Eluan Falls: The Inheritors of the World

by Dane G. Kroll

  “Back to the wall,” he yelled. He gave the signal with one of the lit up arrows sticking out of the ground.

  The men were relieved. They turned away from the avadon horde and raced back to the gate. Seres remained in place. His eyes never left the avadon leader. He could hear his men charging their way.

  The soldiers were now being chased by the avadons. The gate was their salvation, and only one thing stood in their way, the avadon leader.

  It was not fast enough or strong enough to get free from the oncoming stampede. It took blow after blow from the soldiers as they passed it. Seres charged forward.

  The avadon leader still tried to jump away, but it was too late. It jumped directly into Francesco de Seres’ sword. With one swift motion, Seres was able to cut off the avadon’s head. He could feel his own scar on the back of his neck tingle with familiarity.

  His men continued their race back to the gate. The doors were opening once again to receive them. The last remaining people rushed inside. The avadons were not far behind.

  Seres quickly picked up the head of the avadon leader on the end of his sword. He turned to the horde and lit the avadon’s body on fire. Then he held up its head for all to see.

  The avadons closest to him stopped in their tracks. The mass of bodies collided together. Seres held the leaders head high, making his stand. He stared down the demon tribe. Then he threw the head at the avadons. It was tossed around in fear. Panic and confusion overcame the avadons nearby. They were now leaderless.

  The soldiers noticed Seres standing his ground. Not to be outdone, they started making their way back to him. The avadons all faltered in their step. Seeing this, the soldiers returned with more fury than before.

  They charged ahead, past Seres. The avadons tried to fight, but without their leader they were a cluttered mess. Many of them were struck down in the first strike from the returning Eluans.

  The rest of the avadons started to scatter. They turned away from the Capitol and retreated back towards the open forest.

  When all the avadons were on the run, the soldiers cheered. They had won the battle, and Lieutenant Francesco de Seres was their hero.

  He ordered his men to stay put. They would not be following the avadons. They were going to take their victory and return home.

  The night had been quiet at Myrus. Only a handful of avadons approached the soldiers’ line. They were swiftly dispatched.

  Heric and Forman sat inside the building on the ground floor. Forman wasn’t able to get any sleep. He kept worrying about the avadons. He looked over at Heric. He had his eyes opened, staring at the wall.

  Forman shrugged. He knew Heric was in his battle trance. He wasn’t going to be much conversation. Not that it mattered. He did not feel like talking. His only goal was to get through the night and return home. That was his only goal nowadays. He just wanted to return to his home.

  Then the building suddenly thundered to life. It shook with sheer force of something hitting it hard. Impact after impact sent vibrations all the way down the building.

  Heric jerked awake along with the rest of the soldiers. There were cries outside. The soldiers were being attacked. It was not just one or two avadons. It was dozens of them. They swarmed the soldiers’ line. The men fell to the ground dead.

  The avadons surrounded the building. They jumped and clung to the walls. The men inside could hear them climbing in through windows above them. There were four stories to this building, and the avadons were finding their way in.

  Forman peered outside from below a window. He could see above, avadons were falling from the sky. They were jumping off higher buildings from off in the distance to the roof of their building. The Eluans had put themselves into a trap.

  “They’re going to be coming down the stairs soon!” shouted Forman.

  “Get to the stairs. Don’t let them get to the ground floor,” Heric ordered. Six soldiers stood guard at the stairwell. They could hear the avadons shouting and screaming throughout the building.

  “Now what do we do?” Forman asked Heric. He kept looking outside. More avadons were jumping into the building.

  “We continue the plan,” said Heric.

  “This isn’t the plan!” Forman argued.

  Heric smiled at his friend. Forman shook his head. He was angry he hadn’t seen it before.

  “You planned this,” said Forman. “You made us bait.”

  “I knew you wouldn’t have agreed,” said Heric.

  “You can’t risk your life like this,” said Forman.

  “I will do what I please,” said Heric. “If that means I’m going to be in a battle then so be it. Now, help me light these torches.”

  The soldiers started passing out torches that were stashed away in a bag. One soldier made a small fire. Everyone lit a torch and huddled together.

  They could hear the building creaking. The avadons were swarming the floors above them. The soldiers held back the avadons at their own windows. Nothing could get on to the floors with them.

  “How many are left outside?” Heric asked.

  “There are still quite a few out there, sir,” said a scout by one of the windows.

  “A new fire is burning across the city,” said another soldier.

  “That would be our friends,” said Heric. “It’s time to light up this building.”

  The soldiers spread their fire around the building. It grew rapidly. The soldiers then rushed outside. They charged through the doorway, and jumped through the ground floor windows.

  The avadons were outside waiting for them, but the Eluan soldiers were ready. They fought their way away from the burning building. Avadons cried out in pain and anguish as the fire consumed them.

  Heric and Forman stuck together. They struck down every avadon that approached them. Their soldiers did the same. Heric had organized them well; the soldiers maintained their recent Louson-style training.

  The fire, now consumed every floor of the building. Avadons were still jumping out on fire. They tried to run, but only succeeded in spreading the fire further.

