by Eden Redd
“For the kingdoms of the Tower’s Edge!” a shout roared over the carnage.
A tall woman in gleaming armor burst from the crowd and slashed across both legs of the incoming shadow elf. Strum watched as Princess Victoria Astor leapt into the fray, her sisters at her side. The shadow elf fell and another princess sliced its head off in one smooth move before it crumpled to the ground. Around the dazed general, Lady Astor and Lord Pitt’s guards and soldiers joined the heat of the battle. The line firmed up and held, keeping the enemy monsters at bay as they fought on.
Shadows folded and unfolded on a nearby rooftop. Xoli melted from the darkness and moved to the edge of a roof. She eyed the battle and saw the square filled with the undead. Yypith charged, stomping on the dead before him and crashing into Nypha. The dragon used her good arm to grab him by the throat and squeezed. Yypith struggled to spit flames as Nypha opened her maw and blasted a greenish fireball. The blast was strong enough to send the blue dragon rolling away and slamming into another building.
The sorceress eyed Vongoul standing in the middle of his horde army. Spells filled her mind and she prepared to unleash a barrage when she stopped herself. Dorian was carving his way through the undead ranks toward the shadow elf lich a foot at a time. The young lord spun and sliced with the precision of an artist. The world had blurred into shadows of the enemy and Dorian would cut them down until none stood.
Yypith reared his head and blasted out a stream of blue fire. Nypha leapt to dodge the ghost fire when it struck her leg and slashed across her body. The green and black dragon spun and crashed to the ground, sliding to a stop. Nypha’s eyes widened as she tried to move, her body not responding. The blue flames burned cold against her scales, chilling her internal fire. Heart beat slowing, she knew another strike would end her.
Yypith rose up just as two loud screeches filled the night. The undead blue dragon looked up to see Cindrar and Lirla diving toward him. Streams of fire blasted down, engulfing the undead dragon in greenish flames. Nypha stared as her mother and sister crashed down on the stunned Yypith, claws grasping at his scales and flesh. Loud ripping echoed off the square’s buildings as the two dragons tore pieces of him away.
Nypha tried to move but all she could do was turn her neck slightly. Nearby, shadows parted and Xoli appeared at her side. The high elf knelt next to the dragon, glowing hands on her scales.
“I will try to dispel the effect,” Xoli said with a soothing voice.
Nypha’s eyes stared at the journal on the street, “The book. I need…the book.”
Xoli turned her attention to the book on the street. Lifting a hand from the dragon’s hide and pointing it at the journal, it flew up into her hand. Nypha lifted her head slightly, eyes losing focus.
“What’s in the book?” Xoli asked as she opened it.
“The final word to unlock Splitter’s last ability,” Nypha managed as the chill grew deeper.
Xoli looked to Dorian as he cut his way closer to Vongoul. Dead poured in from the streets and the square grew thick with undead bodies. Strum and his men were cut off and if Dorian slowed down, he would be consumed by the monsters around him.
“Beautiful Nypha, stay strong while I help the man we love,” Xoli said with a faint smile.
Xoli whispered arcane words, her mind opening to the pages. Seer magic coiled around her spirit as she opened her eyes to the world and then cast its power on the book. Dragon text shifted into common tongue. The book whispered, speaking quickly and telling of the stories written within. Images burned into her mind as the scenes played out of Lord Harris Lockwood fighting with deep wounds to his body. He grinded his teeth as the shadow elf army moved in, ready to cut down all his people. The lord rose up despite weakness filling him. Uncertainty washed away to purpose as he lifted Splitter and shouted with all his heart.
Dorian moved like a demon, cutting through bodies until Vongoul came into view. A shadow elf moved in from behind when an arrow penetrated its head and the point exploded out of a decayed eye. Dorian spun around to see the dead shadow elf fall. Glancing up, he witnessed Princess Chandra Pitt reloading her bow and letting another arrow loose. The arrow sunk into another eye socket as the dead groaned and fell.
