As the Mother looked upon the bloodied features of Sinfus, sealing up, her attention was soon brought to the outside as she turned to the chamber mouth. She could feel the Keraij closing in about the Order in their cursed mass. They were soon to be upon the Order of her duty.
Below the great chamber of the Order, Hoosun was still being pursued by the cursed Mastaba. Beyond the walls, Samana and her friends were making a brave approach and were soon to be upon the presence of the walls, when the Keraij encircling the green stone structure leapt from their grounded positions and began taking flight over the walls.
Samana watched in shock as the Keraij began descending upon the inner walls, Samana speaking urgently to Sen as her companions carried on speedily at her side. “Sen, take me over the walls! Now!”
Without disagreement, the cursed form of Sen took the young heroine in hold and took to the sky, flying over the walls to leave Kurlank behind, who rushed ever forward and then up to grab the outermost wall with success, climbing over to see Sen with Samana in hold flying ahead.
As Hoosun continued his attempt at dodging the pursuer, he soon found himself knocked out of the sky as a great multitude of Keraij came seemingly out of nowhere and struck him with their cursed forms, sending him flying with Mensh holding onto his form, plummeting downward to the wall top.
The owl shook his feathery form as Mensh was atop his back. He had broken a wing on the landing.
The young Mensh rolled off of his back and landed on the stone wall top and looked upon the feathery mass as he shifted slowly and looked about, his eyes catching the sight of the cursed one landing on the wall top, and approaching the owl and young girl as the sky was filled with Keraij behind his image. Mastaba cut his face open as he spoke to the young girl, his voice insane and twisted as he stood arched with his tongue licking the blood dripping from his cut features. “Nalm, is that you?”
Mensh shifted about weakly on the wall top as Mastaba moved closer to her and knelt at her side, surveying bruises on her arm that she had received from rolling off of Hoosun, the cursed one looking upon the downed owl as he spoke with an accusing tone. “Nalm, did he hurt you? You’re bruised and hurt. Do you remember what I said I would do if anyone ever hurt you?”
Mensh looked at the cursed one and spoke as she was quite shaken by the landing and was weak. “Nalm? Who’s Nalm?”
But Mastaba did not heed her words, as he had lost his mind. The sight of the young girl had brought back memories and feelings of the past for him, and that was very dangerous.
Mastaba licked his slit features and spoke as he stood up and made approach to the form of Hoosun, the owl lying on the cold stone wall. “Don’t worry Nalm. I’ll stop him from hurting you again!”
Hoosun sat with his broken wing and spoke to Mensh as the cursed one made approach. “Mensh! Get up! Get to shelter!”
But Mensh did not respond as she had passed out and was too weak from the landing. The owl then turned his view upon the cursed one and spoke. “Your mind is lost! She is not this Nalm you speak of!”
As the cursed one made closer approach, Hoosun looked beyond his image and found Samana coming into view in the hold of a curious sight, but familiar upon his eyes as Sen, the boy who had changed dramatically and seemed to have done as he had wished and joined Samana and Kurlank on her journey. Samana looked about the Order as Sen dodged left and right through the mass of Keraij, her eyes catching the sight of Hoosun on the wall top. The young heroine spoke to Sen over the sound of the rushing mass of Keraij, cutting through the air, as she pointed downward towards the wall. “Look! Hoosun’s down there! He looks hurt! We have to help him!”
Sen looked ahead as his eyes were quite gold and nodded as he spoke in return upon Samana. “I see him.”
Sen flew down through the mass of Keraij, speedily, towards the owl as Mastaba stood before the owl and looked upon the spear that had taken permanent residence in the owl’s shoulder for many years, the voice of the sadistic one creeping close to the owl as he craned over towards him. “You won’t hurt her again. I promise that!”
As Hoosun lay grounded and broken, he was helpless. The owl felt a tugging motion in his shoulder as he lay and soon found his body lifted upright. The owl felt sharp pain spread through his body as the spear that rested in his shoulder was pulled from the place it had taken rest in for the past many years, the owl coughing up blood from his beak as next he was dealt the killing blow.
