by Matt Moss
“Given the first chance, I will gladly deliver that message to him for you,” Rico said before draining his cup. Jennie smiled in reply and that warmed his heart. In truth though, Lucian was the last thing on his mind. He was here for one thing. He wanted Victor.
He sat his cup down and stood to leave. “I won’t trouble you any more tonight.”
“You’re no trouble, really. Please, stay.”
Damn, if her eyes aren’t convincing…
“I can’t. I meet with the guilds in the morning to discuss our next move.”
She frowned. “You’re staying in Kingsport?”
“Yea, why?”
“You haven’t heard about Victor’s plan have you?” She put a hand to her mouth.
“Heard, what?”
“Victor marches in the morning. Tomorrow he goes to war against governor Maximus and the independent cities. Word’s all over town.”
Rico gave her one last look before rushing out the door. He barely gathered his things.
He didn’t even say goodbye.
TWENTY EIGHT
The battlefield lay silent as both armies stood in defiance of each other under a gray-filled sky. A crisp wind blew from the north, bringing promise of a heavy rain. On the other side of the Crossing, the land lay flat in a valley with the mountains at the invading army’s back. Kingsport was a half day’s ride, and by Maximus’s plan, he would be chasing the defeated army as they retreated to the safety of their walls, picking off the wounded and tired along the way.
The commander of the independent cities paced back and forth atop his silver steed in front of the army that he had gathered from soldiers, tradesmen, fathers, and husbands. Free men, each and every one. He surveyed Victor’s army, taking a quick count in his head. Victor outnumbered him by a long shot, but that didn’t concern Maximus — he had the better men. That would be the difference in the outcome.
He had heard of the priest’s powers, but he knew the Almighty was on his side. In knowing that, no man could stand against them. He looked to his general, Brandon. Brandon returned a confident nod to his commander. Maximus turned back to his men.
“Today, we stand for all that is right and just in the world. We stand as free men and in defiance of tyranny.” Maximus met each soldier’s eye as he rode down the line. A crisp wind blew across the land, and Maximus shouted to the men. “Every one of you have something to live for. Something to die for! Let your voices be heard throughout the heavens that on this day, freedom will forever be free! With flesh and blood we offer that promise to our enemy.” Adorned in armor, he raised his spear. “Today, our actions will echo through eternity!”
The men raised the voices along with their weapons. Even the Almighty would have heard the war cry that came from the battlefield on that day.
Rico stood a stone’s throw away from Victor. The king was busy surveying the invading army and barking orders to his generals before each one ran back to rejoin their troupe. Never before had there been such an army gathered in the kingdom. Not even the War of Stones claimed this many men to war.
Rico blended into Victor’s army perfectly. His plan to join the ranks was out of impulse, and the only thing he could think of at the time to get close to Victor. He shook his head, thinking it to be one of the dumbest ideas he’d ever had.
Keep your enemies closer.
He had met a soldier at the bar after leaving Jennie’s the night before, and paid him handsomely for his armor and position. Rico studied the man’s speech and demeanor — albeit the man was drunk — so that he could pass as him on the battlefield. With helmet and armor on, he felt comfortable if anyone questioned his identity. It was by good fortune that this man was a higher ranking soldier with a steep debt to pay. The man’s rank was the reason that Rico was so close to Victor. So close that his hand twitched, desperately wanting to reach for a blade.
He steadied himself. Patience. The time will come.
He saw the archers move into formation. A thousand men with longbows filed throughout the front lines and made ready, plunging an armful of arrows into the soggy ground.
Shit. Rico despised warfare with the bow. It wasn’t because it wasn’t lethal, he loathed it because it was cowardice. There was no skill to it, just blind luck — two armies firing away at each other, hoping that enough bodies would drop before sending in the calvary. He preferred to test a man’s mettle with steel in hand.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Victor raise his hand. He threw it down, signaling the bowmen to unleash hell. A volley of death filled the sky, the black cloud rained down upon Maximus’s army.
