by Jon Bender
“So what’s the plan? Do we wait for them or attack?” Darian asked.
“We attack. I don’t want to give them a chance to get into position. You take the left with Da’san. Warin, take the right. I will hold the middle.”
“Want all the glory for yourself?” Darian said grinning.
“Why must everything be fighting and glory with you?” Da’san asked, rolling his eyes.
“What else is there?” Darian returned.
“Peace and joy, if you would allow Sarinsha to show you the way.”
“How many times do I have to tell you; I have no interest in…” Darian’s voice faded as they moved into position.
“Let’s hope it really is just these men and one priest,” Warin said, before riding away.
“Let’s hope,” Jaxom said quietly to his back.
Adriana returned a short time later, looking grim. “Tandis is attacking all along our front. There isn’t a column or scout unit that isn’t skirmishing. It’s complete confusion, but our side is holding.”
“It doesn’t make sense. He can’t match us man for man, so why spread out his forces?” Jaxom said, mostly to himself.
“Maybe he has more men than we thought,” she replied.
“We have scouted thoroughly, and know he doesn’t. Fighting like this is just throwing his forces away.”
“We are about to have problems of our own,” she said, looking ahead.
Jaxom nodded. “Do you want to join Lexa and keep an eye on me from above?”
“You know your durgen is just as capable of flight as mine. It wouldn’t kill you to fight from the air every now and then. It might just save your life.”
“I can’t ask the others to take risks I won’t face myself,” he said.
“It’s a good thing I am here to watch out for you then,” she said, gracing him with one of her confident smiles before taking to the air.
When everyone was in position, it was another ten minutes before Jaxom saw the enemy soldiers advancing towards them. Even at this distance, he could see hesitation in their slow movements. When the first of them spotted Jaxom and the force he led, they broke into a run heading straight for him. Drawing his sword, he commanded the risen to charge the enemy. Jaxom joined them. The emora easily kept pace until the last second, when his durgen’s six powerful legs coiled before launching into the line. Its claws and teeth tore into the flesh of three men before it landed. Jaxom swung his sword with precise strikes, hitting men to his left and right. The risen soldiers attacked without emotion, accepting hits instead of blocking when they were assured a strike of their own. His emora continued to shift color as it slipped among the soldiers, tearing hamstrings and swiping with curved claws.
Something large and black swooped down, knocking him from the back of the durgen and decapitating the creature in the same attack. Lying on the ground stunned next to the severed head of his mount, Jaxom had just enough of his faculties to command the emora and nearby risen to protect him. The black form flew overhead again, raking through the risen and Terikan soldiers with long, sword-like talons. Gaining his feet, Jaxom cast into the ground with his free hand, summoning the bones beneath to create his armor. The bones quickly assembled themselves on his body, with the addition of a helmet complete with a skull faceplate to help protect him from aerial attacks. Staring through the empty sockets of the dead man’s skull, he watched as the flying creature swooped in low for another attack. Jaxom summoned a long thick coil of grey smoke in preparation for the fearsome creature. Just before it came within range, two large spears of ice struck the beast in its side, throwing it off target. With the bird-like creature off-balance, Jaxom lashed out with the coil, striking a wing and sending it spinning to the ground. Quickly recovering, it leapt to the air once more. Jaxom was forced to tear his eyes away when three enemy soldiers hacked their way through the risen to reach him. He was beginning to suspect that the entire force they faced was hunting him in particular.
Turning to face his attackers, Jaxom sent the coil around the neck of one, jerking him to the ground where the emora quickly tore into his back. Bringing his sword up high, he blocked the incoming blade of another man before kicking out to connect with his knee. There was a sickening pop as the attacker fell back screaming. The third man, seeing an opening, swung a sword in from the side and connected solidly with Jaxom. The blow knocked the wind out of him. The ribs protecting his torso cracked under the blow, and Jaxom thought his own may have followed suit. Jaxom brought his sword across to return the favor but missed as the soldier jumped back out of range. Releasing the coil, Jaxom formed the blight and sent it to wrap around his enemy’s sword arm. The man yelled in pain, dropping his weapon as the blight climbed up his arm to his chest. Dropping to his knees, he raised his arm, watching as it rotted before his eyes. Jaxom ended his agony with a quick strike to the throat, producing a splash of red that soaked the white snow.