Samana and Sen flew down, Samana’s eyes catching the horrific sight upon the wall as they made approach, a scream resonating from her as she saw Hoosun impaled through the chest, twice by the spear of his former hold, and then left to fall upon the wall as the cursed one of his slaying stood with the spear in hold.
Samana’s eyes did not shut as she could only stare blankly ahead. Sen found himself gripped by a Keraij on his back and loss grip of Samana, her form plummeting from his hold and down to the wall as she fell, her eyes bursting tears of loss, and then hatred for the cursed figure as she soon found herself meeting the wall. In one swift movement, Samana took a dodge roll upon her landing and drew her blades from her waist, rushing for the cursed figure, wielding her swords. She screamed in a resounding manner as the cursed one turned upon her and spoke his last words. “You won’t harm Nalm!”
As the cursed one brandished the spear against Samana’s blades, he would soon find disappointment as she was fast and skilled as a warrior. Dodging the incoming spear shaft, Samana ducked and slashed both of her blades in twin, sweeping fashion and cut through the stomach of Mastaba. As he was surprised by the cutting blow, she swung her swords upwards and sent the spear from his grip and then kicked him in the stomach, sending him stumbling backwards as she made her final approach with her blades.
Kurlank was leaping from wall top to wall top, fighting Keraij as they crowded about him, and saw the form of Samana through the mess of Keraij and started making his way to her.
As Mastaba held his stomach, his face sealed shut by his affliction, he looked ahead and took view upon his coming death as Samana rushed him with her blades and dealt two slashes, one across his face, severing his former place of mouth, allowing a scream of pain to be released from the cursed one as the next slash found a place across his heart.
As the cursed Mastaba stood with blackened blood pouring form his wounds, the last thing he saw was the two blades coming for his skull, and then nothing as his vison and life was soon extinguished. Samana swung her blades and caught both in the skull of the cursed one, the cursed features of Mastaba a mess as she pulled her blades firmly and tore his head to pieces, flecking the wall top and herself with blackened blood as Mastaba was now headless and very dead.
Samana stood breathing heavily on the wall top before the standing form of the once living Mastaba, and looked upon the remains of his image hatefully and kicked them backwards off the wall.
Samana soon found Kurlank coming towards her over the walls. Dropping her swords from her grip, she stumbled and went to the side of the heavily bleeding Hoosun and held his feathered grasp in hold as she looked into his eyes; a golden flitter upon white orbs that rested in his wise skull.
The young heroine looked about the owl as tears coursed down her face heavily. He was dead…but maybe not. The owl showed life in slight motion and looked upon Samana as he gripped her hand tight and spoke strongly for his weak state. “Samana, my daughter…”
Samana looked upon the owl with tear-stained features and spoke as she drew closer to the old owl, her adoptive parent, her voice deeply saddened as she spoke. “I’m here…Hoosun.”
The owl spoke as his eyes began to glaze over white. “Samana…I’ll see you again. Don’t worry…I’ll meet you on the next plain.”
Samana held the owl in grip as Kurlank found his place upon the wall top and stood behind her, his metal form sunken as he stood watching the scene, Samana speaking to the elder owl as she held his hand tightly. “I’m sorry I couldn’t save you…Hoosun. I’ll see
you again…I only hope it will be soon.”
The owl smiled through his beaky features and spoke as his grip upon Samana began to weaken. “It will come at the right time…I love you, Samana.”
As the owl’s eyes were solid white, Samana spoke in return as she closed his eyes with a tender swipe of her hand across his features. “I love you, too.”
As Samana sat silent on the wall top, Kurlank placed a caring hand on her shoulder and spoke. “I’m sorry, Samana.”
Sen took place atop the wall and stood looking upon the dead form of Hoosun, and shook his head as he spoke. “I’m sorry, Samana.”
Samana sat looking upon the dead white owl and was silent, until her attention was brought upon the shifting form of Mensh.
The young heroine took place at the side of Mensh and held her as the curly-haired girl spoke. “Samana…the chamber, they went there!”
