by Jordan Baker
The problem now was how to get into the temple, and Coraline realized that there might be a way, so she climbed down from the top of the residence and dropped down onto the cobblestones, then began making her way back to the place where she had first encountered the blue lizard girl named Lexi, the home where she had once lived, for there was something she had left behind, something she had hoped never to see again, a set of black robes that she would wear one more time, a lie she would embrace for her own reasons, to do what she could to stop the great lie of the one god and the shadow.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
As the fleet of ships came to rest at the edge of the eastern shore, soldiers descended from ladders and both the Aghlar sailors and the pirates of Meer slid down rope lines thrown from their ships, all of them landing among the gathering numbers of Darga. The soldiers with the red stained hands, who were under Berant's command, insisted on providing a guard for Ariana, splitting their numbers. A group of them remained with the ships, with Berant, who was determined to strike back directly at the Xallan queen, and would enter the city through a secret way known to Brian and the god, Kroma. As Ariana and her new honor guard made their way from the ships, Borrican, along with Keira, Margo, Storm and the dragons, including Crag, who had recovered from his injuries, all of them leapt ahead and began clearing a path through the thinning ranks of lizard men, who now fought them on the shore.
Once the landing was underway, and the remaining soldiers who had stained their hands red had made their way aboard Carly's ship, the goddess bid farewell to Zachary, and he leapt down into the fray. With her power, Carly broke away from the fleet and moved her ship up the shore toward a patch of land near the base of the cliffs beneath the city wall near the palace. It was not long before the prow of the ship slid gently between several trees that stuck out of the water and a small group leapt over to the shore, while a number of Berant's soldiers made their way across a gangplank. Brian greeted Carly, who looked at him a little strangely until he let Kroma speak through him, and though he was pleased to see Ehlena, he could see she still did not look well.
"You wear a different face than I remember," Carly said. "I thought I sensed something different about you."
"It is a much better face than the one I was forced to wear upon returning to this world," Kroma replied. "I was most fortunate that Brian found me when he did, for I was trapped in the dying corpse of a wretched man who thought to make himself a king. And after spending far too much time with Kenra, I had almost considered welcoming the oblivion of death."
"You would never truly consider such a thing," Carly said.
"That is true, I would not," Kroma replied with a smile, then he turned to Ehlena. "I would also prefer that this world not fall to the oblivion of the shadow."
"It is a battle I had hoped we would never have to fight again," Ehlena said.
"What news of Aaron and the efforts to free the people of Maramyr?" Kroma asked, then his voice changed as Brian asked about his friend. "Is Aaron all right?"
"About Aaron, I no longer know," Ehlena said. "And the mages were trying to free the people were discovered by Calexis, but one of them was able to escape and has continued their work. There is still a chance. The Kandaran woman, Margo and the dragon, Kiva have brought a supply of the stones from the Watchers of the north, so it may still be possible to remove the magic from the people, should the plan of the mages not succeed, so we must do what we can to save them."
"Then Kroma and I will give the signal," Brian said with a nod, disappointed that Ehlena did not have better news about Aaron. "Maybe if we can free the people, he will be able to fight."
"True," Carly commented. "It is far more difficult to fight when you are trying to protect others, though that itself is most often the reason to fight in the first place."
"We built an entire civilization on such principles," Kroma said.
"Similar principles," Carly said, for though she and her brother often agreed about things, they also had their differences about certain things. "But we always agreed about protecting people."
"It is a noble purpose," Ehlena said.
"Yes, and I blame you for all that nobility," Carly told her.
"We are gods," Kroma said. "It is our duty to be noble of purpose."
"We can discuss our philosophies another time, Kroma," Carly said, then she turned to where Berant and his soldiers were assembling upon the shore. "These soldiers wish to assist in the fight."
"Good. I will lead them through the passages to the palace," Brian said, then he turned to address them. "We will attack the palace itself, but the way is dangerous with deadly creatures. Fight as one, with honor and valor, for we will strike at the heart of darkness."
The soldiers nodded, then as one they saluted him, their faces conveying their grim determination. Brian turned to the two goddesses and looked at Ehlena.
"It would be best if you did not put yourself at further risk," he said, echoing Kroma's thoughts on the matter.
"I can bring word to the others," Ehlena said.
"That will be sufficient," Kroma said. "You have done enough already to fight the shadow. Let us carry on that fight."
"I will do only what I can," Ehlena said.
"I will keep this passageway clear of water," Carly said. "But be careful not to venture into passages that are not protected."
"You intend to flood the city?" Kroma asked.
"I will raise the waters to the way they once were," Carly told him. "The city and these lands are due to be cleansed of the rot that has set in."
"Goodness, there are a lot of people here," Pike commented as he emerged from the trees.
"This is Pike," Brian said.
"Yes, I remember his essence from your visit to my old shrine," Carly said.
"Who's Spike?" Pike asked.
"You are Pike," Brian told him. "I should write your name on your hand so you can remember it better."
