by Billy Wong
"So what's the plan and what can we do?" Rose asked Sean with a grin, thinking to bolster his confidence by letting him take the lead.
Julian, much to her annoyance, decided to assert his dominance over her friend and answered for him. "First, we rally as many of my people as we can against Deathend to make it less of an uphill battle. Now that I'm back, if we can convince enough of my subjects we have a chance, we'll have the numeric advantage."
Finn easily saw the big problem in his plan. "Wouldn't the fact we're going against what they believe is their god make it a bit less likely for them to rebel as easily as you imagine?"
"He may be a god, but I am their emperor! Their loyalty must first be to me!"
Rose rolled her eyes and tried to use some of his type of logic to convince him of his folly. "If he was the emperor before, wouldn't he get his seat back now that he's returned?"
His glare told her Julian didn't much like her assessment, but before he could argue, Danica said, "She's quite right. If we seek your people's help, most likely they'll rat us out and make our situation all the worse."
Julian crossed his arms. "And what would you have us do, then?"
Rose had gone into hostile cities to battle their leaders before and this wouldn't be much different, besides of course the fact the enemy now might be a god. "We sneak into the city, storm Deathend's palace, and kill him.
"Whether or not the destined hero strikes the last blow," she added with a wink at Sean.
"All right, it's not like we have a better option," Julian said. "Let's figure out the details and go."
"We have nice big cloaks, but we shouldn't rely on them to get inside. They're too familiar with us—you especially—and we're going to have to do a little better for disguises than that. Since I'm sure Deathend knows about the palace's secret entrances by now and might have prepped against an attack from that angle, I suggest going up the wall at night. From there you can lead us to the throne room, right?"
The emperor nodded. "Sounds reasonable, except I'm not too used to climbing."
"A great warrior like you can't climb? We'll go up first and throw you a rope. You can trust us, we won't drop you." Even if she might be tempted to.
"I should probably go up that way too," Sean said.
Danica held up a hand pretending to examine her fingernails, then snorted. "What are you guys, afraid to break a nail?"
Not wanting to add to Sean's embarrassment, Rose held back a laugh. "Wusses," Finn muttered, and she punched him.
Chapter 11
Rose the male foreign merchant, Finn the eunuch bodyguard, Sean the driver, Danica the concubine, and Julian the hunchbacked slave didn't have too much trouble getting into Ohere, though the last didn't appreciate the others' choice of disguise for him. As she gazed upon the compact, symmetrical houses which made up most of the buildings, Rose said sincerely, "This is a nice city, Julian. So did Deathend build it for you?"
"He had a part in its creation, many centuries ago. But it's not his anymore. It's mine and I'm not giving it up without a fight."
"Gee, I didn't mean you should give it back to him. We wouldn't be here if we thought that. Besides, as bad as you are, at least you're not making nasty undead out of your own people after killing them." Then again, that might be because he lacked the ability to do so. "I am wondering what he was like in his day, though."
"It's not too unique for a mythic story, except it's true. He was a man who wanted to be the strongest fighter in the world. So he went from land to land, battling all the greatest warriors he could. The most notable thing about his style, at least that's remembered, is that he favored using both magic and physical combat in conjunction."
"Like I used to when I could use spells," Finn said.
"Only much better. Anyway, he found great success, destroying everyone he fought; no one could ever match him in single combat. It was said he had a touch of the divine even then. But after defeating all challengers, he began to grow fearful of fading into obscurity and being forgotten in time. So to preserve his fame, he founded an empire, calling himself the Warlock Emperor and extending the borders of the tiny nation of Fanteia to every corner of the continent."
They bought a wagon, which they parked near the palace to have it ready when they left. "So he was a mighty conqueror," Rose said. "But how did he come to be considered a god?"
"After establishing the empire, he actively sought to perpetuate his own worship as a deity, going so far as to create an official church centered around himself. He began to take control of more distant lands, with the eventual goal of expanding his dominion across the entire world. But when he sought to take what is now your country of Kayland, he met defeat after an awesome battle between the armies of both continents, though accounts vary on how. What's apparent however is he's found a more literal sort of immortality than even he originally conceived of, and it may be that only the workings of fate itself will stop him this time."
"I know how we stop him," Finn grumbled. "We beat him until there's nothing left but a puddle of liquefied flesh and splintered bone."
Rose hugged him. "I appreciate the enthusiasm, but you don't need to be that angry about him skewering me. I'm fine, especially now that I've had some more time to recover. Though you're right we'll probably have to stop him by killing him."
"Probably?" Danica asked.
"There's still the very slight chance the god of war is willing to make peace."
Julian gave a flustered shake of his head. "Sure he might. Sean, if the bladeless sword grows a blade when we meet Deathend, try that one first."
"You're relying on a sword with no blade to fight a god," Finn pointed out. "That's bad, don't you agree Rose?"
"Yeah, good thing we're not doing the same."
