Upon crossing the threshold of the homes, they came upon their first corpse. Bloating had barely begun, but already a vulture began picking at the soft flesh of the woman’s face. Already Alex’s anger began to rise at seeing such a hopeless person dead. The woman’s corpse lay on her side and it was clear to see she was run through by a large blade. She had no weapon near her, she was slaughtered from behind. Rage had already begun to build inside, wishing to do justice to the damned creatures who destroyed so many humble lives.
Gerieg cleared his throat, changing Alex’s focus. The elder Furion raised a golden and grey eyebrow while asking “Are you still in control?”
Alex nodded, trying to reign in his anger and emotions while also unsure of how his voice would sound at the moment.
Gerieg could see that Alex was remaining himself, but for how long, he knew not. Gerieg waved his student over saying “There’s nothing we can do for her, but we cannot waste time when there is still much to do.”
Together they came upon one of the huts and Alex scrapped the charred homes to determine “This attack was only a day ago, two at most.” Gerieg checked as well and came to the same conclusion. Clay, iron pots and shattered dishes littered the ground. Nothing would be considered salvageable and any food was either gone, spoiled or burned.
Inside of another home were burned remains of one adult and three children. They were burned beyond recognition. The two men lifted beams, moved smoldering debris and checked every conceivable hole.
The next home was no different except that no one was inside.
Six ruined homes later they found seventeen had burned alive in their home and three-and-twenty were killed along the road, decaying faster in the sunlight, summer heat and being devoured by scavengers. Men, Women, children and farm animals had all been murdered. They were obviously caught off guard because only three men had a weapon in their hands, announced they weren’t of the weapon’s class, but not a single enemy was among the dead. Gerieg checked to make sure, but all of the people he knew were the only ones among the deceased. He explained to Alex that it had only been near a month since he last met with them. Alex forced his emotions to simmer and tried not to dwell on them, for that his abilities remained in check.
Each house checked brought them closer to the center of the village.
When they exited the last house and saw the horror of the center, Alex froze and paled while Gerieg ground his teeth and cursed under his breath.
In the center of the village lay just a simple stone circle, wide enough for the no more than six elders to sit on. Around the rock dais was a wider circle of soft grass for every member of their society to congregate.
Obviously a once lovely gathering place was now defiled.
A young woman was tied down to the rock by both her legs and wrists, stretched flatly on her back. She had a gaping hole in her abdomen and her blood marred and painted the gray stone morbidly. It soon became clear as to why her belly was open to the world.
Her baby girl had been violently ripped from the womb and had a pike thrust through its body, the shaft exited through her frail throat. The umbilical cord still hung from the child’s body, showing she wasn’t born properly. The pale skin of the unborn child had been ripped from her mother’s safely and killed before ever drawing her first breath, crying for her mother’s compassion and protection which she was forcibly neglected. Before she even fell in love or even had children of her own she was murdered. Her innocent and un-started life had been taken far before her time. She didn’t even get an item of her own.
Both Alex and Gerieg were horrified and furious at the sight. Both were beyond words to rationalize their emotions. Alex had to force himself to look away because his anger was almost ready to be released and his thrumming heart was mere moments from taking off. Alex breathed slowly and deeply to calm himself, like Gerieg taught him. After a minute Alex glanced at his master and he too was trying to compose himself.
Being as centered as he could be in such a situation Alex had to ask. “Master, please tell me these people don’t believe in offering through sacrifice.”
Gerieg’s icy blue eyes remained on the horrific sight, but his tight tone almost flew into a rage. “Nay, these people were peaceful and kind. Killing and sacrificing weren’t who they were nor did anyone hate them to this extent. They only fought against fiends or to protect their land and homes.” He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. When they eventually and slowly opened he said “I have an idea who might have done this, but I need to be absolutely sure.” Then he sat his eyes on Alex. “Come, if it is who I think it is then you must see this and burn the scene in your memory… no matter how horrifying.”
