Saul raised his staff in a classical magical pose, his eyes flickered, his voice took on a subtly strange tone “§uira firio jakar!”
A great spear of solid ice formed in the air above him and he flicked his staff forwards with great force causing the magical icicle to fly at Thrax and slam into his side smashing against his scales. Thrax roared and lunged his head at Saul who, drained from the spell casting, barely managed to dive clear. Silus meanwhile was back on his feet and uncorking his slipperin oil, seeing Thrax lame in one forearm now, and bleeding profusely, he slipped the full vial onto the edge of his sword, then charged at the now weakened side and yelled a battle cry as he inserted his sword between Thrax’s scales and shoved it in as hard as it could go.
The slipperin oil did its work and Silus managed to slide his sword into Thrax’s chest right up to the hilt, causing him to roar in pain and swing his head back towards him. He’d over committed though, the blade had gone in easier than he’d expected and he was left unbalanced. Thrax clamped his jaws over Silus upper body and bit him in half, his torso, arms and head ending up in Thrax’s mouth, and the hips and legs, quivering, then falling to the floor in a bloody mess.
Harald was on his feet now, winded, but fighting, he quickly started pouring slipperin on his blade, when he glanced up he saw Thrax gulp down Silus upper half, “No!”
He raised his great sword and charged forward again, past Votrex and throwing all his weight into the thrust and trying to slide the blade between the steel like scales. At the same time Brael had poured slipperin oil on his blade and charged, sliding it into Thrax’s flank behind the lame forearm.
Both warriors’ attacks succeeded, causing Thrax to unleash an agonised roar and lunge his head at Harald, who tried to leap back. As he leapt however, he caught his foot, and as he flailed Thrax clamped a jaw on his leg and ripped him from the cavern floor, then smashed him against the cavern ceiling, then the wall, then threw him up towards the cavern entrance while biting off his lower leg to release him.
Korhan watched Harald tumble through the air, missing one lower leg and looking crumpled and battered. Vashni was still down, she looked unconscious, Brael’s weapon was lodged in Thrax’s side and he was weapon-less, though he seemed to be making his way towards Harald’s dropped battle axe. Votrex had gotten to his feet and landed another blow, only to be thrown back, his armour clanging on the cavern wall. Then he narrowly rolled clear of another intense jet of flame. It wasn’t going well; they’d injured the beast, causing one arm to become lame and blinding one eye... And he now had Silus, Harald’s and Brael's swords embedded in his torso... But Silus was dead, probably Harald too, possibly Vashni...
Saul stepped out from behind a lump of rock and raised his staff, to unleash a magic missile, “Fir§a mamirxic §osh!”
A blast of red and white light shot like an arrow at Thrax hitting him in the torso. Where it struck, Thrax’s scales deepened in colour and cracked, but remained present. The dragon lunged its head out at Saul and unleashed a jet of flame, causing him to leap for cover, only just making it in time.
Saul was cowering behind his cover shaking, his robes on fire, his skin blistered in places from the heat, feeling drained and hopeless. He’d unleashed the most powerful spells he could muster to little or no effect.
Brael charged, now holding Harald’s battle axe, but Thrax saw it coming and swung his good claw at Brael sending him sprawling. Korhan saw Vashni, her face a grimace of pain, her chest still... Thrax had killed her... Harald, could still be heard moaning in agony near the cave entrance, even if he lived, could he live with one leg? A man he’d fought alongside many times, a man he’d come to consider not just a friend, but a brother? Silus, his legs lying in a pool of blood on the cavern floor... His torso filling Thrax’s belly... It all became too much, he felt the rage building, urging him to lose control.
A berserker rage now, against a band of warriors could be devastating, but against this near invulnerable beast, he needed control. He thought about Vashni’s teachings, he felt his body and his blade, he felt the shape of his mind and in an instant decided what to do. Without pausing he sprinted straight for Thrax’s blind side. He timed it for when Thrax was distracted by Brael and used his controlled aggression to leap, and grab one horn. The muscles on his arms were burning, he dropped his grip on Harbinger into a downwards one for more purchase, then plunged the weapon directly into Thrax’s ear with all his strength, aiming it towards where he thought the creatures brain might be.
