FARHAYVEN: VENGEANCE

by S. K. Ng

  Though thrilled with excited anticipation, the outcasts had not expressed it. They showed their sullen, downtrodden faces just like the evening before and the ones before that. There was one hardly noticeable difference, however; none of them touched the wine. They took juices instead. They ate their meals quickly, as they usually did; and excused themselves early, feigning displeasure at how they were treated, which was, quite paradoxically, true.

  Except for the outcasts, almost all of the clansmen consumed the tainted wine; almost! There were, however, a small number of clansmen who did not consume the wine this night. They were Root and Bud Swerrell, and twenty of their followers. The reason they did not touch any form of liquor was that they were about to embark on a mission this very night. And unlike most of the clansmen this evening, their dinner was solemn and without cheer. They did not consume the wine. They did not joke and laugh. They ate their dinner gloomily and exchanged goodbyes with their family members, just in case they did not survive the mission. And unlike the outcasts, they were the last to leave the mess cavern. They were only scheduled to depart at midnight, so they wanted to make the most out of what could be their last dinner with their family and clansmen.

  Silk was not summoned by the clanmaster that night, but Cotton was. The younger girl cried when the minions came for her. But Silk comforted her. She did not tell her sister that it would be all right. She promised her that it would be all right! After regaining her composure, Cotton told the minions to come back half an hour later, for she had to prepare herself and make herself presentable to the clanmaster. Cotton did a quick sponge bath. After wiping herself dry, she then applied on her body some talcum powder mixed with the powder that Eclipse had given to Silk. This act was part of Silk’s plan.

  Meanwhile, at a chosen location about a quarter of an hour’s march from The Lair, the entire Royal Elementhar Pond and 2nd Pond, 3rd Lake met up with Ray and Eclipse. This location was known as a ‘staging area’. The staging area that they had chosen was secluded and easily defended, and more importantly; was not in the normal path of travel of the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan. Look-outs, mainly archers, were posted around the area to secure its location. At this area, they tethered their horses, stowed their supplies, set up a medical emergency tent, conducted all necessary final briefings and rested. Ray conducted the final briefing to Clover, Serene, Sky and the other commanders and they in turn, briefed their subordinates. Their plan was a go! By hook or by crook, the scourge of the Shadow Deathmerchant Clan was to be ended this night!

  Their plan was to be as follows. Sky and most of 3rd Pond, 3rd Lake, designated as Blocker Force, were to position themselves to cover the main entrance of The Lair; leaving behind only their 5th River to guard the staging area. All of the swordsmen under Sky’s command were to function as archers for this mission. Their function was to shoot any and all clansmen who tried to escape from the main entrance. Meanwhile, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Rivers, Royal Elementhar Pond, designated as Striker One, under the command of Ray and accompanied by Eclipse and Spirit the White Wolf; were to enter The Lair via its western escape exit. Both 4th and 5th Rivers, under the command of Clover, assisted by Serene and accompanied by Dawn; were designated as Striker Two and were meant to breach The Lair via the eastern escape exit.

  Once inside, Strikers One and Two were to work their way towards the main chamber, evacuating Eclipse’s and Rake’s followers and any other evacuees in the process; and killing or capturing all other clansmen. Once The Lair has been secured, either Ray, Clover or Serene was to, via the conjuring of a series Heat Bursts with alternating colours, signal Blocker Force to enter The Lair. Blocker Force was to then ‘escort’ all prisoners, evacuees and the wounded to the staging area. Strikers One and Two were to then seize whatever assets and intelligence material they could find and return to the staging area. Then all of them were to leave for The Spot.

  The Royal Guards, both Sollenthars and not, began their personal preparations. They checked their weapons and equipment one last time. They drank water and ate a snack of biscuits to quench whatever thirst or hunger that they were feeling or might feel later. They smeared their faces, ears, necks and hands with earth and mud. Next they smeared a little tar, mixed with a lot of mud, on their armour and uniforms. They did so to camouflage themselves. Then most of them rested, while some prayed.

