by Jeff Gunzel
The king waved to the crowd, then took a seat as the speaker whirled into his thrilling intro. His deep voice boomed with excitement, riling the audience even further. It was no coincidence that every other sentence hinted at the promise of blood.
“We are completely outnumbered,” Liam continued, struggling to speak over the roar of the crowd. I told you we will free her, but we cannot do anything today.”
“We tried it your way, old man,” Xavier said, his voice soft yet sharp as a razor. “And where has it gotten her?” Liam opened his mouth to protest, but could say nothing. Xavier was absolutely right. “I’m not telling you my intention in hopes that you’ll help me. I know there is almost no chance of success. But consider my words a warning. It’s fine if you don’t want to help our friend, but just stay out of the way of those who do. Try to stop me, and I’ll consider you a threat.”
“Xavier, please,” Liam pleaded. “You’re not thinking straight.”
“My mind hasn’t been this clear in a very long time. You’ve been warned.” Xavier turned his attention back to the king’s booth, his cold eyes seemingly fixed on a possible target. Liam sighed and turned away. The boy’s mind was made up. What more could he do?
After a final word from the speaker, there came a clacking sound as the gate just below them began to rise. The crowd roared as the ground vibrated beneath their feet. Finally, they were going to see this girl—this creature—for the first time with their own eyes. Could she possibly live up to the rumors circulating around the city? It was time to find out.
“Viola,” Xavier whispered to himself, seeing her walk out onto the sand. The last time he saw her, she was trapped in a cage and wheeled through the city for all to stare at. She had been forced to do the unthinkable because of his stupidity, attacking him openly in order to draw suspicion away from their true relationship. Did all that happen only yesterday? A lifetime ago? It was hard to tell anymore.
She was accompanied by three humans, all wearing the same white tunic as she. Two males with long swords, one female with two bands of daggers strapped across her chest, they all looked frightened yet determined. Xavier could only imagine the hell they must be going through.
Viola looked up, her eyes scanning the thousands of faces gazing down at them. Expressions ranged from laughter, to excitement, to what could only be described as outright hostility towards her. But none of that mattered. Thousands of faces, and whether by instinct or just dumb luck, her eyes locked onto Xavier standing above her. For a fleeting moment, all the sound disappeared. The cheers, taunts, and thundering chants vaporized into nothing. He was the only thing in the world.
She watched his lips move in slow motion, still able to easily make out his words in the absence of sound. I promise I will save you.
With a deep sadness in her eyes, she slowly shook her head at him. You can’t, she thought. Not this time.
Her attention suddenly drawn away, a second gate began to rise across the pit. The already cheering crowd erupted, their collective roar sounding like the rushing wind of a tornado. From the shadows two long green legs appeared, each bristling with grass-like hair. Into the light stepped the massive insect, its bulging black eyes each searching independently for its next meal. The chikothba looked very much like a giant mantis save for its yellow front pinchers, large and shaped more like a crab’s. Its long, scorpion-like tail raised high above its head uncoiled to reveal a hooked needle glistening with drips of clear liquid.
Its airy hiss filled the air, steam wafting out from three tiny nostrils sitting high on a triangle-shaped head. Snapping pinchers cracked open and closed with such force, it seemed likely they could crush stone. Folks standing in the area above it looked down in awe, hardly believing their own eyes. Where had they acquired a chikothba, and was it even safe to liberate such a beast in a place like this? Surely it could scale these coarse walls if it chose to.
Milo smiled as he watched the three humans kneel in front of Viola, ready to sacrifice themselves in order to guard their leader. They were playing their roles perfectly without even realizing it. Being no match for the chikothba, they would most certainly fall in a matter of moments. As soon as Viola was forced to engage the creature, he would send in his soldiers to slay the beast. As long as she displayed at least “some” of her abilities before being saved, that would be enough. Sure, the crowd might be somewhat disappointed, but leaving her out there alone too long simply wasn’t worth the risk. They wanted blood, they would get blood. Good enough for a free show.
