by A L Wright
"No offense but maybe you were just feeling overprotective of your lady and child and felt the situation worse than it was. I can understand why you have such cautious feelings about it. No worries though, you have previous experience on your side now and a partner with a vicious swing!" Anton winked towards the Prince as he strapped the axes to the saddle, within quick reach either mounted or unmounted.
Dartein sighed as he turned his eyes and feet back to the trail in front of him. He wanted to put much more ground between them and the campsite before dawn.
✽ ✽ ✽
Early Summer - Duke's year 218
The three warlocks have revisited every battlefield from the last several months to result in a collection of an incredible army of human undead. They are currently camped at the foot of the Northern Reaches about twelve miles south of the village, six miles south of our current campsite. They have tracked the remaining Goblin commanders back to that area, and are now ready to strike the final blow.
Our prayers and hopes are with them. They perform the utmost of gruesome tasks with their rotten army behind them. For those of us remaining alive in this camp we are grateful beyond belief that the warlocks have so selflessly given of themselves to fight for us. The Duke, however, has decided to cower in his towers and let the warlocks face the Enemy without his help. We here have decided that if and when this war is won we will no longer let the Dukes number our years.
✽ ✽ ✽
Laying in the near dark, the Prince of the Nobles could not fall back to sleep. He had slept a few scant hours, but his mind wandered too many directions and kept him much too distracted to fall back to sleep.
He thought of his Josee back at the palace. He wanted to be with her so badly. His hopes were high that the journey he was on was not a complete waste of time. It had been centuries since anyone inhabited the area they were headed to... and almost as much time since anyone had easily traveled through there.
It was an old battleground, site of some of the last battles of the ancient war that had raged on for many, many years. It was the place where a few did the unimaginable, crossing over into dark arts and sacrificing themselves as the humans they were to become something powerful enough to stop the hordes of the enemy. Dartein was in awe of the story, and of being descended of those dark heroes. The thought of the power they had then was almost frightening, especially when coupled with the knowledge of how they obtained it.
Dartein knew too, that in spite of the magic he possessed his father could do nothing to save Josaleene unless he had another chamber in which to inscribe the spells of change.
"Changing a living thing is a process. A process like that needs a way to be contained and amplified. One cannot simply just change something that has already been created. Those types of magic no longer exist, they died out with the other mages in the ancient war. Those of us who were reborn in the Chambers during that war were given the abilities to create and to destroy. We could, I can, create objects of magic, and can destroy utterly anything in my sight and range. But to change something or someone, Dartein, that is a magic that no longer can be called upon at will."
Recalling the conversation he had with his father before he left did not help him feel less rushed. Really the only thing keeping him moving slightly slower than breakneck speed was the chance of alerting the goblins that may still be around the area.
Once he noticed the sky start to darken, he rolled out of the tent to stretch. What he saw before him in the last light of the day stopped him in mid-movement.
Off to the north west of their camp at the edge of the woods there was a barren stretch of land, which ended in nothing.
Dartein jogged towards the area to see if it was what he thought. As he neared the edge he watched the crater-like rift stretch out before him. There were no trees, no water or streams running down it. It was all barren, jagged rock cliffs and bleached impassable terrain.
He stood in awe of the site. He had read of it from the history book back in his room. But to stand before it was nothing like he ever could have dreamed of. He also knew that just a few miles ride north would take them to their destination.
✽ ✽ ✽
Winter Solstice - Duke's year 218
Reports have come back. The Warlocks have slain the last of the Goblins Commanders! The chase was long and resulted in their coming upon the entrance to the caverns that housed the Goblins armies. They chased them all back into their holes and collapsed the cavern systems down upon the filthy animals. One witness stated that the magnitude of the damage was beyond imagination.
He described that the already barren landscape was now nothing more than an enormous smoking crater where nothing could have survived. The fighting men that have already come back to their towns are full of hope that their survival is now secure. But there is unrest about the power behind all that destruction. There seems to be an underlying fear directed at the Warlocks, and the members of this settlement are afraid for them to return.
Chapter 15
Josaleene rubbed her eyes. She knew the Patriarch was a powerful person, but she had no idea what he was capable of. It really was no wonder he kept the histories hidden. It seems they had to deal with an incredible amount of fear from the humans then. The Patriarch ruled out of respect and power now, never fear.
Her back ached like fire, she suddenly realized. She needed to get out for a walk. She had been shut up in hers and Dartein's rooms for almost three weeks, and desperately needed to get out.
Opening up her door, she got the attention of the guard that was standing duty today. Oddly, she didn't recognize the man.
"Please go and fetch Victor here to me, I require his assistance."
The guard bowed and walked away down the hall. She turned back to her room, shutting the door behind her. Forgetting where she put her slippers, she dug through the chest at the end of her bed. Not finding them there she moved on to dig through the large oak closet in the back corner of the room.
A knock at her door found her piled ankle deep in blankets and linens still searching for her shoes.
