The Battle for Arcanon Major (The Lost Dacomé Files)

by Alexandra May

  My father’s eyes were lost but they fell on me this last time. His body hunched over in submission and he clenched his arms tightly across his chest. “Run, Daughter,” he whispered.

  I ran.

  Chapter 4 - War

  “Jerik, tell the captains to close all doors to the palace. Secure all gates and make ready! No one goes in or out of the War Room. They’ve killed the Skeptics and they’re keeping Father as their prisoner.”

  “How? Why? What happened?”

  I ran as fast as I had ever run in my life. The energy of my radiant glow pushed me on harder and faster. I passed quickly through the outer rooms of the palace and streaked like a silver orb along the length of the 1st Corridor.

  “The Primords proposed a treaty but as soon as it was agreed, they broke it. I hope you’re right about our allies helping us. We’re going to need every man we have.”

  “Hally, I spoke to Nerído Xipilé personally. He’s bringing your other two friends as well as a small force.”

  “When did you do this, Jer? Do you know how much trouble I could have been in for sending an unauthorised signal?”

  “Yeah, but you wouldn’t have asked for help. You can’t do everything on your own. Sometimes a good leader needs to accept when help is offered.”

  “When did you get so wise, little brother?”

  “Since I watched my sister take on too much responsibility. I worry for you and I want my sister back, not the ‘machine’ you’ve turned into.”

  “Jerik!”

  “It’s true, Hally. You don’t let anyone into your life anymore. You never sleep. You never eat. The army and the captains are in awe of you, yes, I get that. But you’ve forgotten how to be … you.”

  “Jerik, this is who I am now, and you’ve only had a small glimpse of it. I haven’t had the chance to be me for a very long time.”

  “I know. Nonetheless, my sending the signal to Nerído Xipilé was a cry for help too. For you. You know he’d do anything for you. You need him now.”

  “Jer, this is not a subject I’m discussing with you. I haven’t time for him. I’ve always wished for love, yes, but I can never have what I really want.”

  “You see? There you go again, putting up a barrier. He loves you. He’ll do anything for you.”

  “Jerik, he’s a Xipilé. They only look after their own, remember? We can’t marry or be like that, ever.”

  “You said the Skeptics are dead.”

  “Yes, they were slaughtered. Right in front of me. Jer … I wasn’t quick enough.”

  “You did what you could. Don’t doubt that. When this is over, why don’t you run away, marry him? For once, do something for yourself.”

  “You’re assuming we’ll win this battle. Jerik, we’re going to die here.”

  “No, Hally, we won’t. We’re going to live this one through.”

  “I’m nearly there. Is everyone in place?”

  “Yep, all ready. We’re waiting for you.”

  “Jerik?”

  “Yes?”

  “I, er—”

  “I love you too, big sister. Now get those skinny legs down here.”

  Once I reached the back of the lines, I slowed to a calm, impervious walk to the front. Captain Orthían had already issued the order for the soldiers to draw arms.

  I joined my brother and the captain, and we climbed the observation point one last time.

  The Primords had arrived. The stink was the first thing that hit us, followed by the roaring growl that lingered in the air like the sound of plagued animals.

  Their giant barges battered the outer barricade. The continuous pounding stung my ears. However, as far as I could see, they had yet to make a dent in the solid Xerilium plates.

  I squinted over to the right at the 2nd Barricade some distance away and saw the same thing. Over to my left, it was the same again. The 8th Barricade was holding, and I let out a small sigh of relief.

  Something was different this time. The Primords had arrived well armed and unequivocally prepared.

  Today, this battle would be won. The Primords intended to end us irretrievably. There would be no truce at the end of this fight.

  I had one last thing to do. I had to address the men.

  With eyelids firmly closed, I stood ready for my open telepathic speech. Most wouldn’t be able to reply, but they needed to hear my last address.

  “Soldiers of Arcanon, my Dacomé brethren, the Primords are at our gates. They have killed our Skeptics and now hold our king prisoner.

