Soul Under the Mountain (Legend of Reason Series)

by Guyton, David J.

  He needed help to get out of his saddle. The Dirujen did their best to help him and still have him look dignified, but the last time they had dropped him in the mud. It was an embarrassing event and if it had been Bhoors who had dropped him, he would have had them beheaded on the spot. But the Dirujen were far too valuable to kill—even if it could be done.

  When he was finally on the soggy soil, he straightened his robes and started to climb the wooden stairs that the Vindyri had erected. The muffled sounds of the battle could be heard beyond the great wall, and he could even feel the wooden steps shaking slightly from the commotion. He began to wonder how he would get the attention of the men locked in battle once he reached the top of the wall.

  One of the Vindyri had thought ahead and brought a horn with him. When they both reached the top, he sounded the horn four times in quick succession, and then repeated it two more times. This pattern must have been understood by both the Vindyri and the Medorans fighting below, because most of them stopped fighting and turned their attention to the wall. The Bhoors however, did not understand the call, and continued to fight for some time before they realized that a call to halt the battle had been sounded.

  Men stared out of the darkness of their helmets. Blood speckled their armor and dripped from their wounds. White knuckles gripped sword or spear, waiting for the battle to begin again. But all eyes had turned away from their enemies, and were locked on the Zidaoz at the top of the wall. He spread his arms wide, speaking with his body before speaking with his mouth.

  "Medorans! I am the Zidaoz, ruler of all of Bhoor-Rahn. I have come to put an end to this war and bring order and peace to these lands. My army has marched a great distance to confront the evils of the world and bring the truth of the one true god to the men of the west.

  "I know that you are a proud people and do not wish to join the Bhoors as the Vindyri have done. I know your pride will not allow you to see the truth of Rohni, the one true god, but he has sent us anyway. He has sent this blessed army to cleanse and purify these lands and the inhabitants within them.

  "Those of you who raise weapons against us will be tortured and killed. Those of you who lay down your weapons will be offered a quick death. Your children will not suffer, and will be taught the wondrous teachings of Rohni. They will be rewarded in the worlds beyond for their service to the one true god; a blessing that they could never have bestowed upon them under your teachings.

  "Hope is not lost on your children. Peace and truth follows behind my army, and with the help of Rohni I shall save this land. Your iniquities will not be forgiven but the light of truth will soon shine on your children. Although my sword shall come down upon your necks, I swear to the one true god that I will save those who your wives have bared.

  "I come to this city and this nation as its savior. This city of infidels will no longer be known by the Medoran name. This city is now Zuhr'Awhi, or in the common tongue, 'New Zuhr'. No longer will the streets of this city flow with sin and blasphemy. Now the iron fist of the Zidaoz will align the people here with the truth I bring to them. For those who follow me, I offer reward in the worlds beyond. For those who stray, I shall bring that iron fist down upon them and make examples of them. Those who refuse the truth shall be lost to this world and any beyond.

  "This, Medorans, is your final battle. This war is already won, and I advise you to give up your souls now while I am making the generous offer of a quick death. Lay down your weapons and offer your necks to your enemy before you. Lay your swords and spears to ground so that there may be peace."

  One of the distant siege engines creaked and moaned as it was triggered. It was a trebuchet, which was a large catapult that operated off of a heavy counterweight. When the weight was dropped, the massive arm swung upwards, dragging a long sling behind it. In the sling was a heavy stone, and when the sling reached maximum height, the stone would release, hurling towards the city walls with tremendous velocity.

  The Zidaoz watched the wooden machine come to life and launch the heavy stone towards him. He stood calmly, knowing that Rohni would protect him from any harm. The stone sailed though the air at the newly-named city of Zuhr'Awhi. When it finally reached the wall, it exploded into hundreds of pieces mere feet from the Zidaoz. The wall provided hundreds of pieces of its own, sending shards of dusty rocks all over. A few hit the Zidaoz, but he ignored the pain. He just stood with his arms outstretched to the sides as he waited for the Medorans to come to their senses and abandon the fight.

