by Ronald Craft
Chapter 24
Images flashed in front of Ilian's eyes faster and faster until he felt bile rise in his throat. The spots of blood, the torture devices, they all became nothing more than splotches of red, silver and brown. Ilian squeezed his eyes shut and held his breath.
The spinning stop and he slowly opened his eyes. Instead of the torture room, he found himself standing in a field gazing at a far off castle. Men and women clad in armor stood around him, frozen in motion with swords, axes and bows in their hands.
Another regiment stood opposite them, their eyes fixed on the ones that stood next to Ilian. A large boulder, catapulted from the opposing regiment, hung in mid-air inches away from crushing those below it.
Blood dripped from their weapons, their armor, and soaked into the ground beneath them.
He gulped. This is a war. But, how did I get here?
Beside him stood a tall, dark shadow. It flickered and swayed as if unable to settle into any single form.
He scanned the horizon but didn't see any familiar markings. “Where am I?”
“You are inside one of my memories,” Bane's voice echoed from within the shadow.
Ilian blinked. “Inside your memories? How is that possible?”
The darkness swirled around Ilian, Bane's voice coming from every direction at once.“Your people worship us, believing us to be saviors.” Bane chuckled. “We are far from that. Watch and see what a god really is.”
Everything burst into motion, the people around him charging forward. Arrows were loosed, the boulder smashed those below it with a great explosion of earth, and screams resounded across the landscape as swords, axes and spears penetrated flesh.
To the back of each army stood a man. One clad in the darkest of armor, his shoulders broad and strong. A great sword hung from his belt. The other, a man clad in golden armor so bright it was almost blinding. He held a war hammer so large it seemed impossible for any human to wield.
“This was when Dagfinn and I took our battle into the human realm.” The darkness swayed towards the black armored figure. “We both took on the forms of humans and expanded our battle across the world.”
The two men strode across the battlefield seemingly unaware of the carnage taking place around them. Arrows bounced off them and attackers were blown back by an invisible force. The ground around Bale exploded upwards and encased him. A moment later, it was blown to pieces by a lightning bolt from the sky, and he exited the ruined earth unscathed.
Ilian watched the god's battle in awe. He had never seen anything like it before, nor could he describe the sheer power they wielded. How could beings like them even exist? There were many legends about the gods, their many powers and achievements, but he had always fancied them to be mere fairy tales dreamed up by people with lesser minds.
One thing bothered him in particular. “If you two were so powerful, why did you need humans? What was the purpose of getting us involved in your battle?”
“We fed off their sparks, their very essence. Dagfinn and I didn't belong on this world. Being here drained both our powers and our lives. In order to sustain ourselves, and fight, we needed to feed.”
Ilian's eyes widened. “Feed? You fed on us just so you could fight each other? What kind of a god are you?”
Bale's voice was full of amusement. “That's why I showed you this.”
He pointed towards the battle field. “Why would these people follow you two if you were feeding on them? How come they didn't forsake you? It doesn't make any sense.”
“We fed on the injured. After every battle there were always numerous injured soldiers on both sides. It was easy to drain the lives from their bodies without anyone noticing.” The darkness almost seemed to be smiling at Ilian.
“And nobody noticed?” Ilian felt his face reddening.
“Nobody lived long enough to notice. It was easy for us to recruit more. You humans are easily influenced.”
Ilian paced back and forth. How could my people be so blind to the things that went on right in front of them? They were sheep for the gods', used as nothing more than food so they could sustain themselves.
A cry sounded in front of him as one of the soldiers fell to the ground, his arm severed at the elbow. Tears glistened in his eyes, and his mouth hung agape. He raised his arm to try and block the downward sweep of his assailants axe, but it cleaved through flesh and bone.
The soldier's head dropped to the ground.
His attacker grinned, admiring the result of his superior fighting skills. He hefted his axe, and turned to rejoin the battle just as an arrow pierced his throat. The man dropped to the ground, gasping for air, choking on his own blood. His body spasmed several times before going still.
Ilian shook his head in disgust. This is all so pointless!
“Bale,” Ilian faced the shadow, “what happened between you and Dagfinn? It looked like you were both equal, yet here you are.”
