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

by Quil Carter

  “Want to break for some tuck, Josiah? I’m famished.” Melesch appeared on the ridge beside him. He had a traveller’s hat on instead of his usual guard’s helmet and light mail. Sweat was beading off of his brow, making his long dark hair stick to his flushed forehead. He looked exhausted.

  “Sure, set it up. I’ll signal Suana.” Josiah quickly stepped up onto one of the plains many jagged grey rocks and looked around until he spotted the lady guard. He raised a hand up in the air and gathered his maegic.

  The sunmage felt the energy of the sun rush into his fingertips, flowing through his entire body with tendrils of brilliant light. With a narrow of his eyes and a quick jerk of his hand, a beam of light shot up into the sky, disappearing into the clouds above.

  He watched the ladyelf glance up and look around the plains before she spotted Josiah. She waved her hand to tell him she saw his signal.

  Josiah turned off the beam of light and stepped down. Behind him Melesch was already dishing out roasted pork sandwiches, dried apricots, and a skin of white wine.

  “So much meat, what a wonderful bounty,” Melesch said, handing a plate to Josiah. “The town will be eating great for the next several months. Did you see how many townsfolk were out in the square this morning? The entire town is going to smell like a butchers block, but ah, it will be worth it.” Melesch bit into a sandwich, grease dripped down his short beard; he chewed roughly and continued to speak with his mouthful. An annoyance of Josiah, but he remained silent. “I heard Sir Lendyn is taking a party out to the Porcelain Sea to get us some more salt. We’ll be using up all our reserves and still we’ll have to buy some from Arasbor.”

  “Hopefully the merchant master will be smart enough to just trade meat for them. Though perhaps Arasbor got their share of the herd? It is quite a few leagues off, who’s to know how widespread the migration was,” Josiah responded. He took out his dirk and cleanly cut his sandwich into fours.

  “And what about that noise last night? Syr Anagin said it was a kimevrah? Those are those large-eyed bat things from Xal’Crith, right? Old Halin told me last night. The whole town was on edge when they heard it, never heard one of those before.”

  Josiah’s face remained calm. He nodded as he bit into one of his sandwiches. He waited until he was done chewing, hoping Melesch would pick up on the manners. When he swallowed he spoke, turning to the side to greet Suana as she came up over the ridge. “That’s right. Father said it would be dead soon. It’s too cold up north for them. It must have been lost, perhaps living in the outskirts of the riverlands.” Josiah was always surprised at how easy it was to lie to the towns-elves. Well, it was for their own peace of mind, there was nothing they could do about it anyway. The knowledge would only scare them.

  “My dog was cowering when I came home last night,” Suana said, sitting beside them on a rock. “I was going to bring Missy out on the patrol as extra protection but she wouldn’t come out from under the bed. Mileny was always better with her than I. She’ll calm her.”

  This gave Josiah an idea. He held out a hand and focused his maegic. A moment later, a large flyn fox, ethereal and ghostly to the plains around him, appeared in a distorted wave.

  “I’m so jealous of you mages,” Melesch sighed, his mouth sounding like it was still full of food.

  “He’ll be able to search the difficult areas,” Josiah said with a nod. The fox twitched its ears and sat down beside him, sniffing the air.

  Melesch reached over and offered the transparent fox a piece of meat. The fox looked at him and blinked.

  “He’s not real… Melesch,” Josiah said gently, though in his head he was rolling his eyes. “He’ll disappear with a wave of my hand.”

  Melesch reached his hand out to touch the fox; the fox lowered its head, letting the guard give it a rub. “He’s solid!”

  “He can fight too, he just doesn’t need to eat,” Josiah laughed. He patted the flyn on the head before turning to finish his meal.

  “Does he have a name? What’s his name?” Melesch asked excitedly. He started scratching the flyn under the ears. It closed its eyes and licked its nose.

  “Dad says I shouldn’t name him, because he isn’t real. Forms unhealthy bonds.” Josiah shrugged. He decided to leave out the fact that his father implemented this rule when he had discovered Josiah trying to summon an elven familiar. He was afraid Josiah was trying to summon himself up a chaylen.

