The clouds continued to dissipate. He thought he smelled a whiff of smoke. He came to a rise taller than those around it and climbed to the top. Smoldering ruins stretched across the rolling hills, and in the distance a dark mass coming from the north descended into a valley.
“Like ants swarming on their prey.” Caritha stepped up beside him and laid a hand on his shoulder. “Oganna is in that city. I’m certain of it.”
“What? In there!”
He dashed back to his Evenshadow and drew the sword of the dragon. The living fire lit him like a match and then returned into the blade, leaving him decked in the armor that only he wore. The warriors of light raced with him toward the valley—a line that seemed to stretch endlessly in either direction. He raised his sword and wheeled his stallion before them.
“March, men! March!” Their enthusiastic cheers deafened him, and the Warrioresses stepped up beside him. They drew their swords and walked toward the main highway. In the distance the din of battle grew. Ilfedo dug his heels into the Evenshadow’s flanks.
Patience was no longer a virtue.
24
THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
The double doors trembled as the giants tried to break inside Ar’lenon. The surviving megatraths shook their bloodstained hides. Oganna massaged her sword arm. As sore as it was, how would she handle another assault if the giants broke down the doors? Could she and the megatraths hold them back?
The giants set up a cheer that filled Ar’lenon.
With Vectra’s help, Oganna climbed to one of the arrow slits that overlooked the ramp. Giants packed the ramp. Five of them swung spiked battle hammers against the doors.
She unfastened her boomerang, held it out the opening, and flicked it into the giants. Once again it brought down several of them before settling back in her palm. Hopefully that would make the others think before attempting to bring down the doors. “All right, Vectra, you can let me down now. They have backed away.”
Taking advantage of the giants’ hesitation, the megatraths opened the doors and sent a tornado of fire and vapors onto the ramp. The enemy retreated, and the megatraths closed the doors and rebuilt the barricade.
“Oganna, you look exhausted.” Vectra rolled Oganna’s bedding outside the tent by the fireplace. “Catch some sleep. I’ll keep watch.”
Oganna peered into her tent for a moment. Gabel lay fast asleep. She dropped the flap over the opening and went to the water barrels. She poured the cool liquid over her arm and cringed as she rolled up her sleeve. The dried blood came with it. It wasn’t a terrible wound, but it was enough to weaken her even more. Exhausted, she bandaged her wound and fell asleep.
Ilfedo raised his hand, even as he reigned in his mount. Far ahead of him, coming out of the valley and from hills to the northwest, marched an unbroken line of giant men clad for battle.
Ombre rode up beside him.
“How many do you think there are, Ombre?”
“It’s difficult to say. A few thousand at least, and there could be more in the valley.”
The Warrioresses lined up beside him.
“My sisters.” Ilfedo gazed upon them. He had to make certain they stayed safe. Caritha’s eyes narrowed, and Rose’el slapped the flat of her sword into her palm. They looked ready to do something rash. “I want you to stay by my side, Caritha. If we are going to find out what is happening in that valley, then we will first have to break through these giants.”
Caritha nodded and scanned the advancing enemies. “Night is falling.”
He glanced at the reddening western horizon. “Good. That works to our advantage.” He twisted in his saddle to face Ombre. “Send the Elite Thousand ahead of the regular troops. Their swords will give them an advantage, as will their superior training.”
Drawing his sword, Ombre signaled to Honer and Ganning. They in turn signaled to the sub-commanders, who in turn led the warriors of light by two-hundred man divisions. Two of these fanned out to the east, one formed an arrowhead to strike the enemy’s opposite flank, and the remaining two divisions proceeded toward the valley.
Ilfedo kept his eye on the two moving to attack in the east. Suddenly the giants cheered, and the hills trembled as more marched from the valley. Their ranks swelled to the east and directly ahead. “Well, Ombre, how many are there now?”
His friend hesitated and started counting. At last he stopped. “Who cares?” He adjusted his breastplate. “Let’s go get them!”
