Consequences Within Chaos

by Derek Barton

  She waited for the flash signal from Letandra; once her group secured the escape route, Deliah’s party would advance into the camp heading for the leader rock formation. While the timing did not have to be made with exact precision, it did require some synchronization. The backup groups would wait as long as it would take for her to infiltrate the cave and to get their answers.

  “There is the sign,” whispered Lieutenant Jurvanch, breaking her train of thought. Deliah held up her hand and showed five fingers; she ran ahead of them in the darkness for the count of five.

  The Leader Rock Tower stood dead center of the valley floor, but only loomed a couple of stories high. It was not a natural formation, but dug out by the beasts. A cavern entrance had been cut into the sand floor and spiraled down into the earth. Three female Viestrahl stood guard and were huddled outside of the opening watching the mantas in the sky.

  As the skies flashed above, the soldiers advanced inside the camp, slipping from shadow to shadow. They used whatever landscape they could for cover. A shallow creek wove itself through the eastern fields and within twenty yards of the tower. As silent as possible, the four swam in the water and deeper into the Hive Nest.

  Upon arrival at the tower, the soldiers swam in formation to the mud banks, aligned and then shot four precision arrows. Two of the females collapsed immediately, arrows piercing the backs of their skulls. The third, hit with gas pellet arrows, fell unconscious across their bodies. Deliah erupted from the water and bolted past the doorway while Lieutenant Jurvanch and the others moved Mareor onto the pile of beasts.

  "Be careful and let's be quick," he snapped at her as she crept further down a dirt ramp. She did not respond as she double-tapped her vision-gem to record her actions and any overheard voices.

  Just past the turn she paused and gathered herself. Her heart raced and her blood pounded in her ears while her breathing rasped in and out. Deliah had trained for times like these all her adult life. Renowned for her skills, yet here she was full of self-doubt, fear and raw nerves. She pressed her back up against the smooth tunnel wall as her panic attack played out. The items produced by the mages were a huge advantage. They hid her body warmth and masked her scent.

  Trusting her practiced skills and tools would not fail her, she fought to calm the flaring, inner storm and stalked further down into the cavern.

  "Focus," she mouthed. You've got this! Now work it out.

  #4

  All of Auste's efforts and machinations were progressing too slow. Anger seldom bested him; often he tended to be cold and emotionless. But tonight seemed unbearable. His puppets were not being pulled by their strings and he was impatient for his final steps toward vengeance on the Artadeus family — he wanted his Throne!

  The Viestrahl were war-bent and malicious as he needed. However, he worked harder on delaying their march or stopping them from killing one another than he did anything else. They so wanted the humans; to run rampant and flood the streets with blood.

  Oh blood would be spilt, but only on my schedule, he fumed to himself.

  Earlier in the first hours of the eve, he had orchestrated the crossovers of a race of highly intelligent, shadow-beasts. With these Bal'Aval gated into the Vasts, he could further instruct the Viestrahl and train them on how to divert and best the humans. Yet the vile creatures did not learn easily and only through constant repetition did it seem to sink in. His Bal'Aval were able to gate themselves, but their stays were limited in duration and often failed to meet his objectives.

  By manufacturing his Gru'Renthral guise, Auste had the Viestrahl in his grip. He had them following his every command, but it was not enough. Ramnethas had become a perfect shell for him to possess and pretend to be their god’s avatar. Nonetheless, he felt he was missing something; anger boiled deep inside him. He swam within the emotion, seething and burning in its waves. In his fury, he kicked and punched at his metal prison walls in a staccato rhythm.

  Finally, his anger had played itself out and Auste pressed on and made an attempt to distract himself.

  "Where are you, child?" he muttered.

  Within his mind, he centered his energies on finding the maid and formed his focus into a claw. It raced out into the ether, breaking through the multiple layers of the Traverse, until it found Taliah, lying in her bed chambers. His mind's eye sight rippled and he cracked the focus like a whip which hooked into her. She shuddered and moaned under her blankets; resisting his will.

  "It will only hurt you more the more you struggle."

  She twisted and kicked. "No," she protested.

  "Fine."

  He raised his arms out before him and grasped something unseen. Taliah choked in agony and blood burst from her nose and mouth. Her struggles ceased as she gasped for air. Spider webs of blood welled up and across her forehead.

  "Open up to me."

  A flood of senses poured into him as the maid lost her battle, opened her eyes and gave up control. Auste felt her breath filling her chest, felt sweat on her brow, felt chill wind wash over her exposed legs. She moved out from under the bed sheets. Then he walked her over and plopped her down in front of a dusty dresser mirror. As he had her brush her hair, she gazed back at him. Fear and disgust caused her tiny hands to shake.

  Regaining his composure, he asked, "Where is Princess Letandra? Has her father died yet?"

  "No, but the Menders require that he is under bed rest orders,” her voice came out shaky and weak. “They gave her the title, Lady Magistrate, as I told you the last time, m'master, but the Courts remain under Queen Demetryce's rule."

  "And..."

