by J D Franx
“If the world ends up exposed to that bloodstone, all of our fates along with every magic user will be sealed anyway.” He stopped and held his palms together with the top separated like an inverted mountain peak. “The cavern is surrounded in black granite shaped like an upside-down mountain peak. Another chunk of white stone sits in the middle of the cavern on top of the bloodstone. Now do it!” Drengr yelled, and magic slammed into him, making his stomach flip with the cold fear of incoming pain, but the pain never arrived. Opening his eyes to nothing but darkness, the scent of rot, dust, and raw stone struck his nose while a menacing rumble shook his body. Magic popped to his left and a light arched up to the ceiling from Terric’s hand. The bloodstone was exactly where he last saw it, but the red weep was spreading out from it in long finger-width rivulets of magical ooze. Sabjorn knelt to his left, retching from the magical travel.
“You’re not dead yet. Are you sure you want to stay?” Terric asked.
“Gods, no,” Sabjorn mumbled.
“I’m staying,” Drengr replied. “I have to do what I can to stop this stuff from reaching the surface. I have a rune or two left that might work.”
Sabjorn stood and coughed, clearing his throat. “Can’t let the Ama Taugr prince be the only dead hero.”
Drengr grabbed him by the shoulder. “Go with the Guardian, brother,” he said. “Engier will need a wizard at his side.”
“Engier has a far better wizard in Eira than I could ever be,” Sabjorn argued. “He doesn’t need me, and you can’t do this alone if you’re planning what I think you are.”
“You’re both sure?”
“Go while you can, Terric,” Drengr said and Sabjorn nodded his agreement.
The Guardian frowned and was swallowed by black smoke as the earthquakes intensified.
“We’re out of time, prince of the Ama Taugr,” Sabjorn teased.
“Just get over here and give me a hand, old man,” Drengr growled, though he wasn’t actually angry. He pulled the one rune from his pouch he hoped never to see again, let alone use.
“Yours or mine,” he asked turning to Sabjorn.
“I heard you have done it before,” the rebel wizard said. “I haven’t. Guess that makes it my turn. It’s lucky for me that the runes are now snap and throw, that’ll make it easier. Shame our rune manipulation abilities are long over.”
“I know,” Drengr said. “It’s too bad we didn’t have more time to study this phenomenon as well.”
“Perhaps someone with far more knowledge than us will do just that. Someday far in the future, brother,” Sabjorn said, offering his hand.
Drengr shook it and slowly drew the dagger from his waist. “Ready?”
“Get on with it.”
Drengr turned Sabjorn’s hand over and slashed his skin. As the blood rose on his flesh, Drengr rolled the blade across his arm, coating the dagger in Sabjorn’s blood. Dragging the dark rune through the blood on the blade, he snapped the coin-shaped stone and tossed it towards the bloodstone. A dark purple shield bubble blossomed to life around the bloodstone and ate its way through the granite, exposing the massive block of red stone and the long dead bodies on all sides. The shield was constantly fed power through a long, dark tether attached to Sabjorn through the energy of his soul. The soul shield was old Ama Taugr magic. The powerful, but unpredictable magic caused excruciating agony for the one tethered to it and Drengr was about to make it worse by offering Sabjorn an onyx rune marked to increase the spell’s power even further.
“You ready?” he said, holding up the stick of black onyx and giving it to Sabjorn. “It’s almost time.”
The stress from the magic of the soul shield was immense, but absolutely nothing could penetrate it. Drengr sighed with unease, the shield should keep him, Sabjorn, and the bloodstone safe until the effects of the death-spell came to an end. Sabjorn grimaced in pain as trembling muscle spasms shook his entire body. Drengr knew the extreme suffering he felt personally, so he nodded and stood beside his fellow wizard to offer what support he could.
“Keep your focus away from the pain,” he said. “Think about the hero’s welcome we’ll get in Valhalla. You just have to hold on long enough for this death-spell to end.”
