Soul Under the Mountain (Legend of Reason Series)

by Guyton, David J.

  Rommus looked where Maeris once stood and saw nothing. He was gone, just like Arius had been instantly killed and sentenced to eternity in the void. The other gods looked with open mouths and wide eyes, still in disbelief about what they had seen. Inshae, and Aedensor, the only two remaining gods of light, shuffled back behind Oderion for some kind of protection. It was a sight Rommus was happy to see.

  Rommus picked up his sword and sheathed it. "I know how to kill you all, Oderion. You will not conspire against us again, or I will kill you just as I have killed the god of destruction. You have said before that you are unconcerned with the troubles of mankind; see to it that you remain that indifferent. If any god here dares to challenge me, then let him speak now, and make his intentions known."

  No god spoke. Only the gentle breeze rippling the pools of water could be heard.

  Chapter 46

  "Me?" Alana said as they stepped through the portal into Brinn. "Why me?"

  "Why not you?" Rommus said as he handed her the hammer of Maeris.

  "Well, I just assumed you would be the one to use the hammer. If not you, then Tannis."

  "I already have the armor and sword of Arius. I don't need another weapon of the gods. Besides, you seem like you know what you're doing with it."

  "Rommus, I only swung the thing once. I don't know anything about its power."

  "So? None of us know anything about it. You're just as skilled as any of the rest of us."

  "But doesn't the hammer control armies? I don't know how to lead an army. I think Tannis should carry it."

  Tannis put a hand on her shoulder as they walked. "We're all in this together, Alana. It's time for you to assume your proper role."

  "My proper role? I thought I was doing my part already."

  Tannis nodded. "You are, you are. I don't mean that you aren't doing enough, I mean that it is time that you to advance and move up."

  Alana pulled some stray hairs from her face. "I don't know what you mean. What more can I do?"

  "Alana, there comes a time in our lives where we can either sit back and watch the world change around us, or stand up and change the world. For a time, we are allowed to choose between the two, but at some point it becomes chosen for us. Mostly we grow too old before we do anything with our lives, and fate sends us to the grave with no significant accomplishments.

  "But sometimes a different path is chosen for us. Sometimes fate calls on us to influence the world. And when we hear that clarion call, we have no choice but to heed it. We are here living in this time for a specific purpose, and this purpose is clearer each day.

  "I get all that, Tannis, but what more can I do?"

  Tannis let out a deep breath as he weighed his thoughts. "I have a big problem, Alana. Uritus and I were working together to try to stop this war, but now it seems our alliance has faltered. It is clear that he still wishes to destroy us all, along with our vision of a free world. When we meet again, there will be a confrontation. I am almost sure of it.

  "A large percentage of the Medoran army is loyal to me, but just as many are loyal to Medora. By remaining loyal to the nation itself, they will do as their Emperor commands. The army will be split. A civil war is on the horizon and I don't know how to stop it.

  "The Legions will need to be restructured, and I am asking you to be one of the new Commanders. Your rank will be the same as Rommus's, and you will take orders from no one but me. Do you accept?"

  Alana was stunned. Her mouth hung open and she realized that she had stopped walking. The others stopped too, turning to face her as they waited for her answer. It was such a shock to her that she couldn't bring words to her tongue even if she did know what to say.

  When she first came to Medora she was on a mission to kill the General of the Medoran Legions, and now, not even a year later that same General was asking her to lead a Medoran Legion of her own. Tannis spoke of fate and purpose, and it suddenly struck her that he was right. She truly did believe that fate sent her to Medora. At first the reasons were far different, but she now knew her calling. She was not only meant to fight next to Rommus, Tannis and Vohl—she was meant to lead next to them. She would help to save the world from tyranny and oppression by doing more than just swinging a sword.

  She reached over and took the hammer of Maeris. "I accept, Tannis. Thank you for the opportunity to make a difference in the world. I will do all I can do in the fight for freedom."

