Destiny

by Jason A. Cheek

  Even on Irlendria, the spirit shamans were unique unto themselves. From what I remembered of my lessons about the Wild Elves, unlike the magic that fueled a wizard or sorcerer, a shaman’s power came from the life force of the world around them. Their abilities were derived from communing with the oneness of the universe. Following a path called “The Way,” they began learning at a young age how to use their power to manipulate the world around them. The one specific thing I did remember was that the eldest were supposed to be able to commune with the dead. The point had stood out in my mind at the time as being a pretty cool ability. Unfortunately the rest of whatever Luthar had taught me so long ago was gone, but at least, it gave me a context to somewhat understand her cultural perspective.

  Enelya was here in part due to her belief in the concepts of Skuldir Líf. From our discussion, I realized it was not the practice of slavery as I had initially thought it to be. If anything, it was a personal decision to give one’s life in the service to an individual the Wild Elf deemed worthy of their honor. The belief was more complex than just the simple repayment of a life for a life. It was the ultraistic concept of giving one’s life for the greater good. Akin to a samurai offering his life to a master he deemed worthy of his honor or a soldier giving their life in defense of their country. Only this conviction, I would learn a short time later, ran even deeper than those simplistic comparisons.

  With one word Enelya had trumped our argument and opened my mind. The definition of love was such an elusive concept. For me, it was something I’d always believed would never be a part of my life. Perhaps because of this simple belief the word had always held a certain mystery for me, drawing me like a moth to a flame. Throughout my travels on Earth, I’d studied its effects on the numerous humans I’d encountered while teaching the word of Ukko. From my observations, there was no one true meaning that fully encompasses the ideals of that simple word. Although physical attraction certainly played its part, love didn’t mean lust. I had heard a theory promoted by some human scientists that believed love was simply a set of chemical responses to animal pheromones within the brain, but that didn’t encompass the numerous forms of love I’d witnessed. True love was so much more than a set of chemical reactions. It was the self-sacrifice to take the pain of another, it was the willingness to protect the ones you loved with your life, it was a connection and sharing at the level of the soul, it was all of these things and yet so much more.

  I don’t know if the Enelya just wore me down or if what she was saying truly made any since, but suddenly her lips were pressed against mine, and those questions didn’t seem to matter. She smelled of fresh wild flowers and tasted sweet and clean. Although the kiss started off soft and gentle the urgency inside us both quickly built as we explored each other’s lips. This time, I was more of an active partner compared to the first time we kissed as my hands ran down her bare back of their own accord to grip her firm muscular thighs. I would have felt self-conscious for my lack of experience, but she didn’t give me anytime to think of such things as her insistent hands moved further down my chest. Only, this time, they didn’t just stop there.

  ***

  Location Irlendria / Startüm Ironwolf:

  Jolting upright I awoke to an ugly roar. Even though the sound came from far away, my instincts scream out in warning. Something was terribly wrong. Rolling to into a crouch, I blinked the sleep from my eyes listening intently as I took stock of my surroundings.

  Breathing deeply, I fought the dizziness that rose up inside of me from the sudden movement. Although the Elf girl was nowhere in sight, I was still in Enelya’s tent. Her flowery scent filled my senses as I took in the brightness filtering through the stretch hide. Judging by the strength of the light, it was well past morning.

  Even though the Fring was gone, my ravaged body still bore the scars of the emaciating sickness. My ribs were clearly visible through my skin, while much of my muscle bulk had been eaten away from the inside out to keep my body alive. Now that I was awake the hunger was already beginning to rise up inside of me. Looking around the tent, I found some leftover food from the night before that I quickly shoved the pieces of meat into my mouth like a starving man. Even though I had a decent size pool of energy built up, the nature of the damage was such that not even my healing ability could instantly repair my injuries. While my power could reform severed limbs, it couldn’t add to my body’s base mass. Not that it was a concern now that I was over the hump of the sickness. As long as I had enough sustenance my system would recover within a few days.

