Laugh of Destruction (Book 3 of the Death Incarnate Saga)

by Jr H. Lee Morgan

  About a hundred and fifty mages could be seen in their robes, nearly all had a Familiar and they were all clearly hesitant to approach Cage and Daku. Most were from the Adventurer Guild, but they were cautious to even look in their direction.

  At his side were his women, eagerly anticipating the official start. Daku stood tall and proud behind him and sometimes looked when one of his people placed their chilled hands on his hot fur.

  While they waited it made Cage start looking back over recent events. Yesterday he and his people went to the city square where they signed in for different challenges. Thankfully, there wasn’t an entry fee. Utala hunters eagerly signed for the archery, mounted and standing, and throwing competitions. Meeka and Brooke applied for close ranged armed combat along with the women’s battle royal. Cage and Daku signed for the Familiar and mage contests along with jousting, sword fighting and the men’s battle royal.

  In that day he learned all weapons would be blunted and thin ceramic plates filled with a red liquid would break to simulate an injury. It would be worn either on armor or a mage could stick it to whatever the person wore. There would be ten plates, all three inches in diameter, and placed over vital areas. And any actual injuries would be tended immediately by a mage.

  The rules were basic. No killing, show honor and do your best.

  Brooke spent the rest of that day in the castle with Princess Amy and by the end of the afternoon it was decided the marriage would be held on the island in the summer, should Sek and Skylar be willing to make the journey. There were rules which the king of Vlara decided were well within reason.

  Murmurs in the large crowd began growing louder and it drew attention to the north as King Tate and his guard came in. Reminiscing ended as Cage watched the crowd peel back and let the king ride his black stallion right to the arena. Whispers grew as he dismounted and climbed the steps to a platform with two large chairs. Right behind him was the princess herself. The guard surrounded the viewing platform hurriedly, with the general standing halfway on the stairs so he could get a better view of the crowd encircling the oval arena.

  “People of Vlara!” Tate’s voice boomed with the aid of magic from his personal mage. The crowd silenced as he held up a hand. “I welcome you to the four hundredth and third Winter Tournament! Many have come from all over Vlara and even Emroc to participate this year! Before we begin I wish to thank all those who worked so hard by pulling this tournament together!” Many began clapping and stopped as he raised a hand. “Let us make this tournament one to always remember! The first competition is one we can all agree has been long awaited! The starting competition will be done by Familiars!”

  Daku released a shrill roar along with each animal as the people cheered readily. All but the Utala weren’t afraid of the challenging call of the griffin.

  Another silencing hand by the king allowed him to say “Judges, call for the first combatants!”

  A section of three seated men and two women behind a table inside the area stood and first called for a sleek male puma and a female gorilla to the field. Their masters were standing together outside the arena fence, unable to offer aid. “Barrier Up!” the head judge said and a group of ten spaced mages isolated the arena for the protection of the spectators crowding to get the best view possible.

  For the view of his people, Cage created a sight mirror with a close up view of the impending action. Nearby curious onlookers came closer since Cage made it possible to see everything without being crushed in bodies jockeying for a better view of the arena.

  The judge shouted “Begin!” and the feline and ape yelled before surging forward faster than normal animals as they infused their bodies with magic. They crashed into each other, throwing snow and dirt up in their fierce fight. They flipped and tore flesh, trying to pin the other for the win. Thanks to powerful hands, the female gorilla was able to flip the puma and lock long arms around him and hold him down for ten seconds.

  The crowd roared when the first Familiar won.

  After a second match between a raccoon and a medium size dog the head judge shouted “Cappli the Golden Eagle and Daku the White King Griffin, Come!”

  “Have fun!” Cage said with a grin.

  “I intend to.” Daku replied and opened his wings. People moved away as he jumped into the air and glided to the arena. He could hear whispers and watched as a large Golden Eagle flitted down with hesitation. Daku’s beak parted as he said “Cappli, spread your wings.”

