by Bri Sailor
“I’öü riigg ägg këriisk!”
The witch laughed and threw down the vial. A bright flash blinded all as they stumbled around. When their vision returned the witch was gone. Cora was frozen in place. Atreyis dropped her dagger and ran towards the still unconscious Ky. She dropped to her knees and tried to wake her up.
“Ky! Ky!” she shouted and shook her. “Ky, wake up! You have a lot to answer for! Ky!”
The warrior stirred and the princess slapped her hard across the face. The general groaned awake.
“What the hell was that for?” growled Ky as she sat up slowly.
Atreyis grabbed her shoulders and shoved her to the ground.
“What do you mean? You set me up! You lied to me! You’re just one of them!” hot tears streamed down her face. She cocked her fist.
“Enough!” yelled Cora.
She pulled her friend off of the warrior and Ehren grabbed the blonde and put his sword to her throat.
“My father was right about you.” He growled. “You almost got my sister killed! I should have just dealt with you from the beginning.”
Ky stared down the prince, daring him to make a move.
“Stop this now!” shouted Cora. “She is not the only one with blame for this. Killing her won’t solve anything and only make everything worse. If we have any chance of ending all of this fighting and putting a stop to Lusha, she must live! The Goddess commands it!”
Ehren struggled with himself a moment, but obliged the priestess and let the warrior go.
He looked to Cora. “Who was that?”
“The witch who had poisoned my king’s mind.” Answered Ky. “Her name is Lusha. She is the reason I am here and she is the one who designed all of this. The battle, everything.”
“We can’t let her get away then! We must stop her!” said Ehren urgently.
“You can’t.” Ky spat some blood on the ground and wiped her nose. “She uses magic like I’ve never seen before. And if I can’t stop her…” she looked the prince up and down, “…you certainly can’t.”
“How dare you—“
Atreyis held up a hand and cut him off. “How did you get here?”
He ran his hand through his hair. “It didn’t take very long to figure out that you had taken off again. I told mother that you would but I guess she had more faith in you than I. We went after you the moment we had realized you were gone.”
He dropped his face. “The second we got to the edge of the woods we were attacked by the very men meant to protect us.”
“What?” exclaimed the princess. “Our men attacked you? And what of mother?”
“She’s fine. But they weren’t our men. On their necks they had large black tattoos of dragon claws. I’ve never seen such a mark before.”
They looked at Ky and to the dragon tattoo peaking out from her shoulder.
“What?” she said defensively. “I’ve never heard of such a mark…”
Ehren snorted. “I’m surprised you don’t brand your pigs.”
Ky’s eyes flashed red. “My men are some of the finest fighters in the world, unlike yours.”
“Oh, really?” Ehren crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. “Then why are they on the brink of retreat?”
The former general stood toe to toe with the prince. “Because I’m not the one leading them.”
“Would you two stop it!” Cora stepped in between the fuming pair. She looked at Ehren.
“We need to get back to your father, now! I must speak with him immediately.”
The prince waved the soldiers away.
“Return to battle.” He commanded.
The soldiers headed back to the fighting. The rest of the group mounted their abandoned horses. Atreyis sat in the saddle and locked eyes with Ky. The princess could see the hidden sorrow in the warrior’s eyes. She felt a tingling down her spine. The warrior noticed a change in the way that the princess was looking at her. A mix of grief and longing. It sent a chill down her spine. The princess sighed and gave Ky her hand and helped her into the saddle. The warrior settled behind her and wrapped her arm around her waist once more. The princess cleared her mind and spurred her horse with impressive speed to her father.
Chapter 16
All across the battlefield were battered and broken bodies of the fallen. The once impressive battering ram lay in burning ruin in the middle of the field. The two armies fought each other ferociously; blue and red glowing eyes dotted the landscape. Catapults from each side launched their payloads. Stone Shield had stood strong against yet another test of its strength. Many of the archers had to vacate their posts and were now on horseback. Toran, now horseless, had thrown himself into the middle of the clash with a large war hammer that had a sharp spike on one end. With impressive strength he swung his weapon of choice, crushing all who stood before him. His eyes glowed bright blue as the sounds of war raged all around. His once polished armor now dingy and covered in dirt and small dents and blood. He was no longer just a king, he was a warrior, a man possessed.
As the king smashed his way through the Black Army’s ranks he found himself surrounded by three very large and very angry Khenná Descended. The three beasts bared their teeth. Toran gripped his hammer tightly. A particularly fat brute with a battle axe rushed him. The king evaded the swinging axe several times and smashed the man in the mouth with the thick metal handle. The man stumbled back and the king swung with all his might and buried the spike deep into the man’s chest, piercing his armor with ease. The king pulled the hammer out and raised it up over his head to attack the next soldier. A sharp pain shot through his left side and he nearly dropped his weapon. He reached over and felt the wooden protrusion. A bolt had found its target and buried itself deep into the king’s ribs. Dropping to his knees he saw the soldier wielding a crossbow. She barely had time to congratulate herself on her marksmanship before a rider on horseback severed her spine. Blackness swirled in Toran’s vision as he sucked in desperate shallow breaths. The two remaining Descended moved to attack him but were quickly stopped by the rider on horseback with glowing blue eyes. Using her horse as a shield she put herself between the king and the attackers. In a flash she drew two long daggers and fell on the men, driving the blades into their throats. Their eyes ceasing their red glow as they choked and sputtered on their own blood. The female soldier sheathed her daggers and ran to the fallen king.
