by Casey Odell
“Just how do you think these things are made anyway?” Lianna spun towards Claire. “We need the heart of a Great Beast. You have faced one before, no?”
“Y-yes, but—”
“But what? You came out alive, did you not? You need to learn not to be so afraid, mien anaire.” She smiled, but it wasn’t reassuring. “I am here, after all. What could go wrong?”
Lianna knelt by the water, placed a hand on the ground and closed her eyes as if she were trying to sense something. After a moment she stood and took a few steps back, her eyes moving to the sky.
Claire wondered just how many beasts Lianna had slain before with that kind of self-assurance. “Do you know what kind it is?” Her anxiety grew with each passing second. The air was thin and cool, making it harder to breathe.
“Judging by the water and the spells, it looks to be a Maelin.”
“Have you ever fought one of those before?”
“No,” she stated plainly.
“Do you know how to defeat it?” She couldn’t hide the frantic note in her voice. When she’d gotten up that morning, she’d never planned on fighting another giant beast. This was all just too sudden.
Lianna just shrugged.
Well, that sure inspired confidence. “Why are you doing this?” she asked. “Why are you willing to help me like this? Why go to these lengths?”
“There are many reasons,” she said. “For the king, an old friend, my country. If we lose you, then we would have to start the search all over again for another of our kind, which could take years. Years we do not have.” She glanced at Claire, her face softening. “Besides, I may have grown a little fond of you as well, mien anaire. Us women, we need to stick together, do we not?”
“I suppose,” was all she could think to say.
Lianna didn’t reply. She focused her attention up towards the sky.
“You mean to wake it up,” Claire said, terrified all over again.
“They are easier when they first awaken, slower, sluggish.”
“Please don’t do this.” But her plea fell on deaf ears.
Clouds slowly started to form in a whirlwind in the sky above the lake. Lianna’s mark sprung to life then, glowing a bright purple. The breeze picked up, more and more. The streamers flapped wildly and waves started to lap at the bank.
Claire took a few steps back, ready to turn tail and run if she had to. She really hadn’t signed up for this. She eyed Lianna nervously. Just what exactly did Lianna think she could help her with?
A low rumble erupted from the clouds as lightning started to spark. The storm roiled and grew.
Lianna thrust a hand up suddenly, her fingers a claw, and then a great jolt of lightning struck in the center of the rock spires, down into the water. Claire had to shield her eyes, it was so bright. Tendrils of lightning spread across the surface of the water, crackling loudly. Then the storm dissipated as quickly as it had started. And the world was quiet again.
Silently, they stood, waiting. The purple glow of Lianna’s mark faded a little.
Claire started to ease when nothing happened. Maybe it hadn’t worked? Whatever it was, she was glad that it had failed.
A ripple started from the center of the lake. Slowly, it made its way to the shore, quiet but impossibly foreboding. Then another ripple formed. The ground shook slightly and a low rumble muffled by the water reached her ears. Then another ripple. The ground trembled again, soon followed by ripples, one after the other, growing closer together, the rumbling growing louder and louder.
Rocks flew out of the center between the spires before landing several feet away with a noisy splash. Then it was quiet again.
Claire’s knees felt weak. It had worked, and whatever it was was finally awake. Sluggish or not, she doubted it was very happy. And she couldn’t blame it. To be locked away for so long, she would be angry too.
Something long and gray sprung from the water suddenly.
Claire gasped and jumped back, her heart pounding frantically.
It was an arm, thin and scaled. Sharp claws dug into a stone spire. Slowly, the beast pulled itself out of the water. Blue-gray translucent scales covered its lithe, but still giant, body. Webbing spread between its toes, and from its four legs to its body. Its head was small on a long neck, its eyes orange embers in a bony face. It climbed atop a stone spire, its tail wrapping around the other for balance.
A fine tremble wracked her body. No, not again. She couldn’t fight one of these again. She wasn’t ready. Not yet.
