by Jeff Gunzel
“I’m afraid I have no idea what you’re talking about, Yammon,” Eric replied, his head beginning to clear. “We have to get back and—”
“I have to get back,” Jade corrected, her eyes shying away from his gaze. It was obvious her own words brought her pain. “I love you, Eric. You know that, but that fact has never changed my mission. My job was to protect you, and to be sure you made it this far. And now that I’ve done that, the time has come for us to part ways.” She wiped a tear from her cheek, still unable to meet his eyes.
“No,” said Eric, his voice hard and defiant. “I don’t accept that. I won’t accept that!”
“You must!” she said, tears beginning to fall freely. “Ever since we first met, I always knew this day was coming. For now, my part is done, and these men are going to continue your training. Eric, you must understand that war is upon us. The darkness threatens to sweep across these lands, and you alone are our only hope. But you are not ready! These men have waited their entire lives for the coming of the Gate Keeper. They will guide you from here on out, and transform you into the weapon you were born to be.”
She wiped both her cheeks and regained some measure of composure. With reddened eyes, she finally met his gaze, a heartbroken look that made his chest ache. “I would prove to be nothing more than a distraction now, and that is not acceptable. That is why I cannot stay.”
“You are anything but a distraction,” he said softly. “Since all of this began, you’ve done nothing but give me strength. Tell me, how am I supposed to do this without you?”
“By showing the world what you are capable of,” she replied. “By being the man you were born to be. This is the last stage and you must give all of yourself. Do this for me, and I will make you a promise. Once you’ve finished your training with no distractions whatsoever, I shall return.”
Jade rose up on her toes and kissed his cheek. Without a word, she turned and broke from the room. Stunned, Eric hesitated a moment, then gave chase despite knowing she would be angry. Right now, that was the furthest thing from his mind. He ran outside just in time to watch her splash though a waiting doorway, then saw it snap shut in a spray of yellow sparkles. Two men with orange garments glanced in his direction, then turned and walked off in opposite directions. It was clear they had been holding it open for her.
Feeling weak in his knees, Eric slumped over and sat on the ground. He didn’t care how many were watching him in this moment of weakness. With teary eyes, he glared at the empty spot of air that had taken her away from him.
Chapter 3
Having no idea how much time had passed, Eric sat on the gravelly dirt reddened by minerals and iron. All the sandy soil up here was a dark red, and there was no vegetation anywhere in sight. Small, lean men with shaved heads wearing those same orange garments circled around staring at him, many mumbling amongst themselves, occasionally pointing in his direction.
“Eric, sooner or later you will have to get up,” said Yammon from behind. “It aids no one for you to sit here, wallowing in self-pity. You and I have much to do, and it’s best we get started.”
“Then perhaps you should get on with it,” Eric hissed, head low with hands resting on his knees. “I’ve agreed to none of this. Do as you wish, but I’ve gone as far as I can.” He crossed his arms, drawing in on himself even further. “I’m done it all. I have nothing left to give to this cause,” he whispered, more to himself than to Yammon.
Yammon shrugged. “Then I suppose Krytoes has won and we all shall die,” he said evenly. The round-faced man stepped forward and sat down next to Eric, arms crossed in a similar fashion.
“What are you doing?” Eric growled, refusing to raise his head.
“The same as you,” Yammon replied nonchalantly. “Wasting time, while our enemy grows stronger by the day. In fact, I’d say you’re doing exactly what he wants you to do. You’ve given up, and I’m sure he will find great comfort in this.” Eric grumbled in response. Yammon sighed, gazing off into the distance. “The only force in this world that Krytoes fears has rolled over like a dying dog. Nothing shall stop him now. To think, after all Jade has done, her impending death will have been in vain.”
Eric surged to his feet, and turned on Yammon. “You leave her out of this madness!” he demanded.
“Or what?” Yammon replied, an almost bored look crossing his face. “Do you plan to kill me? At least such an action would prove you still have some fight left in you. I said her death would be in vain. You disagree with my statement?” Eric’s heaving chest began to slow, his breathing steadying. “I only named her because I know she is special to you. What of the other hundreds of thousands who will also die? Would their deaths not be in vain also?” Eric looked away, suddenly unable to imagine all those deaths resting on his shoulders.
“I know you didn’t ask for this, but the task is yours regardless,” Yammon pushed off the ground, getting up to his feet with a groan. “And this is why she left. We are now at the final stage of your training. When the shadow spills into this world–and I promise you, it will be soon–you must be ready. Jade risked her life countless times so you may one day stand before me. That day has come, and I ask that you let me do my part.” He smiled at Eric. “Remember, I didn’t ask for this either, but that doesn’t mean I intend to fail.
* * *
Filista stormed down the hall, her outstretched hand taking down priceless oil paintings and tipping over fine vases. Strangely enough, destroying the artworks of humans helped her think. It felt empowering to smash these precious works, masterpieces that some human had spent weeks pouring their heart and soul into creating, then turning them into dust in the blink of an eye.
This was often how she viewed humans. An inferior race of overachievers, who had somehow managed to survive despite their self-destructive tendencies. Nothing more than a pack of insects struggling to climb the ladder of evolution. The only reason they had gotten this far is because no one even realized they were there.
