by T.M. Nielsen
***
Kyrin sat up suddenly when she felt she was being watched. Her shoulder screamed at the movement, but she instinctively reached for her flail anyway. The day after her return to Paragoy, she had been moved back to the castle and into the Lady’s quarters. She was on day nine of her recovery and was feeling stronger each day.
“Good morning,” Alric said from beside her bed in the Lady’s chamber. “Are you going to attack?”
She yawned and then shook her head. “What are you doing in here?”
“I came to see if you were going to get up today.”
She looked over at the window and saw that the sun was high in the sky. “That’s why I hate beds!”
“Because you sleep well in them?”
“It’s hard to defend yourself or know if you’re being watched if you’re too deep asleep.”
“You’re too jumpy. As a Holy Knight, I’m always on guard, but my body needs rest to heal, so I allow that. I still have a reaction time if attacked.”
“You lose too much time waking up.”
“A second, at best.”
“That’s all it’d take.”
“How’s the shoulder?”
“Not too bad.”
Alric looked over her and sighed. She still had signs of the fight with the Nosata, and though it didn’t bother her, the injuries infuriated him.
He sat back and watched as she slowly got out of bed. He learned quickly that she didn’t accept help unless it was vitally necessary.
She sat down on the bed, facing him. “It seems to me that you want to talk about something. I’m thinking you want to start that training again.”
“No, I decided you don’t need to learn how to be proper. You’re fine the way you are.”
She frowned slightly. “But I don’t fit in.”
“Do you want to?”
“Not really. You seemed to want me to though.”
“I did, but then it dawned on me that there’s no reason you should conform to the norms of Paragoy.”
“So what is it you want to talk about?”
“Daemionis”
Her eyebrows rose. “Okay.”
“His priest abandoned you the second you rescued him.”
“So?”
“Don’t you think after almost dying saving him, that he could at least help you?”
“Why should he?”
“Common courtesy.”
“Yeah, not a strong suit of Daemionis’ followers.”
“Then why didn’t Daemionis help you?”
“I suspect he was mad that I was that injured.”
“It wasn’t your fault!”
“Yes, it was. I messed up with my execution of getting into the Nosata’s compound. I’m sure he knows that and figured I didn’t deserve help.”
“That’s stupid! As your god he should have helped you. You’d just saved his priest, and it shouldn’t matter how.”
She sighed. “Daemionis isn’t like that.”
“Then why follow him? Gods protect their followers and offer them rewards for loyalty. Yours punishes for no reason and often neglects you.”
“Of course he does! It makes us stronger.”
“Why follow him? What benefit does he have?”
She thought about her answer, trying to decide what she could tell him and what would make Daemionis mad. She finally decided to explain most of it. “When I escaped from the Shadowmere, I was 11-years-old.”
“Right”
“I didn’t even know what a dimension was when I first shifted. What I did know was that I’d escaped out of where the Consortiums were and fell into a dark place full of sounds and shadows. I’ll admit it. I was terrified.”
“Of course you were! You were on your own at 11.”
“I was on my own at 6-years-old, if we’re going to be honest.”
“True, go on.”
“I was a fighter by then but had no idea how to survive out on my own. So I did something stupid and fell asleep.”
“That’s not stupid. That’s necessary.”
“Creteloc found me.”
“You’re lucky.”
Kyrin smiled. “She decided that I was too pretty to kill by herself and elected to offer me up to Daemionis as a sacrifice instead.”
“Or not so lucky.”
“He scared me to death, and my first instinct was to cast at him. So I did. The sacrifice stopped immediately, and I was given some food and turned over to Creteloc to be trained. Daemionis realized how ignorant I was to the ways of the land and knew I wouldn’t make it without help.”
“So he kept you alive because of your magic.”
“Yes. Creteloc took me in and taught me the ways of Daemionis, and he offered my life in exchange for devotion. After a year, I set out again with the knowledge Creteloc gave me and the power of Daemionis behind me.”
“He’s using you.”
“Daemionis uses everyone.”
