by J. B. Jenn
He placed the blade back into its sheath. If everything went according to plan, he wouldn’t need the blade. However, he was one of those men who always planned for the worst to happen. Things rarely happened the way he wanted them to. He enjoyed being prepared for the worst, but hoping for the best.
Halfway through the night, Ogden woke to a shrill noise. It sounded as if someone was screaming in the distance. He clutched the sword at his side and took in a deep breath. Listening. Waiting. The scream came again. He slipped out of the tree. His feet hit the dirt with minimal noise. He crept around one of the trees, hoping beyond hope he could see something in the surrounding darkness. His heart raced.
As he inched forward, the scream came again but ended with such abruptness, Ogden stopped. His breath caught in his throat. He wished he could have acted faster. He could have saved the person’s life. The only problem was he couldn’t see a thing. It was too dark with the sliver of a moon showing tonight and the partial cloud cover.
Another scream came. This time, it was male. Ogden closed his eyes. Movement seemed beyond him.
“Help!” someone else screamed. “Please!”
A scuffle in the distance sounded. Even if he were to try to help, he didn’t think he could. It was too dark. He had no idea where the people were. They sounded far off.
He inched backward, feeling useless. Dying tonight would answer none of the questions he had and would leave the people of Yul at risk.
“I’m so sorry.” He prayed that whatever was out there killing people didn’t hear him.
Time crawled as Ogden sat in a tree once again, listening to his surroundings. The strange sword, vibrating with an eagerness, was clutched in his hand. Through the night, there were other screams and others begging for help or mercy. Whatever was killing them was silent. Never responding. Never seeming to make a noise. More than anything else, the silence of the killer put more fear into him.
When the sun was peaking over the horizon and he found the courage to move again, he dropped to the ground. He hoped that whatever had killed those people wouldn’t see him.
Kenokel was closer than he had thought it last night. The city was just over the hill. He arrived in the center of the ruins just before midday. His eyes scanned the buildings. He didn’t see a single one intact. As he had ventured into the center of the city, it was all the same. Ruined building after ruined building.
He knew the dying screams from last night belonged to the people of Cascade. They were the ones who had survived the initial attack. The ones who were attempting to escape with their lives, hoping to go unseen into the night. Ogden shook his head. Poor souls.
“This is troubling.”
Ogden sighed, closing his eyes at the familiar voice. “What are you doing here, Gray? You had no business following me.”
“Perhaps not, but I thought you might need the help.”
Ogden spun on him. “No. You thought you could take charge like you always try to. This wasn’t your assignment. You’re jeopardizing everything. You are supposed to patrol Yul. More than ever that is an important job. Who is filling in for you?” He wished he could speak louder than an angry whisper.
“My second in command.”
A dreadful, deep wailing sounded before Ogden could continue to reprimand him. It almost sounded like laughter. The two ducked behind a crumbling wall. Ogden peaked up over the edge and saw a large… He wasn’t quite certain what he was looking at. Man? Creature? A mixture of both? The only thing he could identify was it had no face.
There were curved horns sticking out of the top of its head. Twisted horns came out from the bottom of its square jaw, but there were no ears, no nose, and seemingly no mouth. The creature stood over ten feet tall. There were only three fingers on each hand. Two large toes were on massive feet supporting the creature’s weight. The creature assaulted every one of Ogden’s senses.
Ogden turned toward Gray who was also staring at the creature, barely breathing. He pulled the man down into hiding again.
“Go,” he whispered. When he saw denial in the man’s eyes, he continued. “It already knows we’re here. Tell King Zavad what you saw here today. I’ll try to distract it from you. Yul has to know.”
Gray clutched the sword at his side. “I can’t leave you here.”
“Go,” Ogden hissed. “Don’t argue. The thing will see you.” As he spoke, Ogden knew he was speaking the truth. “Go before it’s too late.”
Gray did as he was told. Ogden rose from his place of hiding. As his eyes locked onto the massive black monster, he could feel the weapon at his hip vibrating. Without thinking, he took hold of the sword and walked toward the monster.
The creature was quick. Quicker than he imagined it for how large it was. As it moved toward him, it was nothing but a spinning blur. Behind him, Ogden heard Gray gasp and hoped the man would keep moving.
The monster stopped in front of Ogden. Its black eyes traveled down the length of him, assessing him. He seemed confused. Then, his eyes landed on the sword. Ogden watched its eyes narrow.
“A Servant?” the creature asked. The sound came from its thick throat.
Ogden blinked for a moment. “No. I’m just a man.” He wasn’t certain what the monster had meant.
Ogden raised the purple blade, still surprised at its light weight. He had no idea why the creature seemed scared of the sword, but he planned to find out why. A large, three fingered hand backhanded him, sending him crashing into rubble.
Ogden picked himself up with a groan. It seemed to surprise the monster he hadn’t died. All he had sustained were scrapes, cuts, and bruises. He doubted the next time he would be so fortunate.
He charged the beast, knowing he had to give Gray as much time as he could. The sword continued to vibrate in his hand, sending an urgency through his entire body. Ogden swung, carrying through with his body weight. The sword sank into the creature’s black body making it howl and sweep his massive hand.