Thrax howled an unearthly roar and thrashed his head around, then slowed, wobbled and slumped forwards in a heap.
In the thrash Korhan had been thrown clear, tumbling against the rocks and smacking his head hard. Thrax was still grunting and quivering for some time, his death groans filling Korhan’s head. Just as Korhan was about to lose consciousness, Brael appeared and tried to help him up, “Are you hurt Avil?”
“Aye... I don’t know how badly... Votrex?”
The dwarf appeared, his helmet dented and missing a wing, his breastplate hanging off, one paldron missing and his face bruised and battered. He had a trickle of blood running from his lip and his beard was partially burned away.
“I live Korhan, as does Saul...”
“Vashni!”
Korhan surged to his feet and barged past the others. He scrambled across the cavern floor to where he’d seen her lying; she was still lying in a crumpled mess. He wet his fingers and held them in front of her mouth, he felt a weak gentle breeze on his hand, “She breathes! Help me!” He picked her up in his arms and let out a gasp at how light she was. Saul and Brael helped him up, then they started to trudge closer to the entrance and to where Harald lay.
As they got nearer to Harald, Vashni opened her eyes groggily and glared at Korhan, “Hmmph! Put me down this instant Ri§ine!”
He smiled weakly, pleased that she lived and stood her up. She wobbled for a second then gained her composure, “Sorry Mir§a Vashni I did no-”
“Yes, yes, well I’m fine, I must have hit my head hmph, did my thrust slay the beast?”
“No... Though in blinding him on one side, you possibly allowed me to pierce his brain, ending his life... Silus though... Silus is dead... Harald...”
Vashni saw Harald lying on his back, bleeding from the gory stump which replaced his left leg. She darted over to him, knelt next to his stump and whispered. Slowly the bleeding slowed, then stopped. Vashni and Korhan knelt close to Harald’s head. His whole body was battered, skin had been scraped off on the rocks as Thrax had thrashed him about, his breathing was shallow and he looked barely conscious.
Korhan sighed, “Harald... “
“Cough... I... I can’t feel my legs... Cough, or m... my arms...” Korhan and Vashni looked at his body, it was battered and his arms and legs were still and lifeless. Vashni examined him more carefully, caressing the back of his neck gently, barely perceptibly with her fingers for a moment, then she sighed and looked at him sadly, “Harald, you are bleeding internally and your neck is broken... I’m afraid Thrax has eaten most of your leg...”
Harald tried to smile, but struggled, “Then we killed it?”
Korhan nodded, “Aye... We did... Silus is dead though...”
Harald looked at Vashni now, “Cough... Can you use your skill to heal me?”
She looked a little uncomfortable at this and couldn’t maintain eye contact, eventually she shook her head, “I am sorry Harald son of Korvak... There are limits to what magic and whispering can do... I can tend to you, and make sure you live, but your leg is gone... And I don’t believe it is possible for you to regain feeling or motion in your arms or legs, with whispering or magic.”
Harald grimaced in panic and coughed a little blood out, “S... Saul... Can you-”
“No... I do not have the skill or stored energy to attempt something so audacious...”
Brael sighed, “Were that I were in my laboratory in Durth Orza and I did not have this cruel curse upon me, I could try something...
As it stands I am helpless... Even if I were there and didn’t have the curse, I fear I would not be able to restore your leg or your broken spine Harald son of Korvak.”
Korhan looked at Vashni, “What are we to do? Is there nothing anyone can do for him?”
“No... Not that I know of... Nerve tissue is near impossible to join so far as I know...”
Harald coughed again, “Please... Get me out of this damned cave, I want to see the sky again before I meet my... End...”
Votrex spat a glob of blood out of his mouth, “Come on, move him carefully... I’ll get this side.”
Saul nodded and positioned himself opposite; Brael supported the legs and lower body with Korhan while Vashni supported Harald’s head. They slowly carried him up the remainder of the slope out into the open and laid him against a boulder so he could sit up. In the cold light of day he looked terrible, like an empty shell, dried blood ran down his chin from his mouth, he looked pale and lifeless.
Struggling for breath he looked up to them, “Th... Cough, thank you...”
