He cleared his throat. “It’s not your fault. You did not force them over the edge. The enemy did. We felt you curve the enclosure at the end rather than cutting the crack directly across. That probably saved many more from falling. Thank you for attempting to honor our beliefs. I pray that Engai shows mercy on those dead that fell and helps them to their path to paradise. I also pray that he blesses you for your efforts.”
Ava said nothing. She had not cut the crack across to honor their beliefs. It had just made more tactical sense.
* * *
Ava and the sorcerers held their position with a determined resolve.
It was a monotonous, yet stressful task to keep the ravine intact while hearing the hell being raised by Captain Kamau and the Southern Kingdom soldiers as they clashed with the main body of the Kartan and Bozrathan forces some distance away.
Though Kamau and Lungile led Southern Kingdom soldiers against the enemy’s main army, they were not so far off that she could ignore the mass of soldiers shifting and moving, nor the battle cries and echoing clank of steel. Understanding the intense nature of what those soldiers were going through, all she wanted to do was help. However, she could not take that risk of placing so much of her attention elsewhere, lest the enemy sorcerers catch her off guard.
She had the sorcerers around her split their attention, some holding the encirclement of the dead and others fending off probes from the enemy magic users. It was not ideal to maintain such a cautious and defensive stance. Yet, she would not risk anything that would cause her not to fulfill her end of Danso’s plan.
We could do more if Danso starts taking out their sorcerers. It doesn’t need to be all of them. Just enough to weaken them. Then I could free up some of ours. Gods, what is taking him so long?
She glanced down to the small stone on her arm. It still indicated that Eder was alive. However, she had no idea how many other losses her men had suffered or how close Danso was in succeeding.
With sorcerers on both sides at a standstill, Ava had tasked several of the regular infantry to watch Kamau’s efforts with the main body and provide her with regular updates.
One young officer, the equivalent of a Lieutenant in the Turine army, ran up to her. He could not hold back his excitement, “High Mage Ava. The battle is shifting. Captain Kamau no longer holds his position. From what I can tell, he is advancing, and the enemy is giving ground.”
A great surge came from the enemy sorcerers, their largest concerted attack on her position. The pulse shook her insides, blurring her vision as it hammered into what Southern Kingdom defenses had been erected. The magnitude of the spell caused many, including herself, to stagger. Dozens of soldiers, including the Lieutenant beside her, collapsed under the weight of the surge, dropping to hands and knees while gasping. Several sorcerers could not keep their feet either against the powerful wave that rippled in the air around them.
Then, just as quickly as the attack began, it ceased. They had all survived, but barely.
“Gather yourselves!” she called. “They may try again!”
Gods, I hope not. We weren’t ready for something as raw as that. Ao-be-damned. Why didn’t they try that sooner? Or was that their best effort? One calculated strike brought on by Kamau’s pressure? Can they do it again?
The amulet at her wrist burned hot. She watched it change color, darkening to a purple that neared black. The change could be interpreted as a good one since it indicated Eder to be under a great deal of stress.
Did Danso finally attack? Is that what brought on the assault from the enemy sorcerers? Or was that why that assault ended so abruptly?
Ao’s teats, I hate all this guessing.
Have faith in the plan, she told herself. Kamau is holding up his end. And Danso is fulfilling his. So long as you keep the dead army where they are, all will be fine.
A huge surge of sorcery, necromantic in its feel, coursed through the air. Ava cursed herself for her optimism when so much uncertainty remained.
“Crap,” she muttered aloud while trying to make sense of what might come next.
Then she felt the enemy sorcerers withdraw from attacking or probing. Instead, necromantic sorcery swelled tenfold, bringing with it a foul odor of equal proportions.
The dead army surged, rushing over into the fissure encircling them. If the bodies were not already dead it would have appeared as a mass suicide.
Hysteria sounded loudly among the Southern Kingdom sorcerers and soldiers around her. Unlike before, this was not just a couple of bodies that had inadvertently fallen into the earth’s opening, but instead hundreds with the number ever growing.
The wailing, sobbing, and gnashing of teeth from her allies could not be ignored, especially when their focus slipped on holding the integrity of the crack.
“No! Don’t lose focus! It’s what the enemy wants!” she shouted.
They’re counting on our panic, hoping it spurs us into doing something stupid.
Beside her, people shouted at both each other and the enemy. Some raised their hands overhead in the air as they took up prayers to Engai. Finally, they looked to her, practically begging for her to do something.
“You have to stop this. So many souls are in jeopardy,” said the old sorcerer as he seized her arm with a shaky hand.
She knew what he meant. He wanted her to stop the enemy from further harming the bodies of their dead as their religion held that such a thing could prevent those souls from entering paradise. However, she cared little for that. She cared only about those alive both on the battlefield and elsewhere in the Southern Kingdoms. Their lives meant far more to her than the condition of the dead. Still, she tried to answer him with as much compassion as she could. “There’s really nothing I can do to stop them. I have little knowledge of necromancy,” she said.
Hurry up Danso. Before I lose them.