  But that didn't happen. Other siege engines were being loaded, and the sky was suddenly filled with arrows. It seemed that the Medorans had turned their attention away from the battle surrounding Zuhr'Awhi, and now focused on attacking the city itself. Colossal impacts shook the walls as the distant catapults rained down stone upon them.

  The soldiers fighting below were once again whipped into a frenzy. Some fought in phalanxes, while others attacked with swords at the flanks. But they were shifting the positions of their lines. Instead of facing east, toward the greater army, they turned to face north. They slowly moved the lines forward, inching their way towards the southern wall.

  Arrows tore through the air. One was so close to him that he could feel it in his hair. Another brushed his robes and landed with a thud in one of the wooden beams holding up the ledge he stood upon. Many more flew by him, tickling the air with their feathers until their dangerous points hit something solid. Still, he stood there fearless, proving to the infidels below that he could not be harmed while his god protected him. He closed his eyes and raised his chin as he smiled.

  But one of the Dirujen pulled him down by his robes. "Have you lost your mind, Zidaoz? You must take cover."

  "How dare you embarrass me like that? Rohni protects me, and the Medorans were only just starting to get a glimpse of that. You have made me look like a fool in front of them by pulling me down off the ledge in such a way."

  "If you wish to die, Zidaoz, by all means return to your perch. Remember that your fathers who came before you have all died. Did they not trust in Rohni as you do? How can you explain their death if your god offered them the same protection he offers you?"

  "I—I—"

  "You, are a fool, Zidaoz," Desmond said with arms crossed. "Do you have any idea how lucky you are to not have an arrow in your heart right now? Those Medoran archers do not miss very often."

  The Zidaoz straightened. "All the more reason to believe in me and my power. I am no fool, Vindyri. I am the only one among you who has any faith."

  "Faith does little to dull a sword. If one comes your way, I suggest you duck."

  "You worry about the swords, Vindyri, and I will worry about faith. Do not underestimate my abilities or my god, and I will do my best not to underestimate you. Have your men sound the horns again. This time make it three long blasts."

  "Three long blasts? That's not one of our calls. You're just going to confuse my soldiers."

  "The blasts are not for your soldiers, they are for mine. It is time to show these Medorans the gateway to the next world. It is time to call in the Thrahks."

  Chapter 33

  The three horn blasts caught Tannis's attention. He scanned the field of battle, searching for any coming change but he could not see it. The other Medorans paused in wonder as well, although they did not pause long. The Vindyri and the Bhoors ignored the calls and continued to fight on.

  Tannis swung his sword hard from horseback. Unarmored Bhoors felt the sting of his blade as they tumbled backwards into their own disorderly lines. Some screamed as they held their own intestines, while others charged recklessly to the front. The Medoran cavalry funneled the overzealous enemy into the long lines of phalanxes. Controlling the front line was easy enough for the Medorans, and the enemy paid with heavy losses.

  The Bhoors had no direction at all. From what Tannis could deduce, they were simply pointed in a direction and told to attack. Their swords almost never got the chance to even reach the Medoran shields before a sp
ear brought them down. Vast piles of fallen soldiers began to pile up at the front line, and unarmed Bhoors were being sent in to clear the dead.

  But the Medorans were not allowing the removal of bodies. Under normal circumstances, they would allow it, since it was the honorable thing to do. It also allowed for a fair battle on both sides. But since the Bhoors and Vindyri were invaders in the land, the Medorans granted them no such luxury. The dead were piled up as barriers, making it even more difficult for the enemy to get close enough to attack. Eventually the enemy would have to reconsider their plan, and the Medorans would be ready for the change.

  Suddenly the idea of a change in attack didn't look so promising. Tannis finally realized what the three horn blasts were meant to signal. The Thrahks were suddenly moving towards the front line. The lumbering creatures were not in a hurry, but it was clear that they had finally been sent in to play their part in the battle. It was a terrifying site, and the Medoran lines began to recoil.