  It was about an hour to midnight, judging by the date and the position of the waning crescent moon in the night sky. The Royal Guards moved out. Sky led Blocker Force quietly along the river bank towards The Lair. They arrived there about a quarter of an hour later. As they approached the vicinity of The Lair, they began crouch-walking or even crawling into strategic positions to cover the waterfall. Sky sent half of his subordinates downstream. Their orders were that when they were out of sight of the sentries at The Lair, to cross the river in canoes that they had carried with them and move back up the river bank on the other side. This ensured that both river banks were covered. Striker Two moved out at the same time as Blocker Force, but headed upstream from the staging area. Half an hour later, they crossed the river upstream of the waterfall behind which, lay The Lair. They then proceeded downstream to search for the eastern exit. Striker One left the staging area half an hour behind the others. Theirs was a direct path to the western exit.

  The crescent moon shines dimly in the dark, yet clear, Fallsian sky. It is cloudless this night. Striker One approaches the western exit, which is a small and unlit cave opening, under careful guidance of Eclipse. Striker Two, under Dawn’s guidance, approaches the eastern exit, which is also a small and unlit cave opening. Then they begin to hear screams of ….pleasure! Erotic screams of pleasure!

  It seems Silk and her friends are executing their part of the plan. Using the erotic screams, Strikers One and Two find the exits easily. Taking care to remain hidden, they see the sentries in full immersion of the passion of the body, outside of the cave openings where the bright crescent moon illuminates the beauty of the female form. They wait patiently. The screams die down. Silk and her friends dress up and enter the caves. The exhausted male sentries get up. They take but a few steps towards their casually flung clothes, then begin to stumble dizzily. The powder is taking effect. Their world is spinning. Finally, they collapse to the ground. Strikers One and Two move in. They bind the arms and legs of the unconscious sentries. The escape exits are secured. Strikers One and Two stream into their respective escape exits. And for the first time since its creation, The Lair is breached!

  Striker One moves through the narrow maze-like tunnel until they reach a small cave. Dozens of women and children with yellow armbands greet them. Eclipse runs forward to hug her friends and family. This small outburst of emotion is the only sign that showed they were humans. The mental control and professionalism takes over again almost immediately. The evacuees file out the tunnel under the escort of Striker One’s rear guard element. Striker One moves into the next tunnel, with Eclipse still leading the way. They arrive at another cave, this one being twice the size of the first. Hundreds of evacuees greet them. Eclipse hugs a sobbing woman and whispers in her ears, ‘your daughters are brave!’ Silk’s mother nods and retreats towards the escape exit.

  Striker Two moves through a short, narrow tunnel and arrive at a medium-sized chamber. Approximately 100 evacuees with yellow armbands greet them with cold, unemotional nods. Clover nods back, but realises almost immediately the nods were meant for Dawn, who nodded back coldly. She sees fear in their eyes, fear of Dawn. But there was also a feeling of awe. Clover realises that they fear, yet respect, Dawn; which shows her elite status in this secretive society. The evacuees make their way out, escorted by Striker Two’s rear guard element. Striker Two proceeds into the next tunnel. The same scene repeats itself in the next chamber.

  Striker One arrives at the third large chamber. This chamber is four times the size of the first one. Shadow Deathmerchant Clan guards yell out in surprise upon seeing Eclipse and Ray. Eclipse sends an Airblade into one
of the guards’ throat. Ray thrusts his fingers forwards and a Heat Burst slams into another guard’s chest. Both guards fall at the same time, one silently and the other in a single shout of agony. Striker One pours into the chamber. Airblades and Heat Bursts criss-cross in the air. Spirit’s fangs flash yellow in the torchlight. The bloodbath begins.

