Broken Earth

by C M Blackwood

  Jade was horrified. She could say with no hint of dishonesty, that that particular thought had not even once come into her head; and she could not so much as fathom it now.

  “I can’t,” she said. “I won’t, Heidi. You are perfect; you are beautiful and wonderful, and I won’t do it.”

  “But what will I do,” sobbed Heidi, “without you?”

  “You will be strong. You will be as strong as you have ever been; and you will take care of my brother, and of Dera. You will live a long life – and you will find happiness again. It hurts me so, Heidi –” (and here she let loose a piercing cry into the night; after which she fell down to the bed, and felt so very weak that she did not think she would recover) “– to leave you. There will be nothing for me, without you – but you will be happy again! You will stay here among the living, and you will live your life free! It is a gift – and I will not see you throw it away.” She paused to collect her breath; and then added, “I ask you only, after I am gone, to give my love to my father, and my brother, and Dera. I haven’t the time to tell them farewell – for I would not move an inch away from you, Heidi, in these moments that I have left.”

  Heidi pressed her cheek to Jade’s, and whispered softly into her ear. “I don’t know how to say goodbye.”

  “Only like this,” said Jade. “Remember all the time we had. Remember how I loved you, and how I always will. Remember me as I was – not as what I have become! What you see of me now is nothing but a ghost – but I have been granted this power to come to you, and to tell you once again – oh, my love – to tell you once again, that you are, and ever were, my very life.”

  She closed her eyes, and pressed her lips, for the very last time, to Heidi’s. The kiss was long, and deep; and she afterwards pressed her forehead to Heidi’s, and took in for a moment her sweet scent. “They will be coming shortly,” she whispered. “You must warn the others.”

  Her arms were wrapped tight around Heidi, as she shifted from the room.

  ~

  When she arrived back at the fortress, she was met by looks of amazement upon the faces of both Zana and the Sorceress. It seemed that the man had vanished.

  The Sorceress strode forward, and slapped her full across the face. But she was not to be played with. She raised a hand, and sent the Sorceress soaring across the room. She struck the opposite wall with some force, and slid down to the floor like something beaten.

  “Peace,” whispered Zana, taking hold of her arm.

  The Sorceress was not long in gaining her feet. “I should kill you where you stand,” she hissed – and advanced towards Jade with every apparent intention to do so.

  “Oh, please,” said Jade; “pray follow through!”

  Zana put out an arm, to impede the Sorceress’ movements. “There will be no killing in this room,” she said. “There is enough of that to be done elsewhere.”

  “And where did you go?” demanded the Sorceress. “To warn your friends? I should have killed you when I had the chance!”

  “I agree,” said Jade.

  “Stop this!” cried Zana. “What’s done is done. It is very likely that the Princess will sense our coming, anyway. But our forces are great, much greater than hers – and she has not a chance.”

  The Sorceress seemed to calm a little. “I suppose you are right,” she said. “But that does not mean that I have done with your pet.”

  “There will be time enough for that later. Now we must go!”

  The Sorceress took a deep breath; and then took to the front of the line that marched from the chamber, with Jade and Zana behind her.

  “I will not fight against Eredor,” said Jade suddenly.

  The Sorceress turned round to face her. “You will,” she said coldly. “You will – because it is your only choice.”

  “I won’t.”

  With a sigh of annoyance, the Sorceress took back the steps she had given betwixt them. Before Jade had time to shift, she had taken either side of her head in her hands. There came a terrible burning sensation, just behind her eyes. She let out a scream, and sank down to her knees upon the floor.

  “Cease!” cried Zana. “You have no right to bind the mind of a Lumarian.”

  “She is no Lumarian,” scoffed the Sorceress. “She is only a beast. She is a beast that you created!”

  Zana launched herself towards the Sorceress, and Jade felt her hands fall away from her head; but the heat was slowly spreading across the surface of her brain, as a consuming fire that destroyed all it touched.

