by P. G. Thomas
The black-clad, who were accustomed to the dark, now blinded by the intense light, stumbled to get their bearings. Logan screamed ‘FIRE,’ and the archers all stood easily seeing their close targets.
Ladders and ropes meant to breach the wall, tripped up the invaders, making them easier targets. As the flares slowly burnt out in the skies, no soldiers were moving within a mile of the wall, except for those unseen black-clad souls that now floated up to whichever heaven they believed in. As the first sun began to peek over the mountains, the evidence of the battle was extensive, as more than five hundred enemy soldiers lay motionless in the valley. However, in the distance, everyone on the wall heard the noise, which echoed down the valley. A new line of adversaries, flanked by cavalry units was slowly marching towards the town.
Logan was blowing into his hands, “Nuts.”
“They should Stop and eat,” began Bor, “War it may be, but civil they could be. Dwarf with empty stomach cannot fight.”
“Their sails, what wind fills them? Again, they attack. Valley this way must slope, so downhill they roll, and no choice they have?” asked Fen.
*******
Nur had been sleeping on the couch in the front room, and Panry’s pacing had slowly chased away her troubled dreams, “No word?”
“Not any sight or clue of Earth Mother can be found. Zack can find no scent of Earth Mother, nor scent of traitor. Dwarf, thief guilds, Watch. Not any signs can they find. Like ice on a hot day, Earth Mother melts into nothing. It does not make any sense.”
Nur visibly shaken at the news lowered her head into her hands, “So what happens next?”
“Dwarf has checked the town again. I have visited with Pintar and arranged to borrow the fast horses when Eric and Logan return, and he sent Earth Scouts into the nearby forests. I fear magic was used, but Mirtza did not hear any spells. I sent for Gayne to see if he can shed light on where only darkness now lingers.”
Nur raised her head from her hands, “Magic?”
“Mirtza, his bracelets do not recognize distance. He found them in the Newlands, yet that day they arrived on the dwarf road. Months of travel done instantly. Mirtza tried to explain it to me, but I do not understand. He said it is possible to open a portal in Earth Mother’s room and abduct her. He does not know how or who could perform such a deed, only that it is possible.”
Lowering her head back to her hands, Nur began to cry.
*******
“Move. Out of my way.”
“Eric, brother. they are citizens, not soldiers. Calm down.” Aaro was having little luck with the large dwarf who carried the big sword. “You should be polite.”
Forcing their way to the stairs, Logan, Bor, and Fen sprinted to meet their friends. The lead commander from the previous day, thinking the three were the scouts for the reinforcements, also forced his way through the crowd to get an update.
Logan, his eyes large dark orbs, approached Eric, “Father Chosen, you arrived just in time. We defended day one and day two, but again the black-clad have started to attack. Fortuitous is your arrival.”
“That I will decide,” he said walking towards the gate.
The lead commander looked to Aaro, “When will the reinforcements arrive?”
“Reinforcements? There are none. Only Eric.”
The lead commander shook his head, “We are doomed. One man cannot fight them. I thought an army was heading here.”
“Doom has arrived, but it will not embrace the west. The black-clad; doom’s wrath waits to welcome them,” advised Hakk.
As the guards at the gate saw Logan and Eric walking towards them, they opened them without asking, watching the two odd figures head out into the valley.
Logan looked up to the clear blue sky, “Father’s rage is absent this day.”
“We are in disagreement. Angered him I have.”
“How does one anger Father?”
“Black-clad, surrender I offered. Spoke of peace, offered them life.”
“Father Chosen, has your blood lust be satisfied?”
“Promised battle I was. I only squash bugs. Blood lust, no honor it has. Challenge me, black-clad do not.”
Stopping, Logan leaned against a smoldering wagon, “The prophecy speaks of rivers of blood, night screams of terror, and a blood lust that you cannot fill. The prophecy does not mention challenge nor promise battle. Was your prophecy rewritten in my absence?”
