Still within him he could feel the fire and the euphoria. It both burned and soothed him. He felt heady as the room began to spin. His arm twitched and then his knee. His legs buckled as he collapsed to the floor hard. Something had gone wrong. His heart began to hammer in his chest. Lights flashed before his eyes. His insides felt as if they were coming out.
“Breathe, Kanth.” Anna ordered. Kanth took a labored breath, the world swimming around him. The world went dark.
* * * * *
Anna watched in fascination as the transformation overtook Kanth’s body. Beneath his fur his bones seemed to ripple, jerking this way and that as awkward angles became normal and odd proportions became average. She watched as his muzzle shrank, and his fangs retreated into his gums. She watched as the hair upon his flesh fled beneath his tanned skin and as his muscles pulsed and jerked. She watched as the beast became a young man, perhaps seventeen. And he was handsome. How in the abyss was she going to explain this to Garret? What a mess she had made. She needed to awake Kanth and get him out of here. She could say he never appeared, and he could run away. She needed to fix this mistake, and fast.
Bending down in a crouch beside him, no worry about her modesty, she began shaking him roughly. “Kanth, you must awaken now. Something has gone terribly wrong.” Nothing happened. She could hear his heart beating a slow steady rhythm, proof that her infection had taken hold in him, but he did not stir. “Kanth, for the sake of the gods, wake up!” Kanth jerked, his eyes popping open. He blinked, gasping for air. He looked at her, taking her all in, and this time Anna did not like the look. Turning, she snatched up the sheet and wrapped herself as Kanth climbed to his feet, looking down at his own nude body. His mouth opened. He raised his hands before his face and studied them front and back.
“Kanth is human.” He said, though it sounded more like a question. Anna was surprised that his voice was still very much the same as before.
“Yes. What in the name of the gods are we going to do now?” Anna questioned, real fear filling her.
“Kanth is human.” Kanth repeated.
“Yes, fool. You have to get out of here. Run away. I’ll tell Garret you never arrived.”
“No.”
“What do you mean, no? Kanth, we cannot explain this to the king,” Anna said, gesturing to his new body.
“Kanth tell king Kanth blessed by goddess,” Kanth said, jutting his chin out. “Kanth no run. Kanth proud. Have honor.”
“Honor enough to lie to your master and keep our secret?” Anna mocked.
“Honor to no run. Kanth a man. King understand blessing.”
Anna wondered. Could Kanth be right? It was an easy enough story to believe. If goblins and orcs could be blessed by the gods, why not a Lycan?
“King want Kanth bring Lady Anna to barracks.”
“Now?” Anna could not believe her ears. “Like this?”
“Must go. Kanth tell king Kanth blessed. Kanth not have many words. King not expect many words.”
He was right. Garret would buy it. His mind was so warped by his revenge plot and the toying of gods that he’d not only bite, but chew and swallow as well. Kanth was intelligent. He might even make a good ally.
“We’ve got to find you some clothes, Kanth.”
“Guard shack inside door castle.”
Again he was right. There was a guard post just inside the main entry doors downstairs. Inside would be everything a guard would need to stay on post for days on end. Clothes, armor, and even weapons. “Come, Kanth. We must be going. It’ll be dark soon and when it is, I need to dispose of this body.”
“See king first. Kanth help hide male.”
Anna nodded. He was already an ally. Now it was time to convince the king.
* * * * *
Pulling open the door to the knight’s barracks, Kanth allowed Lady Anna to enter before him. He could hear those within and smell a feast of a meal, even with his human nose. Stepping through the door he released the massive wood and metal barrier as it slammed closed behind him. All eyes turned upon him and Lady Anna. Not all of them were human, but that did not matter. Surrounded by men and women of stone, the king peered across the room at them with a peculiar look upon his face.
“Lady Anna,” the king greeted, keeping his eyes on Kanth. “Who is this that has escorted you? He looks familiar.”
