by Peter Glenn
It was only a few minutes later, but it felt like it had been a few hours. I knew it couldn’t have been that long, though, because when my eyes started to regain their focus, I could see that Queen Boudicca still hadn’t finished her ritual, and the world hadn’t ended.
That meant the dragons hadn’t attacked yet, so there’s no way it could have been more than a few minutes that I was out.
“Good,” Boudicca’s icy tones declared a moment later. “You’re awake.”
She was standing nearby, with a fiery expression on her face as she glared at me. It looked a little like she was smiling at me, but an angry smile, if that made any sense. Her form had much more substance than it had even a few minutes ago. From what I could tell, it looked like she’d been quite beautiful in her previous life. She likely would have made some man a lovely bride, had her sisters not been raped by the Romans.
Behind her was the altar where Mei lay, unmoving, under a mountain of chains. Arlan stood next to her, towering over her prone body. He had a smug expression on his face.
Even from this distance, I could see little beads of sweat breaking out on Mei’s forehead, and her skin had a pale sheen to it that I didn’t remember. Poor thing. She was fighting this hard, but it was no use. Boudicca had her held fast, and her ritual was sapping Mei’s very essence.
“Good evening, Li Xiang,” Boudicca said to me.
She took a few steps to close the distance between us. With one icy, bony finger, she caressed the side of my head where the wound from earlier was still oozing a trickle of blood. I tried to remain calm and still, but her icy touch against my bruised, bleeding scalp was too much, and I shivered a little at her touch, which only seemed to delight her even more.
“Do you like that, little rat?” she asked, her eyes full of some sick, twisted form of glee. She caressed my face again, and I shivered anew.
I coughed involuntarily and tried to stand tall, but bound by chains as I was, it was useless. I tried to clear my throat a bit and tasted a mix of bile and macadamia. It wasn’t something I’d remember fondly.
“D-Damian,” I said through labored breaths.
Her eyes looked cross. “I beg your pardon?”
“Damian,” I repeated in a stronger tone. “Call me Damian, please.”
Boudicca’s lips twisted into something of a frown mixed with a scowl. “Damian?” she said, sounding uncertain. “What kind of a name is that?”
“The name of your killer,” I said, grinning broadly.
Boudicca reared back and smacked me across the face again. I felt my cheek go numb from the cold in her touch as my vision swam and my head spun, then everything died back down.
“Insolent little worm,” she spat. She gave me an icy glare, then trotted off a few steps. “No matter. You’ll die soon enough.”
She turned around to face me once again. As she spun around, I saw a blade sitting there, dangling at her side. Grax’thor. Somehow, she was tall enough that she could wear it like a regular sword without it scraping the ground as she walked.
And here I thought ancient peoples were supposed to all be on the small side. Must have been part of her undead magic. Magic did weird things like that a lot.
Boudicca glared at me again. “And make no mistake, Damian,” she said, adding extra venom to the last word, “you and all your kind will die. I will have my revenge tonight.”
I should have been quaking in my boots, but I caught the slight flash of something strange flitting around behind her, near the altar with Mei. It was only there for just a second, but it looked like a shadowy human moving about in the light of the room. Only not an evil shadow like Boudicca’s. It was more like a chameleon becoming visible for a half second while it darted from one spot to the next, before it blended into its surroundings again.
My lips curled up into a smile. That must be Sheila. She was following the plan after all. And that must mean Rick was nearby, too.
I craned my neck to try and find Rick, hopefully over by the doorway, but he was nowhere to be seen. Good for him. I didn’t want him getting himself killed on my behalf. I’d caused enough trouble already without having that hanging over my head.
“Tonight,” Boudicca said a moment later, holding her hands over her head. “Tonight, I will complete the ritual that brings me fully back to life. That will grant life eternal to all my dutiful followers.” She moved her hands around to encompass the whole room. “All of you have served me well, but there is much more to do.”