  Once again the sound carried over the wind, but this time, it came with Enelya’s distinctive voice screaming to be heard. “Don’t just stand there … break them up! What’s wrong with … they’re killing each other!” Enelya’s voice suddenly cutoff as Frostbrand’s howl of fury rang out a second later causing the blood to surge in my veins.

  Concentrating on my body, I blinked slowly taking stock of what I had to work with. It was an old meditation technique I’d learned during my time in India, a way to bring into focus the body and mind. Ignored the shaking in my arms and legs, I prayed to Ukko that my body would be strong enough to take the strain. Rising to my feet, I called forth my power.

  “Acelerar.” Instantly the green glow of my speed aura surrounded me as I took off in a blur of motion ripping out of the tent. In the blink of an eye, I passed the surprised faces of Wild Elves as I sped through the camp at super speed. Stiff muscles throbbed in agony from the extreme physical demands of the aura, but with an iron will I buried the pain pushing myself onward. Approaching behind an angry crowd of Wencis and Wild Elves I saw what was happening. Three of the Minotaurs I’d seen earlier were standing protectively over two of their injured as they went toe-to-toe with an angry mob of Forest Elves in some sort of holding area. Enelya, the Elf girl that had been taking care of me earlier, was fighting along beside them. As I approached the holding area, she went down kicking and screaming under a pile of bodies fighting for her life as Frostbrand and Starfire leaped after her. Slipping past the combatants, the girls threw themselves at Enelya’s attackers with the savage ferocity of their birthright.

  There was a lot more of the Elves present than I remembered from our first meeting in the woods. The holding area was packed full with the press of their bleeding bodies. Frostbrand moved like a white streak as her fangs and claws tore into the pile of attackers on top of Enelya, but almost like a living organism, the crazed mob gobbled the small Werewolf up, burying her under the press of their bodies as Starfire screeched in helpless rage. Leaping after her sister, Starfire tore at the writhing pile with her human-like nails and teeth trying to pull the attackers off Frostbrand, when a backhanded blow slammed her to the ground.

  Without slowing down, I followed after them plowing through the crowd in front of the pen. Bodies flew out of my way as I blasted through everything blocking my path, but I was too late. Still too far away to help, I saw Starfire’s hands burst into flames. With a shriek of fury, she leaped back into the fight swinging with her fiery fists.

  Everywhere she struck flames began spreading over the attackers as if with a life of its own as I made it to Starfire’s side. The stench of burning flesh filled my nostrils as I pulled Frostbrand’s battered and bloody body from where she clung to the neck of a dying Elf with her fangs in a death grip. Releasing my aura, I clutched her to my chest pouring holy energy into her small frame. Not stopping my frenzied search I found Enelya a second later. Pulling her out of the pile of dead and dying I gave her the same treatment as her wide eyes stared at me in shock.

  A high pitched growl was the only warning I had before blistering heat seared my back. Turning around, I saw Starfire strike out with her fists as flames engulfed two Forest Elves rushing me from behind. As the twin pillars of fire whooshed into the sky, the sudden silence surrounding us was almost palpable. Everyone froze where they stood as the backblast of heat washed over the entire area.

  Fire still blazed from Starfire
’s small hands as I pulled her close to me. I’d come too late. The appearance of a sorceress at any time was a cause for alarm for most races since few understood the difference between Darmariens and rogue casters. I’d planned on keeping the girls’ talents a secret, but looking at the grim faces around us, I knew there was no way this was going to turn out good.

  As one, the mob of Forest Elves rushed us in a solid wave of bodies, except for a handful of Elves standing near the leader that had accosted us several days ago, while Frostbrand and Enelya staggered to their feet. Pushing the disoriented girls behind me I faced the onslaught head-on lashing out with my fists. Biting and clawing the mob swarmed over me in a crazed rage, but without weapons there was little they could do to actually harm me as I threw them back with a guttural growl. Even so, there was something about the mindlessness reflected in their dull eyes that made the hackles rise on the back of my neck.

