by Mark Boutros
The Warlock placed his hand on top of theirs.
The warmth ran up Sabrinia’s arm, even though the rest of her body felt cold.
‘In the light of the Soul Candle, I bind your hearts, your minds, and your souls. May you never be apart, and may you continue your journey together in the afterlife, spreading togetherness and love.’
He removed his hand and the candle’s shadow became light, shining on Sabrinia and Arazod’s faces.
Arazod closed his eyes and smiled.
Sabrinia cried, wishing the candle would somehow set her ablaze.
The Warlock touched the History Orb, their faces formed in it, their union documented forever. Their faces dissolved into cloudy letters, spelling their names.
‘Congratulations. You are King and Queen, husband and wife, two beings with one soul. Live your lives to serve others, to—’
‘Bla bla bla.’ Arazod waved a hand at the Warlock. ‘You can go now.’
The Warlock stared at him, shook his head, offered Sabrinia a sympathetic look and departed.
Arazod opened his wings. ‘Ready to die, my queen?’
‘I don’t think she is,’ Karl said.
He stood in the doorway. ‘Karl! You’re alive!’
All of Arazod’s feathers stood on end. ‘I pushed you off a CLIFF! It was really HIGH!’
Sabrinia punched Arazod’s beak and ran to Karl.
The Fools stepped forward. ‘Must kill intruders.’
‘No! Don’t kill him.’ Arazod’s eyes drowned in murder. ‘He’s mine.’
The Fools stopped. Hargon ran to Sabrinia.
Karl stood in front of them and held his shield to his chest. ‘Let’s end this.’
Arazod chuckled at his bravery and flew at him. He swung his axe, but it bounced off Karl’s shield. ’How?’ He retrieved the Soul Bleeder and hovered. ‘Capture her!’ He pointed at Sabrinia.
‘I think you should run,’ Karl told Sabrinia and Hargon. He bashed his shield against the first Fool’s head, knocking it against a bench. The second Fool grabbed Hargon. Sabrinia punched it in the face, knocking it over.
‘Stay safe, Karl.’ Sabrinia and Hargon ran but she turned back in the doorway.
Arazod struck again. Karl blocked once more.
‘This can’t be!’ Arazod moaned.
‘Sorry to ruin your plans.’ Karl blocked a flurry of blows.
‘Come on,’ Hargon told Sabrinia.
She wanted to help but there was nothing she could do. She and Hargon ran up the stairs, but she had no idea where to go.
‘Wife!’ Arazod screeched. ‘Don’t hide from your husband.’
‘Get back here you coward!’ Karl shouted.
Sabrinia and Hargon turned a corner. A Fool tried to grab Sabrinia but Hargon grappled it. It stabbed Hargon in the thigh.
He yelled and fell.
‘Hargon!’ Sabrinia bashed the Fool’s head against the wall.
She reached for the dagger in Hargon’s thigh.
‘No… no. Thanks. I’m not ready to take it out yet. You should run. I’ll be fine,’ Hargon said.
Sabrinia nodded. ‘Thank you.’
She turned and ran towards the end of the corridor.
‘There you are!’ Arazod flew after her.
47
Oaf searched the corridors but couldn’t find Karl or Questions. It was all the same, just bricks and doors.
A familiar voice boomed from outside. ‘Why’s it so difficult for you all to keep a bit of order?’
Oaf poked his head out of the window and looked down at the courtyard.
Lord Ragnus.
Oaf’s heart pounded.
Lord Ragnus kicked a Fool. He threw Flowfornians out of his large tub of moisturiser where they stamped on hazel berries to make his lotion.
Oaf sprinted down the stairs. He watched Lord Ragnus relax, lost in a heaven of lubricant, his eyes closed, ignoring the chaos around him.
This was it. Oaf entered the tub, moisturiser up to his ankles. He could creep up and crush Lord Ragnus’ skull, but he wanted him to know who was going to kill him.
‘Stand,’ he said.
‘What is it now?’ Lord Ragnus sat up. His annoyed expression became a smirk. ‘Cecil. What a surprise. I guess this means I’m not the strongest being in Hastovia anymore.’
Oaf stepped forward and clenched his fists.
‘Do you need help?’ Questions ran towards him.
He turned to her. ‘No, Questions…’
Lord Ragnus thumped Oaf’s spine, then punched the back of his head.