I rolled my eyes. What was it with villains and grand speeches? It was like the abandoned warehouse thing. So generic. I tried to tune it out, but her words were so powerful they bored into my head anyway.
“Tonight, I will siphon off the dragon’s life force, granting me the powers necessary to bring about my revenge. Then, on the morrow, we will march forward and conquer our enemies. Their Roman heads will roll, and their children’s blood will run thick in the streets before I am done!”
A cheer broke out from among the crowd of Iceni and I heard loud clapping as well.
I spared another glance at the altar. Had one of the chains been undone already? It looked like Mei was breathing a little bit easier. I knew what I had to do. I had to distract Boudicca a little longer while Sheila finished freeing Mei.
“Um,” I said loudly, clearing my throat. “Excuse me, queeny, but all the Romans are long dead.”
Boudicca spun around on her heels, a hiss on her lips and her eyes looking like fire. “Silence, impudent fool!”
She reached out and smacked me again, even harder than before. I felt like I was going to lose my grip on consciousness for sure this time, but somehow, I just barely clung to it.
“No… really,” I continued, coughing a little in the middle. I heard a tiny clang of metal behind me, but Boudicca didn’t seem to notice. “The Romans are long dead. Someone already killed them all for you. You’ve been out of it for like two thousand years now.”
Boudicca eyed me curiously for a moment, and she paused like she wasn’t certain what to say.
“Seriously,” I added. “You’ve got to get with the times. There’s this thing out there called the internet now. It’s full of information. Maybe you should read a little history before you go spouting off about mad revenge next time.” I flashed her another grin.
“You little ant!” Boudicca screamed.
She ran up to me and gripped my head in her icy hand so tightly that I felt like she was going to crush it like an egg. My eyes bulged out of my skull, and it was all I could do to pull in another halting breath.
I coughed in her face involuntarily, which only seemed to enrage her more.
“Why you insolent little gnat!”
She smacked me with her free hand so hard it drew blood. I felt a small trickle of the wet stuff dribble down my lip for a moment before the icy cold grip from her other hand froze it in its tracks.
“I should kill you where you stand, here and now.”
“Let me do it, mistress!” a voice pleaded.
It was Arlan. He’d moved away from Mei’s altar and was standing next to me now. Good. That meant Sheila would be able to move even faster now that no one was paying attention to her.
“Go… ahead… and try,” I said, smiling weakly up at both of them. “It’s what… I want anyway.”
“Please, mistress, I beg it!” Arlan pleaded.
Boudicca shook her head. “No, Arlan. It’s too simple a death, even for him.”
I heard her grunt, and she smacked me again, then she turned away.
Once more, stars swam in my eyes, and I felt like everything was going to go dark. Bile rose in my throat again, and this time, I did lose a little of my meager breakfast. Not the best look, but what can you do? I just hoped I’d bought Sheila enough time.
“I can… make it last a while,” Arlan offered. There was a glint of evil in his eyes that made me shudder. “Please. He killed my men. I demand vengeance.”
“And you shall have
it,” Boudicca replied, gently caressing his cheek, then running her hand down his chest. “You shall have all the blood you wish, my lover,” she continued.
So those two were a thing? Ew. That was a mental image I didn’t need.
“But,” she said in a wicked tone, “we have wasted enough time with this filth.” Her lips curled into a smile. “Let us complete the ritual, then you may do as you wish with what’s left of him.”
Oh, great. Just what I always wanted. To have my head used as a plaything for a bloodthirsty Celtic warrior. Every guy’s dream. But I was pretty sure it wasn’t going to happen. I just had to hold out for a little bit longer.
“Yes, my queen.” Arlan bowed and presented her with the circlet I’d stolen. She accepted it with one hand, bowing slightly in return.
“Now,” she said slowly, placing the circlet on her head, “let the binding ritual continue!”
I peered through the haze and darkness over at Mei once more. There were about half as many chains holding her down as there had been before, but she was still held fast. This wasn’t good. I needed more time.
