Aethir

by DeWayne Kunkel

  Casius did not like the looks of the servants who took the reins of their horses. They were old with sunken eyes that knew only fear. Wearing ill-fitting livery that was soiled and torn, and in some places stained with blood.

  The corridors of the keep that once was filled with light and laughter was now dark and cold. An oppressive weight of evil filled the air and only a handful of lanterns glowed dimly in the dreadful gloom. The few people they encountered fled before them at the sight of Vernal. An eerie quiet filled the halls making their footfalls seem all the more louder.

  They stepped through a heavily guarded archway into a large hall lit by two sputtering torches at its far end.

  Casius heard Gaelan hiss in anger. This was the fabled Galloglass hall. The massive panes of stained glass that once flooded the grand chamber with light of many hues were now dark, the leaded glass now covered with a thick layer of tar.

  Wrapped within the darkness stood the Nobles loyal to Goliad. No one moved, watching in silence as Vernal stopped just inside the doorway.

  A thin man with a severe limp emerged from the gloom. He stood within the dim light from the doorway and whispered into Vernal’s ear. His message passed he gave the visitors a casual glance as he made his way back into the darkness.

  After a few moments a lamp was lit on the north end of the hall. In its feeble light two thrones could be seen. One was occupied by a tall man the other by a thin woman who appeared to be sleeping.

  Casius locked eyes with the man upon the throne and wanted to flee the hall immediately. The sheer malevolence radiating from whom he took to be Goliad was nearly overpowering. His loyalty to Connell and the faith he placed in Marcos gave him the fortitude to stand his ground and match the evil mans gaze firmly. As quickly as the feeling of dread had come it disappeared, seeming to pass over him as Goliad turned his gaze elsewhere.

  “The Emissary of King Wolhan, my liege.” The thin man said loudly shattering the silence.

  Connell removed his helmet and cradled it with his left arm. Squaring his shoulders, he strode briskly up to the seated figures his men following two abreast.

  He stopped before the low dais supporting the thrones. Casius stood slightly behind to his right and Gaelan upon his left.

  The man upon the throne sat stiffly, he was tall and thin. He wore an emerald robe over a suit of dark chain that glistened in the gloom. His skin was pale, without color. His dark locks supported the golden crown of Trondhiem on his brow.

  His eyes were piercing and filled with power. The evil harbored within him burned brightly in his gaze. He said nothing at first, allowing his eyes to rest momentarily upon each man who would stand defiant before him. Absently stroking his short beard he spoke in a voice filled with contempt.

  “By what right does King Wolhan enter my lands, uninvited with an army at his back?”

  Casius could not believe the man’s demeanor. He was outnumbered and facing certain destruction should the Keshian forces attack, and yet he sat on his throne acting as if he was insulted.

  “Your lands?” Connell asked sarcastically. “I have come as an emissary, it is to the Queen I would speak. She alone is the heir and ruler of this fair land.”

  “You are wrong,” Goliad hissed. “It is I who rule here. The Queen speaks with no one lest I wish it.” Leaning forward in his chair he gripped the gilded arms until they creaked. “Now answer me, why has Wolhan come?”

  “Ill tidings travel far Goliad,” Connell said loudly for all to hear. “King Wolhan has come seeking justice in his brothers death.”

  Goliad smiled, a sick thing to behold. The man’s face held no mirth and probably never had. “Then take your men and go elsewhere. Seek out Gaelan, for it was his blade that slew the bastard son.”

  A low groan from the Queen drew Casius’s attention. She was pale almost ghost like in appearance. Her hair was knotted as if long neglected. No comb had smoothed her tresses in months. Her mouth hung open, her lips quivering as she mumbled incoherently.

  “There are many questions you must answer Goliad.” Connell pointed to the darkness beyond the throne where guards stood in the deepest shadows. “Why are Morne allowed within this hall?”

  Casius blinked in amazement did Connell just say Morne? The line of men behind Goliad shifted slightly at his accusations. In the dim light Casius could see their eyes gleaming from beneath raised hoods. No mans eyes burned so brightly in the dark, they were the eyes of a feral animal.

