by Cully Mack
The tunnel led straight forward, sloping upwards. He stepped over intermittent piles of slurry sliding from smaller outlets. It was so disgusting even the vermin didn’t dare trespass.
When he reached another grate, he could go no further. Without making a sound, he peered through the grill. He estimated he was around two thirds up the height of the volcano.
To his relief, he saw no molten lava, instead lights from oil lamps lit up chambers carved out of the crater’s igneous rock.
The portal stood in the centre of the crater on a raised dais. It fanned out in an inky green glowing circle.
Surrounding the portal were three chimeric sentries. In the shimmering light, they glowed a vibrant bluish green. Crustaceous plated armour segments made up their torsos and protruding from their midsections, wings folded like a shroud across their ridged spines.
One scurried, claws scraping over the dais and stopped at the edge. Its tail arching up and over, its swollen barb dripping with venom. The barb turned and twitched as though testing the air for predators.
Nate observed two black eyes set on the top of its crustaceous head shining in the moonlight. The chimera’s mandibles snapped opened and closed. Their clicking sounds making him shiver. He instinctively leaned back, hiding deeper in the tunnel’s shadow.
He tracked back to the Weaver’s hut. Galia gagged when he entered.
‘There’s a wash tub outside,’ the old woman said, passing him a white weaved sheet. ‘When you’re undressed, pass me your clothes.’
‘I have my own clothes,’ Nate said, reaching for his sack.
‘Then leave your boots,’ the old man added.
He raised a questioning brow at Gabe.
Gabe scrunched his nose. ‘I suggest you do what they say before I turf you out the door myself.’
His boots were cleaned when he returned. ‘Well, I can see everyone has become acquainted. What happened?’
‘Meciel has a unique understanding of people,’ Gabe said. ‘Whilst you scouted, he calmed their fears but more to the point, what happened to you?’
He explained everything he’d seen and about the grate blocking their path.
‘Leave that to me,’ Meciel said.
‘I don’t suppose you saw any sign of Shargaz?’ Gabe asked, drumming his fingers on the table.
‘No, though I saw three of his chimera, similar to scorpions but with wings and they’re about the size of a horse. Their pincers could slice a man in half.’
The old man placed a tray of drinks, which looked a lot like dreaded red beetle juice, onto the table. ‘Shargaz resides in his chambers under the portal.’
All eyes fell on him.
‘I’m delivering fabrics there tomorrow. If you’d asked I would have told you.’
Galia laughed and said to Nate. ‘Well, that will teach you. I’m so relieved we don’t have to trudge through that stench.’
‘Tell us what you know?’ Nate asked.
The old man’s jowls flapped until morning. The overseer of Shargaz’s concubines had instructed him to bring fabric later that evening.
They spent the day resting until an hour before the old man was due to deliver his merchandise. Gabe and Galia were outside helping the old man and his wife fill their cart with an array of various shades of red fabrics. Mirah stood to help them.
‘Wait,’ Nate said. He knew she’d refuse, but he had to try. Now they were here, and he’d seen the volcano, the thought of her being captured overwhelmed him. At least with the old couple, she’d have somewhere safer to stay. ‘Will you wait here? I’ll come back for you when the attack is over.’
‘I can’t.’
‘But it’s too dangerous. Once we’re inside it will be like stepping into a cage. If Shargaz somehow gets hold of you—’ He dare not hide the truth from her now. ‘If we fail and Shargaz takes you prisoner, you heard what he said, he’ll force you to wed him and one day he’ll use you to wield for him against Shemyaza.’
‘Gabe will take care of him.’
‘Mirah, please. Listen.’ He tried to make her see the urgency in his eyes.
‘I’m going,’ she said, shrugging him off and rushing to those waiting outside.
How the bidu was he going to protect her? She didn’t understand. She said she’d never fight. She wouldn’t even wield.
He dropped to his knees. ‘Cloud Rider. I don’t know who you are, I don’t even know your true name but if you’re listening. I’ll do anything you want, just keep her safe.’
