Ra' van (Book Three of the Items Trilogy)

by H. Lee Morgan, Jr

  Alex’s eyes naturally drew to a powerful figure that appeared exactly like a younger version of his grandfather, Gerieg. If not for the self-righteous grin he would have almost been certain, but Gerieg could never look so conceited. A deep red tunic, cape and pants with decorative gold and gems attired his frame. Upon each forearm were two clasped bracers of a golden hue. At his hip hung a sword of such wealth and function it could only have been stolen from a Furion relative who fancied the ornate appearance and had the size to utilize such an intimidating weapon. The sword was two handed with a four foot blade with a five thumbs thick width and appeared as beautiful as it is deadly. In some corner of his mind Alex remembered Gerieg saying the blade belonged to his father. A golden crown sat upon a handsome head of blonde hair that brushed the shoulders and intense eyes returned Alex’s even stare.

  Beyond his appearance Alex noticed the faint sounds of battle in the distance and knew Freelan had indeed arrived. Judging from the morning position of the eastern sun they had been fighting for nearly an hour.

  Runkamon took a step forward and flourished his large hands. “You there, you can release him right there.”

  Veign immediately released his grasp and Alex crumpled to his knees for he had to still look weakened. Even though whatever he’d been given gave strength it hadn’t been enough to stand for long so he chose to save as much strength as possible.

  The warrior turned and took his place beside the other Guard.

  “So you’re Runkamon?” Alex asked clearly.

  “Who else would I be?” The king retorted in the language of a fiend.

  Alex instinctively did the same and had the gall to say in a cool tone “A cruel dictator. Murderer. Rapist. And traitor to all who live.”

  Runkamon didn’t even blink or show any outward emotion. He knew he had the advantage and didn’t fear the young man on his knees. “Ah, so it is true… You do not speak like a noble. You are little more than a beast. You show your king no respect…”

  “KING?” Alex yelled and suddenly began to laugh aloud in a disconcerting way.

  For once he saw a brief emotion of irritation surface on Runkamon’s features and disappear as quickly when he realized the men couldn’t understand anything. At that moment Alex realized the king was pretending this whole time to appear emotionless. It was an act. Madness sculpted an emotionless persona, but few could see it for what it truly is. Such persons drew out the darker parts of a personality. Cruel, twisted and dangerous aspects of every individual waited below the surface, but those like Runkamon reveled in them.

  Decency and respect usually applied to Alex, but kneeling before such a tyrant brought his other side forth to reject everything Runkamon embodied.

  “You may believe yourself to be king, but you are simply feeding your delusion, Uncle.” That got a longer reaction as Runkamon stole a nervous glance at all the present Guards, but the ever present wind made it nearly impossible to hear their conversation. He relaxed, reassuring himself he controlled everything. “You are not king. Gerieg is king as would have been my father one day before you killed him. Stop playing games and get on with it.”

  Runkamon took several steps closer and touched the center of Alex’s forehead with a blazing finger that sizzled the flesh. Alex knelt rigidly and withstood the pain for as long as possible, trying desperately to harness his own heat to fight back, before failing and leaning away only several seconds later. “But games are so much fun, nephew. Why don’t you ask him how fun they are?” Runkamon teased and pointed at the man who dangled before everyone.

  He brought both hands up to check the damage. Heat still radiated from the burned skin, but didn’t do too much harm. “Who is that you torture now?”

  “Isn’t it obvious? … I guess not. Take a good look.”

  Runkamon casually stepped towards the broken man and grabbed a fist full of dirty hair and wrenched the head back so Alex could stare directly at the face. Bruises, cuts, burns and swelling did little to disfigure the extremely weakened smile and kind blue eye, as one had been pulled out.

