by Lana Axe
A scout sent by the king awaited the army’s arrival and greeted them warmly at first sight. “Greetings,” he called, recognizing General Aldryg. He ordered his own regiment to stay put, as these were not enemies arriving at the border. Riding out to meet them, he raised his hand in a gesture of peace. “Welcome to this land,” he said, inclining his head to River. “You are most welcome.”
Aldryg approached the scout and asked, “Is our army ready to march? The elves will lead us there in a day or less.”
The scout appeared puzzled. “It is a two-day ride to the coast as you well know,” he said.
Shaking his head, Aldryg replied, “Not with their combined magic it isn’t.”
Seeming to understand, the scout stated, “King Rykon has prepared the forces daily, in anticipation of your arrival. He will be ready to march the moment we arrive.”
“Then let us not delay,” Aldryg replied. Motioning for the troops to move forward, he took his place at the head of the line to lead them through Na’zora to the sea.
All across the land, citizens stepped outside to greet the soldiers. They lifted their voices in praise and good wishes, hoping that this army would indeed defeat the evil that had claimed the life of their beloved king.
As the army moved through the land, it was evident that the citizens were living in fear. The majority of the houses had been boarded up to prevent harm to the people inside should Ulda’s forces attack. There were neither open markets nor signs of merchants along the roads. Commerce was already slow due to the winter conditions, but the looming threat of war had brought it to a grinding halt.
When at last they arrived in the palace district, King Rykon himself rode out to greet them. “Lord River,” he began, “it is good of you to return.” He embraced the elf before acknowledging the presence of Mel and Kaiya. Reaching out a hand to Mel, he said, “I am pleased to have you join us.”
“You can thank River for that,” Mel said.
Next, the king extended his hand to Kaiya. “My lady,” he said respectfully.
Kaiya chuckled slightly. “Call me Kaiya, Your Majesty,” she replied.
“My friends represent the elements,” River stated. “Together we have a chance of defeating Ulda for good.”
Rykon glanced around, immediately recognizing Telorithan. “You have strange friends, Lord River,” he said in a hushed tone. “Are you sure you’ve chosen the wisest course of action?”
“I am,” River replied.
Trusting in his father’s good judgment, Rykon did not doubt River’s word. “All right then,” he said. “Are we ready to move out?”
After glancing back at the army behind him, River gave a nod.
“We haven’t enough ships for everyone to cross at once, I’m afraid,” Rykon explained. “We have decided to convene on a stretch of beach where my scouts assure me there are no signs of Ulda’s minions.”
Aldryg stepped forward and bowed before the king. “Your Majesty, the ships will not be necessary. Lord River?”
“That’s correct,” River said. “I will summon the elementals in the ocean. With their help, we will march the army across the water’s surface.”
Rykon stared a moment in stunned silence. “Very well,” he finally replied.
River stepped lightly over the sand leading to the shore. White foam splashed against his feet as he stepped into the water, and he felt himself instantly rejuvenated. Voices called out to him from every direction, the song of the elementals filling his soul. Crying out for their aid, he summoned them to his side.
The water’s surface glistened before the eyes of the onlookers. A bridge rose from the water, its edges visible by a series of tiny waterfalls, which allowed the excess seawater to drain, allowing for a dry crossing. River emerged from the water momentarily, sending up a fountain of sea spray before diving back into the depths.
“I think that’s our signal to follow,” Kaiya said.
The combined armies moved forward, placing their feet on the bridge. Though their initial steps were unsteady, they soon realized that the ground was quite solid, and they could easily traverse what should have been an impassable ocean.
River stayed below, replenishing his magic and surfacing only rarely. Soon they would arrive in Ral’nassa, and he would need every ounce of strength he could muster.
Chapter 21
Varl’s warning shook Ulda to his core. Locking himself away in his lab, he neither slept nor ate for days. His mind focused only on his research, and he had finally come to a breakthrough. This would mean the difference between success and failure. With the process complete, he would have the most resilient army ever to exist.
