Once in a relatively secluded area, Lousis gathered the others close.
“My instincts tell me to believe him,” he stated firmly.
Before they even realized what they were doing, everyone but Mohanisi nodded in agreement.
“You have reservations?” asked Chiron.
“I cannot explain why,” he replied. “But I feel as if we are being manipulated. Do none of you find his story lacking substance? He explains very little, and yet we are ready to accept it after asking only a few questions.”
Lousis shrugged. “Even if you’re right, my friend – what can we do? Melek offers to destroy our enemy in our most desperate hour of need. Should he not be who he claims to be, I would still be grateful for that.”
“I agree,” said Victis. “If not one word of what he says about himself is true, our enemy still lies dead on the field at this very moment. That is a difficult fact to ignore.”
“And can we ignore what he tells us of Nehrutu and Aaliyah?” added Lousis. “They may well be in a desperate situation, just as he says. Do we leave their fate to chance?”
His words were met by silent agreement.
“Good,” said Lousis. “Then we will accept his help for now. At least until we are able to speak with Darshan.”
He paused for any objections. There were none.
Lousis nodded. “So let us inform our new friend.”
Chapter 16
Aaliyah reached over to give Nehrutu’s hand a slight squeeze. She couldn’t help but notice that his once soft palms were now calloused and rough from the hardships of war. He looked into her eyes and responded through their bond by sending waves of love and strength.
In the distance, the banners of Angrääl fluttered in a gentle breeze. Scouts had told Nehrutu that because of the swift way in which he had moved their army, the enemy was finding it impossible to compensate and consolidate their forces. Even so, they were still greatly outnumbered. It would be a hard fought victory if they were able to prevail. And afterward, they would be chased north the entire way.
Nehrutu raised his arm and the name Darshan rose like a tide from the ranks. Seconds later, as if in an angry response, the enemy catapults began sending dozens of deadly projectiles hurtling through the air toward them. This was the moment that Nehrutu had been waiting for. He and Aaliyah immediately sent a whirlwind roaring skyward. Their initial combined efforts managed to slow the heavy balls but not completely stop them. The pair of them pressed harder - and then even harder still - until both were at the absolute limit of their power. The missiles gradually slowed more until, with a huge sigh of relief from Nehrutu, they eventually hung motionless in the air. They remained like this for a short time before exploding in a series of mighty booms.
The blasts from these explosions were sufficient to send more than half of their soldiers stumbling to the ground. But it was only a temporary setback. They were back on their feet within moments and charging across the open field toward the enemy ranks. Nehrutu and Aaliyah maintained the flow of the air as their soldiers advanced, all the while looking out for the Vrykol they felt sure would be sent to disrupt their power.
“Where are they?” shouted Nehrutu. “Surely our luck cannot be so good?”
Just as his words were spoken, the first sounds of clashing steel tore through the air. Nehrutu smiled over at Aaliyah. She looked supremely confident and powerful. In fact, since she had learned of Darshan’s death, it was as if her own powers had somehow doubled to match the ferocity of her heart.
She returned his smile. Then, drawing a long knife with one hand and holding the dagger given to her by Darshan in the other, she stormed ahead to join the fray. Nehrutu followed, struggling to keep pace even though the bond he now shared with Aaliyah had given him speed and strength way beyond anything he had ever experienced before.
As he drew closer Nehrutu could see that their initial charge had already succeeded in pushing Angrääl back at least twenty yards. The humans had taken position on their left and right flanks, allowing the elves to run straight up the middle and wedge the enemy apart. The original plan to send the humans into the center had been set aside following Aaliyah’s magnificent motivational performance on the beach. Fueled by her words, such was the fury of the elves they had virtually demanded the new strategy and were confident of winning the day.
Even so, Nehrutu had elected to leave three men bearing trumpets at the rear. In spite of the elves’ renewed determination, he knew they would need to be careful. If they penetrated too deeply there was a danger of finding themselves surrounded. They needed to scatter the enemy’s center rather than simply cause it to fall back. If Nehrutu signaled one trumpet blast they were to halt the advance. Two blasts meant to regroup and fall back slowly.
