“When Mal’Bal is at his highest… he will be defeated by the greatest fools of all.”
Shivers ran through the crowd and arm-hairs stood on end. Weapons were gripped tight. Portious was running back into his army, shouting commands. Salt nodded in approval, turned, and readied his horse. “Now, come ye fools: let our swords drink. They’re thirsty.”
Finn joined the Coalition in a roar so fierce, it pierced the soul. All around the rice-field bracers activated, lights shinning out in magical splendor—every color of the rainbow. Stars in the day.
Metal suits embraced their hosts, wrapping around limbs, conforming to strange designs, showing-off their potential. Alien powers came forth, ready for battle. A man’s eyes glowed purple and he hovered, behind him, a strange symbol etched in the air materialized floating swords. Another man grew spines on every joint and a woman’s skin became translucent, showing strange blue lights flickering and floating where her internals once were. A younger woman turned into some form of fanged four-legged creature with bat wings and multiple tails. The powers went on and on, each as unique as the other.
They charged as a whole, uniform and electrified by the heat of battle. Goblin and Leeya brushed shoulders with Finn, their weapons out and at the ready. Salt and the twins raced out front and Petreamus pulled back, readying a medical station. A Star-Child stayed with him, dipping his head into the water and whistling, fish and frogs floated to the surface, hypnotized and ready for sacrifice.
Portious VoidGrasper drew a large mace and roared. The cult’s army moved forward, rushing to meet them. The golems shook the earth with their steps, water misting the air around them. The slaves shrieked in terror, wielding their blades with tremor. One of the Cult’s Star-Children, a young man, sang out-loud and the slaves stopped struggling, instead growing quiet and obedient.
Go now my pretties,
die for me pretties.
Swing your weapons for me.
Still your fear,
and feel my fever,
my pretties you shall be.
The rice field churned as great masses came for each other. Water rushed into their noses, forced its way down their mouths, and weighed their clothes. Finn was slowed, but his many weeks of conditioning kept him far ahead of most of the Coalition. At the forefront of the cult were the Star-Children, golems, and the poor slaves who were being dragged by the neck.
The first to meet in the middle were all eight evil Star-Children, Mole-Face, Salt, and the twins. Salt smashed his horse into one of the Star-Children and jumped off, twirling twice in mid-air, throwing his net over another, and coming down on a third with his sword. The Star-Child Salt had engaged was already collapsing to the water, blood spewing from his throat. Salt was then onto Portious, who fought with the ferocity of twenty men. The evil Star-Child was incredibly skilled and a seasoned fighter, able to block and counter blows that would leave others dead.
Finn was taken back: Salt had been playing with them in the pit. The way he fought, his technique—it was the polar opposite of how he’d engaged Finn. Here he was a wrathful titan. A storm of spinning metal and jabbing edges. Leeya had been right: there were warriors in Lenova beyond compare. The twins were no second-hand fighters either. One bent down and head-butted a Star-Child in the chest while his brother ran up the other’s back, spun upside-down and beheaded an unprepared man. With Salt, the three pushed back the remaining seven Star-Children.
An explosive shout cracked the air and Salt was thrown twenty meters away by the sound, bouncing and skipping over the water, his limbs flapping like loose rags. Another, whose suit let out a beam of light from a glass facemask over a metal helmet blinded the twins. They staggered back, covering their faces with their arms, eyes squeezed shut in pain. A third had his suit open a cavity in his stomach, where dozens of poisonous-looking snakes poured out into the water, swimming for the twins. Some were large and thick, black and viscous, others were thin and short, a dull brown. The seven Star-Children surrounded the overwhelmed brothers and readied their weapons. But then Leeya and Altin were there, swooping in with skill and grace. Leeya tackled one, opening room for the twins to navigate and fight. Altin shot bolt after bolt at the snakes, killing as many as he could. Mole-Face jumped forward, his cheeks blotched as he opened his bag and whistled. Finn didn’t see what came out of the belt-tied sack and Altin cried out as red lines slashed his skin. He ducked, wove, and dodged—but it was pointless—his blood rained over the water.