  “Why?” he shrilly chirped.

  “So we will be more evenly matched. I could simply grab you in my current size, but where would be the challenge?” Daku calmly said.

  The eagle stretched his wings widely and so did Daku, but before any judge could make them start Daku began to shrink in size before the eyes of everyone, eliciting dumbfounded silence. Most had never seen this ability since griffins were thought to be extinct. In seconds he went from the size of a large horse to that of a medium size dog with an equal wingspan to the eagle before him.

  The judge said “Since both of you are fliers, first one to throw the other to the ground will win. Are you clear with the rules?” The griffin and eagle nodded. “BEGIN!”

  Daku and Cappli jumped into flight and the eagle poured all his mana into his wings, but before he could use them or get his sharpened talons into flesh he smacked into Daku’s hard wings as they curled into one another like a white and brown ball of feather and fur. Daku used his left hand at the last moment to snare both talons and flip the eagle in an impossible recovery as only ten feet separated them from the ground. The powerful throw slammed the eagle a good six inches into the ground a moment before Daku landed heavily on all fours.

  “Winner, Daku!” came the announcement as Daku pulled the broken eagle from the ground and flew him over to his eagerly worried master. The witch quickly placed her hand on her Familiar as blue light popped joints in place and fixed all broken bones. “Good match, next time fly away to make your strength sufficient. It was reckless to fly right for me before you were ready.”

  “Thank you for the advice.” The eagle retorted.

  Daku eventually became this year’s Familiar champion after four more matches, but without anymore winged opponents he proved himself sporting by having Cage bind his wings with rope and faced every opponent by matching their size and pinning them. His worst injury was a broken hand which was easily fixed. He won twenty gold for defeating the powerful female gorilla in the finals.

  By noon the judge yelled “All combatants for the one on one close range weapons come in to the arena!”

  “Good luck to both of you.” Cage said.

  “Who needs luck? I’m going to win it anyway.” Meeka boasted.

  “Not if I do, Love.” Brooke challenged.

  Meeka simply offered a cheeky grin before giving Cage a kiss before Brooke. Three other Utala followed them with their magically blunted knives already prepared.

  It wasn’t very long after all competitors were seen and given a number that Meeka was called and pitted against a rather large man carrying curved daggers. He taunted her about how a woman was better off in bed than to fight, but she was too focused to care against the taunts. “Hold!” one of the mages shouted before the Judge said ‘Begin.’ “Judges, the woman has protective magic beyond what’s on her knife!”

  “What?!” the five said in unison.

  Meeka stood and revealed her bracelet to the five. “Yes, but the magic protects people from me. I’m cursed and without this, if anyone so much as touches my lips I will unintentionally kill them.”

  Jormon shouted by the king’s side. “It is allowed for exception. Her curse is too deadly to be allowed for competition without it.”

  The opponent paled when the judges decided to allow it. “Begin!” Before the man took two steps all he could remember was a blonde flash and hearing three ceramic plates break before he found himself in pain on his back. He clutched his chest where Meeka stabbed the heart, liver and lung plates
before wrapping her arm around his neck and throwing him over her hip.

  The attack was so fast that most of the crowd stared in shock, but Meeka heard Brooke loudly cheering from the competitors area alongside her sisters. She looked around to see the reactions and even King Tate overlooking the fight was sharing the disbelief.

  Afterwards every opponent against a Utala failed in less than three seconds.

  King Tate heard his daughter say “It seems rumors are true of Utala prowess. They are fierce fighters who go for the kill. I’ve seen none hesitate for even their own safety. They kill before their opponent has a chance to blink, especially Brooke. Did you see how quickly her hatchets broke that man’s shoulder and knee before she stomped on his chest?” Tate could only nod for he was speechless.

  Meeka’s second opponent surprised her. “Lord Kallerian?”