Dorian had no time to thank her as he spun back into battle. The young lord cut at the dead as arrows from the guardian princess sank into skulls. Vongoul eyed the young lord as Dorian struggled against the tides of his undead forces. The shadow elf’s smile grew broader as the young man’s attacks intensified. A shadow elf was cut in half and Dorian charged the lich where he stood.
“Fool,” Vongoul said and whispered an arcane word.
Energy flashed outward from his body just as Dorian lifted his blade to strike him down. The energy slammed into the lord sending him spiraling through the air and crashing onto the stone street. Rolling back to his boots, he eyed the lich as he stood unimpressed.
“You will tire, just as your father exhausted my people with attacks until they could fight no more. My slaves will eat your flesh and Uboria will be my new kingdom. You have failed, young lord.”
Dorian gritted his teeth and prepared to advance once again. Cindrar and Lirla ripped at the Yypith with ferocious attacks. Strum and their allies fought the dead clawing at them. Chandra pulled back on her bow string, aiming at Vongoul. The battle seemed to show no signs of slowing down. Dorian witnessed as the numbers seem to grow in the undead’s favor, and Vongoul seemingly unfazed. The young lord had to end it soon or the entire kingdom would be lost.
Xoli’s eyes returned to normal and shouted, “Tunarr!”
The last piece of the puzzle clicked into place as a faint smile appeared on Dorian’s lips. Gripping Splitter tight, the lord stalked forward, a determined fire in his eyes. Vongoul looked to the advancing lord with contempt. Dorian knew the word as “Time” in the old tongue. He cursed himself for not knowing it before but now was his moment to make it all right again.
“Tunarr,” Dorian whispered and pain flared from his hand.
The young lord fought through the pain as the world around him slowed down. Stepping forward, he felt normal but everything around him moved in slow motion. Splitter glowed with ethereal light as Dorian stepped closer to the lich. Vongoul stood, lips parting slowly. Pain moved from his hand to his arm. The young lord guessed that the pain would grow the longer he remained in this state.
Dorian darted toward the slow-moving lich, Splitter held high. Just as he was to bring it down, energy slowly exploded outward from Vongoul’s body. Splitter crashed into the energy glow and Dorian’s world became nothing but light. Time sped up and the young lord was thrown through the air. The lord crashed thirty feet away and rolled to a stop. Dorian rose up to his feet as laughter filled the kingdom square.
“You pathetic whelp! Your father used Splitter’s ability before on my men. You think I would not be prepared!” Vongoul cackled.
Dorian charged. Vongoul whispered a word and light flashed again. This time, Dorian spun through the air, small cuts appearing on his exposed face and hands. His leather jacket shredded before his eyes and crashed to the floor. Blood trickled from wounds as Dorian stood up once again, Splitter in hand.
“You will never be faster than my voice, young lord,” Vongoul smirked.
The young lord eyed the lich as he spread his hands out, mocking him to try again. Dorian eyed the shadow elf as his mind worked. The lord knew one more strike and he was done for. Firming up his shoulders, he glanced at Splitter and inspiration struck.
“Vongoul, I’m coming for you,” Dorian said, echoing the words his father spoke the very night he was slain before him.
“Come to your death, little lord,” Vongoul said with an evil grin.
Dorian took a deep breath and charged. Blade gleaming, the young lord whipped it upwards while whispering “Goll”. A greenish wave of energy slashed outward toward the shadow elf. Vongoul whispered an arcane word and energy burst from his body. Dorian smiled as he whispered “Tunarr”.<
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Time slowed down as pain roared into Dorian’s hand once more. The magical energy wave moved slowly toward Splitter’s ghost cut ability. The slash struck the outgoing energy, cutting it in half. Vongoul, even in his slowed state watched as his mana ripple tore in half. The ghost cut energy faded on impact but Dorian moved through the breach, brow hard and eyes sharp. Like a speeding arrow, he never slowed down, Splitter pointed at the lich’s chest. Vongoul’s mouth moved as time crawled. Dorian pressed on, closing the distance while the first mana ripple continued to flow on behind him. The tip of Splitter touched Vongoul’s chest and sank into his form like a divine force guiding Dorian’s hand. In slow motion, pain and fear flashed in Vongoul’s eyes for a moment, long enough for Dorian to smile wider.
