Amari tells the others we are being followed. Gareth pulls his sword and starts back down the trail.
“Hold brother!” Amari shouts to his retreating back. “We cannot be sure what is there. It may be more men doing the king’s bidding, or something worse.”
Gareth returns to the others. He trusts the Maiden, but he would rather fight than flee before an unknown.
Holl-tu tries to reach out with his own powers, but suffers the same limited vision as Amari. “I cannot see what is there either. I have put several false trails behind us leading in other directions, hoping the evil that is there will go off on one of them.”
Knowing that they are not alone, Amari, Holl-tu, Dian and Truk continue walking. Roarken drops to the rear while Gareth and Natsha take flanking positions just out of sight of the others. They can quickly raise the alarm if something tries to attack from the sides. At least, the bulk of this band is protected. Amari uses her powers to reach out to the front of their line of travel. If anything waits in hiding. She will give ample warning to the others. Holl-tu searches on their back trail with his own powers.
They stop to survey the base of one of the peaks. “How do we ascend?” Dian asks.
The others shake their collective heads.
Even Natsha with all her book learning with the ancient manuscripts does not know. “The old writings tell of this place, but only what may lie above and what protects it from below. The rock people are said to have great strength and agility. Actually, they may not be people at all, but a race born of the earth and stone. No one really knows.”
Truk strains his neck while looking up and says. “Mimna had to get up there somehow?”
While they are all gathered about working out how to scale the peaks, a loud thrashing can be heard as something is heading toward them. Small trees can be heard snapping with loud cracks. Animals and birds are screeching to get out of the path of something monstrous.
Natsha with crossbow locked and a bolt in place goes to the left of the group. Gareth to the right, bow also raised. Truk raises his club, but his arm wavers from the weight of the axe. The strength of his youth is no longer there. The old wizard can only watch as his magic can only confuse the unwary. He cannot conjure up anything with substance.
Amari quickly slides Katana from its scabbard. The steel rubbing the leather almost sounds like singing. She stands ready. Dian does the same with Hydrosin with water poured from a water pouch.
Roarken runs to the front and toward what is heading their way. With arm raised and sword singing through the air as he swings it in a warrior’s dance of battle.
Bursting through the brush is a great man-beast. His war club raised and sent pounding to the earth in a sign of power. He stops and stares at those assembled before it as to measure the best line of attack.
They all know this thing is here to do harm to the Maiden. His blood-red eyes are fixed on her.
Amari does not flinch. She raises her hand, palm outward. “Hold beast; why do you pursue us? Who commands you to stalk our trail?”
The beast only glares at the Maiden while his fiery red eyes shift from one warrior to another looking for a weakness. It appears to be weighing its chances of attack on the Maiden. He hesitates but for a moment as the words of the Druid come back into his small brain. “The White Witch must be destroyed!”
The slave of the Druids rushes forward. He only takes a few steps when the feathered ends of arrows protrude from his chest and arm. A few moments pause and two more steel hard bolts appear in his lower body. The enraged beast does not slow or falter, but continues forward.
Roarken thinking it has been weakened rushes in before anyone can stop him. He moves in closer. His blade sings out and slashes across the face of the hideous beast. Before the monster can recover from the initial attack, Roarken spins around the left side of the mountain of furry flesh and leather. Now the warrior is at its back chopping at the beast’s legs in hopes of crippling it.
Natsha and Gareth continue to send bolt after bolt into the beast’s bulk.
The hideous demon just brushes the shafts from his body, breaking off many of the arrowheads in his hairy flesh.
Raged, it spins on the attacker at his back.
Roarken cannot get out of the way in time to avoid the beast’s heavy club as it takes a full swing in a wide circle and catches the warrior across the chest, sending him twenty feet into the air to land sprawling in the dirt—unmoving.
“The beast is starting to look like an animal with quills. Natsha and Gareth fire almost every bolt they possess into the dark mass which keeps coming toward the Maiden.
Gareth drops his bow and pulls Helixx while rushing toward the beast. At his heels are Amari and Dian, swords in hand.
Natsha goes to aid the fallen Roarken.
The three Kcaj holders arrive together and face the evil thing. Amari commands them. “Cross your swords with mine.”
Katana is pointed at the beast when Helixx and Hydrosin are placed upon it. A flash of light and a fiery burst of red flame issues from the combined blades and strike the beast in the chest.
Still it moves toward them. The beam of light intensifies at Amari’s ancient words. The fur upon the attacking beast bursts into flames; still it approaches toward them—a little slower. Already dead, the simple mind’s last command pushes it forward.
The united swords pulsate with great mystic power as if building a charge for one quick blow. A blinding burst issues from the joined blades and strikes the beast; enveloping it entirely in dripping fire. The monster explodes with a deafening roar—scattering fiery remnants of flesh and fur into the air.
Frightened birds flee the trees in all directions from the sudden noise. Among those fowl taking wing, is a rather large black raven. Its screeches can be heard above the throats of the smaller birds.
The three warriors unlock their swords from each other.
