Misanthropy

by David Murray Forrester

  Droves of undead assailed Matearla, attacking in chaotic frenzy. Felblaze shattered the horde while infernal fires reduced the falling corpses to ash and dust. Dancing in rhythmic patterns, the newly awakened Celstoren orchestrated an enthralling firestorm of mesmerizing colours.

  Cast from above, a behemoth slaying spear laid waste to the fire storm as violent winds disrupted the flames. Crashing into the ground, the spear tore apart the land. Appearing through dusty haze, Vodeska pulled the spear free and faced the wraith whom slayed his minions.

  Neither spoke. Their gazes cruel. They circled each other. Mockingly, Matearla cracked the whip. Vodeska advanced.

  Conjuring a firestorm, Matearla pressed her advantage. Wrapping the whip around the spear’s shaft, Matearla ensnared the Jidarr. Pulling Vodeska close, she punched a hole through his chest.

  With incredible strength, Vodeska clasped onto Matearla’s arms. A spiteful look upon him as brutally, he crushed her bones and snapped her limbs off. Grabbing her throat, Vodeska impaled Matearla and drove the spear into the ground. Armless, bleeding profusely, Matearla lay trapped by the vile implement. Vodeska raised his foot. Matearla smiled as he brought it down upon her.

  Separated from the physical plane, Matearla’s ethereal body lay motionless with Vodeska’s foot inside her ghostly head. Her spiritual self, whole. Damage reversed. Arms returned.

  Vodeska stepped away. Matearla arose. Casting aside her spectral form, she stood as flesh once more.

  “A futile tactic,” Vodeska bathed himself in darkness. “We can walk there, too.” Shredding himself of skin, the Jidarr mutated. Demonic shadow-arms grew from his back. A second face, sadistic and vile appeared upon his shoulder. Increasing in height, Vodeska loomed over Matearla. Damned voices cried out from the depths of the torn soul within his body. “We are the void. We are the darkness. We are Vodeska.” Retrieving the spear, it too changed in design, matching the barbarous nature of its master.

  Matearla could sense countless souls residing within the Jidarr. Demonic possession the true essence of his power.

  Flames and darkness clashed. Bloodshed. Magic. Foulness exuded from Vodeska’s aura. The air impure, heavy, choked with corruption and malice. Wielding the spear with unquestionable might, Vodeska’s destruction upon the land shocking. Devastation came as Matearla tore the weapon from him, tossed it to the ground under the throes of magic where it shattered like brittle glass. Sadistically, she brutalised the Jidarr with the harshness of Felblaze’s sting, scorching his unholy body with dragon fire. Tortured and maimed, Vodeska fell to his knees. Piercing the veil, Matearla reached into the chasm of his essence, ripped out each cursed soul and using celestial energy, crushed them into oblivion. Utterly defeated, the abhorrent creature collapsed an empty and broken shell.

  After a simple shift between ethereal planes, Matearla walked away from the fight completely unscathed. Her thoughts turning to Yasha’s rescue within the ravine.

  Chapter 19

  Planted in antique pots, strawberry plants were laden with ripe fruit. Swooping elegantly, a paradise bird landed upon the balcony railing, eyeing the red delicacies. Regal blue tail feathers fluttered as the exotic bird bobbed its head, looking for hidden danger. Satisfied the coast was clear, it began to feast. The balcony window opened. Frightened, the bird took flight.

  “Go on! Scat!” Emily waved her hands. She looked down at the chewed berries. “These birds must be telling all their friends about my strawberries. At this rate, I’ll have none left for my pie.”

  Closing the window with a sigh, Emily crossed the room, stood beside the bed and rung water from a flannel into a ceramic bowl. Thoughtfully, she dabbed Tairrie’s forehead as she slept. “Poor thing. That monster did a real number on you, didn’t it?”

  Tairrie’s eyes opened.

  “Oh my!” Emily gasped. After lying unconscious for two days, Tairrie’s sudden awakening startled her. With a smile, Emily tapped her chest. “You gave me a right fright you did, My Lady.”

  Cracking her neck, Tairrie sat up against her pillows. Her shoulders felt tense. “Where am I?”

  “You’re in the Tower of Analetta, of course.” Emily placed the flannel in the bowl. “Our Lady Zoe brought you here two days past.”

