The Gods' Games Volume 1 & 2: Graphic Edition (The Gods' Games Series)

by Quil Carter

  “Little cats running from dogs, typical,” Tseer said, his voice as full of taunting as Ben’s was with blood. “I should neuter you before throwing you in front of the king.”

  Ben looked at him in a daze. He was losing blood fast. His head started to feel heavy and even though he wanted to reply to the malkah; he found he was too weak to do so.

  “Not going to answer me? You two had so much to say before,” Tseer said, his voice suddenly turning from taunting, to menacing. “That’s just going to make things extremely bad for you and your brave little friend.”

  Tseer looked over at the accalite that had run down Teal and nodded. The accalite took Teal’s whole head into its mouth and started to growl; drool dripping onto Teal’s hair, still wet from their time at the river.

  “There, you see now? If you don’t give me the jewel, I’ll command my accalite to break his skull; it’s not much of a feat for him,” Tseer hissed. “He has been cracking hibrid skulls since he was a puppy.”

  Ben looked over at Teal and the accalite; his mind shrouded with a red haze that he so desperately tried to fight. He knew it was important to speak; he had to do whatever he could to help Teal, but he couldn’t concentrate.

  “T-tun…” Ben tried to say tunic but his mouth was mush. He clenched his teeth as he tried to wade through the foggy soup. He kept seeing the word he was looking for, only to have it slip out of his hands like he was trying to pick up water with a strainer.

  Tunic… it’s inside his tunic… HIS TUNIC! Ben let out a frustrated cry as the world started darkening around him.

  Suddenly there was a high-pitched whistling sound, one that was so loud and piercing it jerked Ben’s mind out of the oncoming darkness. Immediately he raised his head and looked around in confusion.

  He wasn’t the only one either.

  Tseer’s face held a look of shock. Then the malkah did a double-take towards the dark accalite that had been holding Teal.

  Ben looked over too, and even in his agony he found himself completely taken aback. An arrow was sticking out of the accalite’s skull, right between the beast’s amber eyes.

  The still standing accalite looked ahead, stunned, before Teal’s head dropped out of its mouth and onto the forest floor. Then, moments later, the accalite took a shaky step forward, before falling down dead beside Teal, a trickle of dark blood dripping down the black-feathered arrow, and onto the ground.

  “Show yourself!” Tseer’s angry scream broke the confused tension that this odd occurrence had brought. The malkah’s head snapped back and forth as he looked in all directions, trying to find out where the arrow had come from.

  Then, just like the last one, there was another piercing whistle and the second arrow stuck itself into Tseer’s shoulder blade. The bounty hunter stumbled back before letting out an animal-like snarl.

  His blood-red eyes shot to the dark accalite that was still holding Ben’s arm obediently in its mouth. The magical tie that bound master to beast making it unable to move an inch.

  “Don’t just stand there, you stupid dog. FIND HIM!”

  The accalite dropped Ben’s bloodied arm, making Ben hit the forest floor with a painful moan. The beast darted off into the woods and let out a demonic, hair-raising howl.

  In the excitement of someone nearby helping them, Ben found a shot of adrenaline inject into his weakening body. Ben staggered to his feet and, with a trembling hand, he grabbed a nearby rock. He had no idea what was going on but his mind told him he had to protect Teal at all costs.

  Ben stepped forward, his legs buckling, and faced the malkah; who now had his back turned to him as he screamed his odd language into the woods.

  “Stay down, my friend, let me take care of this,” a male voice sounded from behind him.

  Ben turned around but he wasn’t there anymore. He looked around confused, wondering if he had imagined it.

  Then, as quickly as his new-found energy came, it went. Ben stumbled again, his head going light, and he fell to his knees.

  A sharp squeal belonging to the accalite sounded from the forest. Ben tried to raise his head to see but it felt like it weighed a thousand pounds.

  “YOU!” the voice of Tseer rang out, one that was full of contempt and hate. “I should have known you’d follow me.”

  “And yet you didn’t go running back to your sands with your tail between your legs,” the male voice said tauntingly.

