by Brian Murray
“Yes sir,” they said in chorus.
Urkin pointed to the first and said, “Go to the captain of the archers. I want a defensive line halfway up the western slope. Tell them to use their crossbows in three rows.”
“Yes sir.”
“You,” said Urkin, talking to the other messenger. “Take the same message to the archers on the southern slope.”
“Yes sir.”
Urkin watched the first man ride down the western slope and skid his horse to a stop near one of the archer captains. The man delivered his orders and Urkin watched the archers move along the slope, forming a long line. The general could not see the southern slope and assumed the men there would carry out his orders. Urkin returned his eye to the battle and squinted through the rain. He was itching to join his men, but he knew he had to watch the battle from the hill.
***
Zane was still on his horse, fighting deep within the Dread’s camp. Around him, he still had members of the Violet Eyes. Many still defended the king, whilst many others had dismounted and followed their emperor. Zane swayed in his saddle and dodged a swinging axe aimed at his head. He pulled on his reins and his horse kicked out at the Shadow, pulverising its face. Zane wheeled his horse and saw several Talon Hunters had surrounded Maldino and a group of Kharnacks. The young king dug his heels into his horse’s ribs and surged forward. Twenty Dar-Phadrin clansmen followed the king. Zane’s horse cannoned into the back of the first beast and some of the Kharnacks leapt forward and plunged their swords into it. One of the Kharnack warriors had his back ripped away when he attacked the fallen Talon Hunter, his scream of pain chilling Zane’s blood.
The Dar-Phadrin followed Zane and used their horses as battering rams. They knocked over two Talon Hunters. One of the horsemen was ripped from his mount, screaming loudly in pain and terror.
The Kharnacks charged into the creatures, led by Maldino. When all of the beasts were dead, Maldino looked up at Zane and smiled a bloody smile.
“Thank you, Storm Eyes.”
Zane did not understand the meaning of the name, so he just nodded and wheeled his horse into another attack. Maldino and his Kharnacks did not wait either; they screamed their war cries and attacked more of the beasts.
***
Rayth and his diminished unit of axe-wielders neared the centre of the Dread’s camp. Four of his comrades had fallen attacking the Dread. Bloodied and tired, Rayth looked about for more of the enemy. He did not have to look far, for there were beasts all around them. But something caught his eye. To his left was a tall, bald black warrior fighting alone against a Shadow. Rayth instantly recognised the Chosen and charged to his aid.
“Axe-wielders, to me!” bellowed Rayth, running. His unit followed without question. Rayth swung his axe, catching the Shadow behind its knee. The Shadow reared and turned on its new attacker. The Chosen seized on the opportunity and hacked at the creature’s back. The Shadow turned back on Rowet, who crouched below a strike aimed for his head. Rayth’s unit arrived and started chopping at the Shadow. The beast turned again to face the axe-wielders, and one of the men moved too slowly. The Shadow lashed out and caught him. It smashed its axe through his armour, crushing the axe-wielder’s chest. Rayth roared with rage and buried his axe in the Shadow’s head, crunching through its thick skull. The Shadow fell.
“Thank you,” said the Chosen, wiping his head with the sleeve of his tunic.
Rayth stared out through the gushing rain, behind the Chosen towards the north. “Oh no!” he shouted and again ran off.
***
Something caused Zane to look over his shoulder. He peered through the rain and his heart leapt. “NO!” screamed the king, turning his horse and galloping north.
***
Maldino heard Zane’s cry and looked in the direction the young king was heading. “Kharnacks, to me!” bellowed the chieftain, following Zane on foot.
***
Chaos and his Caynians marched off to the northeast and started killing clansmen who charged at them. One Caynian killed three clansmen who attacked the massive warrior with one murderous swipe of its huge broadsword. Chaos’s swords were a blur of black, slicing, cutting, and killing with every stroke. Chaos and the Caynians carved a swathe through the fighting. In their wake was a trail littered with lifeless bodies. Twenty Caynians surrounded Chaos as they reached the pocket of men who were causing the most problems. At the centre, Thade and Dax fought back-to-back. Thade watched the massive men coming towards them and surged forward. The Caynians let the former gladiator pass. Thade now faced Chaos.