  Pain radiated within Tairrie’s chest and ran down her arms. Fresh bandages covered most of her body. She took note of the bucket of bloody rags on the floor. “Thank you for looking after me.”

  “No need to thank me, My Lady.”

  “Please, call me Tairrie.”

  “Would you like a drink, Tairrie?”

  Her mouth felt dry. “I would love one, thank you.”

  “Is water alright? Or, would you prefer a naughty glass of spirits?” Emily looked at her with a cheeky grin.

  A stiff drink would help numb the pain. “Why not, hey. Yeah, give me a glass of the good stuff.”

  Humming, Emily filled a glass with whiskey and poured a shot for herself. They said cheers. Emily had her shot. Tairrie downed her entire glass in one hit and held out the empty cup for a refill. Emily obliged.

  “Here you are,” she handed the glass to Tairrie. “It’s a good whiskey, that one.” Emily opened a window to let the breeze in before walking to the door. “I’m going to go and fetch Zoe. She wanted to know as soon as you were awake.”

  “No problem.” Nodding, Tairrie leant back into the softness of the pillows. Emily left, closing the door behind her.

  Bookcases and shelves decorated with curious ornaments lined the walls. Clothes were messily strewn across chairs. Creams and perfumes placed neatly in front of a small mirror. ‘This must be her private room.’ Green curtains on the windows. Tairrie heard birds fluttering on the balcony. Limbs aching, Tairrie shifted into a more comfortable position. Haunting images of her fight with Crystal surfaced. Crystal’s strength, frightening. Resilient, the way in which she was able to shrug off damage and intensify her ferocity; it was almost as if she were indestructible. Tairrie shuddered. ‘If Zoe hadn’t shown up, I’d be dead.’ Finishing the whiskey, Tairrie stared out the window, watching wisps of clouds float across the sky.

  Knocking, Zoe appeared in the doorway. “Hey, Tairrie.” Alone, she entered the room and sat on the edge of the bed. “How are you feeling?”

  “Alive, thanks to you.”

  “I can’t take all the credit. Kasbin had a lot to do with it as well.”

  “Kasbin?”

  Tairrie listened intently as Zoe told her about Kasbin’s dream, the prophecy within his tarot reading and summoning the phantom to track her down. It was a lot to take in. ‘The key to stopping the destruction of Lorewell revolves around keeping me alive? Am I supposed to defeat this army?’ Considering the condition she was in, Tairrie figured it would take several weeks for her to recover. “I don’t understand my significance in all this, Zoe.”

  “Don’t think about it.” Zoe patted Tairrie’s hand. “Kasbin can’t make heads or tails of it either. We’ve decided to take it step by step. We’ve got the Men of Dawn with us now. You’re alive. Whatever comes our way, we’ll deal with it. For now, we’re in good shape.”

  “Ha.” Tairrie shifted. “I wouldn’t call this being in good shape.”

  “Yeah. You’re pretty banged up, aren’t you?”

  “I’m just glad you killed Crystal.” Fear clawed at Tairrie. She glanced at a painting hanging on the wall, then stared into Zoe’s eyes. “I… I lost.” Her gaze was soulful. “I can’t believe how strong she was, Zoe. I hit her with Starfall, and she got back up. I literally pulled a star from space and crushed her with it. I honestly thought she was dead, then the next thing I know, I’m the one on the ground bleeding. I’ve never encountered anything like it.”

  “I don’t know how to tell you this,” Zoe tapped on her knees, bit her bottom lip and decided to just say it. “I didn’t kill her.”

  “What? Really? She defeated you too?”

  “No. To be completely honest with you, Tairrie, once you told me her nam
e and I realised who she was, I couldn’t kill her.”

  Disgust was upon Tairrie’s face. “Because she’s a Surangi General? That’s horse shit, Zoe.” Tairrie couldn’t believe it. Had leadership and the politics bound to such a role corrupted Zoe already?

  “Do you remember me telling you about Akella Terrifos? The woman who destroyed Valomere?”

  “I remember. But what-” The name, Terrifos. Of course! The pieces fell into place. “They’re related?”

  “Sisters.” Standing, Zoe picked up Tairrie’s glass and crossed the room to pour them drinks.

  “Fuck.” Tairrie scratched her chin. “They’re fucking sisters.” Anxiety reared its ugly head. Tairrie began to wonder if the fight wasn’t over. What if they both come for her, seeking revenge? “What’s going to happen now?”

