it to the will of the banshee.

  With savage cruelty Ravage took hold of the banshee’s long flowing hair wrenching her violently off her friend and with remorseless ferocity executed the banshee in an eruption of blood with powerful and precise swordsmanship.

  The remaining undead collapsed no longer having the unearthly magic of the banshee to sustain their existence. Ravage helped Patsy to her feet; surrounded by the mutilated corpses the two girls shared a smile. It had been a tough hard fought battle, and they had won.

  The lake began to surge, great waves pounding the stony shore. There was an enormous upheaval of water, the cave echoed with a terrifying and deafening roar as a mammoth hydra emerged from the fathomless depths. All nine of the beast’s monstrous heads focused on the two warriors, long scaled necks moving and twisting in an almost hypnotic motion.

  They fled, running with all the remaining strength they had. Ravage’s lungs felt as though they were on fire, her wound throbbing in pain. Torchless they ran along the tunnel through the darkness, the dim light of the chasm ahead their only point of reference.

  On the ledge beside the waterfall they stopped, panting and breathless.

  "Told you there'd be a monster in there," Ravage leant against the wall, her heart racing with exhilaration.

  "Technically you said shorku, that was a hydra," smirked Patsy, "but I'll give it to you anyway."

  "Imagine fighting one of those!"

  "No thanks!" she said shaking her head, "you got cut up pretty bad, give me a look at your back." Ravage’s skin was badly lacerated, the wounds would need to be thoroughly cleaned out once they returned to the village. Patsy bound the injuries in cloth. They lit fresh torches and began their journey back. This was a day to remember and would make a fine story to regale at taverns with a few pints of beer.

  The warmth of the sun was most welcomed after having endured the cold darkness of the cave. They found Allura resting by the cave entrance; her chest was bound in bloody rags.

  “What happened to you?” Ravage knelt beside her; Mist and Shadow were standing at the wounded neshural’s side.

  “I went too deep and almost became a meal for a nest of latreau, I forgot how vicious those things are when they’re in a pack,” she noticed that Ravage had also been injured, “don’t worry about me though, how did you go? Did you find the missing villagers?”

  “We did, they had become the undead slaves of a banshee.”

  “Had, as in, you defeated the banshee?”

  “We did.”

  With a painful grunt Allura rose to her feet. “You two are a lot stronger than you look, killing a banshee is no simple task.”

  “It was a difficult fight,” Ravage mused, they had been lucky to survive and had probably only defeated the banshee because of the enchanted diamonds Allura had given them, if they were still only using the blessed charms they could have easily met their demise. “She must have claimed a lot of victims from the village because there was a horde of undead down there, we really owe you one for giving us those Lateisha.”

  “Don’t mention it, I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help.”

  “What were you doing anyway?”

  “Just following a hunch.”

  A hunch; a hunch for what? Allura’s vagueness roused Ravage’s curious nature and she wondered why the neshural was being so secretive about what she was doing. She let it rest though; there was no need to press Allura on the subject since it didn’t have anything to do with her or Patsy, Allura could keep her secrets.

  “You missed out on seeing a hydra,” said Patsy, the sight of the hideous beast was an image she would never forget.

  “A hydra?”

  “There was a massive lake underground, after we defeated the banshee it emerged from the water, you should have seen it, it was amazing, terrifying, but amazing.”

  Allura stood silently in thought for a moment then climbed up onto Shadows back. “You should go and tell the people in Sigwood the good news, but probably leave out the part about their family and friends being transformed into the undead.”

  “Yeah I was thinking we should probably not tell them the whole story,” said Ravage. Losing loved ones was hard enough, they didn’t need to know the full extent of their suffering even if it was in essence dishonest not to tell the whole truth, sometimes there are things people are better off not knowing.

  “You’re not coming with us?” Patsy was surprised.

  “No, there are more monsters out there that need hunting.”

  “Be safe then, and thanks again for everything.” Patsy was going to miss seeing Mist and Shadow, she still wished she could have a wolvren as a pet companion.

  “I’d tell you to be careful crossing the mountains but it shouldn’t prove too difficult for a pair of banshee killers,” with a smile Allura urged Shadow up the ravine wall and the agile wolvren leapt skilfully up the treacherous slope with Mist close behind.

  Chapter 13

  The soft grinding of gravel underfoot was always a pleasant sound to Akella when she walked, reminding her of her youth when she would wander and play along the river banks and explored hidden paths across Pyrelle Island. It was a bright morning, the air sweet with the scent of the new day. The eastern road she was following took her through an old forest abundant with ancient trees. The forest was alive with animals, birds fluttering from branch to branch with critters frolicking amongst the undergrowth. Akella heard a rumbling coming down the road then five tall geldings appeared pulling behind them a large wagon. Four mounted sellswords escorted the wagon, they were adorned in leather armour and brandished axes and small wooden shields. They were hard men with chiselled jaws and muscled arms, their steeds weathered saddles and tired faces were mirrors of their long and laboured journeys. When the driver spotted Akella he drew the wagon to a halt and jumped down to greet her.

