Ragnarok: The Fate of Gods

by Jake La Jeunesse

“You’re here to help?” Her untrusting eyes glare at him.

  “Of course I am.”

  “Thank you, but that won’t be necessary.” She draws back the arrow and lets it fly. The arrow imbeds itself deep in the dragon’s eye. The monster roars in pain, but it easily reaches up and pulls the arrow out.

  “Nice shot. Here I thought your arrows would pack the punch those grenades lacked,” he says sarcastically. “You’re getting my help whether you want it or not.”

  “Fine but . . .”

  “Not now!” The dragon snaps its jaws between them. They jump back, a sword slashing down on its neck. Muriel sets another arrow. Zeke hacks again. The dragon turns its entire body around to face him. Its tail knocks Muriel off her feet.

  The dragon spits fire at the swordsman. He dodges by rolling between the dragon’s legs. He spies blood and stabs up at the open wound in the monster’s belly. The beast howls. It rears up briefly. A large, clawed foot comes down near his head.

  He rolls quickly away from the dragon.

  The escaping prisoners run through torch-lit tunnels.

  “Where are we going?” Ariel asks, breaking free of Daniel’s grasp.

  “Someplace safe,” he says, repeating orders.

  “Not that I want to argue,” says Jack, “But where exactly is safe?” They look around. The tunnel ahead of them is long, straight, and empty. Exactly the same as behind them.

  After ten years of running and hiding from danger, Ariel has had enough. “We don’t have to run. We’re armed. You heard Zeke. These people need our help. And there’s far too much commotion for just one monster.”

  “What are you suggesting?” asks Jack.

  “Let’s go hunting.”

  Daniel thinks for a moment. Why does he just assume we can’t handle ourselves? “I’m in,” he tells them.

  The pilot shrugs. “What the hell. Count me in, too.” He spins the crowbar in one hand and strikes a pose. “Let’s bust some heads,” he says.

  Draugr swarm through the caves. The strategy is to clear out a safe zone for the citizens. To create a front with the draugr instead of a melee. The chore is difficult. Citizens cower in their homes, hiding. The draugr are strong and not easily deterred by the weapons of the wild men. Little progress is made.

  Gabriel faces the draugr in full dragon-scale armor. He smashes heads with a heavy war hammer. It is the finest gear in the city. He uses it boldly, but he struggles.

  Other soldiers are not so well-equipped.

  “Who let these over-ripe bastards in here?” he shouts, swinging furiously. The hammer connects with the neck of a draugr, launching it a short distance into the air. It falls, unmoving. “This smell is never going to come out! Goddam Karellan!”

  He swings down hard in front of him. A draugr crumples to the ground. Something hits him from behind. He falls. Rolling over, he sees a monster with heavy claws. It slashes madly. Gabriel is unhurt through the dragon scales, but the creature is strong, and he struggles to force his way back up.

  Boom!

  The gunshot sounds like a cannon, reverberating through the tunnels. Ariel fires calmly, precisely. She clears out a small area, pushing monsters back.

  Daniel extends his hand to Gabriel. The king takes it and pulls himself to his feet. “Thank you, my boy.”

  “We thought you could use a hand,” he shouts over the gunfire.

  “I think you’re right. There are too many of them.” A draugr rushes him. He casually swings his hammer, stopping the charge.

  “We’re on your side,” Ariel states. She reloads the gun and Jack takes over, fending off monsters with his crow bar.

  “You are honorable people,” says the cave lord. “I am truly sorry that we mistook you for the Karellan’s men.”

  Daniel pushes him to once side and blasts a group of advancing draugr. “We can talk later. What’s our plan?”

  A plan. Four extra fighters would not turn the tide in this battle. As much as Gabriel despised the thought, he only had one option. “Would it be too much to ask of you to assist in our evacuation?”

  The dragon spins, confused. The two humans circle it. The behemoth is strong, but still doesn’t want to turn its back on either of them. Muriel nocks an arrow. The dragon lunges at her, but stops when the bolt punches cleanly through its wing.

  It takes a deep breath.

  Zeke knocks Muriel out of the way as flames hit the wall behind them.