Angered and disheartened, Alex reluctantly followed Gerieg to the very center, halting before the pike.
“I’m not wrong.” Gerieg growled tightly and in a whisper. He pointed to the forehead of the spitted baby. Not wanting, but needing to, Alex saw what was meant to be understood. Upon the brow of the child was a mark carved into the flesh and skull. The symbol was of two V’s going opposite of each other. It was as if the symbol was in the shape of a diamond, but the ends of the V’s never touched. “Alex, this is the mark placed by a priest of Juguan.”
“Juguan, I’ve heard of them only once or twice before, but what are they doing this far north? I have seen only two bafore, back in Nicronane.”
“I can only imagine.” Gerieg admitted, but then became serious. “I doubt we have the time for me to explain their people because we are already in danger. I don’t want to get in a confrontation if it isn’t necessary. The priest will return any time now.”
“WHAT?!” Alex shouted in angered fear.
“Calm down.” Gerieg ordered calmly, but he too was feeling the same way. “The priest will most likely be coming back, with muscle as well. A lone priest wouldn’t have caused such devastation and survived. They must have attacked during the night, but to also not lose any of their men they’d need to have many numbers to kill an entire village in such a way is almost unheard of. They would be veteran soldiers with much battle tactics, strategy and strength. We need to go now.” Gerieg looked around searching over the devastation. Then he stopped to yell deafeningly “ELO! SHADE! COME!”
Within moments the two came running from opposite sides of the destruction with blinding speed. The two fiends were ready for any situation after hearing the urgency in his voice. They stopped cold when they saw the mother and baby on display. Shade growled and Elo rumbled dangerously. When they were close enough Gerieg shortly said “Elo, we have a Juguan priest nearby.” Elo became even more ferocious looking, but said nothing as he scanned the trees. Shade didn’t understand what they were talking about, but couldn’t ask before Gerieg turned to him. “Shade, go find Sheer and Kikren immediately. We need to leave the area before they come back.” When Shade hesitated and looked at Alex Gerieg ordered “Do as I say!”
Clearly angered, Shade swallowed his pride and began running towards the lake.
Elo meanwhile surveyed the gruesome sight to say “I wish we could bury them properly, but we’ll come back in two days to do it.”
Alex, unsure about what was happening, asked “Why are we leaving, only to come back in two days?”
Gerieg answered simply “Because once the priest makes an offering, he leaves the area for a day and returns to see what happens.” Then he took a deep breath. “It has already been a day since the slaughter and if…”
Gerieg’s speech was cut short as a horn was blown thrice in the distance.
The horn’s call was an explosion to the heavy silence and decay. Two more times did the alert reverberate through the entire area. The source was unclear, like it came from every direction, all at the same time. The eerie silence that followed also was like a mental mute for the Furions and the Beran.
The silence ended moments later as Gerieg cursed, and after a few colorful expletives did he eventually come to say “It’s too late, they’ve returned and we
have nowhere to hide. We have no alternatives before us now, save one.”
Before Alex could ask what it was Gerieg gripped his naked sword even tighter. The only option was now clear to him. He looked at his student and said “Alex, stay here. Elo and I will take care of this. We won’t allow any to escape.”
“Nay,” Alex said calmly and clearly. Before Gerieg could reprimand him, Alex let all of the horrifying images of the village loose. The restrained simmer of emotions for all the butchered people became like a roaring white hot inferno that burned through him like wildfire. All of the anguish of these poor people suffered fueled Alex’s need for recompense. The terror they felt before they died began to make his beating heart thunder. Their slaughter of life made him strong and protective of their souls that would be granted peace through their foe’s blood. The death of innocents wouldn’t go unpunished. Not now, not ever. His anger and pity made that white hot flame make his own body pour out heat of the same intensity.
Alex’s abilities finally came to his call.
Gerieg’s eyes widened as he fell the intense radiating heat of Alex’s body not three feet away. In an astonished voice he stated a question. “Did you just trigger your abilities at will?”