There was no signal for a full retreat.
By the time Nehrutu approached the front he found himself being forced to step over dozens of slain Angrääl soldiers. It seemed that the savagery of the elves and the courage of the humans was easily overcoming the handicap of their fewer numbers. What’s more, the enemy catapults were becoming much less of a threat; should they fire now they would be destroying their own men as well.
So devastating had their attack been, it was nearly half an hour before he and Aaliyah actually came face-to-face with an enemy soldier. A fair-haired youth wielding a chipped battle-axe, his helmet and shield battered to the point of uselessness, was the first Nehrutu confronted. Ignoring his enemy’s fear, he took the youth’s head from his shoulders with one quick stroke.
Aaliyah was faring just as well. Her speed was astonishing. With a single fluid movement she ducked beneath a lunging spear, plunged her dagger into the heart of its wielder, then gutted a second soldier with her long knife.
The rage he could feel coming from her was not an uncontrollable inferno, but a righteous current of governed passion. Again and again the enemy fell to her flashing steel. So slow were their reactions to her attacks, they looked as if frozen in time by comparison.
It was then that Nehrutu felt Vrykol for the first time. Though, to his great relief, there was only one of them. He could sense it approaching from his left, its malice growing by the second. The creature was making no effort to disguise its objective....Aaliyah.
It wasn’t until it was ten yards away that Nehrutu caught sight of its black cloak and wicked steel. Aaliyah also knew it was there, but was heavily occupied with six soldiers who had rushed her position. She was having no trouble in avoiding their clumsy attempts to run her through, but they all bore shields. Nehrutu knew it would take her time to overcome them.
With a dozen blinding strokes he cut his way through the enemy and placed himself directly between the creature and Aaliyah. He heard a hissing laugh escape from beneath its hood.
An elf fighter stepped in and tried to take the beast’s head, but it raised its blade and parried the strike. Before the elf could counter, the Vrykol spun. Steel met flesh, ripping through the elf’s mid-section until it lodged in his spine. Blood sprayed from his mouth and poured from the wound. In a blur of movement the Vrykol kicked the elf free from his sword and lurched at Nehrutu.
Sparks flew as the two blades clashed. The Vrykol pushed forward, swinging in tightly controlled arcs that would have cut almost any other opponent to ribbons. While skillfully evading or blocking each new onslaught, Nehrutu was also able to slip his own blade through barely perceivable gaps in the Vrykol’s defense. He found the creature’s flesh at least five times, though none of these strikes slowed it in the slightest. But Nehrutu pressed on, knowing that it was only a matter of time before an opportunity would arise to take the beast’s head.
He could feel Aaliyah’s concern in the back of his mind, but didn’t allow this to distract him. She had slain all but two of the soldiers, and both of these were already badly wounded and falling back. But Nehrutu had every intention of ending his fight with the Vrykol long before she could come to his aid.
Then he saw it – an openi
ng. So focused was he on unleashing the killer blow, he failed to spot the Angrääl swordsman to his right, or hear the anguished cry of Aaliyah as cruel steel pierced his side. The blade pushed deep, causing pain to shoot throughout his entire body. As his legs buckled, the black cloak of the Vrykol closed in.
The last thing Nehrutu heard before fading into oblivion was the beast’s foul hissing laugh raking at his ears.
* * * * *
Aaliyah watched in horror as the sword pierced Nehrutu’s side. His eyes squeezed tightly shut in the agony of the moment, blood trickling from his mouth. She did not need to be told that the blow was fatal; already she could feel him starting to slip away. Letting out a desperate scream and ignoring all danger to her own people nearby, she released a tremendous blast of fire that instantly consumed her two remaining attackers.
By now, the soldier who had dealt the deadly strike had yanked his sword free and stepped back to allow the Vrykol to finish the job. The sudden eruption of fire startled both of them for a moment. Before they recovered, Aaliyah was already across the distance separating her from the two enemies. Her dagger plunged into the human’s heart, meting out instant vengeance. But the Vrykol was undeterred. It raised its sword arm to end Nehrutu.