Prin made his way slowly up the stairs to his master’s lab, hoping the summons had been to inform him of good news. Over the past few days, Ulda had shunned his servant’s presence, and Prin was nervous to lay eyes on his master. Knowing full well that no other servant had brought him anything to eat, he feared the sorcerer’s condition. Madness had taken hold of him, and Prin did not wish to become part of his experiments.
Knocking twice, he pushed the door open slightly and peered inside.
“Come in, come in!” Ulda’s voice called from somewhere inside.
The stench of death hit Prin’s nostrils immediately, and he placed his hand over his nose to block it out. Fighting the urge to wretch, Prin moved forward, searching the room with his eyes. Several dead bodies were piled in an alcove, puddles of liquid oozing beneath them. Prin squeezed his eyes shut to block out the vision. He had seen death before, of course, but not like this. Some of the bodies had their flesh ripped away, their lifeless faces frozen in agony. Many of them he recognized as former servants to his master.
“Over here,” Ulda called from a dark corner.
Prin’s body tensed, his feet glued to the floor. His heart pounded in his ears as he made the decision to move forward. Angering Ulda at this point would not be wise. Whatever the sorcerer had planned for him, he would never be able to escape it. His only choice was to obey.
“Coming, Master,” Prin replied, moving through the darkened room.
Kneeling in the corner, her knees hugged to her chest, was a woman. Prin recognized her as a member of the cleaning staff. Her eyes were wide, pleading with him to help her. He could not. Looking away, he finally found his master, who was standing over the woman.
“I have done it!” Ulda shouted in elation. “It is a marvelous thing to behold!”
Prin slowly lowered his hand from his nose and bowed slightly before his master. Taking in the sorcerer’s appearance, he could scarcely believe how quickly the man had deteriorated. Always the picture of health and cleanliness, Ulda stood before him now in a state of utter chaos. His features were sunken, with dark lines beneath his eyes. The black robe he wore was wrinkled and stained with various tinctures, and his shoes were nonexistent. Since the sorcerer had not left the laboratory for any reason since becoming obsessed with his research, Prin suspected the stench in the room was due not only to the dead bodies.
“I am happy for you, Master,” Prin managed to say. He glanced again at the woman, who had not taken her eyes off him for an instant.
Ulda snapped his fingers, causing Prin to jump. He hoped his master had not noticed this reaction.
“Before I forget,” Ulda said as he rushed across the room. Digging in one of his coffers, he threw various items aside. Moving to the next, he repeated the procedure, but found the item he was searching for. “Here,” he said, returning to face his servant. In his hand were twelve small white crystals. Dumping them into Prin’s open hands, he said, “You must distribute these to my generals. I will use these crystals to issue my orders.”
Prin asked, “I thought you intended to be present on the battlefield, Master.” It was not his place to question Ulda’s actions, but Ulda had said more than once he would face his enemies in the flesh. It seemed his plans had changed.
“I won’t be able to,” Ulda said, turning around. Looki
ng over at the glowing orb on his table, he said, “I shall have to depend on the orb to see each regiment and how they are faring.”
“Understood, Master,” Prin responded.
“No, you don’t,” Ulda snapped. “I haven’t shown you yet!” His face grew agitated, and he grunted loudly as he moved to stand in front of the kneeling woman.
“Forgive me, Master,” Prin said, hoping to cool the situation. He could easily become next in Ulda’s search for lab rats.
Ulda ignored his apology. “This is why I can’t be present,” he explained. “I have to be here, away from the noise. I must concentrate. The procedure is difficult to perform from a distance.” A devious smile spread across the sorcerer’s face.
Prin stood solid as ice, his hands clasped behind his back. As he watched, Ulda shot a blast of energy at the woman, causing her neck to bend at an awkward angle. A look of surprise came over her face as she crumpled lifelessly to the floor. Prin resisted the urge to look away.
