Eluan Falls: The Tides of Utter Undoing

by Dane G. Kroll

  Aul replied with a swipe of his blade. The chain broke easily under his own force of arcan.

  “I look forward to seeing you later,” he said.

  “Even in death,” said Serean. Then together they raced back into the battle.

  The bodies started to pile up along the town street. Hilldad was losing. A commotion was starting up behind the cages. Falon turned to see more people approaching the area. They carried torches.

  “Burn them all,” one of the men said.

  “If they’re gone the others will go away,” said another.

  Men in the group started throwing tinder and hay into the cages and all around it. Falon worked quickly. He tried to get out as much as he could, but more was coming in than he could handle. The other soldiers started to join in, but it was too late. The torches had been dropped. The fire spread rapidly. It extended into the cages. The captives tried even harder to break free from their confines.

  The fire burned. It heated the metal of the cage. Whenever one of the captives struck the cage lining they were left with a scorch mark. They cried out for help. The battle overpowered their demands.

  Then Nikali caught sight of the incident. He hurried over to the cages. The captives begged him to get them free.

  “Turn away, monster,” said one of men with the torches. “Your friends will be ash soon. You are a plague on this town.”

  “They are not my friends,” said Nikali. “I just don’t see why you get all the fun in torturing them.”

  The man with the torch began to cough. Blood spit out of his mouth. It was followed by smoke.

  “I told you what would happen.”

  The man’s cough grew more violent. Then fire spewed out of his mouth. He screamed in pain as he felt his insides become charred. He breathed in and the fire grew more powerful. It filled his lungs. Air could no longer come through. The fire began to burn through his chest. The man began melting from the inside.

  The fire that surrounded the cage began to diminish. With a soft wind as if blowing a kiss Nikali put out the last of the fire.

  “Let us out,” demanded Falon.

  “And lose my prize. I don’t think so,” said Nikali. “Stay.”

  “Nikali, please,” said Abigail. But he did not hear her. Nikali turned back to the battle at hand.

  That did not stop Falon and Genom. The fire had weakened the metal of the cage. They attacked it with all of their force. It bent under their strength. Rarian rushed over to help. All three of them fought against their constraints. The cage broke.

  With one end cracked open the rest of the side of the cage came crumbling down under its own weight. The captives poured out of the cage. They were free at last.

  Aldrin could not get to his feet. His strength had deteriorated. Genom had to hold up his master’s frail body.

  “We need to get out of here,” Randal told his general, Rarian.

  “What about the fight? We can not leave the avadons alive,” Rarian said.

  “That is Eluan’s problem. They should not know we are here.”

  “And your sister?” Rarian asked.

  “Leave her,” said Randal. “She created this mess. We’ll pick up the pieces later.”

  The two Lousons stepped into the shadows between two buildings. Their fight was over. They made their escape through the chaos of the battle.

  It was being noticed that the captives were finally free. Serean joined her master and the remaining Elite Guard. Some of the citizens still fighting took sight of the Tcher guard. They gravitated toward them thinking they were a more equal opponent.

  The Tcher guard were outnumbered and weakened from their captivity. They took blows from the town’s people while still protecting Aldrin.

  Abigail knelt back down under the cage. She had no way to protect herself in the battle. Everybody had abandoned her.

  Two men reached out for her. They pulled her by the legs back out from the cage. One man pinned her down to the ground while the other pulled out a knife. Abigail screamed for help. She tried to fight them off, but she was too weak.

  The knife came barreling down at her. But before it hit her it was stuck into the back of Falon. He had dove on top of Abigail to intercept the blow. The knife pierced into his shoulder blade. He winced in pain. Serean came to his aid. She broke the neck of the man that stabbed Falon. The other tried to run away, but Falon grabbed him. He bashed his head in with a rock.

  “Thank you,” Abigail said, stumbling on her words.

  Genom came up to Falon. He pulled the knife out of his back. Falon yelled out in pain.

  “I’ll take that,” said Genom. The brute took the knife and charged out into the battle. He tackled an avadon from behind. The knife went directly up the back of the beast.