  Ben looked up and saw an elf with shoulder-length black hair in front of him. Though he could only see his back Ben saw he had on a black cape over a black jerkin, and a crossbow belted to his arm. He was standing in front of Tseer with a gloved hand hovering over a sheathed dagger.

  “Not until I’ve made your teeth into a shekin’ necklace,” Tseer sneered. He grabbed the arrow in his shoulder and pulled it out with a sickening sound.

  Then Tseer looked down at the arrow, the blood pouring out of his wound. His face, full of contempt, showed no signs of pain. “Seeve shards,” he mused, “how clever.”

  Tseer threw the arrow onto the ground and, with a pulse of rippling light, he disappeared into thin air.

  The elf chuckled to himself, then turned around to where Ben had fallen. The elf gave him a kind smile, the sun behind him making the silver earrings he had in his ears sparkle.

  “So you’re the hibrids he’s after, huh?” the elf said. He grabbed Ben and gently helped him up to his feet.

  “I guess,” Ben said weakly; his knees buckled and he stumbled again but the elf held him steady.

  “Tore you up good, both of you,” the elf observed “I’ll take care of you, don’t you worry. I’ve been looking for you two.”

  Ben’s brow furrowed. He looked up at the elf with a confused look, but as he opened his mouth to respond, the dark haze took him – and he passed out.

  13

  The sun stung Ben’s eyes and made his pounding head give an angry pulse. For a moment he thought he was back in the Silverwoods detoxing again but, no, different areas on his body were hurting, not just his head.

  Ben opened his eyes and clenched his teeth. His hand grazed his side and he felt thick fabric like the wound had been treated. Even though his head was hazy and wading through a bog of uncomfortable muck he was puzzled over this. Was Teal awake? Did he treat his wound?

  Ben rubbed his blurry, unfocused eyes and squinted them until they started to focus. As his senses slowly trickled back he started to hear the crackling of a fire nearby and, surprisingly, the murmuring of voices. One of which he recognized as Teal.

  Teal was awake and talking. The relief over this was so strong Ben felt his energy start to come back to him. He might’ve only known Teal for a little over a week, but he already felt a strong bond with him.

  Ben looked towards the crackling fire and saw Teal with his green blanket wrapped around him like a cloak. One arm and one leg was covered in a thick blue cloth that was already showing a darkening stain. Teal looked unfocused, but Ben could see he was responsive and talking, and was even slowly eating a piece of yellow cheese.

  Then Ben’s eyes travelled over to who he was talking to. For the first time Ben got a good look at the elf who had rescued him and Teal.

  The elf, an Alcovian elf Ben could see, looked to be about their age if not a few years older. His straight black hair ended about an inch above his shoulders and his face held faint stubble that speckled his high jawline. He was quite a good-looking elf; his eyes were a deep blue and large, his eyebrows thin and angled.

  He also had a rugged look to him, a look of an elf who spent a lot of time in the forest sleeping under the stars. His black leather jerkin looked well-worn as did his trousers, and the silver buckles on his boots, three small ones on each side, were all different designs. This elf was definitely a wanderer, which had played to Teal and Ben’s advantage.

  Still feeling weary, Ben watched the elf as he talked to Teal. He soon realized that the elf was doing most of the talking; Teal was staring at the fire, dazed, givi
ng one word answers. It looked like he was forgetting to chew every once in a while and Ben even caught the elf reminding him to swallow.

  Watching the food made Ben’s stomach finally remember itself. He was about to get up and join the two of them when the elf’s eyes travelled over to Ben’s direction.

  Immediately he smiled, the smile seemed to brighten the darkening sky above them. “You’re conscious!” the elf said. He motioned to one of the stone seats beside the fire pit. “Come and sit down. We’re right in the middle of sup.”

  “Oh, thank you,” Ben said weakly, his voice was even more pathetic than he thought it would be. He cleared his throat and tried to force more strength into him.

  But when Ben attempted to get to his feet his state was all but screamed to the world. Like a giant had stepped down on his back, Ben felt his buckling legs give out from under him. He fell to his knees with a groan, having to put his hands out in front of him to stop himself from face-planting into the grass.

