The Tower of Daelfaun (The Tales of Zanoth Book 1)

by Ethridge, Aaron J.

  “Like what?”

  “Why did you kill all those people? Was is for personal enjoyment?”

  “No!” she exclaimed. “They were enemies of the state! Rebels and dissidents! They got more people killed with their idiotic actions than I ever executed.”

  “And that's what I'm talking about,” he replied, raising his hand. “Your motives might have been good even if your actions were completely evil.”

  “And your motivations might be good even if your actions are completely moronic.”

  “Agreed.”

  “So then, when are you going to decide whether or not to execute me?”

  “I don't know,” he admitted. “Right now I'm just waiting and watching. I mean, it's not like I want to. You seem nice enough, just really maladjusted.”

  “Why thank you,” she replied with a hint of disdain.

  “Of course, if you push me I'll do my very best to kill you stone dead.”

  “I understand.”

  “Maybe you do,” he replied. “But I'm not so sure. I'm not just talking about jamming a sword through you. If I have to do it, which I hope I don't, I'm going to start by finding your phylactery.”

  “You never will,” she laughed.

  It surprised him that her laughter was so light and merry when the subject they were discussing was so very dark.

  “The prophecy says I will,” he pointed out.

  “It also says you'll kill me,” she retorted.

  “Maybe,” he mused. “But it's kind of hard to tell. Prophecies are difficult to make out sometimes and it ain't exactly crystal clear. I mean it's doesn't say: He really hates killin' women but, he's got to stab her in the gut.”

  Once again she laughed.

  “That was pretty good,” she admitted. “But what do you make of the line: The daughter of darkness will then finally fall?”

  “Maybe I accidentally knock you down a set of stairs,” he suggested with a laugh.

  “That might break my neck,” she pointed out.

  “Yeah,” he nodded. “But it might not. So, I figure I better wait and see.”

  “Well I'm glad you didn't kill me,” she smiled. “You guys are completely insane, and your plan is laughable, but I have to admit I'm having a good time in spite of that. Undead don't talk a whole lot... Either way, when this is all over I'll see what I can do to keep you from being executed. And if I can't prevent it I'll at least make sure it's quick.”

  “I'm sure we'd all appreciate that.”

  “I'm glad to do it,” she nodded. “I honestly believe you have good motives, you just don't have a clue about the way real life works.”

  “Every story has two sides I guess,” the young man observed.

  “Exactly!”

  Shortly after this conversation the pair lay side by side and sound asleep. It had been a long and difficult day, filled with unexpected challenges and even more unexpected experiences. And as odd as the situation was the pair found themselves in, their fatigue was too great for them to long resist it.

  Chapter 6: Ever Eastward

  “What was that?” Paul asked, siting bolt upright and instinctively grabbing his sword.

  “Trouble!” Alena replied, rising and drawing her own blade. “How many have you heard?”

  “Three calls so far,” Sarrac said. “The first two were pretty far off, so I didn't see any point in waking you. Still, now's a good time to get up.”

  “Maybe it won't find us,” Nyssa said with a stretch.

  “Maybe...” Alena replied without much conviction.

  “Well if I were you,” Myra said, rolling over on her side, “I'd build that fire up a bit.”

  “True,” Sarrac replied, before throwing a few more small branches onto the embers of the fire.

  As the little blaze once again began to crackle to life another bestial cry rent the night.

  “It's definitely getting closer,” Alena observed.

  “I expect so,” Myra yawned. “It can probably smell you on the air. That stuff you use may work on ghouls and ghasts, but it's not likely to fool a maruel.”

  “A maruel?” the young man asked.

  “A type of undead cat,” Alena answered. “And they rarely travel alone.”

  “That's true,” the lich chuckled. “It looks like you may be in for a bit of excitement this evening.”

  “If they attack we have to kill her, Paul,” the ogress asserted. “We can't let her escape.”

