by A L Wright
If the war didn't end soon, humans would die off on their own.
The warlocks of the time had grown desperate, and out of desperation came their plan.
After recent battles, the numbers of freshly slain humans were incredible. What if they could bring them back, animate them in a way to fight without feeling pain, remorse or mercy? They had to try, there was nowhere else to find an army.
But to do this some of the warlocks found they would have to sacrifice themselves to darker arts than they had ever considered. The ones who volunteered themselves knew that they had to do this, as this was their last hope. If it failed, their world would be overtaken.
Their enemies were primal and had sheer numbers on their side. Vast hordes of goblinoid creatures had surfaced from their underground homes. They had just recently run out of space in their cramped hovels, the creatures producing offspring at alarming rates. And since their youngest were the best fighters it seemed as though they would never run out of warriors for their armies.
The small group of warlocks consisted of four people. Mortul had been the first to volunteer as he was the youngest and the most ambitious of his magic wielding counterparts. He had no family and nothing else to lose, and was the most powerful warlock they had.
His three teammates, all powerful enough in their own right, had already been part of the research that led them to this possible conclusion. To amplify their powers beyond anything imagined they had to give themselves over to the powers of Necromancy, dying and being reborn as nothing ever seen before. The spells they prepared would give them immortality, unnatural strength, and would turn them into emotionless war machines. And would amplify their magic to be powerful enough to decimate entire populations.
They created four chambers. These chambers had the spells inscribed along the interior walls. The trick was, they could not sleep in these chambers. No matter how hard the magic tried to, they could not let it lull them to sleep. The only way to make the magic theirs was to stay awake and let it be absorbed into their conscious minds. The four of them laid in their chambers and thought of all the things they needed the power to fight for to help them stay awake.
Three of them survived the chambers. The fourth team member went crazy inside his and the chambers' walls melted down upon him. It was later discovered that there had been a flaw in the inscriptions in that chamber.
Mortul, Yosan and Hudreia survived the transition within their chambers. They had been completely changed. They were dark and beautiful. And they were Powerful!
Dartein watched his father's face as he listened to the origin story of his kind. He had never known that their entire race was created magically. He especially hadn't known his father possessed the kind of power that he was describing.
Josaleene gently placed her finger tips on the back of Mortul's hand. She spoke to him in a reverent tone, "Master, you saved our lands from complete annihilation. The sacrifice you made was out of love and the need to preserve the human kind and the world. Why is this history not known commonly?"
The Patriarch answered her, "My dear, there are some things the world at large cannot handle knowing. Even if the history books were available to the humans, they would be deemed fantastical and out of fear of the past no one would believe it. There were things we had to do in that war that the human mind today could never accept."
"But here we are, the Noble race exists. Is that not proof enough for them?" She replied.
"Better for them to think we were an original race of beings, rather than a race created that can one day be undone. I keep our Court strong in the hopes that I never need to fight another war like the one before. But I do not believe that peace can ever truly last, and I will always be ready."
Dartein appreciated the history that had been laid out before him, but his concern for his beloved Josaleene returned full force. "Father, if you were there at the creation of the spells, can you not find out how to change them? How to preserve Josaleene rather than let our child destroy her?" A small hope lit his eyes as he asked his father to change the impossible.
"My Son, I do not promise anything. I can review the spells and see if there is anything we can do. I did not know about my Samana's curse until it took her from me. And after that I was too shrouded in grief to care to find a way for it not to happen. It was too late already. I never would have thought your love for each other was as powerful as mine was for your mother, or I would have forbidden your union."
The Patriarch got up from his desk and left the room, finalizing the conversation. Dartein could only hope his Father would find some way to help, to fix all this.
Squeezing his hand Josaleene whispered to him, “We will find a way Dartein, we will be okay."
✽ ✽ ✽
Mortul found himself in the room containing the Slumber Chamber. The Chamber itself was interred in the ground during the Slumber of a Noble and a human. Its magic knew when the process was complete and would come above ground to release its contents.
At the moment, the Chamber’s lid was open, and it sat in the middle of the room. The room was a spacious cavern with dark stone walls and archways that spanned for a hundred feet. Scribed into the walls were containment inscriptions that glowed while the Chamber was in use. These spells also monitored the progress of the turning, and allowed the Chamber to leech power from the Noble that rested inside, borrowing from the magic of their life force. Once the power started to seep from the Noble’s body, the Chamber’s spells took that power and directed it to the human there, just like it had been created to do so long ago.
The couple were instructed to sleep while in the chamber. Unlike during the war, the inhabitants of the Chamber did not need to stay awake. The Noble inside acted as a center for the power so the human could undergo the transformation. This also allowed any possible magical abilities to be reabsorbed back to the Chamber, so the human would become a Noble but without any danger of swelling His ranks with magic users.
