by C. J. Haines
Samana turned to the beastly boy as he stood, armored and drawing his sword to her. “You cannot escape, don’t try. I don’t want to have to…”
The Red Wolf gave pause to his speech when the loud and true cry of a great steed rent the air. The boy saw a look of wonder on Samana’s features as she stared at what lay behind him, causing the charcoal figure himself to turn and look, seeing a sight he thought he would never see.
Kurlank stood upon the back of a great steed, his armor touched by the ash of fire, as he stood a heroic sight, his twin swords drawn as he spoke to the beast. “You cannot kill me, beast. I shall never fall by your hand!”
The Red Wolf was in shock and impression for but a moment. Kurlank charged madly atop his steed, and swung his swords in dual fashion, creating an intense storm of spinning blades at the front of his charge as the Red Wolf was ready to take on the adversary.
Samana pulled her sword, and thrust for the back of the beast, for he was open, his mind seemingly set on the approaching Kurlank. This could be his end.
Kurlank spun his blades madly and thrust for the beast, but each blow was blocked with a swift movement of the beast’s blade, and then the beast dealt out a severe stabbing motion, turning to face Samana as he did so, slaying the horse with one blow and viewing Samana’s great sword thrusting right for his chest.
The Red Wolf’s burning eyes grew intense and he ducked the blow, and grabbed the horse as it met his back, and tossed it upon Samana, pinning her to the ground.
Kurlank had jumped from the horse’s back, and landed a few feet away, and then dealt a brave advance on the beast, initiating a dance of blades, clanging, thrusting, stabbing, slashing, and swinging furiously as the skilled warriors battled back and forth.
The charcoal boy was enjoying the test of his power as he fought madly against Kurlank. Samana tried to get out from under the horse, and almost near succeeded in doing so when the two warriors were coming back her way with their fight.
Kurlank blocked blow after advancing blow, as he was beginning to be backed up to Samana. The stripy-haired girl had freed herself from the horse, as Kurlank bought her time and stood at her side. As he blocked another blow from the beastly figure, he began calling to Samana over the crackling of the fire that was mounting all around them in chaos. “Samana, get to the gate. Get out of here!”
Samana stood to his side, as they were being backed to one of the wall towers.
“I’m not leaving you behind again, Kurlank. We stay together!”
The Red Wolf was now growing impatient. He was now going to end this battle. Dodging a swift blow from Kurlank, the beast dealt him a good kick and sent him flying against the root of a wall tower.
Kurlank was regaining his footing, as Samana stepped in front of him and blocked several blows from the Red Wolf, but failed and was caught on her sword hand, dropping her blade, and then discarded to the side by a blunt hit from the beasts arm as he spoke. “I’m going to finish this, right, now!”
Kurlank picked his swords up from the ground, which he had dropped on contact with the wall, and stared ahead as the Red Wolf created a massive spinning circle of fire and then flung it at the center of the tower, where it met the wall top.
Kurlank looked up, and saw the tower burst in an explosion, sending pieces scattering and the top half of the tower plummeting for where he stood.
The Red Wolf showed his sharp fangs beneath his helmet. This time the metal warrior would not return.
Samana was feeling dizzy from the blow she received from the beast, but was still very aware of her surroundings and saw the tower falling downward for Kurlank. In but a moment of reflex, Samana rushed for her friend as the charcoal boy watched in horror as she put herself at the side of her friend to help him and was crushed by the burning chunk of tower.
The boy stepped back as splinters of burning wood flew about. She was gone. The beastly boy stood horrified at what he had just done. He had just killed the one of his destiny, the girl of his visions, the one that he was to reproduce the blood of his people with after the swallowing flame.
The town was burning around him, soon only to be outer walls, ash, and dead wood. The boy felt fear for his actions…and did not know what to do but run.
He left the town, as it burned wildly to its end, heading north of the burning wreckage. He had destroyed his destiny.
-Chapter 9-
Past
The camp of the Ernai resting in the Sharp Sands was very alive, even with half of them no longer residing in the camp.
