The Exile's Redemption (The Heart of a Tyrant Book 1)

by Reece Dinn

The shadows leapt at the female mirac from all sides, biting it and stabbing its sides with the spikes on their backs. The female's mir hurried away, but their cumbersome bodies weren't very fast. One sehseh broke away from the female to chase one down.

  Lightning. Melonaz pushed out his Raiz to fire a blast of lightning at the sehseh pursuing the mir. The blast hit it in the face and it flew back with a howl, bouncing and rolling across the snow until it came to a dead stop. He drew the expended Raiz back in, and prepared to fire again. He was sweating he found, the use of Raiz tiring him, and its heat sent his body temperature soaring.

  Reijiz was up and running to the female too, waving a long stick in his hand. He fight them with that?

  One of the sehseh was on top of the female's head. Melonaz blasted it with lightning. The blast struck the sehseh in the side and it flew off her, he didn't see where it landed. The other sehseh barked and howled, leaping off the female. They bolted away, disappearing into the night.

  The female mirac bled from many wounds, but she was still standing. None appeared fatal.

  'She'll live,' said Reijiz, after he'd examined her. 'If wound not go bad.'

  Melonaz created fire and torched one of the fallen sehseh. The smell of it made his stomach turn and he walked away, searching for the second one. There was no body, but a short distance away he found an imprint of a body in the snow. A set of sehseh tracks led away from it. He headed back to Reijiz.

  'Find it?' Reijiz asked.

  Melonaz shook his head. 'It alive.'

  'The herding life's not bad, yes?'

  'I go sleep,' mumbled Melonaz, walking away.

  Melonaz stayed with Reijiz for a moon and a half before it became too much for him to bear. On the morning of the tenth day he told Reijiz he was leaving. He didn't wait for him to respond. When he returned home his Mal tutted, but said nothing.

  The final few days of his punishment were spent skulking around the village. He found places to sit alone and meditate, lightly train, or carve his second model sword, he'd finished the first but disliked his design. The rest of his time was spent gorging on food. By the final day of the second moon he felt he was ready to train and excited about returning to it. After his evening meal he went to bed early, but found he could not sleep as he was too anxious. Eventually, late into the night, sleep did find him.

  Melonaz was woken by Reijiz returning home a short while later. He and Melonaz's Mal spoke for a while, then started to fuck. Melonaz sneaked out before they got going.

  The night air was cold, crisp and pitch black, both moons hidden below the horizon for several more days. I hate dark time. He was always weary when both moons were gone, the night felt more dangerous and suffocating. He made his way to the small cutting stump that had become his favourite place to go when his Mal fucked.

  'Melonaz.'

  Melonaz squealed, shoving his hand into his furs to grab his knife.

  'I pretend I not here that.'

  Melonaz's hand found the knife, but he didn't draw it. 'Lial?'

  A faint light suddenly illuminated the area. The Lial was seated on the cutting stump, Rorkaroz resting against his shoulder. His Lialstone glowed in the faint light emanating from the Lial.

  'Think you come here. See you two times here before in the night. Why you here?' asked the Lial.

  'Mal fucking Reijiz. Not want to listen.'

  The Lial grunted, nodding his head slightly. 'Sit.' The Lial motioned to a spot at his feet and Melonaz sat down. The Lial stared at him, his dark eyes even more intimidating in the darkness. 'Hear you herd for a moon,' he said. 'Your Mal keeps you busy.'

  'Yes, Lial,' said Melonaz.

  'How it go?'

  'Kak.'

  'That's how you will live if you don't listen to what I say. Want that life?'

  Melonaz shook his head, looking down at the Lial's feet.

  'You do as I say. Not train. Good. There's hope for you,' said the Lial.

  Glad he not know I try to. Melonaz nodded.

  'You strong. Have skill,' said the Lial, reluctantly. 'You have more skill than most old Sehnal. Not learn control though, learn discipline. You not know your weaknesses. Experience teach that.'

  'Weak? Lial. I..'

  The Lial frowned. 'You think you better than the other Sehnal. That stupid. Need think all warrior you fight as strong as you. So they not surprise you.'

  'Lial, I..'

  The Lial held up his hand. 'I know. Young Sehnal not strong enough. Old Sehnal too strong. They have more experience, more muscle. Think you stronger than them? You not. That why you lose. Need learn to judge opponent. How strong? How weak? Find way to win.'

