The Ageless Giant

by B K Suitter

  “You were instructed by the general to bring back all the townsfolk. What happened?” Hadias spoke in a threatening tone that was more for show to win over the alluring Kneeamara. In reality, he did not care what happened to the frontier people.

  “We were set upon by Cataclys and his cursed family!” spat the angry sergeant.

  “Where are the rest of your men?” Prince Hadias asked curiously.

  “Dead,” replied Semik as he glanced over at Kneeamara.

  “And the rest of the townspeople?” asked the prince.

  “Dead as well,” Semik replied as he sneered at Kneeamara.

  “He lies!” she yelled, and she took an angry step forward, but was held back by the upraised hand of the prince.

  “Shut up, witch!” roared Semik and he grunted out as Prince Hadias buried a long dagger deep into his abdomen. Semik reached for the knife as he stared into the cold eyes of the prince.

  “I will not have insubordination in my camp,” said the dark prince as he eyed Semik. The sergeant started to go limp in the legs, but the determined prince held him up with the blade. Kneeamara walked up with a smile and reached out to caress the dying man’s face. As she did, she read into his thoughts to see how he came to bring only himself and the small girl named Tristania back to their camp.

  ***************************

  Michael grimaced as he watched from afar through a short tube filled with lenses. He could see the eyes of the dying man, and the hatred in them as the beautiful woman touched his face with her long fingers and smiled. Blood was running out from his ears and nose and he coughed and gurgled as he spat and laughed in pain.

  “They’re killing him,” said Michael, his voice shaky and troubled.

  “Good,” replied Cogaro as he knelt next to Cataclys. “Let them kill each other off.”

  “Are you taking notes, Michael?” Minx teased as she crouched down next to Evaylia. “That is how you kill a man,” she purred.

  Michael didn’t bother to comment, but instead kept staring through the looking glass as Prince Hadias continued to bleed the other man out.

  Suddenly, Kyun stepped through the bushes and knelt next to Cataclys. He looked similar to his brother, Cogaro, but without the eyes of the Kadomi.

  “What did you see?” asked Cataclys quietly as he watched the spectacle across the long distance from atop their small hill. Tall trees and thick bushes covered the area and kept them unseen. There had been scouts nearby, but Cogaro and Minx quickly disposed of them while Kyun went to scout the main camp of Prince Hadias.

  “There is a problem,” Kyun said hesitantly.

  “Speak,” said Cataclys, and he turned to look at his son, and when he saw the look on Kyun’s face, he quietly stood and disappeared into the forest with his boy close behind.

  “What is wrong?” asked a nervous Evaylia, and Michael peeled his eyes away from the looking glass to glance at her.

  “What?” Michael asked.

  “There is trouble,” confirmed Minx as she stared at Cogaro and he nodded in agreement.

  Cataclys came quietly back and crouched down before Michael.

  “Listen carefully and do not speak a word,” said Cataclys with a stern look. Michael nodded his head and looked uneasily at Evaylia. “Somehow, your sister has gotten away from Year and the twins and has found her way into a cage inside that camp,” and he nodded in the direction they had all been looking.

  Michael was speechless as he looked at Cataclys in disbelief. He even tried a small attempt at a smile in hope that this was simply a joke, but the steady gaze that Cataclys held told Michael that this was all too real.

  Michael’s eyes grew wide as he thought on what he was just told. He flexed his hands and filled his lungs with air to scream out at Cataclys for allowing him to think for a moment that Tris would be safe and… Cogaro punched him hard in the head and knocked him out cold. Minx quickly covered the mouth of the screaming Evaylia and held her close to the ground while hushing her.

  “Minx, stay with them,” said Cataclys as he got to his feet and prepared to leave. “Cogaro and I will retrieve the girl. Kyun has gone to search for Year and the twins. Do not let them leave this spot,” and then he raced off into the forest with Cogaro close behind.

  ************************

  “I think you’re trying too hard,” said Tris as she watched the young boy wipe blood from his nose. “Maybe you should hold your head back and pinch your nose shut.”

