by Aaron Hodges
The creatures advanced in a line, and now he could see the fury in their eyes as they watched the escaping vessel. Aboard the ship, Romaine stood at the railings, his face contorted with grief. Tightening his grip on the spear, Lukys offered the axeman a final nod.
Then he turned to face the Tangata.
Movement came from nearby as Dale and Erika joined him. The Perfugian had reclaimed his spear, but without a shield between them, and exhausted as they were, they stood no chance.
Not that they ever had, against what marched towards them.
Only the Gods could save them now.
33
The Warrior
Romaine staggered up the gangway, forcing Cara before him, his breath coming in painful gasps. The Tangata had struck him hard enough to break bones and he could taste blood in his mouth. Liquid burned in his chest, dragging at his strength, adding to the agony of his arm. He continued on, though he could not have said why.
Hadn’t he wanted to die?
Reaching the deck of the ship, he stepped from the gangplank and almost crashed to the floor. As it was, he fell to one knee, desperately straining for a breath he could not quite find. Men shifted around him, Flumeeren soldiers taking up positions along the railings. The vessel bobbed against the river currents, shifting in its berth…
Groaning, Romaine forced himself to his feet. Somehow he made it to the railing, but it was already too late. The ship was pulling away from the shore, though three figures still stood in the clearing, their shoulders slumped in exhaustion.
“What are you doing?” Romaine tried to shout, but the words came out more as a croak. He swung on the nearest soldier and grabbed desperately at his coat. “We can’t leave them.”
The man shook him off. “We don’t have a choice, Calafe,” he said. There was no anger in his voice. He only pointed back at the shore.
Still struggling to regain the breath he’d lost from speaking, Romaine followed the gesture. Despair wrapped its icy hands around his stomach as he saw the reason for the soldiers’ fear.
Tangata. More than had been seen in months. Several raced towards the ship, but when it became clear they would not catch it, they turned back, leaving the three lonely figures surrounded.
“No,” Romaine whispered.
Something died inside him as Lukys met his gaze from across the waters. The recruit gave a simple nod, then turned away, spear raised to the hoard.
No, no, no, not again!
Helpless, Romaine could hardly bear to watch as the Tangata closed on his stranded companions. But neither could he turn away. He owed them that much. Abandoned and left behind, the least he and the other soldiers could do was witness their final stand, to tell the world of their courage.
“No!” a voice screamed from amongst the ranks of soldiers.
Romaine spun at the sound, recognising Cara’s voice. Had she gotten free? His vision blurred at his sudden movement, but he forced himself to search the deck, determined she would not escape. Not after everything they’d been through to bring her to justice.
Two of the soldiers were trying to get a handle on his former friend, but even bound, Cara was proving to be a handful. Thrashing on the deck, she had somehow managed to dislodge her gag. Another scream tore from her throat as she kicked out with both feet, catching one of the soldiers in the chest and hurling him across the ship. Shouts came from others as they were struck by the falling man.
Agony wrapped its thorny tendrils around Romaine’s heart as he watched the woman struggle. Lukys had made them spare her, had said they would trade the traitor’s life for their own if it came to it. Instead, Lukys had sacrificed his own life to save this creature.
A tremor shook him as the familiar rage ignited in his chest. Reaching up with his good hand, he drew his axe. Despite the pain and exhaustion, the weapon felt right in his hand. He stepped towards where Cara still lay struggling. Another kick sent a second soldier flying. Someone should have done this long ago.
She froze when she saw him approaching, axe in hand, and her eyes widened.
“Are you going to kill me?” she whispered.
Romaine swallowed. Those eyes, that voice. Somehow, this young woman had found a place in his heart he’d thought long dead. Steeling himself, he clenched his fist tighter around the haft of his axe. Nausea wrapped around his stomach at the thought of what he must do, of plunging his terrible blade through her chest…
“No,” he croaked, opening his eyes. The axe slipped from his fingers, the twin points striking the deck and lodging in the timbers. He shook his head. “I can’t.”