Sabjorn snorted, but it quickly turned into a groan when he snapped the onyx rune and tossed it into the soul shield. The protective bubble immediately doubled in size and thickness, expanding enough to cover them both as well as the bloodstone.
Drengr turned and offered Sabjorn one last smile as all hell broke loose around them. A massive earth quake hit the cavern and it started to collapse. Stones and large chunks of granite bounced off of the shield. The ground below their feet split and steam poured forth, filling the air with the stench of rotten eggs.
“We’re going to lose the bloodstone!” Sabjorn yelled pointing to the crevices opening under and around the weeping block.
Drengr leapt forward, lunging for the stone as the cavern collapsed around them. The second his hand touched the block of bloodstone, the red weep jumped to life, encircling him and the stone like frenzied vines of ivy before they plunged into his body. The weep raced into him and at the same time ate its way through the purple shield while crawling through the dark tether attached to Sabjorn’s soul. Drengr looked back as the ground gave way under Sabjorn and he screamed in agony as the tether to the shield vanished. The ex-rebel mouthed the words I’m sorry and then he was gone, swallowed by the quake.
Magic, earth, and the massive chunk of bloodstone exploded around Drengr and more energy than he could ever imagine, let alone control or hold, tore through his body unabated.
He screamed and the world went black.
Epilogue
Yrlissa climbed past the top of the steep slope and looked back. Engier stepped up beside her while his people made their way up behind them. Upon reaching the top, the majority of the Northmen settled down out into the plains to rest after the grueling two hour long march. The large plateau had plenty of room, stretching for a hundred feet in every direction. The families were exhausted and most of the warriors hadn’t slept in days. It was a good, safe spot to stop, with enough room for all the clans.
“We need to push your people harder,” Yrlissa said as the shaking ground continued. “The earthquakes are getting worse.”
“What happens to this island when this magic finishes?” Brenna shouted, as she helped others up onto the plain.
“That’s a good question,” Eira said, struggling her way over the rise. Yrlissa offered her a hand as she carried on. “By the amount of damage being done to the earth...” She stopped and shook her head. “It doesn’t look good...”
“Jarl Engier! Jarl! Over here! Hurry, my lord.” He turned to see his housekarl Hamay waving from the far side of the plateau.
“Go ahead, Engier,” Brenna shouted. “I’ll stay with our people.”
“I’ll go with you,” Yrlissa offered.
Eira followed Engier while Yrlissa trailed along behind them.
“What is it, housekarl?” he asked as they arrived at the man’s side.
“Look,” Hamay said, pointing down the mountain.
“Tyr’s bloody blades,” Engier whispered when his brain realized he could see the lighthouse, Steiin Fortress, and what was left of the Plains of Austain far below him. The Orotaq and Yrlissa’s forces were fully engaged in the nastiest battle of magic he had ever seen.
“Bloody bastard magic,” he said as living root systems and long spires of rock exploded from the ground. Several minutes passed and he was unable to find his voice as he stared down at the fighting. Magic tore through the Orotaq shields and he recognized the rune magic, but it quickly became apparent that it had been drastically enhanced.
“That magic made it so your people could get here...” Yrlissa stated but was unable to finish.
Out of nowhere the earthquakes instantly tripled in power and it was all he could do to remain on his feet. Lower down the mountain, where the quakes appeared more int
ense, it would be almost impossible to stand. Halfway down the mountain, the land split and gave way from the stress of the twisting earth.
“The spell is ending?” Eira asked, glancing at Yrlissa.
“It is,” she replied. “Come and gather your people. We will jump you onto mainland Talohna. This island is no longer safe.”
“Riders coming from the west!” The shout was picked up and repeated, rolling through the temporary camp.
“From the west?” Yrlissa said. “How is that possible?”
“That means...” Eira began, but Brenna’s voice roared over hers.
“Engier!” she yelled. Her voice rushed from her mouth with excitement. “They’re ours.”
Engier stood his ground across the plateau and Brenna rushed to his side as a hundred horsemen burst through the tree line.