“You, battle-worthy you are! Test me you would. Different sides, great battle it would be. Earth Mother, stubborn she is. Battle worthy also. Ryan, cross the line, I wish he would, but allies, battle I cannot.” Eric spit on the ground, “Instead, bugs I squash.”
“Your purpose is clear Father Chosen. You are born with blood lust born. Embrace it.”
“Prophecy and promise, in conflict they are. Mother, Father, conflicted also. My concerns, considered not. Father, battle he wants. Mother, peace she seeks. Prophecy, Father’s lie to me. Send me to squash bugs both do.”
Logan looked to the advancing black-clad army, “Squash bugs and blood lust, they are both the same, so I suggest you embrace both.”
Eric shook his head, “Second option, embrace neither.” He pointed to the west wall, “Two million, poorly trained but defended better.” He then pointed to the black-clad army, “One hundred thousand. Better armed, poorly trained. A fair fight. Let them work it out. Climb a mountain, watch, wager with me. See who wants to live more.”
“Mother’s children did not start this, and defend them you should.”
“Mother’s children, start they did not. Finish, I would suggest.”
“You would turn your back on Mother’s children?”
Reaching for the sheath from his back, he pulled Tranquil Fury from it, pushing the first six inches of the tip into the soil. Smashing it with his other hand, lightning ran under the ground in search of the enemy. “Five hundred just died. Two days, to kill the same it took you. Fair fight that was. Father, one breath, all black-clad he could slaughter. Mother, easily she could fix. Need me, they do not!”
“You are mistaken, Father Chosen!”
“Find me battle-worthy. Then battle I will. Eric calls them lemmings, calls me Cliff. Understand I do not. Worthy of battle, not are black-clad. Murder them, I will not.”
“Then Mother’s children will be slaughtered instead.”
Eric’s voice was hollow, “No. Fight I would suggest. Equal are the odds, easily win they can, but fight they have to.”
“So Father Born rebels, challenges both Mother and Father?”
“No, but murder I will not. Surrender they will not. Leave they will not. Fight them I will not.”
“Father Chosen, you must be confused. Black-clad fight already, so no option you have. If you challenge Father and Mother, their wrath will be great. Should you wish to alter your path, be cautious of where you step.”
Eric looked at Logan, “Sister Chosen, much free will you have. More than I. Mother, her children, protect them she wants. Your protection, grant her children.” When he flicked the massive sword with his finger, an immense wave of lightning rolled under the ground, finding the black-clad. The sudden shock forced them to take several steps back. He kept flicking the sword, causing lightning to travel under the ground, pushing the black-clad soldiers backwards.
“What would you suggest?”
“Mother, peace she wants. Stronger than Father, she is. Grant her desire and innocent slaughter you prevent.” Eric just kept flicking the sword as the black-clad kept retreating, “If black-clad attacks not. Then both sides do win. Neither will lose.”
“How does victory and loss both be achieved?”
Looking high into the mountains, Eric saw the snowcapped peaks encrusted with fresh ice. “Winter high, bring low. Block the pass. Then none can fight. Innocents slaughtered not, all will live.” He just kept flicking the sword, causing the advancing army to retreat.
Realizing that Eric had pushed the black-clad past the narrows of t
he pass, Logan looked up to the white peaks, called out, “I am thirsty.” Embedded in his call, a command sent to the top of the mountains, finding the bottom layer of snow, the layer closest to the mountain. Hearing the command, it complied. Logan and Eric slowly started to walk back to the gate. After five minutes, he called out again, “My thirst builds.” High up, snow became water, flowing down, lubricating the snow pack. “QUENCH MY THIRST!”
With the rumble starting high in the mountains, the snowpack was no longer held in place. The top layer heavy with ice, having no anchor to hold it, began to slip, overtaking the water. Snow, trees, chunks of mountains, and more all flowed down into the pass. Snow billowed up, as the white thunder came crashing down to the valley floor.
Sensing an oddity, Logan stopped. “You have tricked me. The black-clad did not retreat far enough!”
