by Jordan Baker
Brian turned to see the other Darga falling to the combined swords of the rest of the Bordermen, and they cheered when the creature hit the ground, then he heard the sound of steel on steel from somewhere nearby and he ran through the trees and saw Fergus fighting an exceptionally large Darga. Brian immediately recognized the look of the jeweled sword in its clawed hand and he could tell that the creature was far more powerful, like the ones he had seen at Elvanar. Fergus was bleeding from cuts in at least a dozen places, and he looked tired, but he kept meeting the Darga's attacks with his long sword, keeping the creature at bay with the length of his blade. Brian noticed the broken ends of several arrows lodged in the scaled hide of the creature, and another one flew from somewhere in the trees, lodging in its leg. The Darga roared in pain and swiped at the wooden shaft, ripping it out, while Fergus took advantage of the distraction to score another cut on the creature's chest, just below its throat. Brian caught glimpse of a figure ducking between the trees, but he was more concerned with helping Fergus, so he raced forward, swinging his axes at the Darga and he landed a heavy blow on its shoulder as it turned and almost managed to step outside his attack, having sensed his approach. The Darga bellowed, spitting acid that flickered with flame as Brian rolled out of the way and sprung to his feet next to Fergus.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"Oh, I'm jes' fine, lad," the big man replied. "Now if wouldn't mind helpin' me kill this beast."
Fergus lunged toward the Darga, shoving the tip of his sword toward its face. The Darga knocked his blade aside with its sword, and Brian ducked into the opening and sidestepped, slamming one of his axes into the leathery skin where the Darga's leg met its torso. The creature bellowed in pain and staggered to the side as Brian ducked a handful of claws that swiped past his head. Taking advantage of the distraction, Fergus lunged again and drove his sword into the creature's chest, then he shoved it all the way through. The Darga tried to club at him with its sword, but Fergus grabbed its clawed fist in his own oversized hand and grappled with the creature as its blood spilled from its chest, and it fell to its knees. Fergus knocked the jeweled blade from the Darga's grip, then he grabbed his sword with both hands and yanked it free from its chest. The Darga fell backward, its legs bent at an awkward angle, and it let out a gasp then fell to the ground. Fergus quickly wiped his blade on the crude clothing the creature wore, then he took a deep breath and let it out in a great sigh.
"Sure glad to see ya, Brian," he said with a weary grin, then his eyes fluttered and he fell forward, face first, hitting the ground like a tree that had been felled by a woodsman's axe. Brian shook his head, then he looked out into the trees.
"You can come out now," he said. "The creature is dead."
A moment later, to his surprise and relief, he saw Diller emerge from the trees, his face dirty and a bow gripped tightly in his hands, with an arrow nocked to its string.
"You did well, Diller," Brian said. "Fergus might be dead if it weren't for you distracting that Darga."
Diller relaxed his grip on the bow as he came closer and his face fell when he saw Fergus on the ground.
"Don't worry," Brian said as he knelt down and rolled the big man onto his back. "He's still breathing, but we should get him back to the tunnels where his wounds will heal."
"Fergus," Brian said, shaking the big man a little. "What are you doing so far away from the tunnels?"
"Had to lure the creatures away," Fergus said, his face pale and drained. "They come upon us unawares. Beggin' some forgiveness, but I'm a might tired. Been fightin' 'em since yesterday. If the beasts be dead, then I'll just rest here for a spell."
Brian could see that the wound he had received at White Falls that the magic of the keepers healed had returned and he knew that Fergus would not have much time.
"You can't stray so far away from the voices," Brian told him, then he grabbed him by the collar and began dragging him through the forest. "It's their power that keeps you alive."
"I know, Brian," Fergus said, his eyes fluttering. "Couldn't be helped."
"Where is everyone else?" Brian asked, and Fergus' eyes closed. He reached down and smacked him lightly on the side of the face, and his eyes flew open and Brian repeated his question. "Where is everyone? The rest of the people from White Falls?"
