With Blades and Flames: Awakening

by David Csontos

“Yes, a boy with black hair!”

  The High Pope was furious about this piece of information but also delighted when he received it. He was furious because of the companion of the boy, but was delighted that there is a boy. He had finally managed to track him down. The throne room was shining in dust clouds that covered up the wide spreading light beams. Although this light was existing, the heat was barely. It was indeed cold, even here. This caused quite a bit of problem because of the constant visitors he had to take care of. At least the ones that were allowed to come in and even though there weren’t much he still hated to stay there. But these people had to be listened to.“Can we get our prize?” asked the two man.

  “Oh yes, guards, give it to them”said the High Pope. His voice echoed and was threateningly clear. From the many soldiers that were standing on the sides of the throne, two had walked up to the visitors and had thrown a small bag with gold in it onto the ground. The two men had quickly grabbed it and started walking out of the room instantly after they have been dismissed.“Guards?” whispered the High Pope after they have left.

  “Yes me lord?”

  “Send someone after them. I want their teeth on the ground by the night”

  “Shall we send, Krachtonagain?”

  “Yes that would be fantastic! And I have another request”he trouble freely stood up and started walking out“I need an Omni Equium”

  Chapter 10: A journey through the unknown

  They have been running for three days. Barely stopped anywhere. Agaroth had wanted to know himself as far as possible from the army. Through snow, and dirt they have travelled. The severe land did not hold back. There was snow, rain and even an insignificant ice that fell from the sky. It was also cold. Very cold, and without a fireplace to warm them up, it was straightforward menacing. There was not any sign of sun, or its beams that could have helped to raise the temperature. Sometimes it did show up but that was only a look at the world through a window, only to later go back and fall asleep again to allow the moon to rule the land. One would expect that it was a bit warmer in middays but the other would say they are wrong. There wasn’t any kind of change, only the coldness throughout the days. Cold after cold, after cold. Their only objective was to go further away from the city to a safe place. Arkain on the other hand was eager to tell his companions where he needs to be. When he announced where he wanted to go the dwarf and the traveller was not happy at all.“I want to go to Kirlahad. If anyone would want to come with me then it is fine, but if not that is also fine. First of all can anyone tell me where it is?”

  “You are mad! Do you even know how far that is? You would die before you get there!” expressed his opinion Burdõl.

  “Let it be my problem. All I want to know is where it is”

  “Where it is, is not a great secret. Forward is the way. The great challenge is going to be the journey itself. The roads have been destroyed ages ago and that civilization is lost. Why would you want to go there?” asked Agaroth “I have met some kind of a fortune teller back in that stronghold. She told me that I would have to go to Kirlahadand mentioned a song. I believe that is where I will find who I was”

  Burdõlhave started to laugh but was quickly stopped by Agaroth when he raised his hand.“A fortune teller? You know they also like to lie? And that song of yours isn’t a secret. Most, if not all the people know about it. Are you sure she was telling the truth?”

  “I believe so. I did not have much time to talk to her because she turned into some kind of a lizard thing. Then her tent caught fire”

  “A lizard?! Sweet mother! That must have been her!” exhaled the dwarf.

  “Who is she?” asked Arkain “A being, or some form of life. No one knows. Apparently she meets some people every once in a while. No one saw her other than the people that talked to her and all of them saw something different. Also she likes to play tricks on others. Some people think that she was banished from the Gods, but was able to keep her powers. Some people build temples for her. If she wanted to meet you than I believe that you are more important than you think you are. But be careful, I barely heard any people think that she is helpful”

  “Are you gonnacome with me?”The three people looked at each other to try and read the others’ expressions on their face or in their eyes. It was Burdõl to first speak up.

  “Well, I do not really have anywhere else to go. And whether you like it or not, I am going to stay with the ‘chosen one’. Who knows? Maybe we are going to do big things together. I do not want to die alone and unknown” then he turned towards Agaroth who was as quiet as anyone could be. Then, he looked up.