The world around them blurred and shifted bringing forth another scene from within Bale's past. Ilian dropped to his knees and retched. After his stomach settled, he wiped his mouth and stood up.
They were in the outskirts of a city next to the sea. This time, however, there was no army. Not a living one, anyway. Dead bodies covered the beach around them and were swept away by each crash of the sea. Blood soaked into the sand and colored it a rust-brown color.
The wind gusted, and the stench of rotting flesh assaulted Ilian's nose. Waves crashed into the shore and devoured bodies into the hungry sea. Maggots burst out of the eyes of a nearby corpse and spilled onto the ground beneath it.
Ilian covered his mouth and swallowed. “Gods...”
“That's right, gods. We did this. Remember that.”
Dagfinn and Bale were locked in battle. Each clang of their weapons sent ripples of air and sand flying in all directions. Ilian shielded his eyes against the wave of sand, but it blew right through him.
The two men's teeth were bared, their armor shattered into pieces, but they continued their struggle. Their arms trembled with exertion, feet fighting for purchase in the sand. Dagfinn's bright blue eyes bore into Bale's golden eyes.
They both grunted and strained, their weapons smashing together with enough force to split a man in two. Sweat poured from both, but neither god relented in their attacks.
“Bale, what is this?”
Bale's voice deepened with emotion. “This was the day I died. Or, at least, as close to death as a god could get.”
Ilian watched as the battle ensued. “How can a god can lose against another god? You both seem equal in every way.”
“I was betrayed.”
He turned his head. “Betrayed by who? Who on this world would even dare stand up against you? I would have run for my life if I saw you two battling.”
Bale was silent for a moment. The dark cloud turned into a resemblance of his face from the past. “My own son.”
“Your son? Thal?” Ilian took a step back. Thal had mentioned getting his revenge on Bale. With his desire for power, as well as Bale's abandonment, revenge must have been all he desired.
He ran his hand through his hair. Revenge. It's all I thought about too. If I stayed on that path, would I have ended up like Thal? Ilian shuddered at the thought.
“We were forbidden from ever taking a human as our partner, but one night I was overcome with lust. A particular woman intrigued me and, despite the fact that she would inevitably become my food, I took her to bed. Nine moons later, Thal was born.”
Ilian pressed his hand against his head. “Thal told me that you abandoned him and laughed in his face when he sought your help. Are you really so surprised that he'd go against you?”
Bale shifted his form again and drifted towards Ilian. “He wanted my power, nothing more. No matter what he might have told you, he's always been treacherous. Thal begged for me to give him the power to bring his mother back, but I saw his true purpose.
He thought that by defeating me, he could become a full fledged god. Watch.”
Ilian turned back to the fight taking place. The two gods were deadlocked now and neither gave up their ground. He could just hear their voices over the crash of the ocean behind him.
“Bale, give up. It's time for this to end.”
“You're the one that needs to stop, brother. You have no business here.” Bale shoved Dagfinn back, and brought his sword around, but it was stopped by Dagfinn's massive war hammer.
Dagfinn jumped away from Bale and raised his hand in front of him. “Then, you leave me no choice brother.” Dagfinn whispered something and tendrils of flame burst from the sand, wrapping around Bale's arms, legs and neck.
Bale laughed. “You think this will stop me? This is nothing.”
Dagfinn smirked. “It's not this you should be worried about.” He waved his hands again, and a wall of flame formed in front of Bale. A man stepped from within it, a knife sizzling with dark power in his hand.
Bale's expression changed. “Thal, what are you doing here?” He struggled against his bonds, but as they broke, new ones replaced them.
“I've come for what's mine, father.” Thal plunged the blade into Bale's chest. Where the blade touched, flesh sizzled and melted away. Blood spurted from Bale's chest, covering Thal's face and arm, but he continued to cut through skin and bone. Bale's eyes and mouth were wide open, and he screamed as his life was cut from him. In a matter of moments, Thal extracted the blackened heart of Bale and held it in his hands. Even removed from Bale's body it still continued to beat.
“At last. Your power is mine.” Thal stared at the heart in his hand, his eyes glazed over with a madness that Ilian had never seen before.
