Forever Soldiers: The Tyrus Chronicle - Book Four

by Joshua P. Simon

  “I’m fine, you know. There are men who—”

  “Will have to wait.” His shoulders sagged slightly. “You being at full strength is the key to this working.”

  His decision to focus on my health will likely mean other injured soldiers may die. The weighing of lives.

  She hated being put at the center of those decisions.

  CHAPTER 45

  Ava waited with every Southern Kingdom sorcerer except the three Danso took with him. They dressed like any other soldier in an attempt to conceal their identities from enemy scouts. To further the illusion, Captain Kamau assigned a hundred infantry to her front ranks in an effort to visually mask the sorcerers’ position.

  Ava knew those around her had improved tremendously in earth magic. However, she worried that they had not improved enough.

  If we can’t isolate the dead troops, maybe we can at least slow them to buy Danso the time he needs to kill the enemy’s sorcerers. She shook her head. I don’t like ifs.

  The latest reports had the enemy at thirty thousand strong in addition to their fifty thousand dead. Despite the staggering odds, few among the Southern Kingdoms acted concerned as Captain Kamau rode among them.

  She assumed much of the army’s demeanor resulted from Danso’s speech before leaving with Sergeant Margo and the rest of her men. He had surprised her by sharing most of their plan to counter the enemy’s forces, speaking confidently to his men about Ava’s skills to nullify the dead army.

  He almost made it sound easy.

  Thanks to the Southern Kingdom healers, Ava felt stronger than she had in months. Nothing ached. If not for the self-inflicted burn scar on her arm, there’d be no indication of her recent wounds.

  Fitting the reminder is from the one I gave myself.

  Not wanting to waste even the slightest bit of her strength, she only quested out lightly for her connection to sorcery. Just enough to make sure she could tap into it.

  Hoof beats jarred her thoughts as Kamau approached with two aides at his sides. He motioned for them to wait while he spoke with Ava in private. She stepped away from the sorcerers nearby.

  “Captain.”

  “High Mage. Everyone ready?” he asked.

  “As we’ll ever be. Your troops?”

  “Confident and eager.”

  “Yourself?” she asked, noting his fidgeting at the reins.

  “Cautiously optimistic.”

  She snorted at the nervous smile that touched the sides of his mouth. “I hear you.”

  “Any word from Jumla Danso?” he asked.

  She touched the stone tied to her wrist. It was a slight modification to the charms she had her squad leaders wear preceding the attack on Imbal. Because of Danso’s resistance, he could not wear a stone, so she gave it to Eder who was to remain at Danso’s side as they snuck behind enemy lines.

  The stone was warm, meaning simply that Eder was alive. By default, they had to assume that Danso was as well.

  “Alive,” she answered.

  “Is that really all you know?”

  “Yes.”

  Ava wondered if Kamau sought a temporary distraction as they waited for the inevitable battle to begin.

  Except I’m a poor choice for that unless the distraction involves picking at the other person. She thought of the numerous times she and Ira had berated one another while trying to burn off the nervous anticipation coursing through their veins.

  “Is there something funny?” Kamau asked.

  “Not really. It’s just . . .” she began while trying to decide if she’d share her past with him. A shout from the front ranks made the decision for her.

  The enemy had finally entered their line of sight at the horizon.

  She changed her tone. “Good luck, Captain.”

  “You too, High Mage. May Engai be with you,” he added before riding off.

  She shook her head at the man’s religious blessing, before muttering a curse to the Turine gods out of habit.

  * * *

  Ava had been in countless battles, far too many to count. From a slow, organized distribution of troops between two tacticians to one horde rapidly descending on another with only survival as the goal.

  No matter the type, she didn’t have to think long to confirm that nothing she had previously faced compared to a well-disciplined army of rotting corpses advancing on her position.

  Even without the religious liabilities the Southern Kingdom soldiers had, the sight still unsettled her. She hadn’t thought anything could compare to the sacrificial remains of Geneshan citizens she had stumbled upon more than once. But as horrific as the Geneshan sacrifices were, they never moved. Seeing so many dead bodies marching in unison magnified any horror from her past.

  An eerie silence fell over the entire Southern Kingdom military. The Southern Kingdom army, famed throughout the world of Chayal as being unbeatable looked as though they might lose themselves in fear. Most stood open-mouthed in shock. Some managed to mutter a word of prayer. Their training and confidence in their commander’s plan was likely all that prevented most from fleeing.

  Ava’s lack of religious conviction helped her recover from her shock. Just one more horror of war.

  She whipped her head to the left as booming shouts sounded from Kamau and Lungile while they galloped among the ranks of the main body, gesturing passionately. She admired their conviction and sympathized with the task of keeping their forces focused.

  What can I do to help them?

  The dead army was still too far away to begin isolating them.

  And I’m not one for speeches . . .

  A thought struck her and she twisted to an older, Southern Kingdom sorcerer who had picked up the earth-based spells more quickly than others. As usual, the man’s name escaped her.

