The sun shined brightly on a surprisingly warm day in the North as the young man entered town. Rana was immediately struck by his lean frame and his graceful movements. He seemed very different from the men of Northspire, many of which repeatedly tried to court her with gifts and of shows of their strength. Rana only rolled her eyes at them as they were all the same. She knew one day she would marry one of them, as would be expected of her from her father. That was until this new man arrived, Devyn was his name and coming from the south he was full of mystery.
She watched him for many days before she built up the courage to speak to him. He was very distant and did not seem to show much interest in her at first. But she persisted in striking up conversation with him and was finally able to make him laugh after about a week. She could tell from his eyes that he had a troubled past, but that did not bother her. It might even make for more interesting conversation than the fishing harvest for the season.
It wasn’t long before she noticed that every morning he would travel out of town into the hills. It took her a bit longer to build the courage to follow him. On the day she did it was another warm day in Northspire and the ground was muddy and wet. Despite the warmth and unpleasant travel she walked far behind him hiding all the way. When she finally reached a hill overlooking him she watched him move with his blade with grace and skill. He was a swordsman. Rana frowned, he was just like the other men then, nothing but a mindless brute. As she turned to leave she heard his voice call to her.
“You make a lot of noise for such a small woman.” Devyn spoke with a mirthful smile on his face.
Rana flushed red and hesitatingly turned and approached him slowly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to follow you I just couldn’t help myself, I always wondered what you did out here.”
“Now you know.” Rana nodded dejectedly and turned to walk away until Devyn spoke up again. “Would you like to join me?”
Rana stopped in her tracks and glanced over her shoulder, Devyn had an extra sword and was holding it hilt first towards her. No one had ever offered to teach her to fight before. Women of the south were known to enter the fray of battle but women of the north were thought of as soft. Rana knew she was not soft but had never had the opportunity before. She nodded to Devyn, turned, and took the sword.
“All should know how to defend themselves in this world.” Devyn said as he looked her over and adjusted her stance. “Besides, I could never court a woman who didn’t know how to fight.” A wide smile creased his face as a bright red blush covered hers.
“RANA! They’re at the door again!” Reitz’s voice quivered as he shouted.
Rana had finished dressing and her daughters stared at her as she was lost in the memory. The slams against the makeshift door started again but they all knew it would not hold out as long. Rana ran out to the front room and saw Reitz plunging his sword through the opening in the door. Each time he pulled back his blade was covered in more gore. Arms reached into the broken door and reached for him hungrily. He hacked down madly at the arms and cut them from their former owners.
The press quickly became too much for the weak defenses and the table and door collapsed inward with a press of bodies. Rana and Reitz began their bloody task immediately by striking down these brutal creatures. For every one that they killed another two pressed into the doorway as the bodies began to block the door.
The press of bodies caused the mound of bodies to collapse inward and fall on top of Reitz who frantically struggled to regain his footing. Teeth and jaws and hands scratched and bit at him. Blood began to well from dozens of new wounds as he finally regained his balance and rose. Rana stabbed repeatedly into the heads of the press against Reitz. The creatures seemed focused on him due to his many open wounds and Rana could tell that he was beginning to weaken from the loss of blood.
A final press of these things was all it took for him to be pushed up against the wall, two of the creatures were on their hands and knees biting at his shins. Another two bit at his neck and shoulders. Reitz howled in pain as blood spurted from the new wounds opened by the creatures. He fell to the ground and the monsters continued their morbid work. Three more lumbered into the house, and three more fell to Rana. Reitz was still pinned and had fallen to the ground as the creatures tore into him opening a huge gaping wound into his stomach. The creatures buried their faces into the wound and began to devour his innards. Reitz’s screams and wiggling slowed as he faded from this world.
Rana went pale at the sight but maintained her calm and dispatched the remaining blue skinned men that gorged on Reitz’s flesh. She collapsed against the wall of the home with tears streaming down her face. They had to get out of here. Initially it seemed they may be able to wait this ordeal out like they always have. But this was too wide spread and the town was lost.
“Girls. We have to be strong and escape this. Bring all of the warm clothes we can put on our backs and let’s get out of here. Frida take this.”
Rana handed Frida the knife which she took with a quaking hand as tears streamed down her face. Rana picked up the sword once wielded by her protector Reitz. She raced into the bedrooms, tearing the furs from the bedding and the furs that hung on the walls to help insulate the house. They had to escape Northspire, the nearest town would be at least a two days march, and they would need to be warm for the trip. Despite all of their efforts Rana knew they would be cold and hungry by the end, at least the girls would be alive.
Rana ceased her pillaging of the home only for a moment when her eyes fell upon a shield Devyn had kept on the wall. It was an ugly thing, scarred from many battles, but it was part of him. She wasn’t exactly sure how it had managed to remain intact after the massive flooding but she took it as a sign her husband endured.
