The lines were broken and those that could, hobbled from the field in retreat. Injured and bloodied with their energies exhausted, the victors stood for a moment to catching their collective breath. There would however be no time for celebration for more was yet to be done. Ananda would not make Eldred's mistake. He gathered together their remaining forces still fit to fight and set to rallying them on for one final assault. Amida knowing his brothers gift of stirring oratory stood near the rear of the crowd to listen as he addressed the men. In a loud and clear voice he spoke unaided to those assembled. "It is well that you should rejoice in your victory. But I tell you the story of your bravery here today will long outlive you all, and echo for all time. There will be many chances for celebration and remembrance, now however is not one of them. Our gamble so far has paid great dividends yet there is still one hand left to play. Even now your leader Landaus is engaged in a desperate struggle beyond the forward position. Who among you now, to stop this deadly incursion once and for all would join brave Landaus in his moment of glory?" A great roar rose up among them as if his words had stolen all of their weariness. They again took to their arms and returned to their formations. Those cavalry men whose horses had not been too badly wounded or maimed remounted their steeds. In the midst of this commotion Amida looked again on the field behind him. The remnants of burned and broken bodies strewn lifeless was more than he could longer bear. His brother's words could neither console nor mask the anguish which this image caused him. At that moment he swore silently that he would never again raise his hand in anger.
By now Amida had turned away from the action and almost automatically was instead helping with the wounded. Ananda some how sensed this change and sought him out He stepped down from where he had stood and searched him out. He found him there among the stretcher bearers. He was puzzled by what he saw there so he spoke to him. "My brother will you not join me one last time in battle?"
"Ananda my dear brother, I have over these many centuries been your faith guardian. But now I must leave your side. I am sorry but my destiny has brought me to this place, and I no longer possess the capacity. You must go on without me." As these words fell from his mouth a figure rose from the pile and contorted corpses behind him. A severely wounded yet undead Eldred called out to them. "Hector! I have come to slay you, god willing. "Amida stared into his eyes with any icy coolness born of centuries of conflict. He undid his breast plate and threw to the ground in defiant gesture. An enraged Eldred raised his heavy sword and brought it down in one quick deadly stroke across Amida's clavicle. The shattering blow was enough to knock him cold to the ground. Ananda was there to witness his brothers undoing and was caught now in midst of an unfathomable rage. Eldred stood there before him, and once again his eye was cast upon the image of Hector. As if to a god, he raised his weapon against him as if in an offering in some bizarre sacred rite. Upon Eldred's face he held there a look of sublime serenity as he awaited the inevitable attack. From a hidden place a guttural scream arose in Ananda's throat as he thrust his sword downward with all his might. The air was filled with the din of flashing steel as there then ensued between the two a furious barrage of sword blows and counter strikes. With each downward stroke of Ananda's blade Eldred answered with determination. Within moments the rising intensity of their fighting had drawn the attention a bystanders. Soon dozens of onlookers had begun to encircle the two warriors locked in a single combat. Though Eldred's skill and strength were substantial considering his injuries, he could not summon the raw energy needed to overcome Ananda's rage. Spurred on by the madness of revenge Ananda fought on.
Distressed by the potential loss of momentum caused by this distraction Captain Martz despite his commander’s absence without delay began to organize the assault. He called to a signal man, "Guardsman prepare on my order to send the signal to begin the attack. But first call the men to order." The horn sounded and those able began to regroup into formation. Martz found Old Brownie in the hands of a cavalryman. He looked back onto Ananda still embroiled his own personal vendetta. He put his foot into the stirrup and lifted himself above his mount. He nodded to the signalman and the noise of the horn rang out once again. Upon hearing the signal they again pressed forward following the path of retreat taken by the enemy. Though the distance was merely several hundred yards as they passed over the blood soaked field it seemed an eternity. As they drew nearer the sound of the battle unfolding before them began to fill their ears. With their hearts beating now at a frantic pace they broke into a full run.
The horse cavalry were the first to reach the enemy ramparts. They were surprised how there was no one there to greet them as they passed over the wall. Before them they came upon King Aaralaat and four of his most fearsome guards. Captain Martz and the remaining cavalry pounced like a lion onto the heavily armed guards, and immediately engaged them. Largerand fiercer than the others they stood their ground without oneiota of fear. Not far behind on the heels the charging horses, abrigade of armed footmen began to ford the wall.
