The Bad Seed

by Michael Lackey

  Zachery and Tradan went looking for Natallia. They finally found her at the local market buying supplies for the party. "What are you two up to? Zachery don't you work with Miss Lizzy today?"

  Tradan took his mother's hand and started to lead her out of the store. "That's what we need to talk to you about. We may have a problem."

  They jumped on their horses and raced home dodging the new horseless automobiles that some were using now. The strange carriages moved around without a horse causing the trio to wonder if that world really was without magic.

  If Miss Lizzy was panicking about the truth of our home, we had a big problem. We could not allow anyone in Georgia to tamper with our progress. With a little over a year left before Tradan would reach his eighteenth year, we might have had to become nomads and stay on the run until Benzoete summoned us home. I needed the old wizard now more than ever.

  32

  Valley of Ice Shadows

  Once the refugees crossed into the valley, the air became thinner, the skies darker, and the temperature dropped twenty degrees.

  Benzoete held a hand up, signaling for everyone to stop. "Do you hear that, Elos? The sound of cracking ice. It sounds as if it is right beneath us."

  Elos tried to listen very carefully. "I hear nothing, Master Benzoete. Perhaps you are mistaken?"

  Benzoete shook his head as if something were crawling on him. He dropped to his knees and started to brush the snow away from the ground. "Water! We are on frozen water and it is not holding us! Run! Get to the sides! Find solid ground and we will regroup!"

  With Benzoete's warning, the group scattered, racing for solid ground. Antoine and Andrea quickly headed for the side with trees. As they approached a loud growling sound emitted from deep within.

  "What was that?" Andrea asked. It was a sound that she had never heard before.

  Antoine was almost afraid to answer, "Dire wolves. We must be careful and remain calm. Sudden movements and they will pounce." Just as the words came from his mouth, they could see them, a pack of Dire wolves Antoine thought to be extinct. The lead wolf was a large, solid white male that had a chunk of its ear gone. "That is impossible," Antoine said. "They were killed in our village. My cloak is made of the white one’s fur."

  Andrea looked to Antoine. "They do not look dead to me. They not only seem to be alive, but also hungry and angry."

  Antoine grabbed her hand and slowly walked backward, back toward the ice. "We have to put distance between us and them. We need to regroup with the others. I don't think we can kill them on our own."

  As he turned to look for the others, he noticed that the alpha had seen them. The white wolf caught their scent, angled his massive head to the skies, and let out a piercing howl.

  "We have to move, NOW!" Antoine and Andrea ran back across the fragile ice to regroup with Gabriel and the others while the pack gained ground on them. "Guys, we have a problem!" Antoine shouted as he ran past George.

  Benzoete turned toward the beasts, held out his hands to either side, and chanted a few elvish words. With a quick clap of his hands, the wolves were blown backward across the ice, hitting the ground. The force was too much for the ice and it started to break lose. Some of the pack fell into the water as the lead wolf and others started their chase over again running toward the refugees with the ice breaking behind them.

  As the refugees found ground, the pack was on them. With some of the wolves swimming for their lives, the refugees weren’t so outnumbered. Fangs glaring and claws swiping, the dire wolves attacked. George grabbed Launa and ran her to safety. Antoine and Andrea stood back to back with their blades acting as one.

  Cold steel met the massive hide of the white dire wolf, slicing at the animal. With a swipe, the creature caught Antoine across the face and knocked him to the ground, dazing him. It sniffed the air, sensing the fur around the cloak Antoine wore as one of its own and flew into a frenzy. Andrea stepped in between the two at the same time the creature lunged. She pulled her blades in front of her as she bent backward so the wolf leapt over her to get to Antoine. With a thrust, the blades found their mark on the soft underbelly, opening a long cut, spilling blood all over her. A yelp is heard throughout the valley and the white wolf fell to the ground beside Antoine. When the others of the pack heard their leader fall, they retreated.

  Andrea knelt next to the massive white animal, during its last moments. "None shall suffer. Die honorably." With that, she sliced across the throat, putting the great animal to rest. Andrea called to the others to see if they were all right, and to help her with Antoine.

