The fight was going further and further south by the second, but as Daku rolled over, he had dislodged one and an idea formed.
King Tate stood nearby, guarding some of his wounded men with his real ancestral sword out. Knowing what he had to do, Cage ran to him while the five monsters brushed off their injuries and renewed their attack on the griffin. Cage firmly grabbed Tate’s arm and said “Get every mage together. I’m going to take those things skyward and throw them down with everything I’ve got. Have some heal Daku and all others create one hell of an ice lance. Make it as hard as possible so it can skewer them and give Daku the chance to rip out their hearts.”
Tate gave him a hard look for a heartbeat before nodding.
Cage created his flight board and shot across to where Daku fought against overwhelming adversaries. Black ropes shot from Cage’s palms with the hardest solidity he could muster. It fired hundreds of feet per second. The two beasts that were thrown actually displayed such strength that they tackled Daku’s overwhelming size like cubs tackling down a great lion. Magical black ropes snaked around one back leg and another while the second rope tied two more before managing to glue itself to the vulnerable back of the one acting like some kind of devouring tick.
With all five wrapped up, Cage bound the ropes into one with his hands before hitching it to the end of his board while dumping every scrap of magical power he could command into the board to shoot off like a cannon. There was a slight jerk as the line snapped taut as it ripped all five off his Familiar. Cage yelled as he flew straight up, fighting against gravity. He looked down to find the tick one clutching a large piece of meat as it ripped from Daku’s hide, white fur fluttering as it still ate. Cage had to put up a barrier to cut the wind while forcing everything he could to go faster and keep the superiorly stronger monsters from unbinding themselves. He could do nothing else except fly. They were much too strong.
Megdline created her own golden board and intended to fly off after Cage, but heard the enhanced voice of the king issuing commands to every mage, asking all wizards to tend to the laboring Daku and all sorcerers to construct a single ice weapon. The sorceress knew an idea of her student’s when she heard one. “Frill, stay here and help the injured.”
Brooke yelled “Utala!” her people immediately turned to her. “Many are hurt, give aid where you can while the chief takes care of those beasts.”
“But…”
“No questions!” Meeka said as she went to the nearby fire and grabbed a log. “Find a sword, heat it and cauterize wounds. The mages will be able to help, but not till those things are dead.” She picked up a sword and began letting the fire lick it before running over to someone severely injured and placing the hot iron to staunch the bleeding as quickly as possible. The tribe spread to offer help.
Every staff glowed with magic as each mage did their part. The wizards slowly reattached the nearly severed gigantic wing, put the several hundred pound severed finger close enough to be put back and closed all the gaping wounds caused by powerful teeth and claws. All the while this was happening Daku’s head stretched to the sky where his narrowed eyes watched his partner zipping back and forth through the air randomly so that the five couldn’t cut through his conjuring. After repairs closed the wounds, the wizards hurried to add their strength to the growing ice spear and being layered with spells designed to reinforce it from breaking.
“Someone tell Cage it is as good as we can make it!” the king shouted.
“I’ll tell him.” Daku said and immediately did so.
Cage struggled to keep from passing out as he pulled maneuvers that pushed his body to the limit and kept the powerful giant ants from being able to reach his ropes. “NOW!” He heard Daku’s voice thunder in his mind. The mind-link made him know that it was time.
From fifteen thousand feet above the ground, Cage entered a vertical dive, making one last push and giving everything. His magic went into the board and shot straight down. To reduce wind drag, he sharpened the forward barrier to a razor’s edge, almost flying through a vacuum. Gravity helped increase speed while his newly enhanced eyes found a glistening dot below the city. Daku was nearly as large as the castle and was pointing towards the ice pillar. Tiny dots which turned to be people fled from it and many colors of light popped up all around it, mages shielding those unable to likely able to move or flee.
The downward speed was so great that the pressure on his forward shield exploded as he broke the sound barrier and the speed increased much faster afterwards. Only his stronger hearing helped limit the deafening sonic boom that resulted from the supersonic speed. His mental calculation knew he’d never be able to pull out of the dive as all his blood would rush to his legs and no matter how strong he was, his legs wouldn’t be able to keep him standing. Physics and human strength wouldn’t make it remotely possible to ignore. The only thing he could rely on is his wards and hope the impact didn’t kill him outright. But he couldn’t go easy on these things or everything was for nothing.
In the last moments of the dive Cage altered the five into a straight line and added a connecting spell to the needle sharp spear of ice standing over two hundred feet tall from the ground.
Then Cage yelled, ended the flying spell and moved slightly before getting skewered, missing the tip by mere feet. Then blackness surrounded him.
Everyone watched in both awe and horror as Cage shot loudly into the ground, creating a shockwave heard throughout Vin’re along with seeing a sizeable crater. There was a shriek as the sharp pillar pierced one creature after another, the widening of the spear spread out the wound till the bodies were ripped apart through the front of the spiderlike abdomen and out the backside.
Daku suddenly pounced on the beasts and began ripping them limb from limb while ripping out still beating hearts that had been missed in the last attack.
