Destroyer of Legends

by Clayton Wood

  He’d said very little during the trip, and Vi must’ve noticed.

  “What’s on your mind?” she asked, walking at his side. Hunter grimaced.

  “Something that happened back in Lowtown,” he confessed. She waited for him to continue, and he sighed. “The Kingdom set a bunch of Ironclad on fire,” he continued. “I tried to stop them, but I was too slow.”

  “I see.”

  “If I’d been quicker, I could have…”

  “Stop,” Vi interrupted.

  “What?”

  “You heard me,” she replied. “I know what you’re doing. You’re blaming yourself. Beating yourself up. Who’s that going to help?”

  “It isn’t,” Hunter answered. “But…”

  “You did good Hunter,” Vi interjected. “You did a lot of things that saved lives. People die in war. You can’t save them all.”

  “I know.”

  “But your heart doesn’t,” she pointed out. “Your heart’s the thing I like most about you, kiddo. But you have to learn how to forgive yourself. Take your licks, feel terrible, then learn from it. Be better next time.”

  He swallowed past a lump in his throat.

  “Forgiving yourself is a skill just like anything else,” Vi stated. “If you want to lead a big life – a life where your successes matter – then your mistakes are going to matter too.”

  He nodded.

  “Thanks Vi,” he mumbled.

  “Any time, Hunter.”

  They walked side-by-side in silence for a while, until Hunter cleared his throat.

  “Vi?”

  “Yeah?”

  “This Tykus,” he began, then paused. Since leaving the kingdom, he’d found himself preoccupied with the king’s memories. Fragments of thoughts, of book passages. Of stone tablets with precious revelations carved into them. He’d absorbed the memories of many men, but Tykus’s were different.

  “What about him?” she pressed.

  “His memories…it’s…” He shook his head. “I can’t explain it.”

  “Try,” she urged. Hunter noticed Dominus staring at him, coming closer to listen.

  “He’s everything he says he is,” Hunter explained. “And so much more. We need to listen to him. I mean we really need to listen to him.”

  “You might’ve absorbed his memories a bit too much,” Vi warned. “It can change your perspective.”

  “No,” Hunter replied, shaking his head. “I only got a glimpse, but trust me, that’s all I needed. The man is unlike anyone I’ve ever met. He’s better than we are. Better than all of us. Scary smart, Vi. Like Zagamar, except he’s a good guy.”

  “Well, we don’t have a choice but to listen to him,” Vi ventured. “Zagamar’s not gonna stop at destroying the Kingdom. He’ll go after us too. The Ironclad, and the Kingdom of the Deep. Everyone.”

  “AGREE,” Xerxes piped in.

  “Lady Camilla has already contacted the Kingdom of the Deep,” Dominus revealed. Everyone turned to him.

  “You’ve talked with Camilla?” Vi inquired.

  “Yes,” Dominus confirmed, ignoring Hunter’s comment. “We’ve become allies.”

  “Figures,” Hunter grumbled.

  “She may be a manipulative bitch,” Vi told Hunter, “…but Camilla’s resourceful. We could use her help too.”

  “I agree,” Dominus concurred.

  “Well I don’t,” Hunter retorted. “Or have you forgotten what the ‘Lady’ did to me?”

  “Gonna have to set that aside for now,” Vi counseled.

  “Like hell I will!”

  “Fate of the world depends on it kiddo,” Vi argued. “You can tell her to fuck off after we kill the megalomaniacal Legend and his hordes.”

  “Awesome,” Hunter muttered. “This just keeps getting better and better.”

  They continued in silence, much to Hunter’s relief. He found Dominus stealing glances at him, and gave the former duke an irritated look.

  “What?” he snapped.

  “Your wings,” Dominus replied. “I find them…curious.”

  “What, ‘cause I’m ‘corrupted’ now?” Hunter guessed. Dominus grimaced.

  “I am corrupted as well,” he countered. “Tykus has taught me the error of my previous…philosophy.”

  “Well let’s all sing ‘kumbaya’ then,” Hunter grumbled.

  “What?”

  “Look, just because we have to work with you doesn’t mean we like you,” Hunter said. “You don’t get a pass for everything you did to us.”

