by Reece Dinn
(Thirty Years Ago)
Chapter Fifty Two
Die. Beroz's scarred hand throbbed, he didn't even bother to rub it.
It was a dark, chill evening, neither moon out this night. The sky was covered in heavy cloud, threatening snow. A bitter wind blew across the river, penetrating his furs, making him grumble as he shivered. He curled up into a ball and focused his Raiz, using Nipah to warm his body. It helped immediately, but his tired mind couldn't keep it going for long. Three days of travel had shown him that, although he'd healed, his body was still not in peak condition. Being hungry didn't help. He'd lost all his supplies the first evening after he'd left Oaraz when he'd slept by a herd of mirac. He'd stayed by the river away from them, but for one mirac, a big, red furred bull; he'd been too close for its liking. He'd awoken in a blind panic to find he bull had butted him as he'd slept, its horns piercing his back and he'd nearly been flung into the river. The bull had charged again, knocked him aside before he could grab Mutumuz, and ripped right through his sack of supplies. It'd flung the sack into the river and Beroz watched as everything scattered across its surface and either sank to the riverbed, or was swept away downriver.
Angered and pained, he'd focused his Raiz and fried the bull's brain with lightning. The herdman had said nothing to him as he'd carved up the bull and taken all the choice cuts he could carry, then left in a foul mood.
Before sunrise he'd discarded half the meat he'd taken, having nothing to carry it in, and had what remained for his morning meal. Since then he'd eaten little. The only creatures around to eat, that weren't owned by herdman, were the vomenic in the river. The dark blue scaled creatures were difficult to catch even for a practised fisherman, and Beroz was particularly terrible at doing so. He knew better though than to cheat and fry them all with lightning though, other people had to eat them too.
In an attempt to keep his kind from his hunger Beroz unwrapped Mutumuz from its fur covering and pulled his wet-stone out of his furs. He'd discovered many little chips and indentations on the blade from his fight with the Lial that needed tending to. Another bitter wind blew across the river that made him shiver, despite using Nipah. It take more than this to keep mind from cold.
Beroz continued upriver the next morning, following its meandering path through the plains. It veered east for a while, before twisting west, then eventually north again. The route along the river held little shelter from the bitter wind that still blew from the night before. He'd gotten little sleep and was too tired now to use Raiz effectively. Sleep for night in Eikeza? The idea of having to talk with the Lial there to ask permission wasn't appealing. He'll ask about my hand. No. Instinctively he hid his scarred hand within his furs.
He kept walking all day, doing his best to ignore his grumbling stomach. Vomenic swam along the river bed, taunting him. Twice he tried to catch them with his hands, but they were too fast, swimming out of his reach. By the time the sun was going down though he'd had enough of being hungry. With all of his concentration he focused his Raiz and placed his a hand over the river's surface. Lightning. The whole river lit up as lightning surged through it. Several vomenic shuddered violently, bubbles bursting out of their mouths. Beroz stopped his attack, and the water calmed. A moment later nearly a dozen vomenic floated to the surface. He skewered two of them on Mutumuz and pulled them to the riverbank before the current carried them downriver.
He stopped to make camp for the night next to a small lake he spotted a little ways to the east. The lake was surrounded by gola, good shelter to make camp under. He hoped the lake teemed with vomenic for him to catch in the morning too. Feel bad. I know better than to use lightning in water. Kill what you need kill, no more. Creatures need to live so people have food. Need learn how to catch fish properly. Use Hakah, maybe? Huntman not need Hakah though.
He found a spot with three gola were grouped together, forming a natural canopy. He set down his sleeping fur, two vomenic, and Mutumuz, then walked over to the water's edge. Heat rose off the lake's surface, bathing his body with a soothing warmth. He closed his eyes, enjoying it. The lake was one of a small number of natural hotspots found all over Kitaz. It was said that a powerful energy flowed underneath the ground, called the Ro-Raiz, and it was this energy that caused the hotspots. The only place where the Ro-Raiz could be seen was at Nam-Laftoz, so it was said. No river runs into it, so no vomenic. Kak. He went back and dug a hole in between the three gola to sleep in.
