One swordsman whirled around and hacked the skull head off of the nearest creature to Julian, buying him precious seconds. The flames of the fires flickered, giving off an eerie bloodred and orange hue to the entire scene, punctuated only by segments of deep black where the fires failed to illuminate the areas of shadow.
“Run!” he heard Tybert yell, and then as he turned he saw his chief of staff and old friend suddenly fall as several creatures converged on him and the lone soldier that had run with him. Quickly the formation gave way, and each guard was now fighting for his own life, unable to even give consideration to those next to him.
Julian saw an opening to the south. He so dearly wanted to get to the temple to see his daughter, if only for one last time, and he thought of the many things he regretted not saying to his son, Osric, ere he left on his quest a year ago. If only he could break away.
There! He got up and ran south, passing two soldiers flanked in combat with the undead and running by several screaming townspeople who had just come from the east this time. So many dead, so many, he thought to himself.
After what seemed like an eternity, he found himself approaching the southernmost part of town, and it struck him as odd, in a very bad way, that the shouts, screams, and clangs of metal against metal quickly faded behind him. He found himself alone and in a very dark silence, as if a blanket muffling all noise around him was thrown from on high.
Then he felt it—a great evil sensation that struck him as if he were in the ocean standing before a great wave. He threw himself to the ground near a dark, deserted building and covered his eyes, but for only a second, and then he felt the urge to look, and look he did.
High above a winged shape of black, blacker than the moonless sky, passed overhead, and Julian knew real fear. The passing was but for a moment, but he felt as if the world, and time even, had stopped, or at least slowed immensely. Just as suddenly the shadow passed, and he felt life again return to his limbs.
He stood and brushed himself off, feeling not only foolish for his actions but also relieved that the fear was passing. That was when he felt her, just before he saw her. There to the south, walking alone, was his wife, or, better said, what was left of his wife.
She still wore the white clothing from her ceremonial burial years ago, and the small circlet of silver that had adorned her head was still there, if somewhat skewed in its alignment. Her skin was withered and dried as if mummified and clung to her bony frame tightly, giving her a ghastly appearance. Her eyes pierced him—not human eyes made from flesh and blood, but two pinpricks of red light from within deep dark sockets where nothing human could be.
He tried to step back, but felt the wall of the building blocking him. His fear froze him, but in a different way than just a few seconds earlier. It was that morbid fascination that one encountered when one had mixed emotions, and although he could see his immediate doom approaching, he was powerless to stop it. Indeed he observed with awe and fascinated curiosity as it arrived.
Ira reached towards him with her hands, and for a moment Julian thought she was going to embrace him and kiss him. She was unarmed, and he felt her cold, bony fingers close around his neck as she looked at him with her lifeless red-lit eyes.
Julian’s last thought before dying was that indeed his daughter must have Ira’s divine pendant that he had buried her with a decade before, because he did not see it hanging from his wife’s corpse.
Chapter 14
Counterattack
Olivia exited the temple, passing many of the townsfolk huddled in the halls, corridors, and lobby area of the building. She had her discussion with Markus and had learned much, but after her display of power this evening, and the rumors of what she had done in Kero days before, the man refused to leave the inner sanctum. She left him there to pray, and she hoped that Arabella would answer him.
She quickly found things much more organized upon her return, and it was hard to miss the commander, as he could be heard clearly, long before he was seen, as he barked orders and issued commands. She made her way around the few front brushes and past one of a few small trees in the front courtyard before she found him near the main gate.
“Ah, Hand Olivia, you return. I trust your discussion with the patriarch was beneficial for all our sakes,” Fulbert said.
“We accomplished what we needed to have done,” Olivia responded, looking around the gate at the hodgepodge of debris, furniture, and other items put there to bar it and prevent another attack.
“Well, that is good to hear. I still wish you’d reconsider and allow us to flee to the east. Since you and that Felix came from there, the way must be clear now, especially after your divine intervention.”
Olivia looked around and frowned. “Speaking of Felix, where is the ranger?”
“He informed me that he would scout the surrounding area, and he left not long ago. He bade me to inform you to wait for him before setting off on any course of action. Since I’ve now informed you of his message, I have fulfilled my promise and obligation, and I ask you to reconsider.”
“If you must leave, then do so, but I feel as if the danger is waning but not yet gone. You should trust me on this, Commander. We cannot leave the rest of our townspeople to their fate, and I’m sure, even now, that my father is looking after them the best he can.”
Fulbert sighed and then looked around before answering, “Very well. As the master woodsman informed me before he left, he didn’t think you would flee, and it’s obvious from just looking at my men and your townspeople that they won’t leave this temple without you. So, then, what do you propose?”
“We attack,” Olivia responded, noting the frown that crossed the commander’s mouth. “I understand that you and your men have been through a lot, but we need to move to the town and clear it of these minions from the Abyss. I will lead the way. You may stay here and look over the townspeople if you want, but I’ll need at least half your fighting men.”
