Even without an education in warfare, this had already been made obvious to Kat. Denied the use of more powerful spells, fearing she might kill her own people, she had been unable to inflict much serious damage. Just as frustratingly, the enemy was constantly shifting and turning, making it difficult to single out small groups or individuals for a focused attack.
The thin sizzle of dwarf rods carried over the field, immediately catching the king’s attention. Most of the rods they possessed were being held in reserve for the coming fight with the silent ones, and those few they had used in this battle were mostly spent.
“Can you see where that is coming from?” he asked.
Kat caught a flash of light from behind the enemy lines, but could not make out the source. “Whoever it is, they’re attacking the Imperials from the rear,” she told him.
A smile quickly came to Yularian’s face. “This I must see for myself.” After quickly remounting his horse, he spurred it into a run.
Kat continued to watch the battle unfold. Now under attack from both front and rear, in only a short time the Imperial line visibly buckled. More of their own soldiers flooded into the breach. Within an hour, the enemy was pulling back in a desperate attempt to keep themselves from being slaughtered.
A lone messenger approached and bowed low. “My Lady, I have been sent to tell you that a woman named Val has arrived and is waiting for you in King Halvar’s command tent.”
“Val?” Her voice shot up in surprise. “Are you sure?”
“Quite sure, My Lady.”
Kat shooed away the two soldiers who had been escorting her and urged her horse forward. The thought of seeing Val lifted her spirits. She had assumed Val and David would remain on Borgen until the fighting was over. David was not cut out for war. That much was certain. And Val had already lost her brother in the most horrible way imaginable.
On arriving, the first thing she saw were six beardless dwarves wearing white coveralls. Kat struggled to suppress her laughter. A dwarf without a beard seemed somehow comical, even though they were all wearing fierce expressions and wielding axes.
Val burst from the tent a moment after Kat had dismounted. They quickly embraced.
“It’s so good to see you,” Val said.
Kat hadn’t realized how much she had missed her company. Even hearing her friend’s distinctive southern accent brought a smile to her lips. “I’ve missed you too,” she responded, stepping back. “Is David with you?”
Val laughed. “Hell, no. Nothing would get him away from Borgen. Especially not since he got it moving. He’s afraid someone might break something if he leaves. I swear, it’s like living with Captain Ahab.”
The two women burst into laughter. The image of skinny little David, all dressed up in a captain’s outfit and standing on the bridge of a mighty whaler in a storm-lashed sea, passed briefly through her head. She brushed it aside. “So, it’s your people attacking the enemy rear?” she asked.
Val took her hand and led her back inside the tent. “You bet it is. We only had a few dozen with us, but we figured it would be enough to surprise them.”
“It sure was,” said Kat. “And just in time.”
She explained the situation about the silent ones as they sat at the table.
Val nodded. “So you haven’t been able to catch up with them?”
“No. No matter how fast we march, they always stay ahead of us. King Halvar is afraid they’ll kill all the dwarves who went north before we can get there.”
Val gave a light slap to her knee and raised a finger. “Then I think I have the answer.”
Just as she was about to explain further, the flap opened and Keira entered, followed by King Halvar.
Halvar looked weary and bent. “This is the human mage?” he asked Kat.
Val stood up to give him an awkward curtsy. “Yes, Your Highness. Valerie, but you can just call me Val. My family name here on Lumnia was Zorcari.”
He bowed in return. “It is a pleasure, Val. I am Halvar. King Halvar.”
She grinned. “Yes. The crown sort of gives you away.”
Her informal manner elicited an uncharacteristic giggle from Keira.
Halvar grunted and plopped down into a chair. Without the king needing to ask, a young dwarf placed a bottle on the table in front of him. He took a long drink before speaking.
“It would appear that the enemy wasn’t as opposed to retreat as they claimed. Thanks to your arrival, we were able to divide their ranks. Large groups are surrendering even now. Those that don’t...” He shrugged. “They’ve made their choice.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “So aside from providing us timely aid, why are you here?”
