by C. J. Krüger
“What would you like me to do for you?” I ask, rubbing my hand over his forehead gently.
“I heard you can perform miracles,” he wheezes. “My body is broken but you can make it whole. Please, Champion of the Lights, make me whole.”
There is warmth in my hand and I press my palm over his eyes. “Your faith has restored you,” I say softly and the gentle power of the Lights surges through me.
When I step away, the man’s wounds have vanished and he is whole.
“Oh, thank you!” he exclaims as he gets up. He falls to his knees and bows deeply before me. “Bless you, Champion.”
“Rise,” I tell him softly. “Lasaedius, you said your name was?”
He nods as he stands. “Yes, sir,” he replies eagerly. “First Lieutenant Lasaedius Valoris.”
“Go get yourself something to eat,” I tell him. “And if anyone asks you how you were healed, tell them it was the Lights.”
“You’ve given me hope,” Lasaedius says firmly. “I thought it was impossible to win this before. We rode out to meet them, but their army was so much larger than we thought. It was like looking out at an ocean. We were doomed. Now, I feel hopeful. We’re going to win.”
He leaves the tent, a spring in his step.
The healer has been watching in stunned silence. “Can you…” she asks, trailing off. “The others.”
“You will save them,” I tell her. “Heal through Their grace, and these men will live. Lights be with you.”
“And you,” she replies, her hands shaking.
I exit the tent and begin walking through the camp. After a few moments, my heart starts beating quickly and my fingers quiver.
Ayda, where are you? I wonder, trying to keep myself calm. When I am doing something, I forget about my worries, but during a calm walk, my mind races with endless worst case scenarios.
We are circling around the valley, comes her reply.
Oh, thank the Lights, I project toward her. I wasn’t sure you’d be able to hear me.
I can, she says softly, and I can almost feel her hands cupping my face. We killed the demons. How fares the battle with you?
Not good, I reply. There are a lot more of them than we thought, Ayda. A million or more… maybe even two million.
Two million, she gasps. That’s unthinkable.
We have them in a bottle neck in Devil’s Pass, I say sardonically. Aptly named, I think.
If they decide that they want to come back around the valley, you can’t give chase, she urges. Fighting that many on an open field is madness.
The rest of the legion grew wings, I tell her proudly.
That’s amazing, Duncan! She exclaims. Can that turn the tide?
It has already, I tell her, but you’re right. Chasing them on an open field will get people killed. We need something to cut off their retreat and destroy them from both sides. They are just trapped in the valley right now.
A messenger runs up to me, his face white with fear. “Your Majesty,” he says breathlessly. “Portals have opened up in the sky and flying creatures are pouring out of them. They are sieging the city!”
I curse. I have to go, my love. Be safe.
You, too, she replies softly. Or I’ll be very cross.
I whistle for Ronae and he is at my side almost instantly. “Let’s go and see what’s happening,” I tell him as I swing my legs over the saddle. We race up the mountain pass and get up onto the cliff where Bal-Mora overlooks the valley.
A hundred massive black dragons with burning red eyes are raining fire and destruction down on the helpless city. The men are trying to fight back with crossbows but the bolts simply bounce off the thick, scaly hide of the dragons.
“By the Lights,” I say, my lips going dry. “Run, Ronae, run!” He takes off towards the city and I re-summon my armor and Solraxion.
We charge forth but are stopped when the largest of the dragons drops himself between us and the city. It’s like looking at a large, moving, deadly hill.
“You go no further, boy,” it rumbles as it speaks. “The age of Light is over. Now is the age of ash.”
Chapter Fourteen
Flames envelope me and threaten to consume me. The only thing keeping me safe is the barrier of Holy Light around me. The dragon stops breathing his flames when he realizes they aren’t working and swipes at me with a massive claw.