  The building started to groan under its own weight. The floors buckled due to the fire. Then the building collapsed, taking the avadons with it.

  The two other buildings across the city did the same. The towering infernos collapsed to the ground, lighting up the night sky. The avadons began to scatter back toward the heart of the city, away from the soldiers.

  Heric gathered his men. They reformed back in the streets. He held a torch in his hand, ready to address his soldiers.

  “You have all done well,” he began. “Don’t let anybody tell you differently. For many of you, you called Myrus home. You returned to reclaim it. We have retaken much of this city. I applaud you for that. But the line has to be drawn. These avadons have destroyed much of this city already. The heart of it all is in ashes. Let us make the avadons ashes within it.”

  Heric took his torch over to a stack of cloth and debris. He lit it on fire. Then he began to spread his torch to other buildings.

  “We will rebuild Myrus better than ever. It will rise from the ashes as a symbol of our undying empire.”

  The men cheered. They all grabbed their torches and began to set other buildings on fire. It spread, and the men waved it forward.

  All across the heart of the city fires were being set. The heart of Myrus was going to go up in flames with the avadons inside of it.

  They would hold the line with the ring of fire through the rest of the night, through the morning, and until the fires finally burned out. The screams of the avadons could be heard in the night sky. The crackle of the fire was not enough to block their cries out. But as the night drew to an end the screams died out. Only the fire roared through the city. It marked a victory for Eluan.

  Chapter 54

  The celebration at the Eluan Capitol lasted until Heric and his men returned. The riots had been calmed down by the end of the first night. Once the soldiers had returned through the gates and the
avadons had retreated, cooler nerves started to prevail.

  As the soldiers walked through the streets, rioting turned to joyous celebration. The city never slept after that.

  Heric and the others were greeted with thunderous applause and loud cheers. While many were happy, he was less than thrilled. It was evident his home had endured serious misfortune while he was away.

  “Forman,” said Heric. “Get the Council together. I want to speak with them. I’ll join you soon.”

  “Yes, sir,” said Forman. He broke off from the soldier’s parade. Heric did the same. They left in separate directions through the crowd.

  Heric made his way back to the palace. He put his concern out of his mind. He would solve them. He always did. He had already dealt a lethal blow to the avadons in the Eluan Empire. If there were more, he would deal with them in the same manner.

  The halls of the palace were relatively empty. Most of the people were out celebrating their victory. This was the first true victory the city had seen in over a decade. The celebrating was bound to be over-done.

  Marina’s quarters were at the end of the hall. Heric nearly ran to the door. He was excited to be back, and he was excited to see her again- his future Empress- Abigail. He didn’t bother to be introduced into the room. He walked right in to Marina’s quarters where they would all be.

  Marina sat by a window reading a book. Kastor and Tyeche were nearby, and another girl was standing at the ready. Heric had never seen her before.

  Marina stood up in surprise. She rushed over to Heric and wrapped her arms around him. She kissed him several times, glad to see him again.

  “I thought you would still be with your men,” she said. “I have heard the cheers all day. I am so glad you have returned to me.”

  “It’s good to be back,” said Heric.

  “It’s been horrible here,” said Marina. “We needed you.”

  “What happened? I haven’t heard any of the news yet. The Capitol looks nearly destroyed.”

  “There were more of them. The avadons followed the Myrus refugees here. It was awful. There was a horrible battle.”

  “I am so sorry,” said Heric. “I am glad you are all okay.”

  “There is more,” said Marina. Tears began to form in her eyes.

  “It’s about Abigail,” she continued.

  “What’s happened to Abigail?” Heric asked. He looked over at the new girl in the hopes she would change into Abigail and it would be a big relief.

  “During the attack the city people and the Myrus refugees started to riot and attack each other,” said Marina. “Abigail went out to try and help. She wanted to save the people from each other.”

  “What happened?”

  “I don’t know. She never came back,” said Marina.

  Heric looked all around in panic. “Is this true?” He asked Kastor and Tyeche. They nodded their heads in agreement.

  “I have guards out looking for her,” said Marina. “There is no word. So many have been lost in the chaos. I don’t know where she is. I told her not to go out there. I pleaded with her. I know she was your friend. I am so sorry.”

  Marina held Heric tightly. Heric wanted to collapse right there. He knew the dangers Abigail would have faced. She was as headstrong as he was. It was bound to catch up to one of them. He just always assumed it would be him.

  Heric tore himself away from Marina. “I have to go,” he said. “I have a meeting to get to. I... I just wanted to say hello.”

  Heric walked away in shock. He left his future bride smiling sweetly behind him.

  Forman had gathered the Royal Council together as Heric had ordered. The room was filled with jubilation. They were drinking and sharing old war stories. There was not one argument in the whole group.

  Heric joined them shortly. He walked in quietly, his face expressionless. He sat at his father’s seat at the head of the table. His father once again was not able to make it.

  He knew he was going to have to speak with his father next. He was going to have to explain his actions, and why he left for Myrus. It did not matter anymore. Nothing mattered anymore for Heric at the moment.