With the immediate danger over, he searched the air for the real threat. Just above a cluster of trees, he found it. His heart dropped into his stomach as he watched Adriana and Lexa battle the creature. Lexa had wrapped the blight around its throat, but the shadow-made body resisted the decaying effect of the cast. Adriana swung her mace while her durgen and the shadow creature reared back to exchange clawed strikes. Even from a distance, Jaxom could see that the durgen had suffered serious damage. It was a marvel that it was still able to fly.
Just then, the shadow creature raked the durgen’s wing, causing it to drop from the sky. As Jaxom watched Adriana fall, the fighting and death around him faded away. His first instinct was to run for the place where he had lost sight of her behind the trees, but he could not leave Lexa to deal with the beast alone. Instead, he broke free of the fighting, slashing and hacking at any enemy who dared stand in his way. He never saw any of the men who fell before him; they were just obstacles preventing him from killing that thing and reaching the woman he loved. As he broke loose of the fighting, half a dozen men pursued him. Without looking over his shoulder, he commanded ten of the nearest risen to charge them. He had no time to deal with such trivial matters.
The shadow creature was already attacking Lexa’s durgen, and Jaxom knew it would not be long before it too was knocked from the sky. Several bone daggers were flying at the creature, but it hardly seemed to notice Warin’s attacks. Jaxom reached into the mind of the durgen, taking control. He felt resistance as Lexa struggled to maintain her own hold. With no way to tell her what he planned, he concentrated his will, forcing her from the mind of the risen with such strength that she lost control of the blight. Jaxom commanded the durgen to dive for the spot where he stood. He only hoped that Lexa knew to hold on. The durgen furled its wings briefly, allowing it fall out of reach of the creature before opening them again, headed for Jaxom. The shadow creature pursued, its talons outstretched like those of a great hunting bird.
As both grew larger, the bones of his armor flowed away from him, snapping into jagged pieces and encircling him. He added as many shards as he could summon from the earth until hundreds upon hundreds of bones whipped through the air around him. As the durgen neared, it leveled out, flying a few feet above his head and stirring up the snow. The shadow creature’s size prevented such agile movement, and it had no choice but to continue its decent. Using all the power and will he contained, Jaxom launched the daggers. With such a large target, aiming was hardly necessary. In quick succession, the bones flew forth, shredding the creature’s body and wings. With the last of his daggers spent, Jaxom leapt to the side, but not quickly enough to avoid being clipped by a tumbling wing. He heard a crack followed by a wash of searing pain as the impact sent him flying.
Sprawled in the snow, he looked to his left arm and found a bloody mess. The bone of the upper part stuck out through the skin. Ignoring the grievous wound and the pain that came with it, he struggled to his feet. Drawing his sword, he approached the shadow creature where it lay flopping on the ground. Both wings had snapped
in the fall, and its body sported dozens of protruding daggers. Raising his sword above his head, he brought the blade down on its neck. It took serval blows to sever completely, but when he finished, the shadow no longer moved. It dissolved, leaving the body of a man in black robes with hack marks in his back from the sword.
Jaxom headed for the spot where Adriana had fallen while the fight behind him continued to rage. He hurt everywhere. When the weight of his sword became too much, he let it fall into the snow. He stumbled forward through the group of trees until he came to where she lay unmoving on her side. The durgen had fallen nearby, its spine broken in the fall. Ignoring the risen, he fell to his knees beside her. Using his good hand, he moved her bloody hair from her face, revealing a long gash. Her chest barely rose and fell. But she was alive.
Thumping of boots in the snow drew his attention. Da’san reached him first. His friend moved to heal Jaxom’s arm, but Jaxom stopped him. “Her first.”