  Elos rushed toward them, "Here, try this." He said pulling a strange vial from his pouch.

  Elos uncorked the vial and passed it under the nose of Antoine, with a jolt, Antoine leapt to his feet. "Where are they? What happened?" he asked in a panic.

  "It is all right, they are gone," Benzoete reassured him.

  Antoine lowered his fists and looked around. "Well you saved me again, dear lady."

  Andrea tilted her head, "Again?"

  Antoine being the dashing warrior he is, replied, "The first time was when you entered my life."

  Gabriel laughed and slapped him on the shoulder, "We will have enough time for that later, we need to find this tomb."

  As they come together, they heard George call from the distance. "Gabriel! I think you need to see this." They walked over to where George and Launa stood. "I think it's this way." George said as he pointed down a pathway between two solid walls of ice. At the end of the pathway a light could be seen. Sunlight.

  "This place keeps getting stranger and stranger." Antoine grimaced, while rubbing his head. "We go from beautiful warm meadows to chilling ice and extinct wolves to sun again."

  As he started to walk down the path, Benzoete stopped him. "Wait, Antoine, it cannot be this easy. We must be alert for anything. This pathway looks too inviting."

  Gabriel agreed and drew his sword. "This valley has claimed countless lives, I can't believe the cold and wolves are the only thing here." The small remaining group followed their leader and readied their weapons. "Slowly, if we encounter anything, I pray to the Gods we are ready," Gabriel said a silent prayer to himself. "I pray to thee my Gods hear me now. We have come this close to finding your gifts, please do not forsake us now."

  With that they started down the valley. With every step, they inched closer to the tombs. Benzoete's heart started pounding he was about to see the final resting place of his mother and the other two original elders of his people. As his mind wandered, he let his guard down for a moment and tripped over a stone.

  Elos stopped to check on him. "Master, are you alright?"

  "Yes, yes, I am fine. My mind got away from me for a bit," the old wizard replied.

  When they reached the middle of the valley, the clouds vanished, revealing the sunlight. The warm beams shone down on them, casting their shadows on the walls of ice.

  "I don't like this. Why did the sun come out suddenly?" Andrea questioned.

  "Perhaps we are far enough through that we are safe now. Maybe?" George replied looking to Benzoete. The wizard furrowed his brow and shook his head. When they stopped, their shadows moved on their own.

  "Look! My shadow has a mind of its own!" shouted Launa, pointing to the ice wall.

  George turned in time to see her shadow step from the wall and come after her. He drew his blade and stepped between them. The shadows were coming to life and attacking them. It was almost as if the refugees were fighting themselves. The shadows moved like them and fought like them. Gabriel found himself fighting an exact copy of Antoine, only made of living ice. The battle suddenly favored the icev alley.

  Gabriel could see his men being defeated and killed by ice copies of themselves. He gripped his mighty sword, Fuascailte, and let out a deafening battle cry as he thrust the blade through the ice warrior moving toward him. Once it entered the belly of his enemy, he turned and gave the blade a twist while lifting the blade, shattering the ice causing
crystals to rain down. The mighty king ran to Antoine and Andrea. They were fighting a copy of Andrea and one of Gabriel when the king slid on his knees and swung. As the blade made contact, one by one it took the legs out from under the ice shadows. They fell to the ground and gave Antoine and Andrea the opportunity to take their heads.

  Gabriel was a killing machine. Lost in himself, all he knew was to protect his friends. George had destroyed the copies of himself and Launa, and now rushed to help the others. As he and Gabriel met in the middle, their blades were as kindred spirits. Benzoete and Elos had rooted the feet of some around them to the icy floor.

  "Why does fire not affect them?" Elos asked.

  "They are not made of normal ice. It is a magical element. We must slow them down," Benzoete retorted.

  As George and Gabriel descended on them, the ice shadows fell to their flurry of blade strikes and melted back into the walls.

  The two stopped and found themselves back to back. "Old friend I had no idea you could do that!" George said with a big smile.

  "I heard a voice inside me, guiding me where to strike. I have never heard this voice before," said Gabriel.

