Holtur Stories

by Cameron Wayne Smith

  A gentle breeze calmed Ignia’s temper, sweeping some of the ash further out into the snow. She craned her neck to see her three young, chirpy as ever, but not fleeing. She roared in frustration. The noise echoed back off the surrounding mountains. More of the horde clambered over the hill.

  Ignia gargled. Her flame sacs were almost depleted from the previous assault. She’d wait for the horde to come closer. Once within range, she would release her final attack.

  The horde began to charge, only to halt at the sound of another roar. A roar far louder than that of Ignia’s. The booming noise violently shook the earth. Snow and ash bounced off the vibrating ground. Ignia instantly recognised the authoritative voice: Reizexus, the alpha of her den.

  The horde panicked and screamed. In the distance, fiery explosions were chased by pillars of billowing smoke. Snow receded into the ground as a gargantuan shadow flew overhead. The earth creaked as the great wyvern landed. He locked a scar-covered eye onto Ignia, glanced at the wound through her winged arm, then exhaled a puff of smoke.

  Reizexus roared at the three juveniles, sending them to the ground with the sheer force of his voice. The alpha then returned to the skies. Following closely behind were Ignia’s young. Ignia curled her snout with the bittersweetness of the encounter: she was a flightless wyvern, useless, and would soon die. Her young, however, would escape the horde and live another day.

  An army of the butchers poured in around her, screaming and yelling, flailing around an assortment of weaponry. She took in a deep breath. Despite the pain, she had succeeded. She was ready to die, but she wouldn’t go down without a fight.

  One final burst of fire exploded from Ignia’s lips.

  FLESH RIPENED

  The first ale after the setting sun couldn’t come quick enough. Something wasn’t right. The sun’s disappearance, somehow, filled the air with heat. No, things weren’t right at all.

  Sonja welcomed the frothy head that smeared foam across her upper lip. Bubbles from the cold, refreshing liquid gently prickled her throat. Good. The Wounded Wyvern’s cellar—and its refreshments—hadn’t succumbed to the blistering weather outside.

  “This has to be the hottest moon I’ve experienced!” Tyson—a dark-skinned fellow—commented from the other end of the table. Like the other slayers, he wore nothing over his upper torso, hoping the hot breeze would cool his sweat-glistened chest.

  “No shit…” Sonja was the only slayer who kept her chest covered. Stupid society didn’t approve of a woman sporting a bare chest in public—even during such a hot moon. Her white shirt clung to her moist body. The fact her undergarments were visible, through the sweat, would be controversial enough. She took another swig of her drink, noticing its temperature had raised considerably over a short period.

  “Blah!” Kallum, Sonja’s brother, stroked a sweaty hand through his black hair. Even he—a scholar—was bare chested. “First sip was glorious. Second sip was pleasant. Now it tastes like malted bath water.” He swirled the ale before him, sighed, then guzzled the last of his drink swiftly. His twisted face and pursed lips revealed minimal pleasure.

  Sonja, and the other slayers at her table, followed suit. The quicker they downed the warming ale, the less terrible it tasted. She stood up and shook her blonde locks, flicking out beads of sweat. “I think I might regret these words,” she said, “but it’s too hot for drinking!”

  “Ah, it’s not so bad,” Volk said. The fiery red-head was an Aesterus worshipper and enjoyed a bit of heat. “We’ll get used to the warm taste.”

  “I actually like this change,” Velo, an older slayer with neat grey hair and beard to match, commented. “Beats the endless cold.”

  Tyson sluggishly climbed from the bench seat. “I’m with you, Captain. It’s too hot for anything!”

  “I think I might… go swimming…” Sonja suggested. Holtur wasn’t warm all that often; most of the inhabitants never went swimming. Sonja had gone a couple of times during her childhood, but the memory was hazy. One thing she could remember, however, was how difficult it was to remain hot in the ocean’s icy water.

  Kallum and the other slayers at the table laughed for a moment. A very brief moment. Then they all stood up and followed Sonja out of the tavern.