“Then free me!” Cara shrieked, struggling to sit up. “I can save them!”
Romaine frowned at her words, unable to understand. “Save them?” he murmured.
“Please!” Cara gasped again, still struggling at her bonds. There was something about the way she lay that seemed wrong, the way her arms pressed against her back as she fought to free herself. “Oh please, quick, Romaine, if you ever cared for me at all, let me go!”
“Why?” Romaine whispered. Taking hold of the shaft of his axe, he dragged it from the timbers and stepped towards her. “What are you going to do?”
Amber eyes met his. “Trust me.”
For some reason, he did.
Falling to his knees, he turned her so she was facedown and carefully sliced the cords that bound her arms, then her legs. Dropping the axe, he stepped away, the last of his strength gone. Even as he watched her come to her feet, Romaine sensed he had made the wrong decision, doomed them all with his foolishness. Cara was Tangata. She would slaughter them all.
But what did he care?
Cara rose slowly, fists clenched, a growl building at the back of her throat. Around the ship, several soldiers retreated a step, though they did not know what it was they faced. Only Romaine knew the doom he had unleashed.
He did not flinch as the grey eyes met his. The terrible rage of the Tangata stood amongst them, but he was past caring. Let her slaughter them all—
Cara winked.
What?
Before he could react, she was sprinting towards him. Powerful legs sent her bounding across the deck, past soldiers and sailors, over the twisted ropes and canvas that had tripped her just a few short months before, when he’d first brought her to Flumeer. Romaine flinched, yet Cara’s eyes were fixed not on him but the distant shore. Tearing the heavy winter coat from her shoulders, she bounded onto the railing, and leapt…
…and flew!
Romaine froze where he stood, unable to believe what he was seeing. Out across the waters, great wings spread from Cara’s back, auburn feathers sweeping down, sending her soaring...upwards! It wasn’t possible, couldn’t be…
Suddenly everything clicked into place.
Cara had spoken the truth—she wasn’t Tangata.
She was a God!
Falling to his knees, Romaine watched the winged woman race through the sky. Sharp intakes of breath came from others as realisation struck them, then they too were falling to the wooden boards, struck down by awe—and terror. Had they truly tried to restrain one of the Divine, set hands upon a God?’ Prayers whispered across the decks, begging for forgiveness, for salvation.
Romaine could not tear his eyes away from his friend. The wings that had hidden beneath her coat for so long beat down again, stretching wide across the waters, ten, twenty, thirty feet. Each stroke sent her soaring upwards, higher and higher above the swirling waters, towards the distant riverbanks.
Romaine’s fear came rushing back as his eyes fell upon the shore, where Lukys and the others still stood surrounded. Thankfully, the Tangata had frozen at Cara’s appearance. There was a hunger in their eyes as they watched her approach, and Romaine remembered then how she had drawn the others’ attention. What did the Tangata want with one of the Gods?
Several of the creatures seemed to realise she was coming for the humans in their midst. Crying their fury, they rushed at Lukys and the others. Sev
eral went down as the Archivist’s gauntlet flashed, but there were too many even for her magic. She threw herself aside as a Tangata leapt, avoiding its outstretched fingers, then disappeared into throng.
Lukys thrust out with his spear, trying to bring a creature down, but it batted aside the blow and swung on him. Romaine’s heart palpitated in his chest as the beasts closed on his friends. Without shields or room to manoeuvre, they didn’t stand a chance. His eyes returned to Cara, but not even the sight of her auburn wings slicing the sky could bring him hope. Even if she had the power to face so many Tangata, his friends would be slaughtered before she could reach them.
Cries came from the shore and he watched as first Dale, then Lukys, had the spears torn from their grasp. Before they could retreat, the Tangata were upon them. Romaine held his breath, waiting for the slaughter, but instead the beasts only caught the men and held them fast.