Korhan glanced at the group; Harald had been a good friend for a long time. “Please, give me a few minutes alone with him.”
Vashni, Brael, Saul and Votrex sighed and edged away, sitting closer to the edge of the cavern, tending and cleaning their own wounds. He looked at Harald, “Harald... I’m sorry... “
“Don’t... Cough... Don’t be... We’ve ridden together for a long time now; we both knew one of us would probably meet their demise before we returned to steppes of Silavria... “
“Sigh... I know, I just... I... I feel like we’ve not spent much time together these last few days...”
“Hah! No... Your mind has been other things Korhan son of... Cough... Urgh... Son of Brian... Will you return to Silavria?”
“You mean ‘We return’?”
“No, you know what I mean... I can’t live like this... I’m finished.”
“No! Vashni, Brael and Saul do not know everything, there may be some... “
“I do not want to live out my days as a talking lump of meat, being fed and cleaned up by others... Let me die... “
“I don’t think you will, Vashni has stopped the bleeding... Your life is saved!”
“Hah! What life!? How would you feel!? Better to end it swiftly and claim my seat in Kirkfell, the banqueting hall of the dead, at Ishar’s side... I should think dying in battle against a dragon should reserve me a seat next to Ishar himself!”
A worried look grew on Harald’s face, “If I ask you to end my life... Urngh! Will it not count as dying in battle?!”
Korhan sighed deeply, his eyes full of sadness, “None can doubt your valour Harald... As long as I have known you, you have always fought bravely and never retreated in battle... Your place in the banqueting hall of the dead is assured.”
“Cough... Then end it for me now... Tell father, and Moira that I died facing the dragon, none need know any different.”
“Harald... I ca-”
“Please... Don’t force me to live like this! You watched Gedric relieved of his terrible existence, a man we know was not a ‘good’ man, yet you would condemn me, to a life of indignity and torment!? End it for me now Korhan or I shall never forgive you!”
Korhan’s sadness grew; he leaned forwards and hugged his old friends head, “I will brother... I will miss you...”
“We shall meet again in the afterlife, I shall save a seat for you in Kirkfell, we shall drink together again... Now please end it... Do not forget to tell father and Moira that I died facing the dragon.”
“Aye... Goodbye, brother... Until the next life.”
With that Korhan rose, the others watched him return to the cave before emerging wielding Harbinger, having pulled it free of the dead dragons head. Votrex looked grimly at him as he approached Harald. Harald looked up as Korhan readied his blade, “Cough... Thank you...”
Korhan stood at the side and lined his blade up with the base of Harald’s neck, preparing to slide the blade downwards through his torso severing the neck and slicing into the heart. He grimaced, a tear in his eye “Farewell... Brother...”
“STOP!”
Korhan looked around to see Vashni and Brael, jogging towards them. Korhan paused and Brael knelt next to Harald, “Harald, before you ask Korhan to do this, I need to tell you something... I... I am fighting my curse hard to tell you this, I will pay a price for it - but you need to know... There is no Kirkfell... There is no... Arrgh! No Ish... Argh! I cannot... Please Harald, I cannot tell you what I need to, but I can tell you this, there is no banque... Arrgh!”
It was as if a magical shock wave was resonating through him each he tried to speak, Harald looked sadly at Brael, “It matters not... I would rather not exist at all, than exist in this sorry state.”
Korhan glared at Brael, “Hmmph! This grim task is bitter enough as it is!” Then he lowered his sword back to Harald’s neck. Vashni placed her hand on his though, “Stop Ri§ine... There is a better way... Leave us... Shoo, I need some time alone with Harald.”
Korhan looked at her uncertainly; Brael was already stumbling back to Votrex and Saul. When his eyes fell on Harald, Harald nodded, “Go... “
So Harald was alone with Vashni, she positioned herself next to him and pulled him gently over so his head lay in her lap. She stroked his hair and looked down caringly at him, “Harald... I cannot do much for you, but this I can... Rather than ending your life violently, in a moment of pain, I wish to end it gently... Allowing you to drift away painlessly... No one needs to know... First of all I am going to ease your pain, then send you to sleep... Then, I will gently, slowly stop your heart... You will feel no pain... Are you ready?”