She rushed around the next corner, sending a handful of servants scurrying out her way, abandoned feather dusters and rags falling to the floor. She sped down a flight of stairs, stomping noisily all the way down. A set of cryton soldiers waiting at the bottom spun about. They instinctively crossed their spears, blocking entrance to the apparent intruder.
“It’s me, you blundering fools!” she barked, slapping their spears upward, then blowing past them. She marched another ten feet or so before hesitating. A deep booming sound thundered about, shaking the floor beneath her feet. Another guard approached from a separate room, his eyes wide and alert. “Priestess,” he said, acknowledging her with a quick bow.
“They are still contained?” asked Filista, a rare uncertainty creeping into her voice.
“Yes Priestess, for now. But I’m not sure how much longer we can hold them. They never eat or sleep and always seem to be—”
“Rotate the men in alternating shifts!” she snapped. “At least two guarding them at all times. They must not get loose!” He nodded his understanding, then visibly shuddered as the next booming sound echoed through the room. Filista glanced over his shoulder. “Have you learned any more about them?” she asked, but proceeded to the next room without waiting for an answer. Hesitantly, the guard followed.
Although she had seen them before, Filista shivered at the sight of those two red monsters. What were these things? Faces hidden beneath their screened hoods, bodies covered with red armor, the seven-foot creatures crashed their massive sickles against the force field again and again. The heavy impacts shook the transparent cubicle, each blow sending a white flash of energy radiating across the clear wall.
A cryton guard stood on each side, hands on the cube with his eyes closed while concentrating on maintaining the force field. Each thunderous blow made them wince, forcing them to use just a bit more effort to keep the creatures from breaking through.
Filista looked away for an instant, noticing the human servants scrubbing bloodstains
from the walls and floor. These red beasts had killed several of her soldiers in a rather one-sided slaughter before finally being contained. These creatures, whatever they were, had seemed nearly unstoppable at the time.
The idea now was to keep them trapped until they either starved, or at least slowed down enough that they could be killed. But enough time had passed to prove this was not going to happen. These magical creatures were tireless and driven by an unexplainable bloodlust. It was clear they were never going to stop.
“They are guardians of the castle,” said the soldier.
“What?” she replied, her thoughts interrupted.
She had been thinking about how much damage these monsters had caused already. Too many of her soldiers had fallen on the wrong end of those oversized sickles. It was true, more crytons were coming to join her every day, which helped to swell her ranks. Word had spread that Filista had taken full control of Taron, and those who didn’t originally want to choose between her and Shantis had grown more comfortable with the idea of joining forces with her in the human city.
But still...
Despite her royal position, these humans were still resisting her authority. Pockets of resistance could be found throughout the city, most of it led by some mercenary named Morcel, along with his band of invisible followers. A vigilante group who called themselves the Watchdogs, they had been causing quite a bit of trouble recently. Worse, the people seemed to rally around this group of rebels. Her reinforcements couldn’t get here soon enough.
“These...things,” he continued. “You asked me what we’ve learned of them. It seems they’ve been here for centuries, existing only to guard the castle.” He cleared his throat before lowering his voice. “They—um—they live to serve the queen of Taron. That is their only purpose.”
“And just who spoke of this?” she asked quietly, watching them pound away at the transparent wall.
“We questioned several of the human servants and cross-referenced their answers. Their stories were similar. Each spoke of how these monstrosities often followed Queen Ilirra, protecting her as well as obeying her commands. They were apparently loyal to her—um—the queen, that is.” Nervously, the soldier shifted on his feet, bracing for the inevitable backlash.
“I am the queen!” Filista roared, raising a fist towards the energy cube. She pushed him aside and stormed up to them. The hammering suddenly stopped. Faceless figures stared back as she glared through the wall, her own face mere inches away from theirs. She flicked the crown that was several sizes too small, making it sit crookedly on the other side of her head.
“Do you not recognize your queen, savage beasts?” she growled in her native tongue. “Enough of this foolishness. If you two are what they say, then you will serve me here and now. Ilirra is dead, and I have no time for this treachery.” She drew herself up to her full height, her high cheekbones stretching her face into that ever-present smirk. “On your knees, now, and I may yet decide to forgive these acts of treason. Despite your obvious stupidity, simple creatures driven purely by instinct, I may have some use for you yet.” Her eyes narrowed. “I know you can understand my words. On your knees,” she repeated.
There was a moment of hesitation as they seemed to be considering her words. Then, with explosive power and fury, they drove their sickles against the wall with a thundering crash. Startled, Filista stumbled back and almost fell to the floor as the force sent another flash of light radiating through the cube. With renewed energy, the red beasts continued their tireless onslaught against their energy prison. The pounding of their weapons thundered through the lower level, shaking the floor with each rhythmic impact.
Infuriated, Filista stormed from the room. “Once you’ve figured out a way, I want them destroyed as soon as possible!” she called back over her shoulder. The soldier’s response was inaudible over the relentless pounding.