  Vohl hugged her from the side and smiled. "And so will the rest of us."

  Rommus gave a quick nod. "Good. Now let's find some horses. We have to get to Taburdum."

  ——————

  Taburdum was roaring with war. The Medoran phalanxes had collapsed in most places, and the battle had become a massive swordfight. Strings of blood flung from those swords as they hacked and sliced as far as the eye could see. It was not a typical Medoran battle, as it was messy and almost totally unstructured.

  Four Thrahks wandered the battlefield scooping up soldiers from both sides and biting them in half. Even the monsters roamed haphazardly, and although they were fierce and terrifying, it looked as if they were no longer using their magical energy from their chests to kill. Rommus thought that perhaps after the long war, their reserves of energy had finally been depleted.

  The Bhoors had sent in more soldiers to the front line in an attempt to overrun the Medorans and force them to abandon the phalanx. They had even gone into the trees and come around to the Medoran flanks, squeezing the Medorans into a tight area where it was difficult to fight from. On one side, the ground the Bhoors attacked from was higher, and even though they fought from the tree line, the position was far more advantageous. The Medorans could do little to stop the Bhoors from trickling down from the protective forest and wreaking havoc at the sides and rear.

  But the Bhoors were not the only ones fighting. The Vindyri also took the field and clashed with Medorans. Even though it was not an unfamiliar sight to see, it was still surprising. For the majority of the battle at Taburdum, the Vindyri had let the Bhoors do most of the fighting and suffer the losses. Seeing the Vindyri fighting on the field meant that they were confident that the Medorans could be defeated. The Vindyri waited until their enemy was weak to finally strike the deathblow. It was a cowardly move—but an effective one.

  Rommus yelled over to Alana. "They need to see us. I will draw their attention by calling the armor. When they see the light hopefully it will cause enough of a break in the battle that you can put the hammer to use."

  She looked at the golden hammer laid across her saddle. "How do I use it? What am I supposed to do?"

  Rommus shrugged his shoulders as he galloped off. "You'll figure it out."

  Rommus spurred his horse to a run and rode towards the front line. He brandished his golden sword as a warning to any Bhoor or Vindyri who dared to confront him, showing them that he was willing to send their souls to the void for getting in his way. The Bhoors did not seem to take the threat seriously, but the Vindyri were much more cautious. The Vindyri ducked and ran as he approached, even though he was not yet swinging his sword.

  When he neared the center of the battlefield, he called forth the armor of Arius. A brilliant crimson light fell over the field and many turned away from its radiance. Some of the soldiers who had seen the spectacle before ran from the sight, digging heels and elbows into the crowd around them as they clawed their way over top of them. Others stood still and confused; missing the display because they were fighting, or confused about what they had just seen.

  But Rommus had succeeded in bringing the battle to a temporary halt. He started swinging his sword from horseback, instantly killing anyone within reach. When soldiers saw how easily Rommus could kill, they began to panic and flee. There was no clear path they could use to escape, but they did everything they could to avoid his blade.

  Rommus paused for a moment to look back at Alana. She had positioned herself on a small hill, and remained on horseback. Although he was too far away
to hear the words she used, he could hear her voice on the wind. She held the hammer high above her head so that all the Medorans could see it, and it looked as if every one of them did. Immediately they fell into orderly ranks and files. Every shield overlapped the one next to it, creating a nearly impenetrable wall of steel. All their faces were blank, showing no fear at all. It looked as if an army of the dead had come to slay the living, fearing no slaughter themselves.

  Then the rhythmic pounding began. Every soldier marched in perfect unison, their armor and leather clanking and creaking in harmony. The soldiers in the front three ranks carried spears, but the rest of them beat their swords against their shields in rhythm with their march. It was a terrifying sight for even Rommus to behold, even though he was looking at his own fellow soldiers.