 

  Frostbrand’s frantic mental question echoed my own thoughts as I pummeled the incoming waves. This time, Starfire held back her flaming hands, understanding from our link that I didn’t want to kill any more of the Elves if possible as Enelya and Frostbrand staggered back into the fight struggling to keep my back free. Like reaping grain, each swing of my fists blasted wide swaths in the mobs’ tightly packed mass, but no matter how many times I hurled them back, the Elves rose back to their feet undaunted. Breaking arms and legs didn’t make a difference. Biting and scratching like rabid zombies they ignored the pain throwing themselves at us again and again.

  My Rök runes were keeping me from being harmed, but the constant drain on my energy reserves was starting to wear me down. Looking at the sea of bloody faces, I felt the frustration rising inside of me. I’d been caught up in a whirlwind ever since the Tuonellians had found me on Earth. Confronted with one emergency after another there hadn’t been time to formulate any kind of plan, I was running blind. The thought left a sour taste in my mouth.

  Sudden movement in my peripheral vision caught my eye as two of the wounded Minotaurs limped-up taking defensive positions to either side of me. Both bulls were solid black and covered with bloody wounds; their pitted battle-worn armor looked like something right out of the movie Gladiator. The larger of the two had to be close to eight foot tall, if you included the tip of his horns and looked almost human with his close-cropped fur, while the smaller male was much shorter with a long scraggly coat and deep scars that crisscrossed his meaty, muscular body.

  Pushing to my side, Enelya leaned against me out of breath nodding towards the larger Minotaur. “Lúthien and I came to talk with the Emperor when the Forest Elves just went insane. Lúthien was hurt in the first attack.” Seeing my questioning look, she gestured with her chin towards the unconscious silver-haired Elf girl covered in blood next to the wounded Minotaurs.

  With a dip of his curved horns the large bull cut Enelya off before she could say more. “Paladin, Decanus Cornisus and I have seen this before. Many of our people have been afflicted with this same madness.”

  Taking a second to study his unwrinkled face, my voice dripped with sarcasm. “You look well-preserved for a bull past his prime, Emperor.”

  Immediately the bull’s nostrils flared in indignation. “I am Tiberius Decius Lupus, not my father!”

  “Obviously.” I sighed remembering once again that Irlendrian’s didn’t understand sarcasm. Another bad habit I’d picked up during my time on Earth. It made sense, though. Manius Decius Lupus was well over three hundred years old by now, which was ancient for a Minotaur. I had heard stories of the Emperor’s son from my grandsire. He’d considered the young bull to be a powerful and honorable warrior, which was high praise from the old wolf. Holding a hand up to stop Tiberius’ outburst I spoke quickly. “I meant no disrespect; please explain.”

  Slightly confused at my words the large bull’s horns dipped in acknowledgment before continuing. “On our return to Gravida, we found a Hulk sitting on the Imperial Throne wearing my father’s face like a mask.” Rolling the tension from his massive shoulders, the bull glared menacingly out at the mob. “I fear this is a part of some greater design by the accursed Tuonellians to drive my people even further from the alliance.”

  “Further from the Alliance? Has something happened to the Alliance of Aurenko?”

  Looking at each other incredulously both Minotaurs spoke at once. “You do not know?” Seeing the perplexed look on my face, Tiberius began explaining as we drove the Elves back once more. “When the Klavikians fell, my father sought to take control of the Alliance to the Imperium’s downfall. Although there has been no open warfare between my people and the rest of the Alliance, there has been no friendship either. Now with this latest Tuonellian trick, I fear there will only be war.”

  For a long moment, I said nothing as I processed the new information. The situation was even worse than I’d thought possible. Enelya and I had talked some about what was going on, but obviously not enough. As if reading my thoughts Enelya spoke up. “I sought answers to these questions and others while you slept. There is much for us to discuss.”

  Nodding my head thoughtfully, I remembered to address the Minotaur by his last name. “Lupus, how did your people stop this sickness?”

  The grimace that crossed the bull’s bestial features spoke volumes as his voice rumbled heavily. “There was no helping those afflicted by the madness. We were forced to kill many of our people before escaping the Tuonellians that held the city.” With a visible wagging shake of his upper body, Tiberius pushed his grief away nodding towards the small group of Forest Elves watching impassively near the entrance. “Unless the Wild Elves agree to bind these diseased Elves, we will be forced to kill them all. Young Prince Dorthonion will just use their deaths as another excuse to further persecute my race and block any chance for the Imperium to rejoin the Alliance.”