Ogden ducked under the hand, gripping the sword tighter and swung again. The blade cut through its flesh. The monster’s hand hit him this time, sending him flying backwards once again. As he flew through the air, he heard the monster howl.
He landed against the side of a building. From where he lay, he could see dark green blood flowing from the monster’s side. At least he could die knowing the creature was killable. He hoped Gray had seen everything but was far enough away to escape.
Rosha
As they made their way through the sand, Rosha stumbled. They needed food, water, and more importantly rest. She was so tired. She was beginning to lose control of her magic. She could feel it slipping away from her.
Trester’s footing faltered, but he refused to stop. Another hour passed before she collapsed. Trester looked back at her with irritation.
“I need to rest.”
Trester sat down beside her. For several moments, he said nothing. His eyes scanned the desert, stopping at each and every struggling shrub. Rosha could tell he hadn’t thought traveling through the desert during the winter would be so problematic. The air was dry, sucking moisture from them.
“What are we going to do?” she asked, licking her dry lips. She hated the Desert and its lack of water.
Trester formed water in the middle of his palm. Rosha tilted her head back and allowed him to drip the water into her mouth. It was the only thing keeping them alive, but Trester was tiring. She could see it.
“You’re exhausted. We haven’t eaten in a few days. You can’t keep us supplied in water forever.”
“I know,” he said, giving a sigh. “We don’t exactly have an option, do we?”
Rosha rose. Her legs wobbled under her. Just as she thought she could take a few more steps, her legs gave out. She gasped, feeling her magic start to wane. Trester shook his head as he scanned the vast amount of sand.
“We’ll rest for a bit.” Silence passed between them for several long moments before he spoke again. “Tonight is going to be cold.”
Rosha nodded though she was distracted. Mercea was in Dawn Stone. As she stared into the distant sand, she wondered if the Servant would survive the process. Their plans needed her to survive it. Rosha looked over at Trester, thinking about killing him. However, something stayed her hand, telling her now was not the right time. As she turned her gaze from him, she saw dust in the distance.
“Look.” She pointed toward the dust trail. She saw the excitement in his eyes. “Do you think they know we’re here?”
“Maybe. If not, they’re about to.”
Trester was on his feet and on the move. Although he was exhausted, he sprinted forward. Rosha followed behind, uncertain where he had gotten the energy. He was shouting at them now.
The horses skittered to a stop. The Desert soldiers grabbed the hilts of their weapons. Trester held his hands in the air.
“Please.” Rosha fell to her knees. “Please.” The men came at her. One of them reached down for her. “Don’t touch me,” she screamed. Rosha froze, uncertain what had overcome her. She knew she was exhausted, but that was no excuse. The man frowned at her.
“Let me help you,” he said, handing her his canteen.
Rosha stared at him, realizing she was about to lose control over her magic. She reached for the canteen, licking her dry lips. Maybe replenishing herself would help sustain her a little longer. The water dripped down her chin. She looked about the men. If she lost control here, everything would be ruined. She looked to Trester pleadingly.
“They’re here to help,” he said. He turned to the soldiers. “Please, forgive her. We haven’t slept in days. We’re exhausted, hungry, and so thirsty.” Trester knelt beside her. His brilliant blue eyes looked to her questioningly. “We’re safe now.”
Rosha met his eyes before allowing the blackness to take her, hoping her magic could hold out longer.
Casman
They had crossed into Carthoda over four days ago. Their first destination was a small town called Soma. It was home to about two thousand people. As the three stepped into the center of town, it seemed odd no one was out. It was in the middle of the day and the temperature wasn’t so cold as to drive everyone inside. Yet, they didn’t see a soul.
Casman scanned the area. Looking toward Gys, he motioned him to the right and then he motioned Vef to the left. Both men went to investigate.
Casman moved forward. He knocked on a door of a nearby house. There was no answer. He knocked again. Still, no answer. When he turned and looked toward the other two, they shrugged, having received the same. They checked a few more homes and shops before breaking into a few of them. Nothing. It seemed as if Soma was abandoned. Casman surveyed the surroundings again, uncertain what any of it meant. All he knew was the fear he felt.
“Now what?” Vef asked.
“We move on,” Casman stated, scanning the empty streets again, hoping to see signs of anyone. “Our objective remains the same. If there isn’t anything here to discover, we move onto the next town. Although an entire town abandoned is certainly something.”
“We should look around first, sir,” Vef countered. “We should make sure there’s no one here in need of our help.”
Casman hated the idea as his fear grew, but nodded, telling himself such fear was irrational. There was nothing here. Soma was abandoned. The only thing searching the buildings could give them was some idea as to where everyone had gone. He doubted they’d find anything significant.
A few of the dining areas in the buildings still had food on the table, rotting and molding. Whatever had happened to the town was a few days ago and seemed sudden.
Casman swallowed. Something was wrong. He could sense it deep within himself. A shudder ran down the length of his spine.
“What do you think happened to them? Do you think Carthoda soldiers rounded them up to make them serve in the army?” Gys asked, looking about. “It’d explain everything we’re seeing.”