The Warrioresses stretched their arms and twirled their swords. “The battle favors the bold.” Caritha’s blade glowed. “I second Ombre’s motion.”
“Yeah, and I’m hungry for a good fight with whoever has done anything to Oganna.” Rose’el grunted. “If we stay here we’ll end up on the defensive—and I hate being on the defense.”
Ilfedo rode ahead, and the Warrioresses ran after him. Ombre, Honer, and Ganning led the Elite warriors in their wake directly toward the heart of the opposing force. Ilfedo reached the giants first and cut into their ranks but found that he had left everyone else behind. Alone he battled the enemy, and on every side the large men fell beneath his sword.
He hacked and burned his way back to his own force. His warriors were locked in battle, unable to get past the giants and into the city.
“Fall back!” He led an ordered withdrawal and then summoned messengers. “It is time to bring all our forces to bear.”
The messengers ran to carry out his orders. The Elite Thousand regrouped, and the regular army stormed into position behind them. Their ranks covered the hills. He set his mouth in a firm line. The army of giants was formidable. He wanted every one of his warriors to go home to his wife and children. But to the army of giants he shook his head. A heavy price would be paid for the future queen today.
Dismounting, he sent his Evenshadow to the rear of the army and unsheathed his sword. With the living fire licking his armor, he marched down the highway. Eight thousand men shouted behind him.
The giants marched toward him, then broke into a run. He let them eat up their energy. As they drew near, he sprang upon their front line. His sword cleaved the first giant’s shield in half, and he stabbed him through the heart, then spun his blade behind him, impaling another.
Caritha sprang to his side, and Rose’el followed. Laura, Evela, and Levena brought down three giants simultaneously. Six strong, they advanced at the front of the army, stabbing and slashing until the giants’ hammering blows slowed the Warrioresses.
Ilfedo stabbed his sword into another giant and grabbed a fallen spear. The sapling-thick shaft made him stagger under its weight. He felt the sword of the dragon infuse his muscles with energy. He lifted the spear with a shout and threw it into his foes. It pierced a giant’s breastplate, passed through the body, and impaled another standing behind the first.
Several giants leered down at him and cracked their hammers and swords against his sword, driving him to the ground. The darkness of night settled around him. He could see the divisions of warriors with swords of light pressing upon the giants, but they battled beyond his reach.
He drove his fiery blade into a giant’s chest and severed the man’s head before his body hit the ground. Another giant stepped up and stabbed at him with a sword. He brought his blade down and cut it in two. Fire shot from his sword’s blade and set the giant’s head aflame. He ran the man through and turned to the next opponent.
Suddenly a wave of winged men sprang from deep in the giants’ ranks. They soared high, a hundred of them at least. Ilfedo grimly watched as another hundred Art’en sprang into the air, joining their fellows. Their screeches shot across the field of battle as they dove in one massive horde toward his army.
“Archers!” the call rang through his army. “Take aim! Fire!” A cloud of arrows rose over the warriors of light. The Art’en flapped their wings as if trying to stem their descent. The arrows found their marks, and the wave of flying creatures fell from the sky into the giants’ ranks.
Blood ra
n down Ilfedo’s blade and collected at its tip, dripping to the ground in a red stream. The light of his armor lit the area around him as bright as day. One of the giants came at him from behind and smashed its battleaxe into his helmet. He fell to the ground as his opponent pulled out a sword to run him through. Twisting away, he jumped back up, grasped the giant’s arm, and thrust him through his heart, dropping him like an oversized bear.
He felt his helmet with his fingers, running them along its unmarred surface. If he hadn’t had the dragon’s armor protecting him, that blow would have killed him. Three giants raced upon him. He arced his sword behind his back, holding it with both hands, then brought it to forward at their knees. They too fell, and Ilfedo drove deeper into the enemy lines.
It seemed that mere moments had passed when a dreadful cheer startled Oganna awake. Neneila the viper slipped around her neck. She rose and made her way out of the tent. Morning light streamed through the windows and arrow slits along the citadel walls. “Vectra?”