Eric shook his head, “No trick, Sister Chosen, you act too soon. Today you please Mother and Father.”
Turning, Logan saw the avalanche and an image formed in his mind. Those clad in black, looking up at the white death falling down. Some were lucky, being close to the sides of the pass. Buried by rocks, they had their life force crushed from them in seconds. With most in the middle of the pass, the snow buried them quickly, but death came slowly, trying to claw their way out, but eventually, everything went black for those buried in white.
Logan’s eyes wide with horror, “You truly are your Father’s son.”
“Not much challenge these black-clad are. As innocent as children, innocent like Mother’s children.”
*******
Eric, Logan, and the four Ironhouse brothers were sitting in a private room at the inn. Tired and confused, they had decided to put off the return trip until the following day.
“So, Eric, what happened?” asked Logan.
“It’s weird sharing thoughts with somebody else. The best that I can determine, Tranquil Fury wants to be a great fighter, but if all he does is beat up those weaker than himself, he’s nothing but a bully. He doesn’t want to be that, he wants to be a hero.”
“Then why have me bury the black-clad in the pass?”
“Father I think? Tranquil Fury still needs to please him to keep him on his side. Father loves battle. Tranquil Fury is looking for a purpose, beyond blood lust, but he has to keep him happy.”
Chapter 7
Blowing out the candle, Lauren wiped the last tears from her face, pushing the images of Gor and Alron from her thoughts. No more will die because of me. Mother, I found your children and showed them the threat. I’ve pushed back the shadows, showing them the truth. I don’t know what to do next, but I will not fight their battle for them. You’ve failed to guide me, but please don’t turn your back on your children, like you’ve done to me.
Rolling over into the stale pillow, she pulled up the thick dusty blanket for warmth, issuing one last prayer for a dreamless sleep; none heard it. The fatigue of crying and questioning all day had left her emotionally drained again. No sooner were her eyes closed when sleep overtook her, but three days of fixating on armies and death, her brain trying to understand the issues, rewound and then replayed her thoughts. She tossed and turned all night, fighting the nightmares that filled her sleep.
*******
For three days, the Earth Mothers had taken over the town meeting hall. Each day at noon, the room would fill with dwarves, elves, and midlanders, but chaos and confusion were the unexpected guests. They would repeat the story that Lauren had told them, to the best of their ability: the invasion, the mass graves, and the plague hoax. Each day when the first sun retreated, the Earth Mothers would go back to their house to discuss the day’s events, defeated. On the fourth morning, worried about Lauren, frustrated with their results, and being curious about the news the sky elves would bring, they headed over to the house where they would update Lauren if she were present. John was sitting in the backyard, as a tired Panry paced from one end to the other, trying to figure out what he had overlooked. When the Earth Mothers arrived, John could tell by the look on the different faces that something was wrong. Arora waited for Panry to look at her, but when he stopped, he spoke no words, just shook his head.
Nur swore under her breath, “Everybody knows the plague is a hoax, and that the Royal House has invaded the east. We told them about what you had discovered, and while shocked, they accepted the news. A large group saw what Earth Mother did in the valley, and they figure that she can defend the west. Another group figures that she took out their only army, but when we advised that two more armies advanced, they wanted details that we do not know, and there was more.”
John interrupted, “Let me guess. You told them about Eric and the sword?”
“I am sorry, but it slipped out. Most want Eric or Earth Mother to fight the Royal House, and we have one faction that wishes to discuss peace with them. The dwarves want to go to war, and some think it is all but over. In general, they are all scared and confused.”
“Not any army of that size have I seen before, John.” Brook was as confused as the rest, “Conflicts we have had before, one thousand, maybe two. Disagree over forest or mountain, but conflicts are quick and deaths were few. Talk is swift and words settle the dispute, not bloodshed, like when Father provided guidance. We do not know what we should do.”
