The Eighth God

by Paul S. Lavender

  ‘It’ll perk up when I get my hands around it, I’ll give it a good ol’ twist, you see if I don’t.’

  ‘C’mon Pock leave old Felanious alone, he’s been trying to service the girls all day an’ he needs ‘is rest. All this shouting ain’t good for ‘is constitution.’

  Now that Bazak had found out that the two brothers were not in some sort of incestuous relationship he let out the breath that he had been holding in. Perhaps he had exhaled a little too loudly as it turned out. A sound of scraping came from inside the hut and then a shout.

  ‘Who’s there?’

  ‘Ishara lads. Err, any chance I can come in…Please?’

  The rickety door that led into the dirtiest, smelliest home in, in Bazak’s opinion, all Ashen Falls, swung open to reveal the large frame of Pock. Heavily muscled the man blocked the entrance and sitting on a thick neck was the face that gave the man his name. Covered in pock marks, it was as if the moon had given birth to a boy and sent him to earth as penance for life. Two coal black eyes gazed at Bazak, flames dancing in the deep wells within.

  ‘Why if it ain't our favourite merchant. What’s up?’

  Bazak looked at the buildings around him but couldn’t see any signs of pursuit or pursuer.

  ‘Can we talk inside, Pock?’

  Sensing the man’s unease, Pock moved to one side to reveal his brother. Cock stood with a loaded crossbow, but no ordinary bolt lay in the bow. An ugly, rusty, black, bear bolt sat snugly in its bed. The pyramidal head pointed straight at Bazak’s chest.

  Bazak gulped and nodded his head slowly at the slightly shorter, slightly better looking of the two brothers. ‘Cock.’

  Cock nodded back and lowered the crossbow, as he did so his finger accidentally pulled the trigger and the bolt was fired straight down into Felanious. The bird had been put down there when Cock had picked up the crossbow, and the bird had been too exhausted to move. Now the cockerel moved extremely fast in all manner of directions at once, and blood seemed to explode in all directions.

  The three men looked aghast at the remains of the cockerel as around them feathers fell like freakish snowstorm.

  Cock looked like he was about to cry and Pock moved over to his brother and held him by the shoulders.

  Pock looked at the remains, ‘Fancy staying for some chicken soup, Ishara?’

  ‘Err, no, no thanks lads, what I need is someplace to sleep for the night. I’ll be leaving the city in the morning, but I just need somewhere to rest.’

  Pock frowned, ‘Thieves guild after yer?’

  ‘No. No nothing like that. Just some crazy elf in leather with rubies sewn into it.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘You heard me, an elf with ruby studded leather…oh, and a black long sword.’

  Pock suddenly looked agitated, ‘Well, we would love to help you, but unfortunately we’re full tonight. Bye.’

  ‘What! I thought we were friends.’

  ‘Ha, not friends enough to protect you from one of them.’

  ‘One of what? Spit it out, who is he?’

  ‘Fuck that Ishara, I ain't saying anything. It’s supposed to be bad luck just to say their name, so you won’t hear it from either of us. But just out of curiosity, why is an Orcslayer chasing you anyway?

  Pock realised what he had just said, ‘Aw shit.’

  Bazak glared at the man, ‘And just what is an Orcslayer?’

  ‘You’ll get no more from us. Now go before yer bring trouble knocking.’

  ‘Well, thanks for nothing!’ Bazak turned and fled into the night.

  21: To the Borderlands

  The next morning Melress looked in on Ellowe, the lad was still unconscious, but he looked a lot younger, which was good. Even though he was a bully, Melress didn’t want his death on his conscience. He wished that the two of them could be friends, he hadn’t had a lot of friends when he was a young boy, and once his mother had died there hadn’t seemed any point going home.

  Not long after he had started training, Brett had called at the keep to see him and told him that his father had mothballed the house and sent all the servants away, Brett included. Melress had asked him what he was going to do with himself and Brett just shrugged and said he’d be alright and that there was always plenty of work for the likes of him.