Samana looked up to the chamber as Mensh pointed weakly for it, the young heroine speaking as she gripped Mensh’s hand tightly. “Sinfus and his council, they’re up there! They’re going to pay for this! This is his fault!”
Kurlank stood at the side of Samana and spoke in an echoing fashion as he watched the Keraij ripping about the Order. “We should hurry, Samana. We have to stop them!
Samana looked upon the weak Mensh and spoke as she released hold of her hand and spoke. “I have to end this. Listen to me.”
As Samana spoke, her two companions stood listening to every word as she instructed them. “I’m going to the high chamber. I want you two to guard Mensh for me. This has to end!”
Kurlank nodded in agreement as Sen spoke in question. “What about you? You’re going to go up there, alone?”
Samana looked upon the dead form of Hoosun and spoke as she swiped tears from her eyes. “I can do it, and if death comes from it, then it’s good enough time for me! Now do as I say, please!”
Kurlank spoke as Samana took her blades from the wall top and sheathed them.
“We shall do as you say. Be careful, young one. Do not let your anger and loss make you careless and vengeful!”
Samana looked upon the armored one and spoke as she placed her hand upon his armored arm. “Don’t worry. I won’t be-”
As Samana sped down the wall steps, leaving her two companions to guard Mensh she whispered to herself in continuance of her previous words. “-careless.”
-Chapter 21-
Present
As the Keraij flew about in a mess above the Order, below, past the library, in the resting place of Shirindul and Omegeira, Henk stood before the sloth creature as he spoke of her purpose.
“What I am to tell you is something none other can be told, for it is of great importance, a great secret. Do you understand?”
Henk stood watching through her spectacles, and nodded her head as she spoke agreement, the sloth Kheranda taking to sitting on the crumbled stone piled about the steps, gesturing the young one to sit before him as he took her hand and spoke. “I will give you all the knowledge I have, young one. Be strong, as this may strain your mind for but a moment!”
As Henk felt the hold of the sloth, she soon found her body coursed with knowledge. It felt as if she was caught in the wild rapids of a stream as the sloth put his knowledge upon her, teaching her the ways of using her gift to its full potential.
As they were done, the sloth let go his hold of Henk and spoke. “Now you know your true gift, and can use it when the time comes to fulfill your full purpose, young one.”
Henk looked at her hands and felt the purpose of her destiny upon her as she now felt her gift ever stronger, as she had been taught through thought by the sloth to use it for a grand purpose, one that awaited her in time. Speaking upon the sloth, Henk sat before him and ran her fingers on the tips of his claws. “Thank you. I understand, now.”
The sloth nodded his head and spoke as he rose with Henk doing the same in accord.
“Then you understand, now, that you must go.”
Henk nodded her head and spoke in return upon the old beast. “I do. Thank you, old one.”
The sloth bowed his head upon the young girl and spoke as he shared a glance with her.
“Go now, and be with the boy of your care. Do as he has done. Be silent and watchful, and wait for your purpose to come. Only when it is upon you, shall you speak. Now, go.”
Henk bowed to the old beast and spoke a farewell as she soon left his grip and made her way out of the chamber. “I shall do as you say. Rest peacefully, wise one.”
As Henk left the chamber, the sloth stood in the beaming shafts of light drifting down about the chamber, and stood before the silver image of Shirindul, and spoke as his eyes began to cloud over white. “Now, we shall meet again, my friend.”
The sloth fell upon the silver image, his old, furry form silent and still as the silver figure, as he had finally met death and would soon meet his old friend again upon the next plain of life.
As Samana made her way up the steps of the great tower, she heard scraping and rustling behind her, and turned with her blade drawn as she soon found out the cause of the noise. Two Keraij had followed her up the tower and had pursued her. Watching the two Keraij break the corner and bring their forms upon her presence, Samana swung her sword dispassionately and decapitated both of them in two swift strokes. Sheathing her sword, Samana resumed her upward charge as she knew time was of great importance.
The Mother stood looking out through the mouth of the high chamber and saw Keraij flying about the Order as Sinfus stood at her side and spoke as he took place before her view and held his hand out to the sight of her eyes. “You can’t stop it. I will find the Dawn Bringers.”