“Again!” Victor commanded. “Hammer them with everything you have!” The king smirked before calling to his general nearby. “They don’t even have archers. I’m surprised they aren’t armed with pitchforks and shovels.” The general remained unmoved as he stared down the battlefield. It was at that moment that Rico recognized the man — Karn, the giant that almost killed him on the palace steps. The giant that killed Stubbs.
Rico set his jaw and threw his gaze back to the bowmen that fired away with abandon. He also saw that Maximus’s army barely lost men to the volley due to the carapace of shields that protected them. It didn’t take long before the arrows ran out and Victor cursed the incompetence of the bowmen.
Maximus emerged onto the arrow riddled ground and signaled his men to march. The command caught Victor by surprise since he half expected a surprise volley of arrow fire in return, though he didn’t see any archers.
“Infantry, march!” the king commanded. “For the Religion! Leave no man alive!” Thousands of men stamped the ground with their spears as the bowmen retreated behind the ranks. The ground shook with their steps as the march turned into a jog. As they approached Maximus’s awaiting army, they broke out into a run, sounding a war cry in their wake.
The free men stopped the march and held their ground. Maximus stood in front of the line, waiting. As Victor’s army was fast approaching, Maximus raised his arm.
Rico smiled, knowing that the commander of the free army had Victor right where he wanted him.
As the screaming men descended upon them, Maximus signaled his men. “Archers, now!” Bowmen suddenly appeared from out of the ground and took a quick formation. In the space of a two heartbeats, hundreds of arrows flew and pierced through flesh and bone. Countless men fell as the arrows filled their bodies, and countless more tripped over them to crash upon the ground. The rain of death continued until a field of screaming, dying men was all that remained.
Rico stole a glance at Victor who remained unreadable, but clearly brooding on the inside because he had been outmaneuvered on the first strike. Victor had sorely underestimated Maximus, and Victor knew it. He barked orders at Karn, to which the giant turned to question.
“I don’t care how many we’ve lost!” Victor yelled loud enough so that everyone within an earshot could hear. “They are out of arrows and we have the advantage of surprise on our side. Atlas’s army will turn and leave when Maximus needs him the most. Send everything you have, general, or do I have to give the command myself!” Victor glared at Karn, causing the big man to swallow his pride.
“You heard him. Let’s go!” Karn barked at the men.
The army stood ready as Karn took his place in the front of the lines, prepared to lead the attack. He raised his massive sword, then dropped it, giving the command to march.
Rico watched as the field of men in front of him began to funnel onto the battlefield. His turn was coming, and he didn’t want to go. He didn’t want to kill any of these people; he wasn’t here for them. But he knew that killing was inevitable. “Every war has collateral damage,” Master Coll once said. “The good, the bad, the innocent — on the killing fields, it doesn’t matter. Death doesn’t care.”
Rico felt his blood rise the way it always did before a fight. He shuffled his feet, making ready to go as it was almost his time.
Suddenly, something tugged at his gut, caus
ing him to pause.
Something didn’t feel right to him. Too quick, a cold chill ran down his spine. He glanced towards Victor and found the source of his discomfort. Four people he’d never seen before were standing on both sides of the high priest, dressed in battle leathers instead of the typical iron or steel mail. Something wasn’t right about them, something that Rico couldn’t put his finger on. One of them turned his head and looked to Rico, meeting his eye. The cold, icy feeling returned.
The eyes… they’re not human!
“Let’s go,” a soldier said and shoved Rico from behind. “Move it!”
Rico broke his stare and fell into rank. As his steps turned into a jog, he couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling. Whatever those things were, they were with Victor.
Shit. I got a bad feeling about this.
The war cry came from the front line as they broke into a run. Maximus’s army was at a dead sprint with him in front, and they bellowed a cry in return that paled in comparison. Rico began to transition to the outside of the lines — somewhere out of the madness where he could pick his fights and survey the battle. Hopefully he wouldn’t have to kill too many.
Two massive forces, both made of flesh, blood, and steel, were on a collision course with one another that shook the very earth beneath them. With the gap coming to a close, the men raised their weapons.
