Valkeryn 2: The Dark Lands

by Beck, Greig

  Bannock grunted. ‘No trees to drop out of, but I bet these little suckers are too light to set off the mines.’

  Hanson nodded, continuing to watch the desert floor through his field glasses. ‘You’re right… but it’s not the little guys I’m worried about.’

  Out of the darkness came the sound of a horn – low, deep and ominous – and a roar that seemed to come from every point on the horizon. In front of Hanson, the soil at the edge of his foxhole started to bounce and then topple inwards.

  ‘Okay boys and girls, time to earn our pay.’

  Hanson quickly checked his rifle was on automatic, touched the pile of spare clips and grenades, to make sure they were all still in reach, and then got down low.

  The small lumps threw back their cloth camouflage, each revealed Panterran holding a crossbow or a curved sword. Thundering up from behind them came hundreds of Lygon, their pounding footfalls making the earth shake.

  Hanson roared his own words above the sound of the approaching beasts. ‘Not… one… gets… past us.’

  The Panterran horde was first to reach the small mountain the Deltas had dug in on, and behind them the first wave of Lygon exploded in a wall of fire and shrapnel as dozens of mines exploded underneath them.

  ‘Music to my ears.’ Bannock sighted and commenced to fire. The hill came alive as thousands of rounds were fired.

  *

  Orcalion was at a sideboard, carefully placing slices of softened meat on a platter for the queen. He cursed under his breath as he went about the menial work he was doing as some sort of penance for allowing the Arnoddr Man-Kind to escape. He looked up into the mirror, catching sight of himself. He turned his head one way and then the other. He grinned; he really was the most handsome Panterran he had ever seen.

  Outside an explosion sounded, followed by a shockwave that travelled through the heavy stones of the castle. Orcalion’s eyes widened and he froze, gripping the sideboard and staring at his reflection in the looking glass. Behind him, Lygon and Panterran rushed from the room, and the rest moved to the windows to see what was happening at the gates. While Orcalion watched, a strange thing happened – a section of the stone wall swung open and the most bizarre being he had ever seen stepped forth.

  It was a biped, but had some sort of strange skin or suit that completely covered its body. There was a single long eye running from one side of its head to the other. His shock was further compounded by the doorway opening further allowing him to see more figures inside, and something even more startling – a Wolfen, a young Wolfen… the prince… here!

  As Orcalion watched, keeping his back turned, the figure darted forward, moving to the queen, and before she knew what was happening, it snatched something from her chest, making her squeal in surprise, before the being threw something over her face, and then vanished back into the wall.

  He grinned. Now was his chance to make amends, to improve his standing with Queen Mogahrr. He leapt for the closing door, landing too late, as he knew he would. He spun, seeing Mogahrr pull the old rag from her head, her eyes a mix of fear and shock.

  Orcalion pointed. ‘My Queen, it was the Wolfen, in a secret passage… here.’ He jabbed at the wall with a long talon.

  She stood unsteadily on her bowed legs, her previous confusion now turning to utter fury.

  ‘Get theeem. Orcalion, get theeem, and bring theeem to meee… alive!’ She screamed the words, spittle flying from her black toothed mouth.

  Orcalion nodded, and raced to the wall placing his ear to the stones. He pointed at some Panterran rushing about. ‘You, bring me some Lygon, now.’

  He moved along the wall, listening, listening. As he did some lumbering Lygon entered carrying axes and hammers larger than he was. He turned to them and pointed again.

  ‘Here… break it down… quickly.’

  The huge brutes set to swinging their massive weapons at the wall, pounding thousand-year-old stones to rubble and dust. In a moment a hole was opened, and Orcalion stuck his head in.

  ‘There,’ he pointed further along the wall. The Lygon jumped to the new position and swung again several times before one of them punched his huge fist through the shattered stones and grabbed hold of something. When he pulled his hand back out, he held a struggling body.

  ‘Crush it.’ Orcalion danced on the spot.

