by Bri Sailor
“See.” Panted Kova. “I told you. It’s real.”
Cora brought the orbs closer in order to see their surroundings. She staggered to her feet. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Hundreds of chests bursting at the seams with gold and other gems were scattered about. Piles of statues, ancient artifacts, and other precious items were everywhere.
“By the gods.” Breathed Ehren.
“My father’s stories pale in comparison. He never said anything about how much lay here in waiting!” gasped Kova.
“What do you mean?” asked Ky. “I thought you’ve been down here before?”
“I never made it out of the water before…” admitted Kova.
The rebel wasted no time. She dove headfirst into the treasures.
“How are we going to find the crystal in all of this?” asked Atreyis.
Ky followed suit and started digging. “Just start looking.”
“Look for necklaces, pendants, crowns, diadems, anything. My guess is that it is some sort of jewelry or spiritual artifact.” Said Cora.
The minutes slowly ticked by as they began looking through everything but their efforts yielded nothing. Ky noticed that Kova had stopped searching and was focused on one chest in particular. The rebel had dropped to her knees and wasn’t moving. She gazed reverently at a statue covered in ceremonial armor a few minutes before opening a small chest.
“Kova?” the warrior checked on her.
She reached into the small chest and pulled out a ragged child’s doll. By now, everyone noticed the odd behavior and went to investigate.
“Meylah…” whispered Kova.
Hot tears stung her eyes. They broke free and streamed down her face. She reached back in and pulled out a wooden horse.
“Timith…” she cried softly.
She hugged the toys close for a moment.
“Are these yours?” Cora knelt down beside the crying girl.
“No.” she wiped her eyes. “They were my brother’s and sister’s.”
She put down the toys and reached back into the chest and pulled out what looked like a blanket wrapped in a protective cloth. She undid the strings and opened it. Her hand instinctually went to her mouth to try and cover up the loud sobs that escaped. Inside the cloth was a pristine white dress with vibrant green trim and sewn-in jewels. Kova doubled over and let the tears flow freely as the cavern filled with her sobs. Her eyes hurt from squeezing them shut so tightly and her heart felt as if it had been torn in two. Cora did her best so soothe the distraught woman.
“Mother!” she sobbed uncontrollably as she buried her face in the white silk.
Cora and Atreyis held her close to try and ease her pain. After a few minutes Kova had calmed down some and was ready to talk.
“I was only ten when they attacked.” She sniffed. “My father, King Philnaeus, had ordered the evacuation of the city. My mother was to take me and my siblings to my aunt’s home in Quinmor. She was married to one of the king’s advisors. During all of the chaos they tried to seal away what treasures they could, in order to prevent the Black Army from gaining any more wealth. But before we could even make it to the courtyard, mercenaries attacked the palace. I tried to get my family to follow me to the catacombs, but somehow we were separated. I waited in the darkness for so long. I can still hear the screams and the fighting.”
She put down the dress and pulled out a stuffed black bear and hugged it close.
“All this time. These were all down here.” She stared into the stitched black eyes of the bear. “I never thought I would see them again. I had lost Usariel about a week prior to all of this happening. Which was an odd thing since he quite literally never left my side. I would tuck him into my belt when I played, and he slept on my pillow at night. And here he is. My father must have had the foresight…”
She sniffed and wiped her eyes. “Father made him for me when he was initially away helping the small Khennán armies who opposed Ultrek, prior to their invasion of our lands.”
“And that was the gravest mistake the fool had ever made.” Said an unknown male voice.
Kova’s head whipped around and she looked eye to eye with a tall, slender man standing upon a wooden platform opposite of where they had fell from. He was wearing armor akin to that of the Black Army. His greasy thinning hair was pulled back. Behind him were more than a dozen soldiers. Kova jumped to her feet.
“Philgen! You traitorous cowardly bastard!” she shouted with bright green eyes. In a flash she drew her sword, clutching her bear close.
“Come down here so that I may end your miserable life and pay the debt you owe to my family!” she roared.
The ancient platform creaked as more soldiers entered.
“I believe it is you who owes me now, cousin.” He laughed. “Your antics forced me to reveal my private stash of gold. Something I had hoped to hold on to. Though, I supposed Lusha won’t require all of it. From what I understand she is very close to finding something of even greater value hidden deep within your Wilds.”
“Not for a thousand years will she ever find it!” bit Kova. “My people haven’t even allowed a single step within our lands!”
“Hmph. Your people.” Grunted the man. “We will see about that soon enough. Bring them to me.”
The soldiers ran down the rickety ramp. Kova quickly stuffed everything back into the small chest. She ripped the sword off of the statue in front of her and used the belt to secure the chest and shoved the sword through her own belt.