Landaus still holding his position continued to look for a means to advance even as his men were being cut down one by one. This was a numbers game however he could not play indefinitely for soon his forces would collapse from the weight of the onslaught. Just as these thoughts began to cross his mind from the corner of his eye he saw what he had been waiting for. Without hesitation he ordered them forward once again. His weary and disheartened men looked up to see their salvation breaching the wall. "One last time forward boys it won't be long now." Their vigor renewed, with all the power they could muster they pushed once again forward. Blade against blade they fought for every bloody inch.
On the far left the two sides of Landaus's force had managed to link up. Like a giant scissor the two fronts closed in surrounding the desperate warriors. Along the leading edge of the formation the warriors fell now with greater frequency as they came within inches of the deadly bayonets. Landaus sensed now that the coupe de grass was within their grasp. He scanned the field for the king. There on the opposite side of the pincer he witnessed Captain Martz caught in a desperate struggle of his own as he faced off with Aaralaat himself. Martz was no match in Aaralaat in skill, but he was young, strong and smart. If he could hold him off a bit longer he would face him himself. Closer and closerthe two lines like blades of a scissor grew nearer cutting through the enemy like a scythe. Though they could not win Landaus knew they would never surrender. He pushed forward towards the king's guards and engages one of them directly. Spurred on now by adrenaline and anger he attacks, slashing his blade furiously he trades blows with the guard. Landaus with one lightning strike he exploits a gap in his opponents armor. Between his neck and helmet and he falls. With his other guards engaged he moves forward to find Aaralaat standing above a wounded Captain Martz preparing to deliver a death blow. Landaus rushed forward and brings his sword down onto his shoulder before he can strike. The blow is deflected by his armor but its enough to draw his attention from Martz. He turns to face Landaus and in one lightning strike cuts a deep cut into Landaus's uniform and scoring his skin. It draws blood but it's a minor wound. He steps back for a moment to ready him self to deflect the next blow. He steps forward again with his sword raised high. As the blow again comes he prepared for an immediate counter strike. Capturing the downward momentum of the strike he follows it with his own blade down toward the ground. Like the motion of a spring he turns on his axis and with an upward thrust finds the gap in his armor between his groin and right thigh. The cut is fast and deep. Landaus whips back his blood stained sword and makes it ready for one final strike. Aaralaat stands there looking into Landaus's eyes and knows that he has been delivered a fatal wound. Landaus speaks, "You should not have come here now you shall pay the price with your life." He thrusts his sword forward into Aaralaat's unguarded throat and with a single strike he is dead. For several minutes after the death of the king the fighting continued until the last of the resistance had ceased as to a man the entire corps
of invaders was now killed or wounded.
Back upon the field the duel between Ananda and Eldred had worn on now for some time. To those wounded who viewed the fight later reported that Eldred had been wounded no less than thirteen times. As the victors returned across thefield they were still so engaged. An unwounded and unhampered Ananda seemed to play with determined warrior a dangerous game of cat and mouse. The men looked on too weary to speak. Captain Whelks sought out Landaus to stop what he saw as adisgraceful display. After several moments he found him supporting a wounded Captain Martz helping to escort him from the field. "Colonel, I must speak with you."
"What is it Captain?" Can it not wait?"
"I'm afraid not Colonel. It is Ananda he is toying with a wounded enemy most mercilessly." "Well why don't you stop him?"
"Sir he's in quite a state. I think you should like to see this for yourself."
"Very well, take over here Martz is wounded badly bring him to the aid station."
"Yes sir." They trade places and Whelkes accepts the burden. After only a short while Landaus comes across the scene. There a bloodied Eldred still holds his sword aloft but just barely as the Ananda again and again continues to attack his beleaguered enemy. Landaus calls out to Ananda in a stern voice, "Ananda what is the meaning of this? Do you have no mercy? I order you to end this!" With his foot Ananda kicks Eldred to the ground. He turns toward Landaus with a look of murderous intent in his eye and speaks.