  Striker Two hears echoes of agonising screams. They know the battle has begun. They quicken their pace. They pour into their third chamber just as clansmen were rushing into the opposite tunnel. Dawn sends Airblade after Airblade into the air. Clover executes two Heat Bursts at two clansmen in quick successions while sprinting forward. The third clansman gets cut by Clover’s blade just as the second clansman hits the ground, dead. A Heat Burst from Serene puts an end to another clansman’s life as he tries to stab Clover. Another cut of the sword and Clover ends another clansman’s life. Serene and Dawn get into sword distance with the clansmen. Both female warriors swing the blades in a variety of angles, but with similar ferocity. Blood splatters and bodies fall. Screams of agony intermingle with battle cries from both sides. Swords clash. Flesh gets cut. Lives get taken. Dead clansmen lie on the ground. Clover and Serene look around. Striker Two sustained some injuries but no deaths. Clover orders her subordinates to pan out and search all the connected chambers. Women and children without yellow armbands get arrested. Those with yellow armbands get escorted out. Striker Two then enters the next tunnel.

  Clanmaster Venom Collart awakes with a start. His head swirls. His vision blurs. Why? What is going on? Why are there screams and shouts? Why does my head hurt? Then a sudden realisation hits him. He turns to his side to see that he is alone. Cotton is not there beside him. She must have put something in the wine, or smeared something on herself, or maybe both; he reasons. He tries to get up, but stumbles clumsily to the floor. Think! Focus! Get it together! The clanmaster crawls on the ground towards a chest. He clumsily unlocks and opens it, and then searches for something inside. After a long agonising moment, he finds what he is looking for. He pulls out a small vial and removes its stopper. He gulps down its contents. He closes his eyes. His head still spins. Relax! Relax! Relax! Wait for the antidote to work!

  Root and Bud Swerrell come running into the main chamber. They shout orders to their subordinates and their fellow clansmen to set up defences. They notice something odd! Their fellow clansmen are stumbling all over. A realisation comes to their mind.

  “Poison!” they shout out at each other simultaneously.

  Both Swerrell brothers realise that they are now in a hopeless situation. Only the clanmaster has the antidote and the supply is limited, hardly enough for ten people. They shake their heads in despair. Their frustration is expressed clearly on their faces. Both brothers simultaneously make the same decision and choose the same final ‘solution’. They will not give in. They will fight to the bitter end. Now is the question of how many Fallsian soldiers they take down with them. In their minds, they harden their resolve. Their frustration turns into determination. They grab each other’s hand in a brotherly handshake. They look at each other silently. They say their goodbyes with nods and gestures. They draw their swords, and wait...

  Suddenly, the barricade of chairs and tables the Swerrell brothers and their subordinates had set up, burst asunder. The heat from the multiple fireballs that slammed into the barricade makes them coil back and cover their faces. Striker One has reached the main chamber! Heat Burst after Heat Burst slam into the clansmen’s position. The clansmen dive for what few cover they can find. Bud pulls out an Airblade and sends it through the air at Ray. Ray dives sideways and counterattacks with a Heat Burst so intense it shatters the already burning table behind which Bud was taking cover. The intensity of the blast sends Bud soaring through the air. As Bud hit the ground sprawling, Ray rushes forward to close the gap between them. Bud shakes his head to clear his blurry vision. He raises his sword just in time to block Ray’s Vertical Downward Strike. The clash of steel and silver was deafening to an already semi-dazed Bud.

  Meanwhile, Root recovers from the blast that destroyed their barricade. His head still swirls slightly. Then he sees an Airblade flying towards him. He dives sideways and recovers with his own Airblade in hand. He sends it twirling through the air at his attacker, who, to his utter surprise, turns out to be Eclipse Menox. Eclipse parries off the twirling metal with her sword while running forward and follows up with a Left Diagonal Downwards Cut. Root blocks the cut with a one handed grip on his sword while simultaneously stepping forward by turning towards his back and slams the back of his fist into her cheekbone. Blood sprays forth from her mouth as she falls to the ground. Her sword falls from her hand.

  “Eclipse! How could you!?” exclaims a shock and disappointed Root.

  “No, Root! How could you!?” retorts Eclipse after spitting blood from her mouth.