“But wait!” Ulda shouted, lifting up a finger. A pale yellow glow surrounded the woman’s body as she floated a few inches off the ground. As the light faded, she stood on her own feet and looked up at him.
“By all the gods,” Prin whispered, his eyes not leaving the sight before him. Rumors of dark magic had been handed down from the ages, but he had never heard of anyone reanimating the dead.
Ulda’s face beamed with pride as he turned to face his servant. “I’ve done it!” he shouted. “She lives once more!”
Prin could not help his fascination. How Ulda had managed such a feat was far beyond his ability to understand, but seeing it right before his eyes was a thing of wonder. Without realizing what he was doing, he reached out his hand to touch the arm of the woman. She felt cold, her skin pale and soft. Looking into her eyes he saw malice but no sign of life. Taking a step back, he withdrew his hand.
“With this technique perfected, my army cannot die,” Ulda said, still beaming.
“How many times can you raise the same person?” Prin asked, his voice audibly amazed.
“Infinitely,” Ulda said. Shooting another beam of energy at the woman, he slew her a second time. Her head smacked against the floor with an audible crack, blood seeping from the wound. Again the pale yellow light surrounded her, and she rose for a second time. She looked around the room, her dead eyes focusing on Prin.
It was then he noticed that the woman was not breathing. Her chest neither rose nor fell, and her staring eyes did not blink. Prin suspected she was only alive so long as Ulda willed it, but he could not be certain. He glanced over at the other bodies lying in the alcove.
Noticing his servant’s gaze, Ulda said, “Those were failed experiments.”
“Can you bring them back too?” Prin wondered.
“No,” he replied. “I’ve already extracted their essences for other work.”
Turning his focus back to the woman, Prin asked, “Do you have to focus on her permanently in order for her to live?”
Ulda shook his head. “That’s the beauty of it. Once she is raised, she acts upon my will until I command her to stop.”
“So each person you raise requires your full attention?”
“Not at all,” the sorcerer replied. “Before slaying her, I placed an enchantment on her. She is programmed to rise after being killed, and she will slay all Westerling Elves and Na’zorans by any means necessary.” He chuckled slightly, adding, “That leaves me free to focus on other matters.”
“So your soldiers will resuscitate on their own?” Prin asked.
“Most of them,” Ulda replied with a shrug. “The spell is proving more difficult on those who have been hybridized. The standard elven and human soldiers will rise on their own. The creatures I shall raise en masse through the use of my orb.”
“Amazing,” Prin commented.
“I can’t do it from too great a distance,” Ulda admitted. “But should a massive tidal wave happen to wipe out my army, I’ll be able to raise every one of them.”
Prin felt a cold chill run down his spine. The thought of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of undead creatures running around left him unsettled. What would become of them after the battle was won? Would he have to work side by side with them? He shuddered at the thought. These creatures served Ulda in life, and now they would serve him in death. “Master, do you draw out their souls when they are first slain?”
“No,” Ulda replied. “I must be present at the moment of death to extract a soul. That would be far too great a strain during battle. I can’t possibly be everywhere at once.” With a glance at his servant, he added, “Rest assured they will remain bound to my will by this new technique.”
“Could another sorcerer bind their souls?” Prin wondered. After all, the elves were known to have magic, and he was aware of at least three master sorcerers coming Ulda’s way. They would be killing plenty of Ulda’s creations, and they could probably bind essences as easily as his master did. If so, there could be a serious flaw in Ulda’s line of thinking.
“The technique of soul extraction is not widely known,” Ulda replied. “It is an art form—one that I’ve perfected. Our enemies have no knowledge of the procedure.” Briefly he remembered that Telorithan might be among them. He did have the knowledge, and it brought a twinge of fear to Ulda’s mind. Suddenly, River and Kaiya were not the greatest threats to Ulda’s plans. “You bring up some interesting ideas, Prin,” the sorcerer said. So far his servant had proved useful in a variety of matters. Perhaps he was skilled in battle strategy as well. “Your mind works on levels I hadn’t anticipated,” the sorcerer admitted
Prin felt uneasy, wondering if he had offended his master. Ulda could snap in a moment, putting an end to his life. “I only wish to be of assistance, Master,” Prin said, bowing his head.