Questions leapt at Lord Ragnus but he bashed her away.
‘Stop her,’ Lord Ragnus commanded his Cyclops.
It kicked Questions, who slumped against the tub wall.
Lord Ragnus hit Oaf again. Oaf stumbled face first into the moisturiser.
Lord Ragnus rolled Oaf over and lifted his head. ‘I’ve been waiting an eternity for a decent challenge… What a disappointment.’
Lord Ragnus turned to his Cyclops. ‘Get the rest of this in carts and let’s leave this dump. We’ll get a boat to another country and sell it to buy some mercenaries.’
This couldn’t be how it ended, but Oaf had no strength.
Lord Ragnus clenched the fists Oaf created. He punched Oaf’s cheek and cracked it. Oaf had failed.
‘Say hi to your mother.’ Lord Ragnus punched him again and the world darkened.
Oaf’s head wobbled. A voice tried to pierce through the darkness.
‘Are you okay? Are you okay, Oaf?’ Questions asked.
His eyes rolled around. He tried to focus on her face but struggled.
She shook his head, but he couldn’t respond. Words formed in his mind but they made no sense and they wouldn't go to his mouth.
‘Why does everyone I love have to die?’ Questions rested Oaf’s head on her lap and wept. ‘Why couldn’t I have died with my father?’
Oaf strained. The words moved slowly. ‘You love me?’ One of his eyes fluttered.
Questions blushed. ‘Do you know I love you?’ She looked down.
Oaf eased himself into a seated position against the tub wall. He smiled. ‘I love you too. Lots.’ He touched his broken cheek then held her hands.
Questions looked at him, her eyes lit up. ‘Does it annoy you that I can’t say it like everyone else?’
Oaf shook his head. ‘The way you say it is perfect.’
She smiled and kissed him, and all the pain he felt was soothed for a moment.
‘I’m sorry for breaking my promise and running off.’ His breath was slow. ‘I’ll let him go and I’ll forget this whole revenge thing. I’m obviously not very good at it.’
Questions frowned at him. ‘Is that nonsense?’
Oaf wondered if he was still dazed. ‘What?’
‘Do you think the world needs less Lord Ragnus’? Do you want to go and get your revenge?’
Questions stood and extended her hand to help Oaf rise.
Oaf took deep breaths and tried to restore some strength as he walked through Flowforn Forest.
Lord Ragnus’ whistling carried in the wind.
‘Hurry up!’ the miserable voice ordered the Cyclops pushing the carts.
Oaf caught up with the Cyclops, grabbed it and threw it out of the forest and in front of Lord Ragnus, who stood on the edge of the Wrath of Arazod.
Oaf pushed the line of carts out of the forest and emptied one of them onto the ground.
‘Go and get what’s mine,’ Lord Ragnus commanded the Cyclops. It leapt to its feet and rushed at Oaf. Oaf grabbed it and threw it against a boulder.
‘Useless,’ Lord Ragnus complained.
Oaf emptied every cart. Moisturiser covered the ground, flowed past Lord Ragnus’ feet and off the cliff.
‘It took me a long time to get all of that.’ Lord Ragnus beat his fists together and charged. Oaf ran at him. Their solid frames bounced, knocking them both down. They sprung to their feet. Lord Ragnus swung a fist but Oaf c
aught it. Lord Ragnus swung the other fist but Oaf caught that too. Oaf tried to restrain him but he was broken and tired. Lord Ragnus forced his hands towards the sides of Oaf’s head. ‘I’ll crush your tiny brain.’
Oaf feared the worst and his hands shook and his arms ached. He thought back to the brutality in Reech, to his creations being used to murder his mother.
Lord Ragnus kicked Oaf in the stomach. Oaf released Lord Ragnus’ hands and Lord Ragnus raised his fists either side of Oaf’s head.
Oaf pictured his mother and Questions and they gave him strength. He moved his head back and pounded Lord Ragnus’ fists together. He sculpted the weapons into one big block, binding his enemy’s hands.
Lord Ragnus’ expression changed from smug to worried.
The expected epic battle was far from it. Lord Ragnus swung his bound fists down like a hammer but took an uppercut. He landed on the back of his neck.
Oaf walked to the edge of the Wrath of Arazod and swept moisturiser off it with his feet. He stared at his fallen foe, the reason his life had changed so much.