The faces around her twisted in anguish as more dead bodies dove into opening in the earth. Hysteria rose higher as many pointed toward one focused point. She followed their gestures. Flailing hands and limbs visibly reached up from the crack. Some clawed at the sides of the rock and earth.
“Ao’s bloody teats,” she whispered. Distracted by the anguish of the Southern Kingdom sorcerer’s, she missed the enemy’s intent.
It wasn’t just about making them do something stupid. By marching the dead bodies into the hole, they would eventually fill the opening, creating a path of rotting flesh for the rest to crawl and stumble over.
Her horror joined the others. Unless Danso quickly eliminated the remaining enemy sorcerers, the dead army would not only overrun her position, but also join the field against Kamau.
And all will be lost.
Panic swelled to obscene levels as pleas grew louder.
Ava knew they meant for her to stop the dead bodies from suffering any harm, but for that problem she had no solution. She also knew that given the madness of the Southern Kingdom sorcerers, it would be difficult for them to focus on their one task.
“By any means necessary . . .” Danso’s previous orders echoed in her mind.
There was only one choice for her to make. It would have great repercussions, possibly resulting in her never seeing her family or friends again. But then with war, that possibility had always been there.
“I can stop them, but I need your help.”
“Anything,” said the old sorcerer. “Tell us what to do.”
“I need everyone to open their power to me. Just as you did earlier when we strengthened the resolve of the main host. Except this time don’t hold back.”
“Why can’t we just do what you tell us to?” asked another sorcerer nearby.
“The spell I need to cast is one you’re unfamiliar with,” she lied. “And there’s no time to learn it.”
“But—”
One of the regular soldiers yelled while taking
a cautious step back. “Dear Engai, help us. They’re starting to climb out.”
“Molak-be-damned, I don’t have time to argue! I’m trying to help. Do as Danso commanded and heed my orders. Open up your blasted power to me.”
None said a word. Barely a glance was exchanged. Yet one after another, she felt every Southern Kingdom sorcerer open themselves to her. She drew on it immediately, a bit clumsy at first as she was not as practiced as them, especially with such a wealth of power available, but she managed.
In any other situation, the surge of power would have made her drunk with excitement, tempting her to explore countless possibilities of sorcery that most only dreamed of. However, like any good soldier, she had one goal in mind and put everything into it.
She seized complete control of the spell they had all maintained regarding the encirclement. Some hesitated in surrendering that control, but with wielding so much power, she simply wrested it from them. Before anyone realized her intent, she altered the spell so that the land the dead army stood on collapsed onto itself. Earth and rock rose up and over to cover them entirely like one massive grave.
In unison, all around her cried out in anguish, cutting their power from her faster than they had opened themselves. Ava felt some attempt to reverse what she had done, but they hadn’t the knowledge to do so.
Too late anyway. It’s done.
“We did it! We’ve stopped the enemy,” she shouted, quickly trying to emphasize the positive of the situation. But as she spoke, all eyes regarded her. Despair had turned to murder. “Be on guard. It won’t take long for the enemy to shift their efforts once they realize necromancy is no longer an option for them. Raise your—”
Something struck her in the back of head and blackness took her.
CHAPTER 46
The sun, that bright orb in the sky that was hell incarnate, woke me. I felt the heat of its rays on my face and cursed it internally. Never did I think I would wish for the sky that had followed the artifact’s eruptions, but I came close.
I thought to open my eyes, but decided that wouldn’t be a good idea given the amount of light I could sense over my closed lids. Still, I was awake, and my mind less murky.
I hadn’t moved yet, but I could feel the soreness and aches in my body ready to assert themselves at my first attempt.
The floor, I thought trying to find a reason for that weak, worn feeling. But then I realized that I wasn’t on the floor because there was softness beneath me and warm sheets lay against my bare skin.
I didn’t have any clothes on. Crap.
Though my mind worked to piece together what had happened, I remembered enough to know that I hadn’t gone to sleep in my current state.
Molak-be-damned. My kids must have found me. Dread filled my weakened body.
I thought it’d be better to get it over with and tried to open my eyes. I managed to make the slits wide enough to spot a form sitting at the foot of the bed. The effort wasn’t easy, and I let them close again.
I tried to speak, but that also was no simple task as my lips felt glued. Working my tongue around, I tried to pry them loose. My efforts caused me to stir. There was sharp movement at the foot of my bed, followed by a small gasp that sounded like a woman’s.
Myra. Why did she have to be the one to find me?
Footsteps sounded. I finally got my lips apart, but before I managed a word, something pressed against my mouth.
“Drink. It’s water.”
I paused. The voice was Damaris’s. That did little to ease my mind. Wasn’t it just yesterday she had still wanted nothing more of me?
“Drink. Then try to talk,” she said.
I let her pour small sips into my mouth until I signaled I could take no more.
The effort of drinking took what little energy I had. I squeezed my eyes tight as the sun’s rays found them again.
Damaris gave a tiny chuckle. “Ira said that if anything could wake you it would be the sun. I’ll close the curtains.”
