by Thomas Rath
* * *
Jne, Tam and Soyak raced through the doorway out into an open courtyard high in the upper reaches of the castle. A fountain claimed the center of the area, dried and in disrepair as was most of the keep that had been abandoned many years before and had only kept a skeleton staff to maintain it. The garden that must have at once been a beautiful retreat was grown over with weeds that were quickly turning brown in the early summer heat. The dark sky cast long shadows that were suddenly exploded in rapid bursts of light thrown off by Thane’s lightning attack on Zadok’s army.
Caught by the fierce wonder of the scene, their attention was stolen away for a brief moment as they watched the whole valley light up in the powerful blasts of the electric storm followed by the drums of thunder that broke across the sky reverberating off the castles giant rock. Almost too late, Soyak turned to meet the onrushing gang of goblins newly planted on the courtyard’s far side by a large, black dragon. Meeting the first with the blunt end of her fist, she cried out to the others as her swords suddenly appeared in her hands and she jumped forward with a look of rapture as she met the enemy that far outnumbered them.
Tam joined the fight as well, swinging her two swords as best as she was able, meeting the enemy with a ferocity that fit well with her Tjal clothing.
Jne drew her swords in a flash, dispatching two overanxious goblins as they practically ran themselves through on the ends of her blades but then she hesitated, her eyes latching on the great dragon that eyed her evilly with its bright, blue eyes as if singling her out among the others. Suddenly, to her utter shock, the great leviathan began to diminish, reducing itself in size as its wings tucked back and then spread out, becoming garments that fit snuggly around what was now a dark haired Tjal woman.
Jne gasped, her recognition instant as the dragon-turned-woman strode easily toward her, two swords suddenly growing out of her black gloved hands. “Sireen!” she breathed as the woman came to stand in front of her, the goblins that had pressed about her, shying quickly away and turning their fight on Soyak and Tam. “How is this possible, my sister?”
Sireen laughed. “How is it possible that I am so much more than you? How is it possible that power flows through me like blood while you wallow in dishonor and weakness?”
Jne’s eyes narrowed. “I am no longer Jinghar,” she hissed. “I have reclaimed my place among the Tja.”
“Ha!” Sireen sneered. “You have no Tja.”
Jne felt as if someone had punched her in the stomach with a hammer. She remembered the search she had made for her Tja when they were threatened at Haykon, the memory of it coming back now in sickening detail with the revelation of what had happened. “It was you!” she breathed, still trying to understand; still trying to grasp at the strands of reality. “But why? How?”
Sireen laughed. “I think you can answer the how on your own. Though you are pitiful and weak, you at least can still conjure a logical outcome in your mind I would hope. As to why, well, let’s just say I serve a higher power now,” she spat.
Jne felt the rage building inside of her as it became clear what her sister had done. No, not her sister but something foul, unnatural and evil conjured by Zadok in his demented mind and using his twisted magic. “You are no Tjal,” she said, the venom dripping from her voice. “I denounce you as one without honor. You are less than the dog that feeds on its own bile!”
Sireen threw back her head and bark out a laugh. “Possibly so, my dear little sister, but the bile on which I will feed today will be you!” She finished her last words like an oath as her swords shot out meeting Jne’s in a loud ring as the two sisters became locked in battle.
Their swords became a blur of metal meeting metal as each wove a tapestry of death about her opponent with such skill as to have invited applause from any who might have watched. If death were not the ultimate outcome, it could have been labeled as a beautiful dance as their bodies moved with the motion of their weapons, cutting in and moving out while twisting and gyrating to an unspoken melody.
Tam pulled her sword out of the goblins neck letting it fall to the ground as she turned her attention back to Jne. She’d seen the dragon turn into the Tjal woman that now swung her swords with deadly precision at her friend and was anxious to be free of the fighting so she could take aim with her bow, but there were still too many goblins and only she and Soyak to deal with them. The old Tjal woman laughed as she met another goblin swinging its club for her head. A quick duck and then twist and both her blades pulled across the unlucky creature’s center spilling its intestines onto the ground. The bodies seemed to pile up around her, as more and more goblins appeared, joining in the melee that was quickly becoming too large for even someone of her skill to outlast.