Da’san looked to her with doubt in his eyes, but nodded. He placed a hand over the gash in her head and began to pray. A blue glow sprang to life beneath Da’san’s fingers. After several moments, he pulled his hand away. The gash had been replaced by a long white scar. Feeling along her back, he stopped and repeated the process before moving on. When Da’san finished, Darian removed his cloak and wrapped her in it before picking her limp body from the ground. Da’san returned to Jaxom, placing a hand over the protruding bone. There was a loud snap as the arm reset, and Jaxom almost fainted. Warin used his skeletal arm to steady him while Da’san finished knitting the muscle and skin back together. After that, Jaxom barely noticed his broken ribs being set, or the head wound he had been unaware of being closed. When he was finished, Da’san stepped away a little unsteadily.
Warin helped Jaxom to his feet. A moment later, Lexa landed and jumped from her saddle. “Lord Wilbrin says the remainder of the enemy are running. He is regrouping the men and tending the wounded.”
No one spoke. Jaxom had not taken his eyes from Adriana. His heart had been torn out, but others were still depending on him to lead them. “Tell Wilbrin to create drag litters for the wounded who cannot walk. Use however many risen you need to carry them back away from the fighting. Lexa, fly Adriana back to the last town. Watch over her until we get there.”
As Lexa moved to carry out the instructions, the flapping of wings drew Jaxom’s attention away from Adriana’s face. The rider who landed saw his leader carried in Darian’s arms. “Lady Adriana… is she?”
“She’s alive,” Jaxom said. “Report.”
The rider saluted from his saddle. “Every unit is under attack, and many of the dark priests have turned themselves into powerful creatures. We have lost several riders and the majority of the enemy has concentrated on the central pass. The militia is suffering heavy losses everywhere but there. It seems Tandis is sacrificing thousands of men for a chance to kill King Dillion. The king is hard-pressed and does not know how much longer he can hold out. I was sent to rally all available forces, but yours is the first I have found not engaged, My Lord.”
Jaxom absorbed everything the rider said and considered his options as he looked back at Adriana’s face. He felt something snap inside of him, releasing a flood of emotions. Fear, sorrow, and helplessness overwhelmed him until he settled into a cold rage, a point beyond anger and hatred that washed away the physical and emotional pain. His mind cleared of everything but a singular purpose: vengeance. “Move our men and risen to the center pass. I will aid King Dillion,” he said to Warin.
“That durgen can carry two,” Darian said. Jaxom nodded.
“I have just healed you of serious wounds. You will need time to recover,” Da’san said.
“Just make sure Adriana is safe. I will be fine,” Jaxom said. “You’ll need this,” Warin said, offering him his skull-pommeled sword.
Sliding the blade back into its sheath, Jaxom could see the rider’s reluctance to give up his mount, but he ignored the man. Adriana was on the cusp of death, and the one responsible for that would pay. Darian climbed up behind him seconds before the durgen spread its wings and took flight. Gliding above the trees, Jaxom could see other riders swooping and diving while fighting more of the flying creatures. The occasional blast of fire or bolt of lightning reached up to strike at the shadows. Below, the fighting was a broiling mass of confusion with only one calm spot that seemed a rock on which waves of enemy forces crashed and broke apart. With nothing in his heart but revenge, Jaxom flew into the chaos.
Chapter 24
Corin took a sip of wine as he looked over the message from King Alexar of Bruxa. He had read the letter several times already, searching for some indication of how the man felt about joining Corin in the alliance.
Corin Baldrin, King of Ale’adaria,
I happily accept your invitation to meet on the trade road to discuss the future of our kingdoms and request that you bring no more than twenty men as escort to match my own. I will be at the border of Bruxa at noon in three days after I send this message. All necessary amenities shall be provided, so we may converse in comfort.
Eternal King of Bruxa,
Alexar Lagarith
Alexar had agreed to a meeting on neutral ground, but he not stated his intention to join the alliance. Corin placed the letter back on the small table. Nelix sat across from him, waiting patiently for an answer to his question. The general had not been happy about Alexar’s requirement for such a small escort. He wanted to bring more men.