The bitter wind had finally died away, but the clouds still hung dark and heavy. Will snow this night.
Hacking down some big branches, he made a fire and cooked the two vomenic over it, attaching each to a long stick. They tasted better than anything he'd tasted in a while. They were juicy, strong in flavour, but not as overpowering as mirac meat. He devoured them both like it was his last meal. When he'd finished he threw their remains onto the fire and lay back, fatigue setting in.
Many spots of heat came to life in his mind, his own Raiz tingling. People near. Raiz faint. Weak people. Apochal? Sehnal? Not know which. Three of the Raiz, possibly the three weakest that he could sense, heated up.
He jumped up, wobbling for a moment, his head spinning, then, when he'd steadied himself, scanned the horizon for movement. Ludenez? They're not far. One of the sources of Raiz suddenly vanished. They fight. Definitely Ludenez.
He grabbed Mutumuz, focused his Raiz, used Hakah, and shot off across the plain in their direction. His body struggled under the strain of Hakah, limbs burning from the exertion and tiredness.
Flickers of motion, then light flashed up ahead, fires blazed. He headed straight for them, increasing his speed to the point where his vision blurred.
Figures up ahead, some of them glowing purple and red, Beroz targeted those ones. Everything was a blur, the figures nothing but smudges against the white landscape.
Another Raiz vanished. Hold on.
Everything suddenly appeared distinct before him. He charged at the nearest ludenez and swung Mutumuz in a upward arc, further using Hakah in his upper body and arms. Mutumuz's black blade cut deep and the ludenez was flung into the air, a mist of purple blood spraying out its side. He spun to face the next one, his vision clearing as he released, then drew back his expended Raiz. Fatigue was quickly setting in however.
Red eyes flashed before him. A ludenez resembling a massively disfigured sehseh advanced upon him. It's head looked like it'd been beaten in with a rock, and a smaller, half formed head sprouted out of the side of its neck. It growled and blood tainted saliva dribbled out of its mouth.
The ludenez dived and swiped at him with a misshapen claw. Beroz narrowly avoided it, claws tearing his furs, then he slammed a shoulder into the small head sprouting out of its neck. The small head squealed, blood squirting out of what appeared to be its nose. The ludenez twisted its big head around to bite him but he punched it with his scarred hand before it could. It cried out as it fell, but flipped itself back up immediately and leaped at him, baring sharp teeth and claws. Beroz threw himself down just in time to avoid the attack. The ludenez flew over him, landed on its feet, and twisted itself back around to attack again.
Using Hakah Beroz sprang back up and thrust Mutumuz at it, but the ludenez beat it aside, knocking him off balance. He stumbled forward and the ludenez ploughed into his stomach, claws and teeth piercing his torso. It writhed on top of him, beating him on the head with big claws, cutting him. With one big burst of Hakah he butted it in the throat then flung it off him. Struggling back to his feet he staggered forward, hacking and slashing at the ludenez with everything he had as it came at him again. The ludenez furiously fought back, ignoring the wounds opening up all over its body as it raked its claws up and down Beroz's legs. He gritted his teeth, enduring the blows while he hacked chunks out of his enemy, Hakah the only thing keeping him on his feet. Great bloody holes opened up all over the ludenez's body, but still it didn't fall.
'DIE,' roared Beroz.
The ludenez howled in response an
d lashed out at Beroz's face.
He was too fast for it though. Using another burst of Hakah he sliced off the claw before it reached his face, then punched it in head with his scarred hand, hauling it off its feet. As it crashed back down he stabbed Mutumuz through its throat. The ludenez flailed about wildly, then to Beroz's surprise, struck Mutumuz. The sword was knocked out his hand, and out of its throat, the blade tearing its flesh even more. Then the ludenez was back up, blood gushing out of its throat and many wounds. It wobbled on its three legs, off balance
'Kak. Kak. Kak,' Beroz swore, panicking. His head throbbed, his Raiz difficult to focus now, barely able to draw back the Raiz he'd used. Mutumuz shook in his trembling hand.