The giant insect’s free-floating eyes fixed on the group, one a few seconds before the other. A forked tongue slipped out from its beak-like mouth, swiping back one of the two antennae on top of its head. Four probing feelers twitched excitedly around the corners of its mouth. It was time to feed. It sprang like a grasshopper, transparent wings buzzing loudly on its back. It couldn’t actually fly, but the small wings aided in keeping it airborne for a few extra seconds. It landed then began rumbling towards them, awkward and clumsy like the gangling creature it was.
“Form up!” Viola shouted, tossing her weapon into the sand. She didn’t need it. She was a weapon. The group jumped up off their knees and spread away from her, Salina bolting to the right while the men streaked left. Viola stayed put, measuring, gauging, absorbing the battle as it unfolded before her.
“What are they doing?” the king growled, snatching Ozryn by the collar. They were executing some sort of tactic here, and Milo didn’t like what he saw. That wasn’t supposed to happen. They were supposed to fight for their lives individually like the cornered animals they were, then die one at a time. Simple.
“I-I don’t know,” Ozryn stuttered, unable to explain this sudden display of organization. “Whatever they’re doing, it’s nothing I showed them.” Milo shoved him back with a growl and returned his attention to the show.
Nald hooked back towards the middle, racing straight towards the beast while the other two continued to flank from each side. “Hold!” Viola shouted from behind. “Stance one!” Nald pulled up right in front of the beast, sword raised high above his head. Had he gone any further he would have run right between its legs.
Mouth clicking wildly, the creature’s claw came down like a heavy club. To Nald’s eyes the blow came slowly, a wild swing from an untrained fighter. Disciplined, patient, Nald held his ground, remembering what Viola had taught him about using his range. At the last second, he deflected the blow, sidestepping as he countered. Steel flashed. The insect shrieked as a deep gash formed across the inside of its claw. Thick green ooze bubbled up from the wound, too thick to drip or run.
The giant insect reared up like a horse, determined to smash Nald with its clawed feet. But its legs twitched in midair, body jolting as two daggers zipped into its side. It came back down, legs buckling before it spun to face this new threat. Salina snapped her wrist two more times, one dagger sailing past its head, the other striking its chest. Enraged, it stumbled towards her, its scorpion-like tail rising.
With incredible range, the tail lashed out like a snake. Salina dove to the side as the barb snapped into the wall behind her, cracking the stone in the shape of a spiderweb. When it recoiled, the hole in the wall smoked and bubbled, an acrid scent wafting up. All along the sand were steaming spots where the liquid had dripped, fusing the sand like hot metal.
“Attack one, evade!” Viola called out. Kalmton rushed in from behind, swinging with all this considerable strength. His blade came down, sweeping right through the beast’s back leg with a snapping crunch. Ooze belched from the severed limb, thick globs plopping onto the sand. The insect stumbled sideways on its remaining legs, disoriented from the accumulation of damage. Kalmton was tempted to rush it a second time, but Viola’s command had been specific. Strike once and evade. He trusted her, and it was a good thing too. Just as he leaped back, the acid-covered stinger snapped down where he had just been standing. He never even saw it coming.
With the beast reeling, it was
time to converge their efforts. “Evade, stance four, distract,” Viola yelled, pointing to each as she signaled three separate orders. Kalmton backed away completely as Nald dropped down to one knee. Salina’s hand began to flash, unloading as many daggers as she could in the shortest amount of time. Peppering the beast with dagger throws, she managed to draw its full attention. Stumbling towards Salina in a blind rage, it never even saw Viola.
The mesmerized crowd gasped, watching this famed creature get involved for the first time. Her speed was inhuman, white hair waving like torch flames as her feet ripped through the sand. Approaching a kneeling Nald, she launched herself off his shoulder and soared through the air like a bird. Twisting in midair, her body exploded into a funnel of liquid black. The crowd held their breath, time creeping like melting ice.
The whirling funnel drifted across the beast’s body, cawing black birds shredding and tearing at its leathery flesh. The living tornado buzzed across its face and neck, exposing white bone like a pack of ants devouring a carcass. The funnel drifted back down, liquid black reshaping into humanoid form just below the beast. Viola’s arms snapped up, flesh blades impaling the insect’s body, penetrating up through its back. Dead instantly, its lifeless carcass toppled over into the sand. Her arms retracted, melting back together. It was over. Their victory was complete and not a single human had fallen.