"Do come in!" She yelled. Mired as she was it would be a moment before she could get to the door herself.
"I'm back here just trying to find my blasted slippers. I dread being so forgetful lately."
"I believe these are what you are looking for."
Josaleene whipped her head around at the unexpected voice.
Juron. He was walking towards her holding out her slippers in front of him.
How did he get in her room? Why did she send her only guard away? What could he possibly want? She had to stall him long enough for Victor to get here.
"Well Juron, how nice of you to end my frantic search. I appreciate your help." Keeping her voice light, she reached out for her shoes, disentangling herself from the mess at her feet.
As she turned to reach towards Juron she noticed Cece standing near the door. It was closed behind her.
"Cece, how nice of you two to visit. Is there something I can do for you?" Josee was now more than a bit worried. Where was Victor?
"Yes, there is, Princess. I am so glad you asked, I was hoping I would not have to beg it of you. But Juron, sweet boy that he is, was very insistent we come ask anyway." Cece smiled sweetly, reaching out to pull one of the baby blankets off a nearby stool. She unfolded it and held it against her cheek.
Josaleene moved forward to walk towards the woman holding one her precious babies' possessions. It made her skin crawl to see that disgusting woman touching it.
Just as she went to pass by Juron he reached out and grabbed her around the chest with his right hand and covered her mouth with his left. Pulling her close against him, he held her there tightly.
"Shhh now Josee, sweet Josee." He whispered in her ear “You just have something that we want. We will be quick, I promise." His last word came out like a hiss.
Walking towards her, Cece had a dangerous glint in her eye. She produced a small surgeon’s blad
e from her belt. Flashing it in Josaleene's face, she smiled like she was presenting her with a gift.
Mad Bitch!
"Since they all expect you to die producing that baby, we will just make it happen sooner."
Josee clawed at Juron's arm and hand, her cries muffled. How had Cece known about her foretold death? She watched as Cece moved closer to her and began to panic. Twisting her body, she tried to break free.
Juron tightened his hold on her. "Be still and we will make this quick, keep squirming and I will make it hurt worse.
She opened her mouth and bit Juron's middle finger. He grunted and shoved his fingers further in her mouth to gag her.
"Hold her still Juron, I don't want to cut the baby." Cece said.
He adjusted his arm to hold her arms down as well as he could. Cece quickly reached out and sliced through Josee's gown to bare her swollen stomach. At the height of panic Josee leaned back into Juron and kicked out at Cece, landing a blow into her side.
Shrieking, Cece launched at Josee swinging wildly at her stomach.
"Cece, calm down!" Yelled Juron.
"That bitch kicked me, Juron! I'm gonna kill her!"
Cece pulled her arm back ready to take a wild swing. Her arm came down and around in what seemed like slow motion. Even so, Josaleene barely had time to register what was happening. She expected pain and blood, but all she saw was shock on the other woman’s face.
"What the bloody hell!? I cut her, I swear I did. But she is not even scratched!" Said Cece.
"Well you probably missed, give me the knife and you hold her arms"
At that moment Josaleene knew that they could not hurt her. Her child protected her. She knew the blade had brushed her skin but had not cut.
Josaleene stopped squirming and pinned a dangerous glare at Cece.
"I am not coming near her, she is staring at me like a rabid dog, Juron."
Josaleene's body shook. It took the couple a moment to register that she was laughing.
"Do not laugh at me!" shrieked Cece.
And in that moment several things happened.
Cece launched herself at Josaleene's face.
Juron's grip on her arms slipped slightly.
Victor opened the chamber door.
Noticing only the first two things, Josaleene brought her hands up and pointed her palms toward Cece. There was intense heat, another shriek and then she realized she could see Victor by the door. Cece had blocked her view before.
And now Cece was a pile of ash on the floor.
Juron's state of shock lasted only so long before he realized he was in big trouble. Tightening his hold around her body, he watched as the burly guard ran towards them.
Josaleene closed her eyes and concentrated. Her body super-heated like a furnace. She could feel the inferno burning inside her, screaming for release. Feeling it reach a boiling point she pushed the heat away from her.
Another shriek followed by silence. She wasn't being held anymore. Opening her eyes, she saw another pile of ash at her feet, and Victor on his backside halfway across the room.
"Princess! Are you okay? How did they get in here? What did you do?" Scrambling back up, he walked towards her slowly until he noticed her start to sag. He ran the rest of the way to catch her as she fell unconscious to the ground.
✽ ✽ ✽
The Patriarch and his guards ran from the Library where he was summoned all the way to his son's chambers.
As they neared the room he could smell burnt flesh.
Coming through the door way he saw Victor holding an unconscious Josaleene towards the back of the room. The foot of the bed as well as the draperies hanging from it were all incinerated. The walls close by were blackened.
Coming to a stop in front of the guard and his son's Chosen, he stooped down to take a closer look.
"What happened, I heard there were intruders?" Mortul looked closely at the guard, whose face, arms and hands were very red. Burns?
