Sitting down, Seth took a deep breath. He had discovered his true purpose, but it still left questions to be answered. If he were a creature of destruction, what were the limitations of his abilities? Could he do things he had yet to imagine? Did he have limitations? Would there be a point where he could just look at a city and it would crumble to ash? He needed to test himself. He needed to try things he had yet to fathom. Most importantly though, he needed to discover the consequences of anything he might do. Thus far, his true nature had left a wake of destruction behind him. He had not meant to do it, but now saw it for what it was. Like footprints in the sand, everywhere he had traveled in past months were vast quantities of the dead as proof that he had passed. It was unsettling to look at it that way, but he knew now that it was the path that Ishanya had set him on. She had used his inherent nature against him, giving him the ability to unlock his potential, yet not explaining the costs of using it. A trick for which he planned to repay her a thousand fold.
Uncertain how long he had stayed below the ground, Seth rose to rejoin those above. With his skewed sense of time, he’d rather return sooner than later if possible. Climbing the stairs towards the keep above, he sought out the swollen aura of his wife, wishing to seek her counsel before dealing with any other business that might sidetrack his thoughts. Locating her immediately, he leapt into the air when breaking free of the small door at the top of the stairs and flapped his great wings to propel him higher still into the darkness of the night.
There, perched atop the highest tower of the keep, his beautiful wife sat like a bird of prey, searching the horizons for any sign of danger and watching the city below. Settling down beside her, he watched as she looked up to meet his eyes with a dazzling smile on her lips.
“Did you find the answers you were looking for?” she asked with slight concern in her tone.
“Some answers, and yet more questions. How long was I gone?”
“Almost four months.”
* * * * *
Sara rose to hug her husband close. Reports of armed processions moving in their direction had begun coming in over a week before, though none had yet showed themselves. Their messengers and emissaries had nearly all returned, yet some were still missing. Most of the city’s projects were well underway and already three of the massive crop buildings Seth had envisioned were built and thriving, producing fresh produce for a city now cloaked completely in snow. Progress had slowed due to weather, but even so, the city wall Seth had suggested was rising nearly a foot per week.
“What have I missed?” Seth asked her, obviously disappointed in his own absence.
“A lot, if I am to be honest.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“As you can see the wall is underway, and much of the city has been repaired or rebuilt. Over there you can see one of your crop buildings,” she said pointing, “and over there and there too. Another is planned for the spring.”
“And our call to neighboring nations?”
“Emissaries have returned. Most have turned down our invitation, though not all. We’ve had reports of processions moving towards us.”
“How long?”
“Any day,” she answered, understanding his question.
“And Xander?”
“His loyalty to you is only rivaled by Borrik’s and my own. His son, Corbin, is running now, just as you said he would.”
“That is good news,” Seth said, turning to look down at her with a smile.
“I am sorry I have been absent for so much, but it hasn’t all been for nothing.”
“I never thought it was, or else I would have disturbed you myself.”
Sara felt him hug her tighter and knew he wouldn’t leave her again for some time. She felt guilty with the knowledge that she might be holding him back, but also happy with the knowledge that his love for her was greater than any other.
“So what is your news? What did you discover?”
“That I am different.”
“No really?” Sara asked jokingly, “Whoever would have guessed?”
“Yes, really. In a deeply seated fundamental way, I am different not only from every living creature upon Thurr, but also from the gods themselves.”
“Okay, now I’m intrigued. Do tell more.”
“The gods, like their children, are all creatures of creation. I am their opposite.”
“In what way?”
“I am a creature of destruction. Had I known, I probably could have prevented a lot of the deaths that have happened around me.”
“Don’t blame yourself for that. You can’t!”
“I don’t. It is not my fault that I was left ignorant of my capabilities and why they developed as they did and how to use them properly. Ishanya is to blame for setting me on a path that would lead to so much desolation.”
“But what does it mean if you are a creature of destruction? That you can only destroy and use your ability to ruin things or kill them?”
“I thought so at first, but no. Gorandor mentioned free will when we met. He said to follow a path I couldn’t yet see and I think that this is it. Just because I am sown from the seed of destruction, does not mean that I am bound to it. Gorandor wanted to show me that I am free to make my own decisions and create my own fate and destiny.”
“So what does that mean?” Sara asked.
“It means I need allies. I need champions. I need to gather as many people to my cause as possible.”
“Isn’t that sort of what we were doing already?” Sara asked, one of her eyebrows raising.
“Yes, but now it is not to make them forget the gods.”
“It isn’t?” she asked, confused.
“No. I want to kill them.”
“Is that possible?” Sara gasped.
“There’s only one way to find out.”
“So now we are going to gather mortals to wage war on the gods?”
“Something like that.”
“You’re being elusive.”
“I know. I still have some questions I need answers to, and time to figure out just how I can set this all in motion.”
“So why did you come out of hiding if you still have questions?”
