“You don’t understand!” Wayland roars. He struggles against his daughter, surprised at the strength of her grip. “The scepter grants wishes and the Helgardians removed all but one of them before my agent stole it. In order to use the final wish, the others have to be used first and those savages are using them to send monsters. Once the nomads are defeated and their wishes are spent, I can use the last one to bring your mother back. Maybe even revive our entire family and reverse the damage those people caused.”
“You’ve been fooled, dad. Some of my friends are with the nomads and they learned the truth. The monsters are guarding something worse that lives within the scepter. When the last beast falls, whatever is inside will be free. You’re being used and our family is being sacrificed. I don’t know why someone would do this, but you’ve been their tool this entire time.”
“Your friends have been manipulated by those savages!” her father screams, nearly choking himself on the chain. “If the monsters came from the scepter then someone would have to be using it. I’ve never called anything forth from it and only one other person knows where it has been hidden.”
“I trust my friends more than you right now,” the heiress says, unable to stop her tears from flowing. She fights to hold onto her rage as she feels her resolve weakening. “I don’t know who your partner is or what they told you, but you’ve been tricked. The attacks had to have been planned from inside our house because the monsters knew exactly where we would be. Please listen to me and let my friends and I stop this.”
“If I listen to you then I’ll lose the only chance I have to get my wife back,” Wayland claims while he gasps for air. Dropping his sense of decorum, he frantically pulls at the chain and cringes when two of his manicured nails snap off. “So what if I’m behind the scepter and the monsters came from the damn thing? Our family lived off my success for decades and they acted like our noble standing took no effort to maintain. Just look at someone like Quill who gave nothing to the Grasdon name. I might not have been the one to sacrifice them, but I only mourn for your brothers.”
“There were children who were killed.”
“Better now than let them grow up to feed off the Grasdon name like parasites.”
Kira lets go of her weapon and steps away from her father, allowing him to uncoil the chain from his throat. He tosses her weapon into a nearby pail as she stares at the floor, tears dripping on the stones. Nobody is whispering and time seems to stop while Wayland watches his daughter. He fixes his beard and turns to give orders to his elite guards, but freezes when he sees them drop their scimitars. A shuffling makes the portly merchant whirl around and he is sent reeling by Kira’s fist striking his jaw. He stays on his feet, but she repeatedly punches him in the face without uttering a word. When Wayland falls to the ground, she casually straddles his chest and continues the assault.
“I think you have made your point,” Timoran whispers, catching the heiress by the arm and lifting her off the ground. “You are going to feel terrible for what you have done, so do not add patricide to your sins.”
“Thank you, Timoran,” Kira weakly says. She moves to wipe her eyes, but shudders at the sight of her father’s blood on her knuckles. “Take Wayland Grasdon to his quarters and have his injuries tended to. Leave guards outside his room, but don’t send a messenger to the mayor yet. I want to keep this in-house until the Helgardians are handled. I guess I should ask if everyone will follow my orders or abandon the family after what you’ve seen.”
“We accept you as the new leader of the Grasdon Merchant House,” one of the elite announces to the agreement of the others. They put their fists to their foreheads and bow to Kira, making the heiress feel a little stronger. “We all heard what your father said, so don’t fear that we will betray you. Do you have any other orders?”
The black-haired woman makes her way to the pail and retrieves her weapon, shaking pipe ash off the chain. “Let Luke and Sari out of the dungeon and give them back their gear. I want everyone here to defend the manor. My friends and I will go to Asher and tell him not to attack the nomads. I just hope we can get there in time.”
“Fizzle go tell Kira brother. Fizzle get to wall fast.”
Kira nods to the tiny dragon before he darts up the stairs, causing all of the warriors to reflexively duck. Taking a deep breath, the heiress takes the dungeon keys from the elite guards and gestures for them to take her father away. She is unable to look away from the bloody face that she remembers kissing her goodnight as a child. It is not until Wayland is carried up the stairs and out of sight that Kira snaps out of her memories, straightens her back, and makes her first decision as head of the Grasdon Merchant House.