Lord Ragnus rose to his knees. ‘What’s wrong, Cecil? Can’t finish me?’ He smiled and moved closer to Oaf.
‘Go away. You’re done.’ Nothing left but a pathetic bully. Oaf clenched his right fist and measured it at Lord Ragnus, but lowered it, struggling with his inability to destroy life.
‘You forget that I know your people. I know you can’t kill. It’s not in your blood.’ Lord Ragnus edged closer. ‘And that dumb look of helplessness in your eyes. Exactly the same one Boofa showed before I buried her in the sea.’ Lord Ragnus swung his arms up at Oaf. Oaf dodged, grabbed Lord Ragnus by the throat, lifted him and cracked the back of his head against the ground.
Lord Ragnus groaned. ‘That’s it, Cecil. We’ll make a killer out of you yet.’
Questions stood by the tipped over carts. Revenge was no longer the priority in Oaf’s life.
Oaf ripped the horn from around Lord Ragnus’ neck. He dragged Lord Ragnus by his legs, away from the edge of the cliff. He turned back towards it. ‘I’m not going to kill you.’
Oaf lifted Lord Ragnus by the throat. He ran and flung him off the Wrath of Arazod. The arrogance in Lord Ragnus’ eyes disappeared behind the emptiness of petrification.
48
Karl stepped onto the King’s Eye from the Lookout Tower. All of Flowforn was below, from the cages to the gardens and beyond. Bar Witch and the adventurers tried to repel Fools, while Flowfornians led by Proster helped them. There were too many Fools though. Karl closed his eyes, feeling the weight of responsibility.
Sabrinia hid behind Arazod’s self-dedicated monstrosity atop the King’s Tower.
Arazod flew above her. ‘Why run from me? I’m your husband.’ He swooped down but she ran around the statue, evading him.
Arazod swiped his axe at Sabrinia. ‘I’ll destroy everything!’
‘I don’t mean to point out the obvious.’ Karl gestured to the burnt woods to the south, damaged landscape to the north, and the smashed buildings around them. ‘Have you ever thought about not destroying everything?’
‘Briefly. But it seemed boring.’ Arazod swooped at Karl and knocked him onto his stomach. If Karl fell off the bridge he’d become a human stain. He pushed himself to his feet.
Arazod caught Sabrinia and placed her on the beak of his statue. The slightest slip and she would die.
She swung a fist at him, but missed and nearly fell.
‘If I can’t have love, nobody will.’ Arazod laughed at Sabrinia. ‘Now you get to see me cut him in half, then it’s your turn. You’ll wish you’d loved me to avoid all of this.’
‘I could never love you, no matter how much I tried.’ Sabrinia looked at Karl then turned back to Arazod. ‘You are unlovable!’
Arazod’s beak twitched. He flew at Karl who blocked the axe but was knocked over the railing.
‘Karl!’ Sabrinia screamed.
The curved hook of Karl’s shield dug into the bridge. Karl moved his legs, frantically trying to get back on the King’s Eye.
Arazod hovered by his statue and looked down at the battle. ‘Lock them all up!’ he commanded the Fools. ‘I’m going to personally slice them one by one.’
The Fools funnelled everyone into the outdoor cages.
Arazod put his axe down and grabbed a statuette of him feeding starving children and moved it towards the edge of the tower, no doubt to drop on people.
Karl swung a leg onto the bridge and rolled under the railing.
Arazod hovered.
Karl lined up a throw. He focused and squinted to sharpen everything. He pulled his arm back. With all he had left he added that bit of flamboyance and bravado that would make Arazod appreciate the showmanship. ‘Die! You irritating flying rat!’ He launched the shield. It cut through the air.
The prisoners, hopeful, open-mouthed, followed its flight.
Arazod simply moved.
Sabrinia ducked, the shield nearly beheaded her.
‘That’s all you had left?’ Arazod laughed.
The shield smashed the elbow of the statue’s axe-wielding arm. It fell, creating a potential but risky route down for Sabrinia.
‘You broke my statue!’ Arazod fumed. He put the statuette down and picked his axe up. He looked at Karl, nothing to defend himself with. ‘For the last time, Karl. Die!’ Arazod swooped at him.
Beak and axe closed in, Karl knew it was over but had to try something. He clenched his fists, hoping to whack the tyrant out of the sky, but behind the heroism he knew it was folly. He looked at Sabrinia. ‘Sorry.’