Time resumed and Splitter continued to sink down to the hilt, the blade exiting out of the shadow elf’s back. Dorian twisted the blade and whispered “Goll”. Vongoul cried out as his body was torn in two. Each half fell away as each eye turned inward to see Dorian’s grinning face.
Nypha roared as fire spilled from her mouth. A stream of greenish fire slammed into the undead horde, blasting them to ash. Cindrar and Lirla pulled at Yypith’s rib cage and shattered his body into thick chunks before unleashing their dragon breath on the undead crowd. Strum and everyone else fell back as the three dragons roasted the square with dragon fire.
Dorian stayed where he was, a sick satisfaction filling his face as dragon fire roared around him. There was no peace, only blissful knowing as he gazed down on each half of Vongoul. Pain flared along his body but he didn’t care. Raising Splitter up, he hacked at the two halves of Vongoul over and over again. Arms shaking, he stood up to hack at the remaining chunks when a hand touched his neck.
Dorian turned to see Nypha in her half dragon form. Seeing her naked before him sent the true touch of peace he had always known with her. Dropping Splitter, he fell into her open arms. The dragon woman sank to her knees as she held him close. Strum and the dragons led the charge, breaking the enemy dead and burning them to ash.
Dorian clutched at Nypha and she stroked his hair, the nightmare ending to the sounds of burning bodies and shouts of victory.
Eighteen
The private library bathed in morning light. The glass doors to the balcony were wide open and a warm breeze rustled thin curtains. Dorian sat across from General Strum and Xoli, a band wrapped around the general’s head and a patch over his damaged eye. Xoli sat, her eyes warm but with a touch of sadness.
The young lord looked to his loyal subjects. The night had been filled hunting down the dead as they fled. Lack of sleep caressed Dorian’s sore muscles but he fought through wishing he was in his bed. The kingdom still burned in places and many of his people fought the small blazes while soldiers, clerics and guards restored the peace and helped their people.
Strum cleared his throat, “The dead have been routed. Once Vongoul was killed, the dead fled the city. Slimes were put to torch and men are exploring the sewers and homes where the dead emerged.”
Dorian nodded, “Is there any news on exactly how they entered the city?”
Strum nodded, “Two tunnels were found. Soldiers are looking for more. It seems they tunneled from beyond the pass. It would have taken years for them to reach our sewer system. Once inside, they broke into private basements and slaughtered the families within. Those not slaughtered were added to their army.”
Xoli looked to Dorian, “My examinations show the slimes were corrupted from their simple nature. I don’t know how Vongoul accomplished it but he entwined dark magic with the slimes. The dead shadow elves and citizens did not create undead. The slimes alone had that ability. They would shove some of their body into a living being and it would kill them. Not long after, the victim would rise as one of them. Slimes can easily fit into most locations and made them highly valuable in infiltrating the kingdom.”
“Anything we can do to protect against such a thing happening again?” Dorian asked.
The elf sorceress shook her head, “Not as of yet. I will continue to study the samples I have and see if we can discover a way to combat them.”
“I’m having the men exterminate any infected slimes they come across. Decreasing the population will help but there is no guarantee we will find all of them. They are essential to handling waste for Uboria, so we are being careful to filter out those unaffected by the dark magic. I will have the captains set up some patrols to ensure their numbers stay low. As for the tunnels, once we find all of them, the men are instructed to cave them in.”
Dorian nodded with grim eyes before looking to Strum, “The clerics could not save your eye?”
Strum smiled, “The damage was magical and extensive. I thank the gods I have a second one.”
The young lord smiled slightly before his eyes looked down, “Tell me more about Splitter.”
Xoli shifted in her seat as Strum’s gaze never wavered from the young lord.