Dax turned and watched Thade be enveloped by massive warriors. His heart pounded as he knew his boy had walked into trouble. Screaming at the top of his voice, Dax ran forward. One of his death-dealers crunched into a Caynian’s skull. He ducked under a slash and chopped upwards. He killed another Caynian, burying his short axe in its jaw. Dax stepped forward.
***
Thade faced the warrior in silver, grinning mischievously. The man was dressed in silver and Thade knew this was one of the Dark One’s bodyguards. All around the two the Caynians faced outwards, stopping men from entering the ring. The enemy politely bowed, then attacked. Thade just managed to stop all of the hacks, slices, and lashes from breaking through his defence. The former gladiator had never known anyone as fast as this warrior. Thade counter-attacked the enemy. He hacked high and stabbed low. The silver-armoured warrior blocked both efforts. Thade spun around and swiftly slashed out backhanded, but his strike only bounced off the back of the enemy’s silver armour. The warrior stepped forward and turned in the same move. Thade blocked a thrust to his neck and riposted, rolling his wrist over the enemy’s black sword. The silver-clad warrior swayed to the left, dodging the stab. The two men circled. The enemy’s eyes blazed blood red and he attacked again. This time he broke through Thade’s defence and cut the former gladiator along the collarbone. Thade jumped back and took up a defensive stance. He knew how close he had come to death—a single finger’s width. The silver-armoured warrior nodded and attacked again. The enemy slashed low and Thade slipped on the muddy ground. He stumbled sideways and the silver-clad warrior slashed out. Fortunately for Thade as he fell forward, the blade only slapped him on the side of the head. But the young man fell heavily onto the ground. The silver-armoured warrior loomed over the fallen man, ready to deliver death.
***
Dax continued to hack a path to his boy. He could just see the two men circle behind the last Caynian in his path. The Caynian lashed out with his huge broadsword but Dax swayed backwards, avoiding the blade. Dax ducked underneath the next slash and came up swiftly, smashing his axes into the massive warrior’s sides. Behind the Caynian, Dax saw Thade fall. He roared again, yanked both of his blades free, and plunged them into the Caynian’s chest. Using his awesome power, Dax pushed the dying Caynian over and stepped into the circle. He wrenched his death-dealers free and ran to Thade’s aid.
***
Chaos plunged down, aiming for the fallen warrior’s throat.
Clang!
To his surprise, his black sword had been deflected by a short battle-axe. Chaos slowly looked up, his red eyes glowing menacingly. But even the mighty Chaos was shocked by the hatred and rage in the violet eyes staring back. Something touched Chaos’s soul. Something he had only tasted once before. Something he had only felt when defeated for the one and only time. He felt fear.
“Leave my boy alone,” hissed the old man, his voice promising more than just death.
***
Dax just managed to block the black sword from skewering Thade. He stared into the warrior’s red eyes and saw a twinkle in them, a twinkle he had seen before in men on battlefields and in arenas when they faced him. He saw fear.
***
Chaos stepped back from the fallen man and moved away, giving himself room. “A worthy opponent at last,” he said, smiling.
Dax stood in the circle of Caynians and the years washed off him like the teeming
rain. He felt young again and ready to fight the way he liked—one on one, arena rules. He had always thought this was an honourable way. Yes, they were fights to the death, but that was what the populace wanted, what Dax wanted—death. Dax returned the smile. “Let’s dance the dance,” he hissed, holding his blood-coated death-dealers up, ready.
Chaos stepped in and attacked the warrior. Dax had to step back under the flurry of cuts, swipes, and stabs. But nothing broke his defence. Dax roared and counterattacked. He hammered Chaos with vicious onslaught, the likes of which Chaos had never witnessed. Chaos found himself stepping backwards. Even more surprising to him, the man was still coming. Chaos ducked below a sweeping backhanded hack. Chaos remained down as Dax followed through with his other axe. With his anger building, Chaos lurched forward and attacked. Dax was again forced back. Chaos chopped down with both of his blades, but Dax crossed his axes above his head and held Chaos at bay. The two men were locked in a power struggle. Chaos pushed down, whilst Dax held his ground. Chaos looked into Dax’s violet eyes and saw the strain.