“But why follow him now? You don’t need his help.”
“He’s my god. What more reason do I need?”
“You need to find one more suitable for you. Your god shouldn’t send you on impossible missions alone. You can’t tell me he doesn’t have some assassin or rogue running around that could have helped you.”
“I didn’t need help.”
“From the looks of your injuries, you could have.”
“It’s my fault. I got in the situation to be drawn and quartered.”
“No, it’s not! Your god is using you for your abilities, and he’s going to kill you doing such.”
She stiffened. “I’m not going to sit here and let you bash Daemionis!”
He put his hands out. “Calm down. I’ll stop. I just worry that you may be needlessly in pain.”
“I don’t mind pain, and I will do whatever he asks me to.”
“I know, and I’ll drop it.”
Kyrin leaned back against the headboard. “So no more training at all?”
“Nope, none.”
“We’ll see.”
“Do you want it?”
“No”
“You just don’t want to dress like a woman.”
Alric stood suddenly and looked out the window when the mountain’s battle alarm went off.
“You get attacked a lot,” Kyrin said from the bed.
“Crows”
“You’re getting attacked by a bird?”
“Millions of them,” he said, and ran out of the room.
“I’m not wiping out a million birds,” Kyrin mumbled to herself before getting up to look out the window. The entire eastern sky was completely black. What looked like a cloud was moving toward them. “Damn, that’s a lot of angry birds.”
“Kyrin!” one of the knights called out.
She slowly walked to the door and peeked out. “What?”
“We’re on battle alert.”
“For birds?”
“Erianah’s birds.”
She shrugged. “Okay, well, have fun.”
“You aren’t going to fight?” he asked, frowning.
“Why would I?”
“Valhara is under attack!”
“By birds,” she reminded him.
“Millions of war birds.”
She looked at her window. “My window’s shut. I’m good.”
He shook his head and ran down the stairs.
“Wait! Who’s Erianah?” she called after him, but he was already gone.
Kyrin went back to the window and looked out. The crows were getting closer and had forced the nearby mountains into shadow. She started to get leery when she saw the size of the coming cloud, so she figured it’d be best to at least be ready to fight.
It was hard to get her clothes on with one arm, but she finally managed and then slipped the sling on over her black leather vest. Once her flail was tucked in at her side, she started to tie her hair back but heard a loud thud against the window.
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She jerked and looked at the window and saw birds slamming into it. “What in god’s name…”
A wolf howling stopped her curiosity, and she turned and ran for the door when another answered. She took the stairs two at a time and appeared out in front of the castle where the knights had gathered. They had their swords drawn and were looking up at the sky as millions of black crows swirled above them.
“They’re coming in from the north!” someone shouted, and Kyrin looked toward the northern mountains. A solid army of gray wolves was walking toward them. Their hackles were raised, and they were snarling.
Kyrin ran toward them, but Alric grabbed her arm. “No! You can’t fight those alone.”
“They aren’t here to fight me,” she said, and then pulled free.
“Don’t go over there!”
She ignored him and ran to the wolves. Once at them, the front wolf lowered his chest to the grassy ground and then stood up. She nodded and turned to walk back to the shocked Valharans as the wolves followed behind her.
“Who is Erianah?” Kyrin asked Alric.
He kept a close eye on the wolves. “She’s the god of the Qualsax.”
“She sent the crows?”
“Yes”
“For what?”
He glanced at her before looking back at the wolves. “Because we’re harboring the follower of an evil demon not of this world.”
Kyrin looked up at the crows. “So they came for me.”
“More like they came to punish us for having you here.”
“It has to be more, or Daemionis wouldn’t have sent support.”
“He sent the wolves?” Kyrin’s wolf tattoo suddenly made sense to Alric.
“Yes,” she said, and walked forward a bit. The wolves kept close to her and carefully watched the Valharans.
“Erianah!” Kyrin yelled toward the sky. “I suggest you back off.”
