The Holtur Enigma (The Holtur Trilogy)

by Cameron Wayne Smith

  Vivian hoped the slam of the door hadn’t alerted the creature of his intent to run, but it didn’t matter, he was already twenty metres from the house. The only thought on Vivian’s mind was to run, he didn’t dare turn around, he didn’t dare second guess himself. Either it wasn’t following him, or it was, in case of the latter, he couldn’t afford to find out.

  Back in Silverton he tried to go for a jog every few suns, but he was in no way a prime specimen of fitness. Still, fear seemed to energise his body more than he could imagine. He felt stronger and faster than he had felt in quite a long time. It felt good, and if it wasn’t for the flying octopus of doom, he’d be enjoying it.

  There was no sign that the Eye of Desecration was following him, perhaps he had outran it? Vivian was proud of himself, working towards answers rather than hiding like a coward. A violent screech assaulted his ears while he ran, but he refused to turn around or cover his ears, he just kept running. To his disappointment, he had not outran the horror, and the shrill was only getting louder.

  The black spear shot past his side, almost piercing his chest. The spear retracted, and then released once again, almost striking his other side. He fought back the thoughts of doubt and continued to sprint.

  The ringing in his ears began to die down, giving way to a familiar voice to insult him. “You’re a fucking idiot Patressi!” Sonja had aimed the large ballista turret on the wall back into Holtur. Readily aimed at the creature in pursuit.

  The massive bolt shot directly towards Vivian’s head. He crouched as he continued to run, feeling the gush of air as the bolt flew over him. A less aggressive screech emanated from behind.

  “Thanks!” Vivian called out between breaths. “Where’s Kallum?”

  “Oh no, you’re not inviting him out here!” Sonja was loading up another bolt. “I know what you are thinking, and no, he doesn’t know.”

  “Shit!” Vivian’s sprint slowed down, and he knocked his fist on his head. “Think Vivian, think! There has got to be something…”

  “Keep running outsider!” Sonja released another bolt into the creature. “I can’t stop it, and I can barely slow it down! If anything, I’m just pissing it off all the more!”

  As he approached the north wall, a bunch of slayers began raining arrows down into the horror. Surely with enough punishment, the Eye of Desecration would keel over, or at least retreat. Vivian raced up the stone stairs and looked at Sonja. “Where are the bows?”

  “Over there.” She pointed into a small bastion, a look of shock and awe her face. “Rigst said you acted courageous with the shroud.” She fired another giant bolt into the approaching creature. “I hope it doesn’t offend you that I didn’t believe him.”

  “Actions speak louder than words.” Vivian had a snide grin on his face. He held his breath and pulled the drawstring back, then looked at the creature. Noticing something he hadn’t seen earlier, the single terrifying eye between its wings and tentacles. He couldn’t figure out if that was supposed to be the creatures chest, pelvis, or head. Whatever it was, it had a giant pearl, with a slender vertical slit that stared straight into his soul. Long thorns stuck out of its flesh like a protective cage around the eye. Its serpent-like limbs intercepting any arrow coming close to striking it. Vivian released his breath and the drawstring. The arrow fell to his feet and the drawstring wobbled back into place.

  “Actions do speak louder than words,” Sonja sarcastically agreed. She then fired another bolt, only for one of the serpent limbs to catch it, then throw it to the ground.

  “There’s got to be a way to take this thing out!” Vivian placed the bow on the ground, figuring his archery skills may be in need of improvement.

  “You should have stayed with the cult of Glacious a little longer,” Rigst confessed, firing an arrow towards the horror. “Sorry to say this Vivian, but not all of us on this wall will be alive next sun, and it looks like you have pissed the bastard off.”

  “The cult of Glacious!” Vivian’s eyes lit up. He had an idea, a terrible idea at that, but better than what anyone else had planned. “GLACIOUS! Of course, you’re a genius Rigst!”

  “I am?” Rigst laughed.

  “Did the shroud leave us any horses?”

  “There’s a stable around the corner, full. Why?” Rigst questioned.

  “You’re not feeding it our horses!” Sonja aggressively interjected.