“Your father knew the terrible power of the sword. Even he hesitated to use it more than he should have. The weakest ability causes no harm to the wielder. The Ghost Cut ability will sip on your life force. The Time Split ability actually takes time from your life force. The longer you use it, the shorter your life will become.”
Strum looked down, “Your father set up the test in hopes you would be swayed not to use the sword. It was the reason the clerics could not save him the night he was killed. He had used up too much of his life force in battles. He spoke to me often of ensuring when you learned how to use it that I was to warn you of its power. Splitter contains great power but it will destroy you over time.”
“It is why we were so concerned with your duel with Yypith. Clerics can bring you back but only so many times, depending on your life force, not theirs. You are still young and we wish for you to rule a long time,” Xoli added.
Dorian eyed the aging general and the beautiful elf, “Thank you for telling me. Now that I have tasted Splitter’s power, I will only use her in dire circumstances, if ever.”
Strum turned to Xoli with a small smile, “May I have a moment with our lord?”
Xoli bowed her head, “Of course. I will see to my experiments.”
The two men watched as the high elf stood up, bowed again and turned for the door. When the door closed behind her, Strum looked to Dorian with a dark shadow in his eye.
“I wish to declare a decision I have made,” Strum said simply.
Dorian smiled, “Speak your mind. I will listen to anything you have to say.”
Strum nodded grimly, “I will be leaving Uboria. I will be taking Jyda Black Dew with me for we are in love.”
Dorian eyes widened slightly in shock, “You are both in love? How long?”
“Years. I am telling you out of respect and fear. I don’t know how many years I have left and I wish to spend my remaining time with the woman I love.”
Dorian bowed his head and rubbed his jaw, “You never have to fear anything from me, Titus. I too understand what the heart desires. You have served my family well, and perhaps it is time you give others a chance to fill your boots.”
Dorian looked at the General and grinned, “You have my blessing.”
Strum nodded with a small sigh of relief and a smile, “Thank you, my lord.”
The young man’s smile faded as he looked at the general, “Vongoul said some things last night about my father….”
“War makes monsters of us all. What Vongoul said was true. Your father defeated his enemies and pleasured himself to their women. It saddens me to say I did the same, as did many others. There is no excuse for those actions, a harsh reality I have had to come to terms with. I pray you will learn from our mistakes and not make them as we did.
“I watched as your father taught you to be strong as well as compassionate. Even after his death, Xoli and I watched you to ensure such wickedness didn’t take root. We understood it was possible but if it did, we would have worked to show you the error of such power.”
Dorian pulled away but put his hands on Titus’s shoulders, “We all have done things we have regretted. I am pleased you have become the man you are instead of the man you were.”
“You will serve your kingdom well,” Titus said as he bowed his head.
“Where will you go?”
Strum raised his head, “Beyond the Pass, where the land is free and plentiful, where we can carve out our life together under Vala’s gaze.”
Dorian let his hands drop to his sides, “I looked forward to visiting. Dorian is a nice name if you have any children.”
Strum let out a hearty laugh and clasped a hand on the young lord’s shoulder, “It is a wonderful name.”
The general continued, “We will not leave until the kingdom is in working order.”
Dorian smiled, “The kingdom and I thank you for your service.”
“Thank you for leading us.”
Dorian took hold of a chair and sat down. Titus sat down as well.
“How are our guests?” Dorian asked.
“Lord Pitt is faring well as is his daughter and wife. They plan to leave tomorrow. The lord said Uboria was much too exciting for his tastes. He also congratulates you and looks forward to the wedding. He, his wife and the princess will be there to wish you well.”
Dorian’s eyebrow winkled, “Wedding?”
Strum continued as he didn’t hear his lord, “Lady Astor wishes to meet and discuss her daughters again. I only wish there was something I could say to her to dissuade her pursuits.”
Dorian grinned, “I’m sure we can think of something. Let’s finish talking about the kingdom so you can enjoy your rest.”
The men talked but soon it turned to laughter as they spoke of old times.