  "Fine morning isn't it," he had the shifty smile and the eyes of a crafty merchant looking to make himself a few coins.

  “Indeed it is,” she said, greatsword resting on her shoulder.

  "Ah but these nights are getting cold aren't they, and it's always best to keep warm isn't it, and what's warmer than a nice wolf pelt? I have some for sale and can always do a good price for a beautiful woman such as yourself."

  "Not for me, sorry," she said, "maybe the people in Granston might be interested."

  "I have others, fox, deer, maybe you'd like some nice rabbit fur gloves, soft as clouds they are, five coins and they're yours,"

  Akella shook her head. "No thanks."

  "How about some meat? I've got some nice venison, fresh too, roast it over a fire, throw on acoupla herbs, delicious!"

  "I'm fine thanks."

  "What about a whet stone to keep that greatsword of yours sharp eh, the stones I’ve got are mined from the hills west of Vanslutten, the royal knights use them to hone their blades, fantastic stones they are, and rare too, one gold coin for those and you won't find a better price than that!"

  His badgering was starting to get on her nerves. She didn't want any of his wares but decided to stay polite; he was only trying to make a living after all. Akella was about to kindly refuse him once more when she heard a mournful whimpering coming from the back of his wagon; tiny voices pained and laboured.

  "Can you hear that?" she turned and walked to the back of his wagon.

  "That’s nothing, just a bit of live bait."

  Slumped in the corner of a rusted urine stained cage were three trembling wolf cubs. Their fur was soiled and mattered with blood from small wounds. Such scraw
ny little creatures, unfed and abused.

  "I use em to draw in the wolves," he banged the side of the cage and the cubs cowered from him, huddling together in the corner. "I lay out some traps and catch the ones that come to investigate."

  A deplorable act; Akella's eyes narrowed as she glared at him. The merchant found himself on the ground, head awash with pain as blood gushed from his split cheek. Violently she pulled him up, holding him forcibly against the side of the wagon.

  "You piece of shit," she growled, "you actually think it's alright to treat animals like this?"

  "They’re just wolves.” He was going to kill and skin them soon anyway; he didn’t understand why this woman cared so much about such mangy beasts.

  "Just wolves,” her thoughts turned to Shiskee, the snow wolf she had befriended in Ruscarne. Animals weren’t just mindless creatures wandering about the wilderness for men to hunt and kill as they please. They had souls, feelings and deserved respect.

  "Let him go!" The sellswords dismounted their steeds. They were efficient killers and had proved their strength and battle prowess many times over having slain countless bandits that had attacked the merchant.

  Blood dripped from the merchants wounds as his face twisted into a cruel grin. This woman would pay dearly for striking him.

  Akella pushed the hunter to the ground, his hands scraped and bled in the gravel; she would deal with the cruel and pathetic man last.

  "Now throw your sword aside and we might just let you live," one of the warriors stepped towards her, confident he could defeat this woman with his axe; an axe he had used to split open the heads of countless warriors. "You'll give us that shiny circlet too, and any coins you’re carrying." He fancied the circlet, the emerald sparkling brightly in its centre.

  "So not only are you going to defend this piece of shit that tortures animals but you think you’re going to rob me as well," she unsheathed Sunderfall, “you sellswords really are just scum aren’t you.”

  They began to circle her. Despite Akella being alone the warriors were not taking her lightly, she expected nothing less from men such as this, killing was their job and they held no pride for victory in single combat; they cared only for defeating their opponent.

  “You might think we’re scum but I think we’re a bit of alright and we’ll still be alive at the end of the-

  Sunderfall sang; tearing apart the sellswords flesh and drenching the road in blood. The warriors were stunned by the speed Akella possessed having struck down their leader mid sentence in the blink of an eye. They feared her, she had to be inhuman, only a demon could move that fast.

  As she beheld the fear in their eyes Akella pitied them. Men thought themselves so superior yet their knowledge of the world was terribly feeble and lacking.

  “Protecting people is a noble charge but guarding a man such as this is a disgrace, you should be ashamed of yourselves for standing idle while defenceless cubs suffered like that.” The men stood silent and watchful knowing that she could take their lives in an instant. There expressions had not changed and with a sigh Akella realised they didn’t care about the cubs or any of the merchants behaviours. “I’m going to give you a choice; you can die defending this man or you can leave and go and actually do something good with your lives.”

  It was an easy choice for the sellswords to make; they lowered their weapons. Without saying a word they mounted their horses and rode away. Akella knew they weren’t exactly going to turn over a new leaf and renounce their ways but she at least hoped they’d find a better charge. They were heading towards Granston so perhaps they would work for Dennon; he was looking for bodyguards after all.

  "Now what should I do with you?" Akella pulled the hunter to his feet.

  “Mercy, please,” he sobbed, “I won’t do it again I swear.”

  “Oh I know you won’t do it again.” She had thought of a fitting punishment.