"They were out huntin' an' gatherin' an' such, when the lizards came," Fergus told him. "Kept the young 'uns close to the tunnels, and shoved the door closed. Everyone without a weapon hid in the trees."
"So they're out in the forest somewhere?" Brian glanced over at Diller, and he nodded.
"Aye, an' I hope they kept themselves hid," Fergus said and he winced as Brian dragged him over a rough tree root. "Hold up there, Brian. I'm thinkin' I might have it in me to walk on me own two feet."
Brian let go of his collar and saw that Fergus' wounds were already beginning to fade, and they would likely heal up more the closer they came to the tunnels, where the power of the keepers was stronger. Fergus groaned as he rolled over and pushed himself up to his feet, and he blinked a few times then nodded.
"Yep," he said. "Right as rain, I am."
"Well, don't stray so far from the keepers," Brian told him. "Do what you must, but you aren't any good to anyone if you're dead, most of all yourself."
"I'll keep it in mind, lad," Fergus said and he squinted as he looked ahead through the trees. "I see some o' the rest of our crew, but it looks like we're missin' quite a few." He frowned as he and Brian trudged through the forest toward the others, who were recovering from the fight with the Darga.
*****
Lexi had never felt so uncomfortable before, being surrounded by children, all of them asking questions about her. Why are you blue? How come you have lightning? Are you a mage? Can I hold your sword? Her direct answers to their questions seemed to make some of them nervous, but for the most part they simply ended up asking her more questions and she tried to remember if she was like that when she was small. Lexi remembered asking her mother a question once, and received a slap for it, after which she was told to go ask the mage priests, and her brother, Draxis had laughed and said she was stupid. When she remembered how bad it made her feel, being belittled just for asking about things, it made her more determined to be as patient as she could and try to be helpful to the children. They were also a noisy bunch, and she was not used to the chatter, but she made sure to keep her senses sharp, for her first purpose was to protect them.
The wind shifted again, and Lexi turned and stared through the trees, shifting her sight. The children saw her eyes become more reptilian and they stepped back when her body began to spark with energy. The trees nearby shifted, then a branch snapped with a loud crack, and a moment later, a large creature appeared, bounding toward them on all fours, its mouth open and its rows of razor sharp teeth covered with blood. The children screamed and began to run away. Lexi turned to the girl named Rain.
"Take them to the tunnel," she said, but and Rain looked around helplessly at the others, who were fleeing in all direction, and Lexi frowned, irritated that the overgrown Darga had managed to get so close. "Stay back," she said to the children, then she leapt toward the creature, transforming in mid air.
The Darga roared, opening its jaws wide, to attack the blue girl that had leapt toward it, and its bellow was matched by an even louder one as an enormous blue dragon suddenly slammed into it, halting the creature in mid-air and knocking it backwards. The Darga slammed into the ground on its back then rolled over and out of reach as Lexi snapped at it with her own razor-like teeth. The creature leapt at her again, and she reached out with her claws and grabbed the Darga by the neck, then she slammed it into the ground again on its back. The creature writhed and tried to wriggle free, its sharp claws scratching at Lexi as she tightened her grip upon its throat, crushing it into the ground, and she looked down at it and let out a powerful roar, blasting fire and lightning onto its face, scorching the earth around its head. A moment later, the Darga stopped m
oving, and Lexi stepped back, looked at the children, who were all huddled on the ground near the tunnel entrance. She turned to the dead Darga and roared one more time, before shifting her form once more, then she walked calmly away, back toward the children, who all stared at her, wide eyed, as bolts of energy crackled along her arms.
In the trees nearby, Brian, Fergus and the remaining Bordermen stood, speechless as Lexi walked back toward the children, calm as though nothing had happened.
"Did I just see what I thought I seen?" Fergus asked. "Or be my eyes deceivin' me?"
