Legends of Marithia: Book 2 - Darkness Rising

by Peter Koevari

“You really are alone here, aren’t you?” he asked.

  “Yes, please help me!” she pleaded.

  The man ran up to her and drew a small blade from his pocket, placing its tip against her throat and laughed in her face.

  “It’s been a long journey for me and I will be sure to help you out of these chains, but first… I have long missed the company of a woman.”

  Pausing in confusion, the man observed her almost perfect skin and the lack of bruising or tears.

  “No! Let me free!” she pleaded, forcing whimper in her voice.

  The man put his instincts aside in a grip of lust and undid his belt. His pants dropped to the floor. Placing himself up against her, he thrust deep inside her and she let out a scream.

  “Don’t move!” he yelled, going as deep as he could go inside her and increasing his pace.

  Biting her lip, she watched closely as the man neared his climax. She felt his body tense as he lost control and dropped the blade by his side and closed his eyes in ecstasy.

  Wumvarn smiled as she whispered, “Solvo meus manuum.”

  The chains around her wrists glowed and snapped open as he slid out of her. She grabbed his sword by the hilt with her right hand and unsheathed it by the blade. His eyes shot open at the sharp pain of the sword slicing through his neck. Grasping his throat and choking on his blood, he fell to his knees in front of her.

  “So, now you want to please me?” she teased, cutting the remaining chains and landing on her feet on the blood splattered ground in front of him.

  “That was far too easy. What is it with warriors and warlocks? They have a severe lack of control over their desires.”

  Kicking his chest with her heel, she knocked him backward and watched as his face began to turn blue.

  “What an utter disappointment you turned out to be. I was looking forward to a good fight or a good time… hopefully both. With you, I got neither. It doesn’t matter how stupid you are; let me show you the way to this woman’s heart… it is through yours!”

  She plunged her blade deep into his chest and cracked open his rib cage to reveal his still beating heart. Reaching in with her bare hands, she ripped his heart from his body and watched as the life depleted from the warrior’s eyes.

  Bringing the steaming hot organ to her mouth, she licked it with her long tongue before opening her mouth wide to devour it with the sloshing sounds of blood soaked fresh meat.

  Chapter 20 : Blackened

  “It matters not what world or family we are born into; all that matters is who we become.”

  (Makya, She’Ma’Ryn trader)

  Every thread remaining of his humanity screamed out at him not to follow her order and he knew that if he killed his old ally, what light of humanity remained inside him would turn black. But if he disobeyed her order, it would be a fate worse than death.

  Tusdar looked to Mestal, who appeared both confused and frustrated at his actions. He only had good memories when he looked at Aidan and felt pity for his plight. All of Zhendur looked on and waited for him to make his choice.

  Aidan begged, “Please… I have never wronged you and don’t deserve to die like this… save me!”

  The crowd all laughed at his pleas and Kassina backhanded him across his cheek. “Shut your trap! Come now Tusdar, my patience is thinning and time is short. Kill Him! Now!”

  Tusdar screamed as he took charge and pointed his weapon ahead of him. Aidan indicated toward Kassina with his eyes and they shot open with panic when the blade continued at a frightening pace toward his chest.

  Kassina took no chances and drew two daggers in readiness for any disobeying of orders.

  “No! Please!” cried Aidan, before the blade was thrust deep into his heart and its bloodied shiny blade poked out of his spine. Gasping for breath, blood began to pour down the sword and over Tusdar’s hands. Letting go of the blade and stepping back, he watched as Aidan choked on his own blood and fell to the ground, the blade cutting through until its hilt was stuck in his rib cage.

  May the gods help me, thought Tusdar. He shed a tear as the last of his humanity was stripped from his body.

  Kassina sheathed her daggers and clapped her hands as she kicked Aidan’s body over and the crowd erupted in cheers. She approached him and patted his back. Leaning close to his ear, she whispered, “Well done.”

