by Brian Murray
***
Malice stretched his neck to each side, then attacked. Thade parried and sent a lethal slash aimed at Malice’s head. The taller warrior ducked under the blow and swayed to the side, avoiding decapitation. Thade shuffled to his left and stepped forward, practicing a gladiator’s first rule of combat—a moving target is harder to hit than one remaining motionless. Malice stepped back and raised his broadsword to stop a slice aimed for his throat. The swords clanged and Malice rolled his blade, but Thade’s wrists were nimble. He countered the roll and thrust forward with his right sword, but he just missed Malice’s face. Quickly, Thade dropped his right arm and blocked a swipe aimed at his side. He immediately riposted with his left, hacking at Malice’s head. Malice ducked below the blade, but met Thade’s right knee that hammered into his nose. Malice raised his head quickly and lifted his broadsword just in time to stop both of Thade’s blades removing his head. Malice kicked out, forcing the former gladiator to step back.
Thade rolled his head and clicked the bones in his neck. He saw blood, almost black in colour, trickle from his opponent’s nose. An evil smile graced Thade’s handsome face. He leapt forward.
***
Zane blinked slowly and looked down at his left shoulder. He saw the end of a black bolt jutting from a bleeding wound. He frowned and looked up at Fury who, at his side, held a small black crossbow in his hand. His left arm was useless, but Zane still charged forward and hacked at the man with the one sword in his right hand. He slashed for the warrior’s throat, but Fury blocked and parried. Zane swayed to his left, avoiding a lunge. He smashed his right knee into Fury’s armoured stomach. Then as Fury rose, Zane smashed the hilt of his sword against the back of his opponent’s helm. Fury fell forward. Zane reversed his sword and stabbed down, but Fury rolled clear. The king’s sword only sank into the soft earth. Zane turned quickly, pulling his sword free, his breathing ragged.
Fury ripped his helm free. “Now you die!” screamed the warrior, lunging for Zane’s throat. Zane turned from the stab and smashed his elbow into Fury’s face, crushing his nose. Fury jumped back. He wiped his nose and looked down at the blood mixed with rain on his gauntlet. Screaming, he raised his sword and charged at the calm young king.
***
Platos stood on the wagon and hammered his mace down, crushing a Caynian’s skull. Not stopping to enjoy the small victory, he hacked to his left, hitting another in the shoulder. Twisting to his right, he swayed back. As he fell, he arched his war-hammer at his attacker. The heavy metal head caught the Caynian on the side of the cranium and ripped away part of its face. Platos quickly rolled to the left and avoided a huge axe blade that became buried into the wooden wagon. He pushed himself to his feet with a grunt and saw only one clansman fought with him.
***
A clansman threw a tulwar towards the unarmed Danf. The young man deftly caught the weapon and in the same motion lashed out. He cut a Talon Hunter across the face. Not waiting, Danf leapt forward and buried his sword up to the hilt into its chest. He used his knee to pull the blade free, then shoulder-charged the dying beast from the mound. Danf had been ordered to hold the mound. He had failed in this task, but the young clansman had been brought up with honour. He would kill every beast that stepped onto the mound or die trying. At that moment, the latter seemed more likely.
***
Everything seemed to slow down. Fury’s lunge came towards Zane in slow motion. In Zane’s mind, he heard Dax’s voice.
“You must remain cool and calm. Only then will you find an opening. Then do not hesitate . . . kill him.”
Zane smiled as he swayed back and to his left. He lifted his sword above Fury’s lunge. Fury realised his mistake, but could not stop himself. He had enjoyed being solid again, but he had not indulged in the blood of mortals as much as Chaos. That was his last thought. Zane continued his counter-attack. His blade touched Fury’s neck. It sliced through the skin, then flesh, slashed open his jugular and carotid, and ground against Fury’s neck bones. The momentum of his upwards lash had turned Zane to stand before the dying warrior. He looked into his opponent’s red eyes and saw disbelief. Fury slowly pitched forward, his shoulder clanging against Zane’s breastplate.
Zane turned his head and whispered, “That’s for my father.” He pulled his shoulder back and let the warrior fall to the ground. But before the warrior hit the ground, he and his weapons vanished.
