by Billy Wong
Moments later when he looked below, he glimpsed what she probably had. Being disoriented and hurt, she might've dismissed it as a possible hallucination, but the rest of them now confirmed what they saw. In a huge chamber hidden under the church, a giant, seemingly inert metal humanoid loomed.
They climbed down and walked towards the hunched over figure. Close up, they could see it appeared to be made up of numerous artifacts connected together in a metal framework. "I wonder what this is for," Andrew said. "I'd guess they probably meant to use it to do battle at some point, but against us or something else?"
Kara touched its leg. "It looks like it would be pretty dangerous if activated. Maybe we should destroy it?" She readied her axe.
Henry shook his head. "No, don't do that yet. These artifacts might prove useful, so we shouldn't recklessly damage them. But I wonder how tightly joined they are..." He gripped one that looked distinct amidst the mass, which resembled a flute making up part of the calf, and gave an experimental tug. Suddenly a beeping sound was heard, and the titan stood straight up as golden light filled its eyes.
"Even though I am incomplete," the Archcardinal's voice boomed from its immobile mouth, "I can still replace God."
Kara replied, "No, but you can try to replace the keeper of the dead... when you meet him in hell!" She made her axe light and threw it at the head, then turned it heavy just before it hit. But it was stopped by an invisible shield much like the one Demetrious had generated from his hand and fell harmlessly to the ground.
"Well, that didn't work," Andrew said.
"Dammit, that would've been a good line if it did."
"What I thought I saw," Blackbird revealed, "was something leave his body just before the scepter exploded and fly into the ground. He must have transferred his spirit into this thing somehow..."
The giant took a step forward, energy blazing from multiple parts as it raised its arms. In one metal hand materialized a normal sized sword, dagger-like for it. Everybody prepared to fight, then Henry had a different idea. "Wait! You talk about replacing God, but who will you replace him for? It's already been months, and a lot of people have accepted that He's dead. Others who don't cling to their faith, or put their hope in His future resurrection. You predicted wrong, society hasn't fallen apart in His absence. The world moved on, and our conflict has become irrelevant."
"Is this so?"
Henry's friends stared in surprise at first, then Blackbird joined in. "Yes, we've proven stronger than you thought. Even if you can revive the church to vie for control of the land again, what's the point? The secret's already out, and continuing to fight will just cost more lives. Is that what you want, to tear humanity apart after ostensibly trying to protect it?"
After a moment, Demetrious lowered his arms. "No. But then what should I do? This body..."
Henry replied, "It doesn't matter. No matter what you look like, if your soul is human, you are human. So you can still help everyone get ready to face whatever it is that killed God, if needed. I'm sure you have plenty of knowledge in that old head which can be useful to us."
"Fine," he finally said. "For the sake of mankind, I will give your proposal a chance. But will your allies accept my existence?"
"After all this feud has cost both sides, it's time to let bygones be bygones. We'll make sure all parties have an understanding of the situation."
"But if you're the one who turns on them without provocation," Blackbird added, "then I'll come right back to kick your butt again. I-we're giving you another chance, so don't screw it up."
They explained to the marshal that the Archcardinal in his new form was no longer hostile, and would help prepare humanity for the possible coming trials. After working out the details about where he would stay and how they would inform the prince of this new development, the friends stuck around unknown to Demetrious for a bit to see if he would attempt any violence. When nothing happened, they left Batrecar.
"Pointless battle averted!" Kara said cheerily as they departed. "But do you think you could have taken him if need be, Blackbird?"
She touched her chin in thought. "From what we saw, namely the invisible shield and strangely undersized normal looking sword, it seems likely his body is made of the same artifacts the Sovereign absorbed with their power returned to them after it was destroyed. So I figured the fight would be pretty similar only he's bigger this time, but I doubt he could heal his artifact parts as they're destroyed.
"Yeah, I probably could have handled him, though I'd have tried to let you guys contribute. Like Andrew, you could have shot him in the face with your tube once I got his shield down."