“You bastard!” a man cried from his back, desperately reaching for Rico’s neck. Rico drove his weight down and felt the knife break through the bones in the man’s chest. Exhausted, Rico stood and wiped the blood and sweat from his face. He didn’t know how long the battle waged; all he remembered was the sound that the armies made upon collision. After that, it was a blur.
He looked around at the devastation. Death throes of short-lived men filled the air as they twisted and clawed on the ground like the horrors of hell. Dead bodies lie all around him on red, wet ground. How many men did he kill to be the last one standing? He didn’t want to think about it.
He breathed, feeling the thrill of battle leave him. Drained, but aware of his surroundings now, he looked for Victor. He was gone. His army was gone, along with Maximus and his men.
Rico rubbed his head, wondering what happened.
From behind the hilltop that Victor had chosen for his command post, he heard shouts. As the ringing in his ears died down, he could make out the faint sound of metal clashing over the green knoll. He began to sprint towards the sound of the fighting, carefully dodging the dead bodies and dying men that lay strewn along the ground.
Cresting the hill, he saw that Victor, and what remained of his army, were on the retreat with Maximus and a large group of soldiers in pursuit.
Why the hell is Victor running? He could soul tap, or use a stone, and kill them all himself. He saw Karn retreating as well. The giant could soul tap too and probably take out what was left of Maximus and his men.
In what seemed like a last move of desperation, Karn wheeled his men around and met the attackers. They were outnumbered and dropping fast, but Karn still refused to soul tap.
Rico broke into a run, sensing that something was off. As he approached, Maximus and his men were engaged with the last of Victor’s army. Karn, injured and bleeding all over, fought multiple attackers.
“Brandon, on me!” Maximus yelled after falling a foe in a spray of blood. “There, the big one,” the commander said pointing at Karn. They gathered three more men and began to cut their way towards the giant.
A screaming man came at Rico with sword high. Rico spun away from the chop and threw a backhand slash that cleaved into the back of the man’s neck with a crunch. He kept his eyes on Karn, letting his instincts take over as more men came at him. Through the screams and blood of his attackers, he noticed that the big man was indeed soul tapped. But he was holding back, barely using any of his power.
Maximus, Brandon, and three other men surrounded Karn.
The giant grinned at Maximus, then looked at Brandon. “I’ll be feasting on your corpse before the night is over,” he said, baring his bloody, pointed teeth.
The three soldiers made the first move, attacking Karn from the flanks. Brandon and Maximus jumped in as well, seeing the advantage in numbers. Karn fully tapped, killed two men with a swift motion from his sword and delivered a kick to Maximus’s chest that sent the commander flying. Brandon yelled and brought his sword down with rage, but Karn caught his wrist and broke it in his grip. The general fell to the ground in a scream of pain. The last soldier ran a blade through Karn that pierced through his shoulder instead of his back. In reply, the giant threw a backhanded slash. The man’s body fell to the ground in two equal parts.
Rico, having finished his last attacker, ran to meet Karn.
The giant looked at him with surprise. “Rico. Is that you?” He laughed, menacingly, as he held Brandon by the hand. “I can’t believe it. I thought you were buried under the Grand Highlands.”
“Sorry to disappoint you,” Rico replied, turning the sword in his hand. He surged towards Karn.
“Ahhhtt,” Karn cautioned and quickly grabbed Brandon by the shoulders, raising him up. Rico stopped.
“Don’t make me kill him, Rico,” Karn said, smiling. His grip tightened on the general, causing him to cry in agony.
Nearby, Maximus slowly rose to his feet.
“Maximus, are you alright?” Karn japed. “Thought that kick might have killed you, but there you stand.”
“Let him go,” Maximus growled and spat blood.
Karn’s smile faded to scorn. “No.”
Maximus raised his sword.
“Do it, commander!” Brandon shouted. “Kill this bastard!”
“Drop your sword,” Karn threatened. “Do it or he dies.”
Maximus was unmoved.
