A Lich's Love (Death Knight Series Book 5)

by Michael Chatfield

“Time we helped out the young ones.” Krem laughed and looked to Mai. “How about it? I’ll lend you my strength for this fight. Afterward—who knows? I might want to stick around and be your clan spirit. There is much to learn, little Mai.”

  Jun dropped to his knees in front of Natsu. “This one would humbly accept any aid you can give me to help others. I do not ask any more of you and I do not wish to bind our spirits unless we both agree.” Jun hadn’t had much exposure to clan spirits but he knew some of the basics from word of mouth and talking to others.

  “You’ll need to get better clan markings in the future.” Natsu turned into a colorful mist.

  Jun grunted. His tattoos burned as Natsu’s power flowed through and into him. His blood started to shake and he let out a cry. It was as if someone were scrubbing his insides with metal.

  Mai saw his friend in pain and then looked at Krem. “Ancestor, this one will accept any aid you have to offer and will not dare to bind you unless agreed by both parties.” His voice was more sure than he was as he kowtowed in front of his ancestor.

  “Even seeing your friend in pain, you are willing. Pain is only temporary.” Krem’s eyes narrowed in a pleased expression. He turned into light and darted forward.

  Across Skalafell, clan spirits appeared, offering their aid.

  People crumbled as others protected them.

  ***

  Dion felt as if his guts had been gripped tight and turned. He looked at the walls. There were several of the advanced glowing creatures on the wall. A blast shook a section of wall, blasting it free. Dion was grabbed and pulled to the side. He looked to see Ubi had tackled him. Two of his guards had been struck, one gravely injured and the other crying out in pain.

  People from the Black Scarves moved over to them.

  A breach had formed, allowing them to see the chaotic beasts on the other side of the wall.

  Two of the guards used their staffs. The tattoos along their arms glowed with power and their eyes became misty.

  The male caster hit the ground with a grunt. Stone and dirt compressed together as they rose into the air.

  The female caster closed her eyes, chanted, and started to move, drawing power from the world around her as she flowed from one position to another. The male jabbed his spear forward.

  The earthen and stone compressed attack shot forward. He stepped on the ground. More of the compressed bullets appeared and he continued to fire them. His attacks killed a few, but others weathered the rounds and forced their way forward.

  The guards fired their crossbows and started to reload them.

  “We need to move, Lord Dion!” one yelled out.

  “We will secure this breach!” Dion yelled as several more blasts hit the wall, causing more rubble to come lose.

  Beast kin yelled as they were tossed into the air. Others cried out warnings as the rocks rained down.

  A vortex of elemental energies appeared around the female caster, raising a fierce wind around her.

  People planted their feet against covering their eyes with their hands. She flowed into a lunge position thrusting her staff forward as if it was a spear. The vortex compressed, flowing down through her body, lighting up her tattoos running through her body and into her staff.

  Her eyes reflected the colors of the vortex, power rushing into her, a cloak made of elemental power. A beam shot out from the crystal at the peak of her staff. Light blinded those that were looking too close, the ground under her feet cracked with the force.

  It cleaved through the breach, Chaotic beasts were torn asunder, their bodies thrown back out of the breach.

  Underneath the path of her beam, between the stones, grasses and flowers bloomed, in contrast to the destruction just meters away.

  The woman’s beam dissipated, but her crystal continued to glow. Within it, one could see compressed elemental energies.

  The male caster unleashed the power he had gathered. With a wave of his hands, roots reached out, grabbing stones as trees and vines appeared in the breach, pulling in the surrounding stones as if armor, roughly filling in the breach.

  Shadows converged together, growing into a bear Clan Spirit before Ubi, who was getting up from the ground.

  “You’ve brought honor to our clan young one.”

  “I don’t have a clan though,” Ubi said.

  “We are all the same Kin, do not think that outside appearance is the same as their heart. I have seen Squirrel kin with the courage of fifty Bear kin. Ubi, I will lend you my power for this fight. Defend our people.” the clan spirit said.