"Do you not understand Landaus; I am Hector his god of war. Through me he will be redeemed and this is his rite of combat. Through these many centuries I have lived so that they may be reborn. It is their sacrifice he comes to this willingly." He turns again to Eldred who has again risen to his feet. "Do you not see?"
"Ananda, I order you to stand down! It's over" "I say when it's over!" He drew back his sword and with on final strike Eldred was struck down as his head was separated from his body. Ananda then dropped his blade for the last time. And fell to the ground in anguished sobs. He crawled about theground until he found Amida. He was surprised to find he was still alive but just so. There he sat down among the muddy craters and lifted up Amida's broken body onto his lap. Amida tried to speak but he was too weak. Blood streamed from his mouth as hisface contorted in a grimace of death. For several minutes Ananda sat there in silence as he held his brother's lifeless body. Then suddenly he lifted up his brother's body. Carrying him in his outstretched arms without a word spoken he retreated from the field. Many who stood by, including Landaus himself followed him. For what seemed an eternity to those sequestered upon the boats, the thundering sound of battle raged on. Though the battle remained hidden just beyond a veil of mist, each concussion rolled out over the face of water to shake them. There also were other sounds carried upon the air, though less distinct were no less chilling. They stood mesmerized staring blindly into this grey expanse until the bedeviling sounds came to a sudden halt.
Grunhuf gave the order, "Let's bring this boat in and get a closer look, shall we?" The young cadets who served as sailors for this makeshift flotilla were ordered to keep the other boats back until it was deemed safe. "Ibsen, I order you to transfer yourself to one of the other boats." This time he did not offer a fight, for he knew he would make his way back to that boat one way or another. With the motor engaged the lone ship drifted slowly away from the others. What Grunhuf could not have known was that as the preparations were being made, Ibsen had quietly slipped into the water and tied himself to the boat. The boat drew in close and oriented port side to the shore. Those aboard shifted to that side to observe what could be seen. Just then Ibsen recognizing the opportunity pulled himself from the water onto the shallow deck of the boat. Cold and wet, Ibsen shivered as he looked toward the citadel. Just then, the thick blanket of smoke and fog that had obscured their view had begun to lift from the water. What they saw there shocked them as the skeleton of the citadel came into view.
There within the smoldering wreckage of Breideblic only those most ancient stone monuments had survived the inferno. Grunhuf turned and gave an order to the cadet. "Prepare this ship for a landing. Were going in to find out what has happened." The cadets quickly fell in line and the boat was again moving. So intent were they on their task that none had noticed Ibsen's presence among them. As the boat drew nearer to the land therain and fog had finally ceased. By the time the small boat slideasily into the landing the sky had cleared. The cadets hurriedly secured the boat to its moorings, Grunhuf, Xora and a handful of guards, wasted no time and immediately began to disembark. With weapons ready, carefully they exited the craft and made their way up the stairs from the landing. Soon they were up onto ground overlooking the beach. Ibsen watched and waited for them all to reach the top, before he made his break for it. Just as he stepped onto the pier one of the cadets spied him. He called out. "Hey, how did you, where do you think your going?" By then it was too late for Ibsen being swift of foot had made short work of the stairs, and was off running.
Ibsen soon verified with his eyes what he already believed to be true. The battle was over. There on the field he witnessed the wounded survivors of the battle making their way home toward what was left of their once formidable fortress. There in their midst he saw his father walking closely behind Ananda He ran through the crowd in a straight line toward his father. Landaus still somewhat dazed by what had happened had not seen him approach. When he reached him Ibsen had nearly knocked him from his feet. "Father you made it." He squeezed him in a tight embrace. Landaus let out a wail of happiness as tears began to roll down his face mixing with the blood and dust that had accumulated there. With a voice raw and weary he spoke, "Oh son, we have taken the day. This great tyranny to which we havebeen subject to has been erased once and for all."
"What do we do now father?"
"We rebuild, but there are other things we must dofirst. Come with me and I shall show you." Soon Grunhuf and Xora also had caught up with Landaus. They were shocked to find young Ibsen was there with him. Grunhuf felt he had somehow let Landaus down began to offer apologies. "Landaus I am sorry I don't know he managed it but he slipped through my fingers. I am sorry that I failed you."