Meciel rested his hand on Nate’s shoulder. ‘Your supplication will not return to you empty, now get up. The battle is in the Cloud Rider’s will.’
Nate rose, he considered chasing after her and trying again but instead, he checked the daggers in both sides of his boots and the other attached to his belt. He adjusted his sword at his side and sheathed his two curved blades across his back.
‘We’re ready,’ Galia said, hesitating at the door.
Meciel reached into the pouch inside his cloak. ‘Bina said you might need this.’ He placed her amulet in her hand.
‘I don’t understand?’
‘Even an enemy can be used to save you,’ he said and walked out the door.
❊ 38 ❊
The chilled night air whipped around outside and Mirah soaked up the others’ warmth as they lay huddled together under the Weaver’s fabrics. If she wasn’t so scared she might have fallen asleep. Instead, she listened for the sound of steel against steel.
The Weaver stopped the cart, and she heard his soft slipper footsteps padding along the side of the cart towards the rear. He hefted rolls of fabric onto his shoulder and after ensuring the remaining fabric still concealed them, huffed and walked away. She kept her breaths shallow and waited.
Nate brushed his finger over her lips. The last time she’d seen such fixed determination was on Shemyaza’s plateau. She knew in her heart he’d have stepped into the ring if needed. She knew he’d do the same now.
Then it came.
The thudding assault of their tribemens’ footsteps charging into the crater. They climbed out of the cart. Nate had been right. Shargaz hadn’t prepared for anyone either stupid or brave enough to storm his volcano.
‘I’ll need my strength for the portal,’ Meciel said, ‘but I’ll hold off their Air Wielders as long as I can.’
Meciel and Gabe ran for the portal.
Wielders, she’d spent so much time trying to forget, she hadn’t allowed herself to think about their presence here.
Their tribesmen filled out around the crater and took up their positions. The world paused as everyone waited for the charge of Shargaz’s giants, Wielders and men. She realised they were like peas in a bowl of Meciel’s stew waiting to be picked off.
Arrows whirled overhead, their bronze tips searching out their prize. She braced for impact only to realise they turned to ash and metal clinked against rock.
Shargaz’s guardsmen swarmed out of the volcano’s chambers like ants from a smoked out nest. She caught the flashes of their red tunics clashing against their own, wearing the eagle sigil of blue. From the other side of the crater, giants flooded out of a chasm and like a stampeding herd of horses, they crashed into their wall of tribesmen.
Nate never left her side. His curved blades dispatching any who dared to cross his path. They dodged wielded rock and ice shards. Where was their fire? Nate’s strategy entailed keeping her moving, to keep her distanced from the dais where they knew Shargaz would make his stand.
In the midst of the frenzy, scraping of claws scuttled over the rock bed. Every step the chimera took rattled her bones. It dashed across the crater, yellow venom dripping from its raised barb. Its primal rage and guillotine pincers carved a path right towards them. If it were not for sheer terror, she would have fled.
‘Go, I’ll take care of this,’ Galia said.
Mirah followed Nate’s fury as he cut down Shargaz’s men.
Men hollered and screamed, fell with grie
vous injuries, then their silence, slacking into nothingness.
Blood oozed from a face wound on a roaring man who broke through Nate’s defences. She raised her staff to block his lunging sword. Her staff shuddered up her arm.
The man’s sword clunked to the ground a distance away. He had a dagger ready quicker than she took a breath and came at her again. She brought her staff up between his legs. The pop made her cringe as he buckled over.
When she looked, Nate had been drawn further away. Before she could shorten the distance, red-coated men blocked her path.
A fireball exploded at Nate’s feet. He jumped from its burning flames. One, two, three more explosions, the gap between them widening.
Mirah parried two men who charged at her. She winced at the crunch of bone as the first man’s thigh crushed against her staff. A gush of breath forced out of the other when her staff punched into his chest.
She reeled against the chaos, the last breaths, the stench of slick blood and opened bowels overpowering her. She tightened clammy hands around her staff and fought against the terror knocking her thoughts to the side.
Give me a chance to redeem myself.