  “If it'll make you feel better you can kill me now,” Myra suggested, once again rolling over on her back. “However, I assure you, I have no intention of running away. I'm actually curious to see how this all ends. Of course, I admit, I honestly don't understand your obsession with murdering me. Even if you do it, I'll just be come back, you know. Even if by some miracle you did manage to find my phylactery, you're not going to be able to do that in a week or two. And if you failed to destroy it before I returned you'd just have to kill me again.”

  “Maybe,” Alena agreed. “But at least then we'd have gotten the satisfaction of doing it twice.”

  “I don't want to sound judgmental,” Myra said, rolling over on her side and gazing at the ogress, “but that sounds a little on the evil side to me.”

  “That's what a desire for vengeance looks like,” Sarrac pointed out. “I agree it isn't pretty, Myra, but your actions have driven people to feelings much darker than hers. In any event, we can't risk you helping the maruel. Paul, we should at least tie her up and gag her.”

  “Alright,” he replied with a sigh. “I'm sorry Myra, but you have seriously brought this on yourself.”

  “I understand,” she replied, climbing to her feet and stepping over to Sarrac hers hands outstretched. “If our situations were reversed I'd just kill you. And, if the maruel eats you, I'll figure you brought it on yourself. So, I guess we're pretty much on the same page.”

  Sarrac quickly bound the lich's wrists together and secured them to her waist. The moment he put the gag in her mouth a creature stepped into the firelight with a roar. Paul thought it looked like a thing of nightmares. In fact, he wasn't completely sure he wasn't just having a bad dream brought on by the dark lands.

  The beast looked something like a tiger, or any other large Earth cat, but its body was missing hide of any kind. Even in the flickering light of the fire, Paul could see that its raw flesh was oozing dark red blood as it muscles pulsated in preparation for attack. Short spikes of bone rose from its spine and its teeth were long and hooked back toward its open mouth. As soon as its roar died away two more echoed through the night. Obviously, the monster wasn't alone.

  As the creature sprang at Paul, Sarrac reached down and snatched up his blade, leaving the gag in Myra's mouth untied. The young man instinctively raised Telseir in defense and struck the beast in the maw just before it reached him. The monster leapt back, beating its head on the ground to extinguish the golden burning flames that were engulfing it. This done it shifted its gaze quickly from one of the companions to the other. It then flew at Sarrac slapping at him with its razor sharp claws as the ogre did his best to keep the creature from him with his sword.

  “Flank it!” Alena cried, rushing up and slicing the creature in the side.

  The monster ignored this blow, however, and continued pressing its attack against Sarrac. Paul, on the other hand, did manage to get its attention by cutting into its other side. As golden flames began burning its flesh the monster lashed out at the young man, knocking the sword from his hands. Immediately Sarrac leapt between the beast and Paul, again blocking blow after blow.

  As the young man ran to recover his blade, another maruel stepped into the firelight with a low growl. Paul paused, hoping that if he didn't act aggressively it might get confused and wander off for some reason. It was a slim hope, but he couldn't think of another at the moment. However, an instant later, Nyssa appeared right before the cat's glowing green eyes and began buzzing wildly around its head. This distracted the beast long enoug
h for the young man to take up his blade.

  “Kill the first one first!” she cried. “I've got this one for now!”

  Paul didn't need to be told twice. He charged the monster attacking Sarrac and thrust Telseir into its neck. The beast cried out in rage and pain as the three companions hacked it to pieces. The moment it stopped moving they rushed to the aid of their fairy friend. Paul and Sarrac ran side by side, Alena only steps behind.

  Before the ogress could catch up to her companions, however, a third maruel sprang from the darkness, knocking her on her back and pinning her to the ground. The creature roared in her face, drawing back to bite her head off.

  “Stop!” Myra cried, her voice filled with the power to control undead.

  The monster paused, turning its massive head to look at the lich. This gave the ogress's allies the time they needed to come to her rescue. Paul dropped his blade on the creature's outstretched neck with all the force he could muster. Its head dropped to the ground, rolling across the earth ablaze in golden flames. Instantly her companions dragged Alena from beneath the creature's carcass before once again charging to help Nyssa.