  Her last thought was of Heidi. She pictured her face; though here it smiled, and did not cry. Yet it, too, was taken by the fire; and then the world was black. She could not think, and she could not feel. There was only the sound of the Sorceress’ voice.

  “Collect the Lumaria,” she said to Zana. “I will gather the Narken; and we will all meet where the Southerners are gathered.”

  “Yes, Sorceress,” said Zana.

  Jade was drawn forcibly from the chamber.

  ~

  Up above the ground, Dain took the lead of her great army. Behind her stood many thousands of Narken, Lumaria and men; all joined together for the destruction of Eredor. She sent only one host, if not a rather large one, into the North-East, to ward off any attempts that the savage people of the shore might make, to assist the Princess in her plight. Yet the rest followed her North-West, to the castle.

  She sent up a shower of green sparks into the air; and the army began to move.

  XLV: The Prophecy

  On her way to Thomas Henry’s quarters, Lila found her brother running speedily along towards the tower. He stopped when he saw her, and changed his course so they could run on together.

  “Heidi Bastian was found half an hour ago,” he said breathlessly, “screaming in the entrance hall for an officer. She was met by several soldiers, who could make little out of what she said to them. They went for the Captain, who then roused me, and sent for you. We are to meet him downstairs.”

  Lila said nothing, but hurried on at such a pace, that poor Antony was hardly able to match her step. But finally they reached the entrance hall, where there was a group of people waiting.

  Heidi Bastian rushed first upon Lila. She spoke at first, with such speed and fervour, that Lila could scarcely understand a word of it. Finally she put her hands upon the woman’s shoulders, and shook her roughly; whereupon she seemed to grow a deal more lucid, and went on in a rather calmer voice.

  “The Sorceress is coming,” she said.

  “I know,” said Lila. “But how do you know?”

  A torrent of tears came into Heidi’s eyes, and rushed down her cheeks like a flood. Dera Black stepped forward to take hold of her, and to draw her for a moment out of the fray. With them went Heidi’s sister, and the man called David.

  “Is it true, Princess?” asked Thomas Henry. “Does the Sorceress come?”

  “She comes, Henry,” said Lila. “She comes now.”

  A look of fear stole stealthily across the Captain’s face, and spread like a contagion to the countenance of Harn Fala; but both men soon mastered their anxiety.

  “We will round up what men we have,” said Fala. “We will gather them at the castle gates. Meet us there, Princess.”

  “But what of the rest?” asked Lila. “Now that the Sorceress comes, surely all of the men will take up the fight?”

  Thomas Henry shook his head. “I am afraid not, Princess. I know not what lies Jonathan Payton has been sowing into their heads – but many now entertain the idea that you are the Sorceress. Payton has convinced them that the Queen is not dead; and that you only spread this lie, so that you might gain the throne. He tells them that the Queen will come to the city with a great army, and will be housed in a body much different from that which she had before; but that she will call the men of Eredor to her, to fight against the Sorceress who has invaded the castle. The men moved only this night from the castle grounds, and took up residence with those Elders who are faithful
to Payton.”

  “But that is ridiculous!”

  “Be that as it may – it is what Jonathan Payton has achieved.”

  “He has taken all of them?”

  “All but those who remain loyal to myself and the Captain,” said Harn Fala.

  Lila staggered backwards, and fell down upon the steps. “We haven’t a chance,” she whispered.

  Thomas Henry came to her, then, and fell down upon his knee before her. “You are our true Queen, Lila Bier,” he said. “You must be kept safe. You must go now from the city, before the Sorceress arrives. I shall remain here with Commander Fala, and fight for your honour.”

  Harn Fala nodded bravely.

  “Nonsense,” said Lila. “I will leave none of you. We will remain here together – and we will fight together. Go now, and collect the men! Mount your horses for battle! We shall come together at the gates.”

  Understanding that his pleas would have no success, Thomas Henry only nodded shortly, and hurried with Commander Fala from the castle.