  “Serean,” said Aldrin. He signaled for her to come back to him. It was his first words since being put in the cage. “Get me out of here.”

  “Yes, sir,” she said. Serean picked up Aldrin and straddled him over her shoulders. Then she made a run for it.

  It was only a few feet before they caught Nikali’s eye. He parted from the avadon he was fighting to go after them.

  Cassandra sensed a problem. Nikali was communicating with her. She needed to get to the cage. What was left of the Red Cast remained where they were. They kept their numbers together to stay victorious.

  Serean tried to avoid Nikali as best she could. Aldrin was light enough she hardly noticed him over her shoulders. She ran through the battle avoiding the avadons whenever possible. The others were of little concern to her. She could charge through the citizens with ease.

  Nikali appeared in front of her. She was forced to change course. As soon as she did, Nikali would swoop in. He continued to close in on her. She started to go into heavier levels of battle, but Nikali would not stop his pursuit. He glided against the ground. His speed kept up with hers.

  Serean turned and ran for the buildings. Nikali was right behind her. He kept his distance to only toy with her, she knew. It gave her confidence. Nikali’s cockiness could offer her the chance to escape.

  She ran into the building making sure to avoid knocking Aldrin against the doorframe. As she turned she closed the door with her foot. Nikali was right behind her. The door slammed in his face. He was enraged. He wanted nothing more than to return to the battle, but he had to ensure Aldrin would be with them at the end. Nikali opened the door and went inside.

  Serean waited for Nikali’s response, but he did not come. She stared at the door. It did not open. She was surprised that Nikali had given up so easily.

  Across the battle Nikali stared off in confusion. The door he had gone out of lead him to the other side of the battle. He had gone from the outside of a building to a door from another building leading outside. Serean was nowhere near him. He went back through the door. This time he was just inside. There was no Serean, no battle. He tried to put the pieces together of what he had missed. How had he gotten there? In a panic he drank more Tamor Blood. There was avadon blood soaked in his clothes. He began licking himself. He needed more power. He needed to understand what he had just lost, or gained.

  Kastor and Tyeche continued to guard the Empress. They had not left the sanctuary of the cage. Cassandra approached them with a smile. Both the Louson guards stood up to keep her from their Empress.

  “Guard her all you want,” said Cassandra. “We want you to stay. This is all for you. We’re the rescue party.”

  “We didn’t want help from avadon bloods like you,” said Tyeche.

  “The Emperor saw it differently,” she said. With a gentle touch her hands parted Kastor and Tyeche. They had no idea why they moved they were just compelled to do it.

  Cassandra leaned down to talk to Empress Marina. Her hand graced the Empress’ cheek. “It’s all okay, now. You’re going to be safe with us.” Cassandra said with a defying smile. “That is a beautiful crown you are wearing. The image of royalty.” Cassandra took the crown from Marina’s head. It was li
ght in her hand. “Spoils of war.” Then she put the crown on top of her own head. It glistened against the fires that spread throughout the town.

  Serean and Aldrin waited out the battle in the building. Nikali had never found them. She watched from the window as the Eluan legion fought back the avadons and the rest of the citizens. As the minutes passed, more and more began to retreat. The avadons were growing fewer in numbers. She became enthralled with the battle. Every move from either the avadons or the legion had her hypnotized. They moved like no warrior she had ever seen.

  It was so amazing she did not notice the door open. Aul walked in. Serean jumped to her feet. She held her weapon ready. Aul put up his hands. He was unarmed.

  “I was looking for you,” he said.

  “Aldrin stays with me,” she said. “We are not going anywhere with Eluan.”

  “I know,” said Aul. “That is against my orders, but I know what you have to do.”

  “Leave now,” said Serean.

  “Let me help you,” said Aul. “The battle is almost over. I can say you escaped during the chaos.”

  “What is in it for you?” Aldrin spoke up.

  “Eluan is losing,” said Aul. “I want to jump ship if you will.”