  The fairy had very easily kept out of the maruel's reach and Paul almost burst out laughing at the thought that the monster looked a bit like a cat chasing a laser pointer. The undead horror stood no chance against the four companions. The fairy began to bathe it in flames as her allies attacked it from every direction. In mere moments the creature's lifeless corpse lay smoking on the ground before them.

  With their foes defeated the members of the band dragged each of the beast's bodies beyond the boundaries of their little camp before returning to the warmth of the firelight.

  “You saved my life,” Alena asserted, almost glaring at the witch as she spoke.

  “Looks that way,” Myra said, stepping over to Paul with her hands held out.

  Immediately he began to untie her.

  “Why?” the ogress asked. “You can't imagine it's going to change anything between us.”

  “Oh no,” the lich replied shaking her head. “I'm sure it won't, but I still had good reasons.”

  “Such as?” Alena said.

  “First off,” Myra began, glancing at the ogress over her shoulder, “I wanted the maruels dead. They're rather difficult to control and they eat a great deal. As a result they're rather a nuisance. We lose a lot of ghouls to them and if we could, we'd stamp them out ourselves.”

  “That's one good reason,” Alena replied.

  “And of course,” she continued, “As I told you before: I want to see the look on your face when this whole cleansing the shrine thing goes nowhere. If you were dead your reaction would probably be muted as best.”

  “I can see that.”

  “Then there's the fact that I don't bear any of you any deep seated ill-will. I understand why you're doing what you're doing and I actually agree with your motives. It's just rather unfortunate that your plan is based on utter nonsense gibberish.”

  “Understood.”

  “Plus,” the lich said with a smile. “Alena, you've actually managed to get under my skin with your dedicated ignorance, your complete unwillingness to even attempt to see any side but your own, and your rather sickening homicidal tenancies. So, I leapt at the chance to save your life knowing that it would gall you that I had until the day you died. Owing your continued existence to the very woman you plan to murder will really bother someone with your personality. And that thought makes me happy.”

  “That's enough of that,” Sarrac said, shaking his head. “In any event, Myra, whatever your motives were, you have my thanks.”

  “And mine,” Paul replied.

  “Mine as well,” Nyssa added.

  “And even mine,” the ogress said with a cruel smile. “For one thing I'm sure having my thanks galls you. And for another, you rescuing one of the people destined to kill you is exactly the kind of cruel irony you deserve.”

  “Seriously, Alena,” Paul said, his tone making it evident that he was very serious. “That's enough. You two hate each other and that's all fine and good but...”

  “I don't hate anyone,” Myra interrupted, her gaze locked on the ogress. “Hatred is evil.”

  “What?!?!” Alena replied raising her voice. “Are you seriously going to stand there and...”

  “Alena, please, a moment,” Sarrac interrupted, raising his hands. “Myra, whatever our personal feelings are, I think you'll agree that we're enemies. As your captors it's our duty not to abuse you and to ensure that no harm comes to you until we decide your fate. But as our captive it's your duty not to provoke us. Just because we're enemies doesn't mean we can't be cordial.”

  “I agree,” Paul said. “And, in fact, I'll go further than that. Myra, unless you've lied a great deal...”

  “I haven't lied at all,” she interrupted.

  “Right,” he nodded. “Good. Well then, as that's the case, I have to say that I don't believe you're my enemy. We're unquestionably adversaries, but that doesn't make us foes. And I sincerely hope that neither of us has to kill the other.”

  “Wow...” Nyssa said, flying up in the young man's face and smiling at him. “You're right, Paul. That's very insightful. It's the most itish thing I've ever heard you say. Not that we've had a lot of deep heart-to-hearts yet... but you know what I mean.”

  “I suppose you're right,” Alena said through clenched teeth, glaring at the beautiful lich. “Myra, I'm...”

  Here the words seem to stick in her throat.