  Turning to the crowd and waving for them to quieten down, she spoke resolutely. “Today, it has been proven that this man is no longer loyal to anyone else but Shindar and his queen. He is forgiven for his crimes and will become one of our chosen. Aryun, take Mestal and Tusdar to the ceremonial room and prepare him for my blessing. The rest of you can return to your duties.”

  Lord Aryun nodded and walked with a quivering Mestal toward Tusdar. She embraced Tusdar tightly and held his hand as they walked toward the centre of Zhendur.

  Once the crowd had dispersed and Tusdar was far from the portal, Kassina turned to her elite warriors. “Shut the portal down and be ready for my return to the underworld.”

  She walked to Aidan’s dying body and laughed as she used her mind to make his mouth speak. “Oh Tusdar, please… don’t kill me”

  She focused her concentration on casting a spell. “Ostendo sum vestri verus visio quod aufero vestri os.”

  His blood-soaked face glowed momentarily and the features began to contort and morphed into a completely different man.

  “Take him away and give him to the Zhendurians to feed, they like nothing better than drawing blood from a real body,” she commanded.

  One of her elite warriors shrieked a question to her in his confusion about the man’s identity as he dragged the body away.

  She puffed out a breath in annoyance. “Why would I waste a perfectly good worker? I just had to be sure that he was on the right side and any man who is willing to murder his old friend is worthy of joining my ranks.”

  Tusdar stood naked in the middle of a large circular room. Shimmering symbols were etched into the marble ground. He was surrounded by a large suspended circle and a five pointed star that looked like it had been built into the structure. Mestal, Aryun and three others were all crouched down on their knees in each point of the star and faced him.

  “What do I do now?” he asked.

  “I told you, stand there and await our queen’s presence,” snapped Aryun.

  Tusdar nodded and almost jumped out of his skin when the large door burst open and Kassina stormed into the room.

  “Time is short and we must do this quickly. Shindar expects my return momentarily and he will be most unhappy if I keep him waiting. You all know what to do. I will begin the first rites of blessing,” she ordered.

  Walking to stand behind Tusdar, she raised his arms to the height of his shoulders and cast the first spell. “Nos dico nostrum valde ut patefacio ianua ut sub universitas quod venia nos per suus presentia!”

  The ground shook and began to pulse as the star fell into the ground and was replaced by scorching fire.

  “Nos dico nostrum valde ut patefacio ianua ut sub universitas quod venia nos per suus presentia…” they chanted, their eyes glowing white with the power of the spell.

  A small ball of fire burst from inside the star to hover in the air before him and flattened as if it were a plate of fire. With each pulse, it grew in size until a large flat circle of fire was before him.

  Kassina grinned with anticipation as she yelled the second spell. “Iam ut ianua es patefacio nos scisco iungo nostrum regnum quod ostendo suus visio!”

  The circle fell into the ground and produced an eerie blue fog and covered the floor of the room. Tusdar watched as the flat circle of fire before him began to open and reveal a window into the underworld. He saw the decayed land and rotting world before him and gasped with the shock. The smell of decay filled his nose as the underworld wind entered the room.

  “Iam ut ianua es patefacio nos scisco iungo nostrum regnum quod ostendo suus visio!” they chanted.

  “By the gods! It loo
ks exactly like Marithia, but as if it has all been ravaged by war,” he observed.

  “This is the underworld. Once our power is realised and the underworld becomes one with Marithia, you will witness the birth of a new kingdom… one ruled by those who are worthy to call themselves king and queen. One ruled by… Shindar,” said Kassina.

  “If this is a portal to the underworld, why didn’t Shindar just walk into Marithia in the portal you came through?” asked Tusdar.

  Kassina chuckled. “This ceremonial room is made from materials brought here from the underworld and is the only reason that Shindar can make an appearance here today. Once Marithia is part of the underworld, it will matter no longer.”

  Tusdar stared wide-eyed into the portal as he blurted out, “Shindar is here?”

  Tusdar watched as the dark lord himself approached the casted portal in full armour and his deep voice reverberated around the room. “Kassina, why do you call me here for a blessing? I expected your return long ago. Who is this you bring before me?”