Short blades were fixed with belts to the sides of Ernai, claws were sharpened against claws, and many made farewells to their loved ones. Sofius sat in the largest of tents, the one formerly of the ownership of Grede, and was at the side of his love, Moira. She lay still and silent as Sofius stroked her cheek and then rested his hand on her pregnant belly, and spoke.
“I promise I’ll return, whether I live long after that, we’ll see…but I promise that I will see you again!”
Haten entered the tent and called to Sofius. “Everyone’s formed up, Sofius. We’re ready to go on your order!” Sofius nodded acceptingly and rose from his wife’s side, leaving her to be watched and cared for by several women of the Ernai.
Sofius was at the head of the ready mass of sharp fanged, scar skinned, yellow-eyed Ernai. He looked upon their faces as he strode through the brushing wind and then spoke. “For blood, for blood we shall go, spill our own for the sake of others. For that we shall go!”
Haten nodded and spoke his piece, receiving agreement from Sofius. “Even if it takes every last drop of ours, we’ll keep going.”
Sofius grinned sharply and drew his facial covering over his face and then, leading the impressive mass of cloth, all swaying in the wind, Sofius led on. All following him to the end, knowing that whatever end may come, the blood of Ernai would surely be spilt.
As the Ernai rushed onwards without end, they had not seen one sign of Grede and his followers. The couple hours that Grede had ahead of those who pursued him had given him an advantage, as far ahead his followers followed his lead. The lust for flesh, fresh and bloody fueling their appetite and giving great speed to their tread.
Not willing to give up, Sofius and his followers went on without hesitation. As the days passed without rest, they went through sandy dunes, and wild hot wind, to the face of the Khergy Mountains and up them, scaling the massive sight of proportions, mighty and treacherous, but still ever pushing onward. In their brave efforts, they were now upon the snow and cold winded peaks. Marching through waist deep snow and pummeling winds, heading through the freezing mass, closer and closer to their destination.
Sofius was one of the few Ernai that knew of or had even seen maps. He knew the location of the fortress, as he made a point of noting anything he saw of a map to his memory, for he knew in travels it could come in great use, and now was one of those times.
The icy tundra was spraying wildly with freezing blotches of snow slamming heavily upon the cold but courageous Ernai. Sofius had keen sight, and looked out through the cold raging winds, and then caught his pursuit in his golden sights.
Pointing outward, Sofius beckoned his followers to what lay ahead. They had found the fortress and held hope. Were they too late?
But as Sofius and the Ernai made themselves closer to the fortress, the snow was becoming less of a thick distraction upon the air and shattered hope as bodies of the nomads lay upon the snowy ground. Their once fine, blue-robed forms, lying torn, sliced, and ripped apart, all bloodying the snow with their carcasses.
Sofius looked upon the sight with horror and gritted his teeth sharply as Haten came to his side and spoke. “Look at that…what a horror! If we hurry, maybe we can save some inside. It can’t be too late!” Sofius looked upon Haten, appreciating his voice of hope, and led the Ernai to the gate of the fortress. It was icy and cold to the touch. Huge ringed handles would ordinarily be gripped to open the great gates, but Sofius and his follo
wers did not have to, for they were already open, blood having poured out from between the icy behemoths to chill in a pool. Sofius called for caution amongst the Ernai and then entered with them behind.
The interior of the fortress was vast and mighty. A natural phosphorous was housed in clear, crystal formed lanterns that lay on the ceiling above, lighting the vastness below as the Ernai tread carefully onward.
There was no sight of anything yet as they pressed on, but then something was heard, familiar to the kindling of flame. Ahead, in the distance there was an archway with light growing from it. Sofius issued strong caution as they pressed on. Their surroundings were fine and beautiful, tall pillars sculptured from ice, fine blue banners hanging from the icy fortress walls, each sewn by a careful and well-skilled needle. But the sight was unnoticed in its beauty as the Ernai passed through the open chamber and entered the archway that the light had been spotted in.
Sofius was the first in, and looked ahead as a great bonfire was burning in the center of a great room, tunnels formed in all the walls, going in every direction. As the fire burned madly, the vicious Ernai were tossing bones, empty of their flesh, onto it, adding to the blaze as they howled madly with their violent intent and satisfaction upon spilt blood.
