Ra' van (Book Three of the Items Trilogy)

by H. Lee Morgan, Jr

  She grabbed the handle and pushed the door open.

  “Fool! I told you not to disturb us or have you forgotten there is a war going on!” A man wearing expensive livery shouted, but went rigid when he stopped speaking when he realized he wasn’t yelling at someone he knew.

  Six men sat around a table which a map of Central City stood out prominently for Alex remembered many routes and building for he made a similar map when working out how to rescue his love. Four men looked to be in a trance. The last man had the look of a general.

  “Who are you and what are you doing in my home!?” The expensively clad man demanded.

  Lady Hanna spoke in a steely voice. “Your home? Sleed, you kill my father and my family and you think this place is yours? This is my home and I’m taking it back!” and before anyone could react she took a sudden step forward and touched her blue want to his person and stepped back to watch in satisfaction as his skin at first turned bright pink and spread out quickly. The skin then began turning purple and crystallizing blood cells began exploding, freezing him to the core within seconds. A slight scream cut short as his lungs froze solid and his left arm fell, shattering like ice against the unforgiving ground.

  Only a moment passed before the general tried screaming for aid, but Alex stormed in the room and knocked him out. The other four men remained oblivious to their surroundings. Hanna stood there savoring the death of her most hated enemy while Lily stepped around her and the prize she has wished to have for many years.

  “Do you think?” Lily asked vaguely, pointing to the four.

  “It isn’t all of them, but the concentration their under gives little doubt that they are seers and our deadliest of adversaries. The others Angie has spoken of must be somewhere else. It makes sense, don’t put your best assets all in one place. Let us make them work harder.” Together they took out the four Royal Guard seers, hoping Angie and the others will finally gain an edge should their mission fail.

  They looked at the map carefully, realizing the general was of the specialist class and gave orders from what the seers could gleam insight. Alex felt glad that certain items were useless against him, especially fortune tellers, otherwise they might have known of the infiltration and set up a trap.

  “Look at this!” Lily said gleefully. “They have ordered more troops to the west and south areas of the wall, but here in between looks to be an exploitable weakness. The numbers there are the thinnest and closest to our men.”

  “Not only that,” Alex grinned back. “it is between our two heaviest defensive lines and would afford both ends have an equal chance to converge on one spot here at the southwest. We couldn’t have asked for better fortune.”

  “As I said, and even better than imagined.” Hanna laughed. “But this is where we must part. I have lived up to my bargain with Allahandra. Now it is up to you to free my city. Best of luck. It has been a pleasure.”

  “What are you going to do now?” Lily asked, skirting around the frozen man, but even with the most subtle breeze unbalanced Sleed and he fell, completely shattering into thousands of icy chunks.

  Lady Hanna smiled. “I’m going to remove the filth Sleed corrupted in my home. But before that I must find my childhood friend and make sure she is well. Do not fear, I am safe enough now. Go!”

  Alex and the others gave their thanks and ran down stairs. Marlin heard their rush and met them by the front door.

  As for the two guards by the gate, Alex knocked them out far too quickly to comprehend and exited through. Ava flew low to avoid detection while Shade and Crest remained in their shadows. Very few people walked the streets as it now remained under martial law, but none saw Alex and the others as they dove into a nearby alley and made their way to the wall.

  Chapter 11

  “Wait!” Alex said quietly when he heard the urgent marching of twenty Royal Guard approaching their current position. He quickly had the others press themselves into the shadows and hide behind a small wooden crate that reached ones hip in height. Just as they all made it behind him and held still the lead warrior passed the mouth of the narrow alley.

  They sighed in relief as the last of the patrol passed their hiding spot without one looking in their direction for anything suspicious.

  Royal Guard patrols had become much more frequent as they moved closer to the wall. On four separate occasions one of them were spotted and before an alarm could be sounded either Alex or Shade had to take care of the problem. The most surprising event came from after moving around the enormous prison when not one guard stood stationed around it. They all expected that area to be a major problem, but Marlin figured that the Royal Guard had more urgent matters and sent all able bodied men to the walls defenses. It proved to be right.