“Wow. When we first came here, I had no idea what was happening. Slowly, I thought that there was divine intervention or somebody with a plan. The sword and Eric, those pieces go together. Lauren, the staff, and Mother, they all seem to fit. Even Logan and Sister seem reasonable. The land being so large would naturally slow down the black-clad invasion, and there are numerous reasons why all of it makes sense. If we had arrived in the west, we would never have found the evidence. Once we knew what was happening, finding the children, well that even makes sense.” John shook his head, “Then, after everything we’ve been through to get here, we finally find an invading army, and we show it to the people. Nobody knows what to do? Everybody is just scared and confused. I’m curious. Do you think they’re more scared and confused than the six of us, with all of the crap we went through?” He took a deep breath, “I’m sorry. Getting angry won’t solve anything. I would suggest, if you could, find a group that wants to talk to the Royal House, send them out. As for whether it is over, in the middle, or just the beginning, you need to prepare for all three possibilities. We made some correct decisions and had a bit of luck. If we had not learned about the Mountain Eagles, we wouldn’t know about the threats, and the Earth Scout idea was a stroke of genius from Lauren. Bottom line, the west is under attack. You need to do something about it, not Lauren, Eric, or Logan. If anything happens to any of them, then the west is doomed. If they attack multiple fronts or get lucky with another sneak attack, hell, even plan a bigger attack, what’ll you do then? Surrender?”
“John, the night Eric rode out. He argued with Earth Mother. What did she mean?” asked Nur.
“I think that Lauren is afraid that Tranquil Fury isn’t the end of this crisis, but he’s the beginning of a bigger one. That he may win the battle but that the black-clad will return, attacking again even stronger. Where we come from, a very long and bloody history precedes us, and I think Lauren’s afraid the same may start here.”
Arora nodded, “How long did that time last?”
“For over fifteen hundred years there was always a conflict. Over time, they slowed down, grew bigger. Then we had a war that they said would end all wars.”
“Did it?” asked Nur.
“No, the next war was even bigger, and the one after it, even bloodier. I think Lauren was trying to stop the war so it wouldn’t become endless violence. However, with two armies marching this way, the death of Gor, and no way to defend the west, it was all too much for her. If Gor hadn’t died, then we would have three fronts attacking us. I don’t know if she opened the doors to increased bloodshed, or if she saved the west. We may not know until Eric comes back, and even then, it is anybody’s guess. If Tranquil Fury
did what he was born to do, the west could be safe for a while.” Pausing, he thought of what Lauren had said to Eric, “I think this is the part that had her scared. If Tranquil Fury unleashes his prophecies on those two armies, adding in the two that Lauren destroyed plus the fort, the black-clad army or Royal House or whatever they are, they have now lost almost 500,000 soldiers. There are two possibilities. First, we have decimated their armies, and they can no longer go on the offense, in which case, the west is safe. Not sure for how long but safe for a while.”
While Panry had no desire to ask the question, he knew that no one else would, “What is the second possibility?”
“The Royal House is going to be pissed. They’ll gather all of their forces, throwing everything they have at us. They may have already lost, but anger and rage will make them fight on. If they have more soldiers, we’ll need to raise an army also. If they continue to attack, after losing that many, nothing this side of those three suns will stop them. Even then, if you chase them back to where they came from, one day they’ll return. Then the war will start all over.”
Nur was holding her head between her hands, “How did it end?”
“It doesn’t,” replied John as he walked back to the house.
“Fifteen hundred years of bloodshed,” advised Arora. “Is this why Father searched them out, their legacy? It is equal to his own. The old days, does he wish them reborn?” None in the small group had an answer to Arora’s question.
*******
When Lauren woke the next morning, she reached for Zack’s lighter and the candle, and when she had light, retrieved her leaf pouch. From it, she pulled out a berry to satisfy her hunger. “Yes, Mother, I know it is blasphemy, but I really don’t care.” She counted the remaining candles and berries, determining how much longer she could remain a fugitive. Let them make their own plans, let them pick another. The berries, while providing the necessary sustenance, had the additional benefit of not producing waste, which she was thankful for. Even though it was a prison, she was glad that it lacked the smells from the cells where they found Zack.