Enraged, Milo rose from his seat as the crowd cheered and whistled. In a sense, he had gotten exactly what he wanted. His pet had won the day in grand fashion, showing off her special skills in the process. The crowd had loved it, and would no doubt spread word of what they had witnessed. But that wasn’t enough for the king. Defiance would never be tolerated, regardless of the circumstances. Those humans were supposed to die. Viola knew the king’s wishes, yet went out of her way to save them anyway. Such bold insolence could not be so easily overlooked.
Clapping methodically along with the crowd, the king turned towards Diovok, who as always was looming behind him. “She did not follow my instructions,” he said, the low threat in his voice not matching his pleasant smile as he clapped. “She must be taught a lesson.” With a nod, the masked giant stepped forward and waved his hand.
“We did it!” Salina said, raising Viola’s hand in the air. Soaking up the cheers as they rained down, Viola turned to see her old friends standing high above. How she missed them. Soon she would find a way to rejoin her old group. These walls could not keep her forever. She would apologize to each one of them and—
Viola’s head snapped back, her trembling body falling to the sand. “Viola!” Salina screamed, unable to catch her. Her body convulsed with spasms, eyes rolling up into her head as her eyelids fluttered. Nald and Kalmton came rushing over, but all they could do was watch as she twitched helplessly.
Having seen enough, Xavier rushed forward in an attempt to hop over the rope and down into the pit. But a strong grip snatched the back of his cloak, holding him fast. “There’s nothing you can do!” said Jarlen, having experienced this too many times to not know exactly what was happening to her. “If you reveal your alliance to her now, all you can do is die. They’ll fill your body with arrows before you can even say goodbye to her!”
“Let me go!” Xavier demanded, thrashing against several other hands. Both Liam and Owen were on him now, each trying to pin down a shoulder. “I can’t leave her like that. I have to do something!”
“Did you not hear what Jarlen said?” asked Assirra, trying to block his view as she moved in front of him. “Now is not the time for such foolishness.”
“When, then!?” he hissed, sitting up to look her in the eyes. “Again and again we play it safe. And all that has done is prolong her agony for weeks. I’m done watching them torment her! You hear me?” Despite the ongoing tussle happening right in front of everyone, the crowd’s focus was still on the events down below. What was happening to her?
Flopping like a fish out of water, Viola’s mouth began to foam white froth. Face contorted in agony, the pain was so great that she couldn’t even scream. “Help her sit up!” Kalmton ordered. Salina and Nald grabbed her twitching body and helped lean her up. “They’ve tormented her like an animal long enough. Hold her steady. I’m ending this now!” He raised his sword.
“Do it,” said Salina, grabbing a handful of Viola’s hair to help steady her head. It was imperative he didn’t miss. Nald dropped his blade with full force, the pommel clanging squarely off the metal collar around her neck. “Again!” Salina shrieked, straining to hold her still. It took a tremendous amount of force to keep Viola’s thrashing body still. One wrong slip and...
Nald measured, then crashed his blade down again. Then again. The heavy clanking sounds turned into hollow crunches, like gravel underfoot. Tiny cracks began to form in the metal, each one glowing white, no doubt a power leak of some sort. With a final strike, the collar blasted away in a blinding flash, sending the three of them tumbling backward. Viola gasped, falling face first into the sand. She rolled to her back, gulping air as if she had been drowning.
Blinking away the spots in her vision, Salina crawled towards her, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Viola. Viola!” she said, placing her hands up on her chest.
“I’m all right,” Viola gasped through heavy breaths. “Thank you. Thank you. I—” Lying face up, her brow furrowed as she gazed up to the sky.
“I will have her whipped!” Milo roared, fists trembling with rage. “Have the humans executed, then bring me that bitch! She’s about to learn—” His eyes fixed up to the sky. “No,” he whispered, watching as the hydrogriphs soared high above the pit. “No. No, it can’t be.”
Like gentle snowflakes on a winter’s day, white ash began to fall.