“To see you. I thought you could help me.”
“With?”
“I don’t understand why Ishanya would change me into a creature of destruction.”
“Can a god change someone?” Sara asked. “I thought our nature was already designed at birth and a god chose to give us the power to harness it or not, and it was up to us to find our own path to that god.”
“That’s how it is for everyone else, but I’m different.”
“I suppose you are right. I guess the question is, why are you different? What sets you apart from say… Garret? If you two are twins, there has to be a point at which your fates deviated from one another, doesn’t there?”
“Shit,” Seth cursed. “And this is why I came to you. You are able to find that which I am blind to. We need to get Borrik. I have a story to share with the both of you. Sara, you have just found the missing puzzle piece. You’re amazing, and I love you beyond the bounds of space and time.”
“I love you too, but now you’ve got me a bit freaked out.”
“No need for concern. Just I’d rather tell the story just one time if possible.”
Squeezing her tightly in his arms once more, Seth released her before leaping from the roof to glide down to the lower reaches of the keep. Watching him slowly descend, Sara leapt from the roof as well, plummeting down towards the courtyard below like a wayward rock. Bending her knees slightly, she leaned forward before impact, absorbing her momentum with her legs and catching herself with her fingertips upon the ground.
* * * * *
Ishanya scowled down upon Thurr from the realm of the gods. Her plan was unraveling from the epic ending that she had prepared. Too much was in motion to cast her aside. No. She would still have her victory, but it simply would not be as glor
ious as she had intended. Everything was still in place to bring the little whelp begging to her on his knees. Her other champions followed the paths set before them like acorns in a river, unable to escape. Gorandor and those he aligned himself with as allies were too weak now to stop her. Only the puny death mage had grown beyond what she had intended. Even now, he sat perched in a towering castle surrounded by thousands that thought him a god. It was sickening to see and she felt the urge now more than ever to bring his short reign to an end.
Studying the tapestry that was all three, fate, destiny, and time, Ishanya sought the perfect moment to bring the would-be king to his knees. Grinning, if it were possible, she located such a moment and reached out across ethereal space to set her other pawns into motion. Not only would the heavens and Thurr belong to her, but she would get to watch the sorry excuse for a mage wither and die with all those he loved. It seemed like she would get a perfect ending after all.
Chapter Fifteen
For months he had kept her all to himself, hidden more or less in their shared room high in the palace, but at last, Anna was joining him to venture out for the evening. She had dressed for the occasion too, wearing her crimson curls piled atop her head and a ruby-colored dress trimmed in black leather that matched her boots and bodice. Taking her hand as they strolled out from the tiered courtyards of the palace into the open expanses of the castle complex, Garret watched as the last of the sun’s rays were lost above the castle walls. It had taken a vast amount of effort for his plans to be carried out, but where once was the training grounds for the legendary knights of Valdadore, now stood a solid rock wall with only one gate to permit entry.
For more than two months Garret had visited the compound every morning, adding it to his daily list of duties. On some occasions Zorbin would join him, but generally he arrived alone. Inside, Ashton usually awaited him with a team of handlers, trainers, and healers. He had become an integral part to this process, and without him, Garret knew they would not have made it this far.
Striding across the cobblestones with Anna at his side, Garret held his head high, greeting and waving at all who stopped to watch them pass. Smiles were given and several women stopped to openly admire Anna’s gown, complimenting her beauty and that of the dress. It couldn’t have been more perfect an evening for such an occasion.
Nearing the newly constructed stone wall, Garret nodded to the guard manning the gate, watching as the man responded by quickly pulling the large timber free from its bindings to swing the steel portal inwards. Allowing them to pass with a salute, the soldier then barred them in as quickly as he was able.
Stepping through the gate was like entering another world. Here, within the confines of the tall stone walls, the air was filled with growls and snarls of rage and exertion. Here blood stained the ground and tufts of fur floated lazily on the wind, refusing to settle to the earth. Lining the walls were hundreds of metal-barred cages, though most were empty at present, and the rest of the expanse was filled with wooden training dummies, weapons racks, soldiers, and more importantly, a hundred and forty-one of his very own monstrosities.
Raised to adolescence by magical means, the creatures were strapped into the strengthening machines of Ashton’s design until they had enough coordination to walk. Once reaching that milestone they were given a cage and Garret himself hand fed them daily. They matured quickly after that. Their muscles developed, and daily they trained hour after hour in basic combat with sword and shield. Not only were they vicious though, soon enough it was realized that they were also intelligent. They began learning words and creating their own battle plans to defeat their trainers. They worked in groups, seemingly coordinating their attacks without so much as a single word. Ashton had been right to spare the children. They would become a devastating fighting force when Garret was done with them.