  The Lygon threw the figure to the ground, and raised his enormous hammer above his head.

  *

  The passageway narrowed, and their bodies scraped against the stone. Teacher grimaced at every stumble, clink of steel, or scrape of a boot on rock; he knew they would be sought out soon, and he guessed giant ears were already being pressed to the walls.

  Vidarr urged them on to greater haste in the crawlspace – already their increased speed in the shrinking space made silence impossible. They froze as the pounding began. It was Balthazaar who first yelled at them for action, and they sprinted now, all pretence of maintaining silence gone.

  Behind them, there was a huge explosion followed by the appearance of a shaft of light, and then a small head appeared, and was quickly withdrawn. Vidarr was becoming frantic in his urging, and Teacher grabbed Eilif, pushing her forward. He reached for Arn, but his hand never connected as the wall exploded inwards next to him, and an arm as thick as tree trunk smashed through to grab him around the neck. His entire body was dragged away, the CL suit protecting him as more of the ancient stones shattered as he was pulled through.

  It was all a blur. Teacher suddenly found himself smashed to the ground, a giant foot planted on his chest. Looking up all he saw was a mountain of orange and black fur, and seemingly miles above it, a hammer that looked as big as a dining table.

  Somewhere close by, a high-pitched voice screamed ‘Crush it, crush it,’ over and over. Teacher knew that even in the CL suit, there was no way his head could survive the blow.

  He grabbed at the foot, but he might as well as been trying to twist a tree stump. He groaned as more weight was forced down upon him, making it impossible to draw a breath. He felt his ribs start to buckle and small flashes of light went off in his head.

  Above him the huge head leaned forward, the face the most ferocious thing he had ever seen. The eyes carried triumph within their green luminescence, but only for a moment. They were now widening in surprise – behind them both, the wall exploded outwards.

  Arn landed onto the floor beside them, his CL suit enclosing his entire body and head. Then, landing lightly came Eilif and Grimson, teeth bared. At the sight of Arn and the Wolfen, the Panterran rushed from the chamber carrying Mogahrr like a hairless, stinking sack. Her yellow eyes were round with fear. .

  The Lygon on Teacher’s chest shifted his weight, preparing for the killing blow – it was the break he was waiting for. Teacher made a fist, and a two-foot spike shot from the knuckles, which he immediately punched hard into the meat of the beast’s calf. With a mighty roar of pain, the Lygon threw itself backwards.

  Arn came at another, long and curved dagger-like claws extending from the ends of his hands.

  Teacher sat up, feeling his ribs grind. He watched Arn for a moment, marveling at the way he moved; light, and agile – not seeming human anymore.

  Eilif and Grimson had picked up swords dropped by the departing Panterran, and attacked the Lygon, inflicting a thousand stab wounds before it could even swing to meet them. The chaotic sounds, the pain and confusion, were too much for the few remaining beasts in the room, and they fell over each other as they stumbled out. Grimson slammed the heavy oak door and slid the huge crossbar down to brace it.

  More explosions sounded from outside the castle, and from inside the destroyed throne room wall, Vidarr called them back.

  ‘The final fight begins – we must be away… now!’

  Chapter 35

  Know Who You Face This
Day

  Alison Sharp touched her comm. button. ‘Running low on grenades. When they’re out, it’s gonna get real ugly real quick.’

  Brown and Simms listened in, confirming they were in the same state. Brown laughed, his voice still calm amid the hurricane of explosions, and roars of anger and pain. ‘What? You expected to live forever?’

  She grinned as she responded. ‘Only till you bought me that drink, you big ox.’ She fired another grenade into a knot of charging Lygon, satisfied to see the big bodies scatter like ten pins.

  The attacks were slowing; the killing zone they had set up was effective in that it kept the smarter creatures at bay. The Lygon knew now that to move any closer meant being cut down or blown to pieces. They had stopped their advance, as one larger than the rest walked along their ranks to their rear, assembling them, organizing them into a military order. Panterran archers took up positions behind them.