  ***

  First moon rose higher during the walk to Boulder Beach—a break in the coastal cliffs to the southwest of Holtur—and somehow, the air grew even hotter. Yes, swimming in the ocean was a wonderful idea. Volk had led the group. His blessing allowed the ability to sprout flames at will. It wasn’t the perfect guiding light over the rocky terrain, but it offered more than the moon alone.

  The beach itself was covered with boulders and rocks that were scattered amongst the sand. It slowly eased into the waves the further the beach reached from Holtur. The breeze here was slightly less hot. Still, far from cool.

  “Last one in is a clawless grabion!” Volk called out. Hands raised, he raced away from his discarded clothing.

  They all stripped off, except for Kallum. Warm weather was good for his condition, but it was best not to push it with icy water. He removed his boots and remained in knee high water. Sonja felt relief after peeling her sweaty garments from her body. It was too damn hot to wear clothes!

  Despite Volk’s announcement, the waves scared him back, and he refused to completely submerge his body into the freezing water. The others weren’t faring much better.

  Sonja stepped into the cold water. A chill spiked up her leg. Clearly the air hadn’t warmed the ocean! Still, it felt nice to no longer feel on the verge of melting. She clenched her teeth, steadily moving into the oncoming waves.

  Once Sonja could stand—knees bent—with the water lapping at chin level, she turned back to the others. “Guess I’m no clawless grabion?”

  “Funny!” Volk responded. “I didn’t realise it would be so cold!”

  “Neither did the clawless grabion!”

  Sonja’s body began growing accustomed to the cooler water. It was relaxing. She turned her attention to first moon, it was glowing white with a slight pink tinge. That hue bounced in an undulating manner off the roiling water. She noticed a location where a darkness held back the moon’s reflection. Whatever it was, the shadow was heading straight for her. It was time to get out.

  Sonja kicked off towards land, but a returning wave hauled her back in the direction of the shadow. She splashed and kicked, trying to find purchase on sand or a boulder with her feet. Nothing. She tried to cry out for help. Instead, she inhaled a mouthful of salt water—at least it was colder than the ale!

  Coughing and splattering, Sonja found herself drifting deeper into the ocean. Did the others notice? Could they tell the difference between drowning and swimming in this darkness? Even if they did, could any of them help her? She couldn’t remember the ocean being such a brutal entity. She was probably never allowed to swim so far out as a child.

  A long shadow flowed overhead. It was a creature. A wyvern? Something else? Sonja couldn’t make it out as she fought to keep her head above water. The shadow overshot her, continuing towards the slayers. Towards her brother.

  “Stop!” she managed between gasps for air and unwanted gulps of water. Unfortunately, it came out as more of a gurgled whisper than a shout.

  Another shadow blocked out the moon. Something clasped around Sonja’s wrist. Whatever it was, it pulled her through the waves and towards the shore. The grip released when she was at waist height.

  Sonja had difficulty focusing on whatever had pulled her out. Apparently, her body thought it more important to cough and splatter.

  After regaining her senses, Sonja simply exclaimed, “Wow!”

  A dark-skinned man, dressed in red, silk shorts and singlet, leapt from spiral tubing that hovered above the ground. “Excuse me, but I couldn’t help noticing that woman drowning.”

  That Woman? Sonja scowled. “I was fine. Simply having a swim!”

  “If you insist…” the man in red responded, shifting his green e
yes towards the men. “This must be Holtur, correct?”

  “It is…” Velo said.

  “Where did you come from?” Kallum asked. “I know of no lands south of here. I also know not of your creatures. What are they? Are they likely to harm us?”

  “There’s no land south of here. Not normally,” the man said. “However, if you travel in a straight line, south, for long enough, you’ll find yourself moving north! And don’t worry about the vlibers, they’re harmless. Mainly eat weeds and the odd bit of carrion.”

  Sonja had no idea what the man in red was dribbling on about. By the confused looks the other slayers offered each other, neither did they. Kallum, though, was nodding.

  “You travelled around the southern pole?” Kallum raised a brow. “Adorned with such skimp attire?”

  Sonja, with arms wrapped around her chest, made her way over to her clothes. It probably wasn’t best to be naked around a stranger.

  “Pardon my manners. Allow me to introduce myself,” the man said. “My name is Shinto Sky. Like the vlibers, I travel the Aesterwind.”