  Goliad came to his feet in anger. “Do not think to question my decisions in this hall!”

  Connell met his gaze without flinching. He had to look up to do so. Goliad stood a good six inches taller than him.

  Goliad took a deep breath before speaking. “Will King Wolhan support the queen’s claim to the throne?”

  “No,” Connell replied coldly. “He would never do so if it meant a man such as you would rule in her stead.” Connell smiled. “You are not worthy to sit upon that throne. It is a place of honor befitting men far greater than you.”

  “This is no game Emissary.” Goliad said softly.

  “Ah but it is,” Connell answered. “The game of thrones, Goliad. Be wary though, the price of playing is often steep and tallied in blood.”

  “Who are you to threaten me?”

  “I am Connell Malkor,” Connell answered with his hand upon his swords hilt. “Son of King Wolhan, by the right of kinship do I speak. The blood of Thorunder cries out at the injustices you have perpetrated in your quest for power.”

  Goliad pointed his finger at Connell’s chest. “Your army is not within this keep Prince.”

  Suddenly Connell was thrown backwards. Suni attempted to catch him but they both ended up on their backs twenty feet away. The center of Connell’s breastplate glowed a dull red in the darkness smoke rising from a blackened hole within it.

  Suni rolled and was on his feet in an instant, throwing back his borrowed cloak his Kalmari in hand.

  Marcos threw out his hand and light erupted from his palm. The force of the power sent Goliad flying across the room. With a deafening boom every window within the hall exploded outward. Bright sunlight flooded the room, while small pieces of glass rained down upon the panicked court.

  Goliad howled in pain and anger. His skin was beginning to blister in the light. Leaping forward he reached out for Marcos’s throat.

  Suni intercepted him and struck Goliad across the chest. Orange light flashed where the rods touched him.

  Goliad was driven back by the force behind the blow. Twisting to the side he sent a blast of power towards the Anghor Shok.

  The floor bucked violently and the polished marble shattered beneath the force of the blast.

  Suni Had leapt clear and landed amid the charging Morne. He was a whirlwind of motion striking faster than the eye could follow.

  Casius drew his sword and moved to put himself between Connell and two Morne who were intent on killing him.

  In the full light of day the Morne were ghastly looking creatures their blood stained maws opened revealing rows of sharp-yellowed teeth. They moved quickly, with a certain grace that was almost birdlike.

  Drawing long curved blades they moved like shadows, lightning swift and silent. The first to reach Casius wasted little time, he tried to slice open Casius’s throat with a powerful swing.

  Casius was nearly caught by the viscous attack his heart pounded in his chest as he dodged to the side to avoid the blow. He was off balance and now easy prey for the second Morne’s attack.

  The Morne swung but Casius was gone, he dove to the floor and rolled to his feet as Suni had taught him. He was now behind the Morne. With a quick strike he opened a deep gash across the Morne’s back. His blade sliced easily through the layers of cloth and scaly hide lying beneath. Blood flew from the razor edge as he parried the attack of the remaining Morne warrior.

  Steel rang upon steel as combat filled the hall. Women screamed and men cursed. The Lords of Goliad’s court retreated to the far
side of the chamber any hope of escape blocked by the Keshian warriors fighting at the door.

  Flares of brilliant light and thunderous roars reverberated within the chamber. Shaking loose dust from the high ceiling and sending shards of stone through the air.

  Marcos and Goliad were locked in combat, casting raw power at each other’s defenses. The errant waves of force tore rents into the floor and shattered furniture into burning splinters.

  Casius moved about the dais his attention on his adversary. The Morne was bleeding from half a dozen cuts and was growing impatient in his rage.

  Casius was breathing heavily but he was growing more confident. He was standing his ground, against a Morne nonetheless. He knew he had the upper hand; the reptile was bleeding and growing weaker with every passing minute.

  From the corner of his eye he could see that Connell had gained his feet and was now engaged with one of the Morne.

