The Shadow of Death

by Timothy Smith

  Almahiel: "General! Every time one of your men falls, they rise again as a minion of the Darkness!" The news sent shivers down the general’s spine, but he would not let his fear undo him.

  Looking out to the army, he proclaimed the dire information of utmost importance to his men.

  Raddington: "Soldiers! Be wary of your fallen comrades! They’ll rise again from out of this accursed fog to join the ranks of the enemy!" As it did for him, the proclamation prepared his men, as much as it stoked fear into their hearts.

  ────────

  The situation fared little better on the Aelaan front, as their faiths were being shaken by this foe, which by their held beliefs, shouldn’t even exist, but then later was promised by their Chosen would be an insignificant threat. When in actuality, as time passed, the power from the supernatural army was rapidly growing in strength from among their own fallen ranks. It was only a matter of time before the odds tilted.

  ────────

  As they were looking above the edge of their hole, the dwarves, and Obi just looked on in horror at the unfolding scene. To make matters worse, they spotted an even greater threat. Aijin Riders were approaching from the north.

  Before they could be noticed by the approaching riders, Obi exclaimed.

  Obi: "Get down! We can't afford to be spotted now!"

  He wouldn't allow any room for argument on the matter from the other dwarves, who he abruptly pushed down into the hole alongside him.

  ────────

  In the chaos, Raddington noticed the Aijin Riders approaching from his northern flank before he silently despaired, as he said to himself.

  Raddington: "Aijin?... The fools. They’ve betrayed us after all." Steeling himself, the general proclaimed to his men.

  Raddington: "Spearman to the northern front!"

  His men’s focus till this point had been completely fixated on the unnatural force in front of them, and just now, at the beckoning of their leader, had they noticed the Aijin Riders approaching from the north.

  With no other option available to the men of the west, they prepared themselves to face down the fierce Aijin approaching them. All of the spearman stood by in a defensive formation, a solid line of men with elongated weapons that most would not dare to face down, but Aijin were something else entirely. The soldiers were rightfully more unnerved at mounting a defense against these creatures, than that of the unnatural forces.

  The elven princess saw their hearts were faltering, and she proclaimed to her guard.

  Almahiel: “Without magic, the humans can’t hope to stop an Aijin charge, we must go out to help them!”

  Speaking for the others, one of her guards stepped forward and revealed their true purpose when he said, “No, my princess. We will not leave you unguarded.”

  The proclamation stunned her, but at the same time she knew who was responsible for their order. And trying to force their hand, Almahiel made an attempt to make a break for the front, but the elven guards held out their weapons, blocking her path.

  After blocking her path, one of the guards quickly stated, “I’m sorry, princess, but we can’t let you be put in harm’s way.”

  Almahiel: “So you’ll do nothing?!” She cried aloud to them, but they refused to answer.

  The elven princess now knew she had to abide her time, eventually an opportunity would arise which would require her guard into action. And she would have to act on it.

  ────────

  Seeing the chaos that was unfolding, the Darkness saw fit that its time had now come.

  Ira’s walk hastened to a run, as he then started to make his way to the temple by first charging towards the bridge. Both armies now stood in Ira’s way, one from the North and the other the South.

  Although both armies’ similarly shared a growing panic and disarray among their ranks, Ira’s advance didn’t go unnoticed by either side, as they sent more men forward to strike him down.

  Using the battle hardened forces of the Order who were now in the Darkness’s ranks, Ira and the unnatural forces easily slayed those who stood in their path. And as before, it was also with every foe that was cut down, that they would soon be raised anew to join the ranks of the unnatural army. With this advantage, the dark forces were continuing to grow in strength, as they were managing to push their way through, clearing a path forward for Ira.

  ────────

  During this same time, the few hundred charging Aijin Riders stormed closely by the dwarves hiding place, not noticing their presence as raced straight towards the Army of the Free Peoples. The spearman were as prepared as they could be for the Aijin Riders, but it was for nothing.