The megatraths stood facing the doors, their claws digging into the stone floor. Vectra ambled over to her side and spoke so low that only Oganna heard her. “I happened to look out the slit in that wall when the giants cheered. There is a new arrival in their ranks. I think this is the one Gabel called Razes.”
“Razes?” Oganna rubbed the sleep from her eyes and drew the Avenger from its sheath.
The doors groaned and shook. Outside the cheer rose again, stronger, and then the wood splintered into millions of tiny chips. A cloud of dust hindered her view for a moment. When it cleared, the figure of a giant stood alone on the ramp.
He was at least ten feet tall, though he seemed taller because of a steel helmet on his head. He cleared his throat and looked down on her. “There now, you must be the little dame about which I have heard so much.” He curled his fingers tighter around the long metal staff in his hand.
Oganna advanced onto the ramp. He pointed his staff at her, its head twisted into blades around a small white globe. Too late, she realized his intent. A wave of energy rippled against her, throwing her down and throwing several megatraths to the floor.
“He is mine!” Vectra spat. She and her companions charged onto the ramp.
Oganna struggled to rise but invisible bands forced her shoulders down. She could hear Razes cackling as he backed down the ramp, just out of Vectra’s range. “You are such loathsome creatures.” He waved his hand, and the other giants collided with the megatraths and knocked them into the street. Now nothing stood between her and him.
The wizard sauntered up the ramp, stepping over bodies. “So this is the mighty and beautiful princess of the Hemmed Land. Too bad your father isn’t around to save you from me—he’s busy elsewhere.”
In Yimshi’s light his black armor shimmered. Oganna stared in horror. Every surface of his apparel had been outfitted with protruding blades. Even the back of his leather gloves were barbed with razor-sharp metal. She struggled to rise and fought to lift her sword. The bands holding her broke, but she felt too weak to stand.
Razes twirled his staff in a circle, built speed, and brought it to bear against her head. The impact nearly knocked her out. Blood ran down her face. Pain knifed from her skull to her nose. The wizard swung again, and she cringed, unable to stop him.
An enormous sword slipped in front of her and parried the wizard’s blow. Gabel stepped over her and snarled at his nemesis. “Seeking to add yet another crime to your sins, Razes? Does it please you to see the innocent suffer?”
“Ah, Your Majesty.” The wizard mocked a bow. “So, you have survived the purging of Burloi. I should have guessed that you would come back.” He spun his staff around his waist. “The Valley of Death has made me strong. Very strong.”
Gabel took a step toward him. “If you are referring to the dark magic you wield, then you are mistaken, for it has allowed you to do terrible things and taken from you that which is most important: your soul. This power has consumed you and you are a slave to it, not the other way around.”
Razes grinned. “You are the one that has nothing, Gabel.” He spread his arms. “Look around you, old man. I have everything.”
“Everything? What you have is the support of a blind mob that destroys everything in its path.”
“Ah, but even a mob can serve a purpose.” He thumped his staff against the stone floor. “Just to show you how good of a person I am, I will give you one last chance to join forces with me. If you refuse me, then I will cut you up before I set to work on your little lady friend. Now step aside and prove your new allegiance by watching her die.”
Gabel’s knuckles turned white as he held the sword more firmly. “You have killed all the people that I loved, Razes. Except for this little angel. Your corruption ends here.”
The wizard guffawed. “You could not end it before—”
“Don’t act so confident, you slime pit! When you beat me, you had your apprentice with you. Now it is as it should have been—just you and me!” Gabel circled left. His eyes resembled cold steel, and every muscle in his body tensed. Oganna could only imagine the hate that swelled in his heart as he slashed viciously at his adversary. He stabbed his sword into stones, and they blew up in the wizard’s face.
Oganna sat in shock. Gabel’s sword had powers. Why had he not mentioned it to her?
Razes leapt out of the way, pointed his staff in the king’s direction, and hit him with a blinding flash of light. He laughed as Gabel stumbled, and despair crept into Oganna’s heart. The wizard spread his arms. “Are you having trouble with your eyes, old man?”