  “Hello, Meeka, or is it Lady Meeka now?” The handsome lord responded with a flattering smile as he drew two, foot long iron bars with an inch thickness. They were painful weapons capable of great damage and few could master them and Lord Kallerian’s prowess with them was renowned.

  “Just Meeka, you know me enough that it should be obvious. I hope I don’t hurt you too badly.”

  The man blinked before smiling. “You’ve grown confident, as I expected. Be careful, I won’t hold back since I’ve got a reputation to uphold. I want to win this for the fourth straight year.”

  “Not going to happen.” She retorted.

  The match began and he was ready for her charge, swiping for her chest plates magically attached to her form fitted leather clothes. Then he blinked as she disappeared, but she had been learning techniques and varying fighting skills by her man for months. Meeka fell into a slide and kicked Lord Kallerian’s knee and tripped the man before he could offer a response. He was fast to roll away, but not before Meeka swiftly stabbed two death blows to the plates attached to the back of each participant. She was called the winner immediately, much to her and the lord’s surprise by the carefully observing judge. Meeka though had to get two more plates for her slide broke the thin shelled objects and the snow helped wash the red liquid off. “So you won, congratulations.” The man said with gracious humility and shook her hand after putting his weapons away.

  “Thank you, My Lord.” Meeka graciously bowed and got a clap to her shoulder.

  After another hour of fierce competition, Brooke and Meeka won their respective matches, even having to fight their own sisters. Reaching the finals the two lovers stood facing each other. Neither said a word as both wanted to win. They knew each other all too well and the love they shared did not mean they would hold back.

  The judges had the two beautiful women take their stances and start.

  Brooke and Meeka instantly engaged in a heated battle that was hard to follow. Brooke’s tomahawks twirled around her in a whirlwind while Meeka’s lone knife allowed her one free hand. The priestess was momentarily surprised when Meeka’s knife hand shot forward to be used as a feint as the real attack was the heel of her hand slamming Brooke’s elbow and painfully jarring the arm enough for it to go numb, but the priestess’s long leg kicked out and connected with the side of Meeka’s right knee. They jumped back, already panting while circling each other like sharks. Meeka was limping while Brooke shook her arm to get rid of the numbness. Neither woman looked from the other as Cage had taught the tribe. To look away is it lose. After a few seconds to catch a breath they yelled and fought. Meeka was startled as Brooke yelled “HA!” and was overpowered when a blunted tomahawk slammed down on her collarbone and broke it while the second crashed into her left breast and shattered the plate.

  Meeka fell hard and dropped her knife due to the pain and held her broken collarbone.

  Brooke was declared the winner, but she didn’t acknowledge anyone as she dropped her weapons and held her beloved close and whispered how sorry she was for the attack. Both women knew Meeka was coming into her own as a warrior and Brooke had to end it quickly or else their exchanges would have been even more dangerous.

  Cage appeared and repaired the damage to Meeka before another mage could get the chance. Together he and Brooke helped their woman up. Brooke also held Meeka’s hand as she was awarded the prize as winner.

  “The last challenge of the day is the joust! Competitors, gather in the arena!”

  “You both made me so proud.” Cage said to the women while Daku was approaching to land in a clear spot as workers hammered in a long straight pole where riders can get ready.

  “I almost won.” Meeka said with a smile.

  “Almost. Second is still worthy.” Brooke returned and kissed her forehead.

  “No I mean, I almost won. I never thought I’d ever do something like this.”

  “You are no longer shy.” Cage said. “And you worked damn hard to get so much skill. You both were mesmerizing to watch and proved you deserved to win.”

  “Cage, go get ready.” Daku said as he took on the size of a horse again.

  “Ever done anything like this before?” Cage turned as he strapped a piece of polished armor to his chest to find the king wearing a similar armor with a helmet tucked under an arm.

  “No. Actually, Tate, if I win this I’ll be surprised. Daku and I practiced using a lance for a few hours yesterday. It is very awkward and difficult to control.”

  “Try to make an impression… again.” The king said as he put the helmet on and mounted his stallion.