Alex was unsure if he did or not so he shrugged. Relishing in the power and anger he scanned the surroundings while Gerieg said “Surprise after surprise. It looks like you can help in dealing with these blatant murderers after all.”
Alex grinned that he wouldn’t be forced to be left behind and watch.
Not five seconds later did Shade return with Kikren mounted on his back and Sheer flew moments behind. Gerieg shouted “Kikren, remain here. We will deal with the situation.” Then he looked at Sheer. “Fly high and when we engage the enemy I need you to kill any who try to flee. We can’t have them alerting anyone to our presence.”
She nodded and altered her flight path and began rising with powerful beats of her majestic wings.
“Brother, are we to kill?” Shade asked.
“Nay, we are to serve justice, nothing more. We will not be like them.”
“Well said.” Elo admitted.
Not a moment later, movement in the trees alerted Alex that it was time. “There here.”
“Good,” Elo said as he relished the thought of a good fight. “Shade, you will fight with me. Alex, you run with my partner.”
“Before we fight, look for a man wearing a red robe or a sash that covers their entire torso.” Gerieg ordered. “If you see him or her, do not kill them. I want him alive.” He gritted, also initiating his abilities because Alex felt a great heat, twin to his own, pouring from his master. “Alright, let’s show these men the price for killing innocents!” He roared.
In the distance many men on horseback began filing out of the woods. They formed a solid line like this was a ceremony that had been practiced many times before. With his abilities triggered and time seeming to slow, Alex counted eight-and-fifty horsemen. They each wore a thin red sash over a black tunic. The sash wrapped around their shoulder and neck and hung diagonally around their ribcage. All carried the same ceremonial daggers besides their items that varied, but only four of the riders weren’t in the warriors class for they didn’t have weapon items. All horsemen had their ceremonial blades drawn and had the tip of their blade placed upon their forehead, chanting something Alex couldn’t understand.
“Take them out!” Elo ordered.
Shade lifted his muzzle high into the air and howled his call to combat. His howl was five times more dangerous and frightening than the blown horn.
Then the four began their assault on the barbarians.
Elo powered ahead and roared so dangerously that the horses of the procession reared in terror before they even saw him powering his way into battle. Within seconds he found his way to the defilers and crashed through two horses without effort, surpassing both their height, weight and casting them away. When he found his first victim his throat constricted and his cheeks puffed. As he blew, a large globule of green liquid spit from his mouth and landed solidly on the warrior’s face. Not a moment later the thrown rider was screaming in agony as his face began to dissolve from the Beran acid. A sword item struck his golden fur harmlessly from the other rider that was thrown. He raked his extended claws over the man’s belly, gutting him in one strike. As another man had the sense to flee, Elo’s reaction was quicker. His mane bristled and began moving to his will and he took aim on the target. Thousands of thin, hair-like needles shot from his mane, striking the enemy without compassion, with very few missing their target. The man was instantly and permanently paralyzed for the rest of his short life. Elo chose to allow the man to die in nature’s time for he couldn’t move ever again to get food or water or defend himself.
Shade wasn’t far behind his amazingly skilled master and already laced his sharp claws with the powerful neurotoxin. He rammed a horse that didn’t throw his rider. As the man fell Shade scratched him and attacked another human who had been thrown. Getting the man’s head inside his teeth he chomped and twisted, removing the man’s head violently from his body. An arrow was shot from an item that aimed for Shade’s face. Unsure if it was aimed for his eyes, he didn’t take the chance and dove into his shadow. The arrow followed, but only hit the ground as he consumed himself in his casting. Becoming physically insubstantial rendered the arrow’s attack useless in the soil. Anger was renewed and directed as he ran under the archer and came out of his shadow beneath him, raking his claws from hip to shoulder.
Gerieg wasn’t far behind in his attack as he and Alex took the other side of the lined horsemen. Four thrown men gathered together to defend themselves against his partner and Shade. Gerieg took advantage of their distracted minds and used his mastery of the blade to fell each of them before they knew the real danger came from an enraged Furion master. As he took down another two he chanced a glance at his pupil and wasn’t disappointed.