It hits me full in the chest and sends my flying from Ronae’s back. “Run!” I call out to him but he is already moving. The dragon’s attention is occupied for a moment with chasing the Quel’ras, but he’s much too fast for the gigantic beast to keep up with him. Solraxion pulses in my hands as I stand, and I rush at the beast. The blade lights up with Golden Fire and I cleave at the dragon’s leg.
When the blade connects with the diamond hard scales, the Highblade is stopped completely and its Holy Light is siphoned off and absorbed into the dragon’s body. It laughs and takes another swipe at me, but this time I roll out of the way.
How is that possible?
“I am the hope-ender,” the dragon roars and breaths its mighty flames at me once more.
The barrier of light protects me from burning, but the heat still feels like it is baking me alive. Ronae leaps up and smashes himself against the dragon, knocking him away and distracting him enough for me to be able to move. I gather my will and hurl a blast of light toward the dragon. It seems to do nothing except get absorbed by his scales once again.
“Worm,” it rumbles. “Your Lights have no power over me.”
“You have no power here,” I say through my teeth. “You are just a demon, like all the others.”
“Is that what you think?” it asks, and then laughs, a deep rumbling laugh that sounds like thunder. “You will die thinking that, boy.”
If there was time, I would ponder what the dragon means, but it then tries to eat me. Huge fangs the size of my arms encircle me. I just barely manage to dive out of the way and the dragon’s snout smashes into the ground. It snorts in irritation and swipes at me again. Its scales are too hard for me to pierce, and my magic is simply absorbed.
Lights, please help, I pray as I hold my ground.
Attacking him with the Light is useless, Lightheart, an eerie voice whispers. Stand back and allow me to handle this.
A black tear forms in the space next to me and the Dark Lady Athreine steps out of it, her eyes flashing a wicked red. It seals itself up and there she stands, looking proud and sinister.
“Lord Rokoth,” she says, bowing before the dragon. “It’s been quite some time.”
The dragon steps back in fear and narrows its reptilian eyes. “Do not interfere, woman.”
“Is that a way to talk to your mistress, Rokoth? I think not,” she says and lifts her hand. She takes two fingers and closes them to form a loop.
The gesture seems strange until I see the dragon beginning to writhe in pain.
“Stop!” it roars and opens its maw to unleash hellfire upon us.
I try to push Athreine out of the way but it’s like my legs have been locked and I cannot move. The flames pass through her harmlessly, and she grins wickedly.
“Has the time come for you to test yourself against me?” she asks sweetly. “Did you think joining the Void would somehow save you from me?” She exerts her will and the dragon falls to its knees. “Foolish beast. Call your wyrms back and return to the Voidlands.”
The dragon struggles against the will of the Dark Lady. It thrashes and tries to breathe flames, but nothing works. Finally, it bows its head. “Yes… yes, mistress.”
“Good boy,” she says mockingly and releases the dragon. “Now go! You have your own world to rule, and if you had any sense you would have been on our side from the beginning. You were the god of that realm before the Void took it from you—why would you help it now? Once you help it, the Void will never let you go, Rokoth.”
I look off in the distance and see the dragons pulling back and flying over to us. I glance nervously between the Dark Lady a
nd the black dragon, wondering if this unsteady alliance will hold for much longer.
“We cannot resist Him for much longer,” Rokoth replies. “In exchange for freedom, we agreed to join his cause. It was this or be enslaved.”
“You are already enslaved, Rokoth,” she says acidly. “By agreeing to the Void’s will at all, you sold your soul.”
It growls but says nothing. “Somehow, I thought you would be on our side,” Rokoth says. “You’ve always been more like us than the creatures of this plane.”
“The Moon and Sun are still my parents,” she says calmly. “And yours, Rokoth. Go home. The Void will be dealt with soon enough.” She casts a look at me and she offers a genuine smile. “This one is your hope, Rokoth.”
The dragon grumbles and snorts. “I’m not so sure about that, Athreine,” it says and snaps its jaws at me. “I would have killed the boy had you not arrived.”