  Root’s expression hardens. He reverses the grip on his sword and raises it up high. He steps closer and closer to Eclipse. Eclipse tries to crawl backward away from Root. But somehow her legs feel numb and her movements are extremely clumsy. She closes her eyes. She accepts her end. Root stares at the face of the traitor. A mix of anger and satisfaction moulds his face. He raises his sword even higher. Slam! Something ferocious and furry slams into Root from the back. Sharp fangs pierce his neck. His sword falls from his hands as the result of the impact. He falls to his knees from the shock and pain. Eclipse, seeing her chance, gets on her feet, pulls out a dagger and stabs Root straight in the heart. Root lets out a loud, desperate scream which adds to Spirit’s low growl. Feeling the energy fade from Root’s body, Spirit lets go of him and sprints off to attack another clansman. Eclipse stares into the eyes of her dying opponent.

  “Root, how could you!?” says Eclipse, shaking her head in disgust as the essence of life fades away from the quivering body of Root Swerrell.

  Bud stands two paces away from Ray, having managed to kick Ray at the ankles, swept him to the ground, rolled away and regained his own footing. Then he hears Root’s dying scream and his mouth gapes wide with shock and grief and his eyes become red and teary. It is at this moment that he realises he is now all alone in this world. His brother is gone. ‘Wait for me! I will join you soon, brother!’ whispers Bud in his heart. Ray seizes the opportunity to attack. He executes a Right Horizontal Strike at Bud’s torso, to which Bud could barely block. The force and suddenness of the strike causes Bud to step backwards. Ray follows up with a Vertical Downwards Strike, to which Bud also manages to block, just almost. But when Ray steps forward for another strike, Bud unexpectedly lunges forward and executes a Vertical Downwards Cut, forcing Ray to go on the defensive with a block. Bud screams like a mad man and erratically slashes at Ray with his sword from a multitude of angles. Ray blocks Bud’s frantic strikes and cuts, while patiently analysing Bud for an opening. In his grief, Bud executes another furious Vertical Downwards Cut. Ray, this time being better prepared, side steps to his right, avoids Bud’s cut and smashes the back of Bud’s skull with a Right Horizontal Strike. Unlike his brother, Bud offers no scream of pain or agony, just a spray of blood from his mouth and a very thin smile of relief as he collapses forward to the ground. Within moments, a crimson pool forms on the ground where his head has landed. Ray looks down at his dead opponent, his face impassive.

  Several Heat Burst slams into the barricade at the opposite end of the main chamber. Striker Two pours into the main cavern and joins the fray. Clover sends off a series of Heat Bursts at the clansmen, distracting them and forcing them to dive for cover, which allows Serene, Dawn and several others to sprint forward, close the gap between them and engage with their swords. Serene lunges with her sword and stabs a clansman straight through the heart while he was trying to draw out an Airblade from the inner pocket of his black shirt. Dawn sprints forward and slices the belly of a nearby clansman with a Right Horizontal Cut just as he foolishly lifts his sword for a Vertical Downwards Cut. Then, to Clover’s horror, she sees a clansman sneak up from behind Se
rene and begin his lunge forward to stab her. With a quick flick of her wrists, Clover sends a Frozen Dart straight into the base of this clansman’s skull. He falls harmlessly to the ground.

  The fighting was over an eighth of an hour later. The remaining dazed and disorientated clansmen dropped their swords, dropped to their knees and pleaded for mercy. Ray issued the command to halt fighting. Strikers One and Two wasted no time in disarming the surviving clansmen and tying up their hands. Then streams from Strikers One and Two spread out into the connecting tunnels to search for any remaining clansmen, while Ray, Clover, Serene, Spirit, Dawn, Eclipse and four streams stayed in the main chamber, looking over the carnage that had just taken place.

  Clover and Serene showed expressions of relief on their faces but Ray, Eclipse and Dawn’s face remained both grim and alert, each for different reasons. Ray had not yet felt the feeling of relief and he had also not yet felt the satisfaction of vengeance, since the identity of Baron Chessmaster had yet been revealed and he had not yet been brought to justice. Eclipse’s expression was grim due to the fact that so many of her clansmen, her friends and neighbours, lay dead on the cold, hard stone floor of her former home. Dawn, meanwhile, was not relaxed because she was the first amongst all to realise that the body of Clanmaster Venom Collart was nowhere to be found.