The rest of the day they spent letting Julian show them the sights of his treasured city, as there was nothing better to do. Night came, and they set off to invade the vast imperial dwelling. The roof, Julian reported, would not be one flat expanse, but a sprawling maze of paths and plateaus to reflect the palace's complex interior. Rose, Finn and Danica climbed up first, needing no rope to scale the stone wall, and after silently dispatching a pair of guards threw ropes down to Julian and Sean. While they began to climb, the group experienced the first real complication of the quest. Another guard walked into view of them, and screamed at the top of his lungs, "Intruders! Assassins! Help! Help!"
He died quickly with a bolt from Danica's light crossbow in his throat. But guards swarmed onto the wide section of roof, more than Rose had expected to arrive so soon. As she began to fight them along with Danica while Finn held both ropes, she saw at their rear an extremely tall man aiming a javelin at her. Trevor?
"Die, scar-covered beast!" he cried, and threw.
Rose blocked easily enough with her shield and killed two men with her next slash, but seeing Trevor raised alarms in her mind. If Trevor wasn't the one in Deathend's armor, who was? Did they really face a god? She and Finn had really hoped their enemy was only a man in a powerful suit of armor, rather than that frightful alternative.
Her opponents fell quickly, but more replaced them. Rose wondered what kind of paranoid deity would need such a host of bodyguards at home to protect him from lowly humans. Trevor waded through the crowd to attack her in melee, but kept his distance somewhat, stabbing at her with a long spear over his comrades. At least he'd learned to respect her strength and treat her with caution in spite of her sex. She gave him equal care, trying to hack through the men before her to close with him and get rid of him as soon as possible. He surprised her by wisely backing away, and she continued to fight off foes while attempting to follow.
She heard the sound of somebody struggling onto the roof, and glanced back to see Julian make it over. He and Finn quickly pulled Sean up, and Rose figured they would soon join in. Before they could, though, Danica's voice surprised her.
"The rest of you go on!" the queen yelled. "I'll hold them off here."
; "What?!" Rose said while Finn barreled into the enemy, pushing back a dozen at once. Julian stayed back by Sean as if to protect him. "We could probably wrap this up quickly all together."
Danica grinned. "Yeah, but the longer you delay the more time you give them to summon more soldiers. Hurry up and get Deathend!"
"Are you sure? I know you've beaten Trevor before, but he has so many with him."
"It'll be fine. Just go."
After looking once more into Danica's determined eyes, Rose nodded grudgingly and headed right on the rooftop path parallel to the one from which the guards came. "Danica's going to take care of things here so we can find Deathend as soon as possible. Julian, lead the way."
As they ran loudly across the stone, Sean mused, "She had to separate from us because she's a supporting character, and the spotlight needs to be reserved for the heroes. I read something like that in a book about storytelling devices in the Belar library, anyway."
"So if we run into more guards," Finn asked, "me, Rose, and Julian should separate from you so you can play the hero? You better hope not!"
Sean kept silent after that. They turned onto another path, and turned again towards the stairs to the throne room. Before they could reach them, a familiar booming voice rumbled from below. "You're here." Gliding up the steps with the same unnatural grace as before, the armored figure rose into view. He looked directly at Rose, anticipation in his red orbs. "You not only live, but stand strong already? Magnificent."
She blinked, not expecting the compliment. "What can I say? I'm a tough girl."
"You certainly are. But..."—Deathend's eyes seemed to smile—"being hard to kill only means you'll suffer more before death."
"Don't talk that way to my wife!" Finn spat.
"Very well, I'll get down to business. You won't survive this time. I underestimated you before, and don't regret it since I always appreciate a good challenge. But now, I will show you my full power."
Rose scowled. "Full power? What a crock. If there was ever an excuse for big bad guys to use to downplay their losses, it's-"
"Come back after I take out the trash first, though," Deathend said. He darted forward quick as a flash, but not directly at her, instead moving diagonally so she had to turn to follow him. With a start, she realized he put her between him and the parapet. He glowed bright red and shot a wide fiery bolt, which she tried to block with her shield. Though the steel held against the force of the blast, her footing didn't. She found herself flying backwards, into the air and... over the wall. Oh no! She flew a ways beyond it before she really began to drop, plummeting towards the paved ground below. This was going to hurt!
She failed as expected to luck out and fell painfully atop steps in the courtyard, sending daggers of pain up her spine. Moments later, her husband followed her down, fortunate—and heavy—enough to land in the pool she'd overshot by ten feet. But the water there was still shallow, and he hit the bottom hard. The impact stunned him, but he quickly recovered and limped to her side.
"That was really cheap!" he said, and helped her up.
Rose winced as she straightened her back. "Aren't you going to ask about my health? Before you do, I'm fine. But we have to get back up there!" She could hear sounds of fighting above and suspected that Deathend toyed with her companions, allowing them to live a little longer just to amuse himself. They had to return before he became bored of the game!
"What if he just blows us off again?" Finn asked with an annoyed frown.
She shook her head. "We have to avoid getting blasted like that, that's all. Let's not climb this time. It wouldn't be good if he caught us." They ran towards the double doors they saw ahead, only for another host of guards to surge out to meet them.
#
Sean again swung the replica sword at Deathend, who dodged the blow with the same ease as before. Julian hung from his neck attempting to choke him to no avail, barely slowing his movements. "You are so pathetic! How could such weaklings hope to defeat me?"