  “Naturally,” Dominus agreed. “This is an alliance of necessity.”

  “Glad you get that.”

  They fell silent, continuing their trek through the woods. It was over an hour later that Hunter spotted a river to their right, and Xerxes led them along its shore until the grass turned black, crunching under their feet. The big guy angled back into the woods then, eventually bringing them to the front entrance of the Ironclad caves. Xerxes flashed hand signals at the many Ironclad guarding the entrance, and they let everyone pass, including Dominus. Hunter followed Xerxes through the maze of tunnels, eventually reaching his mother’s chamber.

  Hunter froze.

  There was a man in a brown cloak standing at the edge of the pool, facing Neesha, who was wading in the pool a few yards away. Neesha glanced at Hunter, Vi, Xerxes, and Dominus. And Dominus stared at Neesha, his jaw going slack.

  “Come in,” she prompted.

  They did so, everyone stopping at the edge of the pool, to the right of the cloaked man. A hood covered his head, his face hidden in shadow.

  “WHO…THIS?” Xerxes demanded.

  The cloaked man turned to face them, reaching up and pulling the hood down, revealing himself. His hair was short and gray, his face smooth-shaven. Despite his age, he looked terribly familiar.

  “Tykus!” Dominus gasped, staring at the man, who smiled.

  “Indeed,” he replied. “I take it these are your boys, Neesha? And Vi?” he inquired, gesturing at everyone.

  “They are,” Neesha confirmed. “Tykus and I were just finishing our conversation,” she added. “It appears we were mistaken in attacking the Kingdom. My apologies once again, Tykus.”

  “A terrible misunderstanding,” Tykus replied. “I trust you spoke with the king?” he asked, glancing at Hunter and Vi.

  “We did,” Vi confirmed. “So you’re another Tykus?”

  “Correct.”

  “He came here after we attacked the military base in the Deadlands,” Neesha explained. “If we’d had the opportunity to talk earlier, none of this would have happened.”

  “I can guarantee you that the king takes full responsibility,” Tykus assured her. “Tell me about your conversation with him,” he requested of Vi and Hunter.

  Vi told the tale, with Hunter and Dominus providing details along the way. When they were done, middle-aged Tykus sighed heavily.

  “I wasn’t aware of the return of the Svartálfar,” he confessed. “It’s been too long since I visited the king…and since I’ve visited you, Neesha. Lack of communication has led to unnecessary tragedy…as it so often does.”

  “We have to prepare for war with Zagamar,” Vi stated. “Camilla is coordinating with the Kingdom of the Deep, and we’re coordinating with Tykus. With their armies and ours, we might stand a chance against this guy.”

  “I will help, of course,” older Tykus stated. He removed his cloak, revealing fine silver chain-mail armor…and a large sword at his hip. Not to mention big, burly arms…at least twice the size of the king’s.

  “Damn Tykus,” Vi exclaimed, reaching over and squeezing his biceps. “You been working out?”

  “I come from a people that valued the martial arts,” Tykus replied. “Neesha could tell you about them…apparently my father is nearly as legendary in your world as I am in this one.”

  “You’re coming with us?” Hunter asked.

  “If you’ll have me.”

  “We would be honored,” Domi
nus declared, bowing before the man.

  “We have a goal,” Vi stated. “Now we need a plan. How exactly do we plan on taking Zagamar down?”

  “His Svartálfar will grow in number every day,” Tykus answered. “They are voracious eaters, and will consume everything – plant or animal – that they find. They’re excellent fighters, mostly due to their speed and their claws. We must focus on finding and killing Zagamar before he can build a sizable army.”

  “So we go hunting then,” Vi replied. “Where are these dark elves?”

  “Zagamar must have emerged from his crypt,” Dominus reasoned. “There’s a mountain range blocking his way to the west. We spotted Svartálfar at Camilla’s, to the east. The Kingdom of the Deep is to the south, and we’re…the Kingdom is to the north. Zagamar will either go north or south.”

  “Likely north,” Neesha reasoned. “The Kingdom of the Deep managed to repel Zagamar the first time. He’ll remember that defeat. No offense, but your kingdom is an easier target,” she added, giving Tykus an apologetic look.