One of the crows dove at her, and Alric stepped back when it stopped suddenly mid-air and fell to the ground, dead. The space in air it had stopped, glowed blue for a moment and then disappeared.
“You can’t get through my shield, so I suggest you get your ugly ass down here and face me yourself,” Kyrin yelled.
Alric winced. The people of Paragoy weren’t used to challenging a god.
Laughing sounded and the crows dove to the ground and began to form a tall figure. Kyrin took a step back and watched as the goddess Erianah emerged and looked down on her. She was an imposing figure, standing eight feet tall with broad shoulders and short, spiked red hair that flowed, as if blowing in an imaginary wind. Her armor was made of black feathers, and her eyes were pure white.
She turned away from Kyrin and faced Alric. “Why have you allowed an evil into my world without my permission?”
“We don’t need your permission for anything,” Alric yelled toward her.
“Evil has been gone from this land for centuries, yet you bring one here and don’t even consult me?”
“Again, I owe you nothing.”
“Do you know that she is an evil?”
“Yes”
“Yet you allow her to live with you? What do you gain by that?”
“Nothing, she’s done nothing to warrant expulsion.”
Erianah smiled, and her teeth dripped with thick, green saliva. “You love her.”
“Leave him alone,” Kyrin yelled. “If you have a problem with me, then I suggest you turn around and face me.”
Erianah spun and glared at Kyrin. “How dare an evil talk to me like that! This is my world, and you are not to be in it.”
“Oh, you’re going to kick me out?” As soon as she said it, the wolves began to advance.
The goddess began to laugh. “Daemionis sent dogs? How quaint.”
Thunder cracked and Kyrin bowed when Daemionis appeared, towering behind her. “Erianah.”
“You do not belong here! This is my world,” she roared.
“If you want me to leave, then you have to make me.”
Alric called for his troops to run. He’d heard of the ancient god wars and knew they were unpredictable and highly violent. The Valharans ran for their houses for essentials, and then were heading to the safety of Fortress Ophang.
Alric ran up and took Kyrin’s arm. “Let’s go. This will get nasty.”
“I can’t just leave.”
“Let the gods handle this.”
“Do not fight on my ground,” Sithias said angrily, appearing beside them.
Alric turned when he heard his god speak, and he stopped pulling at Kyrin’s arm as he froze.
“Sithias, you allowed this evil to invade our land?” Erianah asked angrily.
He floated forward but kept away from the other two gods. “I did.”
“What gives you the right?!”
“It’s not his choice what my followers do,” Daemionis yelled.
Sithias was calm and spoke evenly, “She has done nothing that would banish her from this land. I am studying her.”
“You’re what?!”
Erianah snarled. “You had no right, Sithias.”
“You’re just mad because she stays with Valhara and protected them from the Minotaurs.”
“She didn’t protect your puny Valharans! She protected that insignificant king of theirs.”
“Back off, Erianah. Kyrin is staying here as long as she likes.”
Erianah looked at Kyrin closely. “What does she have that you two want?”
The wolves advanced on Erianah, so she turned and held her hand out to them. Angry crows flew from under her feather robe and began to attack the wolves as they howled in pain and tore any bird they caught to shreds.
“Take your quarrels out of here!” Sithias yelled.
Daemionis stomped his hooved foot, and the ground began to shake and crack beneath Erianah. His growls echoed off of the mountains, and Erianah turned to him and looked up toward the sky.
He looked up just as the crows appeared and began to barrel down at him. He swung his massive, scaly hands at them, and they began to fall to the ground with dull thuds and small puffs of feathers.
“We have to get out of here,” Alric said, pulling Kyrin again. “We can’t stay here during a god fight.”
“I can’t leave.”
Without another word, he picked her up, tossed her over his shoulder, and ran toward his horse. She didn’t struggle badly, and soon, he had her on the horse and mounted behind her. With a swift kick, he sent the stallion flying toward the mountains near Boriana ruins as lightning shot down from the cloudless sky.
Hail began just when they got to Boriana ruins, and Alric stopped his horse, and they ran into one of the fallen rooms that still had part of a roof. The horse was fidgety as they sat down to wait out the storm.