This is the man that stood in front of me and so passionately talked about Bale's betrayal? He's lying to himself. Thal no longer cares about his mother, or even being abandoned. All he desires is power.
He shook his head. But, if Bale was defeated by Thal, then how come he doesn't still have the heart? How did it end up inside of me?
“Bale, how did yo—”
“I knew it was only a matter of time until you asked. This was my last memory until I was planted inside of you. It was your life force that revived me. I've been dormant for all these years.”
Ilian raised his hands. “Bale, you must know something. How did all of this happen to me? Why did I end up with the heart of a god inside of me? Please, tell me.”
The shapeless form that was Bale began to disperse. “That's all I know. I am curious as to how I ended up in this predicament too. I will be watching.”
Ilian suddenly remembered the chair and the blood that pooled on the floor beneath him. “Bale, wait!”
The world went black and the torture chamber slammed back around him. He coughed and almost lost consciousness as all the pain in his body returned all at once. Ilian's breathing was ragged, and the room swam as he tried to fight off the dizziness.
How long was I out? My body feels weaker than before. He tried to break free of his bonds, but it was a fruitless endeavor.
I don't have much time left. If I die now...
There was a loud crash above him followed by screams. Sounds of fighting ensued and something exploded. What kind of person would be stupid enough to attack this place?
The door splintered into pieces as a man tumbled through it. He lay unmoving in a pool of his own blood. A man bearing a pair of glowing red eyes, long hair, and a simple pair of slacks stepped through the doorway. He rubbed the stump where his hand at once been as his gaze settled on Ilian.
“Amaren. What are you doing here?”
Amaren walked over and spoke as he untied Ilian from the chair. “Told ya' that I'd be keeping my eye on you. I can't let the boy that took my hand die in a place like this. I'll be the one to take your life.”
“Gee, thanks.” His voice was just above a whisper. There was hardly the strength left in him to speak, let alone move.
“I just hope you live long enough for me to get you to a healer. Those wounds aren't deep, but you've lost a lot of blood already. If you died it'd ruin my day.” Amaren grinned and lifted Ilian up off the chair.
Ilian groaned as the spikes slid out of his body, and fresh blood gushed from within the wounds. He didn't understand how the man could be smiling in this kind of situation.
Of all people to rescue me, it had to be him...
“I can't heal you, but I can close up these wounds for now. This is going to hurt. A lot.” Amaren laid Ilian on the floor and pressed his hands onto Ilian's skin. “Here goes.”
Heat spread all across Ilian's body, searing his flesh. He felt as if he would burst into flames at any moment. It penetrated every part of his body, delving deeper inside of him until Ilian thought he would explode. As quick as it began, it was over. He sucked in air through clenched teeth, and fought against the urge to cry out.
Even so, tears still betrayed him.
“Okay, that'll stop the bleeding. Let's get out of here.” Amaren tossed Ilian over his shoulder, and ran up the stairs, taking three steps at a time.
Ilian bounced up and down on Amaren's back, blacking out on several occasions. A few stragglers attacked them, but Amaren disposed of them with little effort. Before long, they were outside the building, and Amaren ran through a field with tall grasses that slapped against Ilian's face.
“Ow. Put me down.”
Amaren came to a halt. and lowered Ilian to the ground. “I wouldn't try walking if I were you. It's not going to happen.”
Ilian rubbed his face. “Where are we?”
Amaren looked around. “Somewhere in the outskirts of Belport. The city is only about a half a day's journey from here.”
“Belport. They have ships there, right?”
Amaren nodded.
“You up for a bit of a sea excursion?”
“A sea excursion, eh? Where are you planning on going?” Amaren cocked his head.
“The Sylvatya Islands.”
“Oh yeah? For what purpose?” Amaren's eyes twinkled.
Ilian's voice hardened. “Someone did something to me when I was a child. I intend on finding out what that was.”
“Well then,” Amaren picked Ilian up and threw him back over his shoulder, “I guess we'd better get moving.”
Ilian drifted into a fevered sleep filled with blood, maggots, and a shadow that laughed as he struggled to flee the terror that surrounded him.