“David thought we could help,” Val replied. She gestured to the bottle, which Halvar pushed toward her.
“With the few dwarves you have on Borgen, it’s better they stay where they are,” he told her.
Val took a drink and almost instantly let out an exclamation of surprise. “Damn! That’s some strong stuff.” Her casual, unrefined manner seemed to be lightening Halvar’s mood, and he nodded for her to take another. This time the drink went down without a reaction. “Caught me by surprise that first time,” she grinned.
Her expression then became a little more serious. “Kat tells me that you’re having trouble catching up to the silent ones.”
“Indeed,” said Halvar. “I fear we will arrive far too late to do any good.”
“Well, you do know Borgen is only a short way from here.”
Halvar smiled. “Yes, King Ganix told me last time we were in contact that your friend David was able to make it mobile. A remarkable achievement.”
“Did he tell you how fast it can go?”
“No, but for such a huge piece of machinery, I would imagine it -”
“I bet you anything it could outrun those silent bastards.”
“You mean...” Realization washed over Halvar. His weary look vanished and he sprang up from his chair. “How good are you at reading maps, child?” he asked.
“As good as anyone, I suppose,” she replied.
The king glanced back at Keira and grinned. “I think you might have been right after all. Maybe Lumnia is watching over us?”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ethan could see the tall white spires peaking over the tree line in the distance. Without being told, he knew what it was – the new Dragonvein Manor. He also knew that he did not live there. Lynial had built it as a tribute to their family. It was not a dwelling but rather a place of learning and discovery.
“Impressive,” remarked Shinzan. “Though I think my palace is far more striking.”
Ethan glanced to his right. His enemy was now in the form of Jake, wearing an open neck shirt and loose-fitting trousers. Lumnia was beside him, sullen-faced and silent.
“What is this all about?” Ethan asked.
“This, my friend, is what you will one day become.”
The wind began to stir until it was a raging tempest. Then, all at once, it calmed. Standing a few yards away, Ethan saw an older and far more careworn image of himself.
“Are these visions true?” he demanded of Lumnia.
She looked at him from the corner of her eye. “Nothing Shinzan has shown you is a lie. But neither is it certain. He shows you the most likely road. The one on which you have already begun to travel.”
“I am not here to trick you,” Shinzan added.
Ethan regarded them both for a short time. “Then show me my future.”
No sooner had he spoken than a lone figure appeared from out of the forest. As it drew nearer, he recognized Lynial. His expression was pained and his strides deliberate.
“Hello, cousin,” the older Ethan said, his voice dripping with malice. “I’m surprised you came all this way to meet me.”
“You are no kin of mine,” he spat back.
“No? I suppose not. Not anymore. Not since you took sides with the people who murdered Kat and her father.”
“I
had nothing to do with that,” he insisted.
“If I thought you did, you would be dead already. No. You only ignored the crimes. You didn’t commit them.”
“The men responsible paid with their lives. What more could I do?”
“They only did the deed,” Ethan told him. “The person responsible…well…that score is settled.”
Lynial clenched his fists. “You are wrong. The score is far from settled.”
“Is it my fault you loved a murdering whore?” Ethan mocked. “Is it my fault she was so stupid that she didn’t think I’d find out the truth?”
“Kat was killed by her father’s own generals,” Lynial said through gritted teeth. “Bera was the one who hunted them down. And still you killed her.”
“She hunted them down to cover her tracks,” Ethan retorted sharply. “And I have to admit, she did a good job. It has taken me all these years to learn the truth. If it’s any consolation, she died painlessly.” He gestured toward his cousin. “As a favor to you, of course.”
“You have started a war based on lies,” Lynial growled. “And you murdered my wife without any proof at all of her guilt.”
“I have all the proof I need. I’m actually surprised you care so much. As I recall, mages of your time didn’t think much of humans who were unable to wield magic.”