*****
“Don’t engage!” Delvin screams as arrows bounce off the barrier around the Helgardian encampment. He can hear Misrae yelling the same thing from the other side of the camp, the two warriors using their drawn blades to signal each other. “I have no idea why they started shooting at us. If I could get to the wall then I could convince the commander to call off the attack, especially if Asher is there.”
“There’s a darkness coming from Bor’daruk,” Dariana says, sitting cross-legged on the hot sand. She sends a mental tremor into the enemy archers, causing their shots to hit the ground several yards away from the nomads. “It’s coming from the wall, but something else is coming from the city. Not dark or light. Pure is the best word I can use to describe it. I’m sorry that I can’t give you any more details.”
“The final guardian is coming,” Sharne states, shivering in the midday sun. “If it’s killed then the Beast of Palqua will awaken.”
“Can you fight, Nyx?” Delvin loudly asks as he waves to the distant caster. He sees her nod and the barrier around the encampment takes on a red tint. “Stay with the Helgardians, Dariana, and keep them out of the battle. I’m sure the two of us can scare the guardian back into the scepter.”
“I don’t believe these creatures know fear,” the silver-haired woman replies while she emits of calm throughout the camp.
“Then Nyx and I will teach it,” the warriors declares with a grin. He bows to the caster as she approaches and gestures for her to lead the way. “Ladies with enough magic to level a large city first.”
The half-elf flicks a tiny flame at Delvin’s nose as she walks by. “I almost forgot how chivalrous you were. You always know when to let a girl get what she wants.”
The pair stop when they see a small mound of sand roll through the wide area between Bor’daruk and the nomads. A creaking moan can be heard from the ground, which causes the archers to stop firing. Delvin lies down to get a clearer look at the surface of the desert and he is surprised to see that there are constant, subtle movements. As the shifting grains grow more pronounced, the warrior stands and steps in front of Nyx. With a flick of her hand, the caster moves her ally to the side. She holds out her hands to feel the thick aura in the air, her head swimming from the raw power.
A whirlpool of sand appears between the two forces and the groan becomes a baritone bellow. Two massive arms of hardened sand rise from the earth and shake the desert with a powerful slam. The creature hoists itself out of the whirlpool to reveal a dune-like body and a gaping maw. Its eyes are a pair of solid flames that gently rotate in shadowy eyeholes that take in all of the mortals. Seeing the wall of Bor’daruk, the beast groans and absorbs more sand to tower over the city defenses.
“What is that thing?” Delvin asks, watching the guardian continue to bloat.
“I think it’s a sand golem, but it’s been enhanced,” Nyx answers as she sends plumes of fire into the sky. “Stay here and I’ll handle it. When you get an opening, run for the city and get those soldiers to fall back.”
“That might not be a problem.”
Nyx watches the soldiers retreat into the city while the archers fire at the creature. The arrows harmlessly sink into the sand golem, which stares at the tiny attackers. It raises its hand to smash the annoying warriors, but it is
pushed back by a swarm of large fireballs. The spells explode along the sandy body, filling area with dislodged grains that are sucked back into the sucking holes. The golem faces Nyx who is hovering at face height and drifting to draw the creature’s attention toward the open desert. She lashes out with whips of lightning that slice through the guardian, but the wounds heal immediately.
Nyx gets a shield up to block the golem’s hand, but the force sends her crashing into a nearby dune. The creature lunges forward, its body stretching while the bottom half remains connected to the ground. Transforming into a wave of sand, the guardian envelopes Nyx and appears to swallow her whole. It shifts back into its original form, but a glowing bubble blossoms from the side of its head. With a muffled explosion, the half-elf blasts out of the creature and turns its top half into a gentle rain of sand. She lands next to Delvin and they watch as the sand golem swiftly reforms.
“Brute force might not be a good idea against something that can’t die,” the warrior points out. He tackles Nyx out of the way when a spear of glass is fired from the sand golem’s forehead. “Barely saw that thing coming. Any ideas?”