There is nothing left of the beast but part of an arm and hand. The hand is in a fist with fingertips still smoking from the intense heat generated by the enchanted blades. Dian uses her sword to open the fingers of the dead thing.
In the beast’s clenched fist rests a glowing stone. “Look there” Dian says. “That is how it could follow us, even with Holl-tu’s false trails. See it glow bright red. It must sense when near to you Maiden.”
“This is the work of the Druids, of that I am sure. They know I exist and have sent their minion to slay me.”
Suddenly, as one, they remember the wounded Roarken.
They run and find Natsha kneeling at Roarken’s side. She looks up at them with tears welling up in her eyes. “He gave his life for us!” He can no longer tread upon the earth, as his spirit is in the gods’ hands. He is in the eternal rest.
The beast’s blow crushed his body. His death was quick, and he lingered not a moment in pain. It’s sad that I only knew him a short time. I will miss his wit and companionship.
Roarken’s earthly brothers and sisters gathered about their fallen comrade’s body.
Amari kneels and caresses his forehead. “Dear brother, we have escaped death many times in the past. Our battles have been great. Those that served evil were vanquished from your sword of truth. You will be remembered always. The people of Aventine will sing your name in stories of valor and courage. Warriors will speak of you, as long as they have tongues to speak. We were only rejoined a short time, but it was you that freed us from the dungeon and death.”
The Maiden stands and looks down at Roarken. She is near his head. “All of you gather about him and clasp hands together.” One by one all those that fight for the Maiden form a circle and take each other’s hand. Truk is the last as he hobbles over, head down in apparent shame.
“Do not trouble yourself brother, your ill condition would not allow you to join in the fight. If you tried against that mighty beast, your mortal body would be lying her also. Take heart. Your strength will return in time.”
Truk could only nod his head
. Her words did not make his feelings better. Roarken was a brother to him. They had survived the battle against the Druids standing side by side with the Maiden until she was taken.
Thinking all hope was lost, they fled the field of battle with those that still endured. The rest of their days were of being pursued and finally capture. Now that the White Witch has returned, so did the purpose for his time on this planet.
Each man and woman gathered here…in their own thoughts about the man lying before them, and the time past that brought them to this moment.
The Maiden closes her eyes and recites an ancient chant.
Holl-tu knows this magic as well and utters the same words with Amari—strengthening the spell. He too closes his eyes as if in a trance.
A warmth travels through the hands of each of them as it moves from one to another about the circle. In the center, a bluish-green haze forms above them all. It slowly descends and envelopes the dead warrior in a rainbow of lights. In a cradling mist, it carries the body from the ground. As Roarken rises, small sparks of light encircle his body and the air about them.
Everyone’s forearm hair stands on end from the static-charged air.
Even though Amari has eyes closed, she knows what is transpiring and tells the others. “Those little flickers of light are the essence of Roarken. They were scattered when he died. With the ancient spells of the mystics, those spirits of life seek to reenter his body. He will never live again in this realm, but he will have life in the next dimension. As he has died a warrior’s death, his remains will not spoil in the ground, but go up to the clouds and dwell with those others that fought great battles and died heroes.”
Even as Amari is telling them about the rite surrounding a true warrior of truth, Roarken’s body continues to rise. It passes above their heads and continues into the night sky. The glow can be seen for a long time. If one looked away and then back again, the light which surrounded Roarken’s body could not be told from the stars that filled the ebony sky.
Only when their friend has gone to another place and time, does the spell end. They let go of each other’s hands. Still they all do not want to leave the circle which once held their brother.
Amari is reflective. “I am sorrowful that I was not there at the end of our last battle over fifty years ago. Those valiant warriors who died defending the light were meant to rise to be with their departed brothers and sisters as Roarken.”
Truk holding Amari’s hand wraps his long arm around her shoulders. “Do not feel for those who died on the field and never had the chance to join those who preceded them. After a time, many Ords and I went back and buried all who served you. Over time, many small shrines were erected to mark those who lie within the earth. The people who live near the burial site call it the Fields of Promise.”
It is Dian, who senses a new threat. “Warriors, something comes to our hind!”
They all turn outward in a defensive posture, standing back to back.
A rumbling can be heard as great stones crash down the mountain side. The ground shakes while those rocks and boulders seem alive and purposeful—moving toward them. Swords are raised in defense.
Holl-tu sends a magic light into the sky over their heads to bring radiance to what lies about them.
In the brilliance of the light are large piles of stones moving toward them. Everyone takes a collective breath together. None here had seen rocks of the earth behave in this manner. They move as if alive.
There are at least twelve piles set in this manner. As the earthy rocks draw closer, smaller stones and sharp rocks attach to each growing pile and take the form of arms and legs. No faces are there, only the smoothness of the rocks. Each one of those advancing mounds of rocks towers over the warriors.
A sharp whistle breaks the night air, and the advancing pillars of stones stop. They seem to settle upon themselves. All about them now is a circle of stones. It almost seems like what the Druids create for their rituals.
Amari fears this what it appears to be—Druid magic.
That was also Natsha’s first thought. She has seen drawings in the ancient manuscripts of sites the Druids sacrificed to their gods.