  “I’ll take you to the bottom of the Blades. No further”

  Arkain didn’t want to believe his ears. They come with me? But also, is that true about that woman in the tent? I hope that currently she helps me. And so they have travelled across the rugged land every day and every night they later came across. The smell of smoke and burning had slowly disappeared as they have travelled further and further through thick snow and long rivers. When the terrain had gone up, they had gone up. When the terrain gone down, it was fairly similar too. As they have got closer to the blades though, the further they had to go up. Smaller hills have started to turn into hillsides, hillsides started to turn into rocky mountainsin the distance.“How long is it going to be exactly?” asked Arkain on one of the nights as he was holding some meat over the happily cricketing fire. Burdõland Agaroth did the same but before that, the traveller had done the same things with the dust. And the same type of flower grew once again but this time smaller and had a reddish colour.“Well, we might never make it. Aaah, I am just playing around with you! Haha. I am not sure‘exactly’, but I do not think anyone does. Depends from the weather and our head condition. If we might go mad then it would be never. The Blades are up north and there is a passage we could use to go through them. Kirlahad? I believe that we just shouldn’t talk about that now” laughed the dwarf and with that no more word have been spoken that night. Only the thoughts have levitated across others’ eyes and movements. Even though it might have been more helpful than anything else. When Arkain had finished eating, he stood up and walked away to where he was about to sleep, which was no more than a similar structure as last time, but when he was about to lay down he saw a few eyes in the darkness of the forest disappear as he continually stared at them. Yellow eyes in the shadows that kept looking at him but later disappeared. This has happened quite a few times when they have settled down. Each night he would lay down and see the tiny dots in the distance. The reflection of the flames on the visitors’ eyes have continually started to grow and grow, but Arkain did not think that it was any dangerous. There are animals all around the forest. This theory quickly failed when one night they have heard a howl and not one in fact. Many more. More than twenty wolves, that is for sure. Since then, they have only travelled in daytime. When it had started to become dark, they instantly had to stop and equip themselves with some kind of fire, no matter the cost.“We are being hunted. There isn’t much we can do. If we try to run, they will attack us. We have to be slow and careful”told the traveller to the group and have assigned someone every night to stay awake and just keep looking everywhere in a circle around the camp. But this person must also have a sword and a torch with himself in order for when the hunters attack. Agaroth warned them that it was not going to be in small numbers. First, they will have to identify the leader and kill it.“That will weaken some of them. Maybe most”

  “Do you believe in luck?” asked the boy.

  “No, be careful you are on guard tonight” ordered the man.