The evil queen took Grax’thor in her hands and raised it up in the air again, once more starting her chant. The words floated over the room like a song, filling every inch of the space. Dark energy started to emanate from her, flowing toward Mei with a sickening, icy glow.
“Wait!” I cried.
Boudicca spun around once more and looked like she was going to have my head for sure this time. “You little insect! What now?”
I nudged my head toward my waist. “Please,” I said through a wave of coughs. “Please, at least let me die a warrior,” I begged, “with my sword in hand.” I flexed the fingers of my sword hand a few times. My arm was bound pretty tight, but I could move my fingers if I tried hard enough.
“Pfft,” she spat. She looked down at my helpless little hand flailing about and almost laughed. “Fine. I suppose even a worthless warrior such as yourself deserves a warrior’s death.”
“Thank you,” I managed through gritted teeth. “My ancestors will be pleased.”
Boudicca huffed, but she took the bait. She walked over to me and picked up my katana, which had been sitting near my feet, looking like little more than a discarded piece of metal. She shoved the hilt of the sword into my palm with such force that I thought it would never come free, but I wrapped my fingers around the cold, leathery cords of the hilt anyway.
Heh. That had been too easy. Wouldn’t be much longer now.
The evil queen stared deep into my eyes and gave me a wicked grin. “There,” she said. “Now the little ant can die a warrior, as is proper. You may die with your pride intact, which is more than I offered my last victims.” She harrumphed. “If you even know the meaning of the word, coward.”
With a scoff, she turned back around to face the altar as if nothing had happened.
I was spent now. Completely out of ideas. I could only hope I’d given Sheila enough time to finish with Mei’s chains.
Boudicca raised Grax’thor over her head once more and threw her head back, letting the chants fill the room once more.
“Agus a-nis bidh sinn a ‘ceangal,” she said in her lilting tones.
The dark energy from before shot out from her once again, striking Mei right in the chest. I saw her wriggle and squirm and heard a small shriek as the magic went to work on her.
“Mei!” I cried. But no one heard me over the sounds of her screams and Boudicca’s chanting.
Waves of dark energy rolled off Boudicca as her chanting reached a crescendo, filling the whole room and plunging all of us into a deep, impenetrable darkness. I couldn’t even see my own nose, it was so dark.
Desperately, I clung to the sword at my side, hoping that somehow I’d done enough; bought enough time for Sheila to do her thing, and Rick to get in position. They were Mei’s only hope now.
The sound of Boudicca’s chants grew even louder until I swore it was the only noise in the room, blocking out my breathing and rampant heartbeat in their droning tones. My head thrashed as the noise penetrated my skull further, and I felt like my brain was on fire for a moment.
Just then, the queen’s chanting started to die down, and I heard a scream from somewhere in the room. That scream was followed quickly by the sounds of several more death wails from some of the other unlucky Iceni piled about.
I couldn’t help it. In spite of the pain and the torment, my lips curled into a smile. That was what success sounded like.
A spout of emerald flames burst through the air, lighting up the room not a moment later. In the eerie green light, I could make out the charred husks of a dozen or so Iceni warriors, their bodies already half turned to ash as all around them chaos erupted and weapons were laid bare to face the new threat.
And hanging in the air above them all, looking as amazing and elegant as ever, was Mei in her emerald dragon glory, floating mere inches above their heads.
Mei let out a mighty screech and another blast of hot green flames shot forth, engulfing another twenty or so Iceni and incinerating them instantly. It wasn’t often that I got to see Mei in her true form. It had only happened one other time that I could remember. But it sure was an amazing sight to behold when it happened.
Amazing, and also deadly. Part of me almost felt bad for her victims. Only a tiny part, though. They’d been eager enough to skewer me moments prior.
“What is this?” Boudicca howled. “Bring her down!” She pointed a bony finger at Mei.
Mei laughed, and the sound filled the room, beating back the dark waves of energy in the process and restoring light to the warehouse. Soon enough, I could see again.