Moving between the spaces in the rock pile circle is a woman. She seems to glide over the ground as the movement causes her skirt to flow like a wave over the dirt. Her shimmering black hair cascades about her shoulders and face. A gray-green warrior’s tunic and battle skirt covers her female body.
A face framed by hair is of one who has seen many a dire time. Lines of age crisscross her once young face. Hers is a hard beauty to behold. Her hands are free of any weapons. Her palms turned upwards as she walks toward them.
“Return your swords to your belts warriors. You are among friends.”
Truk lowers his axe and steps toward the woman. “Mimna, can this be you my lost sister?”
“Yes Dwarf brother. Do not fear. The stone people will not harm you on my command.” She measures the look of Truk and the others. “Why are you here, and who are these men and women you stand as brother to do battle?”
Before the dwarf warrior can answer, Mimna sees the Maiden, standing there among the others.
She catches her breath as if seeing a ghostly apparition. “Amari, can it be you are once again among us?” The tall sorcerer standing to the Maiden’s left catches her attention. I see the wizard Holl-tu. Is her presence a working of your magic?”
The Maiden raises her hand in a warrior’s salute. “No Mimna it is truly I who stand before you.”
Mimna races toward Amari to embrace her. She breaks to a stop and kneels at her feet. Leaning forward her hair flows down from her shoulders as she touches her forehead to the ground where the Maiden stood.
Amari bends down, grasps Mimna’s shoulders. “Get up sister. We are equals in life and battles. You need not kneel at my person.”
Mimna jumps to her feet and hugs Amari. The embrace is held a long time.
“I was so sure you had left this earthly place. Tell me how you escaped the Druids. It was over five decades past since I saw them carrying you off the killing field. I could not get to you through the waves of minions that stood between us. When I could slash my way to where I last saw you, the Druids’, and you had vanished. We all thought you were meat for their dogs.”
The former warrior blinks her eyes in disbelief. “Amari, you are young like the last day I set my eyes upon you. How is that possible? Have you conjured up a spell to confuse our minds?”
“Later Mimna, will I tell of our adventures which brought us to your mountain and my apparent feat to defy aging.
I see the rock people do exist and are not just another myth for this land. They move to your voice…you are indeed a sister to the Black Angels! You never spoke of this in our past life together.”
“I made a promise to those above us that I would not say they truly existed; even to you. For that oath, the leaders allowed me to descend from the peaks and roam these lower lands. I could come and go as I pleased. When I joined your quest Amari, it fulfilled my desire to be a part of both worlds. Few chose to leave the safety of the cloud cities. We have no strife or wars on the three peaks. All live in harmony. My kin could not understand why I desired to leave the cities of the mist and dwell with the peoples of the ground. They let me follow my heart and spoke no more of it.”
“Why did you choose to come back down now sister Mimna?” Amari asks.
Mimna motions to the rock beings encircling them. “The people of the stone witnessed your battle against the beast and summoned our leaders. They said that a great power was brought forth from your swords and defeated the evil beast, but not before one of your number was slain.
My father sent me down to see if you were friend or foe. Your battle was at the base of our cloud kingdoms. The leaders deemed it much too close to ignore. If you proved the latter, we would not be talking as sisters.”
“It is good to see you again Mimna. I have missed all my friends—you most of all. I suppo
se many are dead and gone for ages now?”
“Yes. The king had made it his crusade to rid the land of all who followed you on your quest. Back then, he knew it would be just a matter of time before your battles would land at his castle gates. As best as I can recollect, only Truk here.” She smiles and nods at him. “And Roarken was able to escape.
All the Ords who fought with you are gone. Even the four brothers Mai-llup did not escape the executioners axe. It is not the way of a true warrior to lose ones head for fighting evil.”
“Roarken is gone too Mimna. He died a short time ago battling the beast as told by your stone servants message.”
Mimna looks about. “Where lies his body that I may kiss his lips one last time?”
“We sent him to live in the sky with those warriors who have gone on before. He is at peace now. He gave his life valiantly defending us.”
“Tis a good thing you did Amari. I will not weep for him, but instead sing his praises to my people.” She looks at the sword in Amari’s hand. “I see Katana still serves you?”
“Yes, she and I are mated for life. Look here sister. We have also found two others of the Kcaj.”
Gareth lifts Helixx to the sky with Amari’s motion to him. Dian does the same with Hydrosin as well.
Mimna nods her head in understanding. “Those blades are what the people of stone told us about. This news caused us to come and investigate what was transpiring in the land below and so near our realm.
During our early journeys years ago, we knew other swords of great power existed besides the Maiden’s Saber, but no inklings of where they might be found. How is it, you have found fortune to include these two in your band of warriors?”
“It is a long story we can tell around the fires when we are safe. Suffice to say, Helixx was discovered in the Dragon’s Grave by Gareth here,” as Amari puts her hand to his shoulder. “We freed Dian from my sister’s Nix curse, and Hydrosin was with her. We now seek the Fire and Wind sword. Only when we have all five will we be strong enough to rid the Aventine of the evil that dwells here.”
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