Within the Ice

by LaPolla, C. J.

  Life slowly went back to normal in Northspire. The citizens had become seasoned to these type of events over the years and they had began to grow accustomed to them. For those that didn’t lose a loved one it didn’t take long for life to return to the way it was. The following day the docks opened up for business again and Devyn went back to work hauling metal and fish into the warehouses. In a few weeks much of these fish would be smoked and set aside for a long winter where the waters are too icy to traverse. Many boats have met their fates at the hands of ice ripping out the bottoms of their hulls. The bottom of the Isindril would appear as a graveyard for the amount of men lost to its frigid depths. Devyn could already see the smoke houses being set up on the edge of town along the shore line and looked forward for his labor being rewarded in the form of a smoked bass.

  Three nights had passed since Belgreth and his goons invaded their home and Devyn returned home after a long day at the docks. As he approached his home he immediately heard Rana yell. “I can smell you from in here, you be sure to clean up before you think about stepping foot in this house!” He chuckled to himself knowing he smelled of fish and filth. He found a barrel filled with water, and cracked the thin layer of ice that had formed on the very top of it. He removed his shirt and washed off the best he could. Once he felt adequately clean he left his shirt on a nail protruding from the barrel to dry off or more than likely freeze.

  Rana sniffed the air and eyed him suspiciously. “You stink this time of year.”

  Devyn laughed and approached his wife with his arms open. She frowned at him but soon decided he had cleaned enough to be close and hugged him. A meager meal of smoked fish and greens was set on the table with his daughters already awaiting their father to take his seat before eating. Taking his place at the table, he smiled at his daughters who quietly began eating their meal as Rana poured him water from a pitcher she had cooling out in the snow just outside the door. Devyn ate his meal and sighed, happy things had finally gone back to normal.

  After dinner and night had fallen, Rana and Devyn sat admiring the diminishing fire in the fire pit in the center of their home. The embers burned dully giving off the only light in the house. Rana threw her arms around her husband having long forgotten about his smell and they kissed passionately for a long time. Rana rose, leaned against the doorway to their small room eying him with a come hither look. Devyn, never one to disappoint his wife, happily rose and joined her within.

  Days had past, Eldgrim waited impatiently on the borders of the town, which seemed to have settled down from the drama a few nights prior. Life for the town was returning to normal while the pull that had brought him here changed. It felt stronger somehow, more alluring. Whatever it was, it grew closer. His boredom grew with each passing day, even the sword forms failed to bring him any rest from the unyielding doldrum of the hours.

  Eldgrim’s ears perked at the sound of rustling rocks from behind him. He continued his movements while focusing his attention on the sound. The being behind him believed he was being quiet and that Eldgrim was unaware of his presence. How dare he look upon me. Eldgrim thought to himself grimly. He halted his forms and turned his head slowly to hear the scuffle of feet running into the distance. Eldgrim was affronted at a human gazing upon an Aelaar without groveling before him.

  He snatched his sheath from against his camp and replaced his serrated blade. He tied two cords around his waste tightly securing the blade to his side. Sniffing the air, he could smell the stench of the human who was watching him. It smelled young, it must be a child but nonetheless this child had seen something he should not have and he would pay the price.

  It did not take long for Eldgrim to track the boy’s scent and careless foot falls to a small home with a lazy trail of smoke rising from the center of the roof. With his sensitive ears Eldgrim listened intently to inside the home. He could hear an excited voice speaking too quickly too be understood. Eldgrim silently moved closer to the home so he could hear how much this boy had seen.

  “Slow down Juin! I can’t understand you.” Eldgrim heard the voice of the father of the boy from within. “Now, slowly explain what it is you saw. I do not want to go sounding an alarm over nothing.”

  Juin continued breathlessly. “I saw a man. He had a sword. He was swinging it very fast.”

  “Was he attacking anyone? Was there only one?”

  “Only one Papa. He scared me.”

