With nothing but a thought, as no one around him would notice the change, Seth magically smoothed and then carved into the tip of his thumb a small channel that represented the rune he wished, only backwards. Then lifting the first of the insignia medallions he had just transformed, he pinched it between his thumb and forefinger lightly before filling the small void created by the channel in his thumb with magical power and whispering, “Seth, save me”. Just as he had hoped, the symbol was stamped upon the coin perfectly. It was a simple rune. One he had seen upon an enchanted hammer he had studied in the hidden room within Ishanya’s temple, what felt like a lifetime ago. Testing the rune at that time, it appeared to do nothing. Now Seth knew different. The reason it had not worked with the relic, was because the symbol had been bound to something that no longer existed.
One by one Seth picked up the small insignias, and one by one he imbued them before handing them out to his new soldiers a dozen or so at a time. Then, having received their insignias, they were guided to Jonas to be taught how to invoke the medallions.
* * * * *
Jonas had been given fairly specific instructions, but something told him that Seth’s wink when giving the instructions meant that he wanted something different than he said. Of course, logic said, do exactly as Seth told you, and his head said, do what you think is right. For Jonas, with a heart that was largely feral, the contradiction was simple to work out. So instead of using the word Ishanya, who as far as his wolf mind was concerned was a ghost, he replaced it with Seth, who he knew to be true and real. Therefore, when the first group of rodent kids arrived with their shiny new medallions he told them almost exactly what Seth had wanted.
“This is very important,” Jonas explained in a half growl. “Your medallions are only to be used if you are in dire need, if you are injured, surrounded, or if Prince Seth calls for you to regroup or retreat. When that time comes, if you have no other option, reach up and clasp your pendant and repeat… Not now you fools… If you are about to be killed… Clasp your pendant and say Seth, save me’, and you will be saved.”
Jonas looked over to be sure Seth was preoccupied with the next bunch of rat troops.
“Keep in mind, folks, they will only work if you truly accept Prince Seth as the one true god.” He added the last part to them in a near whisper.
Jonas could almost swear that Seth had cocked his head slightly as if to listen, and when his master turned to point the next group over to Jonas he had a crooked grin on his face. All the giant, mottle-colored werewolf could do was accept that as his master’s approval, and repeat the message over and over and over again until the last of the new troops were prepared.
* * * * *
Finished with his new troops, Seth took up the remaining necklaces and imbued each one before shoving nearly twenty of them in a pouch upon his belt for safe keeping. Then kneeling upon the ground, he pulled a thread of power from his own aura and carefully constructed a rune upon the cobbles of the road. Ahead of him the great western gate of the city stood, and beginning in just a few hours the healers would inhabit the tents that stood to either side of the gate.
It was a slow process, drawing runes this way, but even so, Seth took his time to complete it. This rune was vastly more complex, not something he would dare to mass produce as he had just done. After nearly an hour of constant focus he bound the rune to the road, and rising he released a torrent of power into the rune to be sure it lasted and served its purpose.
Nearly finished, Seth reached out with his power, both atop the western wall and even here within his own pouch and located each of the thousands of runes he had created this night. With a single thought, he fused them all with enough power to perform at least three times. Satisfied, he turned away from the invisible rune upon the ground as his tendrils of power recoiled. It was at that very moment that Seth, overcome, collapsed to his knees, his head tilting upwards to the heavens as tears began to flow from his eyes unchecked.
* * * * *
Garret strode down the street, a mass of knotted muscles. His talk with Seth had not gone as he had intended, making him wonder how he really was feeling about his sibling. He had had no intentions of coming off so angry, but what was said was not untrue. Seth’s actions had cost everyone. Even so, Garret did not leave the conflict feeling good about what had transpired and so had left seeking some solace to sit and think for a while.
Rounding the corner of the castle complex, Garret eyed his destination with awe. The building itself was inspiring, but the feeling he felt within it could not be matched. Entering the temple devoted to Gorandor, Garret quickly found himself a pew after several nods from other attendees.
Even with so many people within the building, he could feel alone here with both his thoughts and his god. It was a soothing feeling. One that he thoroughly enjoyed for several minutes before eventually his mind began to spin, throwing thoughts and ideas at him, apparently deciding that this particular time would not best be spent just sitting idly.
He could not help but think about all the things he had been trying to shove from his mind. He had lost more than anyone should have to bear in a very short time. First the king he served had been taken, and his friend and mentor Sirus too. Seth had killed them. Sure it was an accident, but nonetheless they might have survived if not for Seth. For a while he even believed that Seth and Sara had died, also Seth’s doing, but it had turned out that they were okay. At least for the most part. Both had returned to Valdadore changed, and neither of them for the better. In the time they were gone he had lost his freedom, having been nearly shoved into the position as king. Sure, there were many that wanted the title, but alas it was given up to Garret to shoulder the strife that came with a kingdom apparently condemned to ceaseless war. He lost his father and Jack, and even Rose died, and to this day Garret did not know how, he only knew that she was unaccounted for. All three of them likely died because of Seth. Dad and Jack for certain. As if that were not enough, Seth was killed. Again. And Garret had lost everyone he had loved. Sure, Seth came back, but not really. Seth had been gone a while. This Seth was not the man Garret had grown up with. That much was certain.