"That would be Lexi," Brian said. "Be nice to her."
"Oh, I'll be real nice," Fergus said. "Wouldn't want to get on the wrong side o' that one, 'is for sure."
It took a little while to gather up the rest of the people from White Falls, and after Lexi flew a wide search of the forest, using her dragon sight to scan the trees, the ones that were still missing, they had no choice to give up for dead, or possibly eaten. Tied to the carcass of the Darga Lexi had killed, Brian found another jeweled sword, which was apparently how the creature had become so powerful, but he was curious, from hearing from those who had watched it stalk them in the forest, that it seemed to be more like a wild animal, compared to many of the powerful Darga he had seen at Elvanar. But, before he had left the elven forest, he had heard tell that some of the creatures had fallen to a kind of madness, which Kroma had told him was a curse that afflicted dragonkind. From Brian's point of view, the overgrown Darga looked very much like a dragon, and Kroma explained to him the ancient story of how the Darga came to be, and how it seemed that with the godswords, they were trying to reclaim their status.
Now that Fergus was completely recovered, it was decided that the people should remain in the tunnels, only venturing forth in small numbers to hunt for food, and, apart from a few, who would stay behind to guard the people, the rest of Kaleb's Bordermen would travel the underground paths to Maramyr, to aid in the battle against the dark queen. Brian found Lexi, with all the children gathered around her, some of the little ones clinging to her legs, and the older ones pestering her with questions, while their parents appeared to be awkwardly thankful for her help but were still a little suspicious toward her because of the way she looked.
"You seem to have charmed them," Brian said as he gestured for Lexi to walk with him, and Lexi pulled away from the group of children.
"I have not put them under any magic," Lexi told him, a little confused that he would think such a thing, especially since she did not even know how to do such a thing..
"I just mean that they like you," Brian said.
"I don't know many as young as them," Lexi said. "I only know Tash, and she seems older than most of these, except for the girl called Rain."
"Well, I think you will have some new friends if you ever want to visit them once this is all over," Brian told her. "If everyone survives, I mean."
"I hope we do," Lexi said. "And I hope they survive also."
"It's why we fight," Brian said. "To protect others, especially the innocent ones who can't protect themselves."
"What do we do now?" Lexi asked.
"Most of the people will stay here, and now that they understand the dangers, I hope they will stay closer to the tunnels this time, where they will be safe," Brian said. "I will lead a group through the tunnels to Maramyr, and we will try to learn what we can about what is happening inside the city while we wait for the army to arrive. I hoped to find another hundred fighters here, but we lost quite a few to the attack by the Darga, though with Fergus and a few of the other lads that have the blood of the defenders, we should still be of some help in the fight."
"You want me to come with you in those dark passages?" Lexi asked, looking at the tunnel suspiciously, for she did not like the idea of being confined.
"No," Brian said. "It wouldn't make sense for you to be constrained by such a small space. Meet up with the others and let them know that I will post a sentry in the small woods outside the western wall of the city. There is a small stream that leads up from the lake toward the cliffs, where a passage like this one leads into the city. Look for me there."
"I will," Lexi said, then she turned her head sharply and stared off through the trees. She sniffed the air and frowned. "But first, I will hunt."
"What is it?" Brian asked.
"There are more Darga in this forest," Lexi replied.
"We must deal with them before heading to Maramyr," Brian said.
"No, you must go," Lexi said. "You have secret ways into the city. It will be important for you to be there before the battle, to plan the attack. I will deal with the Darga."
"Are you sure," Brian asked, and Lexi nodded.
"I am sure," she said. "I will come to Maramyr after."
"Good," Brian said, gently grasping her shoulders. "And thank you. Safe travels to you, Lexi."
"Safe travels, Brian," she said, and she returned Brian's smile as best as she could, and she stood for a moment watching him as he walked back toward the opening to the underground passage. Lexi saw a few of the people looking over in her direction and she waved at them and tried to smile again, then she turned and ran a few steps then leapt into the air, and with a flash, a great, blue scaled dragon rose into the sky, and began the hunt for the scent she had caught upon the wind.