"I'm so thrilled to hear that," he said sardonically.
"But anyway, since even our greatest enemy wound up not being so unreasonable and was willing to set aside differences in the end"—Blackbird paused—"I've decided I too should stand together with the rest of humanity and stay instead of running back to the wilderness!" Henry felt overjoyed. "As for losing my strength, I guess I can just exercise to keep it up even though it won't come as naturally."
"Great to hear that, little beast!" Henry beamed. "And we'll try to be more active in searching for worthy artifact bearers and such so you won't be as bored, too." He picked her up to spin her round and round despite her protests that she should be the one doing that, then threw her into the air. Unfortunately his control was nowhere near as good as hers and instead of tossing her straight up, he managed to hurl her into a thorny bush.
"Ow ow ow ow you bastard!" She ran back and flung him into the air, caught him on her shoulders and made to spike him into the ground.
Kara grabbed him and tried to pull him down. "No don't, you'll kill him!"
"Well, wouldn't want that." She set Henry on his feet. "By the way, boyfriend, you throwing me into that type of bush reactivated the extremely contagious groin rash I had as a kid." Everyone ran fast as they could in separate directions. Left alone, Blackbird said, "Hey, it was a joke... What, do all of you want to play tag?" She set her sights on the fleeing Andrew. "Then, here I come!"
Alternate Ending
(starts after the group leaves Septapolis for the last time)
When they arrived in Batrecar, the marshal in charge led them to a mortuary. It stunk, and Henry wondered what was so important that they needed to be brought here. The man pulled a slab out from the wall and uncovered it. Revealed was a corpse, the grisly rotting features of which made everyone step back. It looked to be smallish, likely female, and its clothes somewhat... familiar. But no, it couldn't be...
"It looks kind of like Blackbird," Andrew said, his voice baffled. Kara only stared, as if bewildered to the point of silence.
Henry turned to her. It did seem just like her, all the way down to the heat-twisted circlet on its head, but she was right here. She couldn't be-
"I guess I died after all," she said. "I thought I saw my body after the Sovereign blew up, but dismissed it as a hallucination. Turns out it wasn't, and I've been with you as a ghost all this time."
He gulped. "You're a ghost? But how's t-that possible? We did things together, you felt plenty solid and even carried me around—heck, you brought Demetrious onto the roof and cast him down in the dust in front of everyone! You can't be dead, you can't..."
"Ghosts can affect the physical world to varying degrees depending on how strong they are, like that dead hero I beat for my sword. I suppose my spirit is so strong, I could stay tangible full time and function as a person despite being dead. But I think it's time for me to leave now."
"No wait, why, can't-" But she was already fading, growing more transparent until there no trace remained of her having ever been there. Henry fell to his knees and cried, barely noticing his friends as they sought to comfort him. He still couldn't believe it. How could that dead thing, so awful and chilling to behold, be his Blackbird... life couldn't be this unfair. She couldn't be gone. Learning God was dead was nothing compared to finding this out. Only now did he realize how muc
h he loved her. He thought about dying to join her, but she wouldn't want him to. She'd wish for him to live a happy and full life without her, and thus he'd try his best to, no matter how hard it was. He pulled the circlet off her empty husk. This, he would always keep close to his heart to remember her by.
They took Blackbird to Septapolis and held a funeral for her there, during which all three of the friends shed their share of tears. Andrew became choked up reminiscing about the times she'd cut off his arm, and Kara proclaimed between sobs that nobody could ever inspire her again as she had. Henry couldn't even compose himself enough to give that much of a speech. "I miss you so much, Blackbird," was all he could say before going back to weeping and sitting down.
After everyone had left except the trio, Henry touched his forehead to her gravestone. "I'll never forget you. I hope you're watching me from somewhere, and that I can make you proud."
"Hey, don't sound so down," Blackbird's voice said from nearby, "I'm not gone." They all looked to see her step out from behind a tree. "I decided to stay around. I figure you guys will probably need my help sometime, after all."