  “No I’m not.” Vivian had already commenced sprinting in full flight down the stairs. “But I need it to keep chasing me. If you can keep it slow, keep it from catching me, that will be perfect.”

  “I hope you know what you’re doing Patressi.” Sonja couldn’t see into his plan.

  “Not really,” he said. Vivian then faced the horror, watching it fend off another of Sonja’s bolts. He took advantage of the distraction to run past it.

  His heart was pounding like crazy and he was peaking on adrenaline. His eyes were darting around, looking for the stable while he continued to run. The sound of spooked horses led him to a large stone stable.

  “Hurry Patressi!” he heard Sonja cry out. “It’s after you!”

  Just the words he needed to boost his confidence. After unlatching the wooden door to the stables, he ran in, then quickly closed the door behind him. He hoped it would hold, at least for a little while. He had travelled plenty in the past, mostly small trips, and always by wagon, but he had never actually ridden a horse himself.

  He clambered upon one of the horses, but before he could figure out how to ride the beast, the serpent limbs had busted the door to splinters. The Eye of Desecration then reared up and fired its spear straight at him, missing his thigh by a kuhvi hair. The steed was no so fortunate.

  Vivian leapt clear of the punctured horse. It had frozen in place, and would be no use to anyone now. After looking around he mounted a small, black horse, then looked back at his old mount. It was being pulled towards the Eye of Desecration, towards a beak under all those tentacles. Vivian then realised that the spear was a tongue, and once it had pierced something, it took time to consume or discard it. Speeding up the process, the serpent limbs began chewing away at the speared horse, while the beak gnawed upon it ferociously.

  It wasn’t really something he intended to watch for long, especially knowing he was the creature’s intended meal. The little black mare managed to dash past the creature, and out into the open. “Woah, slow down!” Vivian pulled on the reins to try and control the steed. It slowed down for a moment, and then Vivian felt as though he was in control.

  A loud shriek made holding the reins difficult, but he didn’t want to let them go, especially as the screech had sent the horse into a panicked bolt. The Eye of Desecration had finished consuming the stallion and was in pursuit of him once again. All he could do was hold on, tug at the reins, and try to steer the horse in the intended direction.

  Vivian pulled the reins to force the mare west. “Alright girl, time for you to befriend the marked.”

  Outrunning the creature felt somewhat easier when using another’s feet—or hooves—but it didn’t stop the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He began to ponder over his plan, hoping it would be as effective as he assumed. If he could get the Eye of Desecration to inadvertently kill one of the marked, would this Glacious fellow appear and destroy it? It was a mad plan, but if a mad plan would work anywhere, it was Holtur.

  After reaching the western edge of the wall he turned south, and could see the kuhvi pastures not too far in the distance. While turning he also noticed the Eye of Desecration was not far behind him. “Come on girl,” he urged the mare, “you can go faster than this!” It was no use, the horror was too close, and he wasn’t going to make it.

  The horror shrieked like something had penetrated its hide. Vivian turned around to see four mounted slayers chase them around the corner, all armed with bows. It didn’t deter the Eye of Desecration though, it wanted Vivian, and it was going to get him!

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Ri
gst called out from atop one of the horses.

  “You said you wouldn’t feed it any horses!” Sonja yelled with anger.

  Vivian didn’t respond, he could see the horror chasing him, and that was all he wanted. He didn’t know if there was some ethical code against what he was planning. Whether the cult would persecute him for it, whether Glacious would hold him accountable. It didn’t really matter right now, calling off the plan just meant he’d be consumed, what does it matter if it’s by a different entity?

  The little black mare was starting to slow down. Vivian didn’t weigh all that much, but it must not have been used to galloping so far. “Not much further now girl,” he assured the mare. He too did not want to go much further, his backside was in all sorts of pain. “Nearly there!”

  One of the larger kuhvi—a bull—was nearby. It began to stomp its feet as they got closer. Upon noticing no mark on its head, Vivian veered away, but the bull charged, it wasn’t going to back down. Now he was being chased by the horror and a beast, great!