  Which he wasn’t… that would just be silly…

  Josiah coughed.

  “Folly paw! I’m going to name him!” Melesch announced. “I’m going to call him Tippy.”

  Suana let out a snort, obviously unimpressed with Melesch’s name choice.

  “Maybe you want to call him Haunter?” Josiah suggested.

  Melesch thought for a second, before nodded to himself. “Sure, that’s a good name. I’ll name him Haunter.”

  Suana chuckled. She finished her sandwich and brushed the crumbs off of her tunic. “Leave it to you to find a sneaky way around your father’s orders, Syr Ahris.”

  Josiah swallowed the rest of his sandwich and took a drink of wine. “My whole life has been finding ways around his orders,” he said with a wry smile.

  After they finished eating they cleaned up and continued down the rocky ridge. The grasslands ahead of them were hilly and broken up with larger rocks than they had around Birch. The grey rocks seemed to jut out of the ground like a giant had pushed them up with their finger. It was a perfect place to take cover from the elements, but it also made scouting for Ben more difficult.

  He sent Suana and Melesch off to look around the plains surrounding the large broken up rocks. Josiah then took the fox and walked into the clusters of boulders below the ridge.

  Josiah pulled his cloak closer and put his leather gloves back on. The sun was starting to disappear behind the hills of the plains, they would have to turn back soon if they wanted to make it to Birch before nightfall. But he was going to put it off as long as possible. Josiah hated coming back empty-handed just as much as Malagant did. The look on Teal’s face was heartbreaking.

  The newly named familiar fox climbed up the sharp narrow rocks, hopping from them one by one while he sniffed the air and looked around. His giant blue-hued ears flicked as he checked every corner and crevice.

  There was nothing though, just the smell of the wet plains and the aroma of hundreds of damp animals. The fox could smell it; every time he got to the top of one of the rocks he would raise his snout and huff.

  Josiah scoured the plains for another hour, before Melesch started calling for him. He let out a breath of defeat and climbed up the top of a nearby boulder to find his friend.

  “I have Suana with me. Come on, Josiah, we better head back,” Melesch called.

  Josiah didn’t say anything, he just nodded, feeling his heart break for his companions. There was no sign of Ben, again. Had he been smart enough to hide when the herd had run through?

  Had he even survived the river? Josiah landed on the wet grass with a squish; the fox ran in front of him. Perhaps all of this had been in vain, and the poor human-hibrid hadn’t even made it out of the river. His father had told Malagant he could no longer be sure with the false prophecy book they’d had with them.

  Wordlessly and with his heart heavy, Josiah made his way towards Melesch and Suana, and, still silent, they all started heading back towards the walls. The two seemed to sense Josiah’s mood because they didn’t speak to him, though they were probably disappointed as well. It was the guards’ job to protect elves. They wanted to bring Malagant’s friend home to him as well.

  Josiah looked down at Haunter, who was at his heels, his tongue sticking out as he trotted beside him.

  “Scour, Haunter,” Josiah said to him. The familiar looked up at Josiah and let out a ruff, then darted off to the hills. It wasn’t much and most likely wouldn’t turn up anything, but it was better than nothing.

  Melesch let out an impressed noise as he watched the fox run off,
probably wishing for one of his own. Josiah’s friend had always wished he had mage abilities, but he didn’t have a shred of demi-elf blood in him, or any special born-in traits found in other elves. Poor Melesch couldn’t even do firepalm.

  “We’ll go out first thing tomorrow, Josiah,” Suana assured, reading Josiah’s mood.

  Josiah watched Haunter disappear over a rise, heading towards a cluster of trees. “Thanks, Suana, the Birch Guard has been indispensable. I know my brother and father appreciate it as well.”

  “Least we can do to help Syr Ahris and Malagant,” Suana said. She took a generous drink from their wineskin, before handing it to Josiah who also indulged himself. “All of Elron owes Anagin a debt until the end times. We’re blessed to have such an elf living in our town.”

  Josiah smiled and inclined his head. Everyone respected his father, and he commanded respect just by walking into a room. The whole town looked to him for guidance, even though he had always refused a place on the council. As Anagin had always said, he was retired.