  As they collided, the Aijin effortlessly made their way through the front lines of spearman, trampling over the soldiers like grass underfoot. The creatures’ outer armor even snapped the soldier’s wooden spears like twigs upon contact, before they started decimating the ranks of Army of the Free Peoples ranks. The fearsome beasts’ easily laid waste to any unfortunate enough to be caught in their sights.

  And even thought it was not the unnatural forces that dealt the killing blow, it was with every lost life that fell into the black fog, that they would soon be replaced by yet another minion of the Darkness. The situation was quickly becoming hopeless.

  Even as the Aijin were quickly eradicating their army, Almahiel took notice of a single man in the chaos. Rather, her elven eyes easily saw the man touched by the darkness, as he pressed through their combined army’s ranks, making his way towards the temple’s grounds. And intending to point Ira out to the general, she exclaimed.

  Almahiel: “General, the Darkness is breaking through! If it makes its way to the orb, all is lost!”

  Raddington: “I can’t! I can’t afford the men! If I don’t give them all our attention, the Aijin will be the death of us all!!” He nervously yelled out.

  He saw no other way, Almahiel's pleas to stop the Ira’s advance to the temple had to be ignored, the Aijin already required far too many of his men. Now having to deal with this new fearsome threat from the North, he simply couldn’t afford any more of his attention towards the threat that headed towards the temple grounds. Simply put, Raddington lacked the men necessary to aid in the temples defense.

  The princess wouldn’t allow things to end like this, and used her unseen magic to knock her closest guards off balance before making a break for it, leading her mount towards Ira. She wouldn’t make it far, as she was violently struck from the side. Landing several feet away from her animal, the elven princess saw an Aijin, without its rider, had already made it this far into their lines. The unyielding creature quickly tore into her steed’s neck, ending its life before turning its attention to her.

  The Aijin charged towards her, and in that moment one of her guards leaped from their steed to her defense. The elven warrior brought his spear down upon the creatures head, and followed through by pushing it back with the unseen magic, all of which, only temporarily stunned the beast. The Aijin immediately followed through by rushing the guard, clawing at his face, killing him in an instant.

  All her elven guards were now nearby, as more Aijin Riders came into the scene. The elves stood in formation, prepared to defend her highness at any cost.

  ────────

  And even though the West couldn’t offer anymore men in defense of the temple, the Aelaan Emperor noticed Ira's advance, and demanded of his soldiers.

  Mesolum: “That’s their leader! Bring out the divine warriors, and have them focus all their attention on him! Show the world the power of the gods! Do not relent!”

  And on his order, the magic wielders went out to face Ira.However, Ira's skills with the blade were exceeded by none. He cut through the elite forces of the Aelaans with almost as much ease as those of the Order before them.

  Making his way to the bridge, the Darkness had now acquired more skilled warriors to add to its ranks. A useful tool in preventing
further passage across the bridge behind it.

  As Ira pressed forward, only those in the Order remained in defense of the temple grounds stood in opposition before him. He walked forward, unable to help himself from having a confident yet menacing grin, knowing he’d dealt with their kind before.

  CHAPTER 60 – THE NAME OF EVIL

  The battle continued to rage on as one of the Aijin Riders had caught notice of the hole the dwarves had dug out. Inspecting inside, the rider saw them along with Obi, who were all prepared to defend themselves.

  Knowing the ferocity of his beast, the Aijin Rider tauntingly said to the group, "You thought you could hide from us?! My pet will feast on your flesh!" He said while ordering his mount forward to attack.

  The rider’s Aijin immediately made short work of one of the dwarves before charging further into their hole.

  Obi: "The Aijin’s armor is weak in between its joints, and belly!" He yelled out while him, and all the other dwarfs’ charged towards their foe.