Jormon and Megdline flew straight to the crater while Daku obliterated the writhing bodies. Cage’s supersonic impact left a crater more than a hundred feet wide and thirty down. Debris of snow and dirt still rained down. They sent their senses below the ground to search and the sorceress almost cried from what she sensed. The Vlaran king’s sorcerer’s jaw clenched as he aimed his dark staff to the ground and dirt split apart to reveal a swirling blackness before he manipulated the dirt to lift the body to a safer place to land. The wards wouldn’t allow either to directly move the broken warlock via magic so the dirt beneath helped.
The safe landing ward first taught before flying began to dissipate, leaving a busted Cage able to be seen. Bones were broken and stuck out at odd angles as blood seeped through every hole in his head, eyes included. Gurgling breath made Megdline say “He’s drowning in his own blood. Help me Jormon!”
“Yes, My Lady.”
They both flew right to him and their combined power turned Cage’s whole body blue as they rushed to keep him from hemorrhaging internally. They felt nearly every one of his bones were broken, organs were greatly damaged. The two knew that alone he couldn’t be saved, but with both repairing the most vital places of Cage’s body, they had a chance.
Dozens of feet ran into the crater as the king led the charge. He stopped to stare in fear as two powerful mages worked. He asked “Cage… will he make it?”
“I need mages, as many can be spared!” Came a large shadow that blocked the sun around them all. Daku stared down at the group and that of his blue glowing master. “If there are more, they need to die.”
Tate turned to three of his men “Do as he says. Have the other mages continue to heal my people. We need to make sure whatever those thing are are all dead. If you find another, try to do as Cage and help Daku finish them off.” They left.
Several breath holding minutes passed before the blue glow began to disperse and Megdline sighed “He is out of danger for now.” Her grey eyes looked up to the still standing king and his finest soldiers. “King Tate, many others are still in need and my power is needed.”
“Go ahead. The four of y
ou” He pointed to his men. “need to stay and guard Cage. Because of him, those things are dead.” To the mages he asked “Can either of you tell me what in the world those things were?”
“Your Majesty…”
“Don’t your majesty me, Lady Megdline. I know who you really are and I need straight answers. What are those things?”
“I truly do not know. I’ve never seen their like. Whatever they are isn’t natural to this world. They weren’t chimera, different animals of one body… To overpower both Cage and Daku so easily… I know of no such creature capable… other than dragons… which they are clearly not.”
A great flapping sound alerted them to Daku’s return. Frigid wind blasted the area before a tremor rolled through the area. Talking ended and other than cries of pain and loss, the land was silent. His blue stained beak and red blood, matted fir had mostly been washed as he stuck his head over the crater. To those below he said “Just those six we killed were all that came. I neither saw nor smelled others. Please hurry and place Cage on my back, we must leave immediately.”
The angry urgency in his words prompted the king to ask “Daku, you seem to know just how to kill those things. What were they and why are you leaving.”
“Do not question me right now, Human.” Daku stated coolly and brought his head so close Tate and those near tripped over the uneven ground. He was frightening. “There is a problem that needs to be rectified and time is of most importance. Cage was not yet strong enough to face those which shouldn’t be here. Now listen to me closely, Burn the bodies with magic fire or they will recover. Ripping the heart out alone won’t stop them, just slows them down. Nothing but ash can remain.” He then tuned his great eye to Megdline and Jormon. “After you tend to the wounded, Jump to Twilight and inform the First Council that I, Daku, last white king and living griffin am ordering them to prepare for our arrival. Have the Rex from every dragon colony meet there. This is a priority. If they should refuse tell them that six of the broken race were on this world.” He blinked. “Now please, hurry and put my partner on my back. We leave immediately.”
“We’re coming too!” Shouted Brooke as she finally reached the crater to see all standing except Cage.
“You will not!” Daku put his head right in front of the priestess. “What you will do is go to the floating tree and sail back to the nest this evening. Only Cage and I are flying to Twilight and I will not endanger his mates who cannot do anything against them.” He pointed a human size finger to the bodies by the ice spear. “We must fly with haste and not stop. You will do as I say this time, Brooke. Do not challenge me, danger is too grave.” Brooke paled at the malice Daku showed. Never before had anyone seen him so angry. “No more interruptions! Put him on my back!”
Megdline eventually unfroze and magically levitated Cage’s unconscious body to land between the giant griffin’s wings and added a spell to stick him down safely. “Daku, as soon as I’m done I’ll do as you say. When will you estimate to arrive at Twilight?”
“Tomorrow afternoon. This event is too urgent to allow dawdling. I leave.” Before anyone could stop him, giant muscles bulged beneath strong skin and fur before jumping and bringing a quarter mile wide wingspan down to take flight. People cowered from the intense wind created by the downbursts as he flew higher and higher till his gigantic body was little more than a speck in a clear blue sky.
“Broken race? What does that mean?” The king requested.
“I know not.” Megdline responded while walking up the incline of the crater. “Since the message was intended for the Rex of each colony I can only speculate they know the message… I’ve never seen Daku so angry before. The most I’ve seen was mild irritation, nothing came close… Whatever these things are has frightened him greatly.”