Without even thinking about her actions, the flow of the spirit leapt forth from Aaliyah and ensnared the beast. It struggled desperately to hold on to its life, but her rage would not be denied. In no time at all the creature’s spirit had been torn apart and its body crumbled to dust.
Dropping her long knife, Aaliyah rushed to her husband’s side. His life was all but gone. Drawing every bit of power she could muster, she set to healing the massive wound. Had it been any other case she would have admitted that such an injury was beyond her skill. But such thoughts were never allowed to enter her mind. She would save him. Whatever the cost.
Three of her former crewmembers saw her kneeling beside his body and hurried to surround her. The battle still raged yet she was no longer trying to protect herself.
“Let us carry him away,” pleaded a tall elder elf.
She did not respond.
“If you allow us to help, we will not leave his side,” he pressed. “But we must get his body clear of the battle.”
The sense of his remarks finally got through to Aaliyah. She nodded sharply and allowed the elves to carry Nehrutu to the rear. Throughout the withdrawal her hands never left him as she continued her efforts to save his life.
The battle raged on until the sun disappeared over the horizon, the red sky matching the blood soaked earth. Finally, a deep clear horn blasted from the Angrääl rear signaling their surviving soldiers into full retreat. With Aaliyah engrossed in attending her dying husband, several of the commanders took charge and ordered that there be no pursuit. The day was theirs, but the fighting had taken its toll on their lines. The best strategy, they decided, was to regroup and attempt to push north at first light.
Aaliyah was unconcerned with plans and strategies. Nehrutu’s life hung by a thread, and she knew that she lacked the strength to save him. But the thought of giving up was not even considered. Her kin from the ships assisted as best they could, but though their ability with the flow was strong, their skills at healing were limited. Mostly they helped by simply giving Aaliyah their strength and allowing her to use it in her own way.
This continued without pause until dawn. The army was now ready to move, but Aaliyah showed no sign that she would be joining them. Nehrutu had been stripped of his bloodied clothes and his wound cleaned and dressed, though by now it was little more than a bright pink line just below his ribcage. Skin was easy to repair. The rest of him was something else.
“My Lady,” said one of the senior human commanders. “We must march before Angrääl can recover.”
Aaliyah lifted her bloodshot eyes and nodded. “Then go. I will remain here.”
“But, My Lady,” he protested. “There is no hope. Even your own people say this.”
“And they may be right,” she affirmed. “But he is my love and the reason I draw breath. However weak he may be, I still feel our bond. He cannot be moved - so I cannot be moved.”
“But what if the enemy catches you out here alone?” he argued. “You will be killed.”
She nodded with acceptance. “Then we shall die together.”
“We will stay here with you,” offered one of the sailors.
“No,” she replied firmly. “You must fight on and find a way to return home.” She smiled up at the circle of elves. “And when you arrive back on our shores, speak kindly of us.”
It was clear that there would be no debate. The crewmembers bowed reverently in unison, then slowly dispersed.
Hundreds of people came by to pay their respects as the army began to depart, though they all stayed at a discreet distance. After a few hours the sound of marching boots faded, leaving only the wind, the birds, and Nehrutu’s shallow breathing. Aaliyah continued with a slow yet steady stream of healing energy through the thin strand that remained of their bond.
She rested her head on his chest. When the time comes, she thought, I will do as the elves of this land, and allow myself to follow you into death.
Time now held little meaning, and when she next looked up the sun was once again breaking over the horizon. Nehrutu still lived, but Aaliyah could no longer detect even the slightest thought or emotion. She knew that before the day was over his spirit would finally lose its hold on mortal flesh and their bond would disintegrate.
By midday, the heat of the sun was bearing down. Aaliyah caused a gentle breeze to waft over them and smiled down at her husband as it blew his silken hair away from his face. There was now only minutes remaining. She closed her eyes, continuing to send Nehrutu messages of devotion and undying love while a connection – however slight - still lingered.