  He was unsure how the little mare would go clearing a fence, but one was approaching, fast. It wouldn’t slow the horror at all, but it would surely keep the beast away. On approach Vivian stood up in the saddle, hoping it would help his steed. They cleared the fence, but the mare tumbled, throwing Vivian from its back.

  “Shit!” He clambered to his feet, looking at the hungry entity that was swiftly approaching. “Alright feet, you’ve done it once this sun!”

  He turned to sprint, then realised he didn’t have far to go. Kuhvi were packed throughout the paddock he had landed himself in. The Eye of Desecration ignored the mare that was crying out in pain, instead choosing to pursue its prized meal, Vivian.

  Desperately searching through the small group of beasts, it didn’t take long to find a nice big one, one with the mark upon its head. “Sorry,” he apologised to the kuhvi, then gave it a pat along its meaty shoulders.

  Everything was in place, but he wasn’t quite sure how the next part of his plan would work. He turned to face the horror, its single eye gazing deep into his. He froze with fear, the horror slowly positioned itself, and it fired its tongue. Vivian snapped out of the fear and tried to leap out of the away, but he was too slow, the tongue had driven straight through his right shoulder.

  It paralysed his body, sending him limp while holding him in the air. He could feel that he was pinned to the marked kuhvi, but couldn’t feel any heartbeat from the beast. The Eye of Desecration became aware of what it had done. Its eye began to flicker about, and the serpent limbs began sniffing in every direction. The horror was afraid. Vivian had done it, he would laugh if he had control of his muscles.

  The horror released a shriek of fear, and Vivian was instantly deafened. All its screams had hurt, but when you’re so close to the beak that it splatters the remains of its last meal all over you, the pain is a little more unique. It began to fly backwards across the paddock, scrapping Vivian’s feet and shins along the squelchy ground. It then took to the sky, pushing Vivian down its tongue with its tentacles. He felt as though he was going to pop, being squashed into the deceased kuhvi corpse. Eventually the dead bovine, and Vivian, found themselves plummeting back towards the earth.

  Chapter 8: Glacious

  Shattering through the quiet of the darkness, he could hear a woman calling out to him. “Vivian! Help us, please!”

  Kicking the blankets from his bed, he entered a mad dash down the stairs. Sally was staring at him. Her face was damp, and her makeup was running from her eyes down to her cheeks. Dandy was sniffling, hiding her face deep in mother’s chest.

  “What’s the problem Sal?” Vivian asked confidently. He then grimaced in pain, pressing his left hand up against his right shoulder. There was a terrible wound, a hole straight through muscle and bone. He didn’t feel it when arising from bed, but his right arm was suddenly limp and useless.

  “The serpents!” Sally screamed and Dandy began to cry. “They’re here!”

  Fear ran through his mind, and he was unsure whether to run or hide. Then something else came over him, more options, to fight or defend. With a single arm he couldn’t do all that much, but he could at least try. “Neidos silk,” he said, the words falling from his breath with purpose.

  “Pardon?” Sally looked at him like he was mad.

  Turning his head to the next room, Vivian noticed a large purple cocoon. “Get in!” He ushered his wife and child towards the protective silk shell.

  “Alright,” she said, while giving a confused nod.

  The top of the egg-shaped cocoon opened. Sally climbed in with Dandy, then Vivian followed them in. He sealed the lid of their protective cocoon back down, and the sounds of windows shattering echoed from outside. It was dark inside, both the house and the silk cocoon. A blast of lightning lit up the room outside, displaying the shadows of serpents busy tearing their house apart.

  “We need to hide until first sun light,” Vivian whispered to his family. They both looked at him, giving a quiet nod. “Everything will be ok then.” Well, he hoped they would depart with the moons.

  Sally and Dandy both closed their eyes, and despite the situation, drifted swiftly into a deep slumber. Vivian too, felt his eyes getting heavy. He began to follow suit when he heard another voice calling out to him. “Ready to come back to us this sun?” The voice was followed up by a violent clicking sound in his ears.