  They took a different route home, closer to a cluster of ironwoods. Every once in a while there would be a blue glow near them as Haunter dashed around the rocks, his tongue hanging out and his nose in the air as he searched.

  Melesch had started singing sometime while they were walking. He had held onto the wineskin after Josiah and Suana had had their fill, and was singing an Alcove drinking song. One that Malagant had always liked.

  Anea, Anea, high above,

  Drink and feed, in your god’s name,

  Break your bread with friends, new and old,

  May old grudges be sent away!

  Open hearth, take off your cloak,

  May the wine flow freely too,

  Sleep in warmth and safety friend,

  Anea watch over you.

  Melesch let the last word drag, before shooting a stream of white wine into his mouth. The darkness was coating the entire plains now, they should have left earlier, it would be dark for a good hour before they got home. Not the best idea, considering the creature they had heard, but Suana and Melesch thought none of it, only Josiah knew the truth behind it, or the lack of truth to be more precise. He would be able to protect the guards if it came down to it. So there was no use worrying them over nothing, they would be fine.

  Josiah was just starting to contemplate lighting some sun orbs when he heard Haunter give out a squeal. All three of them whirled around towards the familiar’s cries. It was coming towards a gathering of rocks.

  They looked and saw a glow of blue on the side of the grey crags.

  All three of them exchanged glances before they ran towards it. Josiah whistled and called for the fox.

  Immediately the fox popped out of the rocks, Josiah could see him looking at his master. The fox was cowering, his head hung low; his glowing blue fur was bristled.

  Then Josiah heard something strange, he could hear murmuring and fast talking – and something… move?

  Josiah turned around and exchanged confused glances with Suana and Melesch.

  “Hello? Is there someone there?” Josiah called.

  There was a barking cough and a dry sob coming from the rocks, followed by more murmuring. The voice was male and he sounded extremely distressed.

  “Are you hurt? I am a healer. Are you ill? Sir?” Josiah called taking a cautious step forward.

  The elf moved again. He was pacing back and forth while letting out small whimpers, and as Josiah got closer he could see he was limping.

  The elf’s back was turned to him, or Josiah thought it must be, it was hard to tell with the filth he was covered in. And not just filth, it looked – it looked like he was coated in dead flies and insects.

  The elf started wringing his hands as he mumbled, his dark hair a flattened mat on his head.

  But…

  Josiah felt a guarded jolt of excitement; he took another step towards the elf.

  “Are you okay?

  The elf whirled around, surprised. His eyes were wild with fear and strangely the whites had a black tinge to them. He was in incredibly bad shape and it was clear he wasn’t in his right mind.

  And to further hammer in that fact, when the elf saw Josiah and the other two he let out a scared sob and started to back away. He was favouring his leg heavily and when Josiah took a step towards him he recoiled and screamed like he was in pain.

  “Ben?”

  To Josiah’s shock the words seemed to hit the elf like they were poison. He screamed and dropped to his knees, then grabbed onto his matted hair and started to viciously yank it.

  Josiah’s heart wrenched when he saw that the elf had hibrid claws; and as he looked closer, even though it was shrouded in darkness, he could see blue streaks.

  “Dear gods, it is Ben!” Josiah cried. He stepped closer to the hibrid but Ben quickly took several steps back, his bruised eyes insane with fear.

  “Stay away from me! I know who you are!” Ben screamed, his voice strangled and distorted. He looked around desperately, as if trying to spot any means of escape.

  Josiah took a step back, spreading his hands out to signal Suana and Melesch to fall back as well. There was something horribly wrong with Ben. This wasn’t the hibrid Malagant and Teal had described to him. He seemed downright insane.

  “Ben… my name is Josiah. I’m Malagant’s–”

  “You’re dead!” Ben screamed, his voice cracking under the sheer volume of it. “You’re not real! Stop following me. Stop following me.”

  Ben turned and made the motion to run, but his bad leg gave out from under him and he fell to his knees. Josiah watched with confusion and fear as the mad hibrid cried out again before collapsing onto the ground.