Rana wiped her tear streaked face dry and exited her bedroom to find her girls completely covered in thick furs. She smiled proudly at them for their strength to endure these days. Weaker girls would have folded under these horrible events, but they held strong.
Just as Rana began to walk towards the door something grabbed her leg. She struggled to escape the iron grip which grasped her, the wind was knocked from her as her assailant pulled on her causing her to fall face down onto the floor. Whatever grabbed her was desperately trying to pull her towards it. When Rana glanced back she saw milky white eyes staring back her from where Reitz had fallen. Rana screamed, as what was once Reitz pushed the dead creatures off of him and began to scramble on top of her. Its hungry eyes locked onto her calf and it clamped his slobbering maw down onto her leg. Rana screamed, almost as soon as the mouth bit down onto her furs, its head was removed from its shoulders in a lightning quick motion.
Rana looked around perplexed and paled when she saw him. Devyn stood over her panting heavily. A large man that Rana had remembered as being named Hrodny leaned heavily on the door frame breathing in labored gasps. Devyn didn’t say anything, he immediately inspected where Reitz had taken a bite of Rana. The girls were against the back wall shivering in terror as their father inspected their mother’s leg.
Devyn fell back heavily with a deep sigh of relief. “It couldn’t bite through the furs. You’re going to be fine.”
The girls charged, Rana leapt up to embrace him. It was the moment they had all been waiting to occur for so long, their joy of this long awaited event was undeterred despite the rotting corpses that surrounded them. Devyn and Rana locked eyes for a long moment, eyes that asked a million questions but were unable to ask any. After a long moment the two embraced in a long kiss that neither ever wanted to end.
Hrodny cleared his throat. “This is truly lovely and all but we should probably go.”
Chapter XX
“What is HE doing here?” Rana spat as her eyes locked on Hrodny.
Devyn looked at his shoes. “We were the only two to make it out alive.”
“What about Dorm?” Rana asked desperately.
“The only two.” Devyn said resolutely leaving no room for any more questions
on the matter.
Rana lowered her gaze with a tear in her eyes. Devyn gave her a firm hug that spoke volumes of the pain he was in. When they released Devyn took in the house all around him. It was much different than he last remembered, it seemed smaller somehow, and the wave had destroyed much of the memories that he had of the place.
Devyn locked eyes with Hrodny. “You should go back to your army now.”
A low chuckle rose up from him. “You can stuff that nonsense. I’ve no intention on returning there.”
“Fine. We could use another hand. Understand this, my primary focus is to keep my family alive. I will do anything to keep them that way.” Devyn said darkly with absolute seriousness in his voice.
Hrodny nodded. “Understood. You’re in charge, boss. After what we’ve been through, I’m more than happy to follow for awhile.”
“Let’s go.” Devyn announced and the family plus Hrodny exited as a fine snow started to fall steadily into the night.
Devyn took the lead with Frida and Lil close behind. Rana stood with Reitz’s blade in hand behind them with Hrodny taking up the rear. The night was bright from the many fires that had sprung up as a result of the assault, giving the family plenty of light to move by. The downside was that they were easily spotted by the multitude of blue skinned creatures that roamed the town. Citizens of Northspire, people Devyn had known for all his time here, lay sprawled out on the ground, torn to pieces. On some occasions they would pass red pools of blood in the snow but no corpse was near it. Either the body was devoured by the creatures or the body had risen to join them in their bloody slaughter.
The slow moving minions would lumber at them moaning and one of the three armed group members would strike it down before it got too close. They stood only inches apart while their eyes darted to all sides keeping a watch on any aggressors. Devyn avoided the main streets and moved through the darker side streets. Around one corner a gasp escaped the lips of his girls as they watched two of the minions dining on the fallen Mayor Barowyn. The two creatures lurched up at the sounds and charged the family. Devyn danced easily around them planting his blade deeply into their brains. Both creatures dropped before they could manage more than three staggering steps. Devyn continued moving without breaking motion and waved for the group to follow closely.
They all fell in line again and continued their journey out of the town. After two war bands, a wave from the Isindril, and now the attack of these creatures, Devyn knew Northspire was finished. The town he learned to love so much for giving him what he craved, peace, was gone forever. Most of the town lay in ruin, while the parts that were finally made livable were going up in flames. He assumed the creatures knocked over lanterns or walked through fires causing entire buildings to burst up into flames. Minion after minion approached and fell to the group but for every one that they killed there were fresh new recruits from the fallen of the town to take their place.
At long last and after many battles they peered out onto the snow covered fields beyond the town. The fields had recovered quickly from the crash of water and had a fresh blanket of snow over them. The camp beyond looked like a ghost town with most of them taking up residence in the homes within the town. He did not want to enter that camp again but it stood between him and the safety of his family and offered the only cover for miles around.
Devyn cursed under his breath as other survivors were also fleeing into the camps beyond the town and while he was happy there were other potential survivors, it would draw the creatures attention towards them. Just as Devyn turned to tell them the plan, he heard Hrodny begin retching behind them.