  Ubi stared at the man, trembling. A Clan Spirit chose me? Filled with emotion he bowed his head. “Help me.”

  The clan spirit shot into Ubi and he cried out and dropped to the ground.

  “Protect Ubi!” Dion yelled.

  With the power of that clan spirit, he can become a powerful champion.

  The guards fanned out, finding cover as they fired their crossbows. The casters danced within their power, drawing in Dena’s strength for their own. The walls were a bloodbath as beast kin were being overrun.

  The mages sent spells at the creatures on the wall, tossing them back over the wall and trying to control the breach that was getting wider with the long-range attacks from the more complicated beasts that were attacking from a distance.

  Creatures started to jump off the walls at Dion and his group.

  Dion drew on the power of his bloodline. His tattoos ignited as he stabbed his spear forward, catching one upon it.

  It landed but didn’t know it was dead; it continued to claw at Dion. It scraped his armor as he tilted his spear to the side and dislodged it.

  He drew the spear out and swung it, connecting with the side of another. He dodged to the right and another fell to his left, his guard cutting them down with their sword.

  Two were cut apart by blades of wind, another catching stone rounds to the face, before being met with a crossbow bolt. The guard dropped the crossbow and brought out his hammer, striking another that had charged out of the breach.

  The male caster used his hand to control the earth rounds and his staff glowed white as he used the wind to slice and pierce.

  The female mage danced to the sound of destruction.

  Dion flicked his spear clean of blood, falling on his training as he fought with his spear.

  Creatures started to pile up around the entrance of the breach, increasing in number as more fell beyond. Creatures launched themselves from the walls to rush the group.

  A roar unlike the other creatures came from the breach.

  One of the creatures walked forward. But there was a dangerous power around them, one that made Dion’s bloodline shake.

  The creature was transforming, drawing power from the fallen that were turned into dried-out husks. Embers burned them internally; they turned into scattered dust as the creature stepped on them. The creature started to become less erratic and look like the ones that bombarded the city from long range.

  The caster fired out her elemental energies.

  A barrier of contorting light, looking like a wall of crystal, appeared in front of them as they pushed forward.

  The creature looked at the wall that they had created. A victorious look appeared in their eye as they drew on the power around it. Its body contorted as its neck glowed and it unleashed a beam of power.

  The female caster let out a yell as she was struck and tossed away, slamming into a building.

  The male caster cried out, directing earth and air to attack the beast. It exited the breach and creatures flooded around it.

  We can’t beat it, not with our power.

  A hand touched Dion on the shoulder. He looked back to see Ubi. The air around him distorted and his tattoos shone with power.

  “Take care of the chaotic beasts. I’ll handle the Drafeng.”

  Dion looked at Ubi and nodded. “Cover Ubi—keep the chaotic beasts off him!”

  The Drafeng gathered more power as Ubi charged fo
rward.

  He grabbed a block of rubble with one hand and turned. He ran, hurling the block of rubble through the air and striking the Drafeng’s barrier.

  The rubble shattered but the Drafeng focused on Ubi instead of the male caster.

  The guards rushed forward with Dion, attacking the beasts rushing out, using the Drafeng as cover.

  The male caster started to chant, casting buffs on them all.

  Ubi clashed with the Drafeng. His hammer caused the crystalline semi-transparent barrier to shudder.

  Ubi attacked again and again. The Drafeng couldn’t create spells and each attack drained a portion of its power.

  As Ubi attacked, his attacks became more fluid and powerful.

  Arms appeared on the Drafeng’s body and it stopped using the barrier. It spat out a bolt of power.

  Ubi dodged it, pushing forward. It cut out with one of its bladed arms. Ubi leaped up and swung his hammer, hitting the Drafeng in the face, snapping its head to the side. Ubi dropped to the ground and hit out its front left leg. It dropped to the ground and used its left arm to stab at Ubi.

  Ubi deflected the hit with his hammer and turned, swinging. He hit the right arm that was aiming for his back, head on.