  ***

  Vivian slowly opened his eyes, realising the event was of yet another dream. He couldn’t tell if it was a bad or good one though. The serpents were present, but he protected his family. The pain in his arm though, was very real.

  “Eyes open then?” Sonja looked down at him with a warm grin. “Can you hear me Patressi?”

  “Ugh…” Vivian hauled himself up with his good arm, then looked at his right shoulder. “Shit! I was kind of hoping the Eye of Desecration was just a bad dream.”

  She began to laugh. “I’m afraid not, but you did repel the bastard! The thing had it in for you something shocking! It might have been content just to eat you and depart, but you did alright given the situation.”

  “Alright given the situation?” Jansen burst into the room. “He used one of the marked for his own selfish gain! You will have to go before Glacious for what you have done!”

  “What?” Vivian looked back in shock, then noticed the high roof. He was in the house of Glacious’ divine ones. “I didn’t slay the marked, the Eye of Desecration did. I was just fleeing for my life.”

  “I know of your intent.” Jansen frowned. “After I shared all I did with you, I feel betrayed.”

  “That thing was sucking down citizens of Holtur like a drunk smashing peanuts!” Vivian exclaimed. “I stopped that from happening! There was no betrayal in my intent.”

  “It matters not.” Jansen walked back to the doorway, then turned back to look at him. “You are going before Glacious regardless.”

  Sonja sighed. “He is right, you have messed with traditions.”

  Vivian narrowed his eyes back at Sonja. “But that thing, it wa—”

  “Hey, I have nothing against what you did.” Sonja folded her thick arms. “But it’s not my decision. Glacious may now choose to claim the Eye of Desecration. If that’s the case, it would be very beneficial to Holtur. If it doesn’t though…”

  The pain in his shoulder seemed suddenly worse. “I’d be that replacement.”

  “I’m afraid so.” Sonja’s lips curled towards a forced smile. “But if not, some might even look at you as a hero of sorts.”

  “A hero?”

  “Of sorts. Not my brother though.” Sonja softened her composure with a laugh. “He’d then never have a chance to study that thing’s corpse!”

  “Haha!” Pain from the laughter pulsed through his shoulder. “That brother of yours! How’s he enjoying his shroud corpse?”

  “Hmm…” She gave him a deathly glare. “You shouldn’t have taken him out that moon.”

  “He forced me!
” Vivian defended. “Said he’d throw me to the shroud if I didn’t watch over his condition!”

  “That little shit!” The grin on Sonja’s face had grown, it was no longer forced, in fact, it was ear to ear. “He might be sickly, but he’s a bloody Bluwahlt at heart! Well, the Bristrunstium have fully dissected the shroud. Unique properties within its skin have been found, and it may prove useful in armour for dark and wet environments. Might be difficult to obtain enough of the skin to use though. The claws are just bone, nothing exciting found within them at this point.”

  “Wow!” Vivian’s mouth was wide open. “The Bristrunstium work fast! All that in a single sun!”

  “Ah… Vivian…” Sonja scrunched up her face. “It’s been a little longer than a single sun.”

  “How long have I been out?”

  “Eight suns…” Sonja pursed her lips, waiting for his reaction.

  “Eight suns!” Vivian looked at his patched up shoulder and gave a nod. “I did take quite a fall there didn’t I.”

  “Ah, yeah. You’re lucky you’re alive.”

  “Luck had nothing to do with it.” A female figure in the corner of the room, dressed in a light-blue, hooded robe stood up. Vivian hadn’t noticed her, she was so quiet, he thought she was in fact, just a robe sitting on a chair.

  “Shit!” Vivian looked at the woman. “I didn’t realise someone was in there.”

  “Don’t let her scare you, she’s just an apothecary.” Sonja smirked. “You do have those in Silverton, don’t you?”

  “Yeah…” Vivian nodded. “Although, I’ve never sought their assistance, or had any interest in religion.”

  “You should thank Ralumina,” the apothecary spoke softly, making her way over to the bed. “It is thanks to her blessing that you are alive.”

  “Right,” Vivian sarcastically spoke, “thanks Ralumina!”