  ‘This doesn’t look good.’ Sharp moved her finger along the line of bumps beside her eye lens, increasing magnification. ‘Seems brains is taking over from brawn.’

  The giant beasts parted to allow a single enormous Lygon to move to the front: beside him was a smaller figure… a human figure.

  ‘Oh crap, that’s Briggs.’ Simms voice was more frustrated than annoyed.

  ‘Yep, and she’ll pinpoint us – direct their attacks, probably using some Special Forces formations. My bet is we’ll get a flying wedge under a cloud of arrows.’ Sharp fired a few armor-piercing rounds, but the group stayed just out of range.

  ‘Nothing we can do but wait.’

  As she spoke, more and more Lygon and Panterran poured from the huge gates, before they were pulled closed once more.

  Simms blew out air in exasperation. ‘For what – their entire army to arrive?’

  ‘Just until the Boss gets back. So, we dig in and hold the line.’ Sharp sighted on Briggs’ forehead, wishing she’d come just a little closer.

  Brown grunted. ‘A thousand to one, or ten thousand to one, I don’t think it’s going to make any difference to us. Hope Teach had better luck.’

  Sharp loaded her last grenade into the launcher. ‘Well, at least when they get in our faces we’ll get chance to try out this morph steel stuff.’ She made a fist, and small spikes appeared over it, like a mini mace.

  ‘Can’t wait.’ Brown laughed darkly.

  Drums started a low throbbing beat. They gradually rose in tempo. Sharp looked along the ranks forming up in front of the castle. They started to reassemble: the massive bodies were now kitted out in heavy armor, with spikes and sharp edges – the Lygon battle armor. She swallowed and arranged her last few magazines on the soil close by.

  Sharp looked from the ammunition to the Lygon, and then to where her comrades were dug in. She hailed them both and then stood. ‘You know what – why wait? They’re going to expect to run us down like a Mack truck over three squirrels. Let’s take the goddam party to them – give ‘em a Delta welcome they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.’

  ‘Simms laughed out loud and stood. ‘Why not – we get to choose how we finish this.’

  Brown rose. ‘I like it. You call it beautiful.’

  Alison Sharp screwed her eyes shut for a moment, and then looked skyward. The moon had finally risen, she looked into its face – so much closer, half filling the sky and lighting the churned and bloody field before her. A surge ran through her as she sucked in a huge breath.

  ‘On my mark. Five… four… three… two… one… mark.‘

  *

  Vidarr peered through another crack in the wall, spending several minutes moving his eye over several different angles, and then placed his ear to the hole. Satisfied, he turned and nodded, and then pushed open another secret door. They were in a dusty storeroom, packed with the ancient artworks, sculptures, and treasure of the Wolfen race.

  ‘I saved what I could.’ While Teacher watched, the old Wolfen started to take off robes, and he and Balthazaar donned armor, the snarling face of Fenrir on the steel chest plates.

  Teacher took his arm, meaning to stop him, but the old Wolfen just shook his head. ‘All must fight – it is the Wolfen way.’

  Eilif selected a bow and a long sword, pulling it from its scabbard and feeling its edge. She turned to Grimson and smiled. ‘Today is a good day to die.’

  Grimson selected a sword of his own and held it up before his face. ‘And none shall weep for the battle fallen.’ Vidarr approached the pair with a large wrapped bundle and laid it before them.

  ‘I managed to save these as well.’

  Together Eilif and Grim unwrapped the cloth – immediately the gleam of sliver caught the moon’s small reflection coming in through the key-hole windows.

  “Yes.’ Grimson ran a hand over the royal Valkeryn armor. He placed his hand on the chest plate, covering the crest of Grimvaldr, his father.

  ‘Soon…’

  Outside the drums were reaching a crescendo and Balthazaar went to peer through the slim window. ‘The charge is about to begin. I hope your forces can withstand them.’

  Teacher shook his head. ‘There are no forces, only three like me… and I need to be with them.’