“Some storm,” Kyrin said, looking out at the fist-sized hail that started to fall. They were glad that the hail that started while they were on horseback was much smaller than what it was now.
“God fight,” Alric said, and smiled slightly. “We’ve had this issue before.”
“Erianah and Sithias fight often?”
“Not really any more. There was a big fight when it was decided to get rid of all evil from the land though. We hid for almost a year before things calmed down.”
“Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Daemionis fight another god.”
“I’m sure he has. It’s pretty dangerous to stay there during it though.”
The entire ground shook, and they grabbed onto rubble and held on until it stopped. When it did, fierce winds started and dirt flew past them.
“How far are we from Fortress Ophang?”
“Too far to make it. We’ll have to stay here.”
“I can’t believe this entire thing is over me.”
Alric smiled slightly. “This is nothing. If Erianah knew that you are a magic user, it would be a thousand times worse.”
“Why does she care?”
�
��It’s dead here, remember? We didn’t necessarily want it gone. When the evils were removed from the land though, magic went with them. We’ve tried to get it back but haven’t managed so much as a spark.”
Kyrin thought about that for a bit. “What do you mean when the evils were removed?”
“About a hundred years ago, there were four kingdoms here; Valhara, Qualsax, Minathim, and Aloria. In short, Valhara had the Holy Knights, followers of Sithias. Qualsax held the darker types, unruly fighters and such, but they weren’t exactly evil. Qualsax follows Erianah.”
Alric paused when they both had to duck to avoid a flying branch that the wind flung at them. When it was clear, he continued, “Minathim was home to the elves, what you called royal elves, and they are good aligned also and follow Sithias. Then, there was Aloria, home to the black elves. They were evil, pure evil, and magic users. They followed Tiasis.”
She cringed. “Has he joined the fight now too?”
“No, he’s dead. His followers were all that was keeping our lands from being mostly peaceful. The gods fought a lot and most of that was started by Tiasis. When it was decided to get rid of evil, then, for the first time ever, Sithias and Erianah joined forces and killed him. We took care of the black elves, and sadly, with them went magic.”
Kyrin shifted uncomfortably. Creteloc was affiliated with the shadow elves in Paramide and most of Daemionis’ followers were shadow elves.
“Since then, there’s only been bickering between Sithias and Erianah… caused by her.”
Kyrin smiled. “Of course.”
“It was thought that once Tiasis and his black elves were gone, evil wouldn’t return.”
“Then I came along.”
“Well, yes, but Sithias found you intriguing and was determined to learn more about you. It wasn’t until he saw you single-handedly wipe out the Minotaurs that he knew how powerful you are though. He told me that if you were to return, you would be welcomed back.”
“Why though? I’m an evil.”
“We need your magic.”
“For what?”
“Nothing specific,” Alric told her. “It’s just something this land is lacking and something prized.”
“Well if Erianah doesn’t like me, she must absolutely love having Daemionis here.”
Alric laughed. “Oh yes. I would imagine so.”
“I can’t do Sithias’ bidding. I won’t use my magic to further his followers or to help him.”
“I’m sure he knows that.”
“I hope he wasn’t expecting Daemionis to help him get rid of Erianah.”
“There’s no way he would team up with Daemionis.”
An explosion sounded in the distance, and both of them peeked around a high pile of rubble just in time to see the top blow off of a volcano and a thick plume of smoke barreled out of it, turning the sky black.
“This went on for how long?”
“Eleven and a half very long months. This won’t be as long though.”
“You’re sure?”
“No, but I suspect Erianah will back down to the two other gods.”
“If not, you may not have a dimension left.”
“Well then it’s a good thing I’m with you.”
“How long have you been king?” Kyrin asked.
Alric looked up and shook his head when snow started falling from the volcanic ash. “Fifteen years.”
“You’re old enough to be King for that long?”
“I was 20 when my Dad died, and I took over.”
“So you were handed the kingdom.”