“This way!” she shouted as she sprinted towards the waterfall.
“Are you insane?” yelled Ehren.
Kova reached the edge and turned around to face Philgen.
“Death to all who defile their own people!” she screamed.
The rebel didn’t even pause before jumping into the bottomless pit. Everyone stood on the ledge, hesitating a moment. Ky had her hand on the hilt of her sword. Cursing the rebel she jumped over the edge as well. Atreyis, Ehren and Cora followed suit. Their screams dying beneath the roaring of the water. The soldiers came to a halt at the ledge. A few dared to lean over and stare into the black.
“After them!” screamed Philgen.
“It’s a bottomless pit, my lord!” yelled back one of the men. “There’s no way they survived.”
Philgen stomped his foot before disappearing back into the passage.
Chapter 23
Sweat beaded on Nya’s furrowed brow as she concentrated. Nothing she had used had worked against the powerful barrier. For hours and hours she threw everything she had at it, and nothing. She sat quietly amongst the brightly colored tulips and meditated. Riker and Taryn sat in the grass patiently waiting for the Keeper to gather her strength. Vex stood leaning against the palace.
“I should have never led this stupid mission.” He sighed.
Túmos was leaning opposite of him. “You didn’t know. How could you? How could any of us?”
Vex kicked the doorway with his heel. “I know. But it doesn’t stop the guilt. I should have listened to you. We should have just gone west to pledge allegiance to Toran and help him fight for what is left of this world.”
“Well, now next time you will.” Laughed Túmos half-heartedly.
“As soon as we get you out, we ride north.” Said Vex definitively.
“This is the end. Isn’t it?”
“Possibly. She must know by now what we are doing. The fact that we are still standing here talking and not completely surrounded tells me that she really doesn’t care about the city. She probably never did. She really was just using it as a trap to catch the flies that had been buzzing around her head annoying her.”
“I’d say we are more than just flies.” Scoffed Túmos. “We have reclaimed over a third of our lands back for the Khenná people. If anything we are at least a thorn in her side. Or stubbed toe.”
Vex cracked half a smile. “Stubbed toe.”
Túmos laughed some. He turned serious again.
“Do you think
we stand a chance?”
“Maybe. If we truly have any allies left. Then who knows. I feel as if Ky may know something that I do not. I could see it in her eyes. No matter what she was saying. There was something there. Something I had not seen in a long time.”
“What was that?”
“Hope.”
Nya suddenly exploded up from the ground. Her hands were glowing a bright orange. She raced up to the barrier. Vex nearly fell over as he moved out of the way. The Keeper slammed her hands against the barrier and pushed with all of her might. The bubble turned black this time and fought back. It bowed and rippled and groaned. Nya’s eyes were a brilliant red as she let out a monstrous roar and pushed harder. She began speaking in an otherworldly tone.
“Thóhhémm! Thrálm né s’hé mrélth’sh ló hó thóyur díhhílth! Í vvímm lós síré! Dréáh s’hím éwím! Mél s’hén l’réé! Ámh hánl s’hé vvíssh ló hémm!”
Small cracks began forming at her hands and slowly worked their way out. Nya was breathing hard and her entire body was shaking. Everyone cleared away as the cracks grew larger and began to give off a blood-red glow. The entire barrier was cracked and resisting with whatever it had left. Nya let loose another roar and gave it everything she had. Outside the gates the people began to gather. Their mouths agape. The ground quaked beneath them and the barrier began to fall like giant chunks of ice from the sky. They smashed through the roof and broke stone as they crashed to earth. One by one as they landed they dissipated like smoke. Vex grabbed Nya by the waist and dove out of the way as the final chunks came hurtling down towards her. Nya was breathing so hard she thought she might never catch her breath. She watched in awe as everything crumbled away. She couldn’t believe the power that she had been granted by the Goddess. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before.
The last of the barrier blew away in the breeze. Túmos peaked out from behind the doors. He timidly put a foot out past the threshold. A giant smile broke out across his face and he ran down the path towards Vex. The general scrambled to his feet and caught the man as he jumped into his arms. Tears of joy streamed down their faces as they hugged each other tight, never wanting to let go. Behind them the captive soldiers ran out of the palace and hoisted Nya in the air. Their cheers and yells of joy rang out past the walls. Those outside that could hear them looked on in disbelief. Others had already dropped what they had been doing and watched in awe as the barrier and cracked and was destroyed. They began gathering by the hundreds as word quickly spread. Vex kissed Túmos and let him down. He smiled and ran for the gates. He threw off the beam that locked them and kicked the doors open. The people were standing silently, waiting to see who had performed such a feat.
“Fear not, my people!” bellowed Vex. “The witch’s powers over your city have been broken by an even more powerful priestess!”