Sofius knew that surprise was a good thing to have on the hunt, but he could not keep himself quiet as he felt anger rising to burst from his body, finding release in a loud and echoing howl in the icy, hole-punctured chamber.
Haten was at Sofius’ side and sharpened his sharp fingertips on the icy floor as the vicious Ernai caught the sight of intruders from their place around their blazing flame and rent howls into the air as Sofius and his mass rushed to the flame and stood to meet the murderous lot.
A familiar voice called out from behind the fire, that of Grede. Many eyes looked upon him as he sat in an icy throne, decked out in blood, as he picked his teeth with the boney finger of one of his many victims. “So, you followed us? Just as I thought you would, Sofius. I’m glad you brought some friends with you! It appears that the nomads here, the Khergy, were a dying people and, well, now they’ve died. The streams of fish that were supposed to lie at the bottom of this icy entrapment have long since sealed over, and it seems that there just isn’t enough food here for us. We had a good time and ate everyone, and as we were met with the problem of…wanting more and you know, survival of the fittest, we decided we’d go back to the old camp and kill every last one of you. But seeing that you’ve come all this way, I think we’ll just kill you all, now!” Grede stood from his throne to spread his arms outward, issuing a gesture of order. His followers began to encircle Sofius and his followers, the blood stained leader standing tall and laughing insanely. His vicious tone echoed through the chamber as Sofius and his Ernai stood ready, Sofius gripping his three blades at his waist. This time he would use them.
Calling out, Sofius stood across the blaze from Grede. “You’re going to pay for what you’ve done, Grede. Everyone here is going to pay!”
Grede laughed and showed off his bloodied and sharp teeth, speaking as he stared back across the burning pile of bones and cloth. “Hahahahaha…will we?! I think we’re going to kill you, and seeing that you have no women and children, I’d say that you left them back at camp…what a shame. I guess we’ll make a good meal of them when we finish with you!”
Sofius drew two of his blades as the vicious Ernai circled, blood dripping from their savage teeth as Sofius spoke return to his foe. “You’ll never get that chance!!!”
As the bloodthirsty Ernai leapt and met in combat with the followers of Sofius, the knife wielder leapt through the burning blaze to the surprise of Grede, his black cloak catching flame as he flew over the wild fire. Meeting Grede, Sofius kicked him in the jaw, sending him sliding across the icy ground. Grede spat blood and arose, as Sofius took his burning cloak in grip from his body and threw it over the bloodied Grede.
As the the voices of victor and defeat rang out, blood spilling, claws digging and death being sent and received, Grede felt the burn of the cloak on his scarred flesh and wrestled to remove the apparatus. Sofius ran and slid across the icy ground with his leg outward, sending a strong kick into the burning, writhing form of Grede, the leader being sent flying through the air and into a painful heap on the cold, icy surface of the chamber.
Gripping his knives, sharp and ready, Sofius approached the burning form. Grede was angry and ripped through the burning cloak, sending the ember swallowed garment to the floor, along with his own which had caught ablaze. Grede howled in rage, and then rushed Sofius, the blade wielder meeting with Grede in battle and slashing outwards, catching Grede on his chest with two swift strokes. Grede felt the pain but pushed on, and grabbed Sofius by his arms and lifted him up into the air, and then flipped him, letting him go and sending him through the air and into the entrance of one of the many wall tunnels.
Sofius thudded on the icy ground, hard on his back, and had lost grip of his daggers as they left his hands on the landing and slid down the icy sloped tunnel. Grede was proud of himself for having seemingly hurt Sofius a great deal and rushed to the tunnel as Sofius got up, gripping the third knife at his waist, while looking ahead. But he was unable to do anything as he was met by a fearsome knee to the face and, as he lost grip on his blade, was sent across the tunnel and into a chamber, rolling into a snowy heap, cold and broken.