The Mother looked upon her old friend and held thought. There was a way to stop the Keraij, as it had been done in the past. Destroy the ones of mind and will, and the Keraij would return to their fear of the light, leaving the Order behind and returning to the dark depths which they had grown so accustomed to in the years past. The Mother looked upon the cursed figure of Sinfus and spoke as her eyes began to glow a fiery green. “You’ll kill many innocents for nothing, Sinfus! Are you willing to pay such a price?”
Sinfus had grown cold and maddened by what he thought to be lies coming from the Mother, and spoke as he took glance upon her green eyes, as they had shown their glowing forms visibly beneath her veil. “That price will be on Kaimana’s head and yours! My innocents slain for his treachery, and now yours shall be in return!”
The Mother closed her eyes and shook her head in sorrow and disappointment. Sinfus had clearly gone mad. Gelga stood watchful of her love and shook her head in accord as she took to his side and spoke her thoughts upon him. “Sinfus, you can’t do this, would we be any better than Kaimana, if we allow this death upon innocents?!”
Sinfus looked upon his love and shook his head as he took her hand in grip and spoke his thoughts upon her. “It’s a price to be paid, my love, blood for blood!”
As the Mother stood still, the Council about the chamber, she felt a piercing feeling enter her form. It was as if her heart had been caught in a vice of broken glass as she felt the death of her beloved Hoosun come upon her, as she felt loss, anger and sadness envelope her, the Council felt one of their’s had fallen as Karkor spoke his thoughts upon them. “Mastaba! He’s dead!”
Sinfus looked about the chamber and spoke his thoughts as he too felt his life gone.
“I feel it…he’s gone!”
As the Mother stumbled over to the great arch of the chamber mouth that led out to the royal balcony, she found herself leaning upon the green stone as tears coursed down her face and dripped upon the floor as her eyes turned a bright and eerie green, Sinfus turning upon her as he spoke to her, his mouth torn open to bloody result as he did. “You say I slay innocents, yet your people have slain one of my council!”
The Mother turned upon Sinfus and spoke brokenly as tears fell from beneath her veil to meet the chamber floor. “You have chosen your own fate, my friend.
As you have murdered my dearest and greatest of friends, I shall not allow you the mercy which my duty deems I abide by!”
Sinfus looked upon the broken Mother, curiously, as Gelga held him in fear, his council backing away as they felt retribution was coming for they searched their thoughts and knew that Mastaba had murdered before he had been killed. Sinfus was frozen still as the Mother looked upon him and his council with hate and spoke. “What was it you said, blood for blood?”
As Sinfus and his council stood about the chamber, still, the Mother soon brought her wrath upon them as she was overwhelmed with loss and a taste for vengeance. Garnering the duty and power of the Mother, she brought her power to her fingertips as green energy crawled across her arms and was as lightning as she cast her hands out to those of the Council at great speed, to deal death upon those who held her hate and loathing, those who were once friends.
As the green lightning spat about the chamber from the fingered direction of the Mother, Sinfus and Gelga were in hold of one another and leapt out of the way of a writhing bolt as the Council made to avoid the wrath brought upon them. Not all were so lucky, as soon some of their number found death, swiftly brought upon them, but who?
As the Mother cast out death, Fenra lay against the wall, lifeless, as he had been struck in the chest and now lay dead. Karkor looked about the chamber madly for the twins as he took to dodging, and soon found Kisu laying against the wall with a hole blown in him. The giant felt loss envelope his heart as he saw Fisu rush to the side of her brother and release tears upon the knowledge of his death. The giant saw a blast of lightning heading for the young twin and flew to her side and grabbed her swiftly as the lightning met his flesh, severing one of his arms as he continued his flight and left the chamber to take a fall over the balcony and plummet to the ground below with Fisu in hold.
The Mother moved swiftly in motion, dealing the green lightning out to those of the Council as Hersei found release from the chamber, Borka taking a good blast to the ribs and being sent flying out of the chamber and sprawling across the balcony.
The Order of Events: The Council of Eight Page 25