“Jarl Engier,” the man on the lead horse said, following it with a bow.
“Kaapo Sea-fare,” Engier replied. “You’re alive? We thought you were lost along with all our people.”
“We are scattered and many have died, Jarl Engier, but I assure you that we are not lost. My father sent a missive scout after the Steiin fortress battle,” he said.
“Of course,” Engier said, remembering Boulder’s last words. “Sent… My son. Your father sent for you.”
“Aye, my lord,” Kaapo replied. “The Sea Lords and most of Clan Riddari have been mapping the island, but we came north as soon as we heard from my father… Where is he?”
“Fallen in battle,” Engier said. “Saving younger warriors from the threat of magic.”
“A true death then” Kaapo said, and Engier nodded “That is good. We will make time to mourn him and the others later, for now you should now that the Quay has opened up like the jaws on one of Hela’s minions, but the villages of Ikstad and Yrstak remain intact along with much of the land to the north of both cities.”
“Not for long,” Yrlissa said, jumping into the conversation. “We need to jump your people now, Jarl Engier. I can only jump a couple dozen at a time. Terric and the others have not come to help us.”
“There has to be another way,” Brenna argued. “This island may be all that is left of Sokn. We know now that some of our people survived here... There has to be something you can do. Ikstad and Yrstak are home to nearly twenty thousand people.”
“You have magic far beyond our experience, Yrlissa,” Engier pleaded. “You must be able to do something.” He stared at her while she chewed her bottom lip, as if debating whether or not to help his people.
“Perhaps...” She started to answer, but her words stopped short when the island shook viciously. Engier hit the dirt face first and held out his arms to stop from being bounced over the edge of the plateau, but his eyes never left the light house and Steiin Fortress. Magic popped in his ears and suddenly the noise from the grinding earth was gone and he could stand. Yrlissa stood beside him and a shimmering blue shield flowed out from her hands, protecting the entire plateau from the ravaging effects of the closing death-spell and the devastating earthquakes hitting the island. Engier stared in helpless horror when the lighthouse collapsed and the land between Steiin Fortress and Talohna cracked wide open. Steam poured forth while black and purple lightning jumped from a massive, expanding chasm of destruction. The trees around the plateau fell while the edges crumpled under the stress of the shifting earth. The remains of the lighthouse, Steinn Fortress, the mine, and the Plains of Austain along with the Orotaq and those fighting them all dropped over the edge seconds before the chasm exploded. Molten rock shot from the widening wound in the earth and lava poured into the ocean while massive bolts of black and purple energy lashed out, striking anything and everything like some bizarre demented lightning storm gone wild. With a load groan of rock twisting against rock, the whole island heaved as some unknown force shoved it away from the dark chasm. What remained of Sokn rushed back out into the sea that brought it to Talohna.
“This is far too familiar, Engier,” Brenna shouted before she was tossed to the dirt as Yrlissa’s shield blinked out before it slowly returned. Large chunks of the island fell away, dropping into the raging ocean and its volatile currents. The island’s existence was measured in days, if not hours, and Engier knew it. Without magical protection like the Skeyth had provided, the widening chasm and the vicious ocean currents it created would erode and destroy the entire island.
“I know,” he growled. “Eira, can you help? Like your people did before?”
Fear shook every part of her body and her eyes went wide with terror. “I don’t have that kind of power,” she cried. “I am so sorry. From what I understand, it took half a dozen of our strongest wizards to keep the island afloat. I wasn’t one of them, Engier. I’m sorry. I—”
“God dammit,” Yrlissa cursed. “Why won’t you just leave? I can still jump some of you!”
“We cannot, young one,” Kaapo said, finally weighing in. “We cannot leave our people to die. There is no honor in it. We will stay and die before we abandon those we are charged with protecting.”
“Very well,” Yrlissa snarled with frustration. “Jarl Engier, send your people inland as far and as fast as they can get there and then...” She frowned with irritation. “Take my hand.”