Standing back to let Anna admire the view, he was surprised when she smiled instead of covered her face with her hands. She watched intently as the creatures took up their weapons in a mock battle timed for her arrival. Here was a peculiar prison designed to keep them confined and train them to kill, the creatures fought their armored foes with tooth and claw, shield and sword. They were relentless in their attacks, growling and snarling as they snapped at the better trained soldiers. Within moments, the beasts pressed their trainers back before pandemonium overtook the field, the beasts surging up and over the armored guards, driving them down to the ground in a writhing mass of fur and teeth. Garret watched as Anna raised her hands, fearing she would cover her eyes, offended by the sight, Instead, she began clapping loudly, smiling as the battle came to a brutal end.
“Enough!” Garret boomed over the sounds of violence and rage.
Watching as his monstrosities slunk back towards the wall of cages, he grinned at them, noting as every head swiveled to match his movements.
“King come. We fight. King happy,” one of the beasts said, stepping forward from the masses.
“Yes, Kanth,” Garret reassured the creature. “You have done well.”
“You’ve named them?” Anna asked, obviously surprised.
“No. Just him, my love. He seems more intelligent than the rest,” Garret answered.
“Now back to your cages, all of you. Anna here would like to have a closer look at you.”’
All the beasts obeyed his command, familiar enough with the word ‘cage. Waiting until they were all properly secured by their trainers, Garret led Anna to peer into the cages one by one.
“They’re all so different,” she exclaimed.
“And yet very much the same.”
“And you truly plan to breed them?”
“We’ve begun already, actually. Fortunately, the majority of these are actually female. If you look closely you can see their tits within the fur on their chests and abdomen.”
“Yes, I see them. They have small breasts like a human too.”
“And like humans, some are better endowed than others.” Garret joked.
“So if you have a hundred and forty and expect a litter size of perhaps five…” Sara began, allowing Garret to take it from there.
“Then with it taking four months to mature, in a year we can produce three more litters, and we will have near twenty two thousand new soldiers.”
“And in two years?” Anna asked.
“In two years it is somewhere around three point four million.”
“In two years?” she asked again.
“Yes.”
“Then what is to stop you from taking over the entire world?”
“Absolutely nothing, my love. Nothing at all.”
Garret could not help but smile at his soon-to be-bride. Her interest in his military plans was more than fascinating. It was sexy. She understood the need to make them. She understood his desire to destroy Seth. She accepted that he would go to any length to undo what his brother had done. She had even asked if she could kill Seth’s demon bride herself. No one understood him better.
Placing his arm about her shoulders, Garret turned Anna away from the cages to greet the man who had overseen the entire process and arranged the battle for them to witness this very evening. Watching Ashton approach, Garret nodded in greeting before introducing the pair.
“Ashton, I should like for you to meet Anna. I think the two of you will get along nicely.”
“It is truly my pleasure, Lady Anna. I do hope you enjoyed our presentation.”
“It was invigorating. Tell me, Ashton. How is it that you make them breed? Is it the talent of a healer on your staff, or are there other means of retrieving the seed of the males and impregnating the females with it?”
“Quite honestly, it is rather simple. You see, while their bodies are very much mature and producing the hormones that lead to mating, their minds are yet trailing behind due to the growth process. Without really knowing what they are doing or why, they tend to simply do what their urges tell them. We can put a single male in a cage with two or even three females and with
in hours he has at least attempted to lay his seed in all of them.”
“Gross, but interesting,” Anna admitted.
“My apologies if I’ve offended your sensibilities, Lady Anna.”
“No, not at all. There is no offence if I cannot handle the answer to a question I have asked.”
Garret could see already that Ashton and Anna would get along. Now he only had to wonder about Zorbin. His dwarven friend had been acting peculiar as of late. He questioned everything Ashton did and every project involved in training and housing the new troops. He couldn’t help but wonder if it was jealousy that drove the dwarf to hate Ashton so much. He hoped it wouldn’t be an issue with Anna as well. They would certainly know soon enough.
* * * * *
Zorbin paced impatiently outside the newly erected wall that had ruined what was once the training ground of knights like himself and Garret. Though the king made it a point to say the two of them really didn’t need it any longer, Zorbin knew that more knights would come, and eventually they would once again need a place to spar and hone their skills. As it was, Garret had basically gifted it to the crazed healer, making a kennel for the beasts they tortured and abused in the hopes of creating an army. Though the king seemed to be out of his funk, it appeared to Zorbin that it was now his turn to mope about. He didn’t like the turn of events that had led to this and feared that his friend, the king, was leading the kingdom down a perilous path.
Looking to the darkening sky yet again and then to the gate revealed no sign that the king was coming to meet him as promised. Garret knew that Zorbin despised the so-called training facility created for his new pets, but even so, forced him to meet there at least twice a week to show off their progress. Yes there was a possibility that the things could be trained to fight. Yes, it appeared they were growing stronger and more agile. Yes, they were ferocious and fearless. So was a kitten.
Age of the Gods: The Complete, twelve novel, fantasy series (The Blood and Brotherhood Saga) Page 188