With her breath held, she took a step back, careful not to draw the beast’s attention.
The Maelin sniffed at the air as it stretched its limbs and back. It yawned then, the fan like scales around its face spread out wide to reveal a shock of red.
She looked to Lianna, who still stood calmly by the water. A small glowing purple ball formed in her hand as she lifted and drew it back. Before she could throw it, Claire turned and ran back up the hill towards the village. A deafening roar filled the air a moment later.
No, no, no. It was her nightmares all over again. She didn’t dare look back over her shoulder. She already knew the beast was angry.
She was halfway to the village when the earth shook again, more violent than before. Claire lost her balance and fell to her hands and knees. Another roar sounded from behind her, closer this time, followed by the thud of heavy footsteps.
This time, Claire braved a peek over her shoulder. The beast was almost on her, quickly closing in. Its walk was awkward on the ground. Lianna was nowhere in sight.
Claire cursed, quickly scrambled to her feet, and ran to the nearest house. She ducked behind it, circling around, peeking underneath at the Maelin’s approaching feet. The house shook as the beast rammed into it. Another earsplitting scream split the air, and then it rammed the building again, the walls creaking, boards crumbling away. Any moment it was going to fall.
And then she would be exposed.
As quiet and quickly as she could, Claire crept to the next house. She crawled to the corner and peeked around it. The creature remained by the first house. Claire looked around the village then, for any signs of the other woman. Just where in the world had she disappeared to? Surely she couldn’t have meant for her to fight the damn thing alone. Or did she?
The beast howled and reared back onto its hind legs.
Claire’s doubts faded. She took a long breath. She had to relax, at least a little. Lianna was here, after all. That, and she had beaten a beast before. Somehow.
She crossed the dirt path to the other side of the village to circle around the beast. A shrill roar cut through the air, followed by a thunderous crash that sent the ground trembling again. Claire stumbled but caught herself on the edge of one of the houses. She squeezed between a narrow alley towards the chaos.
The house she’d originally hid behind lay in shambles. The Maelin was busy rising to its feet.
Lianna stood in front of it, her mark a blinding purple. A smirk decorated her face. She was enjoying this. Claire was starting to wonder if she was the only one in the palace that didn’t enjoy a good fight.
The Maelin lashed out with its tail as it circled around Lianna. A low growl emanated from the beast. It was not pleased at all.
Claire took a deep breath and stepped out from behind the building. She couldn’t let Lianna face the beast all by herself. Not that she would be much help.
Lianna ducked under a massive claw as the beast lashed out at her and jumped back. She raised a hand in the air and a bolt of lightning struck the Maelin.
A deafening scream crawled up its throat, but it remained standing. A shiver ran through its body.
The grin faded from Lianna’s face.
That wasn’t good. The bolt didn’t have the effect on the beast she had expected, it seemed.
Another clawed hand lashed out at Lianna and she jumped back.
Claire looked around for something to throw. The other woman needed the beast distracted. With no ro
cks in sight, she settled for a board ripped off the small house next to her. She ran towards the Maelin and hurled the piece of wood as hard as she could. It struck lower than where she’d aimed, on its bony leg, but it got the job done. The huge creature turned its molten eyes on her.
She stood frozen in the middle of the street, her chest heaving. That was as far as her plan went. An itch started on her right arm. If she used her powers now, then she would be as good as useless once the pain struck. She had to think of something else, and quick.
The Maelin drew its head back, drawing in a long breath with a hiss. The red fan spread out wide around its face to reveal a row of gill-like slits. Steam slithered out of them, but that didn’t seem right. Why would steam—
“Look out!” Lianna yelled.
Claire’s feet moved just as a bright stream of green and blue flames shot out of the beast’s mouth. She ran behind another building, the heat on her back so hot it felt like she was going to melt. Flames engulfed the house. Quickly, she ran behind the next building. The hiss of the creature sounded on the other side as it readied another attack. The tree between the houses erupted in a glow of bright orange. It wouldn’t be long before the whole village was set aflame. And all the cover would be burnt to a crisp.