‘No,’ she screamed.
You forgave him, the Beast accused.
Shargaz emerged midway up the volcano a distance behind Nate, his flabby face assessing the carnage below.
His wings spread wide. He lifted off the side of the volcano and glided towards the portal. A spiny scorpion tail with a pointed spike arced over his body between his wings.
Thunder cracked overhead. Through the blur of reds and blues and giants slashing at men, she couldn’t see Gabe or the dais.
Another fireball descended in front of Nate. Esha strode into view and a lead weight pinned Mirah’s feet to the ground. Esha toyed with him, using her fire to push him further away.
The sound of Mirah’s heartbeat thudded in her chest. The surrounding men retreated, grinning. She presumed to give her a better view. Was Esha going to kill him? She felt the grab on her clothes around the back of her neck and spun around. Bishnor lifted her off the floor.
‘I told you I’d have you,’ he snarled.
She beat her staff across his ribs and he threw his head back and laughed. ‘What no ring?’
She spat in his face.
He wiped his cheek with his finger and slid his tongue over the slob. ‘Oh, I’m going to have fun with you but first, I’ve got a brother to slay.’
She found her feet on the ground but he didn’t let her go.
‘Nate,’ Bishnor roared.
Nate ran towards her, another fireball stopped him in his tracks. When Bishnor knew he had Nate’s full attention, he brushed his callused palm over her breast.
‘I’ll come for you later.’ He sneered and then licked his tongue up the side of her face. ‘Keep her busy but don’t harm her,’ he said, shoving her into his closest men.
Violence burned in Bishnor’s eyes, he drew his sword and lumbered over to Nate.
The men she’d been fighting backed away to join the fight elsewhere and Bishnor’s men surrounded her. They wouldn’t dare harm her. Instead, they taunted, harassed and blocked her path enough to stop her running.
Esha smirked and stroked the fire in her hands. Her eyes flicking between Mirah and Nate. She realised what Esha was thinking. I’m going to watch you see him suffer and then die.
Bishnor circled and stalked his prey. The rage in his fiery opal eyes weighing up his opponent, waiting for the sudden movement of Nate’s attack. He towered over him and she knew if Bishnor caught hold of him it would be over.
Bishnor, sword raised, lunged and slashed. Nate dashed out of its way. He was faster, more agile, compared to Bishnor’s strength and brawn. They circled once more.
Bishnor reached forward, grabbed one of Nate’s curved blades and yanked it away. He flicked the blood dripping from his hand over Nate’s boots. Nate retreated and blinked sweat out of his eyes. How long could this go on?
It would be a shame to see him die.
Like a skilful archer the Beast’s words hit out at their target, cutting into her heart.
Bishnor swung his sword for Nate’s head.
‘No.’ Mirah screamed.
Nate dodge and rose out of its way.
‘Hear that? I will skewer you and then her,’ Bishnor growled.
Colour drained from Nate’s face. He ran at Bishnor, dropping onto his thigh and slid across the rock. His remaining curved blade sliced into Bishnor’s calf. He sprang to his feet, ready to strike again, blood seeping from the grazing on his thigh.
‘Is that all you have?’ Bishnor gloated.
Nate limped, favouring his other leg.
Bishnor rotated around him, assessing his target.
The ground under her trembled. Thunder echoed through the volcano to the crack of lightning striking somewhere near the dais.
‘You think I never saw through your years of manipulation?’ Bishnor growled. ‘How you did just enough to deflect any suspicion. All these years you flaunted Shemyaza’s favour.’ Bishnor heaved in the back of his throat and spat on the floor. ‘It was mine, and you stole it. And here I am to take it back.’ He sheathed his sword and rose both his arms out to his sides. ‘Unless you can stop me,’ he goaded.
‘You talk too much.’
A dagger flew from Nate’s palm, smooth and swift. It pierced into Bishnor’s shoulder missing his heart. Bishnor yanked it out and laughed.
Granite, grey clouds stretched across the sky, darkening the crater. Thunder roared again and again and again.