The commander looked flustered before stammering, “Look over! I’ll have you know that where you go, I go. I’ll not hide behind these walls while my men are in danger, and I’ll not have a Hand of Astor leading my troops into battle. That is my duty and my responsibility, and I’ll see to it that it is done . . . to my last breath, if I must.”
Olivia received the response she was hoping to elicit from the proud man. “Very well, Commander. We make this a joint expedition to clear the town center and rally any of the surviving townspeople to the temple. You represent the nobles, and I’ll represent the order. Agreed?”
Commander Fulbert looked sidelong at the temple entrance, half-expecting Patriarch Markus to exit the building and protest the usurping of his order, but not seeing anyone else, he looked back at Olivia and just nodded.
The wait for Felix’s return didn’t take long. He returned much as he had left, in silence and stealth, making sure to announce his arrival verbally before approaching the commander again. Olivia noted he came from the rear of the compound and not from the front gate.
“Welcome, Felix—good to see your return,” Olivia said.
“Likewise, Hand Olivia. I have news!” Felix said.
“Pray tell,” Olivia responded.
The three huddled together near the front gate as Felix began in a whisper, “The immediate area is clear. I know not by what force of magic or of the divine you used”—at this he nodded to Olivia—“to clear the area, but it is either blessed by your hand or cursed for our benefit because the undead do not approach within several stone throws of the temple.”
“That sounds promising,” Fulbert said, also in a whisper.
“The bad news is that it appears your town graveyard was emptied by some evil force and few townspeople have survived the attack. What few there are still in town are holed up inside the many buildings that have not been destroyed either by the beast or the fires.” Felix paused to allow a response.
“So there is no sign of a dragon?” Olivia asked bluntly.
&nb
sp; “No, none, but I felt something disturb my soul overhead not long ago. The foul beast may be above us on the winds. We must be careful, for I fear the danger has not passed,” Felix said.
“Good job, Felix. We intend to rally at the town center. Will you join us?” Olivia asked, no longer whispering, as several of the nearby guards turned from the attentive watch on the gate to see the ranger’s response.
Felix nodded. “I will go with you. Do you have a plan?”
“Yes,” Olivia said. She outlined her plan, and soon Commander Fulbert’s loud and commanding voice could be overheard yet again, barking new orders as a score of men formed just inside the temple gates.
“Ready when you are, Hand Olivia,” Fulbert said.
“Felix, you take rear guard and follow us in,” Olivia said. “The commander and I will lead. We head straight to town. If you see anything in flight, shoot it!”
Felix took his bow from his back where it was slung over his baldric, and he pulled an arrow from his quiver and knocked it at the ready. “Ready when you are!”
“Go!” Olivia said, and the commander nodded as two soldiers who were to stay and guard the compound opened one of the two gates just wide enough for them to file past in a single line. Olivia noted that Commander Fulbert jumped ahead so that he would be the first out, followed by her, then his twenty soldiers, and finally Felix, bringing up the rear.
The commander wasn’t as quick as Olivia, and she soon caught up to him as they trotted along the road into town, passing the southwest corner of the temple. They could just make out the curious eyes of Fulbert’s sentries as they watched the procession go by from behind the temple’s walls.
In the distance they could see the fires burning at various levels of intensity, depending on the building. The town’s main tavern and the administrative building were still blazing brightly, fueled by the flammable alcohols of the tavern and the many papers and documents of the government center.
As they approached closer in the firelight they saw no one until they just about reached the edge of the town’s many buildings. There were a few creatures walking around aimlessly, until they suddenly turned to attack them as they became aware of the living.
Commander Fulbert didn’t hesitate as he engaged the first of several undead, and his soldiers, true to their training and word, followed their commander’s lead and hacked down the few creatures they encountered.
“There!” Commander Fulbert hissed, pointing towards a partially destroyed building that used to house several of the town’s servants, somewhat serving as a barracks of sorts for the civil workers.
Olivia looked to where he pointed and felt a sudden burning in her leg as she remembered her fight with the winged and poisonous creature. “It can’t be . . .” she said, shocked.
The creature seemed as if it was a statue, not moving at all; it was facing them as the faint light of the fires flickered off of its grey body in various places. Most of the body was hidden in shadow, but the neck and one side of the head in particular were clearly visible. She could not see the tail, but she knew it was there and attached to it was a nasty stinger that she was all too familiar with.
Felix came up from the rear. “I see it too. What do you make of it?”
Fulbert answered, “It looks like its watching us, but why doesn’t it attack?”
“It’s studying us,” Olivia said. “It wants to know who we are and what it’s up against.”
“Nonsense, Hand Olivia! Not that I mean any disrespect, but it’s a . . . it’s just a . . . well, a beast, an animal is all. How can it think?” Fulbert asked.
“I can’t tell you how I know, good commander, but it is most definitely watching us, and I can see its conniving mind at work,” Olivia said.
“Should we approach it?” Felix asked. “It overlooks the center of town, and there is no way to go door-to-door to rally the people to the temple right under its nose, so to speak.”