  "We will thank this voice later, my king," Benzoete said as he pointed toward another boundary line. They could see green grass and hear water flowing.

  "The four falls?" asked George, "That is where we are to find the tomb?"

  Gabriel took a glimpse at Benzoete. "You ready for this?"

  Benzoete straightened his robes and ran his fingers through his stringy, white hair. "Yes, I am. I have wanted this for centuries. Let's go meet my mother, shall we?" The remaining few crossed over into the warm, sunny area and they saw lush green grass, tall trees, and a crystal-clear river, full of life. "The Horizon River, what majestic beauty it holds. The waters of life flow from this place, no wonder they keep it locked away," Benzoete said in awe.

  "Where do we go from here?" George asked.

  "We follow the river to the Four Falls, the elders resting place will be there," Elos answered. "We have come to a sacred place; we do not know if we are entirely out of danger. Stay alert and be careful. If all goes to plan, Master Benzoete and George Morely will be the first to enter this place in over three thousand years. I have considered it an honor to have fought alongside each and every one of you."

  Antoine stepped up next to him and placed an arm around Elos's shoulders. "Not bad for a bunch of humans, eh Elos?" They all laughed and started toward the falls.

  33

  Hell Comes To Whitehold

  The fallen God, Craotonus, had returned. The demon brethren prepared to restore the Remissum to full power, even if it took every mortal alive in Amundiss. Dori'naur and Rauko' knelt before Craotonus as he sat on the throne of Castle Whitehold.

  "You will regain your place as ruler of the Heavens, my Lord. We will destroy the demigod king and his pathetic followers in your name," Dori'naur insisted while rising.

  Rauko' followed suit, "Guide us, master. Your will shall be done."

  Craotonus sat on a throne that was not his own, hood drawn over his face. "I need souls. Bring me the innocent. Bring me the untainted. They are the sustenance that powers me. Go my faithful, go and gather the souls for me. We will scar the heavens and let all know who we are."

  With that, the demons left their master; one went east and one west, each with an army of barkers at their command. Each town they encountered, bloodshed and mayhem descended on the citizens like nightfall. With each kill, Craotonus grew stronger and stronger. When they found the priests that taught the people of the Light, they brought them to stand before The Remissum himself. The priests had a direct connection to the Light, and Craotonus wanted to savor every drop of their mortality himself. The priests’ blood was spilled across the floor as their lives were taken from them by the mindless barkers. Craotonus removed his tattered robes and kneeled, taking his hands and covering his body with their pure blood.

  "Yes, I feel the tears of my siblings crying out for their beloved mortals. Feel my pain! Every one of you!" Craotonus shouted.

  As the demons stormed through the towns, anyone who tried to stand up to them soon found their head torn from their body and placed on a spike as a trophy. Dori'naur and his group of barkers bombarded the town of Plomin.

  Word had spread to the people of Plomin of the death and chaos and they agreed not to back down quietly. The city gates were blocked and sealed. Archers stood at the ready on the towers.

  Dori'naur sneered as his evil army came to the gates. "As if these imbeciles stand a chance against me. Bring down the gates!" The order rang out to the barkers and they went into a frenzy. They rushed the gates using their bodies as battering rams. Just as they were to collide with the gates, they were swallowed by a gaping hole that was deep and filled with sharp stakes hidden in the front. The barkers found themselves impaled and trapped. This infuriated Dori'naur. "If you want something done right, do it YOURSELF!" His voice boomed and echoed throughout the city.

  The people readied themselves for the second attack. Dori'naur knelt before the gates and touched the ground with the palm of his hand. Roots sprung up and wound toward the gates, entangling the bars and hinges. He quickly stood and with a swift flick of his wrist, the gates came tumbling down at his feet. With the gates breached, the remaining barker army rushed in, "Do watch your step, idiots." Since they watched the guard this time as they entered the walls, they missed the two massive blocks of rock that were mounted on the walls.

  An officer of the city shouted, "Release the Shattering!" The giant slabs met each other, crushing with a shaking boom, the barkers between them.

  With almost his entire army gone, the demon was infuriated. "I will crush you all beneath my heel! You will kneel before me and give your lives to your ruler, Craotonus, The Remissum!"