He had to keep his people peaceful, but ready. Which is why he created an army of strong warriors. And so far, was able to keep the creation of magic users at a minimum. The ones who did come out with any abilities were capable of only small things, like lighting candles with a wave of their hand, limited omen reading or extra strength.
One had come out with the ability to heal wounds. She was sent off immediately to attend his military, much to her Chooser's chagrin.
Walking into the Chambers cavern, he stopped and marveled at the magical creation in the center of the room. He revered it for being a catalyst in the winning of the ancient war, but hated it for cursing his Samana and taking her from him. This mixture of feelings hit his senses hard every time he came near the Chamber.
The Chamber was about eight feet long, and just over five feet wide. The stone that it was made from was carved from a bed of lava rock. It was dark slate gray with glittery black obsidian scattered throughout. The cover was the same except for setting of red jewels in the middle, set in an odd arc pattern.
Reaching inside and running his fingers along the chiseled inscriptions he noticed a change. They had gone from quickly chiseled runes tapped into the walls in haste, to smooth to the touch, as if water had slowly run over it for a millennia. He turned up his senses and as he ran his hand along the interior small sparks shot from the inscriptions. They recognized his power as their creator.
I wonder then if I could even change the spell. But even as he formed the thought he knew he could never do this, because then the future of his race would be doomed. If he changed the spells they could no longer create more Nobles. There may not be a war now, but he knew the possibility was ever looming. Especially lately. His armies were always fighting in the further off reaches. And even though he may lose one or two men from his military every couple of decades, it had already taken too long to swell his ranks to what they were now.
He couldn't take from the humans too often. They would grow weary of his demands, becoming suspicious and eve
ntually hostile. He needed to keep the peace between their races. He had to stay ready.
He couldn't change the spells.
He couldn't save Josaleene.
✽ ✽ ✽
The couple almost made it back to their quarters, but Josaleene protested about being shut up in their room, and begged for Dartein to take her out of the palace.
"I want to be out in the night, and not just out on the balcony. The moon is full, Dartein. I want to bathe in its light!"
She pouted at him playfully, and he knew he could never refuse anything she wanted.
"Let us take horses across the town bridge to the meadow just past the river. It would be so romantic." Her eyes twinkled at him and his reservations melted away.
"My sweet, I am so frightful of losing you and I just want to keep you all to myself now," Dartein told her.
"If your father is right, if I am doomed to leave this world in a screaming bloody mess then I do not want to shut myself away from the world," Josaleene teased him.
"I am not finding any of this humorous and I am not sure how you are able to! My Josee you could die. A very painful and very permanent death. How is none of this serious to you?" He just couldn't grasp how she could be so lighthearted.
Taking a much more serious tone, Josaleene replied "I may very well die Dartein, but damned I will be if I do not live first!" She placed her hands on either side of his face and pulled him to her, kissing his mouth very gently.
"Come live with me Dartein," she whispered into his lips.
He pulled her to him in a tight hug, caressing her lower back and moving his hands up to her shoulders. Moving one hand into her thick beautiful hair, he looked into her eyes. They were hungry for life, and for more. She smiled at him coyly.
"How about those horses my Lord?" Josaleene winked at him and he finally smiled, for the first time that night.
Chapter 4
The couple rode out of the palace gates only a few minutes later. The midnight sky was clear and full of millions of shiny stars. There were still a few humans out and about in the village that nestled up against the Nobles Palace. The people stopped and stared at the royal couple that passed them by. Seeing any Noble in the village was a rare sight. Seeing the Prince was even rarer.
There surely would be stories around the water wells tomorrow.
Josaleene paid the servants no mind. Even they had lives far superior to her former life. She played the role of Noble quite well as she ignored them all completely.
They came to the north bridge several minutes later, and crossed the gently flowing water. The moonlight reflected from the water and helped to light up the grass that swayed in the meadow that stretched for acres. Josaleene smiled brightly and kicked her horse into a gallop. Laughing she raced ahead of him, heading towards the far end of the meadow where the tree line started.
Dartein watched her run, smiling. He knew he had to make her as happy as he could, for as long as their time together would let him. No, he could not think that way. His father would help them. They would find a way to save her and their child.
Almost losing sight of her, he kicked his horse into action and chased her across the field.
After letting their horses stretch their legs in a good run they slowed to a walk and then finally dismounted near a small stand of trees. Removing the bridles from their horses to allow them to eat, Dartein watched as Josaleene spread out the large blanket she grabbed on their way out of the palace.
Dartein set the horses quickly to field, as he could not keep himself away from his lady any longer. He took several long strides to her side, where she had lain out the blanket and swooped her up in his arms. Twirling around with her arms wrapped around his neck he never felt so free. Even before he convinced his Father to let her join the Court they had to be sneaky about their love. Out here in the open, under the moon, he felt like he could breathe again.
She giggled as he spun her around. He stopped and stared into her eyes with a burning passion that only she could ignite in him.