Garret could bear no more loss. At least he had managed to save Linaya and Zorbin from a death at Seth’s hands. Falling from the pew to his knees, Garret pressed his head to the floor.
“Mighty Gorandor, protect me and guide me to do what is righteous. Lift me up as I choose the honorable path in a world where dishonor rules. Help me to save that which I love, so that I may bring more love to your cause.”
With those words, the king of Valdadore rose, and turning upon his heel he strode from the temple back into the streets. Morning had come. With enough light to finally see what might have transpired throughout the night, Garret turned to head back to the western wall so that he might look upon his enemy and learn something of use about him.
* * * * *
Borrik raced along the air currents, his great wings flapping to propel him ahead as fast as he could manage. Even so, he was having trouble keeping up with the princess below. Though he could not track her progress perfectly, even in the darkness moonlight glinted off her black armor and when she leapt an obstacle, sometimes he could hear her return to running. As it was, she was ahead of him and the distance between them was growing.
They had traveled most of the night like this, after Sara had explained what had happened to him in the forest, and then took a moment to tell the tree people that she was leaving. It was odd, Borrik thought, that Sara would bother with telling them. Then again, he supposed if they had not freed her from her original captors then perhaps she would not now be on her way home. He supposed, by some small measure, she felt indebted to them.
Now, however, they were well on their way. In fact, Borrik could already begin to smell the battlefield where just days ago his master had fallen, and then risen again from the dead. Presently he wished that everyone else had risen as well, for the air he was forced to breathe smelle
d of death and decay.
Just an hour later they were crossing the frozen lake, or at least what remained of it. By now the water level had dropped so much, draining into the great chasm Seth had made, that the ice had begun to crack without the support beneath it. Great sheets had fallen or overturned and below, Sara was forced to leap great holes in the ice and natural walls of the frozen water. The obstacles barely slowed her, but at least Borrik was catching back up.
At this rate they would be at the city wall in just two hours. Borrik was happy for it too. Leaving Seth alone did not appeal to the giant of a mutated wolf man. He had left his master unguarded just days ago and had not been there to protect the prince when he needed protecting. Something, he assured himself, that would not happen again.
Looking below, Sara stood out against the ice and snow that coated the remnants of the lake. Now she was directly below him and as they reached the eastern shore of the would-be lake, Borrik flew lower as to not attract unwanted attention.
* * * * *
Sara leapt over chasms in the ice, one after another, bounding higher than any person was meant to do. It was ridiculous, really. Preparing to leap a great sheet of ice that had turned up creating a barrier, she thought better of it and instead of clearing the sheet of ice she leapt to the top of the makeshift wall and then leapt again. High up into the air she flew, feeling freer than she could ever recall. With a rush of wind she plummeted down at gut-wrenching speeds, only to land lithely upon the ice without missing so much as a step.
Making the shoreline, she was careful of every foot fall. Here arrows, spears, and every other type of blade she could imagine had been abandoned and now lay hidden beneath a thin coating of snow. Though she doubted she could be killed by stepping upon the blade of a sword, she did fear it might slow her down, at least temporarily. That wouldn’t be a problem if she and Borrik weren’t racing. Of course, then again, the flying wolf man had yet to be let in on the competition.
Running nearly a third of a mile a minute, it was not long before the tops of the great white towers of Valdadore became visible, its walls stretching for miles and miles across the horizon.
Defying the possible, Sara pumped her legs even harder, knowing her husband was again in reach. For a moment Borrik swooped down out of the sky behind her, warning her of Sigrant’s camp ahead before rising again to a safe altitude. Veering left she continued running, aiming for the north corner of the city.
Onward she ran, forcing herself to move faster and faster, feeling herself growing yet stronger by the minute as Sigrant and his troops fed upon their countrymen. Still accelerating incrementally, she watched as the city grew at a steady rate before her. Leaping a small tree, rather than go around, she could see the base of the city’s walls before she again touched down to the ground. Almost there! Faster still she urged her legs, stretching out her strides as far as she was able.
Two miles…
She sprinted on, growing closer and closer before suddenly changing direction. Upon the air the scent of his blood. She had tasted it before, what now felt like a lifetime ago. Now that her senses were keener she focused in his direction and could hear his heart.
Pumping her legs she angled towards the great door upon the west wall that looked like a giant maw of a stone beast. Then, with one great leap she rocketed into the air and invoked the magical boots her husband had gave her.
“Jump!”
Up she went. Up and over. Then down she fell, those defenders on the wall craning their necks around, completely overwhelmed. Falling felt like forever, but finally she struck the ground, landing in a crouched position with one knee low to the ground, her fingertips resting on the cobbles. Before her stood the most powerful man upon Thurr, and rising, she leapt into his arms, tears streaming from her eyes.