  But the Bhoors began to panic as well. The Thrahks had no pathway from their position to their destination since Bhoors stood in their way. The beasts completely ignored the tiny people in their way, and simply crushed them under their mighty weight. Even from a great distance the grinding and popping of bone could be heard as the Thrahks approached.

  Orders were given for the trebuchets and other catapults to stop attacking the walls of the city. They were repositioned to face the coming attack, although hitting such small targets was improbable. The Thrahks were at more than triple the range of the largest of the siege engines, but several of them fired anyway. The huge boulders smashed into unsuspecting Bhoors and rolled through many others before coming to a stop. But the intent was not to hurt the distant soldiers; the intent was to aim the weapons and take note of their range.

  The battle at the front still raged on as Bhoors continued to throw themselves at the phalanx. The Vindyri who had been fighting at the line had shuffled northward to the city wall. They were probably preparing for the doom that the Thrahks would soon bring when their chests opened and beams of energy swept through the ranks. They were probably disobeying orders, but the defiant act would most likely save their lives. The Thrahks would not be choosey about who they destroyed with their power. Whoever was in the way would be a target no matter which side he fought on.

  Several more large stones sailed through the air overhead and landed in the endless sea of the enemy. The Bhoors had begun trampling each other as they tried to avoid the Medoran projectiles and the monsters approaching from their rear. As they began to create a part in the center, the Thrahks funneled into the crease and were able to pick up speed. Their terrible roars shook the ground along with their heavy footfalls.

  And then the piercing rings began. Tannis watched the chest of one of the beasts open to expose a core of energy inside. The blue light grew with intensity for a moment until the tremendous power was unleashed and a thick beam of energy tore through soldier and soil alike. Huge chunks of earth were ripped up and thrown through the air as the bolts of power melted flesh and armor.

  Screams and weapons meeting in battle could no longer be heard over the intense noise. Long lines of devastation crisscrossed the landscape, leaving trails of fire behind. The fortunate soldiers in the path were killed instantly, while the less fortunate were mangled beyond all help and left to suffer a painful death on the battlefield. But all of the casualties so far had been Bhoors. The Thrahks had not even attempted to kill any Medorans yet.

  Men in black robes weaved their way up through the Medoran ranks. The soldiers stepped aside, allowing the men to pass without hindrance. There were dozens of them; probably close to 100, all of them somber and silent as they calmly walked to the front line. When the Bhoors tried to harm them, the Mages ignored the threat. Medoran soldiers quickly cut down any attacker who even looked in the Mages' direction.

  The Thrahks crept ever closer, roaring and clicking their claws together violently. Some of them picked up nearby soldiers and threw them—apparently just for the amusement. Others held soldiers and bit off parts of their bodies before tossing the flailing torsos aside. Any scrap of armor that a Bhoor was fortunate enough to be wearing was no match for the powerful jaws and hardened teeth of the ferocious beasts.

  The stench of burning flesh mixed with the pungent smell of rotting meat. The piercing sound that occurred when the Thrahks used their power made it difficult to hear anything. The light coming from their chests left bright blue trails of light in his vision, and the appalling blend of horrid scents overpowered his sense of smell. He saw others vomiting, and he thought he might do so as well.

  Giant boulders landed all around the Thrahks as the Medorans took aim. On occasion, one would hit a Thrahk, but usually only enough to anger it. Tannis had seen only one direct hit, and it had killed the beast by breaking its neck. When it fell, he saw Medorans rejoicing, although his ears could not hear their cheers.

  The Thrahks were finally close enough to roast the Medoran ranks with their power. The Mages stood calmly, their robes blowing in the gentle breeze. They reached out and presented their palms to the coming monsters, but there was no visual cue as to what they were accomplishing. As far as Tannis could tell, they were doing nothing beneficial at all.