“Do as she says,” he agreed, nodding to Eira, Brenna and Kaapo. “Lead them further inland away from the coasts and head for the Skall at Kastali Fortress beyond Freyja’s Grace. If it still exists, I will meet you there when I can.” They bowed and quickly left, but Brenna hung back.
“I should come,” she said.
“You cannot,” Yrlissa said as her shield sputtered again and finally winked out, failing. Pointing out to the massive black chasm she added, “Magic is being damaged by that monstrosity. It is going to take years, decades even, before we know to what extent. Engier is the senior noble among your people, coming with me to try and save your people is his choice. I won’t risk more lives now that the spell is complete. Magic will become too unpredictable.”
“Go, Brenna,” he said. “Take care of the clans and if I don’t return, keep Eira and Kaapo close. They will be good allies for a High Queen. Now go.”
“Engier!” Brenna barked, but her voice quickly calmed. “Come back alive, you hear me? You owe me that Vinr… and more.”
“I will try my best, I promise,” he said. “Now go, and hurry.”
Brenna nodded and reluctantly left even though he could see her heart struggled to do so.
Taking Yrlissa’s hand he offered a slight bow. “Why is it we never see what is right in front of us until it’s too late?” he asked, more to himself than anyone else.
“You may be a Northman, Engier,” Yrlissa answered. “But you’re not infallible. In Talohna, it is called being human.” Smoky black magic enveloped them and magic rocked his body. His stomach turned to ice and he inhaled deeply before opening his eyes to find himself standing in the Skeyth village on the Freyja’s Grace mountain range.
“Why here?” he asked even as the island continued to shake and moan every few seconds.
“We back-tracked you here when you first left the island… I need to be somewhere previously or have a detailed description of a location in order to use jump magic successfully, the more detail, the less risk. The Skeyth kept the island afloat from this village or somewhere near it, so the answer must be here. The island is scraping the sea bottom and breaking apart,” she suggested, as if reading his mind. “If we hurry and find out how the Skeyth kept the island from sinking or being destroyed, I might be able to duplicate it.”
“But for how long?” he asked. “Long enough to evacuate everyone?”
“Permanently, I hope,” she answered. “Your people could remain here on the island. I wouldn’t have come otherwise. Now come. I would bet anything that we are looking for a cave system that leads to the center of the mountain...”
“It’s not in the village,” he said, pointing far up the mountain. “It’s at Freyja’s peak.”
/> “That’s a three hour walk,” she gasped.
“Can’t you jump us like you did to get here?”
“No,” she replied. “I told you, I have to know where I’m jumping and I’ve never been there before. Unless...”
She paused, again chewing her bottom lip. “Is there a landmark up there? A distinct marker I can use to orient myself. Something we jump right in front of, but with lots of open space so we don’t exit the jump inside of bedrock or over the edge of a cliff?”
“Over a cliff?” he asked, swallowing hard as earlier memories of a collapsed cliff came storming back to the front of his mind. “Um, how about a Skeyth totem? That’s got lots of detail and it’s at the front of the cave entrance. Three green bamboo poles crossed evenly.” He put his hands together like a tepee used by Sokn’s southern aboriginal tribes. “A human skull sits on top of each pole facing forward, and feathers tied to thin strips of beaded leather hang down the side of each skull. Help?”
“Definitely close enough,” she muttered and held out her hand. The magic hit him once more and he stepped from the familiar black smoke to find himself staring at the Skeyth totem. He was unharmed but a moan came from his side and a quick glance to his left told him that Yrlissa was exhausted. Her hair hung limp, damp from the sweat coating her face and brow. It took her several seconds to stand straight.
Finally, she smiled at him. “If we’re lucky, I might have one more jump in me. I can draw on several sources for magic, but it’s getting harder and harder to use it as I am accustomed. We must hurry, that dark chasm out there in the ocean is damaging magic at its very core, as if it is crippling magic as we know it. Talohna will never be the same after this.”