  A river of ice seemed to have crashed into Alex’s soul as he stared at his grandfather. Color drained out of his features as he realized many things. The skinned and beheaded carcass behind Gerieg could be none other than Elo. And Sheer wouldn’t have forsaken either of them unless she… “Nay… Nay…” Alex began to shake from the cold and realization rushing into him. All the memories he had forgotten flooded him. Alex remembered his first memory of being little and having Gerieg throw him dozens of feet into the air as a game they shared. “Gerieg…” The icy shaking began transforming into a burning, searing rage as he remembered that night his father sacraficed himself. The look of horror on his mother’s face and the first taste of his father’s blood that exploded out of his back came from the very blade at Runkamon’s hip. “Grandfather!!!” Alex roared as a rage filled his soul and he lunged forward, but before he could do much more than find his feet did he see Runkamon’s quick motion release Gerieg’s ruined mane and bury his fist a moment later, deep in Alex’s abdomen.

  The force of the punch knocked the wind out of him, but simply made him drop to his knees and gasp for breath.

  The instant movement made those standing around uneasy, almost as much as the primal sounds they used to speak.

  A gulp of air returned and black spots danced before Alex’s eyes, but he met his grandfather’s smile of pride. He knew that if Gerieg wasn’t treated soon he would die. Everyone watched as Alex began to worm his way past Runkamon and get close to the one who taught him more than how to use his gift. But just before he could get close a great white and reddish paw stepped in and Jerkin effortlessly tossed him a few yards away.

  When he reoriented himself on his side he asked “Gerieg, what happened?”

  “Oh, he cannot speak!” Rake proudly stated. “I pecked out his tongue and enjoyed it very much.”

  Gerieg’s weak smile turned into an angered, defiant setting. His remaining eye glared at the Fury.

  “Enough.” Calmly growled Runkamon. “We’ve quickly gone off our reason for our family reunion. Zara, come here.”

  Slowly she approached, grateful to get Thane’s hand off her and shuddered at all the revolting memories and conversations.

  Zara then looked at the ground as she stood beside her father in a white gown that Alex just noticed. She looked quite beautiful as tiny strands of gold and diamonds accented her blonde hair. Her fists shook at her sides, but Alex couldn’t determine if it was from anger or fright. She nearly jumped and Runkamon sat a hand on her shoulder. “Dear, dear nephew. Your new, and might I add, expensive clothes are getting ruined and on such a joyous day. You see, today is your cousin’s wedding. The man beside her is Prince Thane of Mylan. I wanted both you and my father to see this great union and stand by my side as we are, after all, family.”

  “If it’s family that should be here then you should leave.” Alex retorted while managing to stand up. It was hard to do as both feet were closely bound.

  “And why is that?”

  “She hasn’t betrayed our teachings?” Zara suddenly looked up and both surprise and wonder spoke within her eyes. “Although she hasn’t been taught properly Zara instinctively understands your ways are wrong.”

  “And how might my ways be wrong?” He yowled in amusement. “The lands have flourished under my rule. Disease is almost nonexistent. Everyone has a job. Sacrifice has balanced the land, but in less than a year you’ve broken the teachings.”

  “If sacrifice was truly the better path then why did it fall apart so easily?” Now that wiped the gloating features off Runkamon. “People are forced to work. There isn’t a willingness to try something new or hope should they succeed for they’ll be punished for disobeying the laws. You’ve enslaved those who’ve resisted and taken away their will by separating them from their item. You’ve turned happy children into cruel adults in just a generation by using fanatical instructors. I had to see good people’s l
ives destroyed because they wouldn’t bow to your ridiculous law. Nothing worth living for has resulted from all the crimes against the lands you’ve committed.

  “I’ve lost my whole family because of your twisted ambitions. Sacrifice? What you really mean is bend over and take it!” Zara smiled, but stopped as her father glared at her murderously. “If you’ve ever read you would know that vindictive rulers like yourself won’t rule throughout the histories for your plan will fail when good people realize what they fight for. Ra’van was known for over six hundred years as a kind and just land, but in a few years you have tarnished such history.

  “Your sacrifice is nothing more than a scheme for more power and to see others grovel at your feet. Runkamon, you’ve forgotten the teachings of a proper Furion. We are the balance and bridge between humans and fiends. We do not kill indiscriminately. Nor do we dishonor the life lost. We kill to eat so that the sacrifice the one who died will live on through us.

  “Stop this foolishness!”