  “Come, Antony,” said Lila. She looked to Heidi and the others, and said, “If you wish to join in this fight – along with me, now!”

  Heidi and David rushed forth, with the light of loss in their eyes. Helena raced along behind, having already resolved to take every step her sister did take. Dera came, as well; though she did not seem quite as much to relish the idea of battle. She had not the Power that Heidi had, and she had no skill in arms, such as David had, and had taught to Helena. But she stayed close to her friends, and was thoroughly unwilling to leave them.

  In the stables, each member of the party mounted his or her horse. They then cantered off across the grounds; and met at the castle gates a host of about five hundred men. Lila looked upon them in despair, and thought again that they were beat. She saw many familiar faces in the relatively small company, including that of the noble Francis Solomon; but was perhaps most gladdened by the sight of Silas Perco and Samson Trippe, who smiled upon her quite as apologetically as they were able. So she clapped them upon the shoulders, and then moved forth to the head of the host.

  “You men who stand with me today,” said Lila, her voice echoing out across the empty field, “are by far the bravest men that I have ever known. Our peril is great, and our chance of success is next to none. The forces which approach us now are of many thousands; and there is no doubt that we will all be slaughtered, in the defence of the honour of Eredor. Yet I remember my mother, and I think of how very great she was! How strong; how wise; how just. She loved you all, with every part of her soul – and would have done anything to protect you! So I ask you, even in this hopeless hour, to fight for your Queen. Fight for she, who would have fought for you. Who did fight for you, so many times!”

  Lila raised her fist towards the sky, and cried, “Fight for Queen Abella!”

  “Queen Abella!” echoed the company heartily. They repeated the name several times; but then looked towards Lila, and raised their fists as hers was raised.

  “Queen Lila!” they cried.

  Their voices inspired a great courage in Lila’s breast. She called out to them several times; and each time they answered, in voices louder than the ones before.

  Finally, she turned Sonya to face the open gate. In the front line stood she, and Antony; and to either side of them, Thomas Henry and Harn Fala. The rest of the company fell in behind.

  “Here we will wait,” said Lila to Henry, “till the Sorceress comes. We shall defend the castle to the last.”

  Both Henry and Fala spoke their assent. There was no longer a shred of fear to be seen, in either of their faces.

  Lila looked to Antony, and took his hand in hers. “I love you, my brother,” she said.

  He pressed her hand. “I love you, my sister.”

  Their hands dropped; and they turned to face the empty streets of the city.

  ~

  At the South Gate, Jonathan Payton headed a company of over two thousand men. He looked quite the same as ever, sitting haughtily upon the back of his black steed; but each man behind him had eyes of fire, that burnt just the same as did the eyes of those Southern men who approached. Payton looked back at them from time to time, and smiled to himself.

  “I shall be rewarded well,” he whispered to himself. “I shall be made a King!”

  All occupants of the city cowered inside their homes. They had witnessed the passing of the red-eyed army, and huddled now with their families in the dark, speaking in whispers and trembling with fear.

  By the time the Sorceress arrived at the gates of the city, night had fallen down to swallow all into darkness. The gates stood open for her, and Payton’s army stood waiting.

  “File in among the ranks,” said the Sorceress to Payton. “Make no move till I bid you.”

  The Sorceress stepped alone through the gates. Payton’s forces flowed out to her waiting army, and poured into them like the tributaries of a river. They were soon so mixed amongst the men of the South, that there could be no difference told betwixt the eyes of either.

  The Sorceress vanished from the eyes of her army; and appeared a moment later to the small host of the Princess, which stood waiting still at the castle gates. She stood on foot before the company of horses.

  “Hello, Princess,” she said.

  Lila answered her nothing.

  “Oh, pray – don’t be that way! Do you not see how I have come to you first, quite alone, and of no ill intent? I wish only to speak with you, Princess.”

  “I assure you, Sorceress – I have not a thing to say to you.”