“As well he should, my beloved. I think it better if he introduces himself.”
“Very well then, who are you?” Garret asked. “You wear the uniform of castle guard, but I know that’s not where I’ve seen you.”
“No, King. Kanth not city guar……” A growl escaped Kanth’s mouth as the world began to spin again. He staggered backwards as lights danced before his eyes. The door behind him flew open as he stumbled into the man who had opened it and fell outside the door on the flat of his back. Both Lady Anna and Garret stood above him, looking down upon him in confusion and pity. The sky behind them shed its last rays of daylight as Kanth’s arms twisted oddly in their sockets and his back began to hunch over. Raising his hand towards his king for help back to his feet, he looked on in horror as coarse hair sprang from his flesh. Reaching back up to his face, his fears were confirmed. He was a Lycan once more.
“I demand to know what trickery is this,” King Garret said, a stern look upon his face. Anna simply shook her head, covering her mouth with one hand. Kanth wondered if her horror was real or feigned.
“Kanth pray Ishanya. Make human. Kanth do something wrong. Lycan again.”
“Ishanya granted you a blessing to be human?” Garret questioned. “Quite the odd blessing.”
“To serve king better, Kanth pray.”
“I found him changing in the hall of the castle,” Anna lied. “One minute he was Lycan, the next he had blacked out and turned human. I helped find him suitable attire in the guard shack.”
Kanth continued to watch his master’s face. Garret’s look grew less stern as his brow began to unfurrow. “The gods give, and the gods take away, Kanth. I too had to sacrifice something to Ishanya today. Fear not, the will of the gods is unknown. I doubt you have done anything wrong to anger the goddess. Maybe she is testing you. Come,” Garret reassured, offering his hand.
Kanth took the king’s hand and was hoisted to his feet. He stretched, feeling the all too familiar Lycan body. For just a little while he had achieved the only dream he had. He wanted to talk to Lady Anna, but the ability was not afforded to him at present.
“Now come, Kanth. You too, my Anna. I want to introduce you to my new knights.”
Chapter Thirteen
Borrik swept down from the arid skies, dropping low above the sand before flapping hard and setting upon the dune. He hated the desert. What type of people could live in such a place as this? No water for miles. No animals. Just sand, snakes, and scorpions. All the desert did provide was a reason to be miserable.
“So? Did you see anything?” Sara asked him as he looked back at their contingent of miserable troops.
“Ahead a few miles is what I guess could be considered a city, but I didn’t see a soul. It’s mostly fabric and sticks with a few buildings made out of clay bricks. I didn’t get too close. Maybe the people there stay inside during the day.”
“You think it’s orcs or goblins?” Sara questioned.
“Does it matter?”
“Not particularly,” Sara shrugged. “Just curious.”
“We’ve circled back nearly to the mountains again without so much as a single sighting. Let’s hope this place gives us something,” Borrik said, but he knew it wasn’t likely. They’d been looking for weeks to no avail. The only things they’d managed to find were a few abandoned camp sites, likely those of Orcs, but they were old and nearly covered in entirety by sand. By all accounts the goblins and orcs were supposed to live in this desert, but so far as he was concerned they’d moved on somewhere else.
“We can’t fail Seth. He said he needs an army, and we have to find him one,” Sara said, almo
st pleading.
“We could pray for one,” Borrik joked.
“Not in the mood, beast man. So not in the mood.”
Borrik grinned. Giving Sara a hard time was really the only enjoyable thing on this trip. She was just as sarcastic as any, which was good to take the edge off an otherwise miserable journey. “Even if this place is abandoned, we could take a few hours in the shade,” he said, sniffing the air for any signs of life.
“You read my mind. If there’s a city, perhaps there is water. If there is, I’m taking a bath, I don’t care if it is green and filled with maggots. I’m starting to smell as bad as you.”