  Obi managed to thrust his spear into the rider’s side, killing him, and unshackling his now rampaging beast. The Aijin had struck down two more dwarves before leaping straight at Obi, who had the war machine right at his back. Ducking down, Obi put the blunt end of his spear into the ground for support, as he aimed his pointed end upward, piercing the Aijin’s stomach, killing the foul beast. However, the momentum of the creatures leap was not so easily stopped, as its lifeless husk of a body rammed into the side of the war machine, making a large snapping sound upon its impact.

  In clear disappointment after seeing the state of his prized weapon, the Dwarven prince yelled out in frustration.

  Boldin: "Oh bollocks!... Scruff! Do you think you can fix it?!" The hairy dwarf just returned an unassured sounding grunt to accompany his uncertain shrug.

  In an irritated tone, Boldin answered his hairy friend’s response, yelling back.

  Boldin: "Dang it, Scruff! Don't give me excuses, give me results!" The hairy dwarf just rolled his eyes and groaned before getting back to work, inspecting the damage to the machine.

  With the few dwarfs’ and the Aijin Rider who had just recently fallen now arising slowly before them, Boldin then nervously said to Obi and his remaining dwarves.

  Boldin: "Agh! I don’t like the idea of having to fight off against me own kin! But if that machine isn't fixed in time for when we need it, these lifeless husks of our friends are going to be the least of our troubles." Both him and his fellow dwarfs’ were clearly unsettled, all of them mentally preparing themselves to face off against their just recent comrades.

  There was hardly anytime given before the unnaturally risen warriors charged. And as the fighting between them started, the Dwarven prince exclaimed.

  Boldin: "Steady on! We need to give our shaggy friend ere’ as much time as he needs!" He said in hopes of inspiring the others.

  ────────

  At the top of the tower like temple, the room that held the last remaining orb was circular, twenty feet wide with openings on all sides. As it turned out, their earlier suspicions were correct, as in this temple was in fact a repurposed lighthouse. At the center of the room was a stand holding the orb, and just beneath it on all sides was a large unlit oil brazier. The room had only one entrance, which came from a large circular staircase coming from below. The stairs spiraled up the tower that eventually led to a wide stone wall, which was only on this portion of the circular room, as spacing’s for such walls was limited for the tower’s windowed openings.

  The quick sound of footsteps approached ever closer, ascending ever higher up the flight of stairs until Ira appeared within sight. Being slightly cautious, Ira slowly made his way fully into the highest level of the tower. Contrary to how little emotion Ira had previously shown, he stood still, after seeing who was already inside the room. But even standing awestruck, he was almost void of emotion.

  Ira was looking directly at Theo, who was standing beside the orb, holding a torch in one hand, and his great sword in his other. Staring right back at Ira, Theo at first didn’t quite recognize him. From his hair dangling over his face, to his cold disposition, he almost looked like an entirely different person. But it only took Theo a second to find out, and he was completely stunned when he did. One could simply see it on Theo’s expression, as he thought to himself; of all time for their reunion, it was here?

  Surprised at who had revealed themselves from just below, Theo at first assumed the best of the situation. When the shock subsided, he asked Ira curiously to confirm his suspicions.

  Theo: "Can it be?... Ira, is that you?" To which, Ira's slight hint of surprise changed to that of a determined glare, as he peered back at into Theo's eyes, saying nothing.

  As Theo looked on in his lingering shock he felt an unsettling malice. It was then that he noticed Ira's eyes were pitch black, with the small exception of a hint of light at their centers. Seeing the unnatural taint, it was as he had feared; his old friend had succumbed to the Darkness. Physically drawn back after seeing his state, Theo then accusingly said.

  Theo: "Wait!... No, you're not Ira! Who are you?!"

  Ira then looked down as he began to laugh softly, and slowly his laughter became inhumanly monstrous. The sound of his laughs were similar to that of thousands of ill-intentioned voices laughing in unison.

  After hearing this sudden shift from his old friend, Theo’s suspicions had been confirmed, as he threw his torch into the brazier, igniting the great flame. The newly alit fire helped reveal the truth kept hidden in the towers shades. Looking on in amazement, Theo saw that the shadow Ira had cast on the wall behind him, was moving of its volition, as it was slowly changing into a form that was entirely inhuman.