“You okay?” Devyn asked.
Hrodny waved his hand at him and retched again. “Am now. Today has been a bit much.” He gave a weak reassuring smile to the group.
Devyn nodded to him and continued. “We are going to get through the camp and head for the forest of Ferun to the south. It will keep us out of the elements and we can plan our next move.”
He did not wait for the assent of the group and moved out into the field quickly. They raced across the field, Devyn occasionally glanced over at the fellow evacuees who frantically ran clutching whatever belongings they thought they needed at the time. Many of the people who ran were people Devyn had known in the town, many of them had families that were not with them. It saddened him to think of the event in that light, a thousand terrible tales that would never be told. He had been so focused on rescuing his family, all others fell to the wayside and were not important. Devyn knew, selfishness in times like these was the only way to survive. It still pained him deeply inside to see his former neighbors running for their lives.
Behind them they heard the screams and roaring of many fires. In front of them the tents of the once bustling encampment rose like sentinels in the darkness. The camp was eerily empty and dark. All the torches which were lit that last time Devyn made his way out of this camp were gone. The only sound were the distant sounds from the town or the heavy running steps of some fleeing people. They raced through the dark encampment quickly and looked out onto the larger plains beyond. In the darkness it was hard to make out any detail, but the white field gave off a small amount of light, a dark area in the far distance revealed Ferun forest.
From beyond Devyn heard something fall. When he looked back Hrodny was on his stomach. He ran back and helped him up.
“What is wrong with you man?” Devyn asked.
Hrodny shook his head. “I’m not sure, I just got dizzy is all. We need to scrounge some food when we reach the forest. I am absolutely famished.” He vomited again against the tent. He wiped his mouth with his fur sleeve. “I’m alright now. Let’s get moving.”
With the fires and screams far behind them the family raced across the field towards the forest beyond. Devyn only hoped that none of those creatures followed them or found them. He looked back and even in the darkness he could see a mass of the minions of the Maeliz spilling out of the glacier. The mist had long faded from the glacier’s top and he could just make out a large black form against the white backdrop. A shiver ran down his spine at the thought of who that figure could be and was Azarah peering down at him racing away with his book in hand.
Hours past, their legs burned but the forest grew within sight. The glow of the fires of Northspire were far on the horizon as they could make out details of the trees of Ferun. The family stopped running and caught their breath. Devyn walked over to each of his girls and gave them a huge hug.
“I am so proud of you both. You have done so well. I’m sorry this has happened.” Devyn said as he gave them both kisses on their cheeks.
Rana walked over and put her hands on the girls and they hugged tightly. Devyn looked around and noticed Hrodny’s head slumped down while he wobbled where he stood.
“Stay with the girls, Rana.” He rose rubbing his hand across the back of Rana and patting Frida on the head.
“You with us Hrondy?” He spoke as he approached him slowly. “You alright?”
Hrodny did not answer or respond at all. It was difficult for Devyn to make out the large man’s face with the fires raging behind him. Devyn drew his sword as he closed the distance from him and reached out slowly with the tip of the blade. The tip of the sword nudged Hrodny softly on the shoulder and as his body moved, he roared. Hrodny lurched forward, flinging Devyn’s sword from his hands, his freezing cold pale fingers grabbed hold of Devyn’s throat and pulled him to the ground. Hrodny’s eyes were milky white as his face pressed dangerously close to Devyn’s. He could hear the screams of his family as he frantically searched for his sword. Hrodny was unbelievably heavy and Devyn could not keep him away. He kicked his legs and pushed hard against his body but he could not move him. Blood poured out of an exposed spot of skin on Devyn’s shoulder as his teeth sank deeply into his flesh. Devyn howled in pain as his hand found the shovel head strapped to Hrodny’s belt. He pulled the shovel head free and stabbed it repeatedly into Hrodny’s neck and head. The creature that was
once Hrodny released Devyn’s neck and faltered.
Hrodny lurched to his feet as Devyn kicked him away from him. Devyn scurried backwards just as Hrodny began to lumber forward. Devyn’s head reeled from the pain in his neck, he pressed one hand against the wound and felt the sticky blood pouring through his fingers. Hrodny’s milky white eyes locked onto Devyn, preparing to pounce and finish its bloody work as three arrows sprang from his head. The creature that was once Hrodny collapsed to the ground lifeless. Devyn’s vision swam as he tried, and failed, to gain his footing. He heard the screams of his wife and children as darkness started to fill his vision. The last thing Devyn saw was the long angled faces of three beings above him. Their ears were pointed and their eyes slanted slightly. They wore leather and their faces were painted many colors. They spoke in a tongue that he could not understand and he felt them press something against his wound. Pain surged through him as only darkness took over.
Azarah peered out over the horizon at the fires and terror below. He watched the blazing homes far below with what could only be described as joy on his dark, terrifying face. Slumped in one black claw lay a barely conscious Graen, he raised the bloody mass into the air with ease.
Within the Ice Page 23
