Soul Under the Mountain (Legend of Reason Series)

by Guyton, David J.

  "Medorans, stand down," the man said again.

  "You heard him, Medorans," Gewin yelled. "Drop your shields and let us in."

  "You will not enter the Emperor's Hall and harm the Emperor," one of the soldiers said.

  Gorin laughed. "We do not want Uritus Tecadelion."

  "No," Uritus said. "You are here for Tannis Tirinius, correct?"

  "Yes. Now have them lower these shields and spears."

  "Most of them will not let you through while blood still pumps in their veins. Most are loyal to the army and not to me. But some are more sympathetic to my cause than that of Tannis Tirinius. Some of these men will lower their shields, but they must find the courage to do so amongst their fellow soldiers. Surely once they reveal that they conspire against the General of the Medoran Legions, their fellow soldiers will kill them where they stand. It will take great courage to be the one to first lower his shield and allow these creatures to pass. Who among you possesses such courage? Who among you will lay down your life for the greater good of the people?"

  The line of soldiers shuffled nervously as they turned their heads side to side, suspicious of their fellow soldiers. Their armor rattled as they fidgeted nervously, now having to worry about the purple enemies in front of them, and also possible enemies beside them. Where weapons had failed, Uritus had managed to weaken the phalanx with suspicion and doubt. Even if his words were lies, the line could now be penetrated more easily.

  After a long silence, one of the shields finally dropped to the marble, clanging as it bounced down the stairs. Another fell, and then another, and the twins rushed over to the commotion. Soldiers were busy stabbing the betrayers with their swords and knives, and there was just enough of a gap to step through the phalanx. Some of them yelled out orders to repair the breach, but it was too late. The twins hammered and slashed their way into the Emperor's Hall, and no mortal could stop them.

  ——————

  Vohl peeked down the corridor and up the marble steps covered in bright red carpeting. The Forum in the North Hall was the safest place in Brinn, being that it was surrounded by the mountain on all sides but one, and there was only one way in or out. The steps Vohl watched led up to the main levels of the Emperor's Hall, where hundreds of Elite Guard troops would lay down their lives before allowing anyone passed them.

  Vohl leaned back from the doorway. "I hear weapons on armor and the screams of men. They are coming."

  "That's impossible," Alana said. "There's no way they can get through all those guards. You must be hearing things."

  "Indeed I am hearing things, Alana. That is what I am trying to tell you."

  Alana shook her head. "It's a saying, Vohl. Are you sure you heard something? I can't hear a thing."

  Vohl paused for a moment with his hand raised. "There. Did you hear that?"

  Alana's eyebrows lowered as she cocked her head. "I heard something, I guess. It could be anything though. I certainly can't make out the sound of weapons hitting armor."

  But it wasn't long before the sounds were loud enough for everyone to hear. Vohl peeked around the corner of the doorway again and looked up the stairs. Off to the sides, where carpet was absent, dark red blood dribbled from the top step like a tiny, gruesome waterfall. There was still no soldier or foe in sight at the top of the stairs, but there was no longer any doubt that there were now enemies within the walls.

  A handful of severed heads were thrown or kicked down the stairs. One still wore a helmet, but when it reached the bottom the head spun free of the metal and rolled to a corner. The dead face was frozen in a silent scream. It was an utterly ghastly sight; with no honor or respect given to the innocent soldier who lost his life defending the Emperor's Hall.

  Vohl finally saw the beasts at the top of the stairs. He could only see the tops of their heads, but it was enough to see that they were not human. Their dark braided hair looked slick with blood, although something in Vohl's soul told him that it was the blood of others, and not the blood of the beasts. It immediately made them more horrific and terrifying, and even though Vohl knew they could not kill him, he feared them. He especially feared for Alana; and of course for their target, Tannis.

  Then a strange shimmering light enveloped the creatures. Vohl couldn't make out the details, but it appeared as if another image of reality had been overlaid on top of them. It was a dazzling effect that Vohl had a hard time looking away from. A hand laid on his shoulder snapped him out of the trance.

