Master Shadowin looked up to where lord Tyrienwalker stood. The dark figure nodded grimly and turned to leave. The fearsome face of Shadowin became fixed as he walked slowly toward the giant circle. He slammed his battle staff into the ground and then drew out a wicked looking pair of swords from over his shoulders. The blades had a greenish hue to them that did not leave any doubt in the minds of the giant soldiers that these swords had been imbued with underworld magic. This did not worry them in the least as they felt sure that their magically resistant hides would protect them from the cursed blades.
As the dark blade master made his way closer to the nearest giant, he began to twirl the blades in front of him. He started to dance gracefully in circles as he intensified his movements with the swords. As the speed of the dance increase, a greenish haze started to appear. The giants held fast and did not show any signs of concern. They knew they were dead, but they did not think that it would be magic that would prove to be their end. So they thought that this move was nothing more than a distraction and remained vigilant on all sides for the real attack.
“You come any closer to me and I will end you! I swear it!” bellowed a giant called Darvin. He was nearly twenty one feet in height and was easily the tallest giant in the region. He was young as giants go and was still not able to grow any facial hair. His hair was bright red and it hung in braids down his massive back. He did not have any armor on like the others in the circle. He had two massive swords strapped to his back that he drew out as the dark elf continued his approach.
The dark elf did not seem to notice the threat as he continued forward. Two other giants picked up the dead bodies of dark elves and hurled them at Shadowin. The master swordsman easily moved out of the way of these feeble attacks. In a flash the blades were flying through the air at the two giants who had thrown the dead bodies. Both swords found their marks between their eyeless sockets. Both giants fell lifeless to the ground before anyone knew what had happened. The unexpected attack actually lowered their defenses for a moment. This was the distraction that the waiting dark elves had been waiting for. They swarmed down the hill at the distracted giants. This took only moments to transpire and the cost to the giants was devastating.
The next part was a blur of action and confusion. Several giants went down as though they were being cut down like trees. After a few minutes of intense battle, there was only one giant remaining. Darvin was now surrounded by hundreds of dark elves. They formed a circle around him as master Shadowin stepped forward to face the giant who was easily three times his height. The dark elf look at the twenty lifeless brutes that lay piled around the last giant fighter.
“I applaud your skills with swords, however, it is time for you to die” Shadowin said with a slight nod in Darvin’s direction. He really did appreciate the amount of skill Darvin had shown in fending off their attacks. While the others used their strength and clubs, he used his swords in a way he did not think possible from a giant.
“Know this you sons of the keeper…your time will come. I curse you, in the name of the creator Kedem. In the end you will be left alone to your own devices and that devil you serve will no longer support you. You will be left to face a world that hates you. You killed the Eldar and now you will end the giants of middle Tuwa. Your curse will be to suffer eternally in the darkness you crave!” He spat angrily at Shadowin. A more observant person would have felt the effects of the curse that had been laid down. The dark elves did not think that the giants were capable of actually cursing anyone, so they merely ignored the drivel from Darvin.
Shadowin twirled about again