"It's my destiny!" Sean shouted in defiance. He stabbed at Deathend with the bladeless sword, hoping somehow there was some invisible, intangible blade connected to the hilt that could harm him.
There wasn't, but Deathend did say "My sword!" happily with recognition. He grabbed Sean by the forearm and squeezed, forcing him to drop the hilt screaming. Deathend could have broken his arm easily, but as if it didn't matter released him to bend down for the weapon, dumping Julian onto the floor in front of him in the process. Seeing his opportunity, Sean gripped his remaining sword with both hands and chopped down at Deathend's neck.
He missed, striking the armor over his adversary's shoulder blade and failing to breach the curved metal. The war god straightened to tower over him and Julian and laughed. "This is so pathetic. Julian, why would you defy your god?"
"I don't want to die," the Fanteian whispered as Deathend punched the flat of his blade with a gauntleted fist, breaking it. A second punch flattened Julian like the famed warrior was no more than a small child.
"Death is nothing compared to the eternal life of anguish I shall give you!" the giant promised as he ignored Sean's slash to his armored chest. Was there no way to harm him? But Rose and Finn had done it, hadn't they? Reversing his grip on the sword, Sean thrust at Deathend's visor slit.
Huge fingers caught the tip before it hit home. "Too thick to get in even if I hadn't stopped you," Deathend said. He ripped the blade from Sean's hand and threw it carelessly behind him to fly off the roof and into the distance. "Stupid."
Now he'd lost both the weapons that might've been destined to destroy Deathend! How could he possibly do it now? Sean tackled the war god's leg, trying to somehow push him off the roof. It was like trying to move a rooted oak tree; totally impossible. A fist like a boulder crashed down on the back of his head. Agony exploded through his skull, but the pain quickly faded as dizziness overtook it. He fell flat on his face, unable to move. Was his brain bleeding, he wondered as darkness closed in. It probably didn't matter, considering Deathend no doubt wouldn't let him live through the day.
The god apparently didn't want to be bothered killing him just yet, and barely clinging to awareness Sean heard him say, "Look, Julian. Your destined hero has failed utterly, and soon he will be dead. Do you still believe your silly prophecy?"
Groggily, Julian stammered, "E-Evan is always right. Maybe my interpretation was just wrong..."
"No, fool. You interpreted it right, except you overlooked one thing. I am too strong, and beyond a fate granted by a weakling such as this!" Deathend laughed heartily.
As Julian's awful screams filled the air along with the smell of burning flesh, Sean realized with his last conscious thoughts that he was right. They'd failed, and now nothing could stop Deathend's reign.
#
"I can't believe how many there are!" Finn cried as he knocked a guard off the stairs he and Rose tried to fight their way up. They'd battled their way into the throne room only to find more Fanteian soldiers ready to defend their god, and now struggled to get back to the roof. The confined indoor battleground slowed the rate at which they could kill, and more foes continued to arrive on the scene.
"The ones inside must be coming from other connected buildings," Rose concluded as she kicked a dying man off her sword into a bunch of his companions, "and the ones entering through the front from elsewhere."
"What do I care where they come from?" Finn threw a man whose neck he had snapped with one hand into the same writhing pile. "All that matters to me is there's too damn many of them!"
Now the reanimated corpses of Humphrey the Hill and Craig the Cliff appeared from a side door, their maggot-infested faces twisting with hate when they spotted the couple. "Now we will have revenge, weak, cheating woman!" Craig roared.
Finn groaned. "Well, it looks like I'm a supporting character after all."
"What?" Rose asked. They approached the top of the stairs, stepping over bodies to do so, but couldn't very well turn their backs on t
he ever replenishing opposition. Craig cut through the banister as he chopped with his axe at Rose. She jumped back and slashed open his cheek, but he showed no pain though a flap of flesh hung loose.
"I mean, I'll hold them off here," Finn said. He pitted his mace against Humphrey's club in a deafening collision that knocked the undead warrior tumbling downstairs. "You get the big guy."
"Are you sure? I mean, I let Danica go, but there are two Fanteian champions this time." She dodged a swing of Craig's axe and kicked him back, then tore the faces of three living soldiers with one slash.
"Yeah, but they must be slower and weaker with their decaying muscles, right? Just go, and take care."
Rose didn't want to leave him, but Sean was much less capable of fending for himself and faced grave danger. "You too!" she said, and leaving her husband to deal with the men and monsters pursuing them, dashed up onto the roof.
She saw Sean lying facedown, back rising slowly with breath—well, at least he was alive—and Julian moaning softly beside him, smoke rising from his body no doubt due to Deathend's magic. The armored giant stood over them, laughing. "Pathetic fools!" he said to his defeated opponents. "Men truly have grown weak over the years. You couldn't even scratch me."
Now she was scared. She hadn't been too afraid before, looking ahead to this fight, but she'd expected to have strong allies beside her then. Now Finn and Danica were busy holding off what seemed to be an army of soldiers, and Julian obviously in no condition to move let alone fight. Would Rose have to battle the war god by herself? He'd dominated her and Finn for much of their previous fight, so how was she supposed to do this alone?! But she had to, for Sean and the others...