The soldiers carried a smiling Nya out on their shoulders.
Vex jumped up on the stone bridge.
“Queen Nya has returned!” he proclaimed triumphantly.
The crowd erupted as they saw their once dead queen alive and returned to them. Many dropped to their knees crying. Others bowing. Children were running around and dancing, unaware of what had just transpired, but happy to see their parents so joyous. The soldiers put Nya up next to Vex so that all could see her. She proudly held her head high and raised her hands. The crowd silenced.
“For too long you have been forced to bow to someone who is not of your people!” her voice echoed across the masses. “Too long have you sent your brothers, sisters, children, mothers and fathers off to a war that was never theirs! To fight battles designed to make all fall to her evil will! No more! By the Goddess I was able to set these men free. And by the Goddess we will destroy the witch! My General and I will take our armies and march alongside Xaemox, Quinmor, and Aznurro! Not as enemies, but as brothers and sisters!”
The crowd erupted again.
“We will fight together! And we will destroy Lusha and her legions! We will restore. Our. People!”
#
The sound of heavy footsteps and hooves on soft earth filled Lusha’s ears. She sat quietly on lush cushions in her golden gilded carriage. Saebic rode next to her on his massive war horse, wanting to be amongst his men, filling them with courage as their general and king rode alongside them. Not even a day had passed since Lusha claimed she was told by her Lord to follow her legions north. Deep down she knew that this was going to be the end. She smiled evilly to herself. All of her enemies would be cornered into one easy target. There would be nowhere for them to run, nowhere else to hide. She had grown much more powerful since her years fighting against the rebels. Black static jumped between her hands. She laughed maliciously. Much more powerful. This time she would be able to destroy whatever magic the rebels had. She would destroy them.
“And your precious treasure will be mine.” She said to the empty carriage. “With the Tear I will be able to instantly seal my fate as Empress over this world. No one. Not even my Lord will be able to stop me. I will be a god.”
A sharp pain in her head suddenly knocked her over. She howled in pain. The carriage came to a halt. Saebic threw open the door and jumped in.
“What is it, my Love?” he was frantic.
Lusha growled and snarled.
“That bitch!” she spit. “She is trying to break the barrier!”
“Who? What barrier?”
“Nya!” she hissed. “She is trying to set those soldiers free that I imprisoned in Ultrek’s palace!”
She fell over again as the pain intensified.
“What do you need me to do?” asked Saebic.
Lusha held her head. “Push on! Those people mean nothing! We must reach the Wilds! Go!”
She shoved Saebic out the door and slammed it shut. The king reluctantly mounted his horse.
“We keep marching!” he ordered.
The driver whipped his horses and they were off again. Inside Lusha was rolling around in pain. Cursing Ailana and cursing Nya. After an hour the pain subsided. Lusha lay a sweaty mess on the floor. Her breath was coming fast.
“Damn you.” She breathed.
The whole ordeal rendered her weaker than she imagined and she promptly fell asleep. Visions of killing Ky and her friends played out over and over in her dreams. A few hours later the sun began to set and the pain returned tenfold. Lusha doubled over in pain. Refusing to let the screams out. Her muscles were so tense she feared her bones would break. She resisted as much as she could. There was something different about this pain. It was as if Nya had exponentially increased her power. Lusha felt around, searching for her dagger. It needed to end. Using the dagger she sliced both of her hands. Blood trickled down her arms. She held her hands a foot apart and spoke.
“Skädörs öx körër ërd t’kiis d’këgg. Täkë i’höür d’gööd ärd rëgëäsë i’höür ämskör. Ii sönkt’ärd i’höü!”
Her blood began to glow. The pain intensified. Just when she thought she wouldn’t be able to take it anymore. It vanished. Her blood was gone and her wounds were healed. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and lay back against her cushions. Something more had to be done. If Nya had grown this strong, she could only imagine how much stronger the young High Priestess had. She closed her eyes and prayed.
“Forgive me, My Lord. I have failed you. But do not take pity on your servant. Grant her the power to undo your enemies. Give her the power to bring you back.”
#
Deep in a black cavern a group of ghostly priests gathered.
“Did you feel that?” asked one.
“Yes.” Replied the others.
“How did she do it?” asked another.
“Yes. How?” said another. “There should be nothing left of her.”
“Yes. Her power was at its end!”
“And what of the vessel?”
“Yes! What of her?”
“She thinks she will become a god and cast away our Görd!”
&nbs
p; “We must destroy her!”
“Yes!”
“Yes destroy!”
The High Priest held up his hands. “No! The vessel is the only way to bring Him back! We must empower her!”
“Yes! More power!”
“Power!”
“Enough to end this!”
“Then kill her!”
“Yes! Then kill her!”