  It stuck into the beast’s chest and Ubi let out a yell. A bear superimposed on him as he hit the side of the blade arm, burying it in the Drafeng.

  The Drafeng let out a cry, dissipating its arm. A bloody wound appeared on its chest as it tried to get to its feet.

  Ubi was hit in the side by the left blade, and he was tossed to the side. He hit a wall and dropped to the ground.

  He was running as his feet touched the ground. His eyes were bloodshot and his size increased, his muscles bulging out.

  Berserker.

  His hammer struck the Drafeng’s newly formed arm, causing the air to shudder as their attacks caused shockwaves.

  He traded blows with the Drafeng, pressuring it, so it was unable to regain its feet. Its power started to decrease as Ubi’s hits rained down on it, striking it in the face repeatedly. The Drafeng’s head was smashed to the side.

  Ubi raised his paw. His tattoos glowed with a fierce light as a paw superimposed upon his. His paw sliced through the Drafeng’s neck.

  The Drafeng’s head dropped forward and its conjured limbs dissipated.

  Still, there was a flood of chaotic beasts coming in.

  Dion was struck, even with the buffs. He grunted as he rolled backward, using his spear and strength to regain his feet.

  There is no way that we can hold them off.

  Fear threatened to consume him.

  He let out a yell, rushing a chaotic beast, his spear stabbed into their side, hitting deep. The Chaotic beast lashed out hitting Dion and slamming him against a wall.

  He coughed, feeling the weakness in his body. He was spent. Even staying conscious was an effort, he was operating on adrenaline and desperation.

  He heard a scream.

  He could tell it was a Beast kin.

  Dion pushed himself up and stabbed out. He could see it now, the collapse of the wall. As the wounded fell there was no one to pick them up. The Chaotic beasts surged up the walls. The defenders were on their last legs, they had put everything into the fight.

  Ubi was giving it his all against the Drafeng. Yells sounded down the wall. Dion turned, seeing another Drafeng appear on the walls, tearing apart their defenses.

  They’re going to overrun us. Retreat? No, there’s nowhere to go. Frustration, desperation, uselessness, these emotions welled up.

  I will die here. The finality of that statement was a stone in his stomach. I’ve fought in the army, along the line, but if we lost a camp it meant we had to reposition. Now its my family on the line, my people.

  Dion yelled out in frustration, his eyes turning red and itchy. I just wanted Keze to live her life. How many futures of people too young to know life will end here?

  He threw himself into battle, attacking the Chaotic beasts all out. Trying to get away from his thoughts as that pain burned from inside.

  He stumbled a blade stabbing forward, killing the beast. A guard helped him up, the two grim men turned back to their work, their duty.

  A scream came from a soldier pulled from the wall and tossed down onto the ground filled with Chaotic beasts.

  Groups of guards rushed the Drafeng, paying heavily to land attacks on the powerful creatures.

  Dion attacked wildly, stabbing at anything that was an enemy. He didn’t know how long it was before he was standing there with lead limbs. He was covered in blood and dirt, his eyes hollow.

  What is that noise?

  He looked to the rear.

  Am I seeing things? Dion felt his heart and stomach were bring turned all as one.

  The noise was roars and yells. It came from the men and women of the black Rags. People that had volunteered, those of the militia that were rolled together. It seemed all of Skalafell was there, neighbors, friends and family.

  They ran through the streets, vaulting over rubble. Climbing over the buildings and digging their claws into the walls, rushing forward.

  Their tattoos glowed with power as clan spirits appeared among them, or superimposed upon their bodies.

  Seeing them, they were the wind in his sails, his entire body felt revitalized. He had sunk from the depths of despair and now gripped onto a thread of hope.

  So what if we die? Our deaths may weaken the enemy so that another city, another town can survive. This is what we can do.

  His blood boiled. He felt strength, a strength he had never felt before from deep within, the part of him that was more beast, more primal.

  Dion raised his mouth and let out his war cry. It resounded through the streets. It was one of defiance.