Lianna appeared beside her suddenly. Claire shrieked, jumping slightly. Lianna looked winded but otherwise calm. Confidence Claire desperately wished for at the moment.
“The scales are protecting it.”
“Didn’t you know that before?” Claire gave her an incredulous look.
“A detail that was overlooked, my dear,” she said and then peeked around the corner.
The building shook behind them.
Lianna turned back to Claire. “We will have to work together on this one, I am afraid.”
Claire just nodded silently. She would have preferred it if they just flew away instead. But Lianna had unleashed the beast on the world. So, it was up to them— unfortunately— to deal with it.
“Unsheathe your pretty little dagger then,” Lianna said.
Claire did as told, her hands shaking.
“There has to be a weak point,” Lianna said. “A joint or area where the scales are weak.”
“The gills,” Claire blurted. “By its head. I saw them before he nearly toasted me.”
Lianna’s eyes lit up with excitement. “That’s my girl.”
Fire filled the sky above them. They both dropped to the ground. Claire held her arms up in front of her to shield her face from the intense heat.
“Well then, you know what to do with that thing,” Lianna nodded to Claire’s dagger. “I will go present you with an opportunity.” She slipped back around the rear of the small building now on fire.
A few moments later, she heard the crack of lightning again and then the heavy footsteps moved away. Claire crawled to the corner to look. Lianna drew the creature back towards the lake. Purple emanated brightly from her arm.
Smoke engulfed the area, darkening the sky even more. Memories teased at the edge of her mind. Of a smoke-filled night. Of burning buildings. A town left in ruins.
Claire shook her head. This was not the same. Now she had the power to change things. She had to believe that.
She took a deep breath and edged out from behind the house. As quiet as she could, she crept down the road towards the two, dagger in one hand, the other over her mouth to keep the smoke out.
Lianna threw a barrage of purple balls at the beast. Howls pierced her ears.
An opening, what exactly would that be? She had to get to the head, but how? She thought back to the Roain. She could strike at its legs, but then she would risk being thrown by its tail. The underside was covered with hard scales, unlike the last beast she slew.
The Maelin drew back its head again, the fan spreading out, followed by that horrifying hissing sound. Lianna threw up a hand and a stream of water from the lake formed a wall in front of her. Droplets sprayed into the air. Then, almost as quickly as it formed, the water turned to ice, moments before the blue flame struck. The ice cracked and melted under the heat.
Claire’s feet sprung forward. The ice wouldn’t be able to hold for very long. She had to do something. She ducked under the beast’s tail as it swung overhead. Though not as tall as the Roain, the creature was still massive. She easily slipped underneath it unnoticed. Running towards the front legs, Claire raised her dagger up and slashed at the web of skin that connected to its body. Thick blue blood sprayed as she tore the blade through its flesh.
The beast reared back, screaming. Lianna’s ice shield shattered away in pieces. Her chest heaved from exertion. The fight was already taking its toll on her. Claire ran out from under the creature as Lianna raised both her hands up in the air in a fist.
Oh no. Instantly, Claire recognized what Lianna was about to do next, but before she could steady herself, Lianna slammed her fists on the ground, sending a violent tremor through the earth. Claire stumbled and fell. She turned over on the ground to face the beast. The strange blood covered her face and stung at her eyes.
The Maelin’s legs gave out from underneath it and it fell to the ground with a massive crash.
Now! Claire scrambled to her feet towards the beast, dagger in hand. This was the best opportunity she was going to get. She struggled to keep her footing on the still shaking earth. Its head hung low to the ground, as low as it was going to get. When she drew near, Claire reached up and slid the dagger into one of its gills, stabbing with all her might.
The beast jerked back, raising up on its hind legs, its head whipping back and forth violently as it tried to loose the dagger. A bright flash of lightning struck the pommel and the creature screamed one last time, then shuddered and fell to the ground limply.