“Whom do you think sent me?” she asks, arching a brow. “They will not let him die, and besides, you underestimate the cleverness of the boy. He’d have found your weakness eventually.”
“I’m right here, you know,” I mutter. “For people of such old age, I’d have thought you’d have learned manners by now.”
Rokoth and Athreine both share a laugh and I narrow my eyes in irritation. This hulking giant of a creature just tried to eat me and now she is making friends with it? This is pure nonsense. A moment later the other dragons land and I can see the smoke of their devastation in the city.
“Would you like to explain to me what this is all about?” I ask, putting my sword away.
“Dragons are native to the Voidlands, Duncan,” Athreine explains. “And at one time, I would have called them my allies. I may have to readjust my thinking.”
Rokoth actually manages to appear guilty, which is a surprise considering how eager he was just a moment ago to chew me up and spit me back out.
“You’ve separated yourself from your home for too long, Athreine,” the dragon replies. “And the situation is worse than ever. I had no choice.”
“There is always a choice, Rokoth,” she snaps. “I am terribly disappointed in you… but you can redeem yourself to me.”
He bows his head. “Yes, mistress,” he rumbles. “What would you have us do?”
“Slaughter the demons down below,” she orders, waving her hand. “They disgust me.”
“It will be done.”
* * *
“Is it safe to trust them?” I ask as the flight of dragons ascends to the sky.
“No,” the Dark Lady replies. “Dragons are creatures of opportunity and they respect only power. Mine is greater than his in this moment, and so he will follow me.”
“But if the situation were to change?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.
“He would turn on me and I would be forced to destroy him,” she says coldly. “Now, is there something you really needed to ask or can I join the battle?”
“Mind telling me their weakness?” I ask dryly. “It might be helpful to know in a pinch.”
She chuckles. “I do mind,” she replies mirthfully. “It was far too much fun watching you struggle with him. It’s up to you to figure it out if you need to.”
I wrinkle my nose. “You were watching the whole time?” I ask irritably.
“Naturally,” she replies casually. “If that’s all, I’m going to go whet my appetite with demon blood. My fangs hunger.”
“That’s disgusting,” I say, making a retching sound. “You drink blood?”
“Sometimes,” she replies and she lifts her hand. She draws a hole in the air, and then a black portal opens. She steps inside and vanishes, the hole closing behind her.
I shudder and go to find Ronae. He’s standing by the edge of the bluff, looking over the battle. As I approach, I run my hand along his neck.
“How goes the battle?” I ask mildly.
The Legion is pushing the demons back and those dragons are slaughtering the demons by the thousands, he replies, quite emotionless. I’d watch your back around Athreine, Duncan. She may be on our side for the moment, but she is powerful. Even Diarmuid took pause when dealing with her.
“I want to give her a chance,” I say sincerely. “I may not understand her methods or agree with them, but that doesn’t make her untrustworthy. So long as she keeps doing the right thing, I will treat her as an ally.”
Just be careful, he says firmly. We should go and see the city. Bal-Mora took a beating from those dragons.
“I think that’s wise,” I tell him. “I want to check on my father anyway.”
“Then get on,” he says, lowering his body.
I jump onto his back and we take off towards Bal-Mora. The run to the city feels longer than it actually is. My heart pumps in my chest and I feel my mouth go dry. Father is in the city and the idea of losing him is almost more than I can bear.
Lights protect him, I pray.
The smell of burning flesh and wood and stone mix together, creating a terrible odor. The scent assaults my nose and I fight back the urge to retch. The gates have been smashed open, leaving the main defense wide open if the demons break through.
We ride through and I look around gravely. Dead soldiers are everywhere. Some are burned and half-eaten, or impaled on spires. The dragons weren’t here for long, but their devastation was potent.
“Many good people have lost their lives”, I say sadly. “Was it wrong of me to let the dragons go?”
Ronae snorts. People die in war, Duncan. I think letting Athreine control the dragons and using them to fight the demons was the right tactical choice.