  Here we stand. Here we may fall, but you will know that you came here and met the people of Skalafell. You will know that you may break our bones, but the clans, our Kin will remember. By the ancestors and by my word, I promise you this—Skalafell will rise!

  He gripped his spear and changed his stance. He was moving before he knew it.

  Ubi let out a laugh and the guards set their jaws, but in their eyes there was pride; there was respect.

  This was what it was to be a leader.

  Dion sped across the ground. “FOR SKALAFELL!!”

  A beast greeted him and it roared in defiance. It swiped at him as the wall behind it exploded. Another bolt hit the breach, expanding it as rubble rained down.

  Dion threw his spear. As he dodged the swipe, the spear lodged in the chaotic beast’s neck. Dion jumped up and tore it out. He landed as another beast charged him.

  An arrow hit the beast, causing them to stagger to the side with force.

  A monkey kin appeared; his fists created after-images as the air snapped around him.

  Fire appeared around his fist as he snapped it out. The beast was blown back, smoldering.

  Dion ran forward. It didn’t matter who he stood beside; they all fought together now—watching one another’s back and attacking together, with only needing to say a few words between them.

  He saw Jun appear. He threw his sword and buried it in one creature’s eye. His claws flashed as he tore through their side. A kick sent them into their allies and Jun cartwheeled, grabbing a piece of rubble and hurling it, turning it into a weapon as it crushed a chaotic beast’s head.

  He dug his claws into the ground and pushed forward, using his body and environment to push forward.

  Mai appeared, covered in a barrier. He slammed into chaotic beasts like a battering ram. Needles formed in the air around him. They whistled shooting into the surrounding beasts. He bashed them out of his way, the ground cracked under his feet. Roots pierced out of the ground and into the charging beasts.

  Their blood fed the roots as they spread through the ground. Mai ran forward through the chaotic beasts, he’d touch them almost gently as he passed. Like a wraith the beasts were unable to catch his shadow. Poison spread through
their bodies upon contact. As they collapsed, threads of power entered Mai’s body, making him faster and his poisons deadlier.

  Dion pulled his spear from another chaotic beast. He jumped off of their back, landing on the stairs to the walls.

  His spear jabbed out as beasts rained down, hurled over the bannister. Blood covered the stairs.

  The Chaotic beasts focused on Dion, taking the pressure off of the Beast kin that had been separated.

  “Group together! Form a line! We will take the wall! Your families are at your back!” Dion yelled.

  They pushed up to Dion, helping one another. They stood next to him, working together, pushing forward, slowly at first and growing in speed. More joined creating a true wall of hardened steel and Beast kin warriors.

  They chanted together.

  Dion slipped on the blood, but another behind him stabbed their sword forward, killing a beast and taking his place.

  They had just reached the top of the wall when there was a yell from behind.

  Ubi charged towards them.

  Dion cupped his hands, Ubi’s eyes lit up as he sped up, his arms pumping the two bloody axes in his hands.

  He put his foot in Dion’s hands. Dion yelled, throwing Ubi.

  He came down in a maelstrom of axe blades. His axe’s tore through Chaotic beast’s sides, giving openings to the line.

  Others rushed up, to be tossed forward, the line kept advancing. Now the beasts were the ones with the enemy all around.

  The beast kin climbed the stairs, even the outside of the observation towers and the inside of the walls—anything to get to the top.

  Dion turned to the line on the wall, it split, clearing the wall of Chaotic beasts and Drafeng, shoring up the defenses, stopping others from climbing over the walls.

  Casters worked together with strong beast kin . The Beast kin carried rubble, pushing it back into the breaches while casters fused it together, using stone magics, earth magics or even trees.

  Ranged attackers covered for them, keeping the Drafeng back.

  Dion stepped up to the line that was growing thin.

  He stepped forward, stabbing out with his spear it wasn’t elegant, but dozens of Chaotic beasts lost their lives to those simple and direct attacks.

  Ubi hit a chaotic beast in the side and Dion’s spear shot forward, reaping his life. He pulled it out as the beast slumped, death claiming them.