Grede ran and slid on his stomach down the tunnel, the sounds of battle behind him echoing as he rushed to meet his opponent in his weakened state. Sofius struggled to get up as his jaw was broken, blood pouring outwards onto the snowy floor as he lay paralyzed in the moment. Grede came sliding through the tunnel and went to all fours and leapt onto the back of the weak Sofius and grabbed his throat, strangling him as his claws cut into his skin.
Grede was enjoying every moment of the assault and leaned his head down to the broken Sofius as blood seeped from open wounds on his neck, and from his permanently gaping broken jaw. “Sofius, you’ve lost. Hear the cries of pain and misery echoing. Can you hear it? It is the sound of death. But the death of those foolish enough to follow you, not those of mine, they’re willing to kill. They’re strong and you are weak!”
Sofius struggled against the hold of Grede, the weight of his body cracking his cold bones as the bleeding Sofius kept his unheld arms in thought as he felt the breathe of Grede near his neck. “I’m going to kill you now, Sofius. Farewell!” Ready to sink his teeth into Sofius’ neck, Grede moved in. Now was the moment.
Sofius lashed his weakened arms outward with his dying energy and caught Grede across the face, slashing deep cuts into his face. Blood spluttered as Grede released his grip of Sofius and held his face, howling with pain, loud, shaking the chamber.
As snow fell from the apparently weak ceiling of the chamber, Sofius threw his weight back and sent Grede from his back to catch himself on the snowy floor, blood drizzling from his sore face as he licked outwards, catching the blood as he looked upon Sofius with hate.
“I’m going to kill you, Sofius. You only prolong your death!”
Sofius was getting up from the ground, still weak, as Grede rushed him. Though his energy was low, Sofius found that he was now filled with a great energy as he found himself approached by death.
Grede pounded across the snowy chamber and leapt through the air, bearing his claws outward, sharp and ready to deal death into the flesh of Sofius. His flesh was near punctured, but then he arose to the surprise of Grede, spinning in mid-air. Sofius saw his two blades on the ground and reached out, gripping one in each hand, and then landed as Grede had missed.
Sofius stood gripping his blades as Grede spat blood at him and charged in anger, calling out Sofius name as he did. The chamber began to shake more and more and was seemingly on the verge of caving in. Sofius leapt for Grede, stabbing downwards with his blades to meet the oncoming flesh, but was disappointed.
Grede saw the incoming attack and slid from his stomach to back, and stretched his feet
outward, catching Sofius in the face and sending blood shooting from his already broken jaw as he landed on his back, slamming onto the cold floor.
Sofius felt his head ring and vision blur as his legs were gripped tight by the clawed hands of Grede. Standing upright, Grede smiled. This time victory would be his. Raising his leg to put heavy pressure on Sofius’ knee to break it, Grede prepared a dangerous blow, and Sofius was feeling weak, but he could not fail.
Sofius sat bloodied and broken, the thoughts of his wife and future child coming to his mind. He so wanted to be a father, he looked forward to it his entire life. He could not fail now and he would not fail, now.
Grinning with victory in sight, Grede was ready to slam his force down upon Sofius. But then Sofius came to swift action, and flung his torso up from the floor and stabbed Grede in his knees. Howling in pain, Grede dropped his foot for support and was met by Sofius’ elbow to his jaw, sending a cracking motion through his head.
Sofius moved with impressive speed and placed himself at the back of Grede, and wrapped his arms around his center and, with his jaw broken, leaned his head back and howled as hard he could. Pain shot through his entire body as the ceiling began to give in. Grede struggled against Sofius’ grip all he could, but he was unable as his knees were pierced through with the sharp blades dealt to him.
Looking up at the ceiling, Grede knew the end was coming, even if he did not wish it to.
Sofius had fought hard and had the best of him. He was going to die this day.
The ceiling caved in heavy, first only small pieces and then large ones. Sofius looked back at the tunnel and knew now he had to run if he wanted any chance of living to see his love, Moira, again. Releasing his grip on Grede, Sofius left him and rushed for the tunnel, snow and ice crashing down onto the chamber floor.
Grede fell to his knees as blood poured from his wounds, the broken figure staring up at the giving ceiling. He was finished.