Tam ducked instinctively as the club whooshed past her head drawing her attention away again as she was forced to deal with yet another enemy. Twisting around to the side, she dropped one of her swords, drawing the goblin’s attention away as she reached out and ripped the air from its body. A small boom accompanied the rush of wind that pressed her hand away as her enemy dropped onto the stony ground. Retrieving her sword, she threw herself back into the fray determined to eliminate her threats so she could take down Jne’s dragon.
Jne threw back her head barely escaping a scissor cut that would have decapitated her and then threw up her swords to block Sireen’s follow through as she sliced for Jne’s midsection with her left while coming down with an overhand swing with her right. Jne was frustrated that she’d received multiple cuts while not yet having landed a single hit on her sister. She was not fatigued in the least, but her sister seemed just a fraction quicker to the point that she was starting to feel that maybe she was the rodent in a cat’s cruel game. The pieces of what must have happened to her sister were forming in Jne’s mind as her body seemed to move on its own as it deflected the constant attacks leaving her no chance to mount an offensive.
Her sister must have been taken by Zadok and then twisted to his will and changed in some unnatural way to create the creature that had turned on her people. Had she not been blood sworn to Thane, she too would have met the awful death that had been dealt out to her Tja by Sireen’s…no, not Sireen’s but the dragon’s decimating breath. It made her sick to think of her friends and family cut down in such a cowardly fashion as was the lethal breath created by one she’d once loved and admired.
Jumping back she took another cut to her midsection though, like the many others, it was nothing more than a scratch. Crossing her blades in a defensive move designed to push her opponent’s swords down Jne pressed in whipping her head forward and connecting with Sireen’s sending the woman back. A trickle of blood formed and then dripped from the woman’s eyebrow where Jne hit her, bringing at first a look of surprise and then one of condescending laughter.
“Well done, little one,” Sireen mocked. “Finally you draw blood, though apparently your skill is more suited to your head than your swords.”
Jne didn’t answer but instead let her blades speak for her as she rushed forward throwing herself with abandon into the battle. Sireen met her rage with cool calculation, scoring multiple hits but this time sustaining some as well. She paid them no mind though knowing that when she returned to her natural dragon form that her powers of quick healing would turn them to distant memories. Blocking a wild swing she easily flicked it away and then brought her sword back down, slicing deeply into Jne’s left arm rendering it useless.
Disengaging from the battle, Jne stared with wonder at her arm and then looked back at Sireen who merely smiled, dropping one of her swords in a show of dishonor to make the fight “fair” once again. Such an action was the lowest form of humiliation that a Tjal-Dihn could show to another. Fueling her body with her rage, Jne pressed in again sweeping her sword around, desperately trying to break through Sireen’s defenses and score a deadly hit while blood rushed down her injured arm, dripping great drops to the ground. She screamed in anger and pain as Sireen’s blade cut ac
ross her chest opening a large gash that quickly soaked her shirt with red.
Jne’s breath came in short gasps now as her loss of blood was making her light headed and weak. The excruciating pain that throbbed from her arm and now across her chest was the only thing the seemed to be keeping her mind alert as she stared back at Sireen who maintained a look of boredom as she motioned with her hand for Jne to come and meet her doom. Raising her sword, Jne feinted right and then crossed left and down aiming for Sireen’s middle.
Tam pushed the goblin off of her blade just as a loud scream rang out drawing her attention to the Tjal woman who crumpled to the ground, a sword sticking out of her chest. Tam stifled a cry as she dropped her swords and reached for her bow, quickly fitting an arrow and letting it loose on the enemy that was in the process of retrieving its blade with a sickening thwack. The goblin turned just as Tam’s arrow reached it and embedded itself deep within its chest, knocking it to the ground.