  ────────

  Back on the ground, and still in the heat of battle, Boldin noticed the brazier was lit. Frantically he pointed it out quickly to the others, as he exclaimed.

  Boldin: "That's the signal lads!!" He yelled while giving his shaggy friend a quick glance, before frenziedly asking in the moment.

  Boldin: "Scruff!!! Are you ready?!" The hairy dwarf just gave a halfhearted grunting like murmuring as his only response.

  Understandably frustrated, the Dwarven prince exclaimed back.

  Boldin: "What do you mean you just need a few minutes?!-" He said while blocking a strike from one of his once previous comrades, as he continued to yell out, saying, "-In case you didn’t notice, we don't have that kind of time!"

  After just landing the final blow on the risen Aelaan Aijin rider once again, Obi looked around to see the situation of the other dwarfs’. As if making up his mind on something after seeing them, Obi nodded before taking the opportunity to step aside towards the edge of their hole. Looking back at the group, he amazingly said.

  Obi: "You can handle the rest."

  To which Boldin specifically among the dwarfs’ yelled back his grievances on the matter, in shock and disappointment, he loudly complained.

  Boldin: "What?!!! And just what the heck is that supposed to mean?!-" And seeing Obi running off, Boldin exclaimed, "-By the stone! Where in the blazes do you think you're going?! This is a great time to be taking a stroll!" As Obi was about to depart, he yelled back some few words that'd be certain to encourage the dwarfs’, saying.

  Obi: "There’s something you should know! That elf told me she didn't think you'd make it! So don't you go dying, and prove her right!” Boldin was really riled up by this point after hearing that, as he yelled back.

  Boldin: "What?! She's the one who told us to stay!"

  The dwarf continued to swear up a storm that any reasonable person would not see fit to put from ink to paper, before saying some choice parting words to the bald human, as he continued to say.

  Boldin: "No way I'm going to give that damn pointy ears the pleasure of being right! I’m gonna live through this, and show her a piece of my mind! But as for you baldy, when you get back I'm shoving my boot right up your arse!"

  Obi couldn�
�t help but grin proudly, after seeing that his few words seemed to fully distract his dwarven companions from their fear at the moment. He then said his parting words right back to the irritated dwarf.

  Obi: "Now that's the Dwarven stubbornness I've come to know! You'll do fine without me! When we’re done, I’ll treat you all to a round!" And following through on his words, he left them.

  The Dwarven prince was painfully disgruntled after Obi left, and yelled to his other dwarfs’ in frustration.

  Boldin: "This is the last time, ya hear me?! The last time I’m gonna risk my neck for some humans!"

  And looking back at his fallen comrade staring right back at him, the dwarf found himself somewhat in disbelief before saying aloud.

  Boldin: "Still, this is going to be one helluva story we’re gonna tell the others when we get back. Though, they're going to have a hard time believing this one, that's for damn sure." He said before turning his attention back towards his adversaries, and pressing his attack.

  ────────

  Back at the uppermost floor of the tower, Ira’s casted shadow on the stone wall seemed to be completely alive, independent from that of his own actions. The shadow was changing its form before Theo’s very eyes, manipulating itself into some unknown entity. Throughout this entire time, the sinister laughter continued around the tower’s corridors, coming from every which way.

  His question left unanswered, the young champion once again demandingly asked of this unknown presence, yelling out.

  Theo: "What are you?!"

  And answering him in an unfamiliar menacing voice, the presence only responded once its monstrous form was fully visible by way of Ira's casted shadow. The sound of its voice remained similar to that of thousands of ill-intentioned voices, speaking as one. The terrifying sound came from all around as it spoke.

  Darkness: "You wish to know what I am?-" The presence cackled a sinister chuckle before continuing to say, "-I am the darkness in the hearts of all of mankind. Like a shadow, since the time of your births’, I have lingered by your sides’…” And the monstrous creature raised its voice as it continued to speak.