Nearby, a cluster of the creatures had gathered around where Erika had fallen, but now they suddenly leapt back. The Archivist struggled to her feet, light pulsing from her gauntlet as she directed it at any Tangata that grew close. Step by step, she retreated towards the river. The rattling laughter of the Tangata carried across the waters as they followed her. The creatures were toying with their prey.
Then with a scream and a flash of red and gold, Cara arrived. Descending from the heavens, she struck the Tangata with the fury of a storm. With fist and boot and wing, she hurled the creatures from their feet. The breath caught in Romaine’s throat as she fought her way towards his friends.
But few of those that Cara struck stayed down. With so many aligned against her, the Goddess had no time to strike mortal blows, and growling, the Tangata clambered back to their feet. As the fallen returned to the battle, their greater numbers pressed her back. Cries came from Cara as they grasped at her wings, tearing at the auburn feathers.
Ice formed in Romaine’s stomach as he realised why the Tangata had spared Lukys and the others. With the humans dead, Cara would have retreated, but so long as they lived…
Chaos descended upon the shores of the Illmoor as the Tangata besieged Cara, seeking to use their numbers to bring her down, to overwhelm her. But the Goddess refused to be caught. She moved through the beasts like a whirlwind, a wing sweeping out to strike one aside, a fist taking another in the chest, boot striking yet a third in the face as she bounded clear of the rest.
But there was no safe ground upon which to land. As she hovered, another of the Tangata leapt, colliding with her back and knocking the Goddess from the air. The breath caught in Romaine’s stomach as the Tangata converged on where she had fallen, but a second later Cara was back on her feet. Blood now streamed from a cut above her eye, and snarling, she tossed the creature that had downed her at her nearest foe, sending both crashing to the mud.
Despite himself, Romaine was impressed with how she fought. In the caverns, against those unspeakable creatures, she had been a wild animal, all untamed fury. Now, Cara fought with precision and control. That was all that kept her alive against the hordes.
Even so, it was clear the Goddess could not prevail alone, not against so many. She was already beginning to slow, her divine strength worn down by weight of numbers. Just like the soldiers of Flumeer, the Tangata worked together against her, attacking whenever her back was turned, launching themselves at her wings, her legs, seeking to drag her down.
Romaine’s heart beat faster as he realised the pattern of their attacks—they weren’t trying to kill her; they were trying to take her captive.
Why?
As he watched, Cara caught a blow to the chest. It sent her staggering back, and losing her footing, she sank to one knee. The Tangata were on her in a second, rushing in a group to attack together. But the wings she had hidden all this time snapped open, striking two hard enough to knock them from their feet. Cara surged into the gap, catching the third of her assailants by the throat. Before the others could come upon her, she hurled the beast face-first into the ground. This time the Tangata did not get back up.
But the others would not allow Cara to catch her breath. They pressed closer, robbing her of space to manoeuvre, to evade their blows. She staggered as more attacks caught her, but there was nowhere left to retreat.
Then a voice carried to Romaine’s ears from across the waters, a distant, feeble cry of desperation. A familiar voice.
“Cara, run!”
Romaine’s insides froze over as he found Lukys amidst the mob, still held fast by the Tangata. He still fought, struggling to break the creature’s hold, but there was no escaping the Tangata. His mouth opened wide as he cried out again.
“Please, save yourself!”
“No!”
Screaming, Cara laid into the creatures around her. They leapt back from her fury, apparently happy for the Goddess to expend her energy. In frustration, Cara charged them, trying to break through to the others, but she was flagging now. Hands grabbed at her wings, her arms, her legs. She fought them off, but still more came on. Step by step, she was forced back from the captives.
A shriek tore from Cara’s throat, and Romaine heard the despair in her cry. The Tangata retreated, expecting another assault, but with a whirl of feathers, Cara spun and hurled herself into the air. A beat of her wings carried her over the heads of the nearest Tangata, to where a diminutive figure lay forgotten. Before those nearby could react, Cara had the Archivist over her shoulder.
