Turning back around, I took three steps into the middle of the insane mob as chaos erupted around me. Ignoring the clawed hands that sought to drag me down, I picked up the nearest infected Elf focusing my sight on the pulsating tentacle embedded in the back of the victim’s skull. Pooling holy power into the palm of my hand, I used it to grab a hold of the writhing evil that held the Elf. My first thought was simply to rip the tentacle out, but as soon as I began pulling the young Elf’s eyes bulged out of his head as every muscle in his body went rigid. After several tries, I realized this was going nowhere. He’d die before I could free him by force, but maybe there was another way.
Pooling my holy power again, I sent healing energy pouring through the Elf’s body. Again nothing seemed to help. As soon as I’d ripped one sucker from his soul another would simply take its place. Sweat beaded on my forehead from the strain as I sought for the key that would break the evil that held the Elf’s soul in its grasp. Splitting my power on a hundred different fronts I tried to remove the tentacle’s hold simultaneously, but nothing I did seemed to work. The problem was that I was fighting the symptoms and not the root of the disease.
Swift as thought I changed my tactics. Instead of fighting against the evil I used my power to follow the infection to its source. Instantly I found the wrongness. It was anchored to something physically embedded in the base of the Elf’s head. Using my fingers, I quickly withdrew a slim glowing-green shard implanted in the back of the skull. The thing was around six inches long. How the implantation didn’t simply kill its victim was another mystery all together, but as soon as I pulled the sliver free the pulsating tentacle faded away. Immediately the Elf went limp in my hand as tears began running down his white face.
Holding the splinter fragment up to the light, I recognized its origins immediately. While I might not remember every boring lesson Luthar had ever taught me, I’d never forgotten anything he’d explained about the demon realm. There was no doubt in my mind that the sliver was from a Chaos Shard. Demon Lords used the shards to control their victims across dimensions while feeding off the life force of their souls. The shards never stopped growing once implanted in a victim. It was a slow and hideous way to die. Helpless to control their actions the victims were slaves forced to do the demon’s bidding as the shard grew into a crystal inside of their head. Upon reaching full growth, the crystal would split. To their horror the victims were forced to infect their closest loved ones first, furthering the demon’s power and influence. Unless the shards were physically removed, the results were always death. Even though survivors of the infection used words like crystals and gems to describe the chaos shards, their biology was more like that of a living parasite. Luthar believed they were true entities from the demon realm and not magical constructs.
Either way, it didn’t matter what they were to me. There was only one way to deal with demons. Closing my fist, I crushed the sliver into dust as the blood rushing through my veins roared in my ears. Dropping the Elf I reached for another victim as my deft fingers quickly ripped out the next chaos shard. Destroying it between my fingers, I picked up the next Elf trying to rip my throat out.
It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t quick. There had to have been close to a hundred infected Forest Elves in the holding area. The horror and sorrow of surviving an infection were overwhelming enough, but the life-threatening wounds many had were just as terrible. As the last infected Elf dropped to the ground, I collapsed to my hands and knees, emptying my guts onto the hard ground. Not that there was much left in my stomach, mostly just green bile. I felt dirty as if the fetid stench of death and decay of the Chaos Shards had soaked into my skin. Breathing in deeply, I slowly became aware of slender arms wrapped around my shoulders.
Looking up, I saw the concern in Frostbrand’s and Starfire’s glowing yellow eyes. Viewed with my sight, they literally pulsated with power. Hugging them to my chest, I buried my face in their shoulders as I felt their energy slowly filling my empty reserves.
Releasing my focus, I willed my vision back to normal once again as thoughts and memories filled my mind through our link. Mostly it was the grief of the girls’ pain and loss. The gruesome death of their mother and the Pack weighed heavy on both their minds along with the fear they’d had of losing me to the Fring. The emotional trauma of it all had scarred them deeply. I saw flashes of Enelya along with another Elf girl and the Centaur filly nursing the girls back to life, but the images were indistinct and blurred from the intensity of their emotions. Feeling the girls’ tears wetting my cheeks, I held them tight sending love and confidence back through our shared link.
Feeling the tension in their body lesson somewhat at my mind-speak, I suddenly realized that they had both noticeably grown larger. Carefully hiding the thought, I lifted the girls into my arms.
“What in Meliki’s name was that?”
Hearing the anxiety in Enelya’s voice, I looked up in surprise. “You saw the power of the Chaos Shards?”
“By Akras’ holy sickle, I saw …” For a moment, Tiberius was at a loss for words as he tried to make sense of what he’d just witnessed. “When you grabbed that Elf … the tentacle appeared out of nowhere. It was … it was eating him!” Staring at me wide-eyed the large bull spoke in a hushed voice filled with dread. “Is that what’s happening to my people?”
Taking in the stricken faces staring back at me, I realized everyone had seen the effects of the Chaos Shards’ evil. Somehow my holy power must have made the energy visible when I’d fought. There were no more hate-filled looks being directed towards the Forest Elves or Minotaurs. On their own accord, the Wild Elves began moving into the holding area to help the wounded. Even Prince Dorthonion and his Rangers seemed to be caught up in the spirit of the moment.