“I wouldn’t say it was handed to me.”
She smiled. “You’re offended?”
“Well you make it sound like I didn’t deserve it.”
“I didn’t mean to.”
When thunder crashed above them, Kyrin looked past the roof to the sky. “You do realize that just because I come into Paragoy here, it’s not a portal out.”
“It’s not?”
“Nope, only some portals open from both sides. That’s not one of them.”
“You don’t see some… I don’t know... rabbit testicles or something that’d get us out of this?”
“Rabbit testicles?”
“Well, I don’t know what you use.”
She grinned at him and then shook her head. “No, I don’t see any portals around here.”
“We don’t have any food here.”
“I have apples in my bag.”
“What’s with you and apples?”
“They’re perfect. Full of water and they’re so good.”
“I never thought of that.”
“You’ve never starved.”
“True”
Kyrin sat back. “So your dad died, and you became King at the age of 20.”
“Basically”
“What am I missing?”
“The post was between me and my brother.”
“Did you fight to the death for the position?”
“You need to get a life. No, we didn’t fight to the death. He died with my dad.”
“At least you made King.”
“You have an odd view on things.”
She shrugged.
“Anyway, yes I was young, but I was ready. My brother and I were raised from birth to be kings.”
“Sounds like fun. Why aren’t you married?”
His eyebrows rose. “Is that odd?”
“Yes, at 35 and with your money, I’d think you would have a lot of wives already.”
“I never found anyone interesting enough to marry.”
“Just Genessa.”
“That was different. She and I had only met briefly before she moved in.”
“If there are only three groups of people left, then how did you meet her?”
“There are three kingdoms, but there are some little outlying villages and such. Her dad wanted to incorporate their village into Valhara’s kingdom. During talks, I met her.”
“Want to tell me why you banished her?” Kyrin asked.
“No, I don’t.”
“Why not?”
Alric just smiled. “No.”
Another rumble shook the Boriana ruins, and Alric jumped for his horse while Kyrin held onto what was standing of an old doorway. When it stopped, he tied the horse up and walked back to sit down beside her. She was pulling an apple out of her pack and cut it in quarters, then handed him one piece of it.
“I don’t rank a full apple?”
“We’re rationing.”
He ate the quarter in one bite and then watched as she ate hers more slowly. Alric studied her and wondered how often she’d been without food and water. He could only imagine what hardships she’d been through, and he wondered if she realized that in Paragoy, she had enough of both.
After eating her part, she tucked the apple core into her pack.
“What are you doing with the cores? I’ve seen you put a hundred of those into your bag in the past.”
“I’ve planted them in my favorite dimensions.”
“Is there enough water to grow them?”
“Probably not.”
When the ground shook again, Kyrin put her backpack beside her, grabbed the flail in her good hand, and then laid down, using a rock as a pillow.
Alric sighed. “Great.”
“It’s not that bad.”
“How long have you had to sleep on the ground?”
“I’ve always slept on the ground.”
“Never had a bed?”
“Not until now. Lay down and get comfy.”
He groaned when he laid down and then shifted to try and get comfortable. “Is it possible?”
“Sure”
Kyrin drifted off quickly but Alric tossed and turned all night. Just before dawn, he sprang to his feet when balls of fire began to fall around them from the sky.
“Kyrin, get up,” he said as he moved the horse deeper into the ruins.
She looked
up and then gasped and scrambled farther away from the exposed part of the castle. The flaming balls landed around them, stirring up the dust. Some of them hit the rubble hard enough that another wall caved in at the opposite end of the ruins.
“I was hoping they’d be done,” Kyrin said, looking through her bag.
Alric dodged just as a flaming ball flew at him and barely missed hitting him in the leg. He crawled backwards, trying to get farther away from it.
“Come here,” Kyrin said, pulling him back.
He leaned up against the rock wall, still shaking from how close he came to losing a leg. He was confused when Kyrin slipped between his legs and leaned back against him.
“Jilavanu,” she whispered, and the sounds around them died down some.