  “Don’t tell me what to do,” said Tanner in an irritated voice while wiping more blood onto his already blood-stained shirt.

  “Oh, sorry. Why don’t you use your magic to stop the bleeding?” remarked an offended Tris, earning another angry scowl from the boy. “I was just trying to help.”

  “Yeah, well don’t. You don’t believe me anyway,” said Tanner in anger.

  “That’s not true,” replied Tris in a sincere voice, her face still sore and bruised. “It’s you that doesn’t believe in yourself. Others will believe in you if you can only believe in yourself. That’s what my father used to say,” Tris replied and then turned away with a sad look.

  “Where is your father?” asked Tanner.

  “He was taken away when they came to my town,” replied Tris.

  “My father was too, I think. I ran away when the soldiers came to mine,” Tanner spoke softly as they both entered a somber mood.

  “How did they catch you?” asked Tris curiously.

  “I don’t really remember,” replied Tanner, his look going distant as he tried. “I was with a girl named Mara.”

  “You know Mara?” Tris asked.

  “Yes, do you know her?” Tanner asked with excitement. “She comes to me most nights and helps me with my magic.”

  “She comes to you,” repeated Tris. “From where?”

  “From,” started the boy as he looked around the clearing at the trees and bushes. It was late in the night and a bright moon cast a glow down upon their surroundings. “From somewhere out there,” said Tanner as he shrugged his shoulders.

  “That’s weird,” said Tris as she looked around the clearing. She found it hard to believe that the small girl came to Tanner to teach him magic, so she decided to drop the issue.

  “This is what she taught me,” said Tanner in an energized voice. “I know I can do it now – I believe,” and he smiled big for Tris as he held out his palm and stared at it intently. His look of concentration was deeper than it had been before, so Tris kept quiet and watched. After a short moment, though, Tris started to feel bad for the boy and she was about to start making excuses as to why he could not do it.

  Then she froze and her eyes grew wide. There, just above Tanner’s open palm, was a tiny raincloud hovering just above his hand and it rained down onto his palm, causing small amounts of water to spill over the side and into his lap. Tris reached out and passed her hand through the small illusion.

  “How do you do that?” the small girl asked in amazement.

  “It’s not really there. I’m just making you see it,” said Tanner as he continued to concentrate.

  “Well, stop it,” Tris said with a small amount of anger. “I don’t like you messing with my brain,” and she looked away from the tiny cloud and made it disappear.

  “I’m sorry,” said Tanner, and Tris looked back at him and screamed as she jumped away. There, sitting in the cage was her father, and he was laughing. Tris looked away as she felt the rage build up inside her.

  “I can’t believe you just did that to me,” said Tris slowly as she started to cry. The shock of seeing her father briefly upset her, and she remembered something Evaylia had told her not too long ago: If you want to get back at a boy and make him feel terrible, start crying and don’t stop.

  And so she did, and soon after the small boy was apologizing profusely, and the more he said he was sorry, the more she cried, and she smiled big under her hurtful expressions. Tanner even produced a small yellow flower which he had been saving
for Mara, but he felt so bad, he offered it to Tris.

  *************************

  “Semik’s death will be slow,” said the soldier to the guard that stood next to him. They were keeping watch over Kneeamara’s boy and the small girl that was brought in by Semik not long ago.

  “With Semik and his men out of the way, your climb has just been shortened dramatically,” replied the gaurd.

  “Indeed,” said the soldier and he glanced over at the wagon cage as the young girl started crying. Then the distant roar of animals on the other side of the army’s encampment had men screaming and calling out for help as shouts and commands echoed alongside animal cries, and the night erupted into chaos.

  “That is the roar of a black lion,” said the soldier and the gaurd was quick to agree. “Go and help where you can,” he said, “I will stay and watch over the boy. If anything happens to him, it will be me rotting next to Semik.” The gaurd quickly ran off into the night and the soldier looked over at the cage and saw the boy and girl sitting quiet and staring at him while listening to the screams and mayhem that echoed throughout the camp.