  At first the cubs were shy of her as she removed them from their imprisonment. So light and frail, her heart swelled with each little ball of fluff she held and couldn’t comprehend how someone could treat such creatures so cruelly. Joyfully they feasted upon the venison she placed down for them, each cub having a portion greater than their little bellies could hold. Akella unhinged the horses from the wagon and sent them on their way. She watched as they galloped down the road, hoping their new masters would be kinder than the last. She put a torch to the wagon and it quickly caught ablaze. A feeling of satisfaction came over her as the flames rose to engulf all the merchant’s wares. There would be no profit made from his barbarism.

  From a noose the hunters lifeless body hung, strung up in one of the ancient trees along the roadside for all to see. Akella placed a post beside the body and onto it inscribed-

  Here hangs a soulless torturer and butcher of animals, all who follow his path with share his fate. –Akella Terrifos.

  She made sure to include her name. This was not some random body hanging in a tree; there was purpose behind this, meaning. It was time to take the mantle of hero and proclaim herself. If there were villains out there who truly desired to hunt and murder heroes then let them come for her, it was time for a new age to begin.

  Akella did not turn to look back as she walked away, the wolf cubs sticking close to her as she continued down the road.

  For several miles the cubs followed her until finally their curiosity of the forest overwhelmed them. Answering the call of the wild they crept amongst the bushes and wandered into the undergrowth. Akella watched them for a short while as they playfully wrestled with each other and explored the woods. She knew their strength would return and in time they would grow and prosper in the forest.

  All day Akella walked yet she did not tire. Once out of the forest the road twisted through grassy hills and rich luscious valleys with large boulders, some cracked by tree roots while others worn and aged by wind and rain stood now in strange shapes to play upon the imagination. As the darkness of night began to set in Akella thought she saw a shadow coming down the road towards her. It was no shadow, but a woman. Her clothes were torn; such pain was in her young face. She held out bruised and bloodied arms in a desperate plea for help.

  Akella rushed to her, the young woman collapsing in her arms. She could feel the frailty and weakness of the poor girl and wondered what horrors she had endured. The woman whimpered and sobbed the beginnings to a story that Akella could not understand because of her mumbling. Suddenly it was not weakness she felt, but an iron grip. Akella tried to push her away but could not, for the woman's strength was beyond her own. She felt a piercing pain in her neck as the woman sunk her teeth in and began to drink her blood.

  With a free hand Akella drew her dagger and stabbed at her but struck only mist, for the woman had vanished. Quickly she unsheathed Sunderfall, sweeping the area with her eyes to find her vanished opponent.

  "My blood comes at a hefty price vampire," Akella could not see her, but she could feel her presence, "and it's time for you to pay up."

  "A vampire is it?" said the woman as she remained hidden, "that's quite the assumption little phoenix."

  Akella mused at her words. Already she knew too much from just one bite, hopefully she wasn't able to unlock any of her memories.

  "Yes I can taste the fire in your blood, and I must apologise, for I seem to have fallen for my own trap."

  "Your own trap?"

  Slowly she emerged, her body materialising from a cloud of mist. No longer was she dressed in torn clothes but wore elaborate polished armour with fine cloth overlays; feminine and imposing. Her hair was like a flowing river of silver, bright red eyes shining beautifully upon her heavenly face. Akella was taken aback by the sudden transformation. The woman's appearance was angelic, far from that of a vampire.

  "When I smelled your blood I couldn't resist it, it's just so sweet and full of fire," she said walking towards Akella, "so I really am sorry about that, as for the trap, well, let's just say it's a bit of a ruse I play to catch out those wh
o might want to try and take advantage of a young woman in distress."

  "An interesting ruse," Akella lowered Sunderfall, "and you’re saying that you’re not a vampire?”

  “Not in the slightest.”

  “But you drink blood?”

  “I guess you could say I acquired a taste for it.”

  The young woman was quite peculiar; Akella thought it odd to acquire a taste for blood and also wondered how it was that she knew the taste of a phoenix. Her abilities were quite unique. “So who are you?”

  “My name is Zoe,” her silver hair shone as it caught the light of the rising moon.

  “I’m Akella.”

  “Well Akella, thank you for accepting my apology,” as she spoke her body faded back into mist. “A phoenix in Sapphiron, I’m sure our paths will cross again.”

  With that she was gone, the mist disappearing into the forest. Akella was surprised that the encounter ended so suddenly. Zoe had claimed not to be a vampire but her behaviour resembled one, mysterious and coy and disappearing into the night as quickly as she had appeared.

  “I think we will cross paths again,” Akella said under her breath as she continued down the road, “you better not bite me again though.”

  Chapter 14

  Embers glowed brightly amongst an ocean of ash at the foot of the ancient totems. The macabre scene of death had ended hours ago. The peasants, monks and soldiers having witnessed the burning of the witches renewed their faith in prayer with Osrown then returned to their humdrum lives of labour and study. The midnight hour had passed. The three moons floated gracefully across the sky surrounded by a thousand dazzling stars.

  A heavy mist lingered in the courtyard which carried with it a strong scent of smoke and charred flesh. Guards patrolling the high tower battlements would not look down into the haze, for they feared the vengeful ghosts of the dead. They kept close together, skin crawling as they patrolled the quiet stone passageways.