  Once the killing started, the Bhoors began to panic. Their swords were no match for the Medoran shields and armor, and their own armor was often little more than animal hide. Even the lucky few who had metal scale armor could not escape the war machine that the Medoran army had suddenly become. It struck with such precision that no Bhoor within reach survived long enough to even retreat a single step.

  Alana charged to the front, swinging the hammer with a fury Rommus had never seen. Large swaths of men fell as the hammer fell upon them, and the Bhoors and Vindyri were whipped into an alarmed frenzy. They hacked through their own men to clear a path for escape, but others behind them hacked as well. Spears and blades from both sides tore the enemy apart.

  Rommus turned from the front line to see how the rest of the Bhoor army would react. They retreated in waves, somewhat more structured than the mess at the front, but still far from systematic. When the horns sounded, it was clear that the entire army had been ordered to fall back. If the pressure could be maintained, the invaders would be forced to leave the battlefield and areas beyond. Medora would be safe once more.

  But the lumbering Thrahks were not frightened by the Medorans. They continued their rampage through the endless waves of fleeing men. They swatted soldiers hard enough to kill them on impact, or picked them up and tore them apart with their claws or teeth. Many men were crushed underfoot as the creatures continued their violent riot. They needed to be stopped.

  Rommus turned back to check on Alana and the Medorans before riding off to handle the Thrahks. Once he saw that all seemed well, he tore through the boiling crowd towards the beasts. He cut down anyone who was in his way as he rode, sending their souls to the void. Retreating or not, their intent was to murder innocent Medorans, and Rommus punished them accordingly.

  When he was close enough to the Thrahks, he dismounted and smacked his horse on her haunch, sending her back to Brinn. The Thrahks had cleared an area around them as soldiers ran from them, but an unlucky few still crossed their path. Rommus ignored the pleas for help from dying men all around and walked right up to one of the terrible beasts. He knew the sword would have no effect on the bony armor of the legs, so he attempted a different attack.

  He held the sword above his head, summoning roiling storm clouds above and calling down black lightning. Loud thunder shook the earth when the lightning struck the giant Thrahk in front of him. Its head split open, revealing singed brain and bone. Chunks of flesh splattered all around the area before the beast collapsed to the ground.

  The other Thrahks turned to Rommus and moved in to attack. Their chests opened up, exposing the core of energy inside, though it seemed much dimmer than he had seen in the past. Bright light blinded Rommus momentarily, and he could feel the vibrating jolt as the energy blasted him.

  When the light faded and sound returned to his ears, the beasts were furious. They clawed at the air above their heads in anger, looking as though they could rip the sky down and hurl it to the earth. Their white eyes stared at Rommus with irrational fury, and their jaws snapped shut over and over in their rage.

  Rommus called down the black lightning once more, only this time, he called it directly to his golden sword. Archenarius collected the lightning, altering its color as the dark energy swirled around it. He sliced horizontally through the air, sending out the terrible lighting from the tip of the blade. All three remaining Thrahks were cut in half by the inconceivable power, sending most of their flesh and bones to splatter far across the battlefield. Dark blood covered nearly everyone, and the horrifying sight had made some of the warriors faint from fright.

  The massive remains crumpled to the earth just as Alana arrived with the army behind her. She still swung the hammer at anyone who dared to stand their ground, but most fled in terror. The hammer hit with a force that caused damage far more deadly than a weapon of its size should have been capable of inflicting. Alana swung it with ease, even though it was heavy and slightly awkward to hold.

  Alana led the Medorans across the field as Rommus stood watching. For a moment he feared that they would start attacking him as well, but they moved right by him without paying him any attention or raising a weapon towards him. They just marched passed him with precise, mindless dedication to the total annihilation of the army in front of them.

  In time, the enemy was scattered, and they fled over the hills and out across the plains. The ones who had sacked Taburdum remained trapped inside, but the rest of the invaders were driven from Medora and back into western Vindyrion. Trampled earth and clouds of dust were all that remained of the enemy that had nearly brought Medora to its knees.