“Indeed,” Ulda replied. Moving away from his servant, he approached the orb on his table. Willing it to show him River’s army, he gazed inside to view the men and women who were approaching. Scanning through their faces, he focused his attention only to the most powerful among them.
River and Kaiya appeared before him, as expected, and the earth mage was there as well. He still did not sense much in the way of magic from him, but he knew how true masters of earth drew their power as needed. Believing he was easily capable of handling these three, he moved on, his eyes finally falling upon Telorithan.
Ulda’s body tensed, and he held his breath for a moment before letting it out with a low growl. This man was a threat. He knew Ulda’s process for binding a soul, or at least he knew it centuries ago. Focusing his thoughts more intently to Telorithan, he sensed unbalance within the master of fire. Something was wrong with him, as it had been with River. Telorithan’s condition was different, however. Ulda did not truly understand it, but he sensed a duality in the elf, which he had never sensed in him before. The sorcerer appeared to have weakened over the years, and this was of great relief to Ulda. Telorithan would not pose the threat he had feared. His success was ensured.
Prin backed away, taking up a position outside his master’s door. When Ulda was gazing into the orb, it could take hours. Prin knew his presence would be ignored, whether he stayed or left. Standing in the hallway, he crossed his arms and awaited any orders that might come. At some point, Ulda would have to call for food, and Prin did not want to keep him waiting.
Ignoring the mounting needs of his body, Ulda continued to gaze into the orb. The elves and Na’zorans had combined their strength, and Ulda was surprised by how many soldiers they were bringing. To his count, there were thousands. He hadn’t expected that. Apparently the population of Na’zora had grown in the past thirty years. That could be of benefit to Ulda, as he considered them a good source of basic labor.
The army moved with surprising speed, and Ulda realized they must be using magic to aid them in their journey. He laughed to himself, “In a hurry to come and see me, aren’t you?” It was of no consequence. Whether they arrived sooner or later, he was ready. H
is plans were perfected, his army invincible. They would not stand against him for long.
The elemental masters only posed a threat to him should they be able to combine their powers in his presence. With Telorithan weakened, Ulda wasn’t certain he still counted as a master of fire. That would have to be determined in person. Though Ulda had no intention of getting near those four. He would stay at a distance, observing them and thwarting their efforts.
It was in his best interest to see that the masters were kept apart. His self-resurrecting army would do just that. Once these masters were aware that their own army was in grave danger, they would have to rush to their aid. That wouldn’t leave them much time to break Ulda’s defenses and enter his tower.
Continuing to observe the army in his orb, he watched as River dove into the ocean and crafted a bridge for the others to follow. Ulda watched with interest as the soldiers stepped onto the ocean’s surface and found it solid. Chuckling to himself, he said, “Nice trick, but it won’t save you.”
Ulda sat back, certain that his victory was at hand. The stress and anxiety he had felt over the past few days was fading. All he had to do now was wait.
Chapter 22
Ulda’s tower stood imposing in the distance as the army approached Ral’nassa. Gathering their forces on the beach, the units made ready for the attack. River, Kaiya, Mel, and Telorithan stood together, charting the path they would take to the tower.
Isandra strode to her father’s side, knowing his destination. “I will escort you to the tower,” she said, her sword already drawn.
River knew better than to deny her the privilege. Even if he protested, she would insist on cutting a path for her father to traverse safely. Swallowing his argument, he nodded his acceptance of her offer.
King Rykon joined them, his eyes burning with the fire of revenge. “We will provide cover for you,” he said. “Whatever happens, Ulda must be stopped.”