Alex fought not twenty feet away. He caved in the skull of five assailants with the knotted end of his staff with ease. His speed couldn’t be matched or seen by his opponents and each powerful blow broke bone like thin twigs. All of the murdered villagers fueled his rage to take these men’s lives so that when they reach the next life the villagers can get their own revenge that much quicker.
Another twenty or so riders came out at a full run from the trees, trying an attempt to rescue their companions.
Out of the corner of his eye Alex spotted a brilliant flash of bright red. A man was riding away on horseback, fleeing into the deeper safety of the trees, but it was too late. He had been spotted.
“MASTER!” Alex shouted and Gerieg whirled to look at him after cutting a man clean in half with his sword. “THE PRIEST!” Alex pointed beyond the approaching riders.
Gerieg spotted the Juguan priest and came to a snap decision. “Alex, get him before Sheer does! We’ll handle the rest.”
Obeying, Alex blurred towards the tree line, running as a Furion with a purpose. He easily drove through the approaching riders without coming anywhere near harm and soon entered the trees. Within moments he caught the sight of the fleeing horse and her rider. Increasing the pace even more he lunged harder and further. Within seconds he overtook the steed and launched himself at the priest.
Alex removed the priest from his horse and tumbled with him to the ground. As they rolled they separated in the brush. Alex got to his feet instantly and found the priest still flailing in his robe. The Juguan priest reached into his flowing, bright red robes grabbed something small and popped it into his mouth before Alex could stop him.
Knowing what he just did, Alex dashed to the man while dropping his staff. He grabbed his throat, hearing a sudden sizzle, with his left hand and balled his right fist. Alex then held back much of his physical power and punched the man just below the center of the priests sternum, hitting the diaphragm and the stomach with a forceful blow.
The effect was instantaneous and pleasing. Alex remembered when he was bei
ng trained with Gerieg, how the same thing happened and was punched in the same place, the same effect happened. Alex dropped the man just a moment before his lungs were absent of air and began to retch all of the contents of his stomach. Alex watched in amusement for a few more moments until it was clear that the man regurgitated the poison.
Before the man had time to gather his wits Alex kicked him in the shoulder, slamming him on his back. Needing proof, Alex found a black seed that was indeed poisonous in the vomit. He grabbed the poison and wiped it in the grass before putting it in his pocket.
Off in the distance Sheer shrieked, finding a person trying to flee.
Before the priest could understand what to do next, Alex grabbed his staff and the priest’s bare ankle. Sizzling and the smell of burning flesh and hair told Alex that his mere touch was burning this man without mercy. He gripped even tighter. Seconds later the man began screaming in agony while being dragged back to the village and also having his flesh being irreparably burned by Alex’s Fire Touch.
Wanting to see how the masters and his brother were doing Alex began running back to where he left them, but not hurrying at his swiftest to prolong the agony in this priest he drug by the ankle with little effort.
In a minute Alex returned to the field of battle. Horses were running away rider-less. The only remaining fight ended quickly as Shade captured the last remaining fighter in his sabers, cutting cleanly through the spine. He then opened his maw, dropping the dead murderer. Elo began checking the dead to make sure they were while Gerieg turned sharply, his blade stained with gore and blood was ready for another fight. But the blade did something strange. Pink mist surrounded the bloodied blade. Blood boiled so violently on the sword it misted. When he saw it was Alex the hissing blade dipped down, but remained shrouded.
Seeing what was being dragged, Gerieg ran over with a blood splattered grin. The man continued to scream and writhe in agony, unable to do anything but. “Very good, Alex. I knew I could count on you.” Then Gerieg looked at how Alex drug the priest back. “You can let him go now. That leg will never heal properly again. He won’t be able to run off any time soon.”
Furion's Trials (Book Two of the Items Trilogy) Page 11