Before Finn and Goblin could join in, the ground shook, throwing them down. Looming over them, the weapon-covered golem let out the ear-splitting sound of metal grating on metal. It was the battle-cry of an abomination. Behind it, a stone golem drew close as well. “I have this one!” Goblin roared, throwing himself without regard at the monstrous metal behemoth. The weapon golem twisted in a circle, flailing at the smaller target that danced around it. Goblin drew it back and away, leading it into the depths of the battlefield. They were swallowed by the chaos as in the background a large green explosion blew upward, sending water and bodies in every direction. Finn was left to fight the stone golem in one-on-one battle.
The creature brought down both fists, each wider than a man. Finn tightened his leg muscles and dove forward, knowing his only hope to not get crushed was to be within the golem’s grasp. But near it’s legs were the many slaves tied by metal chains. Eerily silent—controlled by one of the Star-Children—they swung their weapons at him. Finn did everything he could to block and dodge, shouting for them to stop. Using his spear, he kept them at bay. A dagger scraped his chest-plate and a sword glanced off his arm. Both stung and the later made him gasp. He spun to block the attackers behind him. The golem stomped, lifting half the slaves as it brought its body back, then down. Finn dove away, hearing the snap of necks. A chained man was crushed by the stone foot, yet the others stayed silent.
Pulling out his sword, Finn ducked a club’s blow and swung, catching a chain between golem and blade. The metal snapped with a ring and one of the slaves dropped free. The restraint hissed like a dying animal. The slave gasped and shook his head, his persona changing as he fell into the water. Breaking the chain freed the slave from the Star-Child’s command. Finn shouted the revelation at the top of his lungs and many in the Coalition cheered in acknowledgement, meeting the other golems and their trapped slaves.
Finn spun and danced, picturing Leeya beside him, guiding his moves. A stone hand came down and he ducked at the last second. While low, his chin to the water, he swung his sword out again, catching another chain against the arm as it passed by. A second slave was freed.
“Go!” he shouted to them. “Run while you can!”
But the two freed slaves gripped their weapons and rushed to Finn’s side, defending him.
“For Kazma!” one shouted.
“For Vestés!” spoke the other.
Finn was overwhelmed by their bravery. In turn, he fought with greater ferocity, freeing a third slave. As the golem reared back and a broken chain slashed out, Finn grabbed it and was suddenly lifted out of the water. He lost his sword but held onto his spear, flying high into the air with a shout, fear and adrenaline rushing through his veins. At the peak of his accession, he came down on the creature’s featureless boulder face. He landed there for a brief moment before it shook wildly, throwing him off. Still holding to the chain, he swung sideways in a loop around the creature, wrapping around its body. After a full swing, he arched toward its gem heart.
“Lenova!” he roared, bringing his spear forward.
The aim was true and his weapon smashed into the gem, splitting in two. The spear snapped and the golem exploded, showering the landscape with rubble. Its head flew out, spinning with a resounding groan. The oblong projectile sped through the air as if trying to escape its destroyed body and struck a wooden golem in the chest. It tipped with a crash, both its oak arms broken into splinters. Finn fell belly-first into the water, splashing straight to the bottom. He was miraculously
unharmed and shot up, spluttering. The remaining living slaves blinked in confusion, brandished their weapons, and gave out weak cries of joy. Stuck in place—their chains caught beneath the golem’s rubble—they banded together, back-to-back.
Finn found his sword sticking straight out of the water and pulled it up in time to block a scythe from a charging cult member. Without hesitation, he spun into the man and lacerated him across the belly. A second stroke finished the job. Adrenaline coursed through Finn and his lungs heaved, bringing in the smell of blood and marsh plants.
“SunRider!” someone shouted out.
Finn spared a glance, watching Goblin climb the chest of the weapon golem and tear free a broadsword. Cuts covered every inch of his body, yet he moved as if he was climbing a soft tree. The creature threw itself forward, belly-flopping and rolling away, killing men and women from both sides.
“Goblin!” Finn shrieked, running to the moving golem.