  Then to Josiah’s horror, Ben started having a seizure.

  Josiah ran over to him. He watched as Ben began to cough, violent barking coughs, black spit and phlegm spitting up from his lips, coating his already caked face. His eyes rolled into the back of his head as his whole body shook.

  “Ben? Gods… you’re ill. You probably are with fever,” Josiah said desperately. He kneeled down in front of Ben and laid a gentle hand on his forehead,

  As soon as Ben felt the touch his eyes started to focus. Two dark green eyes found Josiah’s dark blues, and when they locked Ben gave him an agonizing look.

  “Dead, the dead are walking… you’re dead, you’re dead.”

  “I’m real… Ben. Do you know who Teal and Malagant are?” Josiah asked gently. He petted Ben’s matted hair and smiled at him, though inside he tensed over the state of the hibrid. His dirt-caked arms were a shredded mess and he had chunks of hair missing from his scalp. It looked like a lot of these injuries were self-inflicted.

  Gods, what had happened to this poor hibrid?

  “They’re not really there. Jonquil killed them,” Ben muttered. He looked around and started trying to get to his feet. Josiah let him and took a step back as Ben started pacing again.

  “I won’t close my eyes, keep my eyes open,” Ben said in a rapid pace. “If I don’t he’ll be there, staring at me. Maki will be. It was his job to tether the horses. And the teeth, the teeth… the guards, the guards.”

  Ben looked at Josiah, black sick now dripping from his mouth. It was starting to run all down his face, even his teeth were black.

  Then Ben started to laugh, before he held his hands up to the dark sky and let out a scream.

  It wasn’t the scream Josiah had heard the previous night, but it was close enough for Josiah to know he was trying to mimic it.

  “I need to get you to Dad,” Josiah whispered. “Ben, will you… come with me? Please.”

  “BEN! BEN! I FOUND HIM!” Ben suddenly screamed. He then whirled around and, with reflexes that someone in this state shouldn’t have, he tackled Josiah.

  Josiah fell backwards with a surprised cry, Ben on top of him. The insane hibrid laughed and put his hands over Josiah’s face and tried to claw it.

  “YOU’RE NOT REAL! WHERE’S YOUR FUCKI
NG TEETH!” Ben cried hysterically, trying to claw the sides of Josiah’s face “YOU’RE NOT REAL. STOP FOLLOWING ME! YOU–”

  Suddenly a cloak was drawn over Ben’s head, and with a jerk he was yanked off of Josiah. Josiah scrambled to raise himself and saw Melesch behind him. His cloak pulled over Ben’s face as the manic hibrid screamed and thrashed.

  Then all hell broke loose.

  An inferno of blue flames lit the dark plains around them, all of it coming from Ben’s hands. The force knocked Melesch backwards who screamed as a flame of blue coated the front of his chest. The guard fell backwards onto the ground, groaning, Ben in front of him with his green eyes brilliant with insanity.

  Ben laughed, a horrible laugh full of mania, and as he stepped towards the shocked Josiah, balls of blue runeflame roared in each palm.

  “J-Josiah…” Suana yelled as she ran to Melesch. Melesch was on the ground swearing, a hand held up to the peeling black and red that was his chest. “What do–”

  Then Ben moved again; he thrashed an arm and shot a fireball towards Josiah. Josiah raised his hand and blocked the flame with a shield of light. The fireball was absorbed into it, momentarily turning the shimmering shield green.

  “Get back to Birch, NOW!” Josiah yelled at the two of them, but as he said it he swore viciously to himself. With Anagin’s protection on the house there would be no way for them to alert his father, or Teal and Malagant. It had to be him, and there was no way he was leaving those two with the insane mage hibrid.

  Ben was glaring at Josiah, his chest heaving up and down and his breathing so laboured it was just coarse, rapid gasps. It looked like he was too exhausted to use his maegic anymore, but just as Josiah concluded this Ben raised his hands again and shot three more blue fireballs towards him.

  Josiah was ready for this though. He easily blocked them with his shield and took another step towards Ben.

  Ben stared at Josiah, but when he realized his flames were useless on him, he turned and ran off towards the grove of trees.