  Answering my unspoken request Enelya’s voice spoke harshly. “Nowadays there is little love for the other Clans amongst my people or for the Imperium. The Forest Clan is especially hated.” Looking pointedly towards the gathered tribe outside of the holding area, she continued forebodingly. “They would gladly watch those they consider enemies throw their lives’ away before intervening.”

  Staring out at the sea of rabid faces closing in on us, I had an idea. Focusing my thoughts I opened my mind to the holy power within me, looking at the mob with my sight. Immediately I clamped my mouth shut, fighting against the sudden urge to puke the contents of my stomach onto the trampled ground. Swallowing hard, I forced the bile back down my throat. Every Forest Elf stumbling towards us had a blackish-green pulsating tentacle embedded in the back of their skulls. Small secondary barb-like suckers writhed along the ends with a life of their own, their gaping mouths hungrily burrowing underneath the skin to feed off the life energy of their victims’ souls. In my sight, the faces before me were not vapid and mindless but etched in horror as they screamed in silent agony. Like a dark cloud the evil pulsating mass formed into a massive coil that stretched off over the top of the trees towards the peak of the nearest mountain.

  For a second, I couldn’t figure out why that would be when the realization suddenly hit me. Whipping around in disbelief, I stared at the unconscious silver-haired Elf girl as my mind began putting the pieces together. Following my thoughts, Frostbrand’s claws dug into my skin where she gripped my bare thigh as the flames around Starfire’s hands began burning even brighter. The Tuonellians showing up on Earth, the building hate and distrust between the Elven Clans, the destabilization of the Alliance, a Hulk disguised as the Emperor, the gambit to instigate a war between the Imperium and the Forest Elves, it all began making a certain kind of sense.

  The tall mountain rising up in the heart of the Great Forest was called Mount Haldamir. It was the seat of the High Elves power, where King Elerossë Narmolanya ruled over the clans from Daeron Fortress. It had been one of the primary targets of the Tuonellian Hordes during the invasion. The destruction
of the Elves’ ancestral home would have thrown the Clans into disarray, effectively removing them from the Alliance. Only timely intervention from the Imperium with the help of my mother and father had stopped the disaster.

  The sound of an undulating war cry snapped my thoughts away from the unholy vision before me as the Centaur filly from early crashed into the holding area swinging a long black staff as if she were reaping grain. Screeching like an insane banshee she clearing a path to us within seconds. Coming to a stomping stop, she roughly slammed me away from Enelya with her lower chest. Rearing up on her hindmost legs her red-rimmed eyes glared balefully at the mob of Forest Elves as she shrieked another bloodcurdling war cry.

  Ignoring the Elves clawing at my back, I lunged forward stopping the battle staff’s down-swing one-handed, while my other hand caught the Centaur’s leading forearm stopping her cold. As both Minotaurs warily stepped back from the enraged filly, Enelya leaped onto the Centaur’s back. Slipping an arm around the filly’s long neck she held her dagger ready to strike crying out urgently.

  “Nessa, don’t make me choose his life over yours! You know I will do what I must to protect him.”

  “Get back and let me handle this Enelya.”

  “No! She will kill you where you stand if you get in her way.”

  Feeling the Alpha’s essence rising up inside of me, I growled more than spoke. “She will not harm me! Now step back and let me handle this.” Enelya’s eyes momentarily widen in surprise at the power of command within my voice. Sliding back to the ground, she watched in shock as the berserker rage dissipated from her friend’s eyes.

  Although the Alpha-effect as I liked to call it could momentarily overpower the weak-willed or grab the attention of a comrade, it wasn’t mind control nor did it work in every situation. There was something about the power that affected the subconscious part of the brain on a primitive level that made submissive personalities open to my influence. Continuing to speak I held the filly’s stunned gaze. “You will guard our charges while I deal with this evil.” Seeing the hesitant nod of agreement, I released the Centaur.