  I do, lobkak. He not listen. Melonaz nodded, remaining quiet.

  The Lial hesitated before continuing. 'I need your help, Melonaz.' He measured his words carefully. 'You know what is coming. Sehnal need be ready. Little Sehnal weak, will die if ludenez attack. I need your help. They need to be strong. Old Sehnal ready. Not many of them though. If horde as big as they say, we lose.'

  Melonaz swallowed hard. The Lial had never spoken to him like this before. 'I do good, Lial. Promise.' He not hate me?

  The Lial half smiled. 'Good,' he said, 'We need train young Sehnal. They need learn use Raiz. You train with old Sehnal two times a moon. See how you do.' The smile vanished. 'Forget what happen with Nekolz. It done, yes?'

  'Yes, Lial.' Beat him hard in duel. Smash his face in. Show him who strongest.

  'Not say about ludenez to no one, yes?' The Lial rose. 'See you in morning. Don't be late.' The light vanished, and with it the Lial.

  After a moment Melonaz reached out and put his hand on the stump. The Lial had gone. How do? Not hear snow crunch. He looked around, but it was too dark to see anything.

  Melonaz sat on the stump for most of the night, thinking about what it would be like to face a ludenez. It didn't frighten him, but he knew it should. I stupid like a mirac? Eventually he felt tired enough to brave returning to his Mal's furaz, hoping that her and Reijiz had finally fallen asleep. To his relief they had. Sleep took him soon after he wrapped his furs around himself.

  'You strong again,' said Tenalkz, reeling back.

  'What think? I go weak in two moons?' Melonaz smirked, levelling his wooden sword at Tenalkz.

  Tenalkz charged and thrust his wooden spear at his chest. Melonaz beat it away, once, twice, determined not to be forced back. Tenalkz stabbed at his head, but Melonaz ducked under it, then tackled him, the spear grazing his back. Melonaz slammed him to the ground then, before Tenalkz could knock him off, he had his sword at his throat.

  'That's different,' said Tenalkz.

  Melonaz smirked. 'Aim for head? Why? Stupid.'

  Tenalkz shrugged.

  Melonaz removed his sword and got off his friend. 'I miss this. It feels good.' He breathed in deep. He looked around at all the Sehnal sparring. 'Fight again?' he asked.

  Tenalkz reluctantly agreed to one more.

  The two stepped away from each other and entered into fighting stances. Melonaz was about to charge when the Lial called for everyone to stop. Tenalkz sighed in relief.

  The Lial sat on top of his rock.

  The Sehnal came to him and sat down, cross legged. Melonaz and Tenalkz sat at the back of the group. Melonaz was so happy that he was even looking forward to helping the Lial train the others to use Raiz.

  'You all do good. Five moons you practice. Some learn, others struggle. It hard to learn Raiz. We try for one more moon. If no one can learn, then you not train again. Sehnal who not use Raiz not Sehnal. You go be huntman, herdman. Be bono..' The Lial stopped suddenly, his eyes flicking up, looking past the group.

  Melonaz and the other boys turned to see what had caught his attention.

  A man walked across the grounds towards them, a long Sehnal braid blowing behind his head. He was big, his furs clinging to his tall, lean body. At his side hung a black sword that looked too long to be a one handed weapon. The man's eyes were fixed on the Lial. As he r
eached the group Melonaz could see that the man sported several white scars on his bearded face.

  The man walked right through the Sehnal, stopping just short of the Lial's rock.

  The Lial stared at him, speechless.

  'It time to duel, Lial,' he said, 'I ready to be Apochal.'

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  Beroz swallowed hard. He bigger than I remember.

  The Lial stood opposite him ten paces away, his black furs making his massive body appear even bigger. He held his staff casually at his side, but Beroz knew that in the blink of an eye he could smash it in to your skull.

  'This isn't a good time,' the Lial had said after Beroz'd issued the challenge.

  'It time,' Beroz had replied. Then that was it. A challenge had to be met, no matter what.