  Casius could not spare any more attention for the others his opponent was growing desperate and taking wild hacking swings at him with little regard for his own life. Connell had taught him that at times such as this your opponent is at his most dangerous.

  Casius stepped back allowing the Morne’s wild attacks to wear him down. The Morne’s strength was failing and he had over extended himself with a poorly aimed lunge. Casius brought his blade down on the Morne’s wrist. The reptile’s blade clanged to the floor with his clawed hand still wrapped about its hilt.

  Screaming in rage and pain the Morne pulled a fat bladed dagger from his belt and swung for Casius’s mid section.

  Casius stopped the attack by chopping into the Morne’s neck; nearly severing it’s head. He stepped back shocked by what he had just done. The Morne had given him no choice but he still felt a pang of regret.

  Looking away from the twitching body Casius could see Gaelan and the Keshians forcing the guards back through the doorway.

  Behind him Lord Vernal made a dangerous mistake and attacked Suni. Howling in rage the Lord raised his sword. Suni spun and kicked the traitor in the face knocking him out. Leaping over the prostrate Lord, Suni hurled his Kalmari through the air striking Goliad in the side of his head.

  The force of the blow staggered Goliad, and for an instant his defenses dropped. Marcos drew the sword he carried and drove the blade through Goliad’s chest. The chain Goliad wore melted under Marcos’s blade, two feet of bronze protruded from between the usurpers shoulder blades.

  Goliad screamed and the room suddenly grew cold. A blast of power raced outward knocking everyone to the floor.

  With his ears ringing Casius regained his footing in time to see a writhing black haze spreading out from where Goliad had stood. It roiled like a living thing, emitting sparks of green light and a noxious smell that stung the eyes of those nearby.

  Above the coiling smoke stood Marcos. His sword wreathed in brilliant flames of sapphire. He raised his hand and the ring upon his finger burned as bright as the sun. Light enveloped the dark smoke burning it away until nothing remained.

  Casius saw movement behind him from the corner of his eye. He dove forward, a stab of pain burning his shoulder. Turning about he faced a Morne warrior. The reptile was huge for his kind and stood well over seven feet in height.

  The creature raised its sword and attacked. Casius was forced backwards by its ferocity. He parried blow after blow until his arm burned with exertion.

  Doubt gnawed at him, this Morne was a master of his craft and had killed many times before. The inhuman eyes burned with battle lust, with what passed for a smile touching the corners of its mouth.

  More Morne rushed into the chamber from a concealed opening behind the thrones. The Keshians countered meeting the charge head on.

  Casius called on every skill Connell had taught him. He was holding his own, deflecting attack after attack in a shower of sparks and ringing steel. The Morne’s blade glanced off his armor. He knew that the heavy mail had saved his life on more than one occasion.

  The stone floor was growing slick with spilt blood, bodies of the fallen lay everywhere, their lifeless limbs tripping the combatants.

  The air of the chamber crackled with energy. The Morne advance was driven back as Marcos and Suni slammed into them. Marcos’s sword cut through them as if they were nothing more than smoke, the burning blade killing them by the dozens.

  Casius went on the offensive and attacked the warrior before him with renewed vigor. The Morne’s eyes grew fearful and his defenses began to fail. A long cut was opened across his forehead. Hot blood flowed down into his eyes, hampering his ability to defend himself.

  Casius wove a net of flashing steel before him, his blade flickering out, striking the Morne with deadly accuracy. Cut after cut opened on his opponent and yet the Morne fought on. He was bleeding profusely now from a deep wound on his left arm. With each beat of its heart the Morne’s blood sprayed out in large spurts.

  Casius knew the Morne was as good as dead and sought to disengage himself from the combat. The Morne however was determined to take his killer into death’s realm with him. With strength brought on by desperation the Morne hacked about him violently.

  Casius avoided the wild swings easily. There was one Morne moving in on Connell who did not. He fell lifeless to the ground his head cloven in twain.

  Casius struck as the Morne wrenched its blade free of its comrade’s corpse. He plunged his sword into the Morne’s side. The blood caked steel slicing deep into the reptile’s heart. The Morne gasped in surprise and fell motionless to the floor.