  "I... do not thin—" Auste cut her words short and thrust her fist several times into the mirror, slashing her fingers and gouging her arm. She sobbed as she held the wounded arm to her chest.

  "Stop holding back! I can kill you right now and go replace you!"

  "S-s-sorry, mast-" she whimpered, cradling her mangled fingers.

  Auste waited. He relished upon her fears and pain, delighted in the flashes of anger and hatred he felt welling up in her and sipped from her emotions like a fine wine. Admittedly, this was the true reason he punished her. He did need the information, but more he wanted to taste her mind's emotions.

  "I think," she started, then corrected herself, "I have not seen or heard from the princess all day. I had spoken with the other maids and also learned that Sergeant Blackstaff has been gone too. And several villagers saw a troupe of soldiers leaving in the early fore-morn hours.”

  Her news jolted him and he lost connection to Taliah. She had told him many rumors within Wyvernshield and within the guard. The rumors of a prisoner and rumors of an early strike against the Viestrahl had intrigued him, but she could not get more without revealing herself to suspicion.

  Damn, I should have pushed her harder! He cursed to himself. Now it appeared the Taynevans were taking the initiative.

  Reeling in his focus, he meditated without a sound for fifteen minutes, gathering the energies required. Now he needed to get Ramnethas and warn the Viestrahl. He would have to work fast to turn this around. Turn the crisis into his favor.

  #5

  It took Deliah a while to get past more tunnel guards and further into the leader tower. She had come across a war room much like their own in Adventdawn Castle. It had a massive parchment with detailed drawings of Tayneva and the countryside spread out over a stone pedestal. Dried, white animal bones were placed about the map marking clearly the locations of Wyvernguard posts, scout parties and even hidden supply stashes. They had incredible inside information and sources that the Wyvernguard would have never guessed. Her fear returned but she continued pressing further.

  She finally found the main quarters of the beast they called Ramnethas. The massive warrior sat inside a small room draped with ornaments and crystals. Sculptures and statues filled the corners while in the center of the room was a tall fountain with glowing silver water. She saw the beast starring entranced while he spoke prayers to the water.
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  Ramnethas leaned over the flowing liquid, extending his fingers to stroke its surface. The metal wrapped over his fist and up to his elbow. He struggled to his feet and stood rigid. His head deflated and collapsed upon itself. A pale white lump started to grow and form upon his shoulders. Twin, thin slits formed and dead black eyes popped open. Another slit filled with razor, curled teeth opened. Ramnethas reared up and stretched his back out as spindly legs sprouted from his sides. Folds of his body shook as the final mutations took place. Deliah watched in horror and shook unconsciously, pressed up against the wall.

  When his transformation ended, he turned from the fountain and scanned the altar room. His stare locked at the entrance to the room and straight into the dark tunnel.

  "I may not see you, filth, but I know you are there." He leaned back on his new spider-like limbs and sniffed obscenely at the air.

  Gru'Renthral spat and he cursed several words — the entire room was swallowed in an inky cloud. It hid everything at once, even snuffed out the light from the altar lamps.

  "Deliah... is that you?" he taunted from somewhere in front of her.

  She could not move or answer if she wanted. How did he know her name? Her mind raced. Nothing had prepared her for this. It was as if Ramnethas had shucked his outer shell to bare his true self. Yet the voice coming from him was not a Viestrahl's. It sounded like an insect, but with perfect human speech.

  "Ah well, no matter. You do not have to answer me. None of you will live past nightfall!”

  In spite of the pitch black, she felt him. Whatever he was, he was close and it felt like he crawled right into her mind and his fingers were digging into the very folds of her brain. She felt hot, moist breath on her face like a swarm of crawling ants. Ramnethas swung away from her, stomping back into the fountain room.

  He roared and spoke in the Viestrahl tongue. His call brought the tunnel guards and he screeched again. She did not know what he said, but she thought she heard Letandra's name. The whole mission had been exposed and he knew everything somehow. Deliah had to warn the others — the Hive Nest had become an elaborate death trap.

  She bolted out of the blackness and past the caught off-guard sentries.

  A pair of the lumbering creatures she saw on the marching fields earlier materialized in the entrance ahead of her. They swept her right into their brick-like arms before she could stop.

  While one raked her arms over her head, the other slammed its fists into her stomach and chest. Breath exploded out of her and her vision dampened as the world receded. Deliah felt her arms and legs ache under the sudden stress. Her body was losing the fight.

  She was lifted off her feet and thrown into a tunnel wall. The soldier crumpled in delirium. From the ground, she saw Ramnethas again a Viestrahl as she had first seen him, storming to where she lay.

  "Bal'Avals!" Ramnethas shouted. The hulks froze and turned to him. The beast signed and they nodded in agreement.

  "Letandra only!" He hissed at their receding backs, then spun around and spied her laying against the wall. She remained frozen and pretended to be dead or at least unconscious.

  He snatched her up and sniffed her face. "Gru'Renthral wants blood."

  "Or…you... you shall take Taliah's place," he gurgled in broken human tongue. She did not move, hardly breathed and lay limp in his grasp even while he shook her violently. Grunting in frustration, he dragged her by an arm.