  “Aesterwind?” Tyson asked.

  “A bubble of heat that rotates vertically around the planet,” Shinto said.

  “A hard life!” Velo grunted.

  “That’s impossible,” Kallum said. “With the planet’s gravitational pull, nothing can rotate vertically around it. Not long term, anyway.”

  Shinto shrugged. “Remnants of gods don’t obey rules.”

  “I’m a scholar, Shinto,” Kallum said. “Because a god said so, doesn’t make something possible.”

  “Right. Well, how would you explain the floating of a kalinga or a silverscale’s psychic bond?” Shinto asked. Kallum scrunched his face, indicating he knew not of these things. “Or, the flame your friend summons? Perhaps the enigma that is Glacious? Explain that!”

  Kallum folded his arms. “Volk is blessed by…” He paused, realising that talk of gods was just what Shinto had offered to explain the Aesterwind. “And Glacious is… well… he might not be a god? They… they just are.”

  “As is the Aesterwind; it just is.” Shinto stared at Kallum for a long moment, waiting for him to contend. He wouldn’t. Kallum loved to argue, but only when he knew more than the person he disagreed with. He would, however, try to learn from the man. “Anyways, I recently discovered a new island. I believe it had previously been covered in ice, requiring the Aesterwind to thaw out. You’ll never believe what I found there.”

  “What did you find there?” Tyson asked.

  “Trees!” Shinto threw his hands up with excitement. “Like none you’ve ever seen!” The excited man jumped into his spiral tube.

  “Trees?” Velo probed further.

  Sonja—now dressed, and already dry from the hot breeze—wandered over to the tube. As she got closer, she realised it was like the house of a snail, only the size of a human house. On its side, a man could easily walk through the shell, even with his arms raised.

  “Yes, trees!” Shinto said, returning. He jumped down to the sand and revealed a small plant—barely thirty centimetres tall—in a rough clay pot. It was thin, without branches, but at the top curved blades sprouted.

  Volk raised his fire closer to the plant, forcing Shinto to pull it back. “Sorry,” Volk said. “Flammable?”

  With the fire’s illumination, Sonja noticed the sprouted blades were a deep green, with pods of a lighter colour underneath.

  “It’s a plant!” Shinto said. “A very rare and unique one at that!”

  “I’ve never seen such flora before,” Kallum said.

  “We are probably the only people who have seen these. At least in our time,” Shinto said. “Here, try the fruit.” He rested the plant on the lip of the shell, removing several of the pods. Generously, he offered them to the beach-going slayers.

  Sonja popped the small fruit into her mouth and chomped down. A creamy liquid drizzled out, tasting similar to sweet milk. The flesh of the fruit was crunchy and nutty. The exterior fibrous and bland.

  Shinto’s eyes widened. “Tastes pretty good, huh?”

  “Interesting,” Sonja said. The others nodded in agreement.

  “And this, blissfruit plant, can be yours,” Shinto said, “all for the small price of fifty gold coins!”

  Sonja almost choked on the husk. “Virlolli plants cost less than that!”

  “Indeed, but will blissfruit try to eat you?” Shinto spun the question around.

  “Look, we came down for a swim, not to browse a market,” Sonja stated. “We don’t have any gold on us! We’re slayers of Holtur, we don’t use gold all that often.”

  “How quick does the fruit grow?” Tyson asked.

  “Ah…” Shinto furrowed his brows. “To be honest, I don’t know. The plant has only just been discovered. It really is that special.”

  Kallum hummed at that. No doubt wondering if the plant was as rare as Shinto suggested.

  “I’ve got thirty gold coins on me,” Tyson said. “Will that do?”

  “Forty.”

  Tyson laughed. “I’m not haggling, I literally have thirty gold on me right now!”

  “You have thirty gold?” Sonja said, slack jawed. “And you brought it down to the beach?”

  “What?” Tyson laughed. “I carry it with me everywhere!”

  Sonja shook her head, incredulous.

  Shinto scratched his smooth chin and narrowed his eyes. “Alright, deal. You are the first person to purchase the exquisite blissfruit plant. Be sure and share the delicious fruit with your friends and family.” He winked. “Especially those with deep pockets!”