  In the upcoming, long and hard nights the eyes have got closer and the fire had become smaller too. As they have started to reach the Blades, trees were replaced by rocks, and grass have been replaced by hard ground but the wolves have kept following them no matter what. These three travellers had to walk for longer and stretch the time further and further into the darkness. According to Agaroth there is a way
to escape from them in the mountains.“I haven’t heard of any wolves that would climb so high and even if they would, there wouldn’t be enough space for their whole pack. We must keep going” but Burdõlhad thought differently. He was sure that they could take care of the pack with no problems at all.“If they want a taste of me, let them taste my axe first!” So they have kept going, as walking had turned into running, and the nights have become torture. The circle was closing in every time they had to stop. In the end even the guard position has turned into dust as the treacherous hunters were too close and even if one of the three men had walked four feet away from the fire he would have gotten overrun. All of them tried their best to scare them away with fire whenever their eyes could be seen levitating closer and closer to the camp. Even Burdõlhad given up with attacking them and have quietly followed Agaroth’s orders who was always busy.“There! There is one! Throw a flaming stick at it!”Unrealistically they were not attacked at all. Even when one of the animals got badly hurt from the flames. The predators just kept staring at the prey and did not bother to attack at all. Arkain was not laying around too. He had to gather firewood and keep the flames standing, but sometimes even he had to stand up and help out. There was even one moment when he tried to help to Agaroth the campfire had nearly gone out.“Quick! The fire!”shouted Agaroth as Arkain rushed back.“I’ve got it!” he roared when the candlelight had transformed yet again into flames. This is what have been going on for the past days. No escape. It was a hunt that could not be stopped. Their only chance of escaping had become closer and closer as the three of them further and further. Eventually a mountain could be seen in the never ending distance. To be exact, not one but a lot. A single file of mountains along the view distance. There was no way of getting around it. It would have taken a lot longer if one were to try and go around it, but it was a question of whether you want to be quick and die easily or go around and probably die easily as well. In the rocky hills your enemy would be the wind and the mountain itself. On the ground the only one you would have is the wildlife. A group of hunters from whom the small group was now trying to escape. As the small flakes fell to the ground, most of them were immediately crushed by lots of feet. First it was Arkain, Agaroth and Burdõl. After them came the wolves. There were no longer stops. They had to get away from them. No more fire, just running, speedily across the view as their time was running out.“How far is it?”asked Arkain.“Not far! The mountains are there!”replied Agaroth. And how true it was. It was now unmistakeable to miss the jagged rocks that have stretched towards the sky. Even trees have stopped racing with it but there was no time to wonder. As the trio looked back to the sounds of a thousand footsteps, they could see, what others would describe as horror. The beasts were no longer afraid or patient. They were rushing towards them.“Run!” shouted Burdõl. All the hungry eyes and long fangs from which blood was going to be dripping had continued to come closer and closer and closer. Arkain had sprinted away from them across the rocky ground where every fourth step was onto a big pile of rock. Mostly they were the remains of this side of the mountain. As time had passed they broke down and fell into the steaming puddles from which there were a lot. Lots of small amounts of clear water which came from deep beneath the ground. They were also steaming away for the exact same reason which made it harder to see anything when you run into the area and that is exactly what the escapists did. They ran into the fog-like curtain without hesitation.“It will be harder for them to see us or smell us! Quick!” shouted Agaroth.

  “Isn’t that going to be the same for us?” asked Arkain.

  “Yes it will! If we were lost just go forward! There will be a road up ahead that will take you up the mountain!”