Olivia stood for a moment before reaching under her blouse and grabbing her pendant. She closed her eyes and breathed a long, slow breath before opening her eyes again. “Felix, we will approach it slowly and draw its attention. Do you think you can flank it from the south and shoot it with your bow?”
“I’ll try, Hand Olivia, but its scaly hide is thick. I’ll need to get much closer.”
“Do it. Wait here first before moving. I will make sure I have its attention.”
“How do you plan do to that?” Commander Fulbert asked with a quizzical look on his face.
“Just watch me,” Olivia said, swinging her sword in a figure eight and starting to move towards town.
Sivern sat contently on his perch atop the half-crumbling wood and stone building that Amatha had frolicked in when she had first arrived at this human settlement. He sensed that his mistress was now far away, returning to her lair to rejuvenate and no doubt gloat about her victory. He would see to it that several fresh kills were brought to her for feeding, though he knew she already had a belly full from her night’s work.
Most of Qui Amatha’s minions were roaming the countryside now, away from the town center, which was almost deserted. Of course, there were a few survivors—there always were—inside the weak buildings that were not destroyed. They were most likely huddled in fear for their lives. He would summon the great black dragon’s minions to return, and then he himself would knock down doors, walls, and anything else that got in the way of finishing the extermination of the offensive settlement.
He observed with interest the small group of humans who came from the divine building to the east of town. He could see, even from his faraway perch, the sentries guarding the feebly walled compound, and he could clearly see the large red heat signature emanating from the building itself. The assault on the evil temple would begin at dawn, which was now not so long away, and they would finish the deed.
This group, however, he looked at with utmost curiosity. It was well armed. He could see the glints of firelight gleaming off of their swords and shields, and they were nothing if not noisy as they dispatched a mere few of his mistress’s minions that were roaming the town center. There was something bothering him about this group—but what was it?
He didn’t move. He watched and he called. He sent out the call of his mistress into the night, and he felt the hundreds of her minions heed as they turned and started back towards him. What a most delightful act his mistress had performed this night, turning their own sanctuary for their beloved dead into servants of her black darkness. He felt elated at her cunning and pride at her power. He was honored to be serving the great Qui Amatha, even if she was somewhat condescending in her tone to him at times. Such was the life of a dragon’s drone.
There! They started to move again, and they had the audacity to approach him! He watched silently, feeling the power of the dark approaching from all sides. It wouldn’t be long now. Soon, very soon, they would feel the trap that closed around them, and there would be no escape. No escape at all.
Olivia walked slowly, allowing Felix the time he would need to step out of sight to the south, where another building, across from the perched form of the perched beast, would block its sight. She trusted that no one else, except the ranger, would be able to move unnoticed by the unblinking, statue-like beast.
Slowly she walked, placing one foot in front of the other, and then she swung her pendant out again and let it lie on her chest. It started to glow with a soft white light that did little to illuminate, but slowly she willed it to express its power, and the light grew brighter and brighter, some of it bouncing off her shiny chain mail armor, giving the light an extra silvery hue and radiance.
The creature finally began to stir. She noticed a slight movement of its claws where it appeared to grip the building tighter. Its head tilted ever so slightly, though the eyes peering through narrow slits seemed to track her every move.
When the light was bright enough to start illuminating the beast, it unfurled its twin wings, leapt from its perch
atop the edge of the crumbling building, and dove on Olivia and the soldiers.
“Ready arms!” Commander Fulbert yelled, taking a defensive stance, and several of the men with longer weapons braced them for impact.
Then there was an ungodly roar as an arrow suddenly appeared, protruding from the beast’s right eye. The creature flew down like a thunderbolt and scattered most of the men in Olivia’s group. The beast landed with a thud, and its tail whipped around and hit one soldier square in his chest, piercing his scale mail and killing him instantly.
Olivia knew that Felix had found his mark, and she leapt forward, pendant blazing, and swung her slender sword at the creature’s head. Her sword hit the beast across the nose as blood poured from its injured eye socket, but her sword felt as if it had hit pure rock. The vibration from its impact was conducted straight through her arm, and she struggled to keep a tight grip on the sword and not let it fall to the ground.
The beast turned its head to its right so that its good eye gazed upon Olivia, and she knew that it recognized her. It tried to bite her with its powerful jaws, and she jumped back just in time. Several of the soldiers had regrouped after the initial scattering and were trying to flank the creature and hit it with their halberds and swords.
Another arrow hit the beast in the side and ricocheted away, skittering amidst the cobblestone-paved streets. Felix was hard at work still.
The creature bellowed and lashed out with both claw and tail at a group of soldiers on its left, where it could see them and feel their blades and sharp, steel-tipped weapons. Two soldiers were knocked down, and he clawed at a third in a desperate attempt to break free of the ring of humans.
Olivia struck one more time, glancing off the beast’s wing, which had come forward for leverage, when she noticed more of the undead coming from all sides. “Commander, look to your rear!” she shouted.
The Black Dragon: A Claire-Agon Dragon Book (Dragon Series 1) Page 16