  “Did he see you son? I will go check it out and make sure he is not some sort of scout. No reason to sound the alarm over a wanderer.” Eldgrim could hear the father rising from his chair and grab what sounded like steel from a wall.

  Eldgrim smiled and approached the home. The house was stationed very far from the town, Eldgrim assumed this must be the guard house that sounded the alarm a few days past. How careless of Eldgrim to miss this in his approach, and he knew he must be more cautious in the future. His excitement at the prospects of what was to come must have blinded him briefly, a mistake he did not intend to make again. Eldgrim stepped towards the door just as it opened, giving the man an incredible start and he stumbled backwards.

  “Whoa! Stay back friend.” The man’s hand fell to his side with it resting upon the hilt of his sword.

  Eldgrim eyed his hand suspiciously and stepped forward. “Greetings.” Eldgrim said with a broad smile which never touched his eyes.

  “You gave us a start sir, what brings you here? I do not know you and I know every man in town. My name is Halfir, yours?”

  “I am called Eldgrim, and I am just passing through good sir.”

  “Well Eldgrim, No one just passes through Northspire.” Halfir said with a shaky voice, his hand still resting upon his blade.

  “Ah, well then. May I trouble you for some mead? I am quite parched from this cold air.” Eldgrim could see the wife of this man huddled with their son whispering something in his ear. He sighed as he could clearly hear her telling him to run to town and get more help. “Tell your boy to hold fast and let’s sit at the table and discuss this like… humans.”

  Halfir tilted his head confused at Eldgrim’s tone and the boy began to run towards the back of the house. Eldgrim moved with a speed unmatchable by Halfir, who was struck in the head and knocked to the ground. Eldgrim reached the boy before he could take two steps and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck. Halfir’s wife screamed as she too was picked up and pushed to the table in the center of the house. The fire, which rested in the center of the home, burned brightly giving an orange flickering glow to Eldgrim, Juin, and his crying mother. Halfir lay sprawled out on the ground behind them.

  “You hurt my father!” Screamed Juin at Eldgrim who merely smiled at the boy. Eldgrim savored the terrified look within the eyes of the two humans who stared at the serrated, terrifying blade that he calmly placed on the table before them.

  “Let us talk like civilized people. Boy, you saw something you should not have. No one gazes upon me…”

  “Saw nothing sir! Saw nothing and will say nothing just don’t hurt Papa and Mama!” Juin burst out in the middle of Eldgrim’s sentence.

  Eldgrim sighed heavily and shook his head looking down. “You see. Disrespect. It is all you humans know any longer. There was a time you would have built temples in my name. Bathed me in gifts and treasures and your maiden girls.”

  The two before Eldgrim exchanged confused glances as he seemed to be talking more to himself than to them. His voice was disconnected as if remembering something ages ago.

  Eldgrim continued. “But alas, those days are gone. The great Elders have retracted from the world and we are forced to hide from your kind. We are forced to observe you destroy yourselves and your land for what, so we can pick your strongest and bravest to become us.” Eldgrim again shook his head. He ignored a stirring behind him as he could hear Halfir regaining his senses and starting to rise.

  “That time will be again my children. Where we stand tall once again open in the free air and no more hiding and no more silenc
e. Where the Aelaar stand as kings and gods once again!”

  Tears were now streaming down the face of Juin and his mother, they were confused and Eldgrim was terrifying them. Juin’s eyes shifted upwards slightly revealing to Eldgrim that his father had risen and was preparing to strike. Eldgrim knew this and ignored it. Halfir slowly positioned himself with his sword raised, poised to strike between the armor and neck of Eldgrim in his chair. Once his sword was in perfect position, Halfir struck downward to meet its deadly mark. With blinding speed, Eldgrim stood up avoiding the mighty blow. Halfir, who had expected to meet flesh buried his blade deep into the chair that Eldgrim once sat. Halfir lost his grip of the sword and his face slammed hard into the back of the chair. His head whipped back and he fell to the ground dazed. The sword wobbled back and forth as Eldgrim stood by smiling darkly. Juin rose.