  Melress shrugged himself out of his reverie, and since Ellowe was in no position to talk, Melress turned away and went back to his quarters.

  Once back at his quarters, he started to put the plated leather armour on, fixing the buckles at the front of the suit, then he slid into the leather trouser, and finally put on a pair of thick leather boots. He picked up the long sword that the store's man had left for him. It was a plain, simple blade, but it was new and still had some traces of the oil it had been wrapped in on it. Melress sat on a chair and slowly realised that he was only delaying the inevitable.

  Getting back up, he slid the long sword in its scabbard, which lay against his left side, then left his room and started off for the stables.

  A horse had been saddled ready for him, a tent roll lay across the horses back. The horse was brown with a white mark on its long nose. He didn’t know much about horses, having not ridden one since the day he had arrived, but at least he could still remember how to ride, couldn’t he?

  Arande entered the stables as Melress was walking around the horse, checking for any wounds, tightening straps. He walked over to Melress and handed him a purse.

  ‘There’s a little money so…Captain. Try and stay away from major cities, and keep near the roads. If you can find a merchant’s caravan try and travel with them, they could always do with a battle mage along in case of trouble. Keep away from tinkers; they will only steal your horse when you sleep. Don’t tell anyone where you’re going or why even I don’t know the whole of it. Good luck!’ And then he saluted, turned and walked back out of the stables.

  ‘Thanks’, muttered Melress after him.

  He finished inspecting his horse and then led it by the reins out into the courtyard. Finding a log to stand on, he mounted the horse and rode back out through the castle gate.

  He didn’t see the horse outside the gatehouse, or the large figure that sat on it. The figure and horse began to ride slowly after Melress, following him step for step.

  22: The Knight of...

  Ashalone was sat in a chair reading from a heavy tome when Saethryth got back to the Melbrugess house. She could see from the look on the face that his quarry had got away. ‘I’m sure, we’ll catch up to him again,’ she said as he took off his weapons harness. Then she saw the cut in his armour. ‘Are you all right, are you hurt?’

  ‘No, it’s nothing to worry about it just needs some time to repair itself. I imagine that you have a lot of questions about the Knights, Ashalone, but I think I had best show you something below the house, and we’ll talk once we are there.’

  Ashalone had nearly interrupted when the elf had said her name, to remind him of her rank, but then she realised that she was to all intents and purposes dead. A new life had dawned for her, and as she had sat, reading, she had decided that a new name was required. Something to lend her a cutting edge. Something to forget the shame of having slept with a half-aitu for weeks. It was then that she realised the elf had never told her his name.

  The elf led her down the hall, halfway down he turned and faced one of the oaken panels that covered the walls. Pressing a knot in the wood, a secret door swung quietly open, beyond the doorway, lights began to illuminate the way down a spiral staircase.

  The pair of them began to descend, the elf in front, full of confidence, Ashalone behind, more unsure. The door slid back into place, behind them. Seeming to cut Ashalone off from her old life. The pair of elves walked down the steps for some time, before entering a small chamber. Once again the magic lights illuminated the area. Large, heavy looking, iron and oak doors stood in the centre of the wall opposite. On each side of the door, there were four niches, in each niche, there were an armour stand
and a small, wooden weapons rack. In the middle of the room there was a circular oaken table and eight matching chairs.

  The elf had tensed as he had entered the room. As Ashalone moved to stand beside him, she noticed a single, solitary tear run down his cheek.

  ‘Oh gods, no.’ He whispered

  Ashalone looked at where the elf was looking. In one of the niches a suit of chain mail with a white baldric sat. In the rack beside it was a warhammer. The hammer had a plain wooden shaft, a large metal head sat atop the wood, the flat end was covered in what looked to be spikes, then Ashalone realised that they were diamonds, lots of sharp diamonds.

  It must have been worth a fortune.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ She asked

  ‘That’s my father’s armour, and weapon. My father’s dead, Ashalone, I have no family left...’

  Ashalone was perplexed. ‘Perhaps he didn’t take his armour with him to the aitu lands? It looks very valuable, perhaps he didn’t want it stolen?’