  Chapter 47

  Birds sang the song of morning as the first warm rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon. The sleepy city of Brinn was still cast in the blue shadows of daybreak, unwilling to wake until the sun climbed a little higher in the sky. The cool, still mists hovering above the streets dissipated in the coming warmth of the day, disappearing like ghosts at dawn.

  Buds on the trees brought life to the city. Branches bobbed in the gentle breeze or bowed under the weight of a swallow or finch. Patches of light fell between the limbs onto grass and cobblestone, slowly burning away the morning dew. The smell of flowers wafted through the streets and alleys, offering joy to anyone fortunate enough to encounter the aroma.

  Rommus saw a city reborn. His mission was far from complete, and he knew that the Emperor and literally half of the Medoran army conspired against him, but at that moment, it didn't matter. For a few minutes he allowed himself to pause and experience life and victory and pride in what he and his friends had accomplished. The Medorans were waking up from a slumber that had gripped them for decades. Their government that they had trusted so faithfully had deceived them and steered them dangerously close to the edge of a cliff. The people of Medora had opened their eyes and realized that their freedoms were slowly being swept away and replaced with a sort of kindhearted oppression offered by Uritus and his ilk. There were still many who needed to be shaken awake, but Rommus was proud of those who truly understood the danger and wanted change.

  He was also proud of all the soldiers who had fought for freedom. He felt for all the women and children who had lost their husbands, fathers and sons to the terrible war that the Bhoors and Vindyri brought to Medora. He could not even begin to understand the weight of their losses, but he truly felt for them. In a way, the rest of their lives would be a heroic endeavor. They would most likely not face any blade in battle, but they would endure a battle all their own; one without their loved ones next to them.

  He felt a hand on his shoulder which made him turn around. "Oh, you're early," he said.

  Alana straightened the knife at her belt. "I'm not early. We're actually late. I told him I would be there at dawn the day after the war ended. Are you okay? You look a little troubled or something."

  "No, I'm fine. I was just standing here trying to enjoy the beautiful spring morning, and my mind wanders and all I can think about is the pain and suffering of my people. It seems we never get a chance to stop anymore. We're either fighting against swords or fighting against ideals. There's just no end to it."

  "No Rommus, there isn't. But like your f
ather told me, we cannot choose our calling; it chooses us. The only real choice we have is whether to accept or reject it."

  Rommus shook his head slightly. We still make choices. We still make mistakes."

  "Luckily we live long enough that we can go back and correct a lot of those mistakes. If we can learn to forgive others for their trespasses, maybe others will forgive us for ours."

  Rommus let out a long breath. "Sometimes it's too late for that. Sometimes we let something slip through our fingers that we can no longer get back."

  She lowered her eyebrows and cocked her head. "Like what, Rommus?"

  He just shook his head; not wanting to tell her what was really on his mind. He honestly couldn't put words to it anyway, since he couldn't seem to get his mind and his heart to agree on anything. All he knew was that he didn't feel right when he was away from her—but things didn't feel right when he was next to her either.

  She saw he was uncomfortable and changed the subject. "What did you do with Daphne?"

  "I went to Song's house last night and took her. I played with her for a few hours to try to comfort her. She knows that Song is gone and she's hurting."

  "Aw, Rommus, that's so sad. I feel so bad for her."

  "Me too. I would take her myself but obviously I don't have the time to take care of a dog, so I convinced Pirius to keep her. He took to her pretty quickly and they get along well. I'm sure in time a real bond will grow between them."

  "That's good to hear. I think they're a great match for each other."

  Rommus looked at the sun cresting a nearby wall. "I guess we should get going. He's waiting for you."

  They walked through the streets mostly in silence, taking in the sights and smells. When they reached the Emperor's hall they were allowed to pass, as even if the guards were minions of Uritus, they knew that the god of war would destroy them in an instant if they even made the slightest threatening gesture.