  “Just relax.” Zoe opened the whiskey. Sweet aromas wafted from the bottle.

  Tairrie noticed Zoe was pouring three cups. “Is Kasbin joining us?”

  “Not quite.”

  There came a knock at the door.

  “Come in,” said Zoe as she placed the whiskey back on the shelf.

  Tairrie held her breath as the door opened. Entering the room with her commanding aura and intense eyes, Crystal joined the pair.

  “Take these,” Zoe gave Crystal two glasses and gestured towards Tairrie. Together, they stood at her bedside.

  With an awkward smile, Crystal handed a glass to Tairrie. “Hello, again.”

  Begrudgingly, Tairrie accepted the glass. Resentful of Crystal’s fast recovery. So, this was Zoe’s attempt at reconciliation, was it? While sceptical at first, Tairrie could tell Crystal and Zoe were on good terms with each other, despite the fact Zoe impaled her with a sword.

  “There’s a few things we need to straighten out.” Discarding a jacket draped over a stool, Zoe moved the seat close and sat down. “Firstly, we need to all agree that what happened the other day was nothing but a horrible misunderstanding.”

  “A misunderstanding?” said Tairrie.

  “Yep. A misunderstanding.” Zoe sipped on her whiskey. “Where do I begin? Ok, Tairrie, there’s a few things you need to know to be able to put all of this into perspective.”

  It was a long tale, but Zoe laid it all out for Tairrie. The Surangi’s purpose in Sapphiron. Johnathon’s death in Floreska. Crystal’s recent past and the triggering events which sparked the bloodshed at Kembleton. Tairrie sympathised with Crystal for the loss of her lover and understood her thirst for vengeance, having spent several years of her own life ensnared in the pursuit of revenge.

  ‘It would be better to have Crystal as an ally, rather than an enemy. The guards at Kembleton do have quite the reputation. I guess I can let her off for starting that fight. But what about the Surangi she killed? How am I supposed to report their deaths to Greyson?’ Tairrie didn’t know what to do. Guilt crept up on her, knowing she was mostly to blame for the conflict. Crystal had tried to avoid the fight. Tairrie pressed it out of stubborn pride and a false sense of righteousness. Had she not ordered the knights to take Crystal by force, those men might still be alive. “Alright. I can agree our fight was a misunderstanding.”

  “Sorry for almost killing you.” Crystal’s tone was sincere.

  “Don’t be sorry. I tried to kill you, too.”

  “Your magic’s pretty scary,” Crystal held out her glass in gesture. “We good?”

  “Yeah,” nodded Tairrie. “We’re good.” The glasses clinked as they were brought together.

  “Now, this is a happy sight,” Zoe smiled. She was glad the two were able to cast aside their feud and not harbour needless grudges. “There is one more thing, though. If the Surangi find out Crystal murdered her kinsmen, she’ll be put to death.”

  “I know it’s a lot to ask, considering we haven’t exactly met under the best circumstances. But I need you to lie for me?” Crystal was nervous, yet hopeful.

  “I was actually a bit worried about this myself. I can’t go back to Greyson without a believable explanation for his knight’s deaths.”

  “So, we’re on the same page?” said Crystal.

  “I guess we are.”

  “We’ve already come up with a solution,” said Zoe. “The story goes, you tracked the witch in question to a remote region here, near Lorewell, where after a brief fight you took her captive. While you were transporting her back to the outpost, your group was attacked by a colossal shorku. Sadly, the knights were killed. So was the witch. You were gravely wounded and only survived because I happened to be close by and rescued you. What do you think?”

  “So, you’re not part of it at all?” Tairrie asked Crystal.

  “No. As far as my people are concerned, I’ve gone to the Isle of Joupa for rest and recuperation. I don’t want anyone to know I’m in Sapphiron.”

  “Because you want to avenge your lover and kill King Balester?”

  “That’s right.” Crystal nodded.

  “As far as the story is concerned, it sounds alright. But, killing Balester, I’m sorry to say it Crystal, I think you might be out of luck.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well,” began Tairrie. “Word in the underground is that he’s already dead. He fled the capital weeks ago and we’ve heard rumours that someone’s bragging about owning a royal coat, made from his skin.”