“Old men should know when to retire,” said Chaos casually.
Dax did not answer the man. With a grunt, he pushed up and forced Chaos back. Chaos slashed out at Dax’s throat as he stepped back. Dax raised his axe and just blocked the murderous blow. Again, Chaos looked into Dax’s cold eyes and the old warrior just shook his head. Chaos attacked again, and again forcing Dax back. The ringing of metal clashing against metal became one constant din, so quick was the duel. He felt himself getting close to the ring of Caynians, so Dax hacked back. Now Chaos was on the defensive while Dax chopped, hacked, and slashed with his death-dealers. Twice, Dax’s axes clanged against Chaos’s armour.
They paused.
The rain continued to pour as the two men circled each other. Dax nodded as steam rose from his body.
***
Thade groaned and looked up. Through blurry eyes he saw Dax circling the silver-armoured warrior. The former gladiator was in awe as he watched the pair hack, cut, attack, counterattack, and defend. At that moment, Thade realised how good Dax really was. Thade had just managed to defend himself against the armoured warrior. But not Dax, he rolled his massive shoulders then attacked, breaching the other’s defences. Pride swelled in Thade’s heart.
Dax surged forward, hacking at the silver-armoured warrior as controlled rage powered the old warrior’s tiring limbs. He continued his assault, pounding, clanging his axes against the other’s armour, while Chaos defended himself. The sharp ringing tone of metal striking metal dulled when Dax struck the silver body armour. Dax had too much power and Chaos fell to the ground under a flurry of mighty blows. Now Dax loomed over the fallen Chaos. Again, Dax nodded and smiled. He had won . . .
***
Thade watched Dax power the other warrior into submission. Then the unthinkable happened. Dax raised his arm ready to dispense death, but paused. He opened his mouth to say something. At that very moment, a Caynian stepped in behind and stabbed Dax in the back. Dax grunted, spun around, his long hair flailing, and buried one of his axes in his attacker’s face. The Caynian fell, blood as dark as pitch pumping from its ruined face. Turning quickly, Dax faced Chaos. His mouth dropped open. The warrior was already on his feet.
Chaos saw his chance and did not hesitate. He attacked again, but this time he had a smile on his face. Dax desperately tried to defend himself. He could hardly lift his left arm.
Thade tried to stand up, but his legs failed him, his head groggy from the earlier blow. He could not help his friend, his mentor, his “father.” Tears filled the younger man’s eyes.
Lightning streaked overhead, crackling loudly, illuminating dark angry storm clouds, the colour of tempered steel.
Dax continued to defend himself. He received several cuts, yet his eyes blazed with defiance. He searched deep into his soul and found some reserves. He attacked again.
Thunder clapped loudly and grumbled on and on, swiftly drowned out by the din of battle.
The old warrior dropped one of his axes and hacked at Chaos. Several more times, his axe clanged against the silver armour. Chaos stepped back, slipped on some blood, and fell onto his back.
Dax loomed over the man, breathing heavily. He stepped back and leaned on his axe, falling on one knee. “Get up,” he hissed, his chest heaving as he gulped air.
“KILL HIM!” screamed Thade.
Dax looked around at the fallen man and shook his head. In that moment, Thade looked into Dax’s eye and saw honour. No matter whom his opponent was or what he had done to him, he would not kill a man, in single combat, who had slipped. If he had been knocked down, then he would, but not if the man had slipped—arena rules.
Dax blinked slowly, rose, and turned to face Chaos. He lifted his axe, ready. But the thing about evil was—it had no rules, no honour. Chaos leapt to his feet and lunged forward. Dax stiffened and grunted. He stepped back and looked down at the blade that slid from his body. He looked up at his opponent and saw him smile—the fear-filled smile of a cheat. Dax so wanted the power to lift his axe and smash the man’s face. He could not; he could not feel his limbs. He fell to his knees and inhaled sharply as he landed. He turned his head and saw . . .
***
Thade watched Dax turn his head and smile. Then slowly, very slowly, the warrior pitched sideways. “NO!”