“Stick your landing and hold on tight,” Nyx whispers when she notices a familiar form near the wall.
She smacks Delvin on the back, delivering a spell that launches him into the sky. He flails for a second until he sees the approaching griffin. With a grin, the warrior waves his longsword, but he gets the attention of the sand golem too. Its arm becomes a geyser of skin-tearing sand that Delvin can taste before he is plucked out of the way. The griffin flips him onto her back as she soars over the desert and turns for a pass at the sand golem.
“Ever think we should practice fighting like this?” Delvin asks as he readies his sword and grips the beast’s fur. The griffin turns her head around, an incredulous look on her face. “I guess now isn’t the time. I’m going to assume Fizzle found you guys, so you know we have to keep it from killing anyone.”
The griffin screeches and ducks under the sand golem’s arm, getting close enough for Delvin to stab into its body. The sword drags along the sandy creature as the winged beast circles its enemy, but the wound heals as quickly as it is made. Dipping under a swinging limb and swerving around a glassy spike that erupts from the earth, the griffin retreats toward the city wall. She roars when the archers fire and force her to rise out of their reach. The sand golem stretches towards the pair, but its bottom half is sent crashing against the city wall by a devastating wind tunnel from Nyx. The top half tumbles into the whirlpool and vanishes within the swirling grains, its massive form shifting and healing beneath the surface.
“Drop me off at the gate and I’ll handle the archers,” Delvin orders, kicking the griffin in the side. She dives at Bor’daruk and flips upside down near the ground, unceremoniously dumping the warrior on his back. “I deserved that. See you after the battle.”
The griffin flies back to Nyx who is cautiously watching the desert. The undulating surface goes still and everyone is quiet, except for the sudden sound of clashing weapons on the city wall. A massive hand bursts from the sand beneath Nyx, grabbing her and backhanding the surprised griffin. The beast shakes its head clear and flies at the golem, blasting through its forearm. A few strands of sticky sand hold onto the aerial beast’s wings and snap her back into the body. The griffin is moved closer to Nyx, preventing the caster from blasting her way to freedom.
Screams rise from Bor’daruk as a towering form rises from the ocean, its body composed entirely of water. The strange giant walks around the city with long strides and makes a gurgling roar to attract the attention of the sand golem. As the new creature walks around the wall, it spits a jet of water that washes away the limb holding Nyx and the griffin. Catching the caster in her talons, the winged beast soars out of reach of the golem and approaches to the water giant. A tiny figure can be seen in its chest, her movements controlling the creature. Sari charges the sand golem and punches it in the face, which mixes the two monsters. It is a savage slugfest with the gypsy swimming out of the way of the golem’s attacks and her false monster battering its muddy opponent.
“Soak it and get out of the way, little sister!” Nyx shouts as she clambers onto the back of the griffin. “When she’s done, get me as close as possible, Lucy.”
Sari shifts to the top of the water giant’s head and has the large figure embrace the sand golem. As the towering figures struggle, she slides down to the ground and backs away, focusing her attention on keeping her creation together. The golem’s thrashing gradually becomes sluggish as its sandy body absorbs all of the seawater. Angry and confused, the guardian tries hurling globs of mud at the city wall. It fails to notice the griffin swoop toward it and Nyx leap onto its shoulder. She pumps as much fire and heat into the sand golem as she can, hardening its body with the intention of locking it in place. With a roar, the creature shatters its outer coating and sends Nyx tumbling to the ground.
“This thing isn’t giving up,” Sari says as she hurries to help her friend. They are grabbed by the griffin an instant before a solid fist strikes the spot they were standing in. “So how was your time in the desert?”
“Really?”
“I missed you, Nyxie.”
“Focus on the indestructible monster!”
“What’s Dariana doing?”