My brows furrow and I sigh. But not the right moral one.
I’m not so sure of that, he replies. The dragons are as much a victim of the Void as the rest of us. It’s easy to cast blame and rage at the target right in front of you. Don’t let that make you lose sight of the bigger picture. The Twin Lights chose you to liberate creation from Evil, including dragons and other native inhabitants of the Voidlands.
I hadn’t considered that before. You’re right, I tell him and pat him on the neck. We continue riding through the narrow streets of the city, avoiding burning rubble where we can. If my father is anywhere, he will be inside Wolfe’s Keep. His men would have insisted on moving him there for safety.
The entrance to the keep is in the center of the city. It’s a tall, wide tower from which you can overlook the entire valley from. Rubble is around its base, and looking up, I can see the top has been scorched and battered. Still, it’s mostly intact and that gives me hope.
I dismount Ronae and tell him to wait outside while I go through. Guards are at the door and they let me in.
“Is my father all right?” I ask one of them.
“He lost an arm,” she tells me, her brows furrowed under her chainmail hood. “He made us run for it while he fought one of those beasts and it took his arm off.” She shudders and tears form in her eyes. “It was horrible.”
“Where is he now?” I ask quickly.
“Still up top, sir,” she replies. “Crazy man is still leading the troops with one arm!”
“That’s my father,” I say and begin running up the long stairs to the top. There are platforms along the stairs that archers step out on and align themselves with arrow slits in the keep’s outer wall. From there, they can safely rain down arrows on attacking enemies from almost anywhere in the city depending on how high the archer is in the keep.
Each and every platform is filled with archers nervously awaiting demons breaking through the gates. At the top, I see my father with a bandage around his side. Losing an arm is an understatement—most of the arm up to the shoulder is gone, but so is a huge chunk of his side.
“I don’t know what caused those dragons to attack the enemy, but we’re winning now,” my father says to one of his generals.
“Father!” I exclaim and I look at him with wide eyes. “What in the name of the Lights are you doing up?”
He can only shrug wi
th one side, which looks a bit strange. “I used magic to stop the bleeding. I’ll be fine and I can still fight if I have to.”
“You’re insane,” I tell him and walk up so that I can throw my arms around him. “But I’m glad you’re alive.”
He grunts and hugs me with his good arm. “Come, watch the battle,” he says, breaking the hug. “Your glowing legion is unstoppable and those dragons are decimating the demonic ranks. Within an hour, we’ll have sent them all back to the Void.”
“Athreine turned the dragons,” I tell him. “They seem to know each other somehow.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” he says. “She is a strange woman with many secrets. Are you sure we can trust her?”
I nod. “I am sure. Anyone who calls the Lights their Parents and knows who They are is trustworthy.”
He grunts in response. “Are you planning on—what is that?”
I turn to look and I see a man encased in black armor floating in the sky right in front of us. Without saying a word this figure lifts his hands and summons a black ball of swirling energy.
“Shadow and ash,” he rumbles and the ball explodes, sending out a massive shockwave.
“Get down!” I cry and throw myself over my father. A barrier of light encases us as the keep crumbles under us.
The devastation is instant and when I look up, I see the entire city has been flattened into dust. Not even rubble remains. It’s as if life here simply withered and died.
Only my father and I appear to have survived, protected by the Lights. Slowly, we stand and face the creature who did this.
“Pity,” he says. “I’ve missed two cockroaches. No matter.”
Chapter Fifteen
Aydamaris Sunleaf
(Year 3761)
The terrible tide of demons is overwhelming. I can hardly believe my eyes as my group of Sol Guards return to the main battle. It’s as if I am looking at a black sea. The Seventh Legion is standing at the mouth of a mountain pass, fighting back the horde. I see their golden wings and feel a surge of pride and hope.
Duncan is right, I think to myself. The truth of the Lights spreads like wildfire. “Come on!” I say to my soldiers. “Let’s go rejoin the others.”