The ludenez attacked, snapping big, yellow fangs at him. He swung Mutumuz but the ludenez caught the blade in its mouth as it crashed into him, and the two fell down in a flailing heap. It tried to bite his face, but he punched it just in time, and the ludenez got a mouthful of snow instead of flesh. With his scarred hand he grabbed its small head and dug his fingers into it.
Both heads howled. Beroz bit the big head on the nose, the rancid taste of its flesh and blood seeping into his mouth. It screamed, struggling to break free.
The small head exploded in his scarred hand, hot purple blood drenching him, sickly flesh sticking to his skin. He shoved the hand deep into the ludenez's neck until it had disappeared inside. Fire. He sent fire surging out of his hand and into the ludenez's body. It let out a blood curdling scream. He threw it off him as it began to flail its legs. It crashed down, then writhed around on the ground, smoke billowing out of its body as the flesh burnt from the inside. Then the flames exploded out of it and consumed it fully.
Beroz yanked Mutumuz out of its mouth, then readied himself for the next ludenez, doing his best not to allow fatigue and pain to overwhelm him. Several bodies lay scattered around the battlefield. All but one were ludenez, the other was a man's.
To his left an Apochal fought valiantly with a ludenez. The Apochal created a fireball and hurled it at it. The ludenez's back ignited as the fireball hit and it let out a sickening screech as the flames consumed it. The Apochal swayed on his feet, sword dangling from his hand, seemingly stunned by what was happening.
'KILL IT,' Beroz yelled.
The Apochal came out of his daze and swiftly stabbed down into the ludenez's head. It instantly went limp.
Something slammed into Beroz's back, sending him sprawling. Claws scraped his shoulders. He cried out and lashed out behind him with his scarred hand. It connected with something soft. The ludenez yelped and was knocked off his back.
It was the first ludenez he'd attacked, somehow still alive. Half of its face dangled from its head where he'd cut it. It was a small ludenez, formerly a lilnac. It hissed at him, its one remaining eye flashing red.
He used Hakah and dove at it as it went for him, thrusting Mutumuz into its head, grunting with satisfaction as the blade sank in deep. Both man and ludenez crashed to the ground, Beroz pushing his sword deeper inside the ludenez, until it was up to the grip, then with one great burst of Hakah ripped the sword out through its back, tearing it apart. The ludenez fell still.
With effort, he picked himself back up, his mind and body aching and throbbing, burning with pain. He tried to focus his Raiz and use Brubah, but he couldn't feel its warm tingle no more. That the last one? Nothing, save for the other Apochal, moved. The Apochal cried out and fell to his knees.
Beroz wandered over to one of the Apochal's fallen companions. The body and its furs were drenched in both its, and the ludenez's, blood. The corpse's skin had been shredded, the face mauled, and a large chunk had been ripped out of the side of its neck. Resting against the corpse's side was a large axe, one hand still clutching it.
He examined the other carcasses. The ludenez were an assortment of different shapes and sizes, but none were bigger than a large sehseh. Some still looked a little like the creature that they'd once been, but most had mutated beyond recognition.
He came upon the other fallen Apochal. This one's body appeared unharmed, but it was definitely dead. A spear lay beside it. The face of this Apochal was plain, save for a long, prominent nose.
'He..use...last....Raiz..to..kill...two.'
The surviving Apochal came up beside him. Tears ran down the man's face, disappearing into the thick beard that covered his prominent jawline. From a distance he'd appeared broad but up close his size was diminished, his body gaunt and bony. His skin was sickly pale, more pink than red, and it clung tight to his frame.
'He..save....me.' The Apochal wiped away his tears and glanced down at his companion.
'Where ludenez come from?' asked Beroz, gesturing to the scattered ludenez corpses. 'Not sense them until you fight.'
The Apochal shook his head. 'Not...know. We...walk. They..come..out....of..dark. Kill..Numorlz..fast.' He pointed over to the mangled corpse of his other companion. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his shaking voice.
Beroz noticed that the Apochal's Raiz was very weak, he could barely sense it even up close. 'They stronger than you?'
The Apochal nodded.
'How?' asked Beroz.
'What?'
'How you this weak?'
The Apochal scratched his head. 'Bad thing happen. Lose much Raiz.'
That's why it's faint. Beroz grunted, nodding his head slightly.