The griffin dodges a spray of glass daggers, making it difficult for Nyx to get a clear view of the silver-haired woman. When the sand golem stops attacking, she can see Dariana standing in the open. The champion’s eyes are locked with those of the creature, which raises its fist to smash her. Its arm shudders and slumps to the ground, missing its target by a few inches. She massages her temples and continues focusing on the guardian, blood seeping from her sapphire eyes. The sand golem roars and leans forward as if to argue with its small enemy. When its face comes within reach, she gently puts her hand on its cheek and the creature collapses with the sigh of air escaping from its mouth. The body crumples and becomes nothing more than a large dune between Bor’daruk and the Helgardians.
“What did you do, Dariana?” Nyx asks as the griffin lands. She rushes to the other woman who is on her hands and knees. “Please tell me you didn’t kill it.”
“I’m very sorry, but the guardian didn’t leave me a choice,” Dariana whispers in a gravelly voice. She tries to wipe the blood from her face, but smears it around instead. “I tried to convince it to go back to sleep, but it was compelled to fight. There was no target. The creature was told to kill and it couldn’t stop. I turned its mind off, which I hate doing. It’s a horrible thing to do and I’m so sorry that I made a mess of things.”
“Maybe this doesn’t count as the creature being dead,” Luke suggests after he transforms and cracks his back. “It sounds like you put it into a coma and Sari was still alive while in one of those. Besides, Fizzle said the guardians are invulnerable as long as they don’t kill an innocent, right?”
“It’s still technically alive,” Dariana states while Nyx helps her stand. “We should talk to Sharne and bring her to the scepter. Who has it?”
“We’ll explain on the way to Grasdon Manor,” Sari says, hurrying toward the city. She stops when she sees that the guards are pouring out of the gate, weapons drawn for battle. “The fight is still going on? I thought Kira and Timoran were going to tell Asher about his father and put a stop to this.”
A woman’s high-pitched scream rolls from the top of the city wall, causing the armed men to stop and look up. The sound is still echoing when a body falls from the fortifications, a chain trailing behind it.
*****
As Sari hurries to the docks and Luke transforms into a griffin, Timoran sprints toward the city wall. Kira clings to his neck as he rushes through the busy streets, leaping over anything in his path. People get out of his way since his great axe is drawn and a fierce look is on his chiseled face. When he gets to the covered stairs, the barbarian bounds up them to the top of the wall. Kira drops from the large warrior’s ba
ck and shakes her tingling arms before uncoiling her weapon from around her waist.
“Asher!” the heiress shouts, drawing the attention of the archers. She crouches when the sand golem emerges from the desert and arrows are loosed. “Has anybody seen my brother? We have to talk to him and stop the attack! The Helgardians aren’t the enemy and the monsters are actually guardians! Please stop fighting!”
“Who told you such a foolish thing?” Asher asks as he pushes his way through some of his men. Gripped in his right hand is an elegant bastard sword and his left is wrapped around Fizzle’s neck. “I didn’t want to believe this creature. To think that my beloved sister would turn on her own family. Take your pet back and teach him to behave.”
He throws the drite to Kira who catches Fizzle and holds him close to her chest. She backs away from her brother, noticing his skin is paler than the last time she saw him. His chestnut hair is oily and his eyes are slightly sunken as if he has not slept in days. A dull hum emanates from the strange blade that he lets hang limp at his side, the point skittering on the stone whenever he moves.
“You know father sacrificed our family and you’re still siding with him,” Kira whispers, placing the unconscious drite on the ground. “Please don’t make me fight you, Ash. If you continue this battle then Bor’daruk will be destroyed.”
“My new master told me that and it doesn’t concern me,” her brother coldly replies. He notices the griffin flying nearby and slices the head off the nearest archer to the get his men’s attention. “Fire at that winged beast or suffer the same fate! Let’s see how our princess handles seeing the death of her beloved Callindor.”
Half of the bowmen drop their weapons when Timoran roars and charges at their commander. Kira watches the barbarian swing with an overhead chop, closing her eyes to avoid seeing her brother’s demise. Instead, Asher raises his sword to block the attack and a crackling explosion sends his attacker flying back. Timoran tumbles down the stairs, his steaming great axe skittering ahead of him.
Sleeper Of The Wildwood Fugue (Book 7) Page 28