  “It will be ok,” he said to the children as their eyes focused on what was behind him. He immediately turned around and began to draw his sword, but it was too late. Cogaro’s blade impaled him and his eyes grew wide as he coughed blood from his mouth. The Kadomi lowered the soldier quietly to the ground as he pulled his sword free and looked around to make sure he was not seen. Cogaro crouched in the dark and kept watch as Cataclys emerged from the trees without a sound while the distant roars from Madion and the other animals threatened to drown out the cries of men.

  “Michael waits for you not far from here,” whispered Cataclys to Tris. “I am here to set you free and take you to him,” and he reached up and slid a small metal pick into the lock and began working to open the cage. Tanner crawled away to the back corner while Tris stood up and questioned the man.

  “You know my brother?” the girl asked hesitantly.

  “I do,” replied Cataclys with a reassuring smile.

  “So do I, Tristania,” said Kneeamara as she walked confidently from out of the shadows.

  Cataclys spun around quickly while drawing his blade. “Witch,” he greeted in a dangerous manner.

  “It is good to see you, Cataclys,” Kneeamara replied in her own deadly tone. “However, those two belong to me,” and she walked slowly towards them.

  “These children are not yours to corrupt. Your magic is stained, Kneeamara. It is like a spreading sickness and I am the cure,” Cataclys spoke in a deep voice that promised death and he lifted his sword to keep her attention away from Cogaro as he slid from the darkness behind her.

  “These children are mine,” said Kneeamara as her look grew distant and her smile wicked. “And so is yours,” she said as Cogaro’s blade stopped inches from her back.

  Cogaro froze in place and his eyes turned white as Cataclys roared and charged Kneeamara with his sword held high, but before he could drop the blade, Kneeamara spun out of the way and a fierce, sword swinging Cogaro stepped up to take her place. Their swords rang out as they came together and Cataclys stepped back, but was pursued by his son, who swung his sword furiously to drive his father back. Cataclys moved in quick steps, dodging Cogaro’s blade as he tried to work his way over to Kneeamara, who yelled for reinforcements. Men started running into the clearing and Cataclys became desperate and slammed Cogaro in the head with the pommel of his sword, knocking him unconscious. With incredible animal strength, Cataclys scooped Cogaro up from the forest floor as Kneeamara’s men surrounded him.

  “I was hoping to see your death at the hands of your own son,” said Kneeamara in a cold voice and she used her hand to give the signal for her men to attack. Her soldiers lifted their weapons and advanced on the pair, and as Cataclys carried his unconscious son in his arms, he began to look around for an opportunity to escape. The soldiers inched closer and Cataclys could see the fear in their eyes as the loud cries of both animals and men filtered throughout the forest.

  “It’s a shame that Minx isn’t here to die with you, Cataclys. I’ll be sure to find her and send her your way.” Kneeamara spoke with disdain as her soldiers made ready to kill, but before they could drop their blades on Cataclys, a huge black lion broke from the tree line and crashed into them.

  Madion’s roar was deafening as the soldiers attempted to stand their ground, but when a fierce pack of wolves rushed into the clearing as well, their courage broke and they fought as they fled into the trees.

  Cataclys quickly backed away while carrying Cogaro, and he moved over to the cage where Tris had been just moments earlier and found both children gone.

  23

  Year of the Frost Horn 2318 A.A.

  Air skimmed across the soft feathers of the great Northern owl as it soared north to the towering mountains. The large bird flew with grace on long outstretched wings, gliding and banking from one side to the next. It was dangerous in the sky with its razor-sharp talons and powerful beak, and it had feathers that were snowy white, and they covered a hard, durable skin that kept most predators’ claws at bay.

  The owl had flown out from the watchtower, Eight, early in the morning, carrying a message that was fastened about its short leg. It flew high above the treetops of the Timberlands towards the Titan Mountains and the Northern towers that rested on the rocky slopes. News had reached the garrison at Eight that Prince Hadias was razing the forest towns and their direction was leading them toward the famous watchtower. A plea for help was written in a message and sent to the North to inform them of King Uriah’s intrusion into the Timberlands.