  “Yet I, Halíka Dacomé, refuse to back down. We have endured much already. You are all strong, swift, and experienced soldiers.

  “The Primords have underestimated us, for we have the most important reason to win. We have our city, our homes, our families here.

  “Everyone you love, and everyone you hold dear— fight for them and their freedom. Fight for everything that is whole, just, and good in your lives.

  “We are the last Elementals, the last of our kind. Join me in defending what that means, for they will never take away our souls. We can win this mighty battle BECAUSE we are Elementals of Arcanon Major.

  “Here we stand, at the end of days, proud of our heritage and proud to be free. Hold that freedom to your heart and fight with me.

  “FIGHT FOR ARCANON!”

  The loudest holler started as soon as I’d finished. Every soldier in the Arcanon radius raised his sword in the air and shouted, “Arcanon! Arcanon!”

  Proudly, I held my own glaive in the air and joined them. Jerik was already yelling as loudly as Captain Orthían.

  “Hally, that was good. I think they hear us in the mountains.”

  “Let’s hope we keep our composure when the barricades fall. By the way, what was the code word you used?”

  “I couldn’t think of anything, but the word ‘frost’ crept into my head.”

  “What is frost?”

  “I have no idea. I had a vision the other night of you and me in a huge green field surrounded by a circle of giant blue-grey stones. The word frost just popped into my head.”

  “You always were a little odd, Jer.”

  “Halíka Dacomé! They’ve breached the outer barricade!” someone yelled from below. We saw the puncture in the barrier. The hole got bigger as their barge continued to punch into the broken gap.

  I jumped down and shouted, “Make ready!” And then at my brother, “Go. You still have time to reach Captain Orelían!”

  “No, Hally. I’m not leaving you!” he shouted as he raised his sword in the air, in the ready stance.

  I had to use my Order voice “Jerik Dacomé, get to the 5th Barricade NOW!”

  The words still had little effect.

  “No. I can’t get there, anyway. You’ve secured the inner gates around the palace. Please, I want to fight with you.”

  “I can’t risk losing you, Jer, please go.”

  “I don’t want to be anywhere else.”

  Captain Orthían coughed lightly. “My lady, he can stay near me. I won’t let any harm come to him.”

  I stared bewildered at my brother. His stubbornness was a family trait, and I should’ve guessed that he would ultimately refuse me.

  “All right, but stay close to the inner gate near the rear. Do exactly as I say. You do not get involved in combat on your own. When the others take on a fight one-to-one, you assist them. Slice the ankles or knees at the back, and cut throats. Assist only, understand?”

  “Yes, Halíka Dacomé,” Jerik bowed his head and raised his arm across his chest in salute.

  I placed a hand on his shoulder and leaned in. “Be safe, Brother.”

  Captain Orthían led Jerik away. He trotted behind and glanced back at me one last time.

  “He will come, Hally. Have no fear.”

  I nodded in understanding and returned to my duty. I hoped for all our sakes, he was right.

  I stood alone now at the head of the column. The pounding on the second barricade was loud, keepi
ng time with my heartbeat, and I had to hide the flinch that wracked through me every time the barge thumped the steadfast barrier.

  It took one last almighty strike and the metal plate split, exposing the wooden timbers of the barrier innards. The howls and screeches of triumph coming from the Primords reached our ears as they scratched and tore at the shattered wood.

  “Soldiers, hold!” I shouted and assumed the ready stance. My right hand was in the air, blade ready, while my left was down by my leg. I glanced over my shoulder as every soldier stood exactly like me but with two swords, a long one above, a short one below.

  A thunderous crash echoed around the arena as the barricade finally fell to the ground.

  Swarms of Primords skirled a high-pitched shrill and engulfed the level surface between us. They ran towards us like scurrying rats on two legs and their dirty, mangy skin stank of filth and squalor.