Zane looked up letting teeming rain mix with tears. “Father, rest in peace,” he whispered. Then he fell to his knees and pitched forward, landing face first in the sodden earth.
***
The Dark One spun quickly. He saw his opponent’s swords were snagged in his jet-black cloak. He attacked quickly. Rowet jumped to his left, trying to free his swords. The Dark One hacked to one side, but his black sword only slapped against Rowet’s armoured back. Still, the power of the blow knocked Rowet from his feet. The Dark One turned and loomed over the fallen emperor. He raised the Blade of Yallas.
“Now you die,” hissed the Dark One.
Rowet did not reply, but kicked the man in his armoured groin, sending him staggering backwards. Rowet rose groggily and freed his swords, but he slipped. As he slipped, the Dark One lunged forward. The Blade of Yallas punctured the Chosen’s armour. Rowet grunted when he felt the icy cold blade pierce his chest. He thought of his daughter and tried to stab out with one of his swords, but the Dark One twisted his blade. The emperor’s face contorted in pain, but he made no noise. He struck out at the Dark One again, but his sword only lightly slapped the black armour. Rowet had no strength left. His grip weakened and his swords clanged on the marble floor. His eyes dimmed. Gradually, the Chosen, the Emperor of the Phadrine, slipped off the black sword and slumped on the floor. He did not rise.
***
Rayth pounded and hacked at Chaos, but he could not breach the warrior’s defences. Chaos smiled as Rayth continued his frenzied attack. He realised the mortal was beginning to tire. He had been fighting all day and now it was close to dusk. He arched a mighty chop, but Chaos crossed his black short swords above his head and braced himself. Clang! Chaos held the axe blade at bay. He pushed up, sending Rayth reeling.
Rayth rose slowly to his feet, breathing heavily.
“Catch your breath, old man. There is no game killing a man who is not ready.”
“Like Dax?” hissed Rayth. “The man gave you a chance and you killed him in cold blood. You have no honour. So, save your breath and come here, you whoreson.” Rayth looked into Chaos’s red eyes and laughed. “You were scared. That’s why you killed him in cold blood. Like all evil, you are driven by fear.”
Chaos roared with rage and attacked Rayth. He slashed the man several times and Rayth fell heavily on his back. Chaos jumped high and slammed both his swords through Rayth’s armour, pinning his shoulders to the ground.
“One thing about evil,” hissed Chaos menacingly, “we always win.” Chaos wrenched his blades free and Rayth bit his lip to stop a scream from escaping.
“Come,” ordered the Dark One to Chaos.
The silver-clad warrior looked at his master’s broad back. Rage danced in the warrior’s eyes. He looked down at Rayth and spat.
“Bleed to death, you pitiful whoreson.” Chaos turned and followed the Dark One towards the sound of clashing metal.
***
Thade and Malice circled each other. “You are not worthy to face me, mortal. Leave now and I will let you live.”
Thade chuckled. “I will not let evil roam my lands. Come and taste my blade, for it desires your blood.”
Malice did not reply, but attacked again. Gripping his broadsword with two hands, he aimed for Thade’s head. At the last moment, he rolled his wrist and the blade slapped against Thade’s shoulder. Malice stepped in close. Thade punched the warrior, using the weight of his sword for extra power. Thade slashed underarm towards Malice’s head. Malice swayed and the blade whistled harmlessly by. Thade spun around and clanked his other swor
d backhanded against Malice’s breastplate. Malice stepped back. Thade steadied himself and charged in. Malice blocked a vicious blow to his head, but again Thade punched the warrior. Malice counterattacked and smashed his broadsword towards Thade’s chest. The former gladiator blocked the blow, but his own sword slapped against his chest. The blade pierced his leather tunic and nicked his skin. Thade stepped back, but Malice followed him. Thade deflected a blow to his head and another to his side. Thade slipped. Malice saw his opening and hacked down. Thade saw the attack and scrambled to his feet. Instead of the sword cleaving through his shoulder, it slapped against his upper torso, snapping his collarbone on the right side. Thade dropped the sword in his right hand. Malice pulled back and with all his might lunged forward. Thade swayed, but too slowly. The black broadsword pierced his body. It buried itself deep in his side and exploded out of his back in a plume of crimson.