Gabel staggered closer to Razes and then sank his sword into the wizard’s leg. His gaze shifted to the wizard’s face. “Sorry, my mistake, I guess I wasn’t stunned by your blast after all.”
Screaming in pain and anger, the wizard grasped Gabel’s neck and raked his blades down the length of his chest. Blood pooled on the stones as Gabel dropped his sword. Razes brought his knee up, driving its blades into the king’s abdomen. He let him drop to the floor. “Did you really think you stood a chance, old king?”
Still weak and a little dizzy, Oganna struggled to her feet and held her sword. Avenger’s blade turned crimson, and the silver garments covered her. She looked upon her fallen defender with all the love she could have given a second father, and tears flooded her eyes. Gabel’s eyes looked back at her from his mutilated face. They were sad, yet fulfilled, then as they closed forever, he murmured, “There is great potential in you, Princess Oganna. Don’t let anyone tell you differently, little lady.”
Gathering her last strength, she darted behind Razes and stabbed wherever his body presented a target.
“Is that all you can do?” He dodged her blows and thwacked her sides with his staff. She felt Neneila fall limp under her shirt.
Razes growled at the sky and hit his wounded leg with the head of his staff. The wound cauterized, and he thrust his blade-ridden fist at her.
She stumbled, and then stood still. Desperately she tried to understand why her senses seemed impaired. Why couldn’t she attack him? An oppressive darkness crept over her. At last she recognized the spell he was using against her. Her mind was in a panic. His power bound her, reached inside her, and stole her will. Then it struck something else, a residual strength innate and untamable: her dragon side.
With all her will she pushed back and fought against the spell. “Depart!”
The force of her refusal threw Razes backward, and he screamed in frustration. “You little imp! Resistance is useless.”
Oganna cast fire from her blade, but his staff absorbed it. She struck with lightning, yet his staff resisted, and he remained unharmed. “Your powers cannot match mine. I have been trained by the greatest of wizards in all deadly arts. Now, witness my power.” He stretched his hands to the sky. Far above lightning flashed in the clouds. The wind whipped through the city and swirled the clouds until they spun far above. Lightning flashed, zipped beneath and into the clouds, then spiked towar
d the earth. The bolts wove through one another, gathered speed, and headed toward the place where she stood.
The bolts blasted against her head and shoulders, but she pulled the first one down and wrapped it around her body as a shield so that the other bolts entwined themselves about her, then simply dissipated. “How little you know of the power of good.” She gazed up at Razes and frowned. “It will overcome you.” Thereupon she pummeled him with blows from the Avenger. On every side she poured her fury like rain and sought to find a weakness.
Razes blocked her sword, and the head of his staff slipped past her defenses, landing blows on her thighs, shoulders, and then her chest. She gasped for air, drew back Avenger, and charged him with her blade aimed for his chest. But Avenger’s point clinked against his armor and slid over it. She widened her stance, seeking to rebalance herself.
Raising his staff above his head in both hands and pointing it at her, Razes sneered. Black and red energy blasted from the staff’s end, striking the ramp at her feet. The stones trembled and cracked. They crumbled into dust beneath her, and she fell. A moment of weightlessness and a glance downward; the ruins of stone buildings rose to meet her. Her spine impacted a large stone block, snapping her head toward the ground. Every muscle in her body burned as she tried to raise her head. She screamed.
Razes leapt down after her, and his staff appeared to absorb the shock of his fall. “Poor, poor thing.” He clacked his tongue and held the razors on the back of his hand against her face. “What a pity.”
Her vision blurred, and she breathed in rapid, short bursts that seemed void of air. She glimpsed his evil face as he sliced into her skin. The pain compared to nothing she had ever experienced. If she could have cried out she would have, but she had run out of tears. Before she lost consciousness, she felt his staff crush into her face and then chest. No longer could she feel pain.
Offspring (The Sword of the Dragon) Page 35