Chapter 14
Thousands of horrified faces looked at the sky, their mouths gaping open in disbelief. One would have to be living in a cave to not know what was happening. They were here. The ghatins were preparing to attack! A single scream from the crowd was instantly echoed by hundreds. Like a landslide of thick mud, the packed people turned and began moving as one. The scene turned chaotic as people pushed and shoved, knocking others to the ground in an attempt to flee. Those who fell stayed down, unable to get back to their feet as they were trampled underfoot.
Already being near the edge of the pit, the group was largely unaffected by the raging stampede heading the opposite way. As the crowd thinned, crushed bodies could be seen here and there. Already the situation had turned tragic, and the worst was yet to come.
“Get the horses!” Liam ordered, eyeing the field to the east where they were tied up. Nearly all had abandoned their mounts, so there were several to choose from. “The people must be led to safety.”
“I’m not leaving her here!” Xavier protested, looking down at Viola. “I won’t abandon her, not again.”
“Xavier, we have no time for this!”
“Did ye forget your pledge, boy?” Owen asked, jabbing a finger into Xavier’s chest. “You swore an oath the day you bonded yourself to me. Demons across these lands tremble when our names are whispered. We hunt them wherever they hide, driving them from the shadows if we must. That’s what we do, and not every job is going to pay. Sometimes ye just got to do the right thing. These people need us, and I’m not going to turn me back on them.”
Xavier groaned, gripping fistfuls of his own hair in frustration. The thought of leaving her again was agonizing. Still, he knew Owen was right. He had indeed sworn an oath, pledging himself in service to this lifestyle. Few people could do the things he and the hunter were capable of, and that made them unique. Irreplaceable. Turning his back on those in need was not an option.
“Liam and I will watch over her,” Jarlen said. Xavier eyed him, still not certain he trusted this man. “I give you my word no harm will come to her,” Jarlen added, seeing the doubt in Xavier’s eyes.
“Very well,” Xavier replied. “But if anything happens to her, I will hold you responsible.”
“As you should,�
�� Jarlen agreed. Watching over her now was the least he could do. Surely he owed her that much. Owen turned and streaked towards the horses. The big man could run when he wanted to. After a last glare directed at Jarlen, Xavier gave chase to catch up with his master.
“I’m going with them,” Thatra said after a moment’s hesitation. A warrior at heart, she could not stand by while they selflessly put themselves in harm’s way for the good of others.
In a blink, the three were mounted and galloping down the hill. Both sides of the road were packed, folks running in a blind panic as ash fell all around them. The plan was to get ahead of the rushing mob and lead them back into the city. There was no guarantee they would be safe behind those walls, but staying out here meant certain death. But that plan changed quickly when waves of white exploded up from the ground all around them. It was too late. The ghatins were on them and the city gate was still too far away. They would have to fight.
A pink-eyed wall of white rushed in from the left side, its arm flattening into a blade as it swept across the running humans with incredible range. With that single swing, body parts tumbled into the air, spirals of blood twirling from ends of severed limbs. Heads, upper torsos sliced unevenly, and countless chunks of flesh and bone landed along the road in a rain of gore. It was a rout in the making. These humans were woefully unequipped to deal with such beings.
Thatra veered her horse, charging the first ghatin she saw at full speed. Better to take the fight to them than get picked off by their superior range. Sword in hand, she sliced right through it as she galloped past. To her horror, her blade met no resistance. It was like trying to cut smoke. They were immune to her steel! From behind, a blinding flash of pain ripped through her side, sending her tumbling off her mount. Her back slamming the ground with a heavy jolt, her limp body went rolling down the hill.
* * *
Owen and Xavier galloped side by side, weaving in and out between the fleeing city folks. Owen signaled, his fingers flashing urgently. Xavier nodded, then broke left while his master rode on. Hopping up, he stood on the horse’s back while still riding and reached to his back, unsheathing his silver blades. He clanged them together above his head, the weapons doubling their blades. With white men popping up all around cutting down folks like weeds, he snapped his wrists, sending the bladed spheres spinning through the air. Defying gravity, they hovered around him in slow circles, his guiding fingers twitching ever so slightly.