  "What do you see, Vohl?" Tannis asked.

  "The animals are at the top of the stairs. All of the guards have been killed or they have fled. I believe they are using some sort of magical device right now. I can see ghostly images around them as if they are standing in two places at the same time—the top of the stairs and some other room. I think I might see an image of a person as well—perhaps more than one person."

  "What people?" Alana asked quietly. "Who are they?"

  Vohl's heart sank and his knees went weak. "Us. They are images of us. They can see us here in the Forum. There is no hiding from them."

  The light went out and the beasts began their descent of the stairs, singing a horrifying tune. Their deep voices echoed between the marble walls, making it sound as it an entire army approached. They walked slowly, in rhythm with their dreadful song. They knew that their prey had no way to escape.

  ——————

  Rommus ran through the colossal stone doors before they closed. They sealed shut behind him with the cracking grind of moving rock, and once again the massive doors seemed to be nothing more than a decoration carved into the mountain stone.

  The doors closing automatically was troubling to him, since he feared that Song would use the star of Tachion to return to the present and become trapped on the other side of the door with Demeos. Or even worse, if Demeos was no longer there as a guardian, any number of horrible things might creep out of the void and enter the world of the living.

  But Song never showed. Rommus couldn't wait any longer knowing that the hounds of Maeris were coming to kill him and his father. They were already at Taburdum when he had left to go to the void. Since then, they could be in almost any city in southern Medora. Tannis spent most of his time in Brinn or Taburdum, so it was just a matter of time before they found him.

  Rommus ran down the long line of statues as fast as he could. It was difficult to remember where to go to get back to the streets above, but he navigated as best as he could. While back at the strange altar with the golden lines, he had tried to ask to be taken to other, more familiar places besides the great carved stone door, but the voice ignored all of those requests. It simply repeated the word that Song said meant destination. Rommus eventually gave up and decided to return to the door.

  The labyrinth of the Mages was a mess of intersecting halls and he became lost very quickly. There were some sections that looked familiar, but every time he thought he knew where he was, he ended up at a dead end or in an unknown hallway. Song would have been a lot of help if he hadn't taken Demeos and his statue back in time. He had the halls memorized and would be able to get them out quickly.

  But Rommus was alone. He was lost underground and he was becoming more and more frustrated. Everywhere he turned there were empty hallways, but no way to get aboveground. He ran as fast as his wobbly legs would carry him. His lungs burned in his chest but he dared not stop to rest. His death could come at any second if Archenarius cut into his father's skin.

  Then his spirits lifted. He still had no idea where he was, but he found stairs leading up to a higher level. A little light poured in from above, and he knew he was going in the right direction.

  ——————

  Tannis watched the creatures come through the doorway of the Forum. He and Vohl and Alana had backed up to the far wall of the semicircular room for the best protection. Only a handful of soldiers from Legion Archenarius stood between them and the monsters.

  The grim song continued as they strolled t
owards the soldiers. One of the beasts held a golden war hammer, and the other held the golden sword Archenarius. The one holding the sword licked the razor-sharp blade, and a dark pool of his own blood collected on his tongue. Tannis was surprised that it did not kill the beast at once and send him to the void, but he did not pretend to know all the rules about such magical items.

  The soldiers were quite intimidated by the gesture. They stood their ground but their swords shook with fear. Alana and Vohl had drawn their swords as well. They held their weapons steady, but it was evident that they were afraid too. Tannis drew his own sword, and climbed to the top of a table to see over the heads of the soldiers clearly.

  The one with the hammer spoke. "Leave now and no harm will come to you. We want the elder Tirinius. Exit this room and you make keep your lives and your souls."

  "And if we refuse?" Alana said.

  "Death for all of you at the edge of Archenarius, and an eternity in the void for your pathetic little souls."