  The elf wiped the tear from his face. ‘I think I had better explain...How much do you know about the Knights?’

  ‘Not a lot, they.... you are a bit before my time. Disbanded centuries ago, because there was no need of you.’

  The elf gave a snort. ‘We ARE needed now, now more than ever. Originally the Knights were just a normal battalion, until one fateful battle, the battle at Death's Hill. The battalion was stranded behind enemy lines, due to a bad command decision. Thousands of aitu poured into them, and before they could be rescued, all but seven elves lay dead. The relief forces named them the Knights - and then the gods became involved, as they are want to do at times like this. Each of the elven gods chose a hero and gave him armour and weapons, which suited that god. I wear the armour and weapons of Lillithel, the god of luck, if you look carefully, or my armour hits a certain light, you will see the rubies in it. I am called The Knight of Luck by some. You may call me Saethryth. Saethryth Melbrugess, now last of my line.’

  Ashalone looked at Saethryth Quizzically. ‘No, you aren’t.’

  ‘What do you mean? The fact my father’s armour is on its stand means he’s dead. Once on, we cannot take it off, although it will change material and form to whatever we need. Useful when one needs the toilet!’

  ‘Your father had another son, didn’t you know?’

  ‘My father and I didn’t really see eye to eye when he was chosen as ambassador to the orc lands. I left the next day; this is my first time back in over thirty years. So, who’s my brother? What does he do for a living?’

  ‘His name is Melress, he’s a Captain in the battle mages, or he was after yesterday. He left Ashen Falls yesterday for... Oh shit!’

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘He was leaving on a mission for the commander, that was what prompted the attack on me by that bastard. He was going to Knight’s Perch.’

  ‘What, the border Keep? I had better go and speak to the commander then.’

  ‘The battle mages will be on alert after my disappearance, how will you get in?’

  ‘I’m an orcslayer, Ashalone, I’ll get in.’

  ‘I’ve been thinking about that, please call me Tierra.’

  Saethryth smiled at her. ‘Fair enough, new name, new start eh?’

  Tierra smiled back ‘Yes, now which armour do I get to wear?’

  ‘Well, you can’t have mine, Boel’s armour is with Erekose, and I would rather you didn’t have my...fathers. So, that leaves Shlae, Absentia, Illaria and Callente or Death, Memory, Elements and Protection if you prefer.’

  ‘Who’s Erekose?’

  ‘A warrior, he’s down in the desert states up to something, oh and he’s a human.’

  ‘Wait, let me get this right, there is a human wandering around in a suit of armour and carrying weapons from an elven god?’

  ‘Yeah,’ Saethryth snorted,’ He’s one of a kind is our Erekose!’

  ‘Sounds it. Right, so not Shlae, although I could kill that bastard, and I’ve been a soldier all my adult life.... hmmm.'

  Saethryth suddenly startled, looked at Tierra, ‘Before you choose, did I mention the curse?’

  ‘Curse...err no. Perhaps you should.’

  ‘Well, it’s nothing specific, because it’s different for each Knight. My curse is that metal doesn’t touch me, useful against some weapons, not so useful if you want to buy something. I usually just tip coins on the counter, and get the merchant to put the change back! So even the curses can have good and bad effects. Obviously, the god you pick may have some part to play in what you are cursed by.’

  ‘Hmm...All right, I think I am going to choose Absentia, for reasons of my own.’

  ‘You don’t need to give me your reasons, go and get suited up, and we'll see what you can do.'

  Tierra walked across to the stand, upon it stood a suit of plate mail, all gleaming silver, but with yellow lacquer at the ends. Draped over the weapons rack was a net. Tierra was about to say something about the plate mail, when it started to transform, changing to become a set of plated leather, still with its yellow design.

  Saethryth spoke from behind her, ‘It wouldn’t make any difference to the weight, it just knows that you would prefer to wear this, probably all that time spent in a suit before.’

  ‘And the net?’