  “I do not accept traitors,” said Aldrin.

  “Eluan already abandoned me,” said Aul. “I am not a traitor.”

  “You bled for Eluan. Will you bleed for me?”

  Aul stuck out his hand. He placed it on a table nearby. His fingers were spread out. “Of course,” he said. “I want only to gain your trust.”

  Aldrin nodded at Serean. She approached Aul. She thrust her sword down onto the table. It was a precise cut. Aul’s pinky finger was severed from his left hand.

  Aul held in his scream. He choked down the pain. His face was masked with a smile. “I live to serve my master,” he said.

  Aldrin stood to his feet to greet his newest soldier. “You may prove worthy yet.”

  Serean turned back to Aldrin. Aul reached out. He grabbed hold of Serean by the neck with his right arm. He held down her sword with his other hand. She struggled, but he was too strong. His arcan held her down. Her pinky finger throbbed in pain. She could not breathe. The air was forced out of her lungs. No matter how hard she tried her lungs would not reopen. No air could get in. Soon she was dead in Aul’s arms.

  “I serve my master,” said Aul. He wiggled his nine fingers at Aldrin. “Nikali saved me when Eluan abandoned me. I am no traitor.”

  Cassandra walked around the remnants of the battlefield. Aldrin and Marina were tied up and under watch. They gathered the remaining five captives and held them nearby.

  Only four of the Red Cast were left. They were soaked in the blood of their enemies and their comrades. Aul kept watch over the captives. Raphaiel and his troupe were dead.

  Nikali was on the porch of a building. He laid in the middle of the doorway. His skin was stained with spit and blood. Cassandra came up to him. She watched for a minute while Nikali moved his hand back and forth between the outside and the inside.

  “They were not ready,” she finally said.

  “Nonsense,” said Nikali. “We are tighter now. Stronger for it. And now we have even better stuff.” Nikali jiggled a new bottle. The liquid swayed inside. It was the blood of an avadon.

  “We should be going,” said Cassandra. “It will be light soon.”

  “Wonderful,” said Nikali. He got up to his feet on the inside of the building. He paused for a moment looking at the doorway. He took a step through and waited. When nothing happened he continued walking without a word.

  “Marina and Aldrin are still with us,” said Cassandra. “What should we do with the others?” she said as they arrived.

  Nikali looked over at the captives. The spirit they had shown during the battle had waned. They were captives once again. Abigail looked up. She smiled at Nikali. Relief washed over her.

  “Put them in a carriage,” said Nikali. “We’ll take them with us. Heric can decide what to do with them.”

  Abigail’s smile vanished. Nikali stared right at her without a hint of recognition. “Nikali, it’s me.”

  Nikali did not reply. He and Cassandra walked off back toward the building he was laying at. “Get them loaded up,” he ordered.

  “Nikali, please,” she cried. “It’s me. It’s Abigail. Please.”

  Nikali did not turn around. He was too invested on his thoughts of the other night. “Bring me that door,” he ordered, pointing at the building he had been focused on.

  A carriage was found by the ladies of the Red Cast. Aul loaded up their captives. Abigail did not resist. Tears welled up in her eyes. The door closed and locked the group inside. The realization finally hit. Heric had not sent anybody to save her.

  Chapter 51

  Soldiers stood guard on both the east and the west of the Capitol walls. On the east, the guards stood watch against the invading Tcher force. The message that Aldrin had been captured was spread toward the enemy as soon as it reached the Capitol. Since then only one attack had been attempted on the city walls. After the battle the area was quiet. Tcher kept their distance. The ships down the river were still visible on the horizon.

  On the west side of the city, more soldiers waited for their prize. Nikali and his captives were on their way. Heric wanted to make sure there were no problems getting into the city. Tcher had not been seen this far out from the river, but he was taking no chances. Heric would not allow Aldrin to slip through his fingers when he was so close to victory.

  Nikali’s caravan approached the guards at the city gates. There were several carriages awaiting their arrival. Guards halted Nikali and the others. Cassandra was the one to step out of their own carriage from the town to speak with the soldiers.