  Vidarr’s face sagged. ‘Then it will be over soon.’

  Eilif tightened a strap on her armor. ‘There are more than three, Teacher.’ She stood beside Arn, and put her hand on his shoulder. She turned to Becky and Edward, her eyes fierce.

  ‘All must fight.’

  Becky wiped her eyes. ‘I don’t want to die. I can’t fight.’ She sobbed, but picked up a small sword and looked at Arn. ‘I’m doing this for you.’

  Edward grabbed up a bow and arrow. ‘I think I could hit something.’

  ‘Good. Then let us hurry to our fate.’ Vidarr came back from the window, and opened the secret door. He paused, smiling. ‘… and perhaps to Valhalla.’

  *

  The drums stopped and in their place there was a moment of silence, before they heard a sound like wind swirling from high in the dark sky. It got louder, and then hundreds of steel-tipped arrows fell around the three Delta force soldiers.

  The three quickly covered their heads but they didn’t need to. The arrows bounced harmlessly off the CL suits. Simms held his arms out as if he was enjoying a summer rain.

  The drums started again, immediately rising to a crescendo. Alison Sharp’s voice was drowned out. Whether it was words or a roar of defiance, it didn’t matter as she charged towards the lines of hulking figures. Brown and Simms were at her shoulders, each of them firing as they came.

  The Lygon were momentarily stunned by the three small beings charging them, each shimmering as the moonlight fell on their lattice matrix suits. The great beasts were quickly whipped into action by their giant general and Colonel Briggs. They charged to meet them.

  Both parties crossed the killing grounds in minutes, and by the time the Deltas had reached the line of Lygon, their ammunition was spent. Swords and axe heads appeared from their hands, and spikes rose from their shoulders, heads and backs as they made their bodies into weapons.

  The glow of the giant moon gave the human soldiers an extra burst of strength and speed, and for a time they were a match for the huge beasts. They cut a swathe through them, knocking down the towering creatures as they cut and hacked their way forward.

  Simms whooped as he danced and jinked, slashing left and right. He burrowed a path away from Brown and Sharp, turning lightly to the side to dispatch a large brute, splashing blood back over his lens. He raised an arm to wipe clean his vision just as the fleeting image of a Wolfen in armor appeared to strike the side of his head with the flat of a blade.

  Simms staggered from the blow, and turned just as the monstrous beings parted. When Simms turned back to the front, a single giant stood before him – the Lygo
n general, swinging a hammer the size of a small car down upon him with so much force that he was crushed flat. The CL suit held, and his squashed frame lay within the crater like a bag of broken twigs.

  Alison Sharp also took a swinging blow that sent her flying twenty feet in the air, and when she landed she laid stunned, her chest now full of broken bones. Brown was immediately beside her, a huge sword extended from each arm. The Lygon were hacked back, but their numbers grew – five deep, then ten, and then a hundred. They stopped their push forward, knowing they were victorious.

  The ring of giants parted, and the dark Wolfen and Briggs entered, the colonel stopping to stare down with her milky vacant eyes.

  ‘Surrender and live… a sort of life.’ Briggs’ voice and eyes were as dead as those of a fish washed ashore on the beach.

  Sharp tried to rise. ‘Go to hell… ma’am.’

  Briggs never flinched. ‘Oh, you will know hell. Mogahrr will have you peeled from your suits and devoured alive.’ She turned, and looked to the parapets, where a throne had been carried so the Queen could watch. Mogahrr made a throat slitting gesture, and Briggs turned back to the two fallen Deltas.

  ‘Good bye. The Lygon need their fun, so this will not be quick.’

  *

  Both Teacher and Arn had retracted their head covering: no matter how breathable the carbon lattice armor, it still trapped heat, and their faces streamed with perspiration. The two of them were first to the castle forecourt, quickly followed by Eilif and Grimson. Vidarr and Balthazaar were supervising Becky and Edward, ensuring they kept up and didn’t get lost.