  “I did suspect that you might say that. But nevertheless, do indulge me for a little, won’t you? Come with me to the city gates, and I will show you something grand.”

  “No, Princess,” said Henry quickly. “You must not go.”

  “It is quite all right, Henry,” said Lila, climbing down from her horse. “Only stay here with the others. You will be safe while I am gone.”

  Henry tried again to protest; and Antony made to catch her arm, so as to keep her from going. But Lila only smiled, rather grimly, at them both; and then went to stand beside the Sorceress. She avoided her face, and closed her eyes. Next moment, she stood before the South Gate, looking out into the great mass that stretched out into the plains.

  “It seems you have outdone me, Sorceress,” she said. “Both you and I know that I will die here today. But I promise you, I will do all that I can – so that you might die alongside me.”

  The Sorceress smiled. “After all this time,” she said, “and you still do not understand! Don’t you see, that I would rather that you do not die? I still want you for my own! Come to me now, and we shall march away with all these armies; and there shall be no blood shed here today.”

  “I shall never go to you,” said Lila. “If that means my death – well, so be it.”

  “You are a foolish woman.”

  “You may be right.”

  Lila looked again towards the army. She could make out the beastly heads of the Narken, towering far above the rest; but at the front of the host stood what seemed several hundred Lumaria. By this, Lila was certain that Aerca had not managed to attain all of them to her own side; but behind them spanned an even greater host of men, armed with terrible swords. Their eyes glowed red, and could be seen quite clearly in the distance.

  “What do you propose, Sorceress?” asked Lila simply.

  “I fear, Princess, that I came with only the one proposition.”

  “Then I suppose you shall seek battle?”

  The Sorceress turned to face her. Her hair was unbound, and fell in black ringlets down over her shoulders. She wore a beautiful gown of green velvet, that offset perfectly the whiteness of her skin, and the darkness of her eyes. She did not stand taller than Lila; but there was a particular fierceness about her, that made a contradiction of the inviting quality of her features. There was an air of magic all about her, that made one feel rather unsafe to stand too near to her. Yet there was
that element, also, that called Lila towards her; and she did indeed need remind herself many times, that the woman was evil – and that to go to her would bear nothing but evil things. Lila was very tempted, for a moment or two, to give herself over, and to thereby protect those of her people who had chosen to stand by her.

  But it was not the way.

  “I seek nothing,” said the Sorceress. “Most especially, I seek no death in this city. Should you remain obstinate, and defy yet again this offer I have made you – well then, Princess, it shall be you who seeks battle.”

  “And what would you do with my city? What purpose does this serve? There are Kingdoms in plenty to the West, many mightier than mine. Why do you seek me out?”

  The Sorceress seemed to falter for a moment. She was lost for words for what seemed, to Lila, a longer time than should have been, had she truly known the purpose of her actions. So Lila thought back to that night, in the Hall of Mirrors; and she remembered the great beast which summoned her into the fire. “Master,” the Sorceress had called it. It was the beast who desired Lila – not Dain Aerca. These plans, therefore, belonged to none but he.

  “You know not even what you do,” said Lila. “You are nothing but a lowly servant.”

  There sparked a fierce light in Aerca’s eyes.

  “I fear you not,” said Lila. “Do what you will. I will fight you to the last.”

  Again, she closed her eyes; and again she came to the populated gate of Eredor. She was asked many questions, but she did not answer. She told them only to make themselves ready, and climbed herself onto the back of Sonya.

  “The main host will remain at the gates,” she shouted, “But all of those who can find the courage, and the strength – ride on with me! We will suffer the first blow.”

  She urged Sonya forth; and the horse’s hooves took to the streets like a wind of flame. She could hear the hoof beats of several other horses, as they chased after her, but she knew not the identities of her accompaniment. She only rode on, and on, for a time that seemed to her much shorter than it truly was; till there came into her sight a view of the front lines of Aerca’s army.