A sound rang out so loud, Finn thought his head would explode. He was moving at incredible speed: rolling, bouncing, and bowling through people. The noise propelled him forward across the field of battle and his neck nearly snapped against a shield. Smashing against it, he came to a stop, coughing out blood and water. He lay there stunned, half-submerged. Forms moved about him as blurs, coming together and apart like dancing shadows. Water heaved to his chest and was sucked away. Lightning rang out and twenty cult members dropped dead. A bandit flew through the air like a ragdoll, disappearing from sight over the edge of the battle, his broken body bent in half. Another bandit hacked the arm off a dead Star-Child and sliced the bracer free. He put it on and dropped to the ground, receiving the visions all Star-Children get when first donning the devices. Before he could recuperate, he was already dead, one of the other thieves holding him under and drowning him. That thief didn’t even have the chance to cut the bracer off his companion before he too was killed—this time by a member of the Coalition.
Finn stood, wobbling in place. He picked up the shield—heavy enough to stagger him— and turned, looking for a weapon. Another golem exploded and a rock hit the shield, throwing him once more. His thigh burned and water found its way down his nose. Heaving and spluttering, he pushed himself up on one leg, reaching down and retrieving a scythe—the weapon that’d torn his flesh. He hobbled forward and ducked as an arrow hissed above him. Nearby, a large group of freed slaves turned on their captors.
Finn shook his head to clear it. Ahead, one of the evil Star-Children was running in his direction, not seeing him. The man was in a blind panic and his fancy clothes billowed about him, tangling his limbs. He opened his mouth and a visible beam of sound ruptured out, launching men and women to the side. The man turned too late to see Finn in front of him. Finn didn’t waste the opportunity, but hacked out. The scythe rolled across the man’s jugular and no more sound ever escaped his lips again.
Finn continued to stagger forward, looking for Leeya and Goblin. Where were they? Were they alright? Around his body the water was warm and a deep maroon. What seemed like hundreds of lifeless bodies floated belly-down across the field, pushing at the reeds. The battle was dying down. Nearly a score of golems and but a few handfuls of cult members remained—it seemed as if the Coalition was gaining the upper hand.
Ahead, Finn spotted the central battle: Altin was fist-fighting Mole-Face; the two throwing furious uncontrolled punches. Mole-Face’s bag had been slashed and sand poured out. So that’d been his invisible weapon. The twins fought four evil Star-Children at once, barely holding their own in the onslaught of combined powers. A bruised Salt and a tired Leeya were working together to push Portious back. The man blocked a blow from Leeya with his mace and launched a hand out toward Salt. The Coalition leader grasped at his throat, clawing for air that was no longer there. Leeya rushed forward and Portious broke her spear with a swing of his heavy weapon.
“Stop!” Finn shrieked to the Star-Children. “Stop or you shall all die!”
Portious hesitated, looking to Finn. His eyes were wide and skin taunt. He lowered his hand and Salt fell, gasping. Surprised, Finn licked his lips, trying to figure out what to say.
CHAPTER FORTY:
A Place of Death
—Circa 5,616 E.E. (Economic Era-The 17th Era): Piscus of Pittance follows Finn SunRider’s instructions and finds Nozgull’s vast wealth in the heart of a nameless forest. It takes him nearly a month of morbid work to clean the treasures and cart them to his village by night. Through the help of Miriam, whose honest loyalty to Finn binds her to the secret, both her and Piscus hide all the gems in her family silo, which has sat empty for nigh a century. Nozgull’s bracer is hidden within the wax of a massive candle, which Miriam keeps unlit above the headboard of her bed. They await patiently for Finn’s instructions on what to do next with the wealth.—
“Halt!” Portious shouted.
Finn checked to see if his bracer had stopped the battle. Had it activated? No, it was still silent. Portious stepped back, gasping in exhaustion. The cult members, thieves, murderers, and remaining evil Star-Children paused, seeing their leader lower his weapon. The only fights to continue were those with the golems, which raged in the background. The greatest chaos came from the weapon golem, who spun in place, shredding anyone foolish enough to draw near. A man screamed, his limbs missing. Others—dead—stuck to the creature; impaled victims. It stomped its battle-axe feet in an attempt to kill the one individual that dared attack it: Goblin. The boy looked to be covered in more blood than skin, yet rushed forward, tore free a spear from one of the golem’s legs, and threw it toward its heart. He did so again and again. The weapons bounced off a wire-mesh cage surrounding the gem and the golem continued its rampage. It rolled forward in a ball and when it stood back up, water, mud, plants, and people exploded skyward. Goblin was smacked sideways, crying out. Members of the Coalition ran forward to aid the gypsy boy in his struggle.