  Mainly their group moved through narrow alleyways and stuck to areas that would offer cover. Shade and Crest remained in shadows and always moved ahead to make sure nothing would surprise them. Ava had little alternative except to fly or flit close to rooftops and skip from one building to the next so that she wouldn’t be spotted or would find stationed guards overlooking key areas that held great destructive promise for the men on high ground. They worked together and avoided a great many problems, but it took time out of their day.

  Passed mid-afternoon they crossed into the next alley after this last patrol crossed along one of the main roads and stopped. Sounds of battle grew more violent during their running and now it sounded too close. Ground vibrations revealed the attack from beyond remained constant.

  Reaching the edge of the shadows cast by the alley they all saw what they were here for. Large and thick stone walls stood about one hundred and fifty feet from the small houses they stood between. Two catapults stood atop the wall and together launched the contents in the recess. A dozen horsemen sat at the ready upon the road behind the wall while several score ran back and forth along the road and wall, deflecting incoming fire and returning the attack in kind.

  “There are much more than I thought.” Marlin commented when they backed away to come up with a reasonable plan.

  “But better than the numbers we saw back at Hanna’s estate, on the map.” Lily admitted and Marlin nodded when he first heard of the figures on the map.

  “We need to draw them away so that I can use my items, ya.” The lieutenant said softly so that the guards too near wouldn’t know anyone is hiding.

  “What do you mean? Can’t you simply throw them?” Marlin asked.

  The man shook his head. “You cannot expect much damage when applying explosives in such a way. To have the most effect I must be able to slide my items into deep holes or cracks, otherwise the explosion would do little more than make a lot of dust and noise. I must set them inside the wall in five separate spots within fifty feet to destroy the section of wall large enough to be useable. And to be successful I need my back guarded and somehow to have the holes bore so that they can be set properly.”

  “Let me see one.” Marlin queried and was handed over one of the pink cylinders from behind the lieutenant. He grabbed the black bobber and the cylinder and held one behind the other to say “It will be a tight fit, but I may be able to make the holes you need.”

  “Not alone.”And Alex explained what he meant. “Even with the maximum weight you put behind the bobber you won’t have enough speed to punch through that solid stone deeply enough with a single hit. We will have to work together to be sure this succeeds.”

  After all explanations came to an end and everyone knew their role Lily, Crest and Ava separated from the men and went south. The four males waited ten anxious minutes until they were sure the girls were in position. During the wait Marlin laid out enough line from the tip of his pole while Alex became accustomed to the immense weight the bobber took on. To Marlin the weight of the fist size bobber remained the same but to anyone else the greatest heaviness nearly weighed four hundred pounds.

  At the edge of the building Alex gently tossed the bobber up in his hand to guess just how much strength
would be needed, but just as the weight became accustomed he saw a flurry of pink petals rushing from the left. All the men on the ground turned to see the petals approaching, but before they reached the first person a piercing screech sped through the area as Ava yelled and focused as much of her voice to the bulk of men. Most fell instantly and even Alex and the other three felt themselves affected.

  It’s time. Alex knew and threw the weighty bobber with all his might and struck the wall with a loud crash. Marlin yanked the bobber out of the hole just as the first horn blew, signaling hostiles behind the wall. Alex then saw Lily atop Crest, wading into battle to create much carnage. Already her curved short sword had grown two feet from drinking blood while pink and razor sharp petals cut down several men trying to take her down. She wore a grin that frightened the most hardened men when she entered a bloody battle. Crest scythed down any who came within range, but thankfully Ava’s shriek took out a great number.

  He threw the bobber from the alley three more times before spotting a flurry of movement as dozens of cavalry mounted warriors bared down upon them. Shade took off to help his mate and ripped the heads off two horses before reaching the girls. And just as the bobber returned Alex threw it one last time, finishing off the row of knee high holes that were spaced just as the lieutenant requested.