  Arkain had remembered what the traveller told him. About where they are going to be split up but he did not want to talk anymore. His breath was starting to run away faster than himself. What Agaroth said became true in a split second. When the boy tried to scale a rock he fell. His body have dropped into one of these pools. It was his head that entered the water first then came his body. When he managed to get back onto the top, his mind quickly changed. The wolves could be heard approaching from behind the rock. When he tried to pull out his sword to get ready for the fight it was missing. His eyes shifted down towards the depth of the small puddle and saw a small blade sink to the bottom to later disappear in the darkness. Great! This is my luck! He turned around in the hot water, trying to see if the others were still there. What am I thinking? I don’t have the time to continue running because they would catch me. And Agaroth told us that we have to keep going no matter what. The only problem is, is that if I start running, the wolves will get me. The sound of growling and howling had continued to come closer and closer. This time it was exactly from behind the rock. Arkain had quickly took a deep breath and dived below the surface of the steaming liquid. Then, he grabbed onto the side. This way he would not have to keep moving to stay below. Just after he managed to do this, hundreds of shadows have leapt across the water. The hunters have ran through the exact same bit where Arkain fell. Some jumped over him, others ran around or at least most of them. As Arkain was steadily watching the passing danger he noticed that it looked like some stayed there. Around four or five wolves have stayed behind to smell every bit of corner around the place. I cannot believe this. They smell me. Some, when finished, had moved onto the next getting closer and closer to Arkain. The boy had no option but to hold his breath as long as it was possible so that he does not get killed. The conditions got worse. He was running out of precious air and could never go up to get some more. The wolves were now on around him. Some smelling the rocks and one, suspiciously growling and standing above the water, looking down. The boy hoped that the water is mostly reflective and that the wolf would be gone soon but it didn’t. It stood there for a long time. Not sure if it found me or just admiring itself. But this was not excuse for Arkain’s body. He started feeling dizzy, his chest started hurting, and his body started shaking, but he could not move at all cost. His heart started to pump blood around his body faster and faster to deliver the air that was needed but there were none in it. Just before he was about to pass out, the wolves moved on, like there was nothing here and Arkain could slowly fight his way up to the top. He climbed out and fell on the ground. It took a while for him to regenerate, so he just laid there on the ground. The steam was still lingering around him protecting his presence from being seen from further away eyes. What am I going to do now? How am I going to find the others if I have no idea where they must be or how I am going to get past the wolves? But I must go. I cannot stay here further. He stood up and looked around if there were any shadows nearby, listened if any sounds could be heard besides the sizzling of the steam and started making his way through the rugged landscape after the wolves. As expected, the terrain had started to rise as it was leading up to the mountain, which from here could not be seen completely anymore. The boy just kept walking, hoping to continue his journey with the traveller and the dwarf. He made his way further and further until the steam had started to disappear and the road ahead, which Agaroth talked about, had appeared. It was no more than some broken stones that were left together on the ground that made up this little pathway. The boy stepped on it and started walking to the left, for there was no road leading anywhere else along the stone wall that was behind it. Must be along here! He walked for a bit and have found a little upstream where he could just about walk up. The sides were pressing in hard but not enough to completely stop all movement. This meant that even though it was a very small place to go through, it was still available. The edgy sides of the rock walls have been wet from the small water splashing upwards, from which Arkain had got his fair share too. This time, the water was cold instead of hot. Also the wind has started to pick up. The combination of these had made the weather cold and shivering for the boy as he made his way up higher and higher. Sooner or later, he got up to an opening where a bigger road could be seen, but still rock walls along the s
ides. This must be a way up the mountain! As he walked closer to the potential exit all of a sudden shouts and footsteps could be heard. These footsteps have echoed through the passage and got closer until Arkain saw who it was belonged to. Before he could react Agaroth and Burdõl past by with the wolves getting closer and closer after them. With no reaction time, he had to jump back so that the hunters do not see him. Luckily, they were too eager to get the prey in front of them. That was close. But I have missed an opportunity. When the danger has passed he jumped out. Looked around but did not see any other way of continuing his way towards the others. Then, he chose the only option he could. To follow the wolves. So he started running from where he heard the growls and howls, and where Agaroth and Burdõl was. The wind has started to pick up even further than before but that is probably because the road he was on twisted up and up to the feet of the mountain. His feet touched the stone faster and faster as he did not want to stay behind or be late. I cannot let anything happen to them! The sky had slowly turned white from the dark grey that was before. Then, Burdõl’s shout could be heard from a distance. The boy looked around, tried to identify where the sound was coming from. He saw a small pathway through the stone but this was a lot smaller than the one he came through. He stopped and listened if the sound was coming through there. It was! This is gonnahurt…. And he started squishing himself through the small hole. The walls were very close to each other, and there were many spikes and sharp bits on it. Arkain had managed to cut himself most of the time he passed these but the pain had faded into the darkness, because of his concentration towards getting through. The sounds were getting closer and closer. I cannot let them pass again! Not this time! But the wall did not agree with him. The closer he got to the exit, the closer the walls got. Blood was dripping from a cut beneath his eye and one on his forehead. The stone had been painted red from the red liquid on his hand but he kept pushing, and walking through the claustrophobic pathway. Come on! Faster! Faster! Just about when the footsteps got closer, he managed to get to the end but then his trouser got stuck. He quickly pulled it a couple of times. The trouser ripped and the boy managed to jump out. This wasn’t the end. When he jumped out, Agaroth and Burdõl were running past, so Arkain had to get his tempo up as well. He ran after them as fast as he could. When he caught up, Burdõlwas already laughing.“Haha! It looks like he is still alive! Tell me, are you a ghost or a demon?!”