All at once, the wind began to rise and swirl around them. Aaliyah huddled closer to Nehrutu’s body in order to shelter it from the flying dust and sand that was stinging her eyes. But then, as suddenly as it had started, the wind was calm again. A bright light was shining only a few feet away: a light so bright and pure that Aaliyah could not bear to look at it directly.
“Why are you sad?” came a voice. It was musical and kind in a way that she had never heard before. It was as if the earth itself had taken pity on her.
From out of the light stepped the lone figure of a young human. His simple dress and youthful features were made beautiful by the heavenly glow that emanated from his earthly flesh.
Aaliyah was overwhelmed by the vision. Tears burst forth. “He dies. My love…he dies.”
In spite of his youth, the human smiled with a father’s understanding. “He will not die. Not if you wish him to stay with you.” He stepped closer. “Is that your wish?”
Unable to speak through her sobs, she nodded her head vigorously.
The man knelt beside Aaliyah. “Then it shall be so.” Placing his hands over Nehrutu’s chest, he drew in a deep breath.
Aaliyah gasped as the power of the flow sprang to life with an intensity that she never imagined possible. She looked on in spellbound wonder as Nehrutu’s eyes fluttered open and a weak smile crept upon his lips.
The man stood. “Now you can find joy again.”
Aaliyah reached up and took hold of his hand, kissing it repeatedly and soaking it with tears. “Thank you. Thank you. I....I can never repay you for this.”
“Of course you can,” he replied with a soft laugh.
“How?” she asked. “Name the price and it shall be yours.”
“My price is your friendship,” said the man. “You and your mate will come to Althetas and aid me in cleansing this world of the darkness that so nearly took your love from you.”
“I will come,” she promised. “But please. Tell me who you are?”
He withdrew his hand. “My name is Melek. Come to me. Do not delay. There is much to be done and time is short. You will find no enemies to hinder you. You are safe now.�
�
Melek moved back into the bright light. In a flash, he was gone.
“Aaliyah…” whispered Nehrutu.
His voice snapped her back. She gazed at her husband, now feeling their bond as strongly as the moment it was formed. She took his face in her hands and kissed him with joy and exaltation.
“That man,” said Nehrutu, his voice weak and his eyes heavy, “the one who appeared to me. Where is he? He told me my work was not yet done.”
“He saved your life,” she said, kissing him again. “His name is Melek, and as soon as you are able we will go to join him in Althetas.”
He sighed and quickly fell into a deep, restful sleep. Aaliyah cradled him in her arms until the evening, then built a small fire. Nehrutu awakened only the once – just long enough to tell Aaliyah that he loved her before closing his eyes again.
The next morning they both awoke refreshed and strong. The knowledge that war was being waged in the direction they must now travel did not concern either of them in the slightest. Melek had said there would be no enemies, and they believed him.
They headed north at a leisurely pace, talking and laughing hand-in-hand as if still in their homeland and never having seen battle or bloodshed. Both were excited at the thought of meeting up with Melek again, hoping they could find a way to repay the miracle he had bestowed upon them.
“He must be the same as Darshan,” suggested Nehrutu. “There is no other explanation for such power. As far as I know, only he and the Reborn King are stronger than you in the flow. That is, unless the enemy holds some secret power. But Melek was most certainly not the enemy.”
“Perhaps he was sent by Darshan,” she suggested.
“How could that be? Darshan is dead.”
Aaliyah squeezed his hand and smiled. “Darshan…Gewey…he lives. I felt our bond renew itself during the battle. But I was so distraught by what had happened to you, then so joyful when you were returned to me, I only now have thought of it.”
A mixture of unbridled joy and relief washed over Nehrutu’s face. “Then perhaps Melek was sent to aid us. If so, with two of Darshan’s kind fighting against our enemy…” He gave a heartfelt laugh. “I do believe this war may end sooner than we thought.”
The Godling Chronicles : Bundle - Books 4-6 Page 51