  But then the first beam reached the Mages. The bright blue stream of energy slammed into a sort of invisible shield that the Mages seemed to be holding up. Where the two magics collided, the air boiled with a red and purple glow. Everything beyond the magical shield became wavy and indistinct. Thick bands of energy reflected back outwards and into the ground as the Mages struggled to hold their ground. Soldiers assisted them by pushing against their backs so that the Mages did not tumble backward.

  Over and over the magic shields took violent hits. There were a few places where the shields did not overlap, and the bright blue beams of light would scream passed and annihilate Medoran soldiers. The soldiers saw this and avoided destruction by lining up closer behind the Mages. This created a sort of crenellated line where open areas between the shields were free of soldiers. The grass and soil became the only casualties and the Medorans remained safe behind the Mages.

  But the Thrahks continued their march, and came closer and to the line. Bhoors ran in every direction trying to avoid the mayhem, many of them killing their own men in front of them for a chance to flee. The once epic battle had turned into a collection of skirmishes amongst the enemy while the Medorans watched and waited.

  The nearest Thrahk held a shrieking, squirming Bhoor in its massive hand. The doomed soldier was hurled high over the heads of the Mages at the front and landed lifeless behind the Medoran lines. Tannis immediately noticed this and gave the visual cue to ready the catapults.

  He yelled to the nearest Mage, hoping he would hear him. "Can they pass the shields? Can the Thrahks come through?"

  The Mage nodded, furiously, unable to take his attention away from the approaching enemy. It was clear that the magical shields would only block the magic of the Thrahks and not their bodies. Tannis hoped that the shields would also allow the boulders from the catapults to pass as well.

  He gave the order to fire and stones crashed into the Thrahks. Several were wounded bad enough not to stand again, but their chests still opened fire on the army in front of them. Archers had apparently been given orders by their superiors to fire arrows, but they bounced harmlessly off the bony armored plates jutting from the monsters' skin. A few stuck in the softer parts near the belly and neck, but the Thrahks did not even seem to notice. They marched on, confused by the shields but still blindly bent on killing.

  The catapults fired as fast as soldiers could load them, but they did nothing to deter the Thrahks from advancing. When one of their fellow beasts fell, it seemed to do nothing more than excite them. They would click their claws together rapidly or snap their jaws shut over and over as they picked up speed.

  Something had to be done quickly. Once the Thrahks reached the Mages they would step ri
ght through the shields and there would be no protection for the army at all. The catapults were effective, but not nearly accurate enough to stop the coming onslaught. Many Thrahks collected more and more arrows in their softer areas, but their skin seemed to be far too thick for it to have any effect at all.

  "Archers! The eyes!" Tannis yelled as he pointed at his own eyes.

  Arrows ripped though the air at higher angles, most missing or glancing off the bony skulls. Their eyes were tiny compared to their size, smaller than a human fist. In addition to that, they were as tall as most Medoran buildings. This made them difficult targets even for the best archers, but at least Tannis had some hope that it would eventually prove effective.

  Some of the braver Medorans rushed out passed the shields. Since they were deemed useless, they had discarded their metal shields, but they kept their long spears. They ran in random patterns to confuse the Thrahks, but the monsters still grabbed some of them and crushed them in their huge hands. But even though some of them died, their action seemed to draw the attention of the Thrahks away from the battle, and the terrible beams of destruction began to happen less often.

  The other soldiers saw this and ran out to assist. The spears were just long enough to reach the bottom of the soft underbellies of the Thrahks, although it took many stabs through the skin to see any blood. Even after several piercings through the thick skin, the creatures barely noticed the wounds at all.

  It wasn't long before the Thrahks lost interest in the soldiers buzzing around them, and they once again started attacking the shields with the same intensity as before. It seemed that the closer they got to the shields, the more impact their energy had on them. The light that accompanied a blocked attack was less purple, and more of the bright blue color that came from their chests. Judging from the change in color, Tannis assumed that the Thrahks were beginning to overpower the Mages. The heels of soldiers and Mages dug hard into the mud as they did their best to repel the attack.