  Eldgrim screamed. “SIT BOY!”

  The voice commanded such power the boy stood in awe and slowly sat back down into his chair. Eldgrim slowly took his sword from the table and eyed a now bleeding Halfir on the ground. A large gash had opened on his forehead where his head met the chair.

  “Know this weak human, there is no shame in this death. You were brave and fought one of the great Aelaar. And you will die at the hands of the great Aelaar you fought. Not many can claim such a joy or honor.”

  Terror widened the eyes of Halfir as he lay upon the ground, too dazed from his injury to do more than clumsily attempt to rise to his feet. Eldgrim took his leather boot and placed it on Halfir’s chest holding him down. He had just lined up his sword with Halfir’s neck when suddenly small thuds hit him from behind. Juin had risen again and was striking Eldgrim with his soft little fist. Eldgrim turned towards him and smiled. “You are very brave. A stout and strong young lad, this event would make you a vengeful and powerful warrior. A warrior that would rise up to Thane and beyond. Revenge would fuel you to great things as you sought me out to end the man that ended your father. But alas, that is not your future.”

  Screams rose from the house as Eldgrim thrust his sword forward cutting a deep gash into Halfir’s neck. Halfir struggled to find breath but only found Eldgrim’s blade, his eyes slowly dimmed from the world. Eldgrim pulled his blade and turned to the sobbing and terrified family.

  “And now, the awe you feel looking upon me is at an end. And what could have been will never be.” Eldgrim approached the two before him with a smile that finally reached his eyes.

  BANG! The door to their small home slammed open and Devyn woke to a rush of heavy boots trampling his floor. Devyn rose to the screams of his daughters and heavily furred, armored hands reaching for him. He was dragged from his bed by three men and pulled into the streets in his small clothes and thrown into the snow. Devyn only felt the chill of the snow for a brief moment as the boiling rage built up within him.

  “Stay down! Mykal, check for others within!” Said a gruff voice of a man whose face was hidden behind a blackened leather mask. Devyn eyed the men furiously and looked around for anything he could use to defend himself. A scream filled the air from within the house and Devyn could just make out Mykal standing over Frida whom he had tossed to the ground. Devyn began to rise and received a heavy boot to the ribs sending him towards the edge of his house. Gasping for air Devyn held his stomach tightly and continued to hear the screams within. Rana’s voice screamed for him, a loud slap and a thud to the ground quickly followed. As Devyn caught his breath he raised his head, the shovel used to free him came into view. Reaching out he grasped the thick handled shovel in his hands while rising. Immediately one of the men covered in fur drew his sword and attacked Devyn, who dodged his clumsy attack easily. He buried the shovel’s sharp edge deeply into the throat of the man, twisting the handle sickly to finish the job. The man fell to his knees grasping his throat attempting to keep his life blood from flowing out and gasped for air sending a spray of red mist into the night sky. His companions turned, shocked, and both charged Devyn who caught one along the temple sending him and his sword into the snow while the other barreled into Devyn and pushed him to the ground. They tumbled in the snow before Devyn managed to slam a knee into the man’s face tearing off his mask noticing he had caused his nose to point the wrong direction. The man clasped his face while Devyn got to his feet grabbing the shovel once again. As he raised the shovel to bury it in the man’s exposed neck the other man he had hit in the head grabbed the shovel from behind. Devyn twisted and flipped the man to the ground, repeatedly slamming his naked foot into the man’s face until he fell limp. He raised the shovel again in a full over head swing and buried it into the face of the man with the broken nose.