  He knew the Lial hadn't recognised him, which had stung a little, but then he'd not stood out from the rest of the Sehnal during training, being neither the strongest or the weakest. I change. He see. Whether he'd improved enough to beat the Lial was a different matter. Can't back out. Win, lose, die if I must. His scarred hand still throbbed. He'd spent the previous two days resting and eating as much food as he could to ensure that his body was in peak condition. It'd worked.

  Die. His hand pulsed with pain. He resisted the urge to rub it, knowing it made no difference.

  The Lial's Sehnal had gathered around the edge of the training ground. There were more of them now than there'd been when he'd arrived. He tried to ignore them, focus on the powerful Lial that in mere moments he'd be fighting.

  This bad idea. Not ready. No. He took a deep breath to calm himself.

  The Lial approached.

  It time. Beroz met him. The Lial held out his staff and Beroz struck it with Mutumuz. He held out Mutumuz and the Lial struck it. His whole arm shook from the impact and he nearly dropped his sword. They bumped heads then separated, returning to their starting positions.

  Beroz focused his Raiz and entered into an attacking stance, ready to charge head on at the powerful Lial. Attack fast. Attack hard. Keep close.

  The Lial appeared even more intimidating now. He held his staff with both hands, raising his right hand high and lowering his left so the staff crossed his body.

  Beroz took another deep breath.

  Time ground to a halt. The unbearable silence made the tension maddening.

  A bead of sweat ran down the left side of his face.

  'Fight,' cried the Lial.

  Beroz used Hakah and bolted forward, screaming wildly. He swung hard at the Lial's chest, pouring more Raiz into his sword arm to strengthen the attack. The Lial raised his staff to block.

  Metal rang on metal. His sword ricochetted off the staff, his arm shuddering, barely able to keep ahold of Mutumuz. He'd expected to knock the Lial back at least, but he was unmoved, as if nothing had happened. Drawing the expended Raiz back, Beroz made to strike again.

  The Lial burst into motion.

  Pain exploded in Beroz's flank and he was flung aside. He groaned, skidding across the snow. Before he could even twist back around he was smashed in the face and knocked off his feet. He crashed to the ground, tremendous pain surging through his head and body. Screaming, he sprang back to his feet and spun around, attempting to swing at the Lial, but something thudded into his stomach, flinging him back, the air exploding out of him. He landed on his rear, his teeth chattering together.

  A flicker of movement in front of him made him raise Mutumuz on instinct. The Lial's staff struck hard, knocking his sword's tip to within a hair's breadth from his crotch. He cried out as he used Hakah, and with the extra strength he jumped back to his feet and lunged forward, thrusting Mutumuz at the huge Lial.

  The Lial struck him hard on the wrist, smacking Mutumuz out of his hand. Beroz cried out, then more pain exploded through his head as the staff thudded into his temple, and he was sent staggering to the side. The backs of his knees where struck and he fell forward.

  No. He broke his fall with his scarred hand and used Hakah in his arm and chest to boost himself back upright. Spinning around, he lashed out with Mutumuz and connected with the Lial's staff. Shooting pains up his sword arm made him groan, but he gritted his teeth and used Hakah, pressing forward and swinging manically at the Lial. Again and again he struck metal, his attacks having little effect, he appeared only to be hurting himself.

  The Lial bellowed and his staff thudded into Beroz's chest, over and over, like metal fists pounding on him. One struck his jaw, knocking him flat on his back.

  Beroz could barely think, let alone move. The warm tingle of his Raiz was gone, the only sensation remaining was great, pounding pain. He attempted to push himself back up, but his body refused to cooperate.

  The staff thudded into his shoulders, once, twice, beating him deeper into the snow. Beroz screamed. Anticipating a third he held up his scarred hand to block. The staff thudded into it.

  Nothing.

  No pain. No feeling in it at all, save for the usual throbbing within the scars. The butt of the staff rested in his palm.

  The Lial stared down, open mouthed, not believing what he was seeing.

  Beroz closed his hand around the staff, squeezing tight.

  The Lial tried to pull it free, but it didn't budge.

  Beroz focused his Raiz again and roared as he used Hakah. Clutching Mutumuz tightly he heaved his body up and stabbed the Lial in the side. The Lial cried out and booted Beroz's arm, releasing his grip on his sword. He booted Beroz again, hard in the chest this time, knocking him back, but Beroz kept hold of the staff. He threw himself forward and smashed his forehead into the Lial's face, grabbing hold of Mutumuz with his sword hand as he did. The Lial roared and smashed his head into Beroz's jaw. Beroz staggered back, yanking Mutumuz out of the Lial, barely staying on his feet. He released his hold on the Lial's staff.