* * * * *
Reaching the crest of the massive dune, Sara looked down upon what Borrik had called a city. She understood his skepticism. There was nothing here. Poles and canopies lay broken and twisted in what were once the streets. Others flapped lazily in the arid breeze. Not a sound arose from the place, and nothing living moved.
She knew instantly there were no sleeping people of any kind just waiting out the day to emerge at night. This place was abandoned. All that remained were its colorful fabrics, wooden poles, and memories of what once was.
“I got nothing,” she admitted to her companion.
“Me either.”
“Let’s get some rest at least. It looks like there is a well down that main road,” Sara stated hopefully.
“Good,” Borrik said. “You really do smell terrible.”
Sara didn’t reply. She simply smirked at the large, hairy, stinky man and began down the dune towards the ruins. Behind her she could hear the other wolves telling the rat soldiers to find some shade and get some rest. Borrik had already given orders.
Entering what was left of what she presumed was a goblin city, Sara headed straight for the well. Although she was hopeful, she imagined that if it were dry it would explain perfectly why no one remained in this place. A drought might explain why they hadn’t found a single orc or goblin in the desert at all. Maybe they had been forced to leave or die of dehydration. She’d know soon enough.
Reaching the well, she looked back over her shoulder to witness all of her troops filtering into the makeshift buildings and under the dilapidated canopies, looking for places to rest. Turning her attention back to the well, she did not find a rope or bucket like she was used to. Instead, beside the brick-lined well was a wheel with evenly spaced pegs around it, protruding from some copper box that was attached to the side of the well. It was curious to say the least. Grabbing the wheel, Sara attempted to turn it to no avail. Twisting the opposite direction, the wheel spun rather easily, issuing a series of clicking sounds. As the wheel spun faster and faster it was only moments before it met resistance and she had to put more effort into making its rounds. Seconds later a glob of wet sand issued out from a spout in the copper box, followed by what appeared to be fresh water. The well was not dry. At least, not anymore.
Spinning the wheel again, Sara cupped her hands under the spout and splashed the cool water on her face. This was it. This was what she needed right now, but couldn’t. First she needed to be sure everyone had something to drink. It had been days since they last found water. First they would refill all of their water skins, and if the well was still producing, then, and only then, would she consider washing herself.
“Looks like you found what you wanted,” Borrik said from behind her, startling her.
“I did,” she smiled. “Tell everyone to get their fill of water and carry as much as they can.”
“What, no bath?”
“Oh, you know I will if there’s any left when the troops have been sated.”
“And then what?” Borrik asked his queen.
“Then we’ll rest a few hours and head north. The Rancoor’s foothills should provide us some game and more water. We’ll regroup and then maybe continue east. We’re running out of desert.” Sara knew they were on borrowed time. Seth had made it clear that he needed an army and soon.
“If we find nothing to the east,” Borrik began, “then our only option is further south, across the desert. I’ve done a lot of reading over the years that I maintained Ishanya’s temple, my queen, and I’ve never come across a map or scroll that told of what was south of the desert. It is likely that no human has ever traveled that far. If they have, they’ve not returned.”
“That sounds promising,” Sara sighed. “Rest then north. If we find nothing we continue east. If we still find nothing, then we shall be the first… once-humans to explore what lies south of the desert.”
“Flying would be faster.” Borrik admitted, something they’d discussed many a time on this journey.
“If only my husband hadn’t forbidden us from leaving the men.”
“He had a reason.”
“I know. I just wish I knew what that reason was.”
“None of us knows the mind of a god,” Borrik admitted, sounding rather priestly.
“No. But I trust his heart.”
“As do I, Sara. As do I.”
* * * * *
The week was going to be a balancing act, of that much Garret was certain. Atop his list of duties of commanding the city, overlooking the progress of the Lycan army, and training his new knights, his own wedding was just a day away. Even as excited as he was to make Anna his queen, the thought of a wedding was a little out of place. War. Revenge. Military. Defenses. These were the things that had filled his mind and heart for months. He needed to set them aside. He needed to open his heart and mind and enjoy this festive delay of his progress… Right after he taught his new knights a lesson in defeat.