“Toran! Get up! You must get up!” she helped the wounded king stand.
“How—’’ he said breathlessly. “Why are you here? I sent you away.” He grunted in pain.
“Not now, I shall explain everything later, we need to get you to the surgeon.” Urged the queen.
“But, Arainya—’’ he gasped.
“Get on the horse!” commanded the queen.
The king threw himself into the saddle and the queen slapped her horse and it took off for the gate. Arainya picked up a claymore and ran headlong back into the fray. Her chestnut locks were twisted in a loose braid and she wore a helmet and full armor with a battle skirt and dark leather pants. Just like her king she was covered in the grime of battle and enemy blood with only a few scrapes and bruises.
Suddenly, a deep horn blast echoed across the battlefield and the Black Army began to retreat. The queen stood her ground and finished off the few soldiers who ignored the signal. With the enemy thoroughly defeated, the queen discarded her borrowed sword and ran back to the wall and the medical tent that lay just beyond it.
She burst into the tent and found the king lying on a bloody table, bare from the waist up. The bolt that had pierced his side lay on the ground. Large linen bandages were wrapped around his chest.
Arainya stroked his hair. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine. I guess.” He sucked in a painful breath. “They stitched me up good. But it’s going to hurt for a while.”
“I bet.” Grinned the queen. She tried to hold back the tears.
“How goes the battle? Are my men—’’ he tried to
sit up but the queen stopped him.
“Shh. Rest.” She said softly. “All is well. The Khenná have retreated. It seems for now we have won.”
Toran took her hand, and, closing his eyes he kissed it. She smiled and gently kissed his forehead. He cleared his throat.
“Now to the matter at hand. I thought I sent you and the children far away from here. Why did you come?”
The queen’s eyes were downcast. “Our daughter seems to find it increasingly difficult to stay put in one place for more than a moment. The other morning Ehren discovered that she had left and took it upon himself to retrieve her. I thought we were going to lose both of them. So I joined him in his search, but before we could even make it out of the woods we were attacked.”
The king sat up, wincing as he did. “Attacked? By who? No one knew that you were there!”
Arainya met his angry eyes. “By the very guards that we meant to protect us.”
She furrowed her brow. “They attacked us the moment they saw us. It was as if they had been planning it. Fortunately, our son is just as skilled a fighter as his father. But I knew something was wrong so we came here to make sure that they hadn’t gotten to you, and to find Atreyis.”
The king hugged his wife. “I am glad that you are safe, but there has been no threat here. I trust my officers with my life, they would have rooted out any traitors and dealt swift justice. And I would have been informed if our daughter was here.”
“They weren’t our men.” Whispered the queen.
Fear passed over the king’s face. “What do you mean?”
“They wore our armor and colors, but they weren’t our men. There were large black tattoos on their necks; one that I have never seen before. It looked like a dragon claw.”
The king looked worried.
“What does it mean, Toran?” she searched his eyes.
“I don’t know. I’ve never heard of such a mark before.” He stood up slowly. “I must speak with Saebic. He was the one I put in charge of your escape.”
The king held his breath as he put on his bloodied shirt, wincing as he did. The queen hung his arm around her neck and helped him walk out of the tent. A soldier jogged by them and the king grabbed his arm.
“Where is General Saebic?” he asked.
The soldier shrugged. “I haven’t seen him since before the battle.”
The king let the soldier go. With the queen supporting him, they walked around the camp looking for any officer that they could find. So far no one had seen any sign of the general.
Arainya looked at Toran. “You don’t think…’’
The king shook his head vehemently. “Saebic is too seasoned a warrior to succumb to a battle such as this, but he isn’t above capture.”
“Shouldn’t we send men after him?”
“Not yet. Not until I confirm that he is missing. We will have to wait.” He nodded in the direction of the wall walk. “Take me to the wall, I wish to see the field.”
The queen grew solemn. “You don’t think that Saebic. That he could have…that it was he who—“
The king cut her off. “No. He is one of my oldest friends. To even think…”
They walked towards the stairs that lead up to the wall walk when their bloody and dirty children suddenly stopped them.
“Mother!”
“Father!”
#
Atreyis, Taryn, Ky, Ehren, and Cora charged headlong back into the fighting. Even though they were for the most part beaten and bloody they managed to dodge enemy fire as they raced towards the gate. The princes glanced across at Ky. She had jumped off the horse the moment she saw one running around without a rider and captured it for herself. The former general spared no Black soldier her blade as she swept through. This was the same Ky that had killed hundreds of her own countrymen to save thousands. This was how she did it. Her eyes were ablaze as one by one fell to her deadly accuracy. An odd sense of pride began to swell in the princess’ chest. The Black soldiers near and far fell prey to the brunette’s precision arrows. The rest of the party’s eyes were aglow as they too cut their way closer to the gate. A burning mass flew through the air and smashed into the earth close enough behind Ehren and Cora that they were hit by debris.