“Drop it,” Rico told Maximus.
Maximus reluctantly dropped his weapon, fearful for his friend’s life.
“That’s a good dog,” Karn said. “You too, Rico.”
Rico tossed it away. “Let him go, Karn. It’s over.”
Karn laughed. “Over. Over! You think this is over?”
“There’s nothing else to—” Rico’s words stopped as a shiver ran down his spine.
Cold. No. Beads of sweat instantly pooled on Rico’s forehead. Them! How could I have forgotten about the four!
From behind Karn, Victor and another man emerged from the tree line. They drew beside Karn.
“Maximus,” Victor said, his tone thick with empathy. “The great and mighty Maximus — leader of the free people.” Victor walked in front of Karn. “And who might this be?” he asked in reference to Brandon.
“Nobody,” Karn said before gripping both sides of the general’s head, his muscles tensing.
Brandon’s eyes were straining, his jaw, locked open from the pressure. “Maximus—” he cried before his skull cracked and crushed in the giant’s hands.
“Brandon! No!” Maximus moaned as he watched his friend collapse to the ground. He reached down and took a firm grasp on the sword before lunging towards Karn. Maximus threw all of his force and hate into the strike. Just as the sword was about to descend upon Karn’s neck, it fell short, Maximus’s body suddenly in stasis.
The man that was with Victor held his hand out, keeping Maximus from moving. The commander’s eyes went wide with terror.
“Rico?” Victor said in astonishment. “You’re alive!” He walked to put a hand on Maximus’s shoulder. “Though, it doesn’t surprise me. You were one of the Order’s best.” He gave Rico a long look. “Have you met Tripp?” he asked, gesturing towards the man with the strange eyes.
Rico looked at Tripp. The eyes were glowing, though they still held color in them. Rico regarded Karn. The giant walked around Maximus, sizing him up as he hung motionless in the air. Full of pain and hate, Maximus’s eyes followed the giant. Karn smiled at him as he wiped the blood and gore from his hands onto Maximus’s chest.
“Join me,” Victor said. After a silent response from
Rico, Victor sighed. “It wasn’t a request.”
Two daggers were tucked behind Rico’s back. He looked down and mumbled a few words.
Victor stepped towards him and cocked his head. “What was that you said?”
Rico raised his eyes and gave the priest a smirk. “I said, I’ll see you in Hell!” In a blink, he reached behind his back and threw both blades. The blinding speed was faster than Victor could have anticipated. He flinched as the dagger stopped mid-air in front of him, the point directly in front of his eye. It fell to the ground, as did Maximus; both suddenly free from the invisible bond that held them. The other blade Rico threw had found its mark. The powerful man with the strange eyes staggered as blood poured from his throat. He reached up and slowly pulled the blade free as he hobbled towards Maximus, spouting dark, red blood from the open neck.
Victor spoke as he glared at Rico. “Karn, hold commander Maximus.”
Karn pulled Maximus to his feet.
“Let me go, demon! You bastard, arggh!” Maximus cursed and struggled against the giant. As the stranger drew near, Maximus tried to scramble away. “Wait. What are you doing?” he said, his eyes wide as the strange man reached for him. “Stop. Wait—” The bloody hands gripped both sides of his head. The stranger breathed deeply before exhaling. As he did so, a wisp of black smoke emerged from his mouth and nose. It entered Maximus as his body shook in Karn’s hands until the smoke disappeared.
Rico stood and watched in horror. After it was over, both the stranger and Maximus collapsed to the ground.
“Wait for it,” Victor said, theatrically. A few moments later, Maximus stood. He stretched his arms and turned his hands, looking over the new body.
“Have you ever seen that before, Rico?” Victor asked in all seriousness. “Have you ever witnessed so much power? Crazy thing, taking a man’s soul and all. Now, watch this.” His eyes turned white and tiny bolts of electricity flashed and arced around his body. “I can give you this power.”
Rico watched in awe at things that should not be. Things that could not be, but were. He ground his teeth and knew he had to do something.