She stomped up the steps, trying to calm herself and gather her thoughts. It was bad enough that so many of these insolent humans had somehow mustered the will to resist her authority, but now these mindless red monsters refused to recognized her as their queen!
Heedless insects! Perversions of nature! It’s a wonder these insignificant life forms have survived this long. They’re too simple and weak to be considered a threat, yet too dimwitted to realize when they’ve been conquered. Such a combination of incompetence could prove to be lethal if I don’t take full control soon. She stopped and took a deep breath. These insects won’t be so bold once they witness their champion fall. Soon they will watch as—
“Priestess!” came a shout from down the hall. Further annoyed, Filista rolled her eyes towards the latest intrusion. These constant setbacks were growing tiresome, and the frenzied tone of the soldier promised more of the same.
“What is it now?” she growled, glaring as he stumbled up to her.
“There-there has been an incident,” he stuttered breathlessly. “Just outside the palace. Again, it’s those damn—” She pushed past him, white braids flipping up and down as she ran. The cryton soldier couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief. She would not be happy once she got there, but at least she wouldn’t be taking it out on him here. The soldier followed after her, but was more than happy to drag his feet.
Filista didn’t like the idea of these inept humans seeing her run like a whipped horse, even if they were just servants, but with urgency overriding her sense of pride she blurred past several rooms and hurried for the main doors. They were wide open when she arrived. Several crytons were gathered around the entrance, waving her over as she approached yet seeming afraid to go outside themselves. She elbowed past them and stood on the top step, gazing down with malice in her eyes.
The three cryton soldiers who were standing guard were dead, their bellies slit wide open. Their bodies stood propped up against wooden beams leaning against a nearby wall. Their hands and feet were nailed to the wood, and their eyes and teeth had been removed, giving them an eerie, mummified look.
Across the ground near their feet was the word “Watchdogs” painted with the victims’ blood. Several crowded around the massacre whispered amongst themselves, but pointed more towards Filista than at the bodies.
“Who is responsible for this?! An assault on the queen’s soldiers is an assault on the queen herself!” Filista boomed. Her shaken translator immediately repeated her words in common tongue. Several nearby people turned up their noses and scurried away, disappearing into the street crowd. Others outright grinned at her before backing away from the gruesome scene.
“I already questioned a few of them,” her translator replied, watching the last of them disappear around corners and down alleyways. “They all claim to have seen nothing, said they just found them like this.”
“And you believed them?” she hissed, her anger boiling to new heights.
“Of course not,” he answered, rolling his eyes. “But what did you expect them to say? The people protect these Watchdogs. No one is going to claim to have witnessed anything.” He regretted his own words the moment they left his mouth.
She grabbed him by the collar and pulled his face close to hers. “What did I expect?” she whispered dangerously. “I expect these Watchdogs to pay for what they’ve done. For making a fool out of me. Surely one of these insects knows where they are, and I expect my soldiers to be able get answers by any means necessary. The longer this group of renegades eludes us, the bolder the humans become. Have I made myself clear?” She released him with a harsh shove.
“Gather random humans and begin the questioning,” she continued, her voice suddenly icy and calm. “Use any means necessary, and remember they are expendable. If one won’t confess to either witnessing the crime, or knowing the whereabouts of these criminals, then terminate him and simply grab another.”
“Yes, Priestess,” he replied, rubbing at his throat.
* * *
Addel gazed into her clouded pearl, milky fog rolling around like a storm brewing. Despite all that had
happened, she still felt obligated to search the realm, scrying for any unnatural change in energy that might prove to be a potential entry point for Krytoes. What happened to Queen Ilirra broke her heart, but there was nothing she could do about that now. Regardless of who ruled the city of Taron, the darkness was coming. Being one of the few—if not the only person who could detect the entry points—she deemed it her sworn duty to keep searching.
It’s not so bad, she lied to herself. Filista is having so much difficulty that she has all but forgotten about me. I’m left alone to continue my research. Things could be worse.
Addel frowned at her own thoughts, recognizing the excuses for what they were. She was silently giving herself permission to stand by and do nothing as the band of crytons took over the city. But in reality, what could one broken old woman possibly do? “Doing anything at all would be better than doing nothing,” she mumbled, still dragging her fingers over the frosty white pearl.
There came a light knock at her door. She turned to eye the door suspiciously but said nothing. These were strange times and she never felt safe anymore. Who knew when Filista might send for her head, if for no other reason than because she was a troublesome human? Filista’s unpredictable rage showed no pattern or reason. The door creaked open and Berkeni peeked in. Addel released a breath she didn’t know she was holding, and gave a relieved smile.
“Are you alone?” Berkeni whispered, his eyes searching the room.
“Aren’t I always?” she replied, frowning at his odd behavior. “What’s going on? Why are you acting so strange?”
“We must talk,” he said, quietly closing the door behind him. “Please, have a seat over here.” She didn’t like the look in his eyes, but did as he asked without saying a word. “I needn’t point out the situation we are in. The city has been taken, I can’t be sure of what has become of the Gate Keeper, and our beloved queen is dead.” They both winced, each finding it hard to believe Ilirra was gone. “In all my years, I can’t recall living through a darker time.”