“It’s over, Portious.” Finn called out, narrowing his eyes at the nobleman. He scrambled for the proper words to say. Half of him wanted to attack the man and the other half wanted to turn and run to Goblin’s side. “Your army’s falling apart. Call it off and no more lives will be lost from either side.”
Finn looked to Salt for guidance. Bruises dotted the man’s face and his bottom lip was split open. The sailor had a crooked smile on his face. “It’s true.” he agreed. “Seems Mal’Bal underestimated our might. End it or we’ll obliterate ye.”
Portious’ eyes moved back and forth between them. Leeya approached from the side with caution, flanking him. He backed away, his weapon pointing to each of them in turn. Sweat dripped from his face and his lavish clothes sloshed in the red water. “Name your terms.” he hissed. The other evil Star-Children and Mole-Face drew behind their leader. They also held their weapons out, half of them severely wounded and dazed. The twins joined Salt’s side, silent as the day Finn had met them.
“Term one,” Salt spoke, “ye assist us in disassembling these golems. They obviously don’t listen to yer direct command but to Mal’Bal alone. They must die. Term two: ye will free the slaves. Term three: ye will allow our healer to surgically remove yer bracers. He’ll fix whatever injury that might cost. This will ensure ye cannot attack us any longer.”
A mixture of emotions ran through Portious. His Half-suit, covering his arms beneath a thick lavender robe just like Antina, seemed to vibrate. His face grew furious, terrified, then relieved, before once more becoming furious. “I’ll help you with these golems—I have no love for them anyways—and I’ll release the prisoners. But I won’t have me, nor the other Ventri subject their bracers to you! Never!”
Salt’s face grew stone-like. “This is yer only offer. Don’t let yer pride kill ye.”
Portious attacked without warning, moving in a blur. He smashed one of the twins to the side with his mace and pointed his free arm to Salt. Salt gasped as air left his lungs. The Coalition leader collapsed to the water, clawing at his face. His chest contracted abno
rmally, as if imploding. Veins stuck out of his skin and blood-droplets seeped out. Portious was taking all the air from Salt’s body. “Never!” the man was shrieking. “The bracer makes me a God! Me! A ruler of men! I bow to no one! Not even Mal’Bal, you hear me?”
The other evil Star-Children—the Ventri— jumped into the fight and the battle resumed.
Finn tackled the lantern-headed Star-Child and pushed him to the water, his weight landing on the man’s chest. The man threw out wild punches and Finn ignored the pain, jabbing his fingers beneath the helmet. Water rushed in and the man panicked, gargling on the liquid. Finn was thrown back, but the man was no longer paying attention to him. Instead, he stood and floundered, deactivating his bracer. The helmet came apart as metal plates, contracting and sliding to his wrist. The water fell out, no longer drowning him. Finn rushed the man and landed a solid punch. The Ventri staggered and fell back down.
Punishment, Justice, and Leeya worked to push back the remaining Star-Children. Apart from the twins—who couldn’t deactivate their bracers—and Portious, no one was using their powers. They were all too tired to continue with the devices. It became a battle of fists and weapons. Sparks flew as metal clashed on metal. Screams once more rang out loud enough to shake the rice-field as the remaining army of cult members reengaged with the Coalition.
The weapon golem roared past, taking Goblin on a ride as the poor boy hung-on for dear life. A second golem smashed into one of the twins, who hit it with his white blade. The other twin was suddenly there, slashing at the same spot. The golem fell apart, immediately dead.
Finn limped toward Salt, his scythe at the ready to defend the man. Portious noticed him and swung his mace. Instead of blocking it, Finn ducked and counter-attacked. Portious though, incredibly skilled as a fighter, immediately switched tactics. He caught the mace with his other hand, blocked Finn’s strike, and pointed his free hand toward him. The mace he then swung at Salt.
SunRider: Book 1 (The SunRider Saga) Page 38