  “Will do!” Tyson said, taking the potted plant. Shinto took the gold, then reached into his shell, pulling out some papers, ink, and a quill. He promptly made some markings. Damn merchants, always recording transactions.

  “So, where are you planning to stay for the moons?” Kallum asked. “It’s late, might be hard to find a place to rest.”

  Shinto laughed. “Don’t worry about it. The vlibers restore their energy by sleeping submerged in water, and I have a bedroll set up in there.” He thumbed over his shoulder at the shell. “Still, I’m thankful for your concern.”

  The shell slid to the ground, and a giant slug floated from beneath the thing towards Sonja. It appeared a shadow in the darkness, at least three metres long. Vibrations shot across the sand towards her feet. Instinctively, she reached for her claymore.

  “No!” Shinto said. “Don’t harm the vlibers!”

  Volk moved his fire towards the thing. Blue-silver scales reflected the light. It had three yellow fins protruding from each side, as well as a long, green flap around the length of its body that constantly fluttered. Emotionless, black eyes absently gazed from either side of the creature. Sonja saw no fangs, jaw, or claws. It was big, it startled her, but it wasn’t dangerous.

  A deep, yet at the same time high-pitched, yawn escaped the creature as it gently brushed against Sonja. It drifted towards the water—with three others—and settled down, allowing the waves to consume its body.

  “I heard the people of Holtur were edgy around non-human beings,” Shinto said. “I didn’t actually think you’d try stick a blade in a creature the moment you saw it.”

  “Holtur has suffered its share of hardships,” Sonja said. The others nodded. “We have our reasons.”

  “I’m sure you do.” Shinto stood in the shell's entrance, smiling at the group. “Thank you for your greeting, and patronage, but we must rest. It has been a long journey. I will set up at first sun in your markets. Come see me for more blissfruits.”

  “For sure!” Tyson said between bites of fruit from the plant he’d purchased. “This stuff is great!”

  “It’s getting late,” Sonja stated. “We should head back. Given this wave of heat, I can only imagine what kind of trouble we’ll see on the north wall next sun.”

  The three other slayers groaned while nodding; they agreed, just didn’t look forward to what was coming.

>   “Be careful camping down here,” Sonja suggested. “Graekans occasionally visit the beach. Lurkers and leeches may stumble down too. That said, you should be safe from wyverns and golems.”

  “I’ll be fine,” Shinto said. “You Holtur folk worry too much!”

  Sonja shook her head, baffled, then began the hike back to Holtur.

  ***

  With the heatwave, the monsters around Holtur grew aggravated. Hungry. Bloodthirsty. During the course of the moons, leeches had hit: nine drained corpses were discovered at first sun—all had previously been sick or elderly. As per usual, not a single blood-sucking horror could be found afterwards. No leech hunt took place, however, as shortly after the attack was realised, screeches from stone wyverns called all slayers to the north wall. Eight of the rocky, winged serpents attacked. The alpha of the pack managed to consume one of the slayers—sending the wyvern into an insane bloodlust. Fortunately, it was put down before it could kill again. A further five slayers were injured.

  As the sun progressed, rock golems attacked, followed by slater beasts. They were repelled without any serious casualties. A few stray lurkers—confused by the bizarre weather no doubt—travelled around from the eastern ranges. Out of their element, the ambush predators were easily dispatched.

  Before mid-sun a single juvenile flame wyvern attacked, but the creature seemed even more disorientated than the lurkers. Sonja didn’t want the creature slaughtered—she had warmed up to them since piloting one in Aesteridge—and Volk pleaded for it to be ignored. The slayers were on edge though, and the wyvern found a pair of ballista bolts through its chest.

  Once the sun sat comfortably in the middle of the sky, the temperature raised. A lot. The landscape seemed to distort; waves streaked across vision. The slayers remained under shade, drinking water and trying to remain cool. Heat did nothing pleasant to the stench of all the dead beasts outside their wall. It turned the stomachs of a number of slayers. Their vomit only added to the repugnance of it all. The heat was simply too much. It was also too much for the monsters around the town. Everything was quiet for several hours.