  Kassina pushed Tusdar down onto his knees and kneed him in the back for his insolence before snapping an order in his ear. “Do you not know how to address your lord?”

  Tusdar stuttered, “M… My great lord Shindar, I am Tusdar and I am but your humble servant.”

  Kassina pushed him to stand before speaking. “He does not look like much, but he murdered his own friend in cold blood today to prove his loyalty. I believe that he has earned our blessing.”

  “Tusdar… I have seen your soul before and am surprised that you are here before me. However, if your heart truly desires to become one of our chosen, then there is nobody better than those who have proven their loyalty to me. I want you to know that we will be able see through your eyes and hear through your ears and if you are ever to betray me, I will personally see to it that you serve an eternal life as a slave in the underworld. Do you still wish to be blessed and join me in the fight to reclaim Marithia as our own?”

  Tusdar looked deep within his heart and found that nothing was there. There was no emotional pull or doubts of his chosen path and he nodded knowingly. “My great lord, I do.”

  “Then let it be done!” boomed Shindar, the sheer shock of the lord’s voice pushing Tusdar back. He reached through the portal and Tusdar watched as his great hand materialised in the ceremonial room, opened in front of him, and his body was pulled off the ground to meet the lord half way. He landed chest first on Shindar’s hand as all eyes were on him; he was now the room’s centrepiece. Shindar’s mouth opened to reveal a dark brown snake slithering from his throat and making its way toward Tusdar.

  Kassina leapt over the flames and out of the circle.

  The snake reared and struck Tusdar in the chest, sinking its fangs deep into his flesh. He screamed in pain as the snake bit through his flesh and slithered deep into his chest, wrapping around his blackened heart.

  “Nostrum mens es iam ut unus quod vos ero auditurus esse quod visum universitas of incendia,” boomed Shindar.

  With a white flash, a searing hot flame hit his chest and he let out a loud grunt as he was thrown violently into the wall behind him.

  Shindar pulled his hand back into the underworld and the portal closed. At the spell’s completion, the blue fog dissipated and the flames were pulled back into the underworld. The ground shook as the marble floor returned to its normal state and they all watched as the burned skin on Tusdar’s chest revealed the pentagram and an eye that blinked at first and then blended into the tattoo.

  Tusdar heard the voice of Kassina in his mind as she said, “It is done.”

  The ceremonial room’s door busted open with a skeleton warrior that shrieked and spoke with its guttural sounds desperately.

  “How dare you!” snapped Kassina, drawing her sword to decapitate the warrior for its intrusion when she scrunched her eyebrows in confusion.

  “What in Shindar’s name are you doing here? I left you with a group charged with defending Greenhaven!” asked Kassina.

  With more shrieks and guttural sounds, the warrior shook with anger as he relayed events.

  “Stop!” she yelled, “Let me see for myself.”

  She walked up to put a hand on the warrior’s skull to look into its memories. She watched as Wumvarn dispatched some warriors with spells that burst their bones into dust. She growled with annoyance as she watched the demon feed off prisoner’s hearts and ordered her warriors to do her bidding. Finally, she watched as the skeleton warrior observed the catching of the human warrior and took the opportunity to escape from Greenhaven with the remainder of her skeleton warriors assigned to guard it.

  Releasing its skull, she decapitated the skeleton warrior with a singular blow. “And the same goes for the rest of those who fled Greenhaven to find sanctuary here! I do not reward cowardice and incompetence. Either succeed or die trying.”

  Her elite warriors shrieked with acceptance of the orders and executed the rest of the escapees.

  Tusdar stood in the room, admiring his new tattoo and clothing himself.

  Kassina approached Lord Aryun and snapped her orders. “That blasted demon! I need to return to the underworld, but Greenhaven must be taken back at all costs! I want you to march the Zhendurian army to the castle gates and destroy anyone in your path. Find this demon and rip her to pieces!”

  He nodded. “I will ready the army for departure immediately.”