Dartein kissed her lightly on the tip of her petite nose and slowly lowered her to the ground. Laying back on the blanket Josaleene watched him as he slowly unbuttoned his shirt and dropped it to the ground beside the blanket.
He started to unbutton his trousers but then stopped, and stared at her until she growled at him playfully. He slowly smiled, his desire plainly written across his face.
"That look on your face is sheer torture, my love. I fear your mind has started without me!" She laughed.
“Oh, just get ready, the torture is about to begin." His grin followed him down to the blanket, and he kissed her like he had never kissed her before, almost wild in his passionate frenzy. He had a need to know her and feel her like never before. If he was to lose her then he needed to imprint her upon his memory, his body and his soul.
✽ ✽ ✽
They lay on the blanket enjoying the night breeze and the sounds of small animals and wildlife all around them. He held his hand on her stomach, feeling now the warmth of the life inside. He couldn't help but love that life completely. For a brief time, he wanted to hate it. But that didn't last long. That life was a part of him and a part of his Josee. And he could never dislike any part of her.
The far-off horizon began to lighten with the first rays of sunlight. Their kind could stand the sun, but their senses were diminished, and they became tired and sluggish. Which is why they chose to be nocturnal.
Standing and stretching they both began to dress. As Josee sat and laced her boots back up, Dartein whistled for the horses. Their mounts trotted over. They were very well trained and fleet of foot. Bred for carrying passengers quickly over long distances. Dartein preferred them over the heavy cavalry horses as they were perfect for the woods.
The animals seemed nervous as they approached, tossing their heads and snorting as they pushed their noses into Dartein’s shoulders. Immediately, he opened his senses to their surroundings. Something lurked in the dark of the woods north of them. He tried to find any trace of warmth but found nothing. The smell that came to him though, was rotten and reminded him of the mulches and composts the humans tended their gardens with.
"Josaleene. Make haste my love, I believe there are some ugly creatures in the woods tracking us." Dartein grabbed her outstretched hand and brought her up from the blanket. Before she could protest, he grabbed her by the waist and lifted her to her horses back, refastened the bridle and handed her the reins.
"Is there something bad out there, Dartein? Maybe we should go and see. We may need to make sure it does not advance on the village." Josaleene did not sound scared. She was never scared. She was determined to find out what was out there spooking their mounts so badly.
"Josee, I do not believe that is a good idea. Close your eyes and take in a deep breath. Clear your mind and then tell me what you smell." His eyes scanned the darkness of the woods as he waited for her to respond.
She did as he asked. He was trying to get her to open her new innate senses. Josee had never really used them, so he did not expect she would find much. He looked back to her as she gasped.
"Rotten! What a horrible odor. Like scraps for the pigs, Dartein." He was surprised she could smell it so clearly. "I think it's coming from that way” She pointed just slightly west of south and reigned her horse around to point in that direction.
A bit shocked she could pinpoint a smell so accurately he barely registered that she had started moving towards the woods.
"Wait! Josee, wait! It could be very dangerous, and I cannot abide the thought of you hurt."
"Dartein, we will be OK. Let us scout quickly then head back for the guards." She slipped her horse into the trees, forcing Dartein to follow.
He mounted and kicked his horse into a trot to catch up so he would not lose her in the forest. The trees could become very dense very quickly. He came up behind her horse just as the forest became thick. He could not see past her.
Josaleene halted her h
orse quite suddenly and dismounted. She looked back at Dartein and whispered to him, "Tie off the horses my love, we can't risk them running off now."
Cursing under his breath he tied their reins to a low branch and moved to follow her. They came upon a small clearing where a fire had recently been put out.
"Brigands most like, the guards can take care of them easily." Dartein wanted her out of here desperately.
"No, that smell is strongest in this area. There is something here that we have never seen before."
He watched as she stood very still with her eyes closed, breathing in the air around them. She turned to a pile of wood off to the side of the still warm bed of coals and pointed.
"There," she whispered. "Behind those logs."
Before she could get any crazy ideas, Dartein noiselessly crept around the campsite to see behind the logs. Nothing but leaves and moss and flat ground. He let out the breath he had been holding and turned back to her.
"See love, there is nothing... OOF!" Dartein’s breath left him suddenly as something slammed down onto his back. The flat area of moss and leaves was open now, and smallish green skinned creatures were climbing out. One of the bigger ones had smashed his club across Dartein's back.
"Dartein, NO!" He heard Josaleene yell out as he fell to one knee, surprised but not really hurt by the blow. As he rose quickly to meet his attackers, about a dozen more of the creatures leapt at him. He crossed his arms in front of him, shuffling one foot back to steady himself and waited for the attack to hit.
It never did.
The dark clearing lit up like wildfire. And the bodies of his attackers lay smoldering at his feet, more like ash piles than bodies. Confused he looked at them, then around the clearing for the source of their help. His eyes quickly scanned the area and landed on a very startled Josaleene.
She was staring at the bodies littering the ground in front of her love's feet, in shock at what she saw.