* * * * *
Seth watched her aura come. Though her life force was bloated to be near equal to his own, he recognized her, as he would always recognize her, as the only woman he would ever love.
Towards him she raced, moving faster than any human he had witnessed. He wondered if she intended to plow through the great defensive wall surrounding the city, or climb it like their last adversaries had done. Then he heard her voice, and realized her intention.
Without so much as wiping the tears from his face, he rose to his feet just as she struck the ground before him. Looking up to him, she immediately burst into tears. Spreading his wings, he pulled her into his arms and wrapped them both in a cocoon of his own flesh.
Together, wrapped within his wings, they spent many intimate moments, their lips and bodies locked together as if they were one. Seth needed her, and though he had sworn to keep emotion out of his daily life, he realized now that for her he would make an exception.
Though she was likely one of the most powerful women on the planet, she trembled in his arms, sobs wracking her body for many long moments. After the initial realization that she was returned to him, Seth calmed quickly. Realizing that they needed to catch up so that Sara could join him in the preparations for a battle he believed would come this very night. Time was of the essence and as much as he wanted to, he could not simply stand in the street all day holding her small body against his own.
“I want to hear all about what happened to you,” Seth whispered to the top of her helmet.
“You have some explaining to do as well,” Sara replied, taking on a mock stern tone.
“I’m glad to have you back,” Seth whispered.
“I love you too,” she replied.
Unwrapping his wings from their bodies, he led her back down the alley he had come from earlier, and rounding the corner Borrik plunged to the ground to join them. Pulling the door open to the building where he had changed all of the children into soldiers, Seth allowed his companions to enter. Jonas, already inside and waiting, bowed low to Sara, welcoming her home.
Pulling up cages that the rats had been stored in for makeshift seats, each of the four companions sat. They looked around the circle of familiar faces and each of them grinned.
“It’s an odd group we make, isn’t it?” Sara asked to three responded nods.
“I’m afraid we don’t have a lot of time,” Seth began. “Perhaps you should start, Sara. What happened to you from the time I was struck until now?”
Sara appeared to think for a moment, her lower lip quivering slightly as she recalled some detail, but steeling herself she began to speak.
“I panicked. I think everyone did. No one knew if you were dead, or if you would heal. Borrik pulled you from the bolt, and you were gone. I tried to save you. I bit you, but nothing happened…”
“Wait…” Seth interrupted. “You bit me?”
“Yes? Why?” Sara asked
“Just… No. Keep telling your story.”
“Well, then, the next thing I know some guy grabs me and everything goes to spinning. All of a sudden, wham, we’re in a new spot and then he teleports us again and again. Then, some big creature bangs me around like a doll and tosses me in a cage. I was broken to bits, but I was healing. After that, King Sigrant came to my cage. He offered me his arm and I took it, thinking to drain him dry, but then the teleporter reappeared and hacked off his arm. He used me, Seth. He used me to take the gift you gave me. He figured out how to use me as a weapon against you and I’m so sorry.”
“It’s OK, Sara, this isn’t your fault. But keep going, I want to hear everything.”
“Well, then I was hauled away on an ox cart across the lake. When I got to the other side I got a new driver, and big black stallions were swapped out for the oxen. They raced me past Westgate and into Sigrant’s lands but then something really weird happened.”
Seth watched as Sara stopped and looked around to make sure everyone was paying attention. Borrik of course knew the most about what Sara was saying, but even so he listened intently.
“As we raced down a path through the forest, we were attacked by the trees. I could never believe it if I hadn’t been there
, but Borrik can tell you that they are very much a real thing. It seems that Shadra forest is protected by these huge tree people that can uproot and walk around. They can talk and everything! Anyways, we get attacked and all of us, me, the driver, and the horses get crushed pretty bad. But the tree people pick us all up and haul us through the forest to Shadra keep. There isn’t much left of it, but when I heal up, the trees all gathered at the keep and they talked to me.”
Seth found the whole story enthralling. Of course he believed her, not just because he loved her, but because at this point he was convinced that absolutely anything was possible.
“So what did they say?” he asked.
“They said that all life is precious,” answered Sara.
“That’s it?”
“They said that to end a life is wrong, and every life we touch, we change that life’s destiny and fate. They showed me the monster I have become, and made me realize what I was doing not only to the people I hurt, but also people in general. It may already be too late, but they freed me and gave me the chance to come back and put right what wrongs I have done. They told me what you have been saying all along. That all life is meant to serve life, not destroy it.”
“So then, I might have allies in these tree people?” Seth asked anxiously.
“I doubt they want to get involved. They called me the Plague Bringer, and you The Abomination. I think you have the same beliefs, but different tactics,” she grinned.
“Then what?” Seth continued his questioning.
“Then Borrik showed up, a little worse for wear, but they let him live too. At first I didn’t believe him when he said you had come back. I wanted to, but I couldn’t bear the disappointment if he was wrong. But of course he convinced me and we came back as fast as we could.”
Age of the Gods: The Complete, twelve novel, fantasy series (The Blood and Brotherhood Saga) Page 131