"It seems that his thoughts are still muddied," Carly commented. "Let us hope that the people of the city will not suffer as he does."
Brian remembered the stone Margo had given him, and he fished around in his pockets and found it.
"Come here, Pike," he said. "I am going to press this stone on your forehead."
"Why?" Pike asked.
"It might help you remember things."
"Did I forget something?"
"Yes," Brian said.
"Oh, I don't remember forgetting things."
"What is your name?"
"My name?"
"Just hold still for a moment," Brian told him and he pressed the stone to the middle of his forehead as he let Kroma use the magic of the stone. A moment later, the stone began to swirl and the young Xallan's eyes went wide, then he blinked and the stone cracked and fell to dust.
"It looks like I missed a little of the dark magic," Carly said. "It has been a while since I dealt with the shadow. How do you feel?" she asked him and Pike stared at her, then at Brian and Ehlena.
"Was something wrong with me?" he asked, seemingly more focused and sure of himself.
"Do you remember things now?"
"Of course I do," Pike said. "I can't believe I've been forgetting so much."
"Well it seems that he's better now," Ehlena said. "I will take away the fog from the city when you are ready."
"Can you manage?" Carly asked.
"I will be fine," Ehlena said with a smile, then her form began to flutter and disappear. "Be safe, and fight well, Brian."
"I will, Ehlena," he said.
"Keep him safe, Kroma," she said as she faded from sight.
"Such is my duty," Kroma rumbled, then he turned to Berant and the assembled soldiers, who stood silently awaiting orders. "We will fight the shadow and the foul creatures it has spawned, while others in the city will work to free the people. If you encounter anyone who is ensorcelled, try not to kill them, but if they have the dead eyes of the greys, know that they are beyond saving."
"Lea
d on," Berant said. "These soldiers are itching to put the points of their blades to Calexis and her creatures."
Brian nodded, seeing the grim determination in their faces and the burning anger in their eyes, then he turned to Pike.
"Will you join us in the battle?" he asked.
"Of course," Pike said. "I would not miss it."
"Then let the battle begin," Kroma said, then Brian knelt down and placed his fist upon the ground, and the power of the god within him flowed through him into the earth and the stone beneath it. Kroma raised his arm, then he slowly punched the ground three times, and it was as if the entire world shook from the force of each blow.
"I will clear a path for you," Carly said, and she raised her hand and the waters began to part, cutting a kind of corridor that led toward the foot of the cliffs where the entrance to the tunnels had been flooded with water. "The ships will remain ready to receive those who might be rescued from the city."
Brian nodded, then he turned and walked down the path she had created, and a moment later, Pike and the rest of the soldiers began marching along behind him.
"And so it begins," Carly said.
*****
The Darga fought fiercely all the way to the city gate, but the combined forces of the Aghlar warriors, the pirates of Meer and the Maramyrian and Kandaran soldiers, following the powerful dragon warriors and the wild mage Zachary, cut through the ranks of the creatures, and the army soon found its way to the city walls. Borrican suggested that he and the dragons could fly over the wall and open the heavy wooden gate from the inside but Zachary heard a whisper from Ehlena, who told him of Darga positioned atop the walls and inside the city, with bolt throwers loaded with barbed iron rods, lying in wait for the dragons to offer themselves as targets. As soon as Zachary had told Borrican of the dangers awaiting them on the other side of the city walls, the ground began to rumble and shake, then they heard three loud, deep, reverberating cracks, the signal from Kroma that the invasion was to begin.
"Impressive," Zachary said as he walked through the dissipating wisps of fog and smoke. "That god Kroma has something of a punch, but I've got a few tricks of my own. Let's see what happens when we knock on the door."
"They aren't going to just open it, Zachary," Ariana said.
"No, of course not," Zachary replied with a grin. "I'll do that."
His eyes began to flicker with firelight, and suddenly his entire body burst into flame. The air itself began to roar and the ground shook once more as Zachary gathered his power, combining many magics and focusing them within himself, and he pulled his good arm back, and let out a deafening shout as he smashed his fist into the thick wood and iron of the, heavy gate of the city. The wood heaved and cracked, and the thick iron reinforcements creaked from the powerful blow, but the gates held. Zachary shook his head, then he took a step back, and he wound up and hit it again. With a loud crack the massive gate broke open in a cloud of dust and smoke, and small flames flickered on the oversized splinters of wood as he stepped aside to catch his breath and let the others through to do their part.
With his sword raised, Borrican led the charge through the breach, followed by Storm and the others, then the various warriors and soldiers, each of them ready to carry out their tasks once they were able to make it past the enemy, but once they made it through the wreckage of the city gate, they encountered yet more Darga and numerous grey soldiers and the two sides collided, erupting in a pitched battle. With her guard of blood soldiers and Keira at her side, Ariana entered the battle, blasting her fire at the greys, since they were more vulnerable to her power than the Darga, and as the fog lifted from the city, even in the fading darkness, she was dismayed at what had happened to the city.