‘Karl!’ Larnela stepped in front of him.
Metals clashed in a blur. Larnela turned to Karl, wounded from her shoulder to her stomach, her sword broken in half.
‘Larnela! No…’
She collapsed into Karl’s arms. Blood leaked out of her.
Karl kneeled and held her against him. He covered her wounds but her life seeped through his fingers.
‘Use this…’ Larnela handed him the sword handle with broken blade.
Karl lay Larnela down, stood and faced his enemy.
Arazod swooped. Karl sidestepped and leaned back. The axe grazed his left shoulder, but he jammed the broken sword into Arazod’s right wing.
Arazod dropped his axe and crashed head first into the railing. His struggling wings only slowed the inevitable collision with the courtyard pebbles in front of the cages.
Karl placed Larnela’s head on his lap.
Sabrinia climbed down the broken statue arm. She removed the red dress tied to her and used it to cover Larnela’s bleeding chest.
Larnela gazed up at Karl. Life barely flickered in her eyes. ‘Karl… you did it.’
‘Shush. Save your energy.’ Karl pressed against her wound. ‘Why did you sacrifice yourself? I could’ve taken him.’
She chuckled and held his hand, squeezing it with what little strength she had. ‘It’s… It’s a mother’s job to protect her child.’
Too many thoughts exploded in Karl’s mind and his throat ached. ‘You’re…’ He welled up; his head was hot and light.
‘I failed once… Not again.’ Larnela coughed blood.
Tears ran down Karl’s face. He had her. She was here in his hands, a real thing. Not a vision, not a blue stone, an actual real person. ‘M… Mum?’ Saying it out loud to his mother made his heart swell.
He held her cheek.
She nodded. ‘I’m so proud of who you’ve become.’
Sabrinia put a comforting hand on Karl’s shoulder. Larnela's blood darkened the red dress.
‘Why didn’t you say anything when we spoke?’ he asked.
‘You had something bigger to deal with…’
‘Bigger than you…’ He shook his head. ‘No…’ Karl pulled her into his chest and wished he could transfer his life to hers. ‘I don’t want you to die…’ He wanted to take in every flicker in her eyes.
She smiled, blood on her teeth. ‘I died the moment I ga
ve you up… but I had to. I couldn’t let them kill you.’
‘It’s okay,’ Karl said. ‘It’s okay, Mum.’
‘I tried to find you… so many times…’ Her breathing slowed.
‘Please…’ Karl's stomach twisted. Just another moment, that's all he wanted. Another sentence, another breath.
‘Thanks for letting me live again.’ Larnela's life stopped.
Hatred flooded Karl's body.
Karl marched into the courtyard wielding the Soul Bleeder. Sabrinia and a limping Hargon followed him.
Karl walked up to Arazod's body; face down, his leg broken and wing wounded. The feathered villain stirred and Fools approached.
‘Cut his stupid head off!’ Bar Witch shouted from her cage.
Karl pressed the axe blade into Arazod’s back.
‘Argh!’ Arazod screamed.
‘Tell the Fools to stop,’ Karl said.
‘Never!’
Karl pressed the axe deeper. Arazod’s blood coloured the blade.
Sabrinia covered her mouth.
‘I’ll slice you in half before they get to me,’ Karl said.
‘Stop! Stop Fools!’ Arazod groaned.
The Fools stopped.
Karl stared at the weapon in his hand and his prone nemesis.
‘Karl…’ Sabrinia said softly, concern on her face.
His mother's dead face flashed in his mind. ‘Make me the leader of the Fools,’ he commanded Arazod.
‘What?’
‘Make me the leader.’
‘Never! Kill him!’ Arazod commanded.
A Fool thrust its spear at Karl. He chopped the spear in half and touched the axe to Arazod’s beak. ‘Do it!’
‘Stop Fools! Stop!’ Arazod cried.
The Fools stopped.
‘Are you sure you want this?’ Arazod asked.
Karl pressed his foot to Arazod’s head and pushed it into the pebbles. He could feel Arazod's skull on the verge of cracking and he enjoyed it. Just one stamp and his miserable little brain would be squashed.
Arazod screamed into the ground. Karl raised his foot enough to allow words.
‘Karl is your new leader!’ Arazod coughed. ‘Karl is your new leader!’
Karl released his foot.