  None of them moved. Tannis could hear his own heartbeat as the beasts stepped closer. They no longer sung their song, but they still hummed the haunting tune. They brought a confidence to the fight that made everyone on the other side of the Forum tremble with fear. Even Tannis felt the cold hand of dread clutching at the heart in his chest. He was not afraid to die, but if dying meant killing his son, it was an entirely different story. He feared for Rommus, and it nearly paralyzed him.

  Suddenly Vohl disappeared in a blur. His cape masked his position, but Tannis knew where he was headed. A flash of steel surprised the approaching foes, and a few wounds opened on both of them. The cuts in their flesh halted their song, but it did little to stop their advance. They swung their golden weapons at Vohl, but missed several times. The hammer was too heavy and bulky to swing fast enough, and Vohl was able to avoid the blade of the sword.

  But then the inevitable happened. The sword found its way to Vohl's gut, stopping him in his tracks. He crumpled to the floor instantly into a lifeless pile. Alana screamed and ran out to help him. Tannis called for her to stay but she refused to heed his words. She rushed over to the fallen Vohl, hoping that she could somehow save him.

  The beast with the sword licked the hot blood from the blade before bringing the sword back to swing again. This time he aimed for Alana, and she was running right into the path of the sword. Tannis's mind raced for what to do. Finally an idea flowered in his mind but he hated the cowardly thought.

  "Stop!" he yelled as he brought his own blade to his neck. "I will end my life with this sword before you can end it with that one. Let the girl go."

  The beasts halted their attack but roared in frustration. Alana cringed at the deafening sound, and nearly dropped her sword to the marble floor as she covered her ears. She fell to her knees at Vohl's side and threw herself over his still body. Her frame heaved as she sobbed, unable to control her emotions even in a time of such great danger.

  The creatures stepped over Vohl and Alana and marched angrily towards the trembling soldiers protecting Tannis. The soldiers did their best to appear fearless, but fear for one's soul was more powerful than merely fearing for one's life. If they fell to Archenarius, it was a far worse fate than falling to any other blade. Deep down, Tannis feared that fate as well.

  As the creatures approached, Tannis saw a dark figure emerge from behind them. He quickly realized that it was the immortal Vohl, unharmed by the magical sword of the god of war. In his hands, above his head he held his sword Tursari. His knuckles were white as they gripped the hilt, but his face was as calm and solemn as a face of the dead. He stepped quietly and swiftly up behind the monsters, and brought his blade down at the shoulder of the nearest one to him.

  The beast's entire arm fell to the floor. Dark blood sprayed from the wound and screams of agony rose from its vile jaws. The hammer fell with the severed arm, smashing some of the marble tiles. Alana rushed over to grab it, sliding through the thick blood on the slippery marble floor.

  When she grabbed the hammer's handle and rolled to her feet, the situation suddenly changed. Even though the creatures still held Archenarius, they were visibly shaken and backed away from Alana. The beast with the missing arm had reason to back away since he was injured and rendered defenseless, but the one holding the sword did so as well.

  The monsters backed toward the doorway. The one with the sword covered the one with the missing arm as he tried in vain to comfort his bloody stump. Empty threats of growls still escaped their mouths, but they cowered in fear of Alana as she held their weapon. Something about the golden hammer obviously frightened them.

  Then a fully armored Rommus appeared in the doorway behind them with his arms crossed. "I'm going to be wanting my sword back."

  The uninjured beast struck Rommus, but not with the sword. He held it close to his body to protect it, and instead used his other fist to pommel Rommus to the floor. Rommus stood up to fight as soon as he was able, but the creatures leapt up the stairs at lightning speed, easily making their escape.

  Tannis jumped down from the table. "Rommus, you have to go after them. They have the sword and they will hunt me until they can kill me. If they kill me with that sword, you too will die."

  Rommus dusted himself off and folded his arms again. "There's no need to chase them. I have a plan."

  Chapter 43

  "What has changed?" the Zidaoz asked.