The sides of the volcano shook. Rocks split apart, falling, shattering everywhere. Lightning struck the ground all around.
Bishnor seized the opportunity and lunged at Nate. He grabbed him by the throat, lifting him high and knocking the other curved blade from his hand.
Shadow descended on Mirah.
I won’t harm you. I never betrayed you.
‘I said, shut up, you filthy liar.’
Bishnor’s men hedging her in laughed.
‘Get out of my way,’ she demanded.
They defended their line. She raised her staff.
You, foolish child.
Nate’s skin turned deep red, the edges of his mouth going blue. ‘I’m sorry,’ he mouthed.
‘Stop! I’ll come.’ Mirah screamed. ‘If you let him live, I’ll come.’
‘Oh, you’ll come, won’t she Nate,’ Bishnor said, the smile on his face turning carnal.
Nate closed his eyes, waiting for the inevitable and in that moment, she saw a world where he didn’t exist.
Bishnor pinned her with a stare. His lips peeled back, his broad ridged nose scrunching. He determined to watch her witness Nate’s end. She saw the glint of Bishnor’s unsheathed knife rising and the wrath in his eyes. This was it, he was going to kill him. He raised the knife ready to plunge it into Nate’s heart.
Mirah sank to her knees and slid her hand into her boot. She felt the power as she slipped the ring on her finger. The Beast let out a victorious groan, darkness surrounded her, searching for a way to seep in through her mouth, her nose, her skin.
Together we can take on the world.
‘No. You are nothing more than a shadow. Get back.’
It tested her, pushing against her resolve.
‘You’re not in control anymore,’ she said.
She ripped the ground in front of her open, peeling back the rock as it cracked apart. The whole volcano shuddered. Ice flew through the air and speared into Bishnor’s heart.
Nate gasped for breath.
A blossom of red spread across Bishnor’s tunic, blood trickled out of his mouth into his beard. Bishnor froze. His fire opal eyes zeroing in on her. He blinked, and she watched the black slits of his pupils expand, turning his eyes solid black.
Nate, still gripped in Bishnor’s hand, lifted his leg, taking a dagger strapped to his boot. He plunged the dagger into the side of Bishnor’s neck.
Nate d
ropped to the floor.
Bishnor crashed down beside him.
Mirah knew Bishnor was already dead.
‘If you don’t want to be next, you’d better move,’ she snapped at the men still blocking her path.
She ran for Nate. Esha stepped forward, fire flaming in her hands. Mirah felt someone brush up beside her.
‘I’ll take care of her,’ Galia said. ‘Go to Nate.’
Nate tried to stand.
‘Wait, catch your breath,’ Mirah urged.
Anyone who came within their periphery, she pulled the air from their lungs until they collapsed.
She kissed him gently, surrounded him within an ice wall and then screamed at everyone fighting in the crater. ‘Drop your weapons or you die.’
Her loud shrill reverberated around the crater. The world paused.
She ignored Nate behind her begging her to set him free. Those who still held their weapons, she purged, filling their lungs with their own blood. Shargaz’s giants, men and Wielders fell to the ground.
Inside the crater, those who remained standing, hushed, and she heard the clashing of steel outside.
Like a wave washing over the city, the sound silenced.
She melted the ice wall, Nate threw his arms around her and she breathed him in.
Two towering columns of fire whipped down from the sky.
Where was Gabe?
❊ 39 ❊
Terra screeched overhead.
Gabe followed her shadow sweeping across the rock bed as he and Meciel ran towards the dais.
‘Rua, lahat,’ he roared following after her.
Arrows disintegrated and bronze tips rained from the sky.
Terra swooped down onto one of the chimera standing guard. Her talons crunching through the crustaceous shell on its tail. The chimera’s snapping pincers tried to pierce her wings as she beat them in readiness to take to the air.
She ascended, lifting the chimera with her and heaved it over the ridge of the volcano. Still gripped in her talons, its tail ripped from its armoured body and struck the floor, twitching, as she descended for another.
The two remaining chimera scurried to the edge of the dais, their pincers patrolling the air.