Making my way to the unconscious silver-haired Elf girl, I caught Enelya’s eye. “We need to talk.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Location Irlendria / Tiberius Decius Lupus:
Clenching his fist slowly, Tiberius watched the Wolf Gauntlet shimmer before his eyes as the runic metal conformed to his body’s movements like a second skin. Shaped by his thoughts the metal flowed like water along his muscular forearm. The innate power of the gauntlets made him feel invincible as if there were nothing he couldn’t do. Unfortunately, Tiberius knew all too well that the feeling was only an illusion. While the gauntlets were incredibly powerful, at the end of the day they were still only tools. It were bulls that brought the weapons to life. It were bulls who paid the cost in blood and with their lives.
Sighing deeply, Tiberius let his fist drop to his side as he leaned back onto the sleeping furs they’d each been given. It was a relief to have his weapons back. After so many decades of fighting with the legion, he felt naked without the comforting presence of the cool metal against his skin. It was a war child’s curse. Like most born during the Great War, he had never known a moment of peace. His whole life had been spent learning the art of war or battling the hordes of the Tuonellians. It was almost impossible to imagine any other life.
Trying to shake away the pensive thoughts that weighed down his soul, Tiberius watched his legionnaires work to field repair their damaged equipment. While the Wolf Gauntlets were nearly indestructible, the same couldn’t be said for the Lorica Segmentata armor each of them wore. The breastplates could take an immense amount of damage, but without regular maintenance, the tinnearlian bands tended to start locking up after extended use. A sure a way as any to end up dead on the battle field. As his old instructor always said, agility on the hoof was just as important as the edge of one’s blade. Feeling the weight of his gaze, Decanus Cornisus looked up meeting Tiberius’ eyes. No words needed to be spoken. The wry grin that split the smaller bull’s broad black lips said it all. With a dip of his horns, Cornisus went back to work as Tiberius shook his head smiling ruefully.
By Akras’ h
oly sickle he still couldn’t believe the sudden change in their fortunes. They had been very fortunate that the Paladin had shown up when he did. Otherwise things would have gone very differently. Tiberius knew that when he’d first made the decision to chase after Lúthien that some of his bulls must have thought he was risking everything for the sake of their forbidden love, but there was more to it than just that. It had been a calculated risk that, in Tiberius’ mind, had to be taken. Even though the Elves had forbidden his people entrance into their domain on the pain of death, he’d hoped that saving Lúthien’s life would give him dispensation to plead his case before the council of the Clans. That was until he’d seen the hostility between the Elven Clans first hand, but by then it was too late to reconsider his decision.
Obviously, the situation had changed dramatically since Tiberius’ exile at the end of the Great War. Even so, when it came down to it, there was never really any choice in the matter. One way or another he had to speak to the Elves. Saving Lúthien in the process only gave him stronger position to argue his case. Whether or not his people died first or last, the end result would be the same. If he couldn’t get the other races to reform the Alliance of Aurenko his people wouldn’t have a future. None of them would once the Tuonellians overran their world. Whoever was left would just be fodder for the Horde. Not that reforming the Alliance equated to victory, but at least, it would give them a fighting chance.
Feeling white hot rage surge through his chest, Tiberius’ large hands clenched into fists as his nostrils flared in fury. With a major effort of will, he forced the blood rage away. His people understood well the horror of what would happen if they failed more than any other race. It had been the cities of the Imperium that suffered the worst of the Tuonelllians’ depredations. To this day, he would never forget the horrendous sights he’d borne witness to when they’d freed their people from the invaders. Cities like Garrona that had their entire populations butchered like cattle. It was those nightmares which had driven him to take this course of action.
How a Paladin suddenly appeared from out of nowhere to save their hides after Klavika had been destroyed over eight years ago, only Akras knew how, but Tiberius took it as an auspicious sign. The Klavikian’s intervention had made the difference, that and the demonic tentacles sucking the life force from the Elves before the Tribe’s very eyes. That terrible sight alone had been enough to shock the entire Clan into action, but the discussion afterward was what had truly set everything into motion. On her own accord, the Spirit Mother had given Tiberius and his bulls their weapons back and made them honored guests, while Prince Dorthonion and his Rangers had sworn their lives to stopping the Tuonellians.
Bowing his head in his gauntleted hands, Tiberius breathed in ragged gasps as his innards churned with conflicting emotions. He should have been happy. The results had been everything he could have hoped for and more when he’d first made the decision to go to Lúthien’s aid, so then why wasn’t he happy. The Paladin’s holy touch had healed her injuries, and she was safe and sound, but even now he felt the old pain pierce his heart. After all of these years, he still hadn’t gotten a chance to speak with her alone … he still hadn’t gotten a chance to tell her of his love.
***
Location Irlendria / Startüm Ironwolf:
Smiling, I held my arms out for Starfire to see. “But I am healed.”