The Apochal knelt down and closed the eyes of his friend. He then placed the spear over the corpse's chest, and folded the arms over it.
'Burn body, yes?' he asked Beroz.
Beroz nodded. Best do before body seizes up. He could feel Hakah's crippling after effects setting in already so he placed his hands over the body and attempted to focus his Raiz. To his relief a couple of moments rest had been enough to recover his senses. He glanced up at the Apochal. 'Want say some words?'
The Apochal looked away, staring off across the plain, clearing his throat. Finally he spoke, his words coming more easily now. 'You good friend, Brokatiz. Brave, strong, loyal. Kill many ludenez. The fight is over for you. I warn the last villages. Will join you soon.' A tear lingered in the corner of his eye but didn't run down his cheek.
Fire. Beroz created intense flames that swiftly engulfed the corpse. He drew the expended Raiz back into himself. Black smoke billowed from it as it burned, rising high into the sky. An acrid smell hung in the air but the two men forced themselves to endure it.
They staggered over to the Apochal's other fallen companion, Beroz setting fire to the ludenez bodies that he passed on the way over, each one sapping his already depleted strength. The bearded Apochal had difficulty looking at the corpse. Beroz knelt down and waited for the Apochal to say his goodbyes. He picked up the dead man's axe and ran his finger along its edge.
'You speak of life after life,' the Apochal said to his deceased companion. 'Say we join together again in new land. Warm land. Where sun shines bright. We drink, fight, fuck, laugh. Hope you right. I want to see this place. Don't drink all the nibec, yes?' The Apochal took the axe from Beroz, placed it over the corpse's chest, then folded his companion's arms over it. He nodded to Beroz to continue.
Beroz created flames and incinerated the corpse. The Apochal stepped away and stood in silence, watching the body slowly reduce to ash while Beroz took care of the remaining ludenez corpses.
What they fight before? Ludenez? The Enemy? Something else?
The Apochal's face became a cold mask as Beroz returned to his side, seemingly regaining his composure. Only a slight wobble of his big jaw betrayed any hint of emotion. The Apochal turned to him. 'Thank you for your help. You fight well. What's your name?'
'Beroz.'
'I Jekoraz. Where're you heading to? Need another travel partner. Journey with you?'
'I travel to Owoklz. You?'
Jekoraz scratched his head, thinking. 'Daanaz, Talelz, Wekilz, Didaz.'
'Many place. Come with me to Daanaz. Find help there.'
Jekoraz nodded.
Die. Beroz grimaced as his hand throbbed. He did his best to hide his discomfort from his new travelling companion.
They trudged back in silence, both men lost in thought. Hope he not slow me. Not want regret this. They arrived at the camp a short time later, just as dusk had fallen. Beroz managed to restart the fire just as Hakah's crippling after effects finally hit him, and he collapsed in a heap beside it..
'Sorry, no food. Eat it. Not think have guest,' Beroz groaned, the muscles in his face tightening.
'Not hungry,' said Jekoraz, dumping himself on the ground beside the fire.
Jekoraz picked up the waterskin he found beside him, shook it, heard water slosh around inside, and took a long draught from it.
'Any nibec?' asked Jekoraz.
Beroz grunted a no, shaking his head slightly.
The two men made themselves comfortable around the fire. Jekoraz took off his boots and placed his feet so close to the flames that they licked at them. Beroz gazed up at the stars that broke through the still heavy cloud above.
Finally, after a period of silence between them, Beroz spoke. 'How you lose so much Raiz?' he asked, when he'd finally managed to loosen his jaw.
Jekoraz sighed, then proceeded to explain how he and his danaz had fought a big ludenez horde up in Mir-Ru. 'We try to warn villages in the area. Not know how long body will last. The other two are dead. Little chance I go far alone.'
'How know body not last?' Beroz asked.
'What?'
'When lose all Raiz you die. Have some though, you live. Be weak. Fall ill easy. Live though.'
'Wrong. Tired all time. Have no energy. Mind, body, emotion, all slow. Grow slower each day. I feel thin. Like I fading away. Think Raiz loss do more than make you weaker. It make life shorter.'