  Casius stepped over the body and looked quickly about the room. Only two of the Morne remained alive. They were locked in combat with Connell and Suni. By the looks of them they were finished, it was only their marshal code that forbade surrender that kept them fighting.

  The Lords of Goliad’s court cowered yet in the corner guarded by five of Connell’s men. Gaelan stood with the remaining Keshian’s holding the door against Vernal’s guard. At least thirty of the Lords men lay dead on the floor, hampering the efforts of the others to gain entry.

  Casius stepped over the fallen bodies and added his blade to the defense of the archway. Gaelan smiled grimly beneath a face caked with dried blood. He made room for Casius and drug Vernal out from the huddled mass of lords.

  Holding the whimpering lord by the neck of his robe he placed his dagger against the fleshy throat of Vernal. “Lay down your arms!” Gaelan shouted forcing Vernal to the doorway where his men could see him. Gaelan held the dagger tightly allowing a thin trickle of blood to seep past its edge. “Do it now or he dies!”

  “Do it!” Vernal shouted. His voice fairly squeaked. He swallowed back against his fear. “Gaelan,” He whimpered. “I am unarmed. If you kill me it would be murder.”

  The men beyond the arch dropped their blades and surrendered to the Keshians.

  Gaelan threw the quivering man to the floor and placed his sword against Vernal’s throat. “Killing you would be justice.” Gaelan hissed pressing the point down harder. “It would take the deaths of a thousand men of your ilk to equal the life of my father.”

  Vernal’s eyes were wide with fear. “It was Goliad’s hand that slew your father not mine.” He cried out in fear.

  “By playing your part in his scheme and not defending your liege it is the same as if your hand was upon the weapon.” Gaelan relaxed the pressure on Vernal’s throat. “Goliad is dead Vernal. The question now is should I send you into the dark after him?”

  Casius rubbed his cut shoulder relieved to find it was only a superficial wound. Connell patted him on the back. “Are you alright?” He asked noting the charred mark on Connell’s breastplate.

  Connell nodded patting the breastplate. “The steel took most of the blow.”

  “You’re lucky,” Gaelan said joining them. “He could have tapped your forehead just as easily.”

  Their laughter was cut short by the blaring of horns from the bailey.

  “Wolhan comes.” Suni announced ca
sually.

  “Enough of this nonsense!” Marcos said hotly, the glow of power still emanating from him. “Guard these fools,” he commanded the Keshian guards. Storming past the startled men in a blaze of fury. “I will put an end to this.”

  Connell nodded to Casius and the two men raced after Suni who pursued Marcos.

  Marcos sheathed his blade and like a tempest he swept through the keep. Unlit lanterns burst into flame as he passed, illuminating the darkness. People fled before them their cries of fear mingling with the sounds of battle within the bailey.

  One warrior moved to attack Marcos, leaping from the shadows with his sword drawn. A casual wave of his hand sent the man flying back into the wall. Stunned by the impact the warrior watched Marcos pass with eyes full of fear.

  Suni snatched the blade from his grasp and snapped the steel in two. Casting the remnants aside with disgust.

  Taking a short flight of stairs two steps at a time they eventually ended up on the parapet overlooking the bailey and curtain wall.

  The scene below was frantic; warriors pierced with arrows writhed on the cobbles. The defenders upon the wall fired arrows and hurled stones at the attackers beyond.

  Marcos’s power flared until he outshone the sun. No longer did the dark haired man stand in his place. He allowed his disguise to drop. Tall and majestic he appeared, his aura of might burning the eyes of the men who looked his way. “Enough!” He shouted in a voice that shook the entire keep with its might. “This ends now!”

  All combat ceased and every man turned to gaze in wonder upon the face of the Tal’shear. Even the wounded quelled their moans of pain.

  “Goliad is dead,” Marcos said in a softer but yet strong voice. “His hold upon this kingdom is broken. Throw down your arms, don’t waste your lives for the likes of him.”