  “How much more do we have to hit this thing? Don’t they ever get tired?” he asks between breaths.

  “I don’t know. We only ever brought down one,” she confesses. “And we had a lot of firepower to help us.”

  “Then why are we fighting? We should evacuate!” The dragon spins. Its powerful tail speeds toward them. Zeke bats it up with his sword. It thunders against the wall behind them.

  “I won’t leave my home. There’s no glory in running.”

  “There’s no shame in it, either. You don’t want to die here.” Scaly claws reach for her. She looses an arrow into the hand. The monster scrapes it against the floors and walls, trying to pull the arrow out.

  There’s no time to persuade the stubborn warrior, and Zeke sees his opening. “Fine. You want to stay here and die? Here’s our chance.” He leaps onto the back of the behemoth and stabs hard. The blade pierces, but not very deep. The dragon jerks forward, throwing him over its shoulder.

  Muriel stands above him. “Any more ideas, hot shot?”

  The dragon snaps. Zeke leaps to the side and brings his blade down on the beast’s neck. A bloodless gash appears. It swings its head, retaliating. Muriel shoots an arrow at its throat. It bounces off harmlessly, but attracts the monster’s attention. The monster slowly advances toward her.

  Gabriel bursts into the commons, skidding to a stop. “God damn! How did that thing get past our guards?”

  Zeke runs at one of the hind legs. He throws all his weight into his blade. The blow has enough power to run through the scaly limb. The dragon falls back on its injured leg and howls furiously. “Go on! Get out now! I’ll keep it distracted!” His words are lost over the roar, but Gabriel understands.

  “Muriel, we’re evacuating.”

  “I can’t leave!” she shouts, waving at the dragon. “I have to . . .”

  “Don’t argue!” Gabriel bellows as loudly as the beast. “We need you alive.”

  “But the intruder . . .”

  “. . . offered to help us! Let him!”

  The dragon begins to steady itself on its good legs. Smoke billows from its nostrils. “Go now!” shouts Zeke.

  “No time to argue.” The powerful man lifts his daughter off the ground. She struggles, but Gabriel holds fast. He throws her over his shoulder and runs off.

  Zeke, alone with the animal, pulls his sword free. The dragon roars again and spins to face him. Its jaws work fast, snapping shut over his shoulder. The bite is surprisingly weak. Its teeth don’t clamp very hard, but it burns painfully.

  He lets go of his sword.

  The dragon releases him and kicks him over effortlessly. It pins the fighter to the ground with its massive foot and looms over him.

  He struggles, weakened by the bite.

  Suddenly, the dragon’s eyes go blank. Zeke feels the pressure on him lessen as the beast goes limp. He breaks free and rolls out of the way as the massive body slams into the ground.

  Standing weakly, he sees an enormous gash running down the dragon’s back, eviscerating the powerful monster. “Guardian angel, huh?” Picking up his sword, he runs off after the others, leaving the corpse of the dragon alone with its killer.

  A large ghostly figure hides in a dark corner of the room, holding two massive swords stained with dragon blood.

  Jack, Daniel and Ariel fight alongside poorly equipped soldiers. Draugr pursue them. Up ahead, frightened citizens hurry to the exit.

  A nasty-looking monster pushes its way close to Daniel. He empties his shotgun into its chest. The body falls back and
lands on another draugr. A third one closes in. Daniel aims the gun.

  Click.

  Shit, he thinks. Lost count! There is a dull thud and the draugr stumbles. Jack swings his crow bar again, stopping the monster forever. “I got your back. Don’t worry.”

  “Cover me! I need to reload.” Ariel’s pistol fires. He checks his pockets for spare shells. Nothing. He gives up searching for shotgun ammunition and pulls out his pistol.

  “I’m running a bit low myself!” As Ariel’s firing slows, Daniel begins to fend off the monsters.

  A wounded figure limps out of a connecting tunnel, clutching his shoulder. He’s hurt, but still powerful. With one hand, he fights his way to his friends.

  “Zeke!” Daniel shouts.

  Ariel spies his shoulder. Wet blood stains on his dark clothes. “You’re hurt!”