I heard footsteps. A moment later the sun was gone. I tried to open my eyes again, but found I just didn’t have it in me to expend the effort.
As if reading my thoughts, she said, “Rest Tyrus.” Her hand found mine and she interlaced our fingers. I gave it a weak squeeze that took all of my concentration to muster.
She squeezed it back, and I went soundly to sleep.
* * *
I woke up shivering. No, I woke up shaking violently, teeth chattering. My eyes came open. Damaris had moved the chair from the foot of the bed to my side.
I was confused and disoriented all over again in the dark room. It had to be night. That much I knew for the only light came from a single candle on the bedside table.
“Cold,” I managed my first word stupidly as if that already wasn’t obvious.
She made a low shushing sound like a mother talking to a newborn. “I’ll put another blanket on.”
A moment later, the weight fell across my body. Looking down, there were already four other blankets there.
I tried to make sense of what had happened to me, but gods-be-damned, my mind just wouldn’t focus on anything long enough to do so. Only the blasted shaking.
“What—” I began, but the pain was too much. The sound of my own teeth chattering gave me a headache.
“It’ll be all right. Vered and Yehoash said it will take a couple days for you to get through the worst of it.”
The worst of it? Was I that bad off that both the doctor and alchemist had examined me? A stabbing sensation in my gut preceded a more intense bout of shaking that caused my body to lift off the bed and buckle.
I guess that answered my question. Gods, what did I catch? And who did I get it from?
Damaris touched my leg. She tried to keep her voice calm, but I heard the underlying worry in each word. “Take a deep breath. Vered warned this could happen. He said it would pass.”
Once my body finally calmed, she moved closer with a bowl in hand. A caught a whiff of what smelled like beef broth. It made my mouth water and my stomach roll, but neither in a good way.
I shook my head.
“Vered and Yehoash both said food would help. You need to try. You’ve barely taken in anything. Your body needs nourishment. Just a couple spoonfuls,” she said, bringing the spoon to my mouth.
Though I had just shaken my head, I opened my mouth anyway and accepted the broth. It was room temperature, probably because it had sat at my bedside for hours. I’m not saying it would have been great warm, but heat would have at least helped stave off the cold. The broth only made my nausea worse. I swallowed the liquid as well as the next two spoonfuls she gave me before I could protest any others.
She tried for a fourth, seemingly intent on force-feeding me the entire bowl. But then that first bit of broth hit my stomach. My body made a decision I couldn’t control. The liquid rushed back up and my torso buckled. I at least managed to turn my head before vomiting. It spewed over all the layers of blankets, but thankfully, it missed Damaris.
She made a surprised sound and put the bowl back on the side table.
The vomiting eased my nausea at least. “Sorry,” I managed. “Let me—” I began, trying to sit up to clean myself.
At least that’s what I intended to do.
However, I slurred the end of my sentence and passed out.
* * *
I lost track of how many times I woke after that. My one solace was I had no recollection of any nightmares.
Sometimes there was light outside when I cracked my eyelids. Sometimes not.
But every time, regardless when, Damaris was there. Sometimes she was awake, watching me intently. Other times she was passed out in her seat, until some slight movement or sound I made startled her to consciousness. In either case, she immediately saw to my needs, adding or removing blankets, forcing do
wn water or broth which I didn’t always want or keep down, and shamelessly emptying my bedpan.
My mind remained foggy each time I woke, in part from coping with my body’s pain and in part because of my overall weakness. I tried asking questions, hoping I might get clarity from Damaris about what was going on and where everyone else was, my kids especially. However, the only coherent thing I managed to get past my lips most times was another apology.
CHAPTER 47
It was an especially good night as enough time had passed between battles that we could all relax for a bit. We not only played games within our unit, but had also managed to convince other units to join us around our fire. We had several games going with multiple decks of cards—groups of four working in teams of two. Dekar and Ira played in a different group beside mine. They were the most competitive people I’ve ever known, always wanting to outdo the other. As a team, the brothers were practically unbeatable. Hamath and I were the only two who could occasionally do so.
In the midst of each game, sat a pile of money. A good night indeed.
Ava wasn’t playing. She joined us only if in the right mood. Usually, she watched to keep others honest, or just to heckle Ira.
Currently, she stood off to the side talking with a soldier I hadn’t seen before. He was bigger than me by at least five inches in height and twenty pounds of muscle. He was much younger too. A boy in a man’s body, I thought to myself when he blushed at something Ava said.
I scowled at that. I knew Ava had her flings, but I had never really seen her go about it before. Watching the scene was not something I enjoyed.
“Pay attention, Tyrus,” said Hamath. “She can take care of herself.”
I grunted, a little embarrassed that he picked up on my thoughts. He was right though. I hadn’t needed to worry about Ava in years.
But that didn’t mean I had ever stopped.
I forced my attention back on the game, discarding my low card into the general pile.
Hamath whooped, snatched it up, then threw down his hand, announcing we had won another round. Ira did the same a breath later, almost as if we had timed it, which others began to speculate out of frustration.
Forever Soldiers: The Tyrus Chronicle - Book Four Page 41