  Desmond scratched his head. "I was told that some creatures made their way to the phalanx and there was some sort of commotion. Once they reached the front line, your soldiers pulled together and orchestrated an effective assault on the Medorans. It appears as if they have reformed the phalanx, but their losses are pretty staggering."

  "I am not surprised, Vindyri. I fight with the power of the one true god behind me. The fall of the Medorans is inevitable."

  "I think what happened today had less to do with your god and a lot more to do with those creatures that went down to the front line."

  The Zidaoz tossed aside the sacrilegious comment with a flick of the wrist. "You Vindyri will soon come to realize that your ways and your gods are meaningless. It was I who allowed those beasts to approach the line. This has all been the one true god's will, and I have been sent here to see his will done."

  "Then why did you ask what has changed?"

  "What?"

  "You asked what has changed. If this is what you expected from your god's plan, then why are you asking me why something has changed? Wouldn't you know that already?"

  The Zidaoz thought of a way to explain so that this simple infidel could grasp the truth. It sickened him that all of the Vindyri remained so willfully ignorant of the truth of the one true god when his truth and power sang so loudly to the souls of the faithful Bhoors. The Vindyri were just a backward, uniformed people with no conception of reality or truth. They danced dangerously close to the edge of blasphemy, and if they crossed the line again he would have to start punishing them for their transgressions. He had tried to be understanding, since the infidels had not been exposed to the truth of Rohni, but their disregard for his word was becoming a problem.

  "Perhaps if your Vindyri soldiers had been down at the battle and not hiding up here behind the walls of Zuhr'Awhi they would have witnessed the truth and glory of Rohni. There would be no need for either of us to question the other about what he has witnessed or what he has not."

  Desmond rolled his eyes slightly. "Well, whatever the reason for the change, it appears that we have turned the tide. For some reason the Bhoors have slowed their attack, but I believe that the Medorans have suffered enough damage that we can finally overpower them and march into Brinn."

  "When can I expect to see those results?"

  "It depends on how the rest of the day goes. I don't see it happening today, but in the next two or three days, it could easily happen. But if the Medorans retreat, and do not hold their ground here, it could happen at any hour. We may be at the edge of victory this very moment."

&nb
sp; The Zidaoz nodded as he thought. "So if the Medorans retreat, the war will be won?"

  "I think so. It's always possible that they may feign a retreat to draw us in to attack us. But If they truly back away and flee from our forces, there will be nowhere for them to make a last stand. If the Medorans do not defeat us here, then they will most surely fall."

  "I wish I could say I was as sure as you are on that matter, Desmond. The Medorans are a resilient and determined enemy. If they retreat, I could see them rallying again and striking us as we enter Medora."

  Desmond sighed. "You speak of faith in almost every breath. Have some faith in my knowledge of warfare. I have been to Medora many times. There is nowhere to launch an assault from but this place. Anywhere else with enough room to fight is too far from their cities and supplies. Besides, all of their soldiers are here. Every last man is here to stop us from entering Medora."

  "I value your military knowledge, Vindyri, but I am not so quick to underestimate the Medorans. I would have assumed you thought the same way."

  Desmond flattened his silver mustache with his finger and thumb. "I do not underestimate them. I am just confident in our ability to defeat them. We have kept pressure on them for the entire length of the war, and it is finally beginning to pay off. The sun is finally setting on the Medoran ways. My fathers before me would be very proud."

  The Zidaoz paused a moment to wonder if the fathers who came before him would be proud of what he was doing. He had always thought they would only be jealous of anything he accomplished since it would be things that none of them could accomplish themselves. He had only disdain for any Zidaoz who had come before him, and he assumed that they felt the same for any Zidaoz who would come after them. The Medorans and Vindyri seemed to have a different theory on matters between fathers and sons. The young respected and honored the old, and the old had pride in the young. It was an idea as foreign to the Zidaoz as the truth of the one true god was to the Vindyri.