  “He’s dead?” No. It couldn’t be. Crystal wanted to kill the wretch herself. She yearned to break his soul. To crush him. To make him pay for Johnathon’s death.

  “It’s not confirmed, but I think it’s true.”

  “It’s probably for the best, Crystal.” Zoe placed her hand on her shoulder. “Revenge is nasty business. Hatred is not a feeling we should indulge.”

  Crystal stood, shrugging off Zoe’s hand. “I don’t agree with you.” She left the room.

  The pair sat in silence for a moment before Zoe spoke. “All in all, that didn’t go so bad.” Zoe pushed the stool aside. “Looks like I won’t have to worry about you two going at it again.”

  “I don’t know. I think I might have just pissed her off saying that stuff about Balester.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll go talk to her. From what I’ve seen, she’s really not dealing with her partner’s death. I think killing the king was going to give her a bit of closure, allowing her to move on. Now, that’s been taken away from her.”

  “Good luck with that conversation.” Tairrie rolled her eyes.

  “Yeah, it’s not gonna be easy.” Stubborn and strong willed, the Terrifos women were not the easiest to deal with. “I’ll catch up with you later on, Tairrie.”

  Riding at the head of the convoy, Isabella and Ruby engaged in mindless small talk to help pass the long hours of travel. Their mission to collect medicinal herbs and salves from Longridge Vale had been a success. Lord Tanda hosted a banquet for his guests to herald the return of the true Larrosan. During the evening, Isabella established strong bonds of fellowship between the two peoples, ensuring a relationship of trade and prosperity. Already, Larrosan rangers patrolled the region, making the roads safer for merchants and travellers. Benefiting from this harmony, small villages flourished.

  The passage to the Valley of the Fallen was close. Ruby could hear the thundering roar of water as it passed over the waterfall and into the narrow river which winded its way through the valley. The sound of home. Carried upon the wind, a light mist of water cooled her cheek. Stopping her horse on the edge of a cliff, Ruby gazed at her homeland with pride. The wild flowers were in full bloom. Dark silhouettes of birds flew amongst the trees.

  “It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Isabella pulled up beside her.

  “It really is,” said Ruby with a sigh of content.

  “I didn’t think they’d have it all built already.”

  “Yeah. Wait, what?” Ruby looked at her, confused.

  “The barricades,” pointed Isabella. “The Men of Dawn have finished building them. See. Remarkable those guys.”

  “Oh, yeah.” Ruby ha
dn’t noticed them at first. Now it was all she could see. A strategic formation of spiked fortifications with trenches and pit traps. “Why did they build them so far back from the cliff?”

  “Clearly, you’re no tactician. Are you?”

  “What do you mean? Wouldn’t it be better to stifle the enemy as they tried to enter the valley? Rather than allowing them room to form battle formations?”

  “The way the defences are structured, the enemy will converge into the narrow bottle neck there. I’ve really go to hand it to Baardsen. He’s planned it in a way that the barricades won’t affect travellers on the road at all. It’s just like a check point for them, but any army trying to get through is going to be met with some pretty stiff resistance. Getting back to your question, though. It’s built that far back so it’s out of range of any archers who might decide to take up position here on the cliff top.”

  “Good point, Bella.” Ruby looked over the edge at the grass below. If a defending force were there, it would be easy to rain arrows upon them. Movement across the ridge caught her eye. A figure was coming along the road at an impressive speed. “What’s that over there?” She gestured to the ridge. “Is that a rider?”

  “Looks like it,” Isabella shielded her eyes from the afternoon sun as she stared at the rider. “He’s moving pretty fast. I wonder if he’s in trouble?”

  “There’s nothing behind him.”

  “Come on, Rubes.” Isabella pulled her horse away from the cliff. “Let’s head him off at the pass. I wanna find out who this guy is.”

  Relaxed and carefree, the rabbit moved about beside the road, gnawing on healthy shoots. Horses bustled. Grey ears stood erect. Nose twitching, the rabbit raised its head. Spooked by the oncoming riders, the wary critter took shelter inside a thick clump of clover.

  Stopping at the valley’s entrance, Isabella and Ruby sat waiting for the oncoming rider. A Dawn scout. His face, flustered. Sweat on his brow. Isabella called out for him to stop. He slowed his horse as he approached, but did not stop. “War is coming!” And with that, kicked his horse into a gallop, skilfully navigating the twisting slopes at a dangerous pace.