  “I need your help.”

  The sorcerer blinked away from the advancing dead and regarded her as if he had briefly forgotten where he was.

  She continued when it looked like he had collected himself, “I’ve studied your sorcerers as they’ve strengthened each other with one siphoning power from another. I think I understand the concept, but can you actually show me how to do it?”

  “You want me to show you now?”

  “Yes.”

  “But the army—”

  “I know. I have an idea for helping Kamau and Lungile.”

  “I can try, but for some it takes time to pick up the many nuances.”

  “I’m a quick study. And I don’t need to become a master at it. I just need to be able to increase the effectiveness of a spell I’m already experienced with.”

  “Well, that should make it easier to learn.” His face hardened. “All right. Give me your hands. You helped us to learn earth sorcery this way. The same should hold true for learning our techniques as well.”

  She obeyed, trying to ignore all else around her.

  The sorcerer continued, “Start a spell. Any spell, but as you said, make sure it’s something you’re comfortable with.”

  She started the spell she wished to cast on the main body. However, she focused it only on the older sorcerer for now.

  The sorcerer said, “The key to borrowing power from others is that it has to be willingly given. It isn’t about taking power so much as it is using what others give you. Now, split your focus. Part remains on maintaining your spell. Part on searching for the power I’m now opening up to you.” He did something she didn’t quite understand and felt an increase in what power she could draw upon. “Opening oneself to another is very difficult, but taking what is freely given from another is much easier. Do you feel what I’m offering?”

  “I do,” she said in amazement.

  “Then take it, but only a little at a time. If you go too quickly or draw on too much before you’re ready to control it, it could harm u
s both.”

  She obeyed and strengthened the simple spell into something stronger before casting the spell over the old sorcerer.

  A tiny smile flickered across his face as he then closed his connection to her. “It wasn’t perfect. A bit clumsy in spots, but you’re a fast learner.” He paused. “And I understand what spell you wish to cast. It’s a good idea, but I won’t be able to offer enough for you to cast it over the entire army.”

  She gestured to the other sorcerers around them. “Can you speak with some of the others quickly? They’ll likely respond easier to the request if you make it. I won’t have to hold the spell long. Just a small surge should be enough to steel the nerves of the main host.”

  He nodded and hurried through the ranks of sorcerers, speaking quickly. They regarded him oddly, flicking glances at Ava. Some began to ask questions, but he cut them off with a raised hand. She heard him remind several that Danso had ordered them to all obey High Mage Ava as if it was he who commanded them. That seemed to be enough for them to agree to open up to her.

  Immediately, she sank into the same spell of encouragement, tapped into the power from the sorcerers around her, and cast her net much wider than ever before, covering thousands of men. The result was instantaneous. Soldiers began shouting back at Kamau and Lungile with fervor.

  Once she felt the change in their demeanors, she ended her spell. Admittedly, ending her connection with so much power at her disposal was not an easy thing, but she refused to violate the trust given her. The Southern Kingdom sorcerers cut their connection to her as she halted siphoning their power upon release of the spell.

  Several of the older sorcerers bowed their head to her as a sign of respect.

  I wonder if I passed some test by not getting lost in the swell of power.

  The old sorcerer returned to her side. He seemed pleased, like a prideful teacher at how she handled herself. Before Ava could ask him to confirm her assumption, the young boy who always stood outside of Danso’s tent galloped toward her.

  “High Mage Ava,” the boy called.

  “Yes.”

  “Kamau urges you to begin your isolation.”

  Ava looked out at the advancing corpses and shook her head. “They’re still too far away.” She noticed Kamau directing movement of the main body. “What’s going on?”

  “The enemy is taking a different approach than anticipated. They are already bringing their regular forces to the field and they’re coming in at a different angle than we expected.”

  “Crap!”

  They want to crush us quickly and leave nothing to chance.

  “Captain Kamau thinks that as he moves to meet them, the dead army will alter their course as well in an attempt to attack from the rear.”

  “Tell the captain, I’ll see it done,” she said.

  The boy nodded and rode off.

  Like a sweeping wave, the Southern Kingdom soldiers initiated a double-time march.

  Ava shouted. “Change of plans. We can’t wait for the dead to come to us. We have to go to them.”

  “But this is the best position to cast our spell,” one sorcerer near her began. “The earth is much more malleable here and—”

  Ava didn’t even acknowledge the man. She had no time to argue or humor anyone. “Everyone move out!”

  The sorcerer who had begun to complain wore a bewildered look as she jogged past him. Others had no choice but to follow her lead.

  Gods, we’re already deviating from our plan.

  She focused on the stone pressing against her wrist. Still warm. That’s good at least.

  After their long sprint, Ava called for a halt. The Southern Kingdom sorcerers were thankfully in better physical condition than most Turine mages she had known. Still, many dropped to their knees, catching their breaths.

  The dead army had responded to Kamau’s movement as he anticipated, turning to advance on his rear. It would take some time to catch up to Kamau, but if they did, the battle and subsequently the war would be lost.