  “Go!” Alex ordered the lieutenant because it was necessary for the man wouldn’t do anything without explicit orders to keep the opposition from knowing the plan.

  Drawing his sword, Alex smiled as the familiar and comforting ring of the perfectly balance blade came alive. Alex and Marlin began running with the lieutenant and fought off the few who understood what was about to happen and sought to intervene. Between the two friends none survived or got close to the item wielding explosive expert.

  Like Marlin said, it would be a tight fit, but the cylinders slid deeply into the created holes. The lieutenant found a stick earlier and pushed the items two more yards deeper. They then ran to the next while Lily, Ava and the Shadow Fangs fought dozens of men and were cut down. Arrows began raining from above and Alex grabbed several stone chips and threw them with enough force to blow through the men’s chests or knock the fight out of those who wore armor.

  When the fifth and final cylinder slid into the hole and be nearly impossible to remove Alex howled the command to retreat while wrapping the two men in each arm and run them to safety. Using an overhang, he jumped and landed on a nearby roof. A loud crash behind signaled Crest doing the same. Shade used his shadow for his mate barely jumped before her weight destroyed the ledge. Once everyone gathered they ran from rooftop to rooftop as how this poorer section had been built similarly and so close together. Arrows fired at them from below and from above as some Royal Guard found access to the roofs of the single story dwellings.

  “This is good enough!” The lieutenant yelled and they all stopped to watch as he closed his eyes.

  Then from four hundred feet away they watched as a large section of wall bulged and blew skyward, sending the two catapults, dozens of men and stone in every direction. Flame and stone exploded, creating a not too subtle reaction for everyone. They had to drop as huge hunks of debris and a shockwave rolled over them. For added safety Shade put himself closest and turned his broad side and armor-like fur to protect everyone.

  Ringing in their ears didn’t stop them from looking over Shade as falling debris littered the area in less frequency. Over a hundred feet of wall now stood gaping, but two houses from them to the ten closest to the detonation were completely devastated. There wasn’t any movement from within the blast radius and all attacks upon their persons abruptly ended.

  A solid silence gripped the area for a moment until a dull horn blast penetrated the incessant ringing in their ears. More calls to arms became louder from blown horns as the Royal Guard fought to plug the breach.

  Alex turned to the others and yelled for them to understand “WE MUST KEEP THE HOLE OPEN! IT WILL BE OUR ONLY CHANCE TO TAKE THE CITY!” Even though the words weren’t clear the message was.

  All of them jumped off the roof and rushed to the opening in the wall. At the moment the area remained clear, but beyond the moat Freelan were running at a mad dash to the opening. The first to arrive were the Shadow Fang forces and the moat did little to hinder their jump across the new opening and add numbers, but when they realized it was Alex or Shade cheers went up and he cut them short, ordering the men and fiends to keep the area open at all costs until the full might of Freelan could enter. Many acknowledged him and did as ordered.

  Alex and the others of his pack fought with the men at the front as over a hundred men on horseback charged. They were quickly dealt with and like Rakkian said, in five minutes warriors of Freelan and Alluan laid down siege ladders and boards, making a bridge so that hundreds and hundreds began flooding into the city now that a chink in the city’s armor had been revealed. Cries of battle and clashing of steel and item became dulling to the senses as ten minutes passed before a familiar Shadow Fang lord and rider grinned widely. Beta respectfully bowed to his High Alpha as Rakkian gloated “I knew you could get the job done! Now is the time to press our advantage!”

  “I agree! My pack will go to where the heaviest resistance is being put up. I’ll take the western side If you take the south.” Alex offered.

  “You’re a mind reader now huh?” The general laughed and raised his axe. “Good luck. I’ll send a large force with you. Quinn!” He yelled and a moment later the man wielding a large, barbed lance galloped over, atop the back of the Beran lord Teem. The leader of the Beran prides, in absence if his father Elo, dipped his head deeply enough to touch his fangs to his chest.