Soyak was dead; of that she was certain. Tam scanned the courtyard but was only greeted by dead bodies. No more goblins pressed in on her. No more enemies growled with bloodlust or swung their clubs in an attempt to crush her skull. She felt slightly light headed and sick from the awful smell that accompanied death with all of its horrors. Remembering her main objective, she reached for the heart arrow and turned back to where Jne still fought the dragon woman but was suddenly frozen in dread as she watched her press her blade deep into Jne’s chest.
Jne crumpled to her knees, her sword falling from her hand with a clank as it hit the stone covered yard. Sireen bent down and sneered at her as she mercilessly drew back her sword in a slow, agonizing motion that brought tears to Jne’s eyes. A woman screamed across the courtyard and Sireen rose seeing the arrow drawn back and aimed at her. But she didn’t try to move away or duck down. With a knowing smile, Sireen pushed Jne over with her foot and released her hold on her Tjal form allowing her body to change back into its natural shape just as Tam released the arrow.
Throwing out her chest, Sireen offered herself to the puny woman’s weapon knowing that nothing could penetrate her thickly scaled hide. The shock registered in her mind for a brief moment when she was pitched back by the arrow’s impact. Death rushed in to cradle her fall as the heart arrow, true to its name, shattered through her chest and ribcage severing her heart as it exited out her back.
Tam dropped her bow, the tears already pouring down her face as she tripped over the scattered dead trying to reach Jne who had flopped over, onto the hard ground. Lifting the Tjal woman’s head onto her lap, she surveyed the damage that marred her body with the wicked results of razor steel meeting soft flesh.
Jne’s eyes fluttered and she groaned in pain as Tam hurriedly went about tying off as best she could, the gash on her arm and then moving to stem the flow of blood pumping from the gaping wound in her chest. “Oh, Jne,” she cried. “What am I to do? I am so sorry. I was too late. I couldn’t get a shot in time.”
Jne smiled up at her, pressing away as best she could the pain that clung to her face. “You honor me,” she wheezed. “Hold no shame in your heart, for these are the payments of war.”
“No,” Tam balled. “You are not going to die. I will find Thane. He can fix this. He will come and he will make you whole again. You have to hold on,” she continued to cry while she pressed on Jne’s chest trying unsuccessfully to keep the blood from coming out. “You have to stay and marry Thane.”
Looking up, Tam willed her spirit away, grasping the tiniest flow of air as it gently caressed her weeping face.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Thane watched as the dragon’s head suddenly rose up past the railing. His bow was already pulled back, ready to fire as the dragon’s massive body ascended, pumped by its great wings and lifting it onto the large balcony. It roared out a challenge, unconcerned with the arrow that Thane aimed at it. It rested its great mass on the parapet, tucking its leathery wings up against its body and then lowered its slender neck allowing a small, thin figure to slide off. Thane eyed Zadok with distaste, his arrow tracking his movements as the wicked sorcerer casually strolled over toward him.
“Now, now, now,” Zadok said with the same warm tone he’d used on Thane the first time they’d met. “Is that any way to greet an old friend? Let’s not be rude about this.”
“This is not for you,” Thane said, a cold chill in his voice.
Zadok looked somewhat surprised and then glanced back at his dragon before turning an amused look at Thane. “Surely you don’t pretend to be able to shoot my friend here with your puny little arrow. Have you not witnessed the hardness of his hide that makes him practically invincible to any weapon?”
“If you are so confident,” Thane offered, “then why don’t you step aside and see whose weapon is of greater strength?”
The dragon hissed at him, but stood firm, all too confident about the armor that surround his body like a shield.
“Come now,” Zadok said, his arms spread in a gesture of friendship. “Let us not squabble over such petty things when there are negotiations to be had.” Zadok turned his head toward the dragon. As if on cue, it reared back and released a blast of scorching steam straight at Thane.
In an instant it engulfed him and would have left his skin cooked and peeling from the bone save for the fact that Thane had been prepared. As the dragon’s breath receded, Thane released the pocket of air he’d gathered around him like an impenetrable bubble, his arrow still aimed at the dragon’s heart.