Too late the Tangata realised what was happening. They raced at her, howling their fury, but with a giant beat of her auburn wings, Cara hurtled skywards.
Kneeling on the deck of the ship, Romaine watched her come, his heart in a vice, the hope of a few moments before crumbling to ruin. He looked again at the riverbanks. The Tangata dragged Lukys and Dale forward and held them there, taunting the humans floating offshore, daring them to return. But there would be no rescue now.
There was a heavy thunk as Cara landed on the ship, followed by a cry as Erika staggered away from her. Face pale, the Archivist crumpled to the ground and began to sob. Romaine and the other soldiers ignored her. Aboard that ship, not a soul had eyes for anyone but the Goddess standing in their midst. Just a few minutes before, they had tried to restrain this creature. Would she now take her retribution?
Cara did not even look at them. The auburn wings drooped, then folded behind her back as she tucked them away. A shudder shook her and amber eyes searched the deck, finally settling on Romaine. He swallowed at the grief there, a mirror of his own. She took a step towards him, lip quivering, a single tear upon her cheek.
“Romaine,” she croaked. “I’m so sorry.”
34
The Archivist
Erika sat at the bow of the ship. Her entire body shook as she watched the shore grow closer, the lights of Fogmore a lantern in the darkness. She dared not look back to where the Goddess sat in the aft. It felt as though her entire foundation had shifted, as though every part of her world had changed in the last few hours.
The Gods were real!
A God had saved her!
This changed everything. Though she had always believed, she had never…known.
Her eyes fixed on the approaching shore and she tried to focus her mind. In the chaos of battle, she had forgotten about her other troubles, but now they came rushing back. General Curtis would want answers. Erika had found nothing but death in the caverns, and they still did not know what had become of the other recruits. It seemed certain they were dead, though…where then were the rest of the bodies?
And what if there were more of those terrible creatures that the Tangata had woken? Was that why the Tangata had been seeking them? Did they think of those ancient monsters as their Gods? Would they seek out more of them, now that the secret had been uncovered?
Despite herself, Erika’s gaze was drawn to the aft of the ship once more, to where Cara crouched alone on a crate. Not even Romaine, not even her magic, could stand against those monsters. The Gods alone could defeat them.
Humanity needed their aid, to discover the source of their power. Could an emissary be sent into the Mountains of the Gods to seek them out?
Excitement touched her at the thought, before reality dragged her back down. Regardless of Cara’s revelation, Erika had failed. The queen would have no more use of her now, other than prying the magic gauntlet from her corpse.
Erika could not allow it.
Her mind worked quickly, another possibility opening itself to her. Gemaho bordered the Mountains of the Gods. Solaris wasn’t far from the hidden site on her map, as the bird flew. And travelling from east of the mountains, they wouldn’t have the Tangata to contend with.
The only difficulty would be smuggling Cara out from under the noses of Queen Amina and her general. They would not allow her to leave Flumeer, and certainly not to go to their eastern rival. Nor would Cara leave without the Calafe warrior.
Romaine himself had lost consciousness shortly after they had begun the journey downriver. Erika was surprised that he’d been able to resist the pain of his wounds as long as he had. She swore, at times the Calafe did not seem entirely human himself. The ship’s medic was tending to him, but it was obvious the warrior would not be leaving Fogmore for some time.
Erika did not have the luxury of time on her hands. She could not wait for him…
She shook herself, irritated to realise she’d grown to like the man’s company. But just because he knew of her heritage now, didn’t mean she could trust him. After all, his people had already betrayed Erika and her mother once, hounding them out of the kingdom after her father’s death. No, it was time she left the last traces of her past behind.
Looking out across the deck, she clenched her fist, but did not summon the power of the gauntlet. Her entire body ached as though she’d been riding for days and she dared not waste what remained of her strength.