“Work together this time,” he commanded. Summoning his blessing, Garret exploded in size as his flesh was replaced by metal. Spikes adorned his shoulders and elbows. From his wrists great blades extended, wicked electric snakes danced down his arms and around the blades. Across the field, outside the city of Valdadore, his wraiths invoked their blessings as well. His stone men lined up in formation, wielding thick hammers and axes. Twenty-four to one. It was terrible odds, but he was so much bigger, and so far as he could tell, impenetrable to their attacks.
Grinning, the king of Valdadore leaned forward and charged, swinging his blades out to either side of him. He wanted to watch his knights scatter.
Though just children a few weeks before, his stone men had been changed substantially by their blessings. Not a one of them stood less than eight-foot-tall, and their limbs were thick as the trunks of trees, but even so, they were puny compared to himself.
Kicking out at the first row of his knights, he sent them sprawling across the field at human and Lycan guards cheered from upon the city wall behind him. Chuckling loudly, he bent to swing his blades at the next row of stone men as one of his wraiths flitted into existence between him and his bladed arm, before vanishing again. As if he had struck his head, the wraiths began flitting in and out of his peripherals over and over, causing him to miss the rush of his stone men from below. He missed his mark, swinging too late in his charge across the field.
Flashing into his view, a wraith hurled its blade at his face as he instinctually closed his eyes. The same moment his foot struck something hard and solid as cheers erupted again, this time from below him. The great king of Valdadore toppled forward, twisting into a roll as he spied the group of stone men who had used their bodies to trip him. It was a sneaky trick, but he was proud they had pulled it off together.
Striking the ground with his shoulder, Garret heaved his massive bulk over in an attempt to roll away and regain his feet, then the wraiths were upon him. Appearing and disappearing like imagined foes, the wraiths struck at the only soft tissue he had left, his eyes. Swatting at the flitting foes, he tried to strike them away, even going so far as to try and snap one up between his teeth. It was a mistake he’d not make again.
In the instant his mouth was open, the intended target of his attack vanished and Garret panicked less than a second later when he felt the cold steel of a blade puncture through his tongue
just before another lanced into the back of his throat. Rolling back up to his feet, Garret coughed and gagged as the blade in the interior of his throat was yanked free and delved deeper into the soft tissues inside his body. Grasping at his throat, he never saw the stone men take up their charge.
It wasn’t until they began crashing into his feet and legs that he realized his predicament. Staggering back as hot blood flowed down his throat and into his lungs, Garret felt his heel catch and down came the king.
The city of Valdadore shook as the defenders upon the wall held on for dear life, cheering the young knights for their valiant display. Then the blades in his throat were gone as five young warriors flitted into existence upon his chest. A second later a stone man, the biggest of them, climbed atop his king, nodding to each of the wraiths.
“This your doing?” Garret questioned.
The boy nodded in time with the wraiths. “I knew you had it in you, kid,” Garret praised Jake, the captain of his new knights, through a gargle of blood. “Now get off me so I can get this taken care of,” Garret said, pointing to his throat. He couldn’t believe they had bested him. It was a risky plan, but they had pulled it off, working together. When it came time to fight the demon king’s champions, he knew they could handle even the most formidable of foes so long as they did as they had today. He would continue to spar with them, and have the Lycans spar with them as well to instill these practices of working together. It needed to become second nature.
Recalling his blessing after his knights had vacated his chest, Garret returned to normal size with a pop as a young healer rushed out from the city gate to come to his aid. She was a young girl, obviously one of those chosen just two months ago. Judging her size, he guessed her to be near fourteen, but her eyes shone with a caring and understanding that made her appear much older.
Age of the Gods: The Complete, twelve novel, fantasy series (The Blood and Brotherhood Saga) Page 204