  “Whoa – whoa, wait,” the elf said as he shot to his feet and put his food down. He walked quickly to Ben’s side and helped him stand.

  “I’m just a bit shaky… I’m fine,” Ben said, feeling absolutely weak and useless. Not only did the elf save him and Teal from Tseer, but it looked like he had bandaged them both up as well. His arm and side were covered in the same blue cloth that Teal’s was.

  He was definitely a godsend.

  Ben’s brow furrowed. Or perhaps he was a demigodsend.

  “There we go,” the elf said as he helped Ben to a spot by the fire. “Now watch you don’t keel forward and fall into the fire. We don’t want the jare cats smelling cooked hibrid. Or they’ll all be here begging.”

  Ben chuckled, his throat raw and dry, most likely from all of his screaming. “I suppose.”

  The elf sat down and handed him a metal plate of food. Ben looked down and saw white bread, yellow cheese, and a handful of what looked like dried raisins. He felt a tap on his shoulder and looked over to see the elf handing him a wineskin as well.

  “Eat up. I’m hoping that some food will make the both of you a little more lucid. Your poor little friend here has barely said a word.”

  Ben picked up several raisins and ate them; the sugary sweetness immediately sent a rush of energy throughout his body. He ate those first and washed it down with some silverwine. When the raisins were gone he attacked the bread and cheese, not realizing how starved he was until he started eating.

  The elf let him eat in peace, only speaking a few times to encourage Teal to eat. Ben looked up once from his devouring of the food to see Teal still looking dazed, his green eyes glassy and his mouth pulled in a frown.

  Ben’s mind and his memories finally returned to him as he finished eating. He put his plate down onto the ground and looked over at the elf before sweeping him with his gaze. Ben had seen Serpent knights just several days ago when they had just entered the forest, but this elf was dressed slightly different. His soft leather jerkin held no emblems on the breast but his cloak, which was more of a cape, had small pocked holes in the back like the elf had taken out stitching. Ben wagered a guess that the elf had removed Erick’s two-headed dragon-serpent sigil, the same ones the Serpent knights had had.

  “You’re the knight that Wellen warned us about, aren’t you?” Ben asked. He looked to Teal for some confirmation but Teal was doing all but drool as he stared at the fire.

  Surprisingly the elf scoffed. “I paid that coidog five kips to keep his mouth shut. I should’ve known better than to trust him. Yes, I was the one following you,” the knight said with a smirk. “Personally, I think I did a good job of keeping hidden. A heck of a lot better than that stupid malkah.”

  Ben smiled, liking the elf already. He seemed charismatic and gave off a lighthearted vibe that put all of Ben’s default mistrust at ease. The knight seemed to have a way of talking like he was speaking to an old friend, and his amiable, yet mischievous, eyes seemed to smile even when his face wasn’t.

  “Well, thank you for saving us. As you obviously know, we owe you our lives,” Ben said in a serious tone. “We – we have coin we can pay you as thanks.”

  The elf waved his hand dismissively. “Oh, that was nothing back there. Tseer and I have a long history of hatred and I never miss an opportunity to injure him.” Then the elf inclined his head. “I’m Malagant by the way. Former knight of Alcove, though I do emphasize the former. One of the few to escape the brainwashing after Erick and his bastard priests overthrew our king.”

  Teal suddenly jerked out of the trance he was in; he looked up at the knight with a shocked expression on his face. “Did – did you say your name was Malagant?”

  Malagant nodded.

  “Malagant Ahris?”

  Malagant’s deep blue eyes widened, but then narrowed suspiciously as he looked at Teal closely. “I know you… don’t I?”

  “No,” Teal said hurriedly, as if realizing just what he had revealed. He suddenly became incredibly interested in the piece of bread he was holding.

  Malagant kept looking at him intently. “No, I must know you. No one knows my House name unless they already know me or know my father; and I know all of my father’s friends’ children, and my cousins.”

  Teal was silent. Ben could see the colour on his already ashen face drain away. Ben had no idea what was going on but he knew enough to stay quiet. If Teal got really upset he would put a stop to the conversation, but right now he was as curious as Malagant was.