  Gerieg’s eye twinkled with admiration as he sighed and could no longer keep his head up. Zara felt a surge of hope. Kyri’s whiskers nearly flared and turn into a smile. Both Jerkin and Rake stood and bristled with anger, but that all ended as Runkamon threw his head back and laughed in a manically way.

  “Poor, foolish boy. That was quite a speech, but none could live as we do. These foolish people don’t realize they cannot survive without giving something in return. We do things that can kill normal men. We are better in every way. Our sacrifice as Furions is that we rule over others, for they cannot hope to match us in any way. Our superior strength, thoughts and abilities cannot be overcome no matter what they do. They are like sheep compared to a Makkian.”

  “Even small sheep, when fighting together, can overcome such a predator.”

  “That could never happen.” Jerkin released a puff of fire.

  Runkamon then got down to what they all knew would be coming, but changed his voice to speak so the humans could hear. “Since we now know your childish fantasy I will bring us back to reality. Alex it would be a waste to kill you for our race is so close to dying out. I wish to extend you an invitation to live under me and learn the proper way this world works. You will have all your desires sated. You can have as many women as you want. Wealth beyond your wildest imagination. Never fear being challenged. You will enjoy much hospitality…”

  “Like the hospitality you’ve shown so far?”

  “Go wherever you please, do whatever you wish without consequence.” He continued as if he wasn’t interrupted by the sarcastic remark. “A life of luxury will forever be yours.”

  “What will you do to Freelan if I chose to do so?”

  “They are not part of the agreement. They have challenged me and my kingdom. They will be slaughtered or taken as slaves as proof that Ra’van remains the most powerful and grandest kingdom of all.”

  Gerieg managed to lift his head and waited.

  Alex looked at all around and stopped on his resolute grandfather.

  “Neither I or my grandfather will ever go along with your cruel schemes at total control. Nor will we believe a word your snake-tongued offers. Your way only ends in death, either by the physical or the person’s will. Runkamon, you have nothing I want or can be hung over my head.”

  “That last part we can see if that is true.” Runkamon turned his head towards the single door that allows people to enter and ordered calmly “Bring our other guest up here.”

  “Sir!” the muscular woman saluted and left the garden.

  “Better sit down and get comfortable.” He explained.

  “I prefer to stand.”

  “Very well, but take this warning to heart. If you so much as move or hop, Rake will kill Gerieg.” Alex managed to move his left foot forward a half inch and watched as Rake, still standing atop Jerkin, put his beak a fraction of an inch closer into Gerieg’s ear. Such a close range to a Fury’s shriek is a death sentence. Runkamon smiled at the frustration in his nephew’s expression. “See, you can be forced to listen, but our guest will certainly put things in perspective.”

  Being forced to stay still made this emotional crisis compound by every agonizing second. Whatever he had in mind made him appear even more satisfied with how little Alex knew and all the different areas of torture that could be inflicted. Runkamon raised his hand and Zara retreated back to Thane’s side and eye-watering smell. Kyri looked ready to kill the repulsive prince when he wrapped his arm around her again. Everyone stood still, watching every aspect of Alex while waiting for whoever the false king wanted to join.

  Four agonizing minutes later, the door opened and in came three large female Kings Guard bringing in another woman by a short leash that bound her wrists while also wearing a full head mask that covered everything. The woman being blindly led wore a fine fur dress of some kind of yellowish pelt, but something seemed hauntingly familiar about her body and way she walked. Around the shoulders of the full body dress was longer brown hair and the outfit also looked recognizable. Her feet were unbound unlike her wrists. It struck him a moment later that the fur dress had been cut from Elo’s very body. It was the cruelest fate for such a great warrior to be turned into clothes that only would be used to torment those who truly knew where it originated.

  From the corner of his eye he saw Gerieg reach the same conclusion and began to cry from such a cruel fate his partner received.