  “We are expected inside,” she said.

  “We know,” said the soldier that stopped them. “Emperor Caning requests that you let us take it from here.”

  “For what reason?” Cassandra asked.

  “Aldrin is to be presented through the city,” said the guard. “The Emperor wishes to show the Captiol that the war is coming to an end.”

  Cassandra looked back at Nikali inside their carriage. He shrugged. His interest in the matter had waned.

  “Fine,” said Cassandra. “You may have him. Do not lose him.”

  “He will not be going anywhere,” said the soldier. As he spoke his men headed to the back of the carriage to retrieve Aldrin.

  “We will also be taking the Empress with us,” said the soldier.

  “The Empress stays with us,” said Cassandra, but her words were too late. The soldiers were already carrying her out of the carriage.

  “She will be detained at the palace,” said the soldier. “Emperor Caning’s orders.”

  After Marina, the soldiers began escorting Kastor and Tyeche out of the carriage.

  “Will we have any prize to bring to the Emperor?” Cassandra remarked.

  “You are free to present yourself to the Emperor,” said the soldier. “He is anxious to congratulate all of you on a job well done. We can take the prisoners from here.”

  “As if we had a choice,” said Cassandra. She waved off the solider. It was obvious they were done discussing the matter.

  The soldier turned to his men gathering the prisoners. “Bag them,” he ordered. “I don’t want them to know the layout of the city. I don’t care if they are in chains and their legs are broken. They only see the dungeon.”

  Hoods were brought out for the Tcher prisoners. With their hands tied behind their back there was no resistance. Abigail, Falon, and Genom were taken to one carriage, Kastor and Tyeche to another. Marina was given her own. Aldrin did not have a carriage. Instead he was put on an open platform drawn by horses. A pillory was situated above eye level so everyone on the street could see the display.

  Aldrin never fought against the soldiers. He walked calmly toward his punishment. The pillory was opened for him. The soldiers shoved him down to
the base of the torture device. He placed his hands and head in the holes. The top plank closed down around him. Aldrin the Ageless, the master of the Tcher Islands, was now a true prisoner of the Eluan Empire.

  “It doesn’t bother you that they are taking our glory?” Cassandra asked Nikali. She watched with disgust as her accomplishments were being taken away by men who had sat on the sidelines.

  “Our glory is still to come,” said Nikali. “The war has never mattered. Heric knows who won it for him. We will be rewarded. I will make sure of that.”

  “I would still like to see the faces on all the soldiers when they see who brought in the mighty Tcher commander,” said Cassandra. “We did something that they never could have done. We deserve to present the prisoners to Heric.”

  “Let it go,” said Nikali. “The celebration tonight will be reward enough. The royal class will grovel at our feet for once. Receive your pleasure from them.”

  Aldrin began his humiliating parade through the streets of the Capitol. The crowd deplored him. They called out for his head. They cheered for Heric and his triumph in the war. Vegetables, eggs, and bread were thrown at Aldrin. What didn’t hit him directly in the face splattered on the platform and covered the rest of his body. He kept his face away from the crowd. His eyes stayed on his final destination, the royal palace.

  Heric watched the last leg of the parade from his balcony. It was the first time in months since the war had started that he felt relief. His gamble to let Nikali loose had paid off. Soon the Eluan Empire would be even more powerful. He could lead Nikali into the forest and permanently rid their world of the avadons. With Aldrin captured it meant Eluan had no further enemies that could challenge them. Marina was once again under his watch. Louson’s plans for Eluan could be quelled once and for all. Heric only wished he knew more about the situation. He would get his wife to talk before anything moved forward for her. She would also have to answer for Abigail.

  Heric felt her loss every day. Abigail could have been his empress. All they needed was a little more time. Instead, Heric was thrust into his position alone and indecisive. That was no longer Heric’s concern. His heart had been hollow for the past year, but now he could fill it with his responsibilities as Emperor. He knew what he had to do to get Eluan back to its age of glory.