“Not just him.” King Tate put a hand on the pommel of his sword. “I daresay these things make wyrms look tame and loveable… Jormon, be sure to burn every piece of blood and flesh, I do not want to wait and see if they reform. The risk is too great.”
“GAZ!” the sorcerer called and the grizzly came charging over. “Help me locate every piece of these things. All must burn in magic fire.”
The grizzly said “I will do my best, but they have no scent.”
Oblivion ended as pain took its place and made Cage gasp. His eyes flashed open and he tried struggling, but his body was locked. Without thinking he found the magic holding him and easily broke it. Sitting up fast made him immediately dizzy and close his eyes. Freezing air hit his face and helped greatly with the nausea.
“Good, you wake.” Rumbled a calm voice.
Cracking an eye, Cage saw Daku’s flexible neck turn almost completely around with a head as large as a simple house. Pain all over his body took priority and found he had only been patched up. Using his own magic he repaired all tissues and bone fractures over the next hour.
Daku didn’t once turn his head around, needing to keep a close watch.
Then, without another word Cage’s magic sunk down to sense his partner’s enormous body. Being together so much allowed the warlock to know his Familiar’s anatomy as well as he did his own. He made the corrections despite a powerful headache. As he finished Daku said “Much appreciated. I feel whole again.”
“Daku, you know what I’m about to ask.” Cage said while getting comfortable.
Those great blue eyes took on a tense setting, but he nodded. “I cannot blame you after facing six scout size Tiaxm.”
“Tiaxm? Is that what those things are called?”
“Yes and no.” Daku said directly. “My vows with the dragons have been nullified with the Tiaxm attack. For your own safety you must fully understand who you really are. Before I continue, tell me, did you feel hate for them?”
“More than I have ever experienced in the whole of my life could scarcely compare. How is it I hate something I do not know? I did not hate wyrms or wyverns, but I was overcome with such rage I could not stop myself from trying to kill it or die trying. My magic too seemed to be sharper and have an impact greater than usual, but I still did little more than scratch its hide. Daku, how did that thing overpower you? You’re the strongest being I’ve ever met and those things tossed you around like a child’s toy.”
Daku’s jaw twitched with irritation, but not against his partner. “You speak truly and I too felt the rage. Even now it lingers in my mind, but the rage is what saved us this day. To know the Tiaxm is to reveal why you are a warlock. Cage, the Tiaxm is our natural enemy. You need to rest while I explain but when you feel better you must let me rest and fly to Twilight. I will explain why soon.”
Cage got comfortable on the warm fur as thick as rope while Daku’s head made the perfect windbreak. A few deep, steadying breaths settled the griffin enough to lecture properly.
“Griffins have a secret talent unique to my kind... for I have the experiences and memories of my parents and those before them and so on for about a hundred generations. It is genetic memory and today was the first I’ve seen of a Tiaxm, but my ancestors fought them and I knew where their only weakness lay. Their memories in battle is all I have of them and it saved us all. And because of their memories I know how our enemy makes us so full of rage.
“There are few sentient races in the galaxy that we are aware of. You know dragons are the oldest race. Griffins follow them. There are five others, but they cannot survive long in our atmosphere. Then there are humans. There is a new aquatic race found on a world made almost entirely of water. All sentient races do have one thing in common, they can freely use their living mana to mold magic, if in different ways. Since magic is neither good or evil it is up to the life who wields it as a tool or a weapon. And not all magic can be used the same way, like how mine alters my size or negates spells… you already know this much.” Daku flapped, heading further southwest at great speed. “Cage, you once asked why warlocks are so different than other humans on this world. The Tiaxm are partly responsible for how warlocks came to be, like a human subspecie
s with more power than the original.
“Dragons creates a limitless system to Jump from planet to planet freely after making a planet ideal for life by crafting a nexus to reach any linked planet instantly without requiring the planetary keys one needs to know and cast to Jump.
“There was one such nexus on this world. It allowed anyone and anything to survive a Jump, even if they had insufficient mana to cast magic. For instance, your mates would survive a nexus Jump while if you sent them through your magic, they would die.” Daku watched Cage nod in understanding the connection. “The nexus portal connected worlds thanks to dragons, but with such power there came a price, a heavy one that didn’t become known quickly.
“Tiaxm is the name dragons use to refer to what would be translated in this tongue as a broken race or lost species. The word signifies great danger.” Daku took another deep breath that Cage could feel beneath him. “The Tiaxm were once a loving, peaceful race, but were preyed upon by a… well predator… like a wolf is to a human or I am to a rat. The race was lost when they secretly spun genetic magic the species could not endure or reverse. They lost their peaceful nature along with what made them special as a sentient race. Their fear of the predator transformed them into a greater predator themselves, which you witnessed firsthand. They hardened their skin, grew rows of sharp teeth, their dual hearts pump forever unless burned and I do not need to remind you of their unnatural strength.” Cage shook his head. “But the biggest loss was when they destroyed their own spirits as a result of magic. They used magic way beyond what their evolution would have allowed.”
Laugh of Destruction (Book 3 of the Death Incarnate Saga) Page 54