  “Aryun, I want Tusdar to stand beside you in the march to Greenhaven. Let him taste the glory of battle.”

  Chapter 21 : A Prince Of Scaled Blood

  “I have arrived in the elven city of Veldrenn in the hope of protecting my daughter and happened to come at a time of great celebration.

  My journey had been eventless thanks to my cloak of hiding, but it will not be too long before the enchantment wears off. Not to matter, if I find Kari here… I am certain that she will be glad to see me.

  I must be certain not to alter events that are to take place or we are all at great risk.”

  (Aldorus – Master Sorcerer)

  Veldrenn’s canopy had been shut tightly for their protection, but was more breathtaking than a starry night. Nicolai organised for all of the fairies to catch fire beetles and placed them in the branches of the trees. It had taken them a lot of effort, but the effect was extraordinary. The elven army, with the exception of chosen guards to watch the perimeter closely, had been granted a day of no training in return for assisting with wedding preparations.

  More wood was required to create a grand archway for the wedding to be conducted under which was wrapped in the rarest and most beautiful of flowers. Red Pillies, famed amongst Marithians, opened and closed their petals for days after they had been cut and were used exclusively for the royal archway.

  Many large tables were built and readied for a celebratory dinner. Wood carvings were fashioned on pillars that depicted the symbols and animals of fertility, love, honour, and strength. Flowers were gathered from afar to be turned into decorations that were placed all over the city.

  Dragons flew far to return with the best cows, wild pigs, game, and ducks. The cooks worked tirelessly to create an immense feast. As a finishing touch, Andrielle gathered all with the powers of magic to cast a grand enchantment. Magical lanterns with everlasting flames within them hovered above head height and glowed pink and purple.

  The Knights of Veldrenn were in their royal armour, standing in a great circle around the archway with their swords vertical and resting their hands on the hilts. All of Veldrenn had gathered for the wedding and watched as the feast was laid out on the tables before them.

  Makya, Trisa, Anakari, and a well recovered Yuski were seated on the royal table, awaiting formal proceedings. Dragons sat proudly in a long line stemming out from the archway, with their heads held high and wearing their enchanted armour. Karven and Nymira were directly beside the archway and Finn sat beside his king.

  Vartan was dressed in his dragon armour with the additions of a black cap
e, the traditional colour of elven weddings and wore the wedding crown of the elves. It was also black and was made of the finest obsidian in all of Marithia with gold markings. This was a glorious symbol of the unity between humans, elves and dragons. He stared at himself in the mirror of their royal home and let himself smile.

  My love, I cannot wait to marry you today, said Helenia’s voice in his mind.

  And I you Helenia. I love you, he thought in return.

  “I can’t believe that I am getting married. I mean, amidst all of this chaos… is this really the time for a wedding?”

  Leon put his hands on his son’s shoulders and returned his smile. “Son, it is times like these that are the perfect opportunity for such an occasion. Trust in your queen, or should I say… trust in your family. You are about to be crowned Prince of Veldrenn. It is a time of hope for Marithians, myself included. You look like the man that I always knew you would turn into, you look… like a future king!”

  Vartan embraced his father, “Thank you… that means more to me than you know.”

  You really do look amazing Vartan, I am so happy for you. Your father is happier today than any day in his life, said Keturah. Vartan returned the praise with a gentle kiss on her forehead.

  Leon nodded and began to walk with Vartan toward his door, when he stopped and turned to his father. “Before I am married today and while I have the opportunity to ask this, there is something that I need to know. Now that I know the truth of how you and mother were born, how did you both find each other? I could never imagine being torn from the woman I love, starting again from birth and remembering everything.”

  His father sighed, led him to their table and said, “If you must know now, I would be happy to tell you. Have a seat.”

  “It is true that we had been born as babies to two completely different families. It was not easy, but we knew the price we had to pay for wanting a human life and the joys that it may bring us. I used to draw pictures of your mother from the time that I could hold a feather in my hand and found my parent’s ink.”