“Not quite,” Casman said, furrowing his brow. “If that had happened, where are the women and children? Surely they would have been left behind.” He wished Ogden was here. The man would have a better read on the situation. “We should move on.”
They left the houses the way they had found them. Just outside of Soma, Casman turned toward the town again, wondering what had happened. He had hoped to find answers here and didn’t relish the idea of venturing further into Carthoda.
If they survived this, he planned to suggest to King Zavad they have men posted in every kingdom. Men who could send back information. If one of them went silent then they could send a scouting party to discover what had happened. Too bad none of them had thought of it before this.
Gray
Ogden had taken a second hit and disappeared from sight. There was nothing he could do about it. He had to get back to King Zavad with news of what they had found. As he fled, running until his legs could no longer support him, walking until he could run again, he felt as if he’d gotten Ogden killed. If he had just listened to the man, Ogden would still be alive.
There was a lot of explaining to do. King Zavad wouldn’t like that one of his best scouts had died. He would like it less to find he was responsible for it. Gray knew he needed to find a plausible explanation as to why he was there. King Zavad couldn’t know he had cost the man his life and had nearly ruined everything. The king already didn’t care for him. But he had no idea what to tell his king.
Kenokel was no longer in sight. Relief washed over him. He had survived. He was thankful he had left his patrol back in Yul. If he hadn’t, he would have gotten them killed, too. He took in a deep breath.
Looking back in the direction he had come, he wondered why Ogden had sacrificed himself. Surely there was a way for them both to survive. He should have never allowed him to do it, but he had been so terrified. He hadn’t been thinking straight. He vowed to never let it happen again.
Gray hung his head in defeat for a moment. When he looked up, he focused his gaze on the horizon. Determination settled in and he continued forward.
After half a day, he saw a group of people ahead. The closer he came, the more worn down and dirty they appeared. He hurried forward, hoping they had more answers as to what had happened. Since Ogden couldn’t finish his assignment, he’d do it for him. He owed the man that.
“Hello!”
A few of them turned to greet him with solemn, blank stares. Others glanced toward him with indifference.
“What do you want?” one of them demanded. “If you aren’t here to help us then leave. We’ve been through enough.” The man grabbed the hilt of his sword. “If you’re here for what few belongings we have left, you’ll have a fight on your hands. We don’t appreciate people who take advantage of the unfortunate and weak.”
“I’m a man of Yul,” Gray said. “We heard disturbing reports about what happened to Kenokel. I was just there. One of my men was killed by a… whatever that thing is. Can you tell me what it is and what happened?”
The man stared at him sourly. At first Gray thought he wouldn’t answer, but then he spoke in a hollow voice.
“That thing, that monster, has been in Kenokel for a month now. Most of the destruction to the city happened in one day. Just one blood filled day. If the monster sees someone, he kills them without hesitation. I don’t know why he stays. There’s nothing left. There’s hardly anyone left alive. The Relentless have done a lot in helping people get out. The smaller ones have spread throughout the kingdom, killing people. The Relentless are the only ones out here helping any of us.” The man shook his head. “Tell your coward of a king if he wants to help, send soldiers.”
“Didn’t the soldiers try to fight it?” Gray asked. Disbelief sat in his voice. “Why so much destruction?”
“On the first day it appeared, our soldiers fought and fought, but were slaughtered. The beast came from the forest, surprising everyone. Their weapons couldn’t touch it. Even magic couldn’t hurt it. The only thing left to do was flee. The little ones the monst
er brought with it can be killed. Not without a price though. Look what their blood does to our blades.” He drew his weapon.
Gray stared at the weapon. The blade had numerous holes in it and the once smooth edge was jagged. A sinking feeling of desperation hit him.
“Wait.” He shook his head. “One of our soldiers hurt it.”
“I don’t see how. Our soldiers are excellent at what they do. The soldiers from Yul? They’re a joke. Everyone knows the people of Yul are cowards who prefer their damned books.
“Our soldiers couldn’t hurt it. Arrows bounced off of it. The damn thing absorbed magic. Swords couldn’t cut it, if they could even get close enough to try. Many good men and women died trying. We have remained on the outskirts of town, darting in to save who we can and what we can. I’m not sure there are many more to save, but Commander Querra insists we stay.”
“Commander Querra? Where is she? Can I speak with her?”
The man laughed. “Not likely. She moves about the entire kingdom. She and her men reinforce areas which have been hit hard by the little monsters. I’m sorry, but you’re on your own.” The man looked to him. “Report back to your king about what has happened here if you must. However, we can always use another strong sword arm.”
Gray remained silent. He knew he wasn’t going to stay. He looked toward the man with earnest. “If you leave, which is advisable after what I witnessed, I’m certain King Zavad will take all of you in.” Gray met the man’s eyes. “Come with me. Save some more lives. Save your lives.”
The man laughed again. “My place is here. I won’t abandon anyone in need.”
Gray nodded. As he turned his back on them, he felt selfish. He wanted to stay, but he had to return to King Zavad. He had to tell him about the horrors in Cascade and help prepare the people of Yul for a possible attack.