Several Iceni howled and threw their weapons at her, but they bounced off her iron-hard scales like they were nothing as she laughed and scooped up a few hapless attackers, throwing them against a nearby wall. Their bodies hit the metal walls with a sickening crunch, and they fell slack to the ground.
In the same instant, I felt my bonds start to loosen.
“Miss me?” a sweet voice whispered into my ear.
I grinned from ear to ear. “Always, baby,” I told Sheila. “Always.”
There was a little more movement and rustling from behind me, then the chains fell to the ground, and I was free once more. I shook my sword arm a little, which had almost gone numb, to bring feeling back into it.
“Thanks, babe,” I said, looking at Sheila, “but you didn’t follow my orders.”
She rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips. “Well, your orders were stupid. Besides, I saved your life, didn’t I?”
“Now, now, let’s not bring mistakes like that up again, shall we?”
Sheila shook her head and pinched my cheek. “Well, go to it, hero. Do your thing.”
I gave her a nod and a wink. “With pleasure.”
Arlan had his sword raised high and was shouting orders to his troops, telling them to bring down the dragon. Heh. Like they really had a chance.
I lurched forward from my position, moving quick as lightning, blade out in front.
“Arlan!” I called.
He spun around, swinging his sword in a wide arc.
I dove, coming in under his guard, forcing my blade upward at the last second. It rammed into his torso and kept going, higher and higher, until it pierced his icy heart.
Arlan shuddered and paled. “My queen,” he said through tight lips. Then he fell to the ground.
“No!” Boudicca cried. “Not again!” She spun around in a rage and hurled some nasty spell at me. I rolled to the side to avoid its blast just in time.
“The game is up!” I shouted at her. “Surrender!”
Boudicca fired another spell at me. This one scored a glancing blow to my broken arm. Icy coldness, pain, and hopelessness washed over me. It was all I could do to scramble back up to my feet, fighting against the darkness that threatened to consume me.
But stand I did, holding my sword aloft, pointed at her.
�
��Fools!” Boudicca shouted. “This isn’t over!” She fired a bolt of dark energy over her shoulder. It flew through the air and smacked into Mei’s underbelly, but she shook it off and picked up another Iceni, breaking him in half in her massive jaws.
“You think the battle lost, but I still hold all the power!” Boudicca continued. “All of you will die as soon as I complete my spell!”
She raised her arms again and resumed her chanting. All at once, the room started to darken once more, and I felt that same awful burning in my skull.
This time, even Mei and Sheila seemed to be affected, too, and the chaos and carnage stopped while everyone stood still, trying in vain to keep from falling to the queen’s dark spells. I fell down to one knee as I brought my injured hand up the side of my head, cradling it and hoping to all that’s holy that the magic would just stop already.
“Thig spiorad thugam!” Boudicca chanted, finishing the spell.
A massive shockwave of dark magic shot forth from her body, enveloping the room. I thought for sure it would bowl me over and tear my atoms apart one at a time, but when the wave hit me, it only tickled instead.
Boudicca dropped her hands to her sides and looked around like she was all at once victorious and confused. “There!” she said. “It is done! The dragon’s power is now mine to control!” She grinned up at Mei. “Kill him, beast,” she commanded, pointing a bony finger at me. “Kill Damian!”
Mei’s jaw opened and she took in a deep breath, but when the flames came, they weren’t for me. The last of the Iceni warriors met their fiery end a moment later as Mei chuckled and snapped her jaws in Boudicca’s direction.
Boudicca cocked her head to the side. “But how? How is this possible? The spell?”
“Think again, queeny!” I yelled. Quick as a flash, I got to my feet and lunged forward, blade arm first, point aimed straight for her cold, dead heart.
Boudicca grunted and looked down at her shadowy chest, where my blade was protruding from it, with shock in her eyes.
“Heh,” she said, grabbing the weapon and starting to pull it free. “Your futile attempts at war are meaningless, gnat. I am immortal. I cannot be killed by mere steel!”