  I surged forward and met the first, chopping off its head in one swift movement, quickly moving onto the second one where I skidded to the ground and sliced its feet from its legs.

  “Forward!” I ordered, and the battle began.

  During the next few hours I chopped, maimed, slew, hacked, and killed as many of them as I could. I was on the receiving end of countless heavy hits and long knives raking across my skin. I laughed in mock pain at the face of my enemy before taking its life.

  I bounced, jumped, and kicked my way around the killing ground, spinning off the wall’s edge before plowing straight back into crowds of Primords. I plunged forward and cut eight down at a time, but they kept on coming.

  Periodically, I glimpsed at the soldiers by my side and their own progress. To my left, a soldier fought two opponents, but after a kick to his wounded thigh, the Primords barred him down to the ground. I came from behind and decapitated them both at once, healing the soldier as I watched the black blood spurt from the open necks of the Primords. The soldier lurched to his feet to face another enemy in no time. Another encounter followed when a soldier received a sharp, deep cut to his arm, opened to the bone. He was moments from being skewered and so I chopped the sword hand off from the rival’s skanky limb before double-swiping his torso to shreds. My hand reached down to the injured soldier’s belt and I pulled him to his feet, healing his arm as he came up.

  In the distance and towards the narrower part of the corridor, my eyes caught Jerik. His face was encrusted with blood, both black and red, and he stood back to back with Captain Orthían. Their vicinity was piled with dead Primords. Captain Orthían was a phenomenal fighter, but Jerik was holding his own.

  All around me, sword metal sparked against sword, blades pierced torsos. Soldiers cried out and yelled either in anger or in pain.

  The noise was deafening.

  I sprinted over to find a relatively empty piece of ground to start healing, and drowned out the din to a quiet muffle in the distance. Several soldiers moved to shield me from approaching Primords. Without hesitation, I pushed my gift, my silver light, through my feet and into the earth beneath the corridors. The light became a web, shooting downwards and sideways, farther and farther. It crisscrossed underneath the palace to the corridors behind and panned out like a flower blossom in the warmth of sunshine. Only when I knew the full expanse of my gift was in place did I begin.

  Broken warriors who hadn’t been able to stand, maimed soldiers who had been cleaved to the brink of dying, and hardened fighters who now tasted the blood of Primords in their dry mouths—all felt the sudden flow of my gift from under the surface. I’d broken the law. But now, I didn’t care.

  The Primords—whose blood ran thick and black as syrup and shared no common antibodies that could tolerate my healing power—yelled and cried out in shock as their nearly defeated opponents now stood up again and vengefully fought back.

  All the same, the dead soldiers stayed dead. For them, the fight was mercifully over.

  The suns were now dipping low in the sky and skimmed behind the half-torn buildings of the Outer City. The end to this battle was nowhere in sight and the day grew colder as we continued to fight.

  I spoke telepathically to the captains to check on our progress in the smaller corridors. All corridors were under immense pressure and suffering huge casualties; the answer was not one I had hoped for. Even the smallest corridor of the 5th Legion had fared badly, almost overrun.

  Impulsively, I ran to the observation point and climbed up to see the view of the Minor and the plains behind. I gasped cleaner breaths for a second, and then shrank down slightly as I took in the worst possible sight.

  Before me was more than a swarm. The black tinge of the Primords went far back to farther than I could see. There was no end to them. We were outnumbered no matter how many times I healed our troops.

  We were doomed.

  I wouldn’t admit defeat. On that I was resolute. I turned and faced the spectacle before me. The ground was awash with the mixed blood. The limbs and entrails fell from cleaved bodies while soldiers stepped over their fallen comrades to clash swords with the adversary. Only half of our men still stood.

  “Be optimistic, always, Halíka Dacomé. Never, ever show the men that you’re defeated.”

  I suddenly heard the words as if my old swordmaster were by my side. I was reminded of our first meeting and my humiliation as he mocked and grunted at my short arms, made fun of my thick, stumpy legs, and sneered loudly about how useless I was. I was four years old again and it was my first weapons lesson. I’d never forgotten him. I only hoped that my skills now would make him proud.