Claire collapsed to her knees, relief filling her. The tremble returned to her hands. She forced herself to take deep breaths. It was over. And somehow she’d made it out alive. And without major injury. Though her dreams would surely suffer from a new nightmare.
Lianna laughed suddenly.
The woman must have been crazy. She had to be if she thought that was fun.
Fire still crackled loudly from the village. Smoke drifted across the sky. The Maelin lay in a lifeless lump on the ground. Steam rose lightly from its gills.
Lianna rose and nudged the beast with a foot. When it didn’t move, she yanked the dagger out and walked to Claire.
“That was quite exhilarating, wasn’t it?” she asked, offering the blade to Claire.
She threw a glare at Lianna, then snatched her dagger back. The pommel was slightly melted and there were strange dark burn marks on the blade, but the rest was relatively unscathed. Unsteadily, she rose to her feet, wiped the blade on her pants, and sheathed it.
“Your idea of fun is terrifying,” Claire said.
“You showed quite the courageous spirit back there.” Lianna smiled. “I was surprised.”
Claire ignored that last part. Mostly because she was too. Perhaps she was braver than she thought. “What do we do now,” she nodded to the beast, “with that?”
“Why, take its heart, of course.” Lianna looked at Claire expectantly.
It took her a moment to realize what she was implying. “You want me to do it?”
“You have the knife, don’t you?”
Claire groaned, letting the despair show freely on her face. “Remind me to never help you again.” She drew her dagger once again and stepped up to the mound of scales and flesh. Her stomach twisted. She really wasn’t going to enjoy this part. But if it was the only way… Unless Lianna was tricking her. If she was, then she would truly be sorry.
The beast had landed on its side, thankfully, making her task a little easier. She shoved a massive leg out of the way, lifted her blade to its chest, then hesitated. She took a deep breath, and then another. She could do this. This was the easy part, after all.
Lianna stepped up next to her. “Well, if you can’t do it, give it here then.” She held her
hand out for the dagger.
Claire gladly handed it over and took a step back. She cringed when Lianna plunged the blade between the scales into the flesh. She cut a large slit, then stuck her arm in all the way to the elbow. Thick blue liquid dripped to the ground. A short while later, her hand emerged again with a mound of soft flesh. The heart.
Quickly, Claire covered her mouth, feeling like she was going to retch.
Lianna held it up in front of her to admire it. Or at least that’s what it seemed like she was doing.
Claire took her dagger down to the lake to wash the blood off. And to get away from the gruesome scene. It was all just too much. When she was done, she sheathed her dagger once again.
“Come, Claire,” Lianna called. “There is still much left to do.”
Soon they were back at the palace, and Claire had never seen such a welcome sight. Gray walls and all. After a short bath, Claire met Lianna in her garden, her skin scrubbed clean of the blue splatters.
A robe was tied tight around her. She didn’t want to ruin yet another set of clothes if things got messy again. Lianna wore a simple red slip of a gown, with sleeves ending at her elbows. The front was cut low, very low, dipping down between her breasts. She looked fresh and clean as well, her hair loose around her shoulders in ringlets.
The clouds had cleared and the sun was low in an orange sky. A fire burned in a brass bowl at Lianna’s feet. A small wheeled cart stood to her left. The heart sat on top along with a silver goblet and small vials of other… things.
Claire approached slowly, wary of the smile on Lianna’s face. She wasn’t sure she was going to enjoy this part either.
“You look as terrified as you did earlier,” Lianna pointed out. “Do you not trust me?”
Not entirely. But she didn’t tell her that. “I’m just not sure what to expect, is all.” She eyed the large heart nervously. A knife lay next to it, small, but no less threatening.
Lianna chuckled. “Well, let’s at least hope this will work.”
Claire didn’t laugh. It had better, after all they’d been through.
“Let’s get on with it, shall we?”