  “Sir!” Quinn said.

  “Take half of the Shadow Fangs and Beran prides to secure the western perimeter and follow under Alex’s orders.” Quinn nodded and shouted just loudly enough to the other officers to know the change.

  Clift arrived fully armored without a rider and any who dared to approach were either bit or met with hoof. Marlin patted his dear friend’s neck and mounted.

  Shade waited less than two minutes before a sizeable force waited by his flank. Alex jumped on and everyone began racing along the perimeter. Some had found a way to run along the wall and take out any siege equipment. They met resistance not long after they began the run and fought with tooth, claw and weapon until the enemy either died or dropped their weapon and surrendered. Seeing huge, angry fiends and bloodied men bathed not in their own blood gave more of the Guard dread and forced even more to surrender.

  Ava had to fall back because she could no longer screech, but now that a way had been created many Fury came in and began shrieking the larger enemy forces.

  Many died, most were of the unprepared Royal Guard.

  It took nearly a half hour till Alex and those that followed met the full force sent down from the western wall. Outnumbered three to one, but thanks to the abilities of the fiends and the leadership by action of Alex, the whole force took only ten minutes to crush. On several occasions Alex had to intervene when Freelan began killing unarmed men and had those who perpetrated acts against his orders detained and also allowed those who surrendered their weapons to be spared. The hard men, completely taken in by Runkamon’s lies of sacrifice fought vainly and died doing something that nature didn’t create. Suicide goes against life.

  It took until nightfall to disarm and dis-item most of Royal Guard and batteries. Battles still raged within the dimming city, but they were quickly ended and were becoming smaller in size. Several homes were blazing as well, some died inside before help could come.

  At one point about fifteen fighters took a blocked alleyway for defense and they knew only one or two could enter the alley to fight. But nothing is usual in battle for a Furion and their partners. Alex, his pack and a squad of fifteen other fiends and their partners stood outside the alley, judging the mettle of the men. They weren’t giving up or leaving, that became clear.

  “You go high and I g
o low?” Shade finally offered with a grin, his twelve inch saber-like teeth glistened.

  “Alright then.” Alex confirmed while his sword’s mist continued surrounding it, showing how it had recently fed. To the men he warned “You’ve given me no alternative!” and ran.

  The space between the houses were just far enough apart as he closed the distance, making sure all eyes were on him. He then jumped as the man in front swung his sword. Achieving a great range of flexibility Alex did a serious split, placing one solid foot to either side of the houses for support and bent downward to strike with his sword. Never before had these men seen a person fight from such an angle while supporting himself in such an unorthodox way.

  Distracted, the men didn’t see Shade half envelop himself within shadow and plowed himself into the alley. He used his large skull like a ram and plowed through the men as if they were saplings.

  Unbalanced and uncoordinated Alex struck with his blazing swords in a misting red blur as he dropped men by each swift sword stroke. By the time he finished only five captives walked out alive and under Shade’s large and hungry eyes.

  During the many meetings and discussions with Allahandra, all officers knew that every war prisoner were to be led to the prison as it currently stood to hold all Royal Guards securely.

  Along the way to escort this latest batch of prisoners Alex heard a pillaging crash, followed by a woman’s terrifying scream and racking sobs within a nearby home and went to investigate.

  Inside he found Freelan colored men ransacking the house and one man currently raping a woman. Livid would be the closest description to Alex’s reaction. The man in the act of raping found himself crashing into the opposite wall of the room with a broken neck while the other three lost their dominant hand for thievery. “Let it be known from now on” Alex declared in his rage at such a heinous act. “that pillaging from the people of captured cities will lose a hand by my blade and rapists will be killed by my hand!” And then Alex grabbed the neck of one of the men and forced his Dominance upon him. The severed stump became secondary to the thief’s immediate concerns. “You, go find and tell Allahandra or General Rakkian of what transpired here and all illegal acts you have participated in. Furthermore have them know what I just ordered and have the word spread throughout the ranks. Leave and never stand before me again!”