"There is no apology necessary; we are all here safe that's what counts."
Together they walked on in through the main gate of the citadel stepping carefully to avoid the evidence of carnage that marked their every step. At the head of the procession Ananda carried the body of his brother Amida. Soon they came through to the main gate of Breideblic. It was evident by the pillar of smoke that still rose into the sky that the fires were still burning. The mass of people stopped before the gate, for they could pass no further. Ananda turned toward the crowd that was now assembling there and spoke. "I wish things could have worked more smoothly between us. It was not my intention to cause harm or mislead but rather to gain this final victory. Long have my brother and I fought this battle. But now the time of war has come to an end and we must leave forever. If I may I would ask one thing of you. No longer will the shadow of Nibaru darken your world. And so you are free. Remember this day and its horrors and turn your back on the violence you saw here and rebuild your civilization. Build it not on memories of heroes but rather on the merits of love and sacrifice. For you shall not again see the likes of me." With that he turned and walked with Amida in his arms in through burning gate.
Though his body was protected by his armor the intense heat was burning his lungs more with each breath he took. Carefully he stepped avoiding the burning debris that formed obstacles in the path before him. With each step that he took the heat penetrated deeper into his being, sapping his strength and will. He would not stop however, not until he reached the sanctum of the crystal room. By the time the sanctum had came into view his hands and face were blistered and contorted. From his head, his long locks had been scorched. He moved now out of shear will,and with one final step, he fell through the threshold of the crystal room. There the crystal matrix within began to glow and hum in an increas
ing signal of rhythmic intensity. To what was left of his senses the space within seemed to glow white and expand exponentially. There appeared before him from this light the avatar of his brother, alive within the pulsating patterns. From the ground where he lay he reached his hand up toward the ghost like figure. In response its mouth moved mocking speech. Though no sound emanated from it, its message rang within the chambers in his mind, "Ananda finally at great length and sacrifice your war is over. It's time now to come home."
To those outside who were witnesses to what happened next, few could believe what their senses told them. The whole of the old tower complex began to glow and throb with all of the intensity of a white hot star that pulsated with a rhythm not unlike that of a beating heart. The outline of its structure cast against the grey blue sky began then to vibrate with a resonance that seemed to phase in an out of existence. These pulses of light then grew so dense as to force them to shield their eyes. Some including Landaus and Ibsen could not avert theirs for such a sight of wonderment they had never before been seen. They watched as the event began to swell into the form of a heaving elastic sphere of plasma. Glowing as an azure sun its brightness intensified Soon there after as if caught within the waves of gravitational tides, it at once stretched and contracted from some unseen central point. Suddenly with a blinding flash of light the event collapsed in on itself taking the Stone Age stronghold along with it. The earth below their feet shook violently and the air around the structure rushed in to fill the void created by its absence, generating a thunderous sonic boom in the process.
Lost in a swirl of dust, the air was thick with sound. All then went eerily quiet save for the noise made by a gentle rain of debris. Xora starring out into the void strained to see whathad been, but there was nothing. She called out "The crystal roomwas in there, where has it gone?" Without heed to the danger and despite several calls for her to return, she took off running in the direction of the event. Ibsen was off quickly on her heals. Landaus had not immediately seen Ibsen run off. There was no time to call out to him. So he too was soon after them. A moment later Xora and Ibsen stopped abruptly just short of a sudden drop in the earth. Carefully they stood before the spot at which the tower of Breideblic had once stood. Standing now on the lip of a yawning crater the air had begun to clear. Xora was amazed at what she now saw there. By some strange unknown power the event had extracted a perfectly hemispherical gouge from the earth. It was just gone, no burn marks or strewn debris; it was if it had been surgically extracted from existence. By now Landaus had caught up to them. He too looked down at what the event had wrought and was dumb founded. Xora asked in a trembling voice, "What is to become of us Landaus now that the crystal room can no longer guide us?" He put his arm around them. Answering quite soberly he said, "Though we cannot replace the crystal room, we do have each other. We have been given a second chance here. The way I see it that thing was more of a curse than a savior. It may take us some time but together we will move forward with out it."
A Paradox in Retrograde Page 36