With Blades and Flames: Awakening

by David Csontos

  “It doesn’t matter, it is too late” and with that they ran down the stairs and have split up at the house.

  “Where are you going?!” shouted the woman “To fulfil a debt”

  Chapter 9: The Journey Begins

  It was the smell of smoke he woke up to. First he opened his eyes and raised his head to smell the air again. It was definitely smoke, or something alike. Not knowing what caused it after he looked out through the window, he woke up Burdõl.“Why would you wake me up?”asked the dwarf grumpily after he saw the boy staring at him. When Arkain asked him about the smoke it was clear that it had become more and more intense which was proved when the dwarf decided that he smells it too. But when he also looked out the window he didn’t see nothing.“I looked out and there was nothing that would indicate even a little bit of fire” said Arkain.

  “Yes, I suppose” answered back Burdõl.“What could this be?”He walked up to the door try to listen but there was nothing. Not even the rats, or the other prisoners. He waited a few more seconds to see if there was anything. Nothing. Like the way someone would describe a dark lake or a cave. Nothing. Like someone would describe the ocean. Nothing. Only them. Then all of a sudden footsteps could be heard. And mostly very fast ones. Through the cells it echoed with great bangs and tricks to finally stop in front of the very door the dwarf was standing. Arkain also heard this and was now ready to leap onto whoever is at the door. The dwarf slowly backed away as hasty key clanging could be heard from the other side. The door had smashed wide open after the keys could be heard dropped. With a great shriek it revealed a man. And as he stepped out from the darkness onto the moonlight that was shining into the cell from the small hole in the wall.“Agaroth?”whispered Arkain into the darkness as he discovered the man’s identity.“You?” asked Agaroth and faced towards Burdõlin the corner.“Not you!” shouted back.

  “Quickly! This isn’t the time to talk we have to go. Now.” told the traveller to both of the people in the room, broke Arkain's chains and hastily hurried out only to be followed by him. Even though both of the cells were now open Burdõlhad stayed in his without moving.“What are you doing?!”asked Arkain when he turned around.“He is not going to save me! I am going to go on my own. Now if you ask me I have important sleeping to do”

  “Don’t fight! This isn’t the time Burdõl! If you want to stay alive you have to come with me!” told Agaroth.

  “What did you say?” asked back Burdõl.

  “You are going to be dead in a blink if you don’t come with me. This place is being invaded”

  “Ha! I do not believe you!”shouted the dwarf as he walked closer and closer to the man“And you know why? You know why? I suppose you don’t even care. Now if you don’t mind I would like to…”he could not finish the sentence. As he turned around to face the cell walls again the walls have exploded as a great big rock had destroyed the sides. Now there was a great big abyss which had opened up in front of them. The dwarf that fell on the ground now stood up and looked out. Through it, it was like a small child’s wild imagination which he could have created from a book. The walls have been invaded. The poor district have been on fire, and people were shouting all across. Some archers have gathered up at the gate where Arkain and Agaroth came through once.“I think I might just go with you” admitted the small man and ran towards Agaroth who stepped to the right allowing Burdõlto run through and get his belongings. When he was finished a big silver axe had been hanging from his back and a smaller axe on his right. On his head was a thick helmet made of iron and had little detailed lines that one would describe as small twigs with leafs on it. When they have both finished ‘dressing up’ as Agaroth mentioned it there was no point in taking any of the remaining doors in the cells. Without hesitation Agaroth had pulled them with himself out onto the edge of the stone where the big hole was.“Which way?”asked Arkain but did not get an answer directly. All of a sudden Agaroth had shouted“jump!”and all three had jumped onto the steep and rough hillside. When Arkain’s feet have hit the earth he did not manage to catch up with himself and slipped now sliding down the hill with great speed. After him came the others with the same problems. When Arkain rolled to the bottom onto the ground he looked up to see where they might go next, but all there was by now is smoke, flames and swords clashing from left to right. The sky was covered in smoke from the burning buildings. The enemies have managed to break through and by now have been invading the more privileged houses causing cries and screams. There were a few guards fighting but most of them had ran away. The very few ones that stayed alive have disappeared in some of the houses probably to save their families. It did not take long until Agaroth and Burdõlcame down. When that happened they all stood up and followed Agaroth.“Quickly, this way! I know a small back door which we could use to get out!” he yelled with great sound. When they managed to run up to the bridge it was already too late. The invaders have successfully fought through and were now invading the citadel, some of them were cut away by the bridge. In the middle stood the three escapist, trying to find a way out but were thoroughly surrounded and did not have anywhere to go. Agaroth had looked around and saw the attackers, there were five of them standing, waiting for the right moment to seize it and attack. Five creatures to which all of the men had been left in shock. They barely wore any armour, their eyes were glowing and burning. Their skin was shredded into pieces and their face were bones. They had great teeth and a grotesque face. Out of nowhere one of the creatures made a run towards the humans and swingedhis rusty sword-like blade to which Agaroth quickly responded by grabbing his sword and deflecting the killing blow only to return it. His blade have looked like it caught fire while it was halfway into the creature’s skull leaving screams and growls from the rest. Then the sword had started to glow and made the creatures fall into flames as well in the end to devastate it into dust. When it fell to the ground the others have saw all of this as well and instead of five, there were now a dozen of these monsters charging at the humans. Arkain looked around quickly while the other two were readying for a fight. He looked down to see the water still raging on, rapidly sprinting. Without any hesitation he called out“We have to jump!” to which Burdõlanswered with a“Are you mad?! I am not jumping” but to which Agaroth had turned around, grabbed both of them and jumped into the icy water. As the cold water had touched their skin they were already speeding across the city and the now reign of unstoppable fire. There were a few soldiers that tried to shoot them but most of them had missed. The closest one that they have ever got was easily deflected by Agaroth, who managed to raise his sword up against his chest to protect himself from any more harm. Arkain was just trying to protect himself from the sharp rocks on the sides, and Burdõl had to keep himself on his back. Rapidly increasing their speed, they were sliding towards a small hole in the wall, which had served as a way out for the water. It was big enough for the three to fit through as they have found out later, but they have also realised that there was a steep drop into a lake afterwards. Loudly, they have dropped into a deeper water. It was first Arkain, then Agaroth, and then lastly Burdõl. Though the water was wavy and looked dangerous to be in, they were able to swim to the top, away from the murky bottom. When that happened Agaroth had told them to swim to the side, the furthest away from the invaders. This took a bit of time, after all the lake was fairly big. The moon had continued shining and the wind was blowing, but they have managed to fight through the waves onto land. They have stepped out onto the cold and hard ground, soaking in icy water that was now dripping down onto the ground from their wet clothes. They have stood up shivering and started running into the forest that was right in front them.“We have no time to dry up! We must go!” told Agaroth to the pair of them.