  Daku soon came over and Cage sat on his back with his legs safely hidden beneath folded wings. The griffin then lined up beside Tate’s steed. Only Jormon and Gaz were the only other mage/Familiar pair jousting while there were forty competitors in all.

  The sixth match was one Cage knew he’d regret as his random opponent turned out to be General Kurk himself. Daku smoothly walked over to stand beside the barrier line while the general guided to stand on the opposite end and other side. Cage put the helmet down and lifted the blunted tipped lance and wait for the flag to drop. As soon as it did Daku released a shrill roar and pumped his great muscles to tear into the ground and speed them forward. The general’s warhorse was obviously slower, but didn’t veer away from the charge.

  Lances lowered and then Cage’s suspicions proved true. His lance bobbed from the fifteen foot length and instead of hitting the general’s chest plate, it glanced off his shoulder, but the general’s was expertly placed. Kurk’s lance struck dead center, shattering the lance’s shaft, and the impact didn’t hurt as expected as the protective wards kept all major damage from being too much, but the momentum threw Cage back. His legs couldn’t clamp tight enough on Daku’s ribs and threw him clear off the griffin. More magic happened as when he fell his chest plate and helmet locked together to prevent neck injury as sure enough, Cage landed face first into the ground.

  The audience erupted with cheer. When all stopped, the magic released and Cage got up with just a sore arm. Daku rushed over and looked his partner over, glad to see him well.

  “You need more practice.” The general said as he tossed his broken wooden lance to the ground.

  “No shit, Sherlock.” Cage then laughed. “Jousting is a lot harder than it looks.”

  “Indeed.” The general chuckled.

  Cage and Daku returned to the tribe after the loss and took great pleasure in finding at least one thing he hadn’t mastered.

  In the end one of the elite of Tate’s guard won the joust, narrowly beating both the king in the semifinals and the general in the finals.

  The second day the Utala proved themselves in archery with Zatal winning the land shots while Moril won the mounted competition on a sure footed Daku since she wouldn’t ride a Vlaran horse because they didn’t react like she was accustomed to. Nearly all day was spent on archery alone.

  Day three started off with the woman’s battle royal, but the Utala were taken out early when the competitors knew their only chance was to defeat them as a group. Thirty seven Utala women were overwhelmed and lo
st in under thirty seconds after the start.

  The fourth day was really fun as it was dedicated to magic. The first was mage on mage battles. No staffs were allowed because wards tended to make the objective too easy and dangerous, but Cage needed to deactivate his wards since he couldn’t just lay his protection down. To make things fair, Cage did as Daku and asked for the person’s class and Cage said he’d match the opponent’s strength. When the other mages heard this, there were fewer withdraws against the warlock along with sighs of relief. Some though were far too afraid and wary to risk chance. Cage kept his promise of power limitations. The object was to break the same ceramic plates used for combat, but only one stuck to the person’s chest. Barriers from outside were raised each time a match began and lowered when all was safe. Uncontrolled spells were a great danger. Even a minor mishap would doom the unprotected. Cage won with a mix of fire and breaking spells on the first of six matches. He won fairly, greatly limiting himself to keep things interesting. The second man chose to take fight, but wasn’t expecting Cage to be the superior airborne adversary. It ended with Cage getting in close, spinning himself while casting a breaking spell around his elbow which broke the singular container.

  But in the finals was the unexpected, a first class wizard. How he made it through opponent sorcerers with greater power was the real question and it marked him for being skilled.

  The attack began and the opponent shot spell after spell which was greatly draining without a constant replenishing source of mana. It didn’t make sense.

  It was too late when Cage realized what was really happening. He thought the man was being reckless by expending so much power, but the wizard seemed to be shooting spells faster and faster. Cage began to feel sluggish and knew he lost when his eyes felt heavy and understood a sleep spell a moment before falling asleep. Without wards, Cage fell prey to the lulling spell.