  Runkamon extended his hand in offering and the three warriors drug the fourth and returned to their position after their king took hold the woman’s seeking hands. “You say I can’t threaten you?” Realizing the sound of his voice the woman tried jerking way, but his immense strength and steady grip didn’t grant any success to be made. “That might be true if I tried directly. After days of trying to break you unsuccessfully I came to the realization that you would rather die, but I’ve met many just like you and you share their common weakness. Sentimentality will be your downfall. So long as you are distracted by others you’ll be weak and vulnerable to exploit.

  “This is your greatest weakness.” And then he removed the hood.

  Again Alex’s soul felt caught naked in a blizzard as the purest white hair tumbled out from beneath. A fair complexion applied to a beautiful and heart racing face. Although she couldn’t be considered as most men define delicate her beauty far surpassed that of any other woman. Plump and full red lips were gagged by a white cloth so she couldn’t speak. But most of all her violet irises met Alex’s gray and for a moment she seemed relieved. Her hopes at seeing him alive weren’t mistaken. Her cheeks reddened and strained to smile, but because of the gag she couldn’t manage it. Within the crack of exposed cleavage was the coin of trust Allahandra him so long ago.

  Without even thinking he took a small step closer and a moment of forgetfulness became shattered as Runkamon warned “ Ah ah ah, remember! Gerieg’s life depends on you remaining still.”

  “Lily, are you unharmed?” Her love inquired.

  She nodded and mumbled incoherently through the cloth. Still she tried to break free and run to his side, but Runkamon’s strength easily kept her in place. When Lily ceased struggling she looked at her beloved and tried to reveal all the worry and adoration she held for him alone. Life is cruel and it came no crueler than the one holding her from her truest love. When he smiled at how relived he was to see her again she tried kicking out Runkamon’s legs, but it appeared that her kick passed right through them for the move he used made his limbs appear like apparitions. It became quite clear that he controlled her body completely and enjoyed flaunting his power. For all her skill and strength, it amounted to nothing in comparison to a Furion.

  “Now do you care to rephrase your earlier comment? I will spare you and this lovely little whore if you join me. If not I’ll torture her in front of you and I’ll kill her just before I do the same for you. What will it be?”

  Lily and Alex shared a profound look. He said to her “You know I love you…” She nodded s
lowly, tears streaking down her cheeks and she mumbled that she knew better than anyone. “I’m sorry, but I cannot save myself and you to live in a lie. Our love cannot survive if I go back on my word and all those who’ve put their trust in me. I’d rather die happy to see you looking at me the way you are right now than pity all those lives we’ve sacrificed because in the end I would seem weak. If we die here just know we’ll be reunited again.”

  She smiled proudly beyond the tears.

  “So that is your answer?” Runkamon asked in a bland tone again.

  “It is.”

  “Then I might as well get some personal enjoyment before I begin ministering her painful execution. It has been some time since I’ve had an opportunity to do so after finding Gerieg…” A heavy wave settled upon the minds and chests of everyone present. Only Alex and Gerieg managed to not be completely effected by Runkamon’s Dominance because they too could use and block against the skill. The pompous king removed the tied gag from Lily and pointed to his waistline. “Drop my pants and milk my manhood till I’m dry, whore.” He grinned in triumphantly, knowing just what to do to cause the most anger to rise impotently in his dear nephew.

  “Nay.” Lily stated flatly.

  “Nay?” he asked incredulously. “What do you mean, nay? You cannot resist this ability…

  “I can because long before we left the safety of Point Lake Alex set up measures.”

  “What kinds? Speak woman!”

  Under the command of Dominance she couldn’t resist answering, even if she wanted to. “He gave me several protections for such an encounter like this. We both knew that to get to him you would likely use me. I’m protected from being influenced to make love to any man but Alex, as I asked him to do, and that includes wasting my mouth on your lame manhood. I am his wife and no man will ever have me but him. You cannot order me to harm anyone or myself. I’m even prevented to being raped by another Furion. My body will shut down and I’ll go unconscious if you so much as tried using me to pleasure yourself, making it impossible to torture me afterwards. I gave my permission to gladly take on these rules and they have been worded so that only he can strip them. As it is, you’ll never be given any pleasures of the flesh from me. He is the only one worthy to have my heart and body. Not you or anyone else will ever succeed.”