"So you're just going to act... like you never died?" Andrew asked, blinking.
"I passed for alive for a couple months before we found out. I can keep doing it."
Henry broke out into a huge smile and hugged her. She felt just as solid as she ever had. "So since you're not 'really' dead, for all intents and purposes, can we still date?"
She grinned. "Find yourself a living girl. I probably can't make babies, or age, or other things non-dead people do."
"You won't be able to get more scars either. But I'd still like to be with you even if..."
"I have enough scars. As for the other thing, if you're sure you really want that, I'll consider it."
That was all he could ask for. He took the circlet out from his inner shirt pocket and raised it to her head, which no longer bore a spectral copy of it. "So, do you want this back?"
"Nah, you can carry it. You were closer to Uncle Pete after all, and—actually since a piece of jewelry would kind of go to waste in your pocket, nevermind, put it on my head."
He did, happy to see how great it still looked on her. "So, how did you make your sword disappear with you if it was the real one? We didn't find it with your body. Um, the cape too for that matter."
Blackbird wagged her index finger. "Now that is a secret. Anyway, what are we going to do now?"
"I guess we'll continue on with finding worthy users for the artifacts. We can keep searching for your family too, since I'm sure they'd want to meet their grown daughter even if she is, well, you know. Is that all right with you?"
"Of course it is, why wouldn't it be? Now let's get going!" They left the cemetery, the future yet bright before them.
Cover design copyright © Littera Book Designs http://litterabookdesigns.blogspot.ca
Author Billy Wong is an avid fan of heroic fantasy, with a special love for strong female warriors. He draws inspiration from the epic legends of old, and is on a quest to bring over the top deeds and larger than life heroes back to prominence in today's literary world.
http://bklynbill.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/authorbillywong
https://twitter.com/WarriorWong
If you would like to be notified of new releases and special deals, please sign up for my mailing list and receive my book The Golden Dawn (#1 in Chronicles of the Floating Continent series) for FREE!
https://my.sendinblue.com/users/subscribe/js_id/2rsmo/id/2
Feedback is of great importance to writers. If you enjoyed my story, please consider leaving a review. I would be very thankful for your help.
Other Works
Legend of the Iron Flower Box Set (Books 1-4) - The first four books in the Legend of the Iron Flower series for half the price. Includes Iron Bloom, Iron Flower, Iron Bonds and Iron Tears. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X9W645C/?tag=bilthestaarts-20
Iron Bloom ($0.99!) - A young woman with a kind heart and extraordinary constitution, Rose becomes a warrior to better the world. Despite the wealth and fame she wins as one of the greatest champions of her time, the bloody reality of her new life is nothing like her ideal dream. She yearns for a chance to escape the violence. She finds that chance in Ethan, the leader of an altruistic pacifist group. But when a barbarian horde invades their kingdom, Rose knows that she can make a difference by taking up her sword again. Will her need to protect her homeland cost her the man she loves? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AWKEKP4/?tag=bilthestaarts-20
Iron Flower - One of the greatest fighters in the world, nearly indestructible Rose lets few things strike fear into her—but magic is one of them. Nonetheless, she seeks out the magical dangers left by the ancients alongside warrior partner Finn and curious scholar Derrick in order to protect others from them. Their mission is complicated by Rose and Finn's budding romance, as her choice of lifestyle conflicts with his expectations for the woman he loves. But after their quest pits against such titanic foes as a prince able to slay a thousand men in a day and a draconic archmage, will Rose be forced to embrace the very magic she fears? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C2CV2CY/?tag=bilthestaarts-20
Iron Bonds - Nearly indestructible warrior Rose has brought the use of magic back to her world with the help of her love Finn and scholar friend Derrick. Yet there is no time for weary heroes to rest as Death General Joghra, military leader of the most advanced nation in the world, and vengeful giantess Fiona come with a vast army to conquer their homeland. But as Rose and Finn clash with these titans with their underhanded tricks and endless horde, will it be the magic she has always feared that ends up costing Rose her love? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D7HD8QQ/?tag=bilthestaarts-20