Brian turned and looked back as Lexi flew above the trees and disappeared, then he nodded to Fergus and the rest of the Bordermen, who were ready to make their way toward the battle that would hopefully drive the darkness from their land. Brian found his brother, Diller standing ready, with a bow in his head, as though he intended to come along, and he stopped and looked at the lad,
"You have an important job here," Brian told him. "I need you to keep watch over the people. It's important. Will you do that for me?"
Diller nodded, and Brian thought he looked as though he was about to say something, but his brother tightened his mouth again. Brian nodded and patted him on the head.
"Keep safe," he said. "Do what you can, and don't be afraid to run away if there are enemies about. It's more important that you and everyone else here stays alive. Understand?"
Diller nodded, and Brian gave him his best salute and a smile, then he continued on into the dark tunnels. This time he needed no torch to light the way, for the keepers felt Kroma's power and the stone passage itself began to glow orange and red as though in response to the essence of the god, illuminating the path for all to see.
"I am fortunate that you were the one who found me, Brian," Kroma rumbled in his thoughts.
"Why is that?" Brian asked, not sure what the god meant by such a comment.
"Let's just say that I am pleased to travel with you, and leave it at that for now," Kroma said.
"It is still very strange to me that you are in my head, or wherever you are," Brian replied. "But I am glad of your wisdom, and glad we are allies in this, and friends as well."
"As am I," Kroma rumbled.
CHAPTER SIX
A winged Darga flew across the gloom over the vast lake that pooled upon the land to the west of the city, then made its way up over the high cliffs and walls of Maramyr, then toward the palace. The city lay in the shadow of grey clouds that made the day seem almost like night. No one, save a few Darga, and the regular patrols of grey soldiers, ventured out into the streets. The only signs of light and life in the city were the strange glow of dark crystals in various points, and they were somehow the opposite of illuminating, as though they instead drew in what little light there was in the world and consumed it. At the palace, torches flickered upon the walls and by the gates, lit and replaced out of habit by the few remaining servants who went about their duties in a daze, barely aware of their own existence, yet acting out a daily routine, in accordance to the power that ruled them. Few even noticed when the winged Darga landed in the courtyard and walked up the steps to the palace, so accustomed they now were to the comings and goings of the strange and fearsome creatures.
/> The guards at the entrance, their grey, rotting skin rankling the nose of the Darga, stepped aside, the faint glow in their white eyes marking them as the eyes of the god, the dark queen, whose shadow already covered the city and soon would spread across the land. The Darga continued onward, into the grand foyer, then up into the palace, where he was directed by several more guards, into a large, dark cavern that had been hollowed out of the inside of the structure. He found Calexis and her new consort standing among countless eggs of various sizes, most of them beginning to show signs of hatching or, movement in the ones that had only membrane instead of shell. It was a dark menagerie in the making, and Calexis appeared to be using the power of the young man to speed the gestation.
The Darga watched as Calexis stood behind Aaron, with her arms wrapped around him, while whispering in his ear as flames poured from his hands, causing the black ooze that covered the floor to bubble and smoke. The flames, which the Darga noticed also swirled with darkness, disappeared and the young man let his arms drop to his side, his expression vacant, much like the people of the city. Calexis turned at the arrival of the Darga, and the creature dropped to one knee, as he knew was expected in the presence of the powerful queen.
"What news from Rivergate?" she asked, though she already knew, having seen through the eyes of the grey soldiers that had been under her spell.
"Rivergate is lost, highness," the Darga replied. "The enemy now marches east on the mountain road, guarded by the same dragons that attacked us in the elven lands."
"Very good," Calexis said. "Join the other Darga in the city, where you may do whatever you wish for your own enjoyment, though I expect you to be ready to fight when the enemy arrives."