  “Sorry,” the lich suggested.

  “Yes...” she replied slowly, her jaw muscles twitching as she spoke.

  “Well, I'm sorry too,” Myra replied. “This entire situation is just very odd...”

  “I agree,” the ogress nodded, her jaw muscles relaxing to some degrees.

  “Oh,” the lich continued. “And there was another reason I saved your life: I really didn't want you to die.”

  This revelation brought the conversation to an end for the night. It was close enough to third watch that Paul volunteered to go ahead and take over so Sarrac could get a few minutes extra rest. And as the exertion had completely awakened Nyssa, she decided to keep the young man company. Her almost non-stop chatter convinced him that she was determined to make up for their previous lack of heart-to-hearts as quickly as possible. Of course, her choice of incredibly shallow topics disqualified it as a true heart-to-heart in his opinion, but she was so obviously enjoying herself that he decided it was best to just let her do her thing.

  As the first light of dawn slowly began driving away the darkness, Paul found himself almost absentmindedly staring down at the fair lich. He had to agree with her earlier assessment of the situation: it was undeniably very odd. For one thing, he would never have imagined an undead horror who thought of itself as one of the good guys and believed it was working for the greater good. Especially one that readily admitted to slaughtering countless people in an attempt to make life better for even more of them.

  He involuntary shook his head as the further thought struck him that Myra Kel Marran was undoubtedly the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He hadn't given it much thought until that moment, simply because he made a point of never getting too attracted to monsters he was destined to destroy. Now that the ice had been broken, however, he really hoped that the prophecy didn't mean what it seemed to. Even in her sleep, with her mouth half open and her long blond hair spread over her face this way and that, she was still a nine-and-a-half. A face like hers could have gotten pity from a stone, and the young man's heart was not at all stone-like.

  Paul, took a deep breath as he considered the fact that this poor girl... Well, poor hundred year old undead monstrosity... had been a victim of the vampire lords that ruled this land, just as much as the rest of the living were. She had been stolen as an infant and raised by the dead. How was she supposed to turn out?

  In fact, it amazed him that she seemed as open minded as she did. That she was willing to admit t
heir cause was just, even if hopeless, was almost unthinkable. And yet she had done it more than once already. The young man considered the possibility that she was lying or attempting to deceive them. He couldn't make himself believe it, however. There was no motivation. Even if they killed her it would only mean she'd escaped. And it seemed obvious that she really did think they were nuts, so there wasn't any reason for her to try to subvert their efforts...

  No, the simple fact was that she really believed what she was doing was right and what they were doing was wrong. As completely backwards as that was, it was also absolutely how she seemed to see it. Again, the young man took a deep breath. There was only one thing he could do, only one reasonable course of action to take: he was going to have to do his best to save her. Unfortunately he had no idea how to go about that...

  “And that's why the living can't just eat the ghouls,” Nyssa explained, concluding her argument with a knowing wink.

  “Yeah, that makes sense,” Paul nodded, wondering what in Zanoth the fairy had been talking about for the last twenty minutes. “Either way, I guess we need to get a move on.”

  “Absolutely!” the fairy replied excitedly.

  Moments later the entire band was a awake and eating their breakfast around the warm embers of the former fire. Once again Myra joined them in the meal and this struck Paul as an opportunity to get to know her a little better.

  “I wouldn't have thought you'd've needed to eat,” he said nodding at the lich. “I mean, with you being dead and all.”

  “I'm not dead,” she corrected. “But I don't need to eat. I just like to sometimes. And I thought it would look rude if I didn't eat with you.”

  “Okay,” he chuckled. “It's odd that you felt that way, but I guess I can see where you're coming from. And really I didn't mean dead obviously, I meant undead.”

  “Right,” she nodded. “But I'm not undead either. Not yet, anyway.”

  “It's like we were telling you, Paul,” Sarrac interjected with a smile. “She's never been killed, so she's not really what you might consider a fully-fledged lich yet.”