“You’re a monster. I hope you know that. It is a good thing that Katyana never found out your true nature. Better that she died.”
Ethan twitched with sudden fury. Then, almost as quickly, calm returned to his countenance. “Maybe I am a monster. What does it matter now? I’ll finish what I started. And when it’s all over, this world will be as it should have been from the beginning.”
Lynial furrowed his brow. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that you are wrong,” Ethan replied, his voice taking on a dangerous quality. “This is not war. This is genocide.”
“Then you are no better than Shinzan.” Lynial’s hands glowed red. “And If I can, I will stop you.”
“Shinzan wanted to consume this world,” Ethan pointed out. “I want to free it. I will cleanse it of this infestation of parasites. And when it’s over, there will be peace.”
“When I first found out that you had killed Bera, I thought you evil. But I was wrong. You’re not evil. You are insane. Katyana’s death has broken your mind. I only wish I had seen it before.”
“Insane? Maybe. If I were, I doubt I’d know it. What I do know is that humans and dwarves do not belong here. They never have. And I will rid Lumnia of them once and for all.”
As the two men locked eyes, an ominous hush fell. Ethan grinned with confidence. In contrast, Lynial was stone-faced as he gathered his power.
Slamming his hands together, Lynial sent a flash of blue light streaking toward his cousin. Ethan was well prepared for this and easily deflected the attack. Lynial struck for a second time, but with no better result than before.
For now, it seemed as if Ethan was content to allow Lynial’s attacks to continue without reprisal. His cousin called forth a great winged beast that bore the appearance of a twisted marriage between a serpent and a wolf. With utter disdain, Ethan dismissed the spell with a flick of his wrist.
“This cannot be the extent of your power,” he chided. “The mages of old must have greatly exaggerated their legends.”
Lynial spat on the ground and then raised his arms. “Inis mons portrusti drago!”
The earth beneath Ethan’s feet erupted in a hellish geyser of molten rock. It climbed for more than one hundred feet before freezing in mid-air like a gigantic stalagmite. With a feral roar, Lynial then brought his arms sharply down, causing a raging firestorm to descend.
Maniacal laughter thundered from within the tempest as Ethan strolled nonchalantly from the chaos of its depths, an orb of green light surrounding his entire body. “I think that will do,” he remarked.
Lynial rapidly reinforced his wards, though haste was not necessary. Ethan seemed to be in no hurry to strike. He waited patiently until Lynial had finished preparing before raising his right arm with palm facing upwards. A sinister smirk lingered on his lips. Then, as though presenting some wonderful vision, he rolled his arm forward. A stream of red magical energy shot from his hand, instantly shattering all of Lynial’s defenses and sending him sprawling onto his back.
His cousin attempted to counter by calling forth a cloud of thick blue mist. It was of little consequence. Ethan waved it aside just as it discharged a series of lightning bolts. Two found their home, but Ethan’s wards easily absorbed them without leaving so much as a singe to his flesh.
“Good bye, cousin,” he said.
A blue light encased Lynial. He struggled to break free, desperately casting spell after spell. Nothing he did had the slightest effect. After a short time, the light began to pulse – slowly at first, then with increasing rapidity. Lynial bared his teeth and shot Ethan a hate-filled look. Ethan merely held up his palm. The light grew brighter and brighter until it could be seen for many miles.
Ethan shut his eyes and snapped his fist tightly closed. The light burst outward with unimaginable. When it faded away, Lynial was naught but a pile of dust on the ground. Ethan approached and moved the dust around with the tip of his boot, smiling viciously.
Shinzan clicked his tongue. “Killing your own flesh and blood. That is cold, even by my standards.”
The anger rising in Ethan was physically painful. Anger at what he had just witnessed. Anger at Shinzan for showing it to him. And anger at Lumnia for her apparent complacency at such terrible events.