  A voice rose up from the back of the main tower. "We serve King Gabriel, son of Owin, true ruler of these lands! You and your master will be delivered into Hell by his hands!" The magistrate stepped forward in full armor.

  "You show bravery, my good man. You, I will kill quickly as to honor you." Dori'naur grabbed his mighty war axe from his back and instantly the kite shield formed on his arm.

  The defenders of Plomin rushed in with weapons ready. The men fought valiantly, but one by one they fell to the demon. Bodies scattered all over the ground, blood flowed like water. Dori'naur walked toward the magistrate. "Kneel and I shall show mercy. I will swiftly take your head and deliver your soul to my master."

  "You cannot deliver what you are unable to take. May the Light reign forever!" The noble magistrate proclaimed before thrusting his sword into his own heart, while looking deep into the burning eyes of the demon.

  "NO, you fool!" Dori'naur shouted. "Bah! He will not miss one. Gather the women and children. We have a God to feed." As the barkers went to find the rest of the people, Dori'naur knelt beside the magistrate, "What a waste. You were a noble warrior; my master would have enjoyed your soul."

  At that moment, one of the barkers scurried up to the demon. "Master, they are all gone. We can find no one."

  Dori'naur sent the hobbled slave flying backward with a backhanded slap. "Find them, they cannot be far. We need them, we need them all! Craotonus needs the innocent!"

  RAUKO' WAS HAVING PROBLEMS of his own. The demon hunter took his army of mutated citizens into the city of Screel. This was a city filled with peace-loving people. Peace-loving yes, but when they had to defend their homes and their families, no one was as fierce, and they were ready for this fight. They knew the odds of defeating the demon and his army were not in their favor, but they would never roll over and surrender. If Rauko' wanted them, he would have to fight for them.

  As they approached the gates of Screel, a single, heavily armored knight stood just outside. "Lord Rauko' we were expecting you. We are the good people of Screel and we urge you to turn away and seek your mayhem elsewhere."

  Rauko' laughed a very booming laugh. "You urge me to seek el
sewhere? Now, why would I do that my good man?"

  The stoic and stable knight replied. "You will seek elsewhere or prepare for doom."

  As Rauko' looked on and listened to the knight, he shook his head, "Would someone bring me his head already?"

  The barkers wildly charged the knight and yet he stood his ground. At the last moment before he was engulfed by the evil horde, he took a step back, drew his sword and kneeled. When the barkers got close, they started to vanish.

  Rauko' quickly lost his sneer and commanded the barkers to stop. "I can smell you now. Come out and face me. It has been what two, three thousand years since we last met?"

  As the gates opened, the knight stepped back to take his place beside a beautiful woman with long black hair, standing in white robes. Her hands glowing with a yellowish haze, and her eyes fixed on the demon, she serenely said, "Rauko', turn your things around and leave this place. These are good people and I will not allow you to come in here to take their lives for your master."

  The demon placed a finger at his lips like he was deep in thought, "Hmm my dear GailBen, why do you think we would turn around? I cannot be defeated by just a lowly wizard and her lackeys. You were a young elf when my master destroyed your elders. I see time has not made you smarter."

  GailBen cracked an unnerving sneer, "Who said it was just me and some lackeys?" At that moment hundreds of warriors streamed from the buildings behind the two all armed and ready for battle. The most shocking member of the group was Sybillias, one of the remaining Gods. She stepped forward to stand beside GailBen, the High Elf.

  "Sybillias! You cannot interfere with the mortals. That is Akadius's own rule. You dare defy him?" A furious Rauko' shouted.

  The gentle God lifted her head and removed her hood. "I am well aware of my place in the affairs of the mortals. I am also aware that I can bless those who pray to me and ask for guidance. I find these warriors worthy and just. They have my divine blessings." With that she looked to the heavens, stretched forth her arms and sent a bright light throughout the city. Sybillias looked to GailBen, "You are a worthy leader, dear friend. You have my grace. Show this hellion his way back to the ashes." Sybillias touched the hand of GailBen and the wizard's eyes begin to glow.