“Well done,” Zadok clapped. “I see that you have learned a few things since last we met, though I have to say that your earthen beasts are tiresome.”
Thane didn’t answer him.
“Now honestly,” Zadok pressed, “why don’t you put down the bow? I’m sure your arm must be getting fatigued with strain by now.”
“That’s a fine idea,” Thane said evenly and released the arrow into the air right on target for the dragon’s heart.
Zadok didn’t move. His face was in the slow process of changing to a look of I-told-you-so when the arrow penetrated the dragon’s thick, scaly shell. Its cry of pain and surprise was cut short as it toppled over, its head dropping mere feet from where Zadok stood causing the wizard to jump away in surprise.
Zadok stared down at the dragon, his face becoming a mixture of anger and shock at Thane’s ability to kill one of his pets. “But how is it so?” he asked dumbfounded. “The trees no longer exist.”
“Wrong,” Thane said glaring at the man who had brought so much death and pain to his world. “Even your repulsive evil cannot completely destroy something as pure as the YeiyeiloBaneesh.”
“You lie!” Zadok suddenly raged. “I wiped them all away a millennium past. None remain.”
“If that is so,” Thane taunted, “then why does your grand pet lie dead at your feet?”
“You will pay dearly!” Zadok screamed. “I will rip the filthy TanIs from your ankle just as I did to Gelfin so long ago. You have not known pain and anguish like that that I will visit upon you!”
“You are a child,” Thane countered with a calm but lethal voice. “Your heart is darkness and your mind is clouded by your hate that will bring you nothing but ruin.”
“No,” Zadok hissed dangerously. “It will bring you to ruin.” His hand’s shot forward with incredible speed that contradicted his aged body as black light flashed from his fingers and shot out toward Thane.
Having thrown his senses into the native surroundings Thane could feel the pulse of the five Tane beating through his veins, drawing its energy from the natural world and lending it to him. Each of the Tane were at his fingertips to call forth and use as he willed to attack or protect. His mind and body seemed to act as one without being encumbered or slowed by thought. He didn’t have to contemplate how to defend himself. He merely reacted as if his Tane were working on reflex.
Suddenly his swords appeared in his hands as he tore them from the scabbards at his back while the powers of the ear
th flowed up through his legs and out along the blades hardening the steel as he cut through Zadok’s lightning as if it were water. Again and again, Zadok shot the dark light at him thinking to tire his foe or catch him in an error, but Thane continue to maneuver his weapons with confidence and ease.
“So you enjoy lightning?” Thane chided, as an onyx black cloud suddenly formed over his head rumbling in rage as bolts of lightning shot out at Zadok who was now placed on the defensive. Bolt after bolt shattered the air in an angry buzz as Zadok fought them away with his dark magic deflecting them past him or ricocheting them back at Thane where they simply disappeared.
Long moments passed as each attacked, defended and retaliated but without either of them scoring a hit on their opponent. Thane was quickly realizing that the natural power of his Tane and the unnatural nature of Zadok’s magic acted as counter measures that seemed to cancel each other out. And though he was unwilling to test his theory, he was fairly certain that while he held onto the Tane that if one of Zadok’s magical attacks should touch him that it would simply wink out of existence leaving him unharmed.
Thane felt like lightning himself, his limbs overcharged with the pulsing power of his Tane witch seemed to grow in strength each demanding his full attention with promises of victory. He was beginning to feel that at any moment they might explode from his skin scattering him to the four directions in invisible particles of dust never to be rejoined again as the entity Thane. It was excruciating while at the same moment euphoric as he continued to battle against Zadok and his vile magic.
Reaching out his hand he called forth fire and shot it from his fingertips in streams of molten death that merely collided with magic liquid that felt greasy against his hand leaving him feeling sick from its touch. Zadok retaliated by raising and then rifling missiles of rock which Thane called apart into dust fragments that exploded past him before being allowed to regroup again where they fell harmlessly at his back.