  Ava took up a position behind her men where the land slanted upward. Overlooking her group in the direction of the dead army, she yelled. “Begin the spell now! We have to cut off their advance!”

  More than one hundred sorcerers sank into themselves. Being around so many casting the same spell was a new experience for her, especially as she sunk into herself to guide them.

  Ava had set up the cluster of sorcerers so that the most skilled on the far left started off strong. The remaining columns held a mix of skill to avoid any break in the spell as it would later grow in size and strength. The speed with which the spell could be strengthened was delicate. Too fast and the entire thing could fall apart.

  Those on the far left began. At once, a low hum of the earth pulling apart sounded in the distance.

  Given that thousands of soldiers, alive and dead, all maneuvered over relatively flat, open land at once, Ava could not see the spell take effect, but she felt it as much as she heard it.

  Earth-based magic had the unique consequence of shaking the ground in a much different way than the thunderous marching of thousands.

  The next columns of sorcerers added to the efforts of the first. Ava made sure to bind and strengthen any loose connections, adding fluidity to their growing power.

  Ao’s teats. Imagine what the High Mages could have done against the Geneshans had they the knowledge of how to combine their power into one spell so well.

  Ava felt the earth crack open, deepening and widening as it traveled around the dead army to encircle them. The hum grew louder with each breath. If those sounds and vibrations had not been enough proof that their plan had begun well, further confirmation came from the sudden halt of the dead.

  A strong surge of necromantic sorcery erupted. It sent a shiver down Ava’s spine, turning the sweat on her back icy. Based on the mutterings around her, she was not alone.

  She felt a hitch in the unity of their spell and yelled for focus before it unraveled.

  Ava knew the enemy sorcerers would not give up easily, but she had not anticipated their counter. The dead army split in two directions down the center. One half went north to approach Kamau from a different angle. The other went south, focused solely on their position.

  Two armies now. Each trying to get around our spell from a different attack point, before we can complete the enclosure. She hated to admit it, but the strategy was smart. The enemy stood a higher chance of at least getting part of their army free than before.

  She put herself in the mind of the enemy. By coming at us, they want to present themselves as a more immediate threat so that we instinctively close off the south side first. But that would free up those in the north to attack Kamau which is exactly what they want.

  “Turn the direction of the spell inward and focus on closing off the north side first!” she shouted as the next column of sorcerers joined the spell.

  Being so attuned with all working in unison, she sensed the growing anxiety among the Southern Kingdom sorcerers as they joined the spell. She found no error and only had to exert minimal effort to connect the sorcery together.

  Stay calm. Don’t rush.

  After blocking off the northern side of the area they wished to enclose, the next column of sorcerers turned the crack in the earth south so it raced along the opposite side of the enemy, working on the third side needed to complete the encirclement. She was proud at how well they responded without her prompting. There was a tiny shift when the next column joined, coinciding with an increased pace of the advancing dead.

  “Gods-be-damned, don’t rush! We have time!” she shouted, not sure if she believed her own words, for the dead army sprinted to get ahead of the encirclement.

  Ao-be-damned.

  Another column picked up the spell, then another. As the dead raced toward them in eerie silence, some broke apart, fe
murs shattering, hips dislocating, sending corpses crashing to the ground where they were trampled by those behind.

  Finally, the crack in the earth became visible on the right side of the advancing dead, a giant gash more than thirty feet wide passed the fast moving enemy as the next set of Southern Kingdom sorcerers joined the spell.

  “Cut it across now! Complete the encirclement!” she yelled.

  Immediately, the crack in the earth cut sharply left. When it did, the dead army reacted instantly, funneling toward the rapidly decreasing space where the two ends of the encirclement had not yet met. Several of the corpses could not stop quickly enough and tumbled into the gaping fissure in the earth. Ava knew that would not sit well with the Southern Kingdom soldiers and sorcerers alike, but she hoped that none would express their pain until completing the trap.

  With the enemy less than a hundred yards away, Ava altered the angle of the spell slightly outward to stay ahead of the enemy. When the last column of sorcerers joined, they caused enough of a surge to complete the encirclement.

  The dead army came to a sliding halt less than fifty yards from her front ranks, thirty yards of which was a massive ravine they held by sorcery.

  Gods, that was close.

  The dead mass was haunting for they did not curse or raise fists in frustration as a normal army might have. They didn’t even shift on their feet or heave for breath after the intense sprint. They simply waited in silence, still as wheat stalks on a windless day.

  Yet, Ava continued to feel the necromancy thrumming off them. More potent than ever, the stench of the foul sorcery reeked as badly as the bodies themselves.

  Ava’s heart pounded in her chest and she took long, deep breaths. Others around her did the same. Southern Kingdom soldiers standing closest to the fissure exchanged relieved glances while wiping sweat from their brows.

  Here and there, several sorcerers vomited.

  The old sorcerer from earlier said in a low, sad voice. “Some did not stop in time.”

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t prevent that,” she said, trying to sound sincere.