  “I’m fine, really,” he answers through gritted teeth. “If you’ll pardon the cliché, it’s just a scratch.”

  “We have to get you out of here,” she insists.

  Daniel’s pistol clicks. “That’s something we might consider, too.”

  “Jack, you still have our backs,” Ariel asks.

  “I’m your man,” he says, giving a confident twirl of his bar. She pulls Zeke’s arm around her shoulder. Daniel does the same with the other.

  They run.

  A healthy number of survivors crowded around the city’s gate. It was morning, just after dawn. Soldiers had been pulling them out of the city for the last hour. A few had been counting, tracking their numbers carefully.

  Gabriel stood closest to the gate. His hammer in his hand, ready in case anything unsavory should pop out of their tunnels.

  A captain approached the grizzly king. “Lord Gabriel, we’ve suffered minimal casualties. All our citizens are accounted for. Shall we seal the entrance?”

  “Not yet,” he answered, eyes fixed on the side of the hill.

  A voice sounded from beside him. “Father, are you actually waiting for those intruders?”

  Gabriel turned his head to reprimand his daughter. “Watch your pride. They are no longer our prisoners. They are our guests, and we are in their debt.”

  Muriel seethed. “Yes father.”

  “Don’t be ashamed of your mistakes, and don’t be too proud to accept their help.”

  “Lord Gabriel!” shouted a soldier, interrupting his lecture. “Something is coming!”

  The wild man raised his hammer. “Draugr or human?”

  “I don’t know sir.”

  “Ready your bows, men, but do not attack without my order!” The men raised their weapons and aimed for the gate.

  Daniel and Ariel burst into the light, carrying the wounded swordsman. Jack and a small band of injured soldiers dashed out behind them. They saw the legion of archers aiming at them. Startled, they dropped Zeke.

  He grunted as he hits the ground. “Next time I’ll call for an ambulance,” he said, too quiet for anyone to hear.

  “That’s all of them!” roared Lord Gabriel. “Seal the gate!” He lifted Zeke off the ground and retreated away from the tunnel. Everyone else followed his lead.

  An explosion sounded close behind them, echoing down the tunnel. Dust and smoke spewed out from the entrance. Rocks fell.

  A man with a radio reported, “We’ve received confirmation. The two secondary gates have been sealed as well.”

  Gabriel spat. “Let the bastards rot in the underworld.”

  Muriel approached Daniel forcefully. She looked like she was going to say something, but hesitated. “Thank you. For your help, that is.”

  It was not the most sincere expression of gratitude Daniel had ever heard. “Don’t worry about it. We do this sort of thing all the time,” he answered weakly.

  “We’re very sorry about the loss of your home,” contributed Ariel.

  “The Karellan will pay dearly for this intrusion.” Muriel spoke with clenched fists and gritted teeth.

  Gabriel turned to his daughter. “Do not be too swift to swear vengeance. We lost today against un-human monsters because we have no supplies or equipment. Waging war against the Karellan would undoubtedly mean our deaths.”

  Daniel cringed at the mention of draugr being un-human. “The Karellan has many monsters at his disposal. He’s done this before in Lower Nifelheim.”

  Ariel wasn’t listening. “If I might interrupt,” she said urgently in her voice, “I think Zeke passed out.”

  Gabriel rushed over to the fallen warrior and tore his shirt at the shoulder. Blood poured out. “This wound is serious. The bite is deep, and dragon venom is not something to be taken lightly.”

  “Is he going to die?” asked Jack with genuine fear.

  “Our medics can dress the wound and probably stop the bleeding, but his fate will be in God’s hands.”

  God’s hands! Daniel remembered his mission. “Sandalphon!” he shouts.

  The others look at him confused. “What was that?” asks Ariel.

  “Sandalphon. The man we came to see. He can heal Zeke!” Daniel turned to the grizzly king. “Lord Gabriel, we need to get to a place called Isola Delangelo. It’s a small island, about three kilometers off the coast of Rome. It’s where we were headed before we were shot down.”

  “Muriel,” called Gabriel without hesitation.

  “Yes father?” she said, stepping forward.