  An arrow streaked through the air and lanced his wrist. Ramnethas yelped and yanked his wounded arm away. Charcoal ichor oozed and sprayed from the gash. Another arrow missed and bounced off Ramnethas' shoulder plate as he rolled forward into the tunnel. More Viestrahl raced in to recapture her.

  Deliah jerked to her feet. The world danced helter-skelter and she nearly toppled over, but Jurvanch swept her into his grip and forced her up against the wall. "Gotcha! Now fight!" he barked.

  Viestrahl guards barreled down the tunnel. Gauging their momentum, Jurvanch timed a leap to bowl the guards over with his own body weight. Despite their size, they sprang to their feet first and pinned the old soldier to the ground.

  Jurvanch screamed in anguish as a Viestrahl bit into shoulder and nearly severed his arm. His bow dropped from his grasp as he fought to free himself. Deliah stood frozen in indecision. She had to get back to report to Letandra — the Viestrahl were way ahead of the Wyvernguard and unprepared for what was coming. Yet to leave now, Jurvanch would die without her help.

  She swallowed her pain as she ran for the arch entrance ahead. He could not be saved, but his death would not be for nothing. Letandra and the Court had to be made aware of how far behind they were. Lieutenant Jurvanch was a veteran warrior and he would not break and plead for her or beg for his life. She knew that, but his sacrifice was beyond a price she had ever wanted to go. His hoarse gasps and screams chased after Deliah.

  She felt the night winds blowing down the tunnel – the exit was close. She had outrun the Viestrahl guards and was alone. As the Sergeant came into the doorway, a searing pain cut across her thigh and into her abdomen. Blood bubbled around the folds of her leathers. Deliah fell back as another tail strike caught her across the face.

  Coughing and crawling on her hands and knees, she retreated from her unseen attacker.

  "Even!" something gurgled and croaked. Her eyes widen with sudden recognition, she rolled over and turned to face Mareor laying in the doorway. He did not move toward her, but blocked her escape. Hate bore into her from his eyes.

  More Viestrahl guards were coming; their loud pursuit echoing from behind.

  "NO!" she screamed at her former prisoner as she struggled to her feet. His defiance scorched her more than his attacks.

  She fumbled about digging into her belt pockets. A miniature signal light fell onto the floor by her feet. Smashing it with her boot, the entire entrance erupted alive with its light. Dashing over to one of her fallen archers, she ripped a bow and an arrow from his grip.

  Mareor struck out his tail again and impaled her shin, pinning her to the ground. More blood fountained out of her leg and sprayed the walls. He then yanked the barb free, tearing out more of her flesh.

  A piercing horn blast came from outside the Leader Tower. Vicious snarls and hisses erupted everywhere.

  Mareor lumbered along the wall using it to get within striking distance as his prey crab-walked backwards away. His tail swishing back and forth as he toyed with his prey.

  From behind, a mace hammered into the back of Mareor’s head. The warrior beast flailed and crumbled to the side as several arrows found their marks. Deliah spotted Princess Letandra and her archers standing in the rocks near to the Leader Tower entrance.

  A sudden wave of nausea and dizziness gripped the soldier. After snatching her vision-gem from the side of her head, she focused upon on the arrow in her hands and wrapped the gem's strap around the shaft.

  With the last of her energies, Deliah screamed her last words. "Letandra, get to my stone!" She pierced the air with the arrow and vision-gem.

  Three Viestrahl charged up behind her from the depths of the Leader Tower and tackled the soldier.

  ***

  "Cover me!" Letandra commanded from her post.

  Sprinting between the rocks and down the cliffside, she moved with emotionless precision and with complete focus toward the location of Deliah's arrow. More arrows streaked by and past her, knocking down any advancing beasts.

  Rocks exploded high into the sky as a swarm of fiery snake heads erupted within the Hive Nest. Lieutenant Dahova and her team were trying to supply more magical distractions to confuse the Viestrahl.

  The arrow laid broken in several parts upon several boulders. Deliah’s vision-gem was partially buried in the sand. Not breaking her stride, The princess scooped the stone into her hand.

  As a machine, the Wyvernguard soldiers erupted from their posts and retreated in all directions out of the valley. Their chaotic tactics could not save everyone, but in short hours, the mission survivors re
grouped. They waited in the bleak winter nightfall, huddling in despair and disbelief.

  Letandra held in hand all their mission’s efforts in a deathgrip. She stared down at the simple stone and at the blood on her hands.

  CONSEQUENCES WITHIN CHAOS

  ~~ACT TWO~~

  PART V — NEW LOSS:

  Eve of Dalledar 29th~~

  #1

  Chill wind wrapped around Taihven and gripped him tight. The wind's icy fingers tugged at his shirt collar and wormed its way into the folds of his clothing. He shivered and cursed that he had not been properly prepared for this episode. It had ambushed him during his talk with Caspen. He hugged his arms across his chest and glanced up. The sky was clear; a set of twin moons hung motionless in the velvet expanse.