Harald forced a smile, which showed some relief, “Yes... Thank you mistress elf.”
“Please... Vashni... Now close your eyes... And listen...”
She then began a rhythmic, melodic whisper, almost like a song, he occasionally opened his eyes, to see her sharp, pointed, alien features peering down at him. Each time she would gently pull his eyelids closed with her hand and whisper, ‘Shhh, sleep... ’ into his ear... He felt relaxed, his worries melted away... Soon he was in a deep slumber, deeper than a person could normally sleep. At that point she leaned in and whispered, “§ara Haraf di§airm hiri§if shom §alla, cora mui§i mecton... §ara Haraf di§airm hiri§if shom §alla, cora mui§i mecton... §ara Haraf di§airm hiri§if shom §alla, cora mui§i mecton... ”
As she repeated this mantra she stroked his head, and his heart slowed and stopped. When all the life had ran out of him she sighed, looking a little drained, “You were a good man Harald son of Korvak.” Then she kissed him gently on the forehead and lay him down. Rising she staggered back to the others, exhausted. “Tis done... His suffering is at an end... All we have to do now is to collect our weapons, bury our dead and evade the servant of the flame as we travel back to Cormaroth for our reward.”
Saul grimaced, “If only it were that simple lady Vashni, we have but one more, grim task to do.” Korhan and Votrex eyed him suspiciously. Saul sighed, “According to the Empress, if we are to claim our bounty we must bring proof that we have slain a draconis nobilus.”
Korhan laughed, “Hah! What are we to do, buy a horse and cart and sever the beast’s head, before ferrying it back to Cormaroth?”
“No, according to the Empress, draconis nobilus have a unique attribute which will suffice as proof. Supposedly they all have a series of what she described as ‘heart stones’, they say these dragons hearts have six chambers and one heart stone resides in each chamber, we are to carve the corpse up until we can recover these six stones, and bring them back to the Empress.”
Vashni raised a tired eyebrow, “I had not heard of this before wizard...”
“Nobody has.. Anybody who knows of the ‘heart stones’ is asked to swear secrecy.”
Korhan frowned, “What’s so special about these things?”
“The Empress seems to treat them with some reverence, wh
atever they ‘do’ must be important, as for what they do - she would not say. She simply gave me strict instructions on extracting them and storing them for the journey. I get the impression they are very important to her, more so than simply as evidence.”
“Why did you not speak of this before wizard?”
“Korhan... Firstly I did not know whether it would really be a genuine draconis nobilus, secondly, I did not know that we would succeed. I was on strict orders to tell no one of the heart stones unless it was unavoidable.”
Votrex looked suspiciously about the group, “Hmmph, why do I feel like I have been deceived?”
Korhan glared at Saul, “What exactly did Silus and Harald die for wizard?”
“Sigh... I do not know... The heart stones is a separate matter, we have ended Thrax’s tyranny - is that not all that matters?”
Vashni was lying back now, breathing heavily, Korhan looked at her, “Are you alright Mir§a Vashni?”
“I am tired... I will stay here, rest and keep watch, while you go and retrieve our weapons and butcher the beast... Do not tarry, the servant of the flame will not be pleased when they discover we have slain their god.”
Korhan rose, and offered Votrex a hand, pulling him to his feet. Votrex, once on his feet unclipped his now tarnished and damaged armour and threw it onto the floor, Saul followed as they made the grim walk back into the cavern.
Vashni watched them vanish into the depths and sighed, then looked at Harald. She hadn’t really cared about Harald much, he’d been somehow... Boring? Not interesting, but he had been a good man, an honourable man and he had fought bravely. Silus she had not liked, he had been bitter but... Well... It seemed life had not been kind to him...
Korhan meanwhile led the party into the cavern; Thrax was laying still now, no breath or movement present from his giant corpse. After retrieving their weapons, Brael, Votrex, Saul and Korhan spent a considerable amount of time carving away the iron hard scales of Thrax and hacking into his torso. The embedded swords appeared to have done real damage to Thrax’s internal organs. However it was possible that Thrax would have been able to heal these grievous wounds given time, had he survived Korhan’s sword to the brain.
Deathsworn Arc: 01 - The Last Dragon Slayer Page 18