  The knight continued to examine him, trying to pinpoint if he knew Teal or not.

  “What’s your name?” he asked suspiciously.

  Teal sighed and put his piece of bread down. He looked down at his plate in defeat before saying in a tone barely above a whisper, “Teal.”

  Malagant’s eyes widened, he looked absolutely shocked. “S-son of Cruz…? Of House Fennic?” he stammered.

  Ben’s heart jumped at Malagant’s mention of Teal’s House name. How did Teal know him? How did he know who Teal’s father was?

  Teal nodded, not looking up from his plate; he looked absolutely sick and his body was tense and rigid. Ben was surprised he hadn’t started clawing his arms.

  Malagant let out a nervous laugh and shook his head in disbelief. “I – I want to mow you down and hug you, but something tells me if I do you might gouge out my eyes.”

  “Y-you can…” Teal said quietly.

  That was all the knight needed to hear. He walked over to where Teal was sitting and as Teal stood up, Malagant embraced him.

  “We thought you were dead, Teal…” Malagant whispered.

  Ben was stunned by this quiet admission. From what he knew of Teal he had been an orphan in the woods, it never occurred to him that other elves, friends of Cruz, might’ve been wondering what happened to him. Or perhaps they had just thought he’d died with his family? But then why did Teal hide in the woods instead of looking for a friend to take him in?

  “I want everyone to keep thinking I’m dead, Malagant,” Teal said quietly. “It’s safer that way.”

  “Keleon thinks you’re dead… doesn’t he?”

  At the mention of his name Teal’s body tightened; Malagant was still hugging him, so he must’ve sensed it. He quickly veered away from the mention of the elf who killed Teal’s family. “Why didn’t you come to Birch? You know Dad would’ve taken you in in a second. He would’ve been overjoyed to have you live with us.”

  “Can we talk about this some other time… in the distant future?” Teal asked as the two of them broke away.

  Malagant gave Teal a sad smile and nodded. “Of course.”

  “Can you fill me in?” Ben asked the two. “Was your father friends with Cruz?”

  Teal sat down by the fire, his fingernails digging into his arms to the point where Ben could see blood. Feeling an overwhelming amount of pity for Teal, Ben found himself looking to Teal’s pack, where the desoni was.

  Instead Teal gave up his masochism for the leathe
rskin of silverwine. “Do you remember me mentioning my father’s friend Anagin?” Teal asked, then took a drink right from the wineskin’s spout.

  Ben nodded.

  “This is his son,” Teal said after he swallowed down the calming fizzy liquid. “My father and his father fought in the last war together. They were best friends.”

  Malagant’s mouth dropped open. He snapped his fingers and suddenly laughed. “This shekin’ makes sense now – this is why the demigod was telling me to follow you two. Oh, my father is going to have a stroke when he finds out.”

  Ben and Teal’s heads both snapped in Malagant’s direction. “The demigod was telling you to follow us?” Teal asked.

  “That’s right,” Malagant said, taking the silverwine from Teal before taking a drink himself. “I was asking around Malla for you and came across my ol’ buddy Tseer Amaus. He was sniffing around the same area so I kept an eye on him while I looked for you. And I found you two just last week – in a rather strange way.”

  “What do you mean?” Teal asked slowly, glancing over at Ben.

  “Well –” Malagant rapped the wineskin against his knuckles. “– I didn’t find you. I actually heard you.” He pointed a finger at Ben. “Screaming your little hibrid head off, about wanting to go home? Brought here against your own will?”

  Ben groaned, feeling his face go hot.

  Malagant continued, “I was making camp a quarter mile away from Malla and heard it all. I was surprised to see that one of you matched Kelakheva’s description: a blond-haired hibrid with red streaks.” Then he laughed. “At first I thought you were keeping him –” Malagant motioned to Ben. “– prisoner. Thought perhaps that was why I had to follow you two. Then I heard what I think the demigod wanted me to hear: your interactions with each other.” His blue eyes turned to Teal. “Which makes even more sense now – the demigod gave you the Jewel of Elron, eh? Dad seriously is going to piss his trousers when he hears this.”