  “What happened while we were in Myrus?” Heric asked.

  Advisor Quaet explained the events since Heric had been gone. The people from Myrus had traveled through the forest and curved in from the east. The avadons were blocking their way when they originally ran toward the main road. Then they were followed by the avadons. That is why nobody had seen them since the initial destruction of Myrus.

  Heric half listened. The story of the battle was told to him, but he did not care. His city was still standing. He was back. Those were the details that mattered. He was distracted, thinking of Abigail.

  “In the end we have Lieutenant Francesco de Seres to thank,” said Quaet. The council applauded. This brought Heric back into the moment. He finally put the pieces together that Seres had led the army.

  “Seres saved the city,” Heric said.

  “Yes, and we wish to reward him,” said the Council. “It is customary tradition to grant wishes for those soldiers that prove themselves brave above and beyond the call of duty. We have already called for him to join us. He is outside the room.”

  General Kayl signaled for the door to be opened. Seres and Ellen came walking into the room arm-in-arm. Heric’s stomach dropped a little more.

  “Thank you, Seres, for all that you have done,” said General Kayl.

  “I was just doing my duty,” said Seres, humbly.

  “Nonsense,” said Quaet. “The soldiers you led were doing their duty. You took control of the situation and you saved all of us, and for that we wish to reward you.”

  “What is your desire?” General Kayl asked. “The Royal Council will provide it for you.”

  “Thank you for your generous offer,” said Seres. He looked at Ellen. She smiled back at him. They seemed to be having a conversation without speaking. Then Seres turned back to the others. “I have one simple wish. I want to return to Myrus. I have already spoken with some of my former colleagues. They say Myrus is all but destroyed. If we expect people to live there once again, it will need serious help. I want to be returned to my post there as Commander. I will get Myrus back on its feet.”

  The crowd applauded Seres’ noble wish. Quaet was quick to grant such a deed. Heric slowly clapped, showing little energy. He was just happy to not have to deal with Seres anymore, and quite possibly Ellen, either.

  Every victory Heric had was beginning to slip through his fingers. He could feel it.

  The meeting was over. The Royal Council adjourned. Many of the men left. The celebration would continue with or without them. They wanted to make sure it was with them.

  Quaet held back. He waited for the rest of the Council members to leave before he approached Heric and Forman.

  “Sir, there is one more thing I need to discuss with you,” he said. Quaet looked over at Forman. He tried to signal subtly with his eyes that he wanted Forman to go away.

  “He can stay,” said Heric. “Forman hears what I hear.”

  “Very well,” said Quaet. “It’s about your father.”

  “How is he doing?” Heric asked.

  “He passed away. Some days ago, it looks like.”

  Heric’s legs grew weak. He put his hand on Forman’s shoulder to brace himself.

  “He was very sick,” said Quaet. “He asked for you, in the end.”

  Heric gave up looking strong. The home he had returned to was not the home he had left. Everything he loved was gone.

  “I know this is tough for you to bear, but arrangements have to be made as soon as possible,” said Quaet. “We have to tell the rest of the Council, and decide when we will make the announcement to the rest of the Empire. You are their Emperor, now.”

  “Just tell them,” said Forman. “I’ll handle the rest of the arrangements. Let Heric grieve. The Empire has already gone some time without Cyrus. They can go a little bit longer.”


  “I hope you find solace, Heric,” said Quaet. “You have that beautiful bride of yours to return to. She impressed the Council while you were away. They will follow her.”

  Quaet left Heric and Forman alone. When he was gone, Heric broke down. The entire Empire was his, and he wanted none of it.

  Chapter 55

  The festival for the Night’s Flower was just around the corner. Heric allowed the celebration of the victory against the avadons to last until the beginning of the festival. He wanted to spread as much joy into his Empire as he could.

  The rest of the arrangements were made. The full announcement of his reign would be on the first night of the Night’s Flower. He would do it at the dinner party. He would also introduce his future bride, and their future Empress, Princess Marina Arraw of Louson.

  Heric had arranged for a small team to go looking for Abigail. They had yet to find any trace of her. Their orders were to continue until told otherwise.

  He kept to himself during the time of celebration. The mourning was to be expected. Only Forman and a select few chosen by Heric could see him.

  He heard a knocking on his door. There was no reason for it because everybody he allowed to see him had a key to his room. Heric waited for it to go away, but the knocking persisted. After several minutes, Heric grew annoyed and answered the door.

  Cassandra stood there. She was in mid-knock when Heric opened the door.

  “You’re Nikali’s friend,” said Heric.

  “Yes,” said Cassandra. “I’m glad you recognize me that way.”

  “What do you want?”

  “I have a letter for you,” she said. The letter she held in her hand was sealed. It was the seal of the Canings.

  “It’s from Nikali,” said Cassandra.

  “Where is he? I haven’t seen him since before I left for the battle in Myrus. There are things he needs to know.”

  “He is gone,” she said.

  “Where did he go?”

  “I do not know. He left me a note as well. It just said to take care of his vile pet. Maybe your letter will explain it,” she said. She turned and walked away. Her obligation was done.