With a scream the silver-haired girl leaped at my chest as I caught her easily in my arms, letting her bear me down on the pile of sleeping furs. A growl rang out behind her as a white streak leaped on top of us both.
Laughing and tickling I fought my attackers for several minutes to a storm of growls and screams until I had them both secured in my arms, but by then we were all out of breath. Lying on my chest both girls’ yellow eyes focused on me in concern.
Stroking my cheek with a delicate hand, Starfire looked into my eyes.
“I have to admit I’m curious about that too.”
Sitting up suddenly, I felt the girls stiffen in my lap as I met Enelya’s almond-brown eyes stuttering slightly. “Y … y… you’re back.” It was suddenly very warm in the tent as the smiling Wild Elf sat crossed legs at my feet. Thankfully she was wearing her leathers this time, but in some ways, it was almost worse than having her walking around topless. It wasn’t that she was well endowed, but she didn’t need to be. Her sleek, muscular frame just made her chest look that much larger and the leather, fur-lined crop top she now wore pushed everything together in such a way that it made it difficult to look away. I was just finding my voice when Frostbrand spoke-up coldly.
I saw the same look of possessive anger reflected on Starfire’s face as Enelya watched the girls closely on my lap, before nodding her head in respect. Behind her the tent’s flap opened as Nessa the Centaur strode silently in except for the soft clop of her hooves. “I intended no disrespect. I just wanted to check on Startüm’s health and give an update on the preparations for the morning.” Focusing her gaze on me, Enelya studied my body intently as she continued speaking thoughtfully. “You were able to heal everyone that was injured today, but not the sickness of the Fring, explain.”
For a split second my mind went blank. What do you say to a virtual stranger that you happened to accidentally mind-meld and then slept with the day after in mixed company? Was it something that just happened because she was taking caring of me or did the promise of “Skuldir Líf” somehow come into play with what we’d shared together? The conflicting emotions were playing havoc with my mind. I could tell by the twinkle in her eyes that she was enjoying my obvious discomfort, but her comfortableness with the situation didn’t make it any easier either. For some reason, I felt hesitant to share what had occurred between us with the girls present, so I did my best to keep my thoughts to myself.
“My healing power doesn’t register the weight loss as being an actual injury.” Seeing the blank faces of everyone in the tent suddenly looking back at me, I realized that further explanation would be necessary.
“Look, being too thin isn’t the same as having a severed limb. The body doesn’t register weight loss or gain as actual physical damage. I just can’t will myself to be suddenly larger and stronger. My magic doesn’t work that way.” Rolling my eyes at the dubious looks, I growled in annoyance. “Trust me it makes sense. As long as I have enough to eat, I’ll recover quickly enough over the next few days.”
“Then I guess we’ll have to make sure to fatten you up until then.” Fighting back a grin Enelya’s tone turned suddenly serious. “Otherwise, the Tribe will be ready to move out by morning. Runners have been sent out calling the Clan to war. The young and old will head deeper into the forest to Tenue Sûre, while the rest of us travel with the Spirit Mother and Prince Dorthonion to address the matter of the Tuonellians and the High Elves with King Galdor.”
I grimaced in spite of myself at hearing the words coming from her lips, even if I was just as guilty of coming up with this insanity. Especially after hearing everything that had been happening since my absence, I believed more than ever that the Tuonellians were close to completing their plans, but if I thought the Wild Elves were a tough audience, the Forest Clan would be a nightmare. To put in into perspective for me one day, Grandsire had called the Forest Elves the rednecks of the Great Forest. They were proud, prejudiced and just had their King slaughtered by Tuonellians wearing the faces of Imperium legionnaires. To make matters even worse, the Hulk had tricked an entire Legion into attacking Bel Arbre Ciel, the Forest Elves’ capital city, along with them. Now I was going to enter the Forest Elves’ domain with an army of their mos
t despised Clan at my back along with the new Emperor of the Imperium and a squad of legionnaires to tell them it was all a Tuonellian trick. No matter what, I didn’t see this going well. Still, there wasn’t anything more to be said. Bowing my head slightly, I held Enelya’s eyes.
“Thank you for the update and for everything you’ve done for us.” Nessa frowned deepened at my words, but Enelya just smiled gracefully rising to her feet as I continued. “Words cannot express my thankfulness for everything you have done for me and my ladies.”
Laying a hand on each of the girls’ shoulders, Enelya leaned forward kissing me lightly on the lips. Again the scent of wild flowers was overwhelming as her dreads brushed against my cheeks. “Until morning.” Stepping back without another word she took Nessa’s hand exiting the tent.
Immediately, I felt the girls relax in my arms as I laid back on the furs once again. “Either of you want to tell me what that was about?”
Yawning sleepily, Starfire nuzzled my neck.
Cuddling to my other side, Frostbrand chimed in softly.
Starfire piped up dreamingly.
Their unison thoughts sent a cold shiver suddenly running down my spine. “Help me understand what?” I felt both girls smile into my neck at the question.
Destiny Page 36