  With the three men outside dead or incapacitated, Devyn raced inside. Just as he entered, Mykal attempted to mount Frida, Rana struck him in the head with a large wooden box. Mykal rose and turned his deadly gaze on Rana. Rage billowed inside of Devyn like nothing he had ever felt before, he grabbed Mykal’s shoulder turning him as he speared the shovel deep into the howling Mykal’s stomach slamming him into the wall. Devyn’s fury and brute strength from years of hard labor made it easy for the sharp shovel to tear through Mykal’s armor. Devyn turned his adversary on the end of the shovel towards the front door and launched him bleeding heavily into the snow outside. He watched as Mykal writhed on the ground clutching his stomach.

  Devyn glanced around the room looking for more men, finding none he helped his daughter up and thrust her into her room with Lil and screamed. “Stay hidden!”

  Rana remained staring out into the snow where Mykal writhed, her eyes locked onto him with nothing but hatred in her gaze. She started as Devyn approached her and she was clearly dazed from the events and the heavy blow she had taken to the face. Devyn helped her up and guided her into their daughter’s bedroom where Frida and Lil sat crying. Devyn was unsure of what to do next and looked around wondering if he should hide under the house or look for another means to hide himself. The blood and the bodies outside would not bode well for his family but he knew they would do worse if they knew he did it.

  “I will come back! Stay here.” Devyn frantically said as he raced from the room away from the three sets of arms reaching and crying for him. Devyn threw on his boots and a shirt and raced outside into the chaos that was tenfold worse than the raid a few nights prior. People were screaming, houses were aflame giving everything in the area an eerie, orange glow and the screams of terror which just recently had left his ears were back in full horror. Mykal still writhed on the ground outside their home, his cries for help were lost in the sounds enveloping the town. Devyn stood over him and drove the edge of the shovel into his throat to finish the job he had started. He moved on quickly from the bloody scene, eying the warehouse as a safe haven for the evening, with its many lofts it would be the perfect place to hide.

  Devyn leap frogged from house to house using each one as cover. He stood only a hundred yards from the warehouse when he rounded a house only to be caught square in the face by an armored fist and fell to the ground with his nose splattered in blood. A blurry image of a huge man stood laughing above him which he could barely make out from the ringing in his ears. Devyn clutched his shovel tightly and swung it wildly at the man before him who easily side stepped the frantic attack. Devyn clearly heard the soft sound of a blade being drawn and fear welled inside of him thinking those last terror filled moments would be the last he saw his family. The man spoke in a voice filled with humorless mocking. “Drop the weapon, farmer, and I’ll let you live. Fight, you’ll live but you’ll regret it!”

  Devyn’s warrior training began to return to him after fifteen years, he took the best stance he could while wielding a shovel. He attacked swiftly, the man’s huge blade shattered the handle of the shovel and he backhanded Devyn to the ground. Devyn tried to regain his wits about him as quickly as he could but could not do so before the man picked up the end of the broken shovel and lifted Deyvn from the ground.

  “The name’s Hrodny. You put up a fight again, and
I will bury this in your face.”

  Hrodny then smashed Devyn repeatedly with the blunt end of the shovel head until he blacked out from the pain.

  Devyn’s next memory was of him being dragged through the snow roughly by two men and being thrown into the back of a wagon on top of many other men who were all writhing from injuries they had sustained. Devyn could not understand how they did not receive an alarm that this army was coming. He put his head in his hands and forearms over his ears hoping to drown out the noise all around him as his head was bursting with pain. His eyes were blurry with blood and tears and he was sure his nose had been broken in the exchange with the giant Hrodny. The wagon lurched forward, Devyn could do nothing but lay there and await his fate. They wheeled slowly out of town and into what appeared to be an encampment which was being put up just outside of town. They may have come out of the shadows, but it appears they intended on staying awhile.

  Chapter III

  He curled into a ball gasping to catch his breath as he was roughly tossed from the wagon onto the earthen floor of a hastily thrown together tent. Devyn looked around through his tear filled eyes and saw numerous sullen faces staring at and around him. The eyes stared, but he was sure that they saw nothing. This raid had been much more successful than the previous one, the tent was packed full of sullen men.