A deep horn blast rang out across the battlefield. The princess looked around to find the source but saw none. Slowly, the Khennán forces began to retreat. The catapults launched their last payloads. Those on foot turned and ran while the officers on horseback herded them. The group spurred their stolen horses into a full gallop as they hurdled over the bodies of fallen men and beast. As they reached the gate, the cheers of the Aznurro soldiers grew louder, it was a well-earned victory. The great ironwood doors were now wide open and inviting the soldiers home. The group trotted into camp and the king and queen immediately caught the princess’ attention.
“Mother!” she dismounted and ran over to them
The stunned royals hardly recognized the blood soaked and beaten princess.
“Father!” she moved in for a hug but held off when she noticed the bloody shirt.
“What happened?” her mouth was agape as she gingerly touched the wound.
“Some lucky bastard got a shot off.” Replied the king. “What are you doing here? I thought I told you to forget about…you!”
The king saw the bloody and beaten Ky and seethed with anger.
She calmly strode up to him. “We need to set aside our mutual hatred, Your Highness. This is bigger than our petty feud.”
“How are you still alive?” yelled the king.
Ky sighed in frustration. “Those chains that you had me in weren’t enchanted in any way. They snapped like string. It was set up so that I would escape.”
“What do you mean? There’s no possible way. Saebic himself—”
“Forget about the chains! There is something going on! Do you recall at any point seeing King Ultrek?”
The king furrowed his brow. “Why would that matter?”
“Did you see him?” growled Ky.
The king’s eyes flashed. “No. I didn’t.”
Ky was deadly serious. “That’s the problem. He’s always there. Ever since I first became a soldier I never once was on the battlefield, in a fight of this magnitude, without his presence. He lives for the fight.”
“I don’t see what the problem is.” Growled the king. “The only problem I see is that you are still standing when you should be out there with your fellow barbarians, exploring the realm of the dead.”
Cora interjected before Ky could retaliate. “My Lord, I believe the Seal is in danger!”
Toran and Arainya froze.
“We need to move to my tent. Now.” The king’s voice was low and urgent.
The group kept huddled together and moved as quickly as they could to Toran’s tent. Once inside the king collapsed into his chair. He gestured for Cora to speak.
“Sir, I believe that the Seal is in danger. I had been in deep meditation when the Goddess woke me and sent me after Atreyis and Ky. By Her grace I found the princess before the witch could end her life.” The priestess’ brow furrowed. “The Goddess also showed me that the Shadow is growing.”
The king stoked his beard pensively. “Who is this witch you speak of?”
“Her name is Lusha.” Ky spoke up. “She is no mere witch, but a powerful sorceress and I believe that she is the force behind the attack, not Ultrek.”
Toran leaned forward, his eyes piercing. “And why is that?”
“She was the one who had stripped me of my rank and it was she that sent me to your door to do her bidding.”
The king wasn’t buying it.
Ky tried again. “You saw the battlefield with your own eyes. Did you not find it odd that my king was not present as well? A campaign this tremendous requires a leader to be present. My Lord, you cannot tell me that you would only send an advisor to lead your army when you are more than capable and the only one that should. Lusha was here, Ultrek was not. I believe t
hat your scout was correct. I think that Ultrek is dead, even though the witch claimed she hadn’t killed him…yet. Lusha is behind it all.”
The king pondered this new information. “Let’s say I believe you, and that what you say is true. That this attack was not the work of my enemy. That you were sent here by the very same one who attacked my lands and tried to kill my family, then tell me, my dear General, why shouldn’t I kill you where you stand?” he leaned forward menacingly.
“Because she helped save your daughter…twice. And has more than proven herself.” Interjected Taryn, she bit her tongue. “Your Highness, all of us fought that woman, even with the strength and skill that both Ehren and Ky possess, we were no match for her.”
Ehren stepped up. “She speaks the truth, father. While I do not care for the likes of her, Ky is a most impressive warrior by any standards. But I have never fought an opponent like this woman before. She had a strength and power like I’ve never felt. It was…dark.”
“So where is this witch?” demanded Toran.
“Gone.” Said Atreyis. “She just disappeared.”
“Gone?” echoed the angry king.
Cora stammered. “Your Highness should know something. I saw…well, I’m not exactly sure what I saw. I think it was an omen.”
“What was it, Cora?” the queen asked the visibly shaken girl.
“A corpse, or rather a decaying skull. And it looked like a lizard or something. It was the briefest of moments. But when I was fighting Lusha I saw her turn into it. It felt like its eyes sucked out my very soul and took my breath away.” Chills raced down her spine.
Toran’s eyes widened in horror. “You don’t think it was a Mälgrav?”
Cora shared his concerned look. “No…I’m not sure.”
“I saw it too, father.” Confessed Atreyis.
“What does this mean, Toran?” Arainya searched his eyes.
“I’m not entirely sure.” He stood, wincing. “A Mälgrav is a demon of old. One that had walked the earth and terrorized mankind before the dragons saved us. They wouldn’t return without some cause, without someone to help them.”