  “Yes, but we are going to end up the same way if we keep going!”said Arkain“We should stay somewhere so that we can dry up and not freeze.”

  “Yes but if we stay here‘they’are going to get us” said Burdõl.

  With a bit
of misunderstanding they have decided to run for a bit into the forest and then stop. Agaroth did not want to be seen so he have ordered the two of them to try and find some kind of hiding place which could help them staying away from unwanted eyes. At the same time, he also said that they cannot start a fire at night. Luckily it was starting to become morning which would have made the flames nearly impossible to detect. The sun had slowly made its way through the horizon, not caring about any of the things that have happened and because that the little snow that fell throughout the night have started melting, later did Arkain and Burdõl found out about that it was not to their advantage. The wood that has been laying on the ground had become soaking wet and starting a fire was not as easy as it looked even if the wood is dry, if they start a fire now that it will create smoke. First they have had to find somewhere to settle down, somewhere safe, somewhere where they are protected from the rain. Next to a big rock were two big logs that were made up of rotting wood. When the pair of them tried to lift those two logs and leave one side of it on the tall rock they have created a small shelter, which needed a bit more sticks and leafs to cover its roof, but had plenty of space inside for all three of them to hide. This was the easy bit. The hard bit was to take all the water and mud out from below. Burdõlwalked away to gather leafs instead of helping out while Agaroth went to check whether they have been followed.“Where is Burdõl?” he asked once he came back.

  “Went to gather some leafs for the roof. I’d thought he would be back by now” and in fact Burdõl thought he would be back quick too, but when he spotted a few rabbits he could not let them go. It took a while to catch up and lead them into a trap. When the animals had climbed back into their home, Burdõlwas ready to dig them out.“Are you sure that place is big enough for all of us?” asked Agaroth.

  “It is. Although we might need someone to stay awake and guard”

  “I see your common sense is starting to return although I am not sure if it is as‘common’anymore as they say”

  “You have just left me there. With those people. You sold me out and left me there to rot in that prison cell for days” Arkain was angry and wanted answers.

  “What else could I have done? I did save you so you should be thankful”

  “Who are you? Why did you even bother to take me to them?”

  None of them had noticed that Burdõljust came back. He was leaning onto one of the trees nearby and was eagerly listening to the conversation.“He is something that people pay for. Not a cause but an end. Usually someone else’s.”he finally declared it. Arkain had quickly turned his head towards the sudden sound but realized in an instant that it was nothing to be afraid of.“What do you mean? People pay for what?” verbalized the thought after.

  “For dirty work. Something that can only be done by him and a couple of others that are still alive. Killing, capturing, taking, imprisoning, suffering. You my friend have been a naughty little shit if you have been targeted by one of these men”spoke the dwarf and walked by the fireplace, Agaroth was building quietly and chopping the wood in half with his hatchet. Every hit, every smash gave out a cracking sound. The metal on wood had one of the most distinct sounds in the land and anyone could recognise it.“We are far but not too far. As soon as we can, we have to leave” talked Agaroth.

  “You mean, he is a mercenary?” asked Arkain.

  “Stop. Enough of this talk. You should have gathered some leafs. Where are they?” the traveller pointed at Burdõl. The dwarf was about to throw one of his bag on the floor but Arkain stood up and walked up to Agaroth.