  “Have your mechanics reported the status of their ship yet?”

  “Nothing serious. Minor repairs. They should have it operational by now.”

  Jack felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. He had worked on his ship for twelve hours after they had been shot down. “Minor repairs?” he repeated quietly.

  Chapter Seventeen: The Angel’s Island

  The remainder of their journey was uneventful. The small group was mostly quiet. Ariel spent every minute in the cargo bay with Zeke, where the Roman people had set up a bed for him. Jack and Daniel stayed up front. They left the door to the cargo bay open so they could hear immediate updates on Zeke’s health.

  “And if you look out of the windows to your right, you’ll see the former plate city of Rome.” Jack called through the door to Ariel, “You interested?”

  “No thank you,” she responded. “I’ve seen it.”

  “Bad memories?” asked Daniel, who suddenly realized he knew very little about her.

  “You ever meet a survivor with good memories?”

  “You and Zeke are both survivors?”

  “Yes.” She was quiet. Introspective. “We both lost everything in the conflict. Zeke has never been the same since it happened.”

  “Micah?” He had heard the name before, and sensed that this man was significant. Maybe Ariel could tell him more.

  “Yes,” she said, hesitating. “He was Zeke’s best friend, and the only family he ever knew. When he disappeared, Zeke didn’t take it well. And I . . .” She stopped.

  There was a long pause. The conversation was over. Daniel didn’t press it.

  Eventually, Jack spoke. “We should be at your coordinates any minute. So what exactly are we looking for?”

  “The island of Elijah. He’s the head of my order.”

  “Order?” asked Jack. “You in some sort of secret society?”

  “You could say that.”

  “Well, you’d better help me look then. Those secret islands can be sneaky.”

  Daniel pointed to a growing speck of green on the ocean. “There it is. Not as wily as you expected.” Jack took the ship down.

  Zeke woke up, wrapped in bandages.

  There were two people in the room with him. He instantly recognized Daniel, who also noticed him immediately. The other man was a stranger. At first glance, he appeared younger than Daniel. Perhaps sixteen or seventeen. But something was wrong. His hair was gray with age, and he carried himself with a grace and dignity rarely found in youth.

  Daniel called the stranger over to the bed.

  Zeke looked around. The room appeared to be a cross be
tween a hospital and someone’s living room. His bed was lush and soft. The floor was carpeted, and the room was furnished like a home, but the shelves were lined with medical supplies. “Where am I?”

  The stranger glided over to him. “Shh. Rest now. I’ve removed the venom of the dragon, but the wound will still require time to heal. We can talk later.”

  “This is Sandalphon,” Daniel explained proudly. “He is the head of my order and a very powerful healer.”

  The stranger smiled. “Please, that title is too formal. I may no longer be human, but you may still use my human name. Call me Elijah.”

  “Elijah?” Sandalphon?” Zeke’s head clouded. He felt tired and could only think of going back to sleep.

  “Please rest. You will heal quickly. Daniel already told me your story. When you are healed, there is much to discuss. Until then, you are my guests.”

  Zeke was already asleep.

  Abandoned by Daniel after their arrival, Ariel and Jack had spent the better part of the day wandering around the island, trying to figure out the Order of Sandalphon.

  The island was small. Most of it was taken up by the complex. On one side, a trail led down to the beach, a small farm, and a landing area. The island was heavily fortified. Almost military. But the inhabitants were more like monks than soldiers.

  A paranoid religious sect in an age of fear.

  Being a small island, and having little else to do, the two guests explored it quite thoroughly. Ariel was fond of the view from the tallest tower. Jack insisted on making frequent sweeps of the cafeteria. But after returning to their favorite places hour after hour, they were tired and bored, and they now rested in the commons area.

  The room was dark and quiet. The monks rose early every day, so they were in bed by nine. There were only two sources of light. One was the moon, shining through the skylight, the only window in the room. The others were display lights, shining on a small assortment of weapons mounted on the wall.

  “Such odd things to find in a place like this.” Ariel examined them closely. Two swords, a spear, a bow, a hammer, and a metal staff. Despite all being weapons, they didn’t seem to make a fitting collection.