  The Lial pressed a hand into his side, and when he pulled it away blood dripped from it.

  Beroz swallowed hard. Make him mad. Not good.

  The Lial surged forward, his battle cry louder than a ludenez's.

  Beroz used Hakah all over his body, crying out from the pain it caused. He blocked the Lial's swing, but was smashed back. Using Hakah again, he blocked the next blow, and the next, struggling to draw the expended Raiz back each time as he concentrated on the staff hurtling towards him. The Lial's cries and growls grew louder, his attacks stronger and stronger. One broke through Beroz's guard, cracking him on the shoulder, causing Beroz to scream with pain.

  The Lial roared, his staff becoming a blur before him. Maddening pain exploded through Beroz's body as the Lial battered him with consecutive blows, striking his head, legs, chest, arms, back, shoulders, smacking him from side to side, backwards and forwards. He couldn't even raise Mutumuz to defend himself. A final strike to the stomach sent him sprawling on his back.

  The agony was overwhelming, near crippling. Somehow though he still held onto Mutumuz, but there was no way he could lift it now, not without Hakah at least. He focused his Raiz again. It felt weaker, like he'd lost some of it. It was difficult to tell, the pain of his body too great to be able to judge anything accurately.

  The Lial loomed over him, the butt of his staff hovering over his head.

  Train so hard. No. Not lose like this. He tried to raise his scarred, throbbing hand again, but couldn't. There a way to win. Need find it. Fast.

  The sun shined bright over the Lial's shoulder.

  Yes. Light.

  He closed his eyes and pushed out Raiz, willing it into light. Brilliant light flashed out of him, so bright his eyelids did little to protect him from it.

  The Lial yelped.

  Beroz drew the Raiz back in and opened his eyes.

  The Lial was clutching his face, growling, waving his staff in front of him.

  Lightning. Beroz pushed out Raiz, willing it into lightning, and unleashed it at the Lial. The blast burned into his chest, jolting him and flinging him away.

  Beroz drew the Raiz back
and used Brubah, desperate to heal his body quickly, knowing too well that the Lial would be down for just a moment, if that, and when he was back up he'd be even madder. He strained his Raiz, feeling the pains all over his body ease, His face hurt the most. Probably parts of it were broken. He hoped the damage wasn't too bad. Groaning, he rolled himself over and pushed himself to his knees, the strengthened Brubah working quickly to rejuvenate him.

  The Lial screamed and sprang back to his feet.

  Kak. Kak. Kak. Beroz stopped Brubah and used Hakah, crying out from the returning pain burning through his whole body.

  The Lial held his side, swaying on his feet. He shook his staff, then burst forward.

  Beroz met his charge, and the two of them smashed together. Beroz was sent reeling. The Lial lashed out with his staff, narrowly missing his head. Beroz swung at the Lial's neck. The blade hit metal and was stopped just short of hitting flesh. Something cold pressed into his neck and he looked down to find the butt of the Lial's staff there.

  The Lial grunted, breathing heavily.

  Beroz found he was breathing even heavier.

  They stood with their weapons at each other's throats, glaring into one another's eyes. Beroz's hand trembled, his sore arm struggling to keep Mutumuz raised.

  'It over?' he asked the Lial.

  The Lial flashed him a wicked grin. 'It over.' He pulled his staff away and shoved Mutumuz away from his throat. He planted his staff in the snow and leant on it, holding his injured side with his free hand.

  Beroz dropped his sword and collapsed to his knees, exhaustion setting in. He used Brubah, which instantly eased his pain, but not the exhaustion. Suddenly the only thing on his mind was his sleeping furs and a nice warm fire.

  'Think you weak. I wrong. Big mistake,' the Lial grumbled. He rubbed his side.

  Beroz groaned. 'What happen? I win?'

  The Lial laughed, then coughed, clutching his chest where the lightning had hit him. 'Win? No. We draw.'

  'I pass test? I Apochal?'

  The Lial waved his bloody hand. 'Yes. You pass.' He held his side again. 'Lobkak. You get me good. Brubah heal this slow.'