“I do not want Alexar to see that I have already broken a term of our meeting,” Corin said, taking another sip.
“He won’t. The land in that area has many hills and gullies. I can keep the men out of sight but close enough to reach you should something go wrong,” Nelix said, repeating his argument.
Corin though it over and nodded. When he had first read the stipulation for such small escorts, he had been suspicious as well, but he did not want to create an enemy where there was none. “I wish we kept one or two durgen riders. They would be extremely useful in a situation like this.”
Nelix raised an eyebrow. “Since when do you wish for things to be different?”
“It was just a turn-of-phrase. In the future, we should keep two nearby, perhaps assigned to my personal guard.”
“Brenin won’t like it, but I will see it done.”
“If Alimar would concentrate more of his efforts on creating the beasts, I would be much happier.”
“You forget that the creatures must first be found in the Teriken. That’s no easy task, from what I understand.”
Corin was about to respond when Cribble’s voice emanated from one the two whispering stones he wore. “Your Majesty, I have bad news. My forces have suffered heavy losses.”
Corin took a deep breath. Cribble was a serious man who always saw the worst in any situation. Though it made the man tiresome to deal with at times, it was a good quality in a military leader. “What happened?”
“I underestimated the warlord Darat. I assumed he would wait in Elbanst for me to come to him. I was wrong. He attacked us in the open, using superior numbers to overpower and force us back.”
“How many men did you lose?” Corin asked into the ring. He could tell by Cribble’s words and the tone of his voice that the man blamed himself. Corin knew who was truly at fault. He had been the one to send so few men, thinking that a militia of bandits and thugs could not possibly resist trained guardsmen and soldiers. It had been hubris, and now his people had paid the price for it.
“Over twelve hundred. However, it is the loss of our supplies that has forced us to retreat. Darat continues to nip at us but mostly seems happy to let the cold do his work for him.” Cribble paused before continuing. “I can regroup and resupply in Mendon, but it will require conscripting from the people there and taking a portion of their winter supplies.”
That would make them no better than the warlords Corin was trying to remove. “Can Darat occupy the south with the men he has
left?”
“No, Your Majesty. The man has lost far more men than we have, and the riders have been harassing them every chance they get.”
“Return to Mendon and hold there. King Dillion will retake his kingdom soon and has promised aid to Denra. You have done well, Commander Cribble. You bring honor to the Guard.
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Cribble said. Corin could hear the doubt in his voice.
“You are going to leave Darat to King Dillion, then?” Nelix asked.
“Yes, we have spent enough of our blood helping the people of Denra. There are larger concerns that demand our attention.”
“Yes, it is time that you started towards Bruxa,” Nelix said standing.
Corin nodded. “Keep the majority of the Guard at a distance. You may place scouts closer, but make sure they are not seen.”
Nelix held open the tent flap, allowing him to step out into the cold. The twenty men of his escort were mounted and waiting. Captain Ra’nal, the leader of his escort, held the reigns of both his and Corin’s mounts. Placing a boot in the stirrup, Corin climbed up and wrapped his cloak tightly around him. Kicking the horse into motion, he led the men onto the snow-covered road.
It took three hours to reach the appointed spot. During that time, he periodically looked over his shoulder to make sure the scouts were not visible. As they crested a low hill, a large white tent came into view. The men and horses were harder to make out at such a distance, but Corin did not think he counted more than twenty. Two riders came out to greet them.
The riders wore the red livery of Bruxa along with silver and bronze plate armor. They held long spears with swords at their hips. “Your Majesty, King Alexar awaits you,” the man on the left said, gesturing toward the tent.
Corin nodded and let the two lead the way. When they reached the canvas structure, he confirmed that Alexar had not brought more than twenty men. All were similarly armed and armored. Such heavy armor made these men terrors on the battlefield but would also cost them speed and agility, a disadvantage in any other situation. His personal guard were better equipped to handle varying circumstances, such as shades attacking in the night. Those shadow assassins would dance around these slow-moving men, slipping their curved blades into weak points.