Iron Tears - Famed warrior Rose receives a request for aid from Count Brandon, who uses the ogre attacks in his territory as an excuse to get her close intending to woo her. Unknown to him, her husband Finn secretly comes along to help. But the monster problem turns out more serious than any of them expect, especially when they must also protect a pair of much less experienced friends. Can the three mightiest warriors of their nation work together in their strained relationship long enough to save their land? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DSOOLFK/?tag=bilthestaarts-20
Iron Champion - Nearly indestructible heroine Rose gets a letter from a foreign king inviting her to discuss opening a new branch of the center for magical study she helps run. Upon arriving in his kingdom of Terlon, she learns that his true motive is to request her aid against invaders from a larger country. Though annoyed by his deception, her compassion does not allow her to turn a blind eye to the suffering of his people and she agrees to help. Following unfavorable developments in the war, Rose finds more and more responsibilities being heaped upon her shoulders. A bitter dispute breaks out over the leadership of Terlon with her caught in the middle, and a battle with the enemy nation's war god looms near. But even that might not be the most daunting trouble fate has planned for her. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FGJFHVW/?tag=bilthestaarts-20
Iron Melting - Wracked with anxiety over a dread prophecy concerning her children and guilt for the men she has killed to protect them, weary heroine Rose decides to take a break by visiting her mother with her family. But ill fortune strikes again as she and her husband Finn encounter The Lost, an organization of people who have lost everything and wish to balance the scales of fairness by making everyone suffer as they have. When they learn The Lost serve the same destructive force their children are foretold to revive, it looks like they may have to face a reckoning earlier than expected. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H16B2AS/?tag=bilthestaarts-20
Iron Clash - With the ultimate weapon in hand, treacherous prince Victor gathers allies from around the world to join him in his bid for Kayland. As civil war looms, Rose races against time to stop Victor's power from growing out of hand and save her country. Foes old and new gather under his banner, forming the fearful coalition of the Tri-Principality. But when Victor using another
guise calls forth the last survivors of an ancient civilization, will his deception force Rose and friends to exterminate an entire race? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IGUTHL4/?tag=bilthestaarts-20
Iron Seeds - Rose thought she had saved her children from a dread prophecy by destroying the evil they were foretold to revive. Her kids grown, the family now adventures together in search of lost knowledge. But when the wheels of destiny turn again and a dark fate looms over the twins once more, they all must face the most powerful enemies yet. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MBNANWO/?tag=bilthestaarts-20
Saving Fate -The adopted son of an earl, Mark fears he will never live up to his father's expectations. But when he learns his mother is a famous warrior who once saved their country from barbarian invasion, he sets out to meet her and become more than the underachiever he no longer wants to be. Joined by wild and brazen warrior princess Ann, Mark travels through barbarian lands and cursed wastes while ever hounded by the minions of an evil duke who plans to kidnap him to control his father. Will timid Mark find the strength to survive endless mercenaries, demonic shrubs, an awkward romance with the more experienced Ann, and the duke's conniving son who just happens to be named Marcus? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BC17YDW/?tag=bilthestaarts-20
Blood of Kings - Illegitimate Mildred "Mildy" Pendragon wants just one thing: To prove to Camelot that she's as much a warrior as her daddy, King Arthur. With her cowardly Greek squire Ares and metrosexual best friend Lance at her side, she strives to prove her legendary bloodline through knightly deeds. But no matter what she does or who she beats, she cannot seem to win over chivalric society. On quest to save the fey from destruction by an evil mage, Mildy meets the mother she has never known and learns the bitter truth of her incestuous birth. She continues to fight for good despite her disillusionment, but accidentally kills Arthur's favorite knight and makes a bitter enemy of her father. Can she defy fate and save her family from imploding, or is the saga of the Pendragons destined to end in tragedy? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EAXFMK6/?tag=bilthestaarts-20