***
Zane saw the lunge and screamed at the top of his voice. He urged his horse forward and used it as a living weapon to hammer into the Caynians.
***
Rayth saw the lunge and his heart fell. He lost all motivation, until he saw Zane charge his horse into the fray to reach Dax. “Axe-wielders, to our king!” All around Rayth, axe-wielders heard his call and ran with him.
***
The Chosen saw the action as though in slow motion. He felt a sharp pain clamp his heart. The emperor realised he was losing a great friend and raced forward.
***
All around men surged forward and the sheer numbers forced the Caynians and Chaos back.
***
Thade crawled forward, the world swimming from the blow to his head to reach Dax. The men who formed a protective ring around the fallen warrior pushed the Caynians and Chaos back. He reached Dax, pulled his head into his lap, and began wiping away mud from the old warrior’s face.
“Dax,” he said softly, tears flowing down his cheeks.
Dax opened his violet eyes and peered into Thade’s stormy-grey eyes. The older warrior smiled weakly. “What am I going to do with you? Cara’s gonna kill me for bringing you home with all those scratches.”
“If you don’t tell her, I won’t,” whimpered Thade through his tears. “Why?”
“I’m the best, boy, but that man knows no honour. But I have lived well and my time has come. I wish . . . ” Dax coughed up blood that dribbled from his lips, onto Thade’s hand. His body spasmed.
“You’re not going to let these few scratches beat you, are you?”
“There are more than a few, boy. I wish . . . I could be there for your wedding. I . . . ” Dax’s voice trailed off and the light slowly fades from his violet eyes.
Thade screamed. “Dax! No! No!” he muttered helplessly, clutching the man’s head to his chest, rocking back and forth, his body racked with sobs.
***
Dax stood on the northern slope overlooking the battlefield. Through the rain he could see Thade holding his body. He felt a presence next to him, but did not take his eyes off the scene below.
“I failed you,” he whispered, watching Zane jump from his horse and fall to his knees next to Thade. He watched as the young king tenderly put an arm around the man’s shoulders.
“No, you did not fail, you found him and gave him a purpose,” said the woman, Her voice sweet and musical.
Dax turned to face the Divine One. “My death gave him a purpose?” he hissed, returning his gaze to the scene below. A squad of axe-wielders gently lifted his axes and body. They walked from
the battlefield with a cloak draped over the body. Thade rose to his feet and gathered his swords. With his friends around him he stalked towards the city, then stopped and looked in Dax’s direction. “He has turned out to be a fine man,” added Dax proudly.
“He is not the one,” the Divine One informed him.
“Then I have failed. The boy found me and I took him in. I taught him everything I knew and what was it for? Nothing. Is that what you are telling me?”
“No, you have not failed. Look,” said the Divine One, pointing to their left. Cresting the hill rode another warrior dressed in silver armour. Dax watched in horror when the warrior removed his helm and red eyes like the fires of hell blazed down at the battle.
“Not another one,” whispered Dax, shaking his head. “They will have no chance.”
“Wait, Dax. Wait and see.”
“See my friends die?” snapped Dax. “No, thank you.”
“Wait, Dax,” urged the Divine One once more, holding Dax’s arm, stopping the warrior from turning away.
The warrior in silver armour slowly dismounted from his pale grey horse. Dax looked on, confused. The warrior started to remove his silver armour. Then he put on a long, tattered brown leather coat, with a split in the middle at the back, and a wide-brimmed hat. Dax shook his head when the warrior tied an old scarf over his eyes.
“Tanas,” Dax whispered softly.
“He is the one, Dax. Thank you for giving the man a purpose. Friendship was all he needed and you gave him that.”
“But he is . . . ”
“Yes, he is my champion from the Dark Wars. He was the champion of evil once called Death, but before that he was a man who took on the name of Slayer.”
“So, I have not failed?” he asked, looking for reassurance.
“You have not, my friend, and I thank you. Go in peace. Your wife is waiting for you.”
Dax looked down at the battlefield once more and at the thousands of bodies littering the shallow valley. He looked at his friends, Zane, Rayth, Rowet, and Maldino. He glanced again, to his left, at Tanas. But his gaze held onto Thade as he slowly faded.