  “FOR ARCANON!” I shouted to the sky and punched the air with my glaive. The men who were capable yelled their reply volley and rallied to help ailing Elementals.

  So, this was our fate. We would eventually be overtaken and overrun. The dawning of tomorrow, a brand new day, was one that we would not see.

  We would be butchered until we bled, and our pride would die with us.

  Chapter 5 - Salvation

  As if as a sign from the great ancestors above, an ear-splitting sound pumped and circuited around the sky sending up dust, like a vortex, gritting the air and stinging my eyes. I looked up at the huge vessel that now hovered over the Outer City. The long laser death beams pumped into the throng of Primords waiting to enter the Inner City, incinerating hundreds at a time.

  “I told you Nerído Xipilé would come! He didn’t let you down!” Jerik’s laughter echoed in my ears.

  “Did you ever doubt him, Jer?”

  “Did you?”

  The Primords screamed in fear as the beams continued pumping to the ground sending bodies and other parts into the multitude.

  The ship spun around and three smaller utility ships undocked themselves and sailed low through the sky behind the palace, and behind me. The death beams of all three ships were now melting away our enemy in rapid succession. Like a thud, thud, thud.

  The soldiers cheered as they fought now with a tumultuous hatred, the burning rage of the Primords.

  Squeals and cries echoed around the Inner City as the Primords vocalised their retreat. They scuttled away as quickly as they’d come, dragging as many of their dead as they could. Those who couldn’t run quickly enough were hacked down where they stood. Most were caught by the firing of the death beams on their way back through the Minor. A few made it to the edges and away to the plains behind. The Inner City was empty at last and finally, with a deep sigh of relief, I holstered my glaives.

  I walked slowly through the battleground, stepping over dead comrades and taking care not to slip in the blood.

  Once more, and for the last time today, I used my gift to heal any remaining soldiers who could slip back from the brink of death. Some I couldn’t reach. My overexertion had used up most of my gift. I just couldn’t stretch as far as I needed to. I hoped the soldiers would forgive me for not helping them sooner.

  I made my way towards my brother and was glad to see he was unharmed.

  Captain Orthían smiled and clasped Jerik on
the shoulder as I approached. None of us looked anything like we had before the battle. We were blood-soaked and dishevelled.

  “See? Even I made it!” Jerik proclaimed.

  Captain Orthían laughed with him. “He fought like a real trooper. You’d have been proud, Halíka Dacomé.”

  “I already am,” I said at my brother who couldn’t contain his own smile any longer. “Good fight, both of you.”

  The noise of warfare had ceased but now a new battle cry filled our ears.

  “Dacomé! Dacomé! Dacomé!”

  The remaining soldiers raised their swords to me one last time. I saluted and bowed to honour them all.

  Above us, in the purple hue of dusk, the three smaller ships redocked with the giant vessel. It sailed slowly over our heads towards the landing site behind the palace.

  “Well? Shall we go and meet him?” Jerik said with anticipated glee.

  Suddenly, I felt nervous. The palms of my hands itched and my legs shook with nervy tension. I swallowed and my mouth was left dry as the soil.

  I turned to the captain who was helping a soldier to his feet after being healed. “Captain Orthían, please open the inner gates and commune with the other captains. Get the men to the showering rooms. They should have hot showers tonight. Then to the hospital for those who need it. We still have three Primords in the palace and I want them secured.”

  “Of course, my lady,” he saluted, then addressed the troops and issued orders, leaving Jerik and me alone.

  “So, what are we waiting for? Let’s go! He’ll be landing any moment.”

  He pulled me forward by the arm and we walked with grace through the corridor. We had to step over bodies littering the ground but at least the carnage hadn’t reached the first palace rooms. The clean-up squadron would have their work cut out. I didn’t envy them at all.