  “No offense taken,” Tykus replied. “Insisting on remaining ‘human’ is a significant disadvantage in this context.”

  “If our armies work together and march south, we can cull the Svartálfar and limit Zagamar’s range,” Neesha offered. “The Kingdom of the Deep can send their armies north, and we can meet in the middle.”

  “A pincher attack,” Hunter translated.

  “I can contact another one of me and have them notify the king,” Tykus said. He turned to Dominus. “Your access to the Kingdom of the Deep is through Lady Camilla…you’ll need to contact her.”

  “I will,” Dominus promised.

  “Hunter, with your wings, you’ll be instrumental in locating the Svartálfar,” Neesha noted. “I’ll need you to scout from the Crypt of Zagamar outward starting tomorrow.”

  “Got it,” Hunter agreed.

  “Vi and Xerxes, you’ll be in charge of my armies. After Hunter locates the Svartálfar, you’ll go in and eradicate them.”

  “Be careful,” Dominus warned. “They’re extremely dangerous, even for me.”

  “In the meantime, Vi, if you could continue to train Sukri?” Neesha requested.

  “Sure.”

  “And Hunter, you’ll need to fly Dominus back to Camilla’s,” Neesha stated. Hunter raised his eyebrows.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Hunter…” Neesha began.

  “You don’t want me going back to that bitch,” Hunter interrupted. “Because if I do, I’m going to kill her. Unless she decides to make me her prisoner again, which she very well might.”

  “She will not,” Dominus promised.

  “You don’t know her,” Hunter retorted.

  “But I do know how she thinks,” Dominus countered. “Camilla’s a pragmatist. It would be strategically foolish to alienate the son of the queen of the Ironclad…and in doing so, threaten her relationship with Tykus and myself.”

  “He’s got you there, kiddo,” Vi pointed out.

  “In any case, it will not be necessary,” Dominus said. “Camilla has already arranged transport back.”

  “But Hunter needs to head to the Crypt of Zagamar,” Neesha pointed out. “Camilla’s mansion is on the way.”

  “And Camilla has scouts that may have already pointed out some of the locations of the dark elves,” Dominus realized. “Hunter will need to know where not to look.” He nodded. “Very well.”

  Hunter sighed.

  “Fine,” he muttered. “I’ll take you.”

  “Go then,” Neesha ordered. “We don’t have time to waste.”

  “Can I at least say hi to Sukri?” Hunter asked. Vi smirked, nudging him with her elbow.

  “Hunter wants to get some,” she teased.

  “Fine,” Neesha replied. She smirked at Hunter. “Just don’t get her pregnant yet, okay?” Hunter’s cheeks turned hot, and he glared at her.

  “Mom!”

  “Not for nothing, your babies are gonna be gruesome,” Vi quipped.

  “I’m leaving now,” Hunter declared, turning about and doing just that. He heard laughter behind him, and shook his head, blushing furiously. Even Tykus was joining in on the fun; his laughter was the loudest by far.

  Their voices died off as Hunter made his way through the large tunnel leading out of the Ironclad lair, toward the surface…and Sukri.

  Chapter 31

  The sunlight filtering through the leaves and branches of the deep forest was waning by the time Dio reached the banks of the River Ormr. He limped over the wet, packed sand by the shore, his left knee aching after his leap from the bridge to the Kingdom of the Deep. He’d jackknifed perfectly into the water hundreds of feet below, but the force of the impact had injured his knee and the left side of his chest. Every breath hurt, and he found himself having to stop to catch his breath every few minutes.

  He was lucky to be alive.

  Dio grimaced, following the river as it wound its way toward Lady Camilla’s mansion, barely visible in the distance. Mother would not be pleased. Both the girl and the Original had escaped him, a grave failure.

  And he was not accustomed to failure…nor was Mother accustomed to him failing. Every step closer to the mansion was a step closer to facing her wrath.

  He heard a rustling to his left, at the tree line.