  “Enough of your games and stops. Why did you capture me?!” he shouted “That is not your business….” tried to argue Agaroth but was quickly cut by Arkain “It is my business. My life that you were playing with! Tell me! Who are you and what did you need me for?! Why did they hire you and who were those man in the forest! Tell me!”He would no longer tolerate everything that has been going around. He have started to clear his head. Become a person again. His personality has changed. Maybe from a memory. Or a memory’s memory which is a feeling. So far he had tried to understand the things that have been going around him but he had to admit Agaroth knows the most who did not react cheerfully at all to all of this. He stopped chopping and faced towards Arkain. His face could not tell anything even if you would have thought about it for years. But eventually he had to admit that Arkain was right. Even after a long minute of staring into each other’s eyes.“I can see the anger in you Arkain. Your eyes tell everything. Learn to control it. One day even I might start to respect you. But this is not the day and until then you shall not shout with me at any circumstances. I do not tolerate anyone.”he said with a deep and offensive voice but had started to speak easier after“I have been hired to take you away to those people, alive. For quite a lot of coins.”

  “Why?” asked Arkain “Because of who you are. Even though magic is starting to disappear from the world, you are still here. Maybe in the worst, maybe in the best times it was that you have been reborn. And this has not gone unnoticed anywhere. Some even start to say magic is coming back to our world”

  “Wait, reborn?”

  “Yes Arkain. You had a past life. You were a PRIDBOR. Or one of them. Probably the last one to be exact. At least the last proper one, not fake.”

  “How can I have a past life? That sounds impossible. And who am I exactly?”

  “I do not know about your abilities. All I know is what I saw before. People are starting to disappear. War is raging. The high pope is in an advantage, which means that he is vicious. Someone like you that has been mentioned in the prophecy would be devastating to him. So he tries to get you along with a couple of other sects. But not all of them believe that you are the one”

  “Me! The chosen one! That is quite hard to believe. I guess one of them were the ones you were working for. What made you come back?”

  “Because you have saved my life. I owed you. Or at least for a day”

  “What if I do not want to be the chosen one?”

  “Everybody has a choice”said Agaroth and stood up. He walked all the way to a tree, not far but not too close. Then, he grabbed his small pocket on his side and threw some kind of peculiar dust onto the ground. It have melted the snow first and then grew a small dark water coloured flower.“What are you doing?” asked Arkain but Burdõlanswered“Protecting us”. Then the dwarf walked up to the fireplace and with a great smile he enquired about the dinner.“Who’s hungry?”

  Through dirt and snow with a hint of sword

  They have been running since. Through dirt and snow. Sometimes got caught because there was great hunger and the pack was starving. Hunting and preying was indispensable. Though why were they running was a mystery. No-one knew about this crucial necessity except the one and only, pack leader from newly. Because he intended to search and search, though what and why had been interred. Then, they have got to a town.

  By the time they have arrived the pack had seemed to be starving. There was no wildlife anywhere. The only thing they could do in order to stay alive and survive the harshness of the snow was to steal. Steal from the beings they least hoped to meet before but because they have been pushed hard for the look of nothing, they had to find something to eat for their enormous pack. The village that they have come across wasn’t big but it had a small farm where some animals were kept. At least that is what some of them saw. The leader has decided to wait until its dark and then try to get food. He had to growl at some of the smaller ones but it was alright. No-one dared to stand against him. When it had become truly night, and the sun has disappeared they have started it. Everyone have started to stealthily make their way across the terrain and walk up to the barn, in which the animals were. But there was a problem. They could not get in. They have looked everywhere but there was no hole, or a broken wood through which they would have been able to get in. When the leader saw this he growled once then twice. This made the wolves dig the hard ground. He stood behind watching while the
pack tried to dig their way through the side. It took a bit of time but eventually they have made their way into it. Their welcome was loud and full of meat. When the first wolf got in, which was the leader, all the feathery chickens have started to make loud noises, and tried to protect themselves with their little to nothing claws. It was effortless for the hunters to get their prey. It was a successful dinner, but they were too loud. All of a sudden the big doors have opened and behind it have appeared the farmer with an axe in his right hand. But even his eyes have turned into the reflection of horror when he saw all the glowing eyes in the darkness and the blood dripping to the ground. He did not have much time to react when three of the wolves jumped on him. He have managed to hit one of them on the head, but was replaced by another two. His neck was quickly crushed in the sea of teeth. When he died all the other wolves have started to rush out because the rest of the town has started to awake. All because of the screams of the man. Every last wolf have started to come out from the barn and appear in the candle lights that were placed onto the windows. The men had been outside their doors, some with swords and some with axes. They were rushing towards the pack and the pack was rushing towards them because there was no other way out. When they have reached each other it became a bloody war with blood dripping everywhere, and iron clashing against teeth. Most of the wolves did not dare to attack neither to defend. They just rushed away into the distance, along with the leader.

  The poisonous news

  “May I ask what the hell you have been doing?!”

  “High Pope, we could not have done anything! He was too strong”

  “You would have lost anyway. And you say there was a boy with him?”