“Nothing to say?” Shinzan mocked. “I can’t say that I blame you. It is quite clear that you have lost your sanity, even though your reasoning is based on sound thinking. Or it was originally. Humans and dwarves don’t belong here. Only the elves can lay claim to this world as their home.”
“I don’t care what you say,” Ethan snapped. “I would never do this.”
“Oh, I think we both know that you would. The human mind is so fragile a thing. It only takes the right little push and it crumbles. I have seen it many times before. You are no different.”
The urge to lash out and strike his tormentor was immense. Ethan only just managed to resist. “Save your taunts and get on with it,” he growled.
“Indeed I will. In fact, I am eager to. I think this next vision will show you exactly what you need to know. And once it is done, you will then be able to make your choice.”
“What choice?”
Shinzan held up a hand. “Patience. You will know soon enough.”
As the world around Ethan faded to total darkness, his other senses became keener. He could hear fires erupting in the distance, and the foul stench of death filled his nostrils. Then the darkness gradually lifted, allowing the landscape to come into focus. They were standing amid the charred ruins of a seaside village. Bodies were strewn everywhere – some burned to cinders, others terribly mutilated as though they had been ripped apart by some savage beast. As he gazed horrified at the piles of corpses, Ethan realized he could not see a single one that was a human or dwarf. Without exception, all were elves.
Shinzan gestured toward the macabre scene. “Now do you see? This is what the world will become should you defeat me.”
“Are you saying that I did this?” Ethan asked incredulously.
“That is exactly what I’m saying.”
“Why? Why would I do such a thing?
“In the end, not even the elves could abide your murderous rampage,” Shinzan told him. “And when they turned against you, you decided that they too must all be exterminated. So crazed had your mind become, you were convinced that only you truly belonged here.” He paused for a moment to give Ethan an almost admiring glance. “As you can see, you were very effective in carrying out your plan. What you are looking at now was the very last of the elves…all of them slaughtered by your hand.”
Ethan turned to Lumnia. “Why would you allow this to happen?�
�� he demanded.
A short, humorless laugh came from Shinzan. “You can’t possibly think that she cares.” He moved closer to stand face to face with the young woman. “Why don’t you be honest with him? Admit to him that all you really care about is yourself. Tell him how you have used him for your own selfish ends.”
Lumnia met his gaze. The sullen expression had transformed to fury. “You are tiny and weak, Shinzan. You cannot possibly fathom my reasons.” She looked over at Ethan. “Yes, I have used you, Ethan Dragonvein. This I admit freely. And I will continue to do so if you allow it. But I cannot and will not explain my purpose.”
Shinzan’s top lip curled into a contemptuous sneer. “You cannot because you have no purpose other than to survive for a time longer. I, on the other hand….” He spread his arms wide and threw back his head. “I am everlasting. All there is and ever will be is given immortality through me. The universe is mine to feed upon. All of it.” He spat at her feet. “Even you.”
Though unwilling, Ethan found his eyes being dragged back to the carnage of the village. Men, women, and children alike – none of them had been shown even a glimmer of mercy. How could he have done this? What could possibly have driven him to such an end? Much as he hated to consider it, could Shinzan be right? Was this fate he’d delivered to their world really any different from the one his enemy would bring?
He glanced over to Lumnia and more questions formed. Could it be true – that all this was just a desperate attempt on her part to survive? The elves had utter faith that Lumnia was a loving spirit who watched over them and guided their lives with a benevolent heart. Was everything they believed a lie?
Sensing his doubts, Shinzan waved his arms and the village disappeared from sight. “There is another way,” he said. “Another road you can choose.”
“Why say that if you are so confident in your own victory?” Ethan responded. “Why offer me anything at all?”
“Because I realized there is only one way to get through to you,” he replied. “You were clever enough to see past my deceptions. In fact, they only made what I seek to accomplish more difficult. I know now that the truth is the only way to make you understand. So you will have it.”
Dragonvein Book Five Page 27