Alric looked carefully but couldn’t tell what she did. “What was that?”
“Magic shield. I’m hoping it’ll stop those fireballs.”
“I’m worried about my people at Fortress Ophang,” he said, relaxing some under the shield.
“I’m worried about us.”
“How much damage can your shield take?”
“I don’t know. It’s different strengths each time.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. There’s no one to ask.”
“Oh, right. Well as long as we don’t get hit directly, we should be okay.”
“I can hold it, unless I fall asleep.”
“Can I have another apple?”
“We’re about to die, and you’re hungry?”
“Yes”
She chuckled. “Yes, grab one.”
“I get a whole one?” he asked, digging in her bag.
“Are you going to complain about hunger if you don’t?”
“Probably”
She just shook her head and looked out over the burning terrain.
“What’s this?” Alric asked, holding up the amulet she’d stolen off of a Qualsax warrior.
She looked back at it and shrugged.
“These disappear off of Qualsax warriors when they die.”
“Oh”
“So you killed this one.”
“Not exactly.”
“Did you kill him?”
“He was already on the way to being dead.”
“So you did.”
She just shrugged again.
Alric sighed. “Was it after they attacked our village?”
“Fine, yes, it was. When I found him, he was almost dead anyway.”
“Did you kill him?”
“Yes”
He reached up and whispered, “Please don’t prove Erianah right.”
“He was already almost dead.”
“Still, I can only hold the gods off for so long if you can’t rein it in.”
“I’ll be more careful, okay?”
“Promise me you won’t kill anyone else.”
“No”
“No?”
“No, I kill who I want, when I want, and they always deserve it.”
It was silent for almost an hour while they watched the fireballs fall from the heavens, and both thought through their last conversation. He was worried that Sithias would eventually tire of Kyrin if she kept doing evil deeds, and Kyrin was afraid that Alric would try to control her enough to make her behave. She thought it would cause a fight bigger than the one of the gods if he ever tried.
“It’s calming down,” Kyrin said finally, and then watched as the last of the fireballs fell.
She started to get up, but Alric wrapped his arms around her. “There’s no reason to leave.”
“Oh, yeah, I guess it’s safer under the shield.”
“That’s not what I meant,” he said, and lightly kissed her neck.
She shivered and then crawled out of his grasp. “We have to see if it’s over.”
Just as Kyrin peered out from behind a tall pile of rubble, Sithias appeared. She immediately disappeared back into the ruins toward Alric. “Door’s for you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Alric?” Sithias called out. His voice sounded ethereal, but it was obvious he was close.
“Oh, gotcha,” Alric said, and walked out. He bowed to Sithias. “Is it over?”
Sithias floated gently above the ground. “It is over, and Daemionis has left my dimension.”
“What was decided?”
Sithias saw Kyrin peeking out from the rubble, and he smiled before motioning her over. “Come, I won’t hurt you.”
She thought for a moment and then walked out.
“Erianah is appeased for now, as long as no evil befalls her people,” Sithias said, directly to Kyrin.
“If they leave me alone, I’ll leave them alone.”
“As is expected.”
“Do I have a kingdom still?” Alric asked, a little leery.
Sithias laughed. “Yes, King Alric. You do. Our little quarrel didn’t reach to Ophang.”
“Little quarrel?” Kyrin asked, crossing her arms. “That was more than a spat! You almost hit Alric with a fireball.”
“My apologies.” It was obvious to Alric that Sithias was amused at how she spoke to him. She didn’t seem to be afraid of the towering god.
“We’ll return then. Was it agreed that Kyrin can stay in Valhara indefinitely?” Alric asked.
“I wouldn’t say indefinitely. Daemionis is studying this land, so he has allowed her to stay. I suspect when he is done, she will be called back into the dimensions.”
“When he tries, I’ll stop him.”
Sithias nodded. “I assumed as much.”
Kyrin shook her head and started toward Valhara. She knew that Alric couldn’t change Daemionis’ mind if she was told to leave Paragoy, but she didn’t want to deal with that right now.