  ‘I guess, for catching memories. However, it is fine metal, and once wrapped around someone it will begin to shrink. Slicing and dicing as it does so.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Probably because not all memories are good ones.’ Said Saethryth

  ‘Ain’t that the truth,’ Whispered Tierra,’ Saethryth, do you hate me?’

  The question surprised them both. She for speaking it, him for not knowing why she cared, ‘No Tierra, I don’t hate you. You didn’t know what he was, I have been doing this for a long time, and I had trouble telling what he was. You shouldn’t beat yourself up about what happened. You have already proved you are a strong woman, you reached the rank of Captain in the Battle Mages, and you will be strong again. The world is going to need as many strong women as it can get in the months to come. We’re all going back to war, no, I don’t hate you, I don’t even pity you because you will become stronger than ever before.’

  ‘Are you patronising me?’

  ‘Not at all, I saw how you dispatched two would be thieves and rapists. No matter how many people you kill it’s never an easy thing to do.’

  ‘It was, and I thought I could sense something down that alley.’

  'Aye, I was hidden in the shadows, but what do you mean by it was?'

  ‘It was an easy thing to do since this black empress has arrived, the guard are struggling at times to contain the more undesirable side of Ashen Falls. Two fewer scumbags is a good thing.’

  ‘Fair enough, Tierra. You’re a Knight now, and we look out for each other.’

  Tierra realised that she was crying, ‘Thank you, I don’t know why but that means a lot to me.’

  ‘Now get that armour on and grab your weapon. We still have time for a bit of practice before you go to bed, and I go to see the commander.’

  Pausing as he moved up to the double doors, he spoke again, ‘He’s half human, isn’t he?’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘My brother, well my half-brother. He’s a half-elf, it doesn’t take a genius to work it out.’

  ‘Is it a problem?’

  ‘I don’t know... now get changed, I won’t look.’

  He opened the doors and walked into the next chamber.

  23: …Coins

  Tierra got undressed and started to put the leather plate on, as she was putting the jacket on, it moulded itself to the curves of her body, much as Saethryth’s leather armour showed off his muscle. The armour seemed to show too much breast at first, but obviously sensing her disapproval, the neckline changed and became more modest.

  Most women would kill for this material, she thought, especially noble ones. She snorted. Well, all they had to do was become a Knight.

&nb
sp; She picked up the net and jumped when something thudded to the floor. Looking, she bent down and picked up a small pouch. Inside were a handful of small, silver coins. Taking one out, she studied it, it was just a plain coin, there was no writing on them, but there were little traces of amber in them. Now, what are these for she wondered?

  A voice from the next room, ‘When you’re ready Tierra.’

  Tierra smiled and walked through the double doors. She gasped. The room was huge, and there were all kinds of equipment to help with acrobatics, gymnastics, and weapons training. There were beams, poles, hundreds of weapons all on racks, different types of armour, anything you could need was here.

  Tierra walked over to Saethryth, holding up the pouch.

  ‘Why have I got a pouch of money? What possible use are they?’

  Saethryth pointed to a wooden practice dummy. Sat on the top was a full plate helmet.

  ‘Throw one.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Throw a coin at the helmet - go on. I can’t as I’m the Knight of Ruby, and the magic won’t work for me.’

  Tierra threw the coin. She could tell straight away it was going to miss; she had flung the coin far too early. The coin went flying off, and then suddenly it stopped, hovered and flung itself towards the helmet. There was a loud thump as the coin punched through the front of the helmet, and then another as it came out the other side. The coin vanished into the shadows beyond.

  ‘Fuck!’ Was all Tierra could say for a while, ‘Where’s the coin gone? I’ll soon run out of them if I keep losing them, and why coins anyway?’

  ‘It’ll be back in your pouch now, trust me,’ said Saethryth with a slight smile on his face. 'I would guess coins because they are held by so many people, all that buying, selling, stealing. Right, let’s have a quick spar, as you don’t need to know acrobatics. You don’t need to learn acrobatics in your condition!'

  ‘What do you mean, in my condition? My side is healed enough, and it’s always useful to know how to tumble.’