  A rider had gone out as well, carrying the same message, but across land on a fast horse. The soldier had spurred his mount repeatedly as he burst from the gates on his long ride to the North.

  The great owl soared fast as it closed on the huge mountain range. The Titans towered above the rest of the peaks, and the pass known as The Scar appeared as a brutal wound that opened up the mountain chain all the way to the North.

  The large bird glided for a time, riding the unpredictable air currents down and then beating its great wings hard to gain elevation once more. It soared gracefully above the trees, turning from one side to the next until razor-sharp talons tore into the back of its head as a large war-hawk came from high above and collided with the white owl, sending both birds into a downward spiral. The great owl banked hard and pulled itself free from the hawk’s bloody claws as it dove for the cover of the tall forest trees. The large hawk crashed through the leaves and branches as it pursued the other bird and they both twisted and turned through a course of reaching tree limbs. The owl clipped a thick branch and it spun out of control and fell through a tangle of hard breaking limbs, and the war-hawk dove fast behind it, screeching and closing fast. Closer and closer the twisting birds became as they fell through the debris of tree branches, and just before they crashed to the forest floor, the Northern owl spread its wings to slow its decent and thrust its talons up into the chest of the mighty hawk where it latched on tight and spun, twisting the other bird underneath it as they crashed to the hard ground.

  The owl lay still for only a moment before it struggled to clear itself from the dead hawk and the forest wreckage. It hobbled away on an injured leg and then pushed itself up high into the air to land on a lofty tree branch where it rested briefly. The Northern bird turned its head sharply from side to side, waiting patiently before taking back to the skies.

  Screech, came the loud cry from another Asarian war-hawk as it sat in a tree and stared down at the injured messenger bird. The owl stared back, and the large hawk lifted from its perch and glided to another branch, positioning itself again and again while the owl just watched and waited.

  Screech, came another cry from yet another war-hawk as it too sat staring from a high tree branch.

  Screech, and then there were three and the owl turned its head quickly from one hawk to the next. Then it pushed it
self off into the air and the three hawks tore through branches and leaves in persuit. The owl flew with desperation and it twisted and turned through the trees, flying low and arcing around large trunks and then turning straight up and forcing its way through the tangle of branches and leaves. The hawks followed close behind, screeching in the owl’s wake and pushing the tired bird on, knowing it was injured.

  The great owl banked hard to the right and then slowed briefly to allow one of the hawks to come up along beside it. Then the owl slammed hard against the war-hawk and drove it into a thick tree. Blood and feathers erupted into a small curtain and the two remaining hawks flew through it as they chased the owl on.

  The Northern bird flew from the tangle of the thick forest branches and it leveled out to skim just above the treetops. The two hawks could be seen just below as they continued to fly through the maze of branches and leaves. They soared together at a high speed for a short distance, and then one of the hawks shot out from the trees and clipped the back of the owl. Again, the white bird dove into the trees, spiraling down into the leafy branches in an uncontrolled dive. Just before the owl hit the ground, it banked hard and leveled out and the hawk that was on its tail went headfirst into the hard forest floor.

  The great Northern owl flew with all the speed it could muster until it once again broke from the forest and pounded the air with its great wings to get away from the last hawk. The two birds came together in fits, lashing out with talons and beaks and then disengaging to fly on, getting closer and closer to the Titan Mountains where the Northern towers sat waiting.

  Eventually, the hawk began to tire as the two birds flew on, and the persistent bird’s attacks became less effective. So, with one last effort, the hawk flew recklessly into the owl, latching on with its sharp talons and wrapping the Northern bird tight in its strong wings.

  They began free-falling from the sky as the hawk pulled the owl into a downward spiral. The Northern bird fought desperately to break free from the hawk but the Asarian bird was relentless and would not let go. Farther and farther they fell until the ground came up to meet them in a crash of small broken bones and feathers.