  Dio kept walking, turning his head slightly toward the tree line, studying it. There was nothing there…not visible to his eyes, anyway. But taking the spirit of a snake – among other things – had given him the ability to sense the heat of living things through organs between his eyes.

  And within the relative coolness of the forest, three red-hot shapes moved parallel to him.

  He studied them, noting how they kept pace with him. They were hotter than any living thing he’d ever sensed, indicating an exceedingly fast metabolism. A trait found in smaller animals. But these were not small; they were half to three-quarters the size of a man, walking on all fours.

  Dio slowed, catching his breath. The creatures slowed with him.

  They were stalking him.

  Dio stopped, retrieving his staff and turning to face them. The creatures stopped as well, staring at him. He could see them now, with his normal vision. Black-skinned creatures with long arms and legs, their faces vaguely human. Hybrids, but none like he’d ever seen.

  He waited, standing there at the shore, staring at them.

  They watched for a moment longer, then burst out of the trees, rushing right at him!

  Dio whipped his staff at the nearest creature, but it dodged out of the way, moving even faster than he had. He followed up with three more strikes, his staff a silver blur before him. One landed, smashing one of the creatures in the jaw, sending it flying to the ground.

  The other two lunged at him from either side.

  Dio leapt into the air high above their heads, watching as they collided with each other below him. Then he brought his staff down on one of their backs, the blade at the end severing its spine.

  He ignored the sharp pain in his knee as he landed, whirling his staff at the third creature, stringing one attack after the other in rapid sequence.

  It ducked and dodged, evading every single attack, then leaping in and slashing at Dio’s face with its claws. Dio jerked his head back, the thing’s claws clipping his mask and sending it flying from his face.

  He counterattacked, kicking it in the throat, then swinging at its temple. The beast ducked back out of range just in time, clutching at its throat, staring at him with sunken black eyes.

  Dio stood there, his breath coming in short gasps, each one sending a sharp pain through his chest to his back. The first creature he’d attacked – the one he’d clipped in the jaw – got to its feet, slinking on all fours toward him.

  Dio waited.

  They lunged for him as one, and Dio backpedaled out of range. But it’d been a feint; one followed with another attack, the other reaching down and throwing a clump of sand at
Dio’s face. Dio feigned surprise, jerking back and closing his eyes.

  Their heat-signatures, of course, were still visible to him.

  He side-stepped the first creature’s attack, smashing it in the face, then leapt at the second one, attacking at every possible angle, moving quicker than the creatures would’ve thought possible. His body was utterly relaxed, each attack leading into the next, an endless symphony of death.

  The beast tried to evade him, but failed, Dio’s staff striking it again and again, cutting it to shreds.

  Then he turned to the other one, chopping its head clean off.

  He glanced at the third creature, the one with the severed spine. It was watching him.

  He decapitated it, and it watched no more.

  Dio stood there for a long moment, waiting for his breathing to slow. Then he retrieved his mask, turning back toward the mansion. Continuing along the river, he kept his eyes – and heat sensors – on the forest to his left.

  A few minutes later, he spotted more of the creatures, matching his pace and angling from the deeper forest toward the river.

  A lot more.

  He counted sixteen of them, nearly identical to the ones he’d killed earlier. All of them at the tree line now, staring at him.

  Dio pulled his staff from his back, continuing to walk. The mansion was still over a kilometer away, and he was in no condition to run. He stopped, turning to face them, and waited.

  He didn’t have to wait long.

  All sixteen of them burst from the tree line, rushing right for him.

  Dio waited for the first ones to reach him, then burst into action, his body and staff moving as one. It whirled so quickly around him that it was impossible for the human eye to follow…and promised death to anything it touched. It struck one beast, then another, fulfilling that promise.

  But the others were equally fast, somehow managing to dodge many of his attacks. He killed a third, feeling his breaths coming in shorter gasps, his movements getting slower. One of the beasts managed to get past his whirling staff, ramming into his shoulder.

  He relaxed into the blow, letting his body twist with it, and used the momentum to swing his staff hard against another creature’s skull.

  Another one got through, ducking under his staff and raking its claws down his right thigh. Dio stepped back with that leg, his leather armor tearing, and brought one end of his staff straight down on its head.