"There were, Sir. You are standing in them." Victor looked down at the pile of ashes that were underneath the Patriarchs feet.
Standing up straight he leveled his gaze on the sleeping woman. He had listened to his son’s report of what had happened in the woods. He knew what was explained to him, but seeing the aftermath of what seemed to be the same thing... he was stunned. There should not be any way this woman could do this.
"Did you see what happened?" He asked Victor.
"Well I saw the other woman disintegrate into ash. Then I saw Juron had a hold of the Princess and I started to run towards them."
"Juron?" Mortul was startled that it was one of their own.
"Yes, Patriarch. It was definitely him."
"Alright then, go on."
"Well I ran towards them to get her free from him when she closed her eyes and, well, exploded into flame." Victor shook his head, trying to reconcile what he had seen.
"Well. I guess that explains the ashes, and the rest of the room."
"It was intense, Sir. When she exploded it knocked me backwards across the room. Then she passed out." Victor stood up, picking up Josaleene in his arms. "I am going to take her to a guest chamber where she can be comfortable, if I may, Sir."
"Yes, please do. And then please tend to yourself, you may need treatment for those burns." Mortul turned to the guards that had followed him. "Please get the staff in here to clean up this mess." He gestured towards the piles of ash. He was going to have to do some explaining to the Council. Hopefully his son would be back soon.
Running his hand through his hair, he turned and left the room. Victor and Josaleene's unconscious self exiting behind him.
Chapter 16
Mid-Spring - Noble Year 1
With the war ended and winter thaw upon us, the task has fallen to this settlement to clean up the battlefield around us and give the dead proper passing rites. The Warlocks believe that the dead should be burned to release any magic that may have been left behind. Their intention is to never have to resort to such nasty and dark measures again, and want no trace of it left.
With much the same train of thought they have decided to forever seal off the vault that contains their chambers. Our town leader has been entrusted with the knowledge of how to unearth the vault in case of 'great and dire' need only. Mordred was instructed to pass the secret only to her heirs or successors and to no one else. She has been tasked with keeping this outpost alive and thriving, as not only a beacon of hope... but also as a watch tower. If ever the Enemy shall arise again we will dispatch the hawks to carry the warnings to others.
✽ ✽ ✽
It was near dawn and they had been pushing hard through the night to make as much ground as possible. They hadn't encountered any trouble along the way so far and Dartein hoped that they weren't pushing their luck. The last few miles had been open ground, nothing but flat terrain sloping ever slightly upward. The openness had been a boon since the moon had been waning.
As they came over the rise they spotted buildings. It was not inhabited, though. Even in the dark they could tell the buildings were merely ghosts of their formers selves. As they rode into the area they saw the structures used to be structures of dense stone. The foundations were still present, though they had been cracked and broken and grown over with slick mosses.
Nature had not fully taken the place over even if the area seemed an ancient ruin. There were tufts of weeds here and there but otherwise the ground was rocky and did not allow much to grow. There were about forty or so mostly collapsed structures. Dartein halfheartedly counted as they rode through. Just when they reached the back side of the old village he spied what used to be an old two-story building, the second story mostly gone but the first floor was boarded up tight and there was a small drift of smoke blowing out of the stack in the corner.
"How could anyone live here? There is no game and you could not grow anything in this ground." Dartein spoke lightly.
"This place spooks me. Let us go in and see what is here so
we can keep moving."
"I think we have arrived, Anton. I just feel it, this is where we find our answers." Moving towards the door of the beaten-up house Dartein felt a small vibration in the air. Startled he stepped back and re-examined the structure. It smelled old but not rotten. There were no goblins here.
Just as he was re-gathering the courage to move towards the door again, the door swung open and an older lady looked out at them. She was dressed in loose robes with her black curly hair tied up in an old silken cloth. Her hands clutched an old walking stick with a striking hawk carved at the top, and Dartein noticed her nails were painted blood red.
"Well, about time you arrived. I had hoped to have a full moon to do this by. Good thing you lads can see in the dark." Her voice was strong even if she appeared old.
She moved out of the building, turning to close the door behind her. She turned back to them and clucked her tongue.
"Well let me show you what you are looking for." The woman moved off at a brisk walk, moving south and away from the buildings.
Dartein and Anton were stunned for a moment, then had to trot to catch up with the quick moving old woman.
"I have not seen a living creature for many, many miles. How is it that you are expecting us?" Dartein sensed no danger from this woman yet he was wary.
"There has always been someone waiting here for this moment for hundreds of years. We were tasked with the guarding of the vault by your creators. This outpost was to serve two-fold; one as a hiding place for the vault that keeps the answers you seek and two to provide a warning if we were to ever see the Enemy rise again."
"So, you know that we are …” Dartein began.
"Kin of the Warlocks, yes. Mighty powerful creatures they were, the world would have ended if not for their sacrifices." The old lady stopped abruptly. "Here. Here is what you seek."