Ireen screamed.
Thade staggered, but he still had some strength left. He dropped the sword in his left hand and grabbed Malice’s wrist. He dragged the warrior closer, pulling the black blade through his body. His face was now merely a hand span away from Malice. Thade looked into the warrior’s victorious, dancing red eyes.
“I gave you a chance, but now you die,” said Malice softly, twisting the blade. His mistake.
Thade smiled a bloody smile and his left fist flashed before Malice’s eyes.
“Missed!” Malice tried to say, but no word came out.
The warrior did not feel the dagger blade slice through his throat, but he heard Thade’s words. “Evil will not roam on my lands—be gone.”
Malice stumbled backwards and fell to his knees, desperately trying to stem the flow of blood from his throat. He looked up at Thade. Gone was the happiness dancing in his red eyes. They now shone with shock and surprise. Malice pitched forward and his body disappeared before his face struck the muddy ground. The black sword in Thade’s side also disappeared and he grunted.
Ireen ran up to Thade and stopped a stride before him. Thade smiled broadly and started to say something but before the words came, a black blade exploded through the young man’s shoulder.
***
The Dark One and Chaos walked out into the garden in time to watch Malice disappear. Chaos immediately stabbed the man with his back to him. Chaos pulled his sword free and Thade fell face first, splashing noisily in the mud at Ireen’s feet. His body lay still. Two Children of the Light lay in the mud, dying.
Ireen fell to her knees and turned Thade over. Tenderly, she wiped the mud from his face. She looked up. If a glare could kill, then both the Dark One and Chaos would have withered to death. But they did not. Megan had crawled around and cradled Zane’s head in her lap. Both men were close to death, but they were strong and they were still breathing.
The sun started to dip in the west turning the clouds red; red, the colour of death.
“Your men did well,” the Dark One called happily, mocking the Divine One. “But it was all in vain. I have four Children of the Light here and they are to be executed. Then I will seek out the last and I will rule this realm.”
“Think again,” boomed a voice behind the Dark One. Ireen looked beyond him and saw two red eyes shimmering in the doorway.
***
Gan-Goran needed all of his power to save Maldino and only now removed the cloaking spell he had placed around Tanas. He concentrated on healing Maldino. He had nearly finished, but more and more Kharnacks died around him defending their fallen chieftain. Only a small ring of clansmen remained. Gan-Goran sighed and opened his eyes. The man’s wounds were healed. He looked up and saw the Kharnacks were dying at an alarming rate. He shook his head. He had healed a man who would be hacked to pieces in moments.
***
A sensation hit the Dark One like a blow, but he did not turn. “So, you are here. Well, you will not live much longer. I have seen the futures and I will not be stopped. I have seen myself on the thrones of the mortals. This time you cannot stop me. Chaos, please.”
Chaos smiled, turned, and stepped forward. He watched as his brethren nodded to him and stabbed his swords into the ground. His brother’s eyes dimmed and he tied a scarf over them.
“What trickery is this?” asked Chaos.
“No trickery. I just want revenge for you killing my friend,” said Tanas, smiling. “Slayer does not want to waste his goddamn time with you. So come, you whoreson. Come and taste my vengeance.”
“Vengeance?” asked Chaos, confused.
“For Dax. You remember him, the warrior with violet eyes?”
Chaos frowned. “Who was this man with the violet eyes? Was he a god?”
“No, just my friend,” hissed Tanas, attacking Chaos. The speed of the two warriors’ swordplay was bewildering. They lunged, parried, attacked, and riposted in a blur of black. They jumped and spun, and only the continuous clang of metal against metal could be heard.
Tanas moved in close and blocked two wild lashes. He slashed out, but Chaos had moved. Swaying, Tanas avoided another murderous hack and ducked under a vicious lunge. The two men circled each other, ready to dance the dance of death. Chaos attacked first, lunging high. Tanas parried, rolled his wrist, and stabbed towards Chaos’s right eye. Chaos swayed left and slashed for Tanas’s stomach. Tanas jumped back and in one motion slashed up, then down. Chaos screamed. He held his hand to the left side of his face. When he removed his hand, he had a wound running down the left side identical to the right. The only difference was that the gash on the left side was bleeding.
Roaring with anger, Chaos attacked Tanas. Tanas was forced back by the fury of Chaos’s assault. Several of Chaos’s blows cut through Tanas’s long coat, but none touched the man’s flesh. Tanas slashed out high and Chaos jumped back. Tanas crossed his swords before his chest and bowed his head. Rainwater ran from the brim of his hat and splashed on the muddy ground. Chaos attacked. Tanas blocked a blow with his right and another with his left. Stepping in close, Tanas head-butted Chaos, smashing his nose. “Learned that one from Dax,” said the ageless warrior, smiling.
Furious, Chaos charged in, lunging high. Tanas blocked the stab with his right sword. He rolled around and lashed out backwards, slicing through Chaos’s tight ponytail. Tanas skidded to a halt and again stood motionless with his swords crossed before him, his head bowed. Chaos looked down at his ponytail on the ground and smiled back at Tanas. “Learn that one from the old man?” he sneered and attacked again. The two warriors clashed swords and they faced each other, their noses almost touching. “Now you die, brother,” hissed Chaos.
Tanas pushed Chaos back, but the armoured warrior leapt forward, his swords a blur. Calmly, Tanas blocked all of the blows, but one pierced his defences and caught the warrior high on his cheek.
“ENOUGH!” boomed Slayer’s voice. He removed the scarf and stuffed it into a pocket in his coat. His red eyes blazed at Chaos. “You are not ready to face me, boy. Go before I end you now. Become windborne or die.”
“I will not run from you, brother. My time has come. I am our master’s true champion.”
“Your master, not mine,” said Slayer, standing motionless with his swords crossed before him.
Chaos roared and charged in.
Ireen blinked and missed the killing move. Both of Slayer’s arms swept up and out, exposing his broad chest. Chaos stepped forward and touched one of his swords against Slayer’s chest. Slayer stood still with his arms outstretched. Both of his swords dripped with blood. Chaos tried to push on the blade, but his legs failed. He dropped his swords and touched his throat. Pulling them away he saw his dark blood. He tried to talk, but blood bubbled out of his mouth. His red eyes dimmed and Chaos, shimmered then disappeared.
Megan looked up at her man. “Tanas?” she asked, fearful of his red eyes.
“No, not Tanas. Slayer,” answered the warrior, smiling. Her eyes widened and Slayer’s smile broadened. With devastating speed, he crossed the swords above his head. He blocked the Blade of Yalla
s from crushing his skull.
***
Platos battled hard, but was pushed farther and farther into the dead-end alley. He smashed his war-hammer into another Caynian. The Caynian blocked a blow from its left, but it sent Platos crashing into the side of the alley. He pushed himself away from the wall and ducked below a wild hack aimed for his head. Platos heard a shrill scream. The last of his comrades had been killed. Platos thought of his wife and roared with anger. He stabbed forward and caught a Caynian in the midriff. The massive warrior doubled over. With all of his strength, Platos arced his war-hammer underhanded upwards. The metal head caught the Caynian in the face and sent it cannoning into its brethren. Platos stepped forward and aimed a deadly blow to another Caynian’s head. But the Caynian grabbed the war-hammer. The massive warrior looked at the man and nonchalantly slapped him away. Platos landed heavily at the end of the alley. Using the wall as a brace, the smithy rose on his weak legs.
“Come on then. I am Platos, Warlord to the Chosen, his master armourer and a blacksmith. I have killed enough of you monsters and now I am tired. Let’s get it on.”
“You have done well, little man,” hissed the leading Caynian, its voice deep and gravelly. “Time for you to die.”
The Caynians stalked slowly forward.
***
Danf and three other clansmen continued to fight on the mound. All around them, men and beasts fell. But more men than beasts died. Danf watched heavy-hearted as another of his clansmen was ripped apart. The young man ducked under a wild swipe, but he was a fraction too slow and fell to the ground. He tried to rise, but his legs failed him. One of the other clansmen helped him to his feet. Another gargled scream erupted. Only two clansmen remained on the mound by the western gate. Danf closed his eyes and dug deep into his soul. He nodded to his friend and the two clansmen stood back-to-back.