The streets were cracked and strewn with refuse, the stench of which was only exceeded by the rotting flesh of the grey soldiers, and once proud shops that lined the open square by the entrance to the city had fallen badly into disrepair, with doors hanging loose on their hinges and glass windows smashed. The battle had only just begun, and it had not been so long a time since she had left Maramyr, so Ariana knew that the destruction of the city had to have been intentional, and her flames burned that much hotter the more angry she became. What her uncle and his Xallan consort had done to her once proud city was unforgiveable, but she also knew that the dark god was behind so much of what had happened. It was maddening to her that the mages, who once protected the lands and worked to keep peace between the kingdoms could have fallen prey to an ensorcelled book, and through such dark magic, had become the arbiters of so much misery and destruction, mostly by making her corrupt uncle into a king, and matching him with such a villainous woman as Calexis.
For a long time, she had wanted to find someone to blame, be it her uncle, or the mages, or even Aaron, whose power she had learned was the prize the dark god sought, someone she could hold responsible, for it was nigh impossible for her to fight against a god directly, and it frustrated her that she could not. Ariana knew that she had become powerful and she had learned so many things about herself and gained great strength, but when she saw the flames that the mage Zachary commanded, or the strength of the dragons, and the overwhelming power of the gods, she realized that she was merely a single spoke on the wheel, part of a larger circle of others who were far greater than she could ever be. She wished that she had the power to take on the supposed one god, and drive the dark queen from her kingdom, but such was not her role and Ariana was beginning to understand accept the truth of it. And she also knew that no matter what happened, even with victory, there were countless wrongs that could not be made right.
When she looked around at the soldiers who protected her, her elven guard and former mentor, Keira, who had taught her so many things, and Borrican, with whom she was now forever intertwined, and so many others, who were fighting not just to drive the shadow from the land but to restore her kingdom, she felt not only grateful, but honored by them. Each and every one of them had their own reasons for fighting, and Ariana realized that her own reasons had far less to do with the crown that had been stolen from her. She now understood that the crown was not simply a prize, but a symbol of a solemn duty, and she hoped that she would be able to carry out that responsibility, to heal the kingdom and to have the chance to thank those who fought for truth and honor, and a better future. And with that resolve, and acceptance, Ariana felt the bitterness melt away, and though her anger remained, it became a fire that burned clean and true, her own kind of truefire and the fire within her burned with more heat than ever before.
"If I am not mistaken, you seem rather pleased right now," Borrican commented as Ariana's guards parted to let him approach, while continuing to fend off attacks from Calexis' grey soldiers and the Darga.
"I am proud of you, Borrican," Ariana said. " I am proud of everyone who is fighting to free this kingdom, whether we live or die, I am proud of what we do here, now."
"Well hopefully we live, for I find the alternative truly unappealing," Borrican said.
"I very much agree," Ariana said. "There is much fighting left to do, Borrican."
"Of course," he said. "I came to let you know that the Darga ranks appear to be thinning. Storm and the others are searching the city for those devices that throw the iron rods, and I thought to join them. It was not something I could explain with my thoughts, and it seems that some of the Darga are able to hear as dragons as well, so we will be concealing our thoughts for a time."
"Do what you must, Borrican. We may need the fire of dragons against the power of the shadow if things turn out badly, and it would not do to have to deal with such weapons," Ariana said. "We will begin searching the city for people who might be saved."
"If you encounter trouble, let me know and I will return," he said. "You know I will always answer your call, so do not be stubborn about it. Remember, Ariana, when this is over, the people will need their queen, and I don't want you to get hurt either."
"I am beginning to appreciate you more
and more, Kandaran," Keira commented, having overheard part of their conversation.
"Thank you, Keira," Borrican said, wondering why she did not appreciate him before, though he supposed that his being a dragon might have been fairly troublesome for an elf.
"Don't you be stubborn either, Borrican," Ariana said. "Kandara will need an Akandar on the throne, and there are three dragon eggs that will need some care and the strength of a dragon very soon."
"I will be careful, Ariana," Borrican said. "I know what you're trying to say."
"What am I trying to say?" Ariana felt her cheeks warm. "What were you trying to say?
"It's fine, we don't have to say it." Borrican grinned, then he dashed off past the soldiers and disappeared into the smoke and chaos of the battle.
*****
Calexis stood at the top of the steps to the palace yard with Aaron, waiting as a winged Darga approached and landed before them. With her power causing problems for her physical form, and many of the grey soldiers she commanded falling prey to their own rot, Calexis was now forced to rely on the Darga scouts to inform her of the progress of the battle. She had noticed that even though the lizard men were not particularly intelligent, those that had managed to use the godswords had increased their ability to think and reason, and they had expressed their surprise that Calexis had ordered that the invaders be allowed to make it into the city, especially the most powerful ones. While the greys did whatever she wished whenever she wished it, the Darga were noticeably frustrated at being sent to attack while having to avoid killing the most powerful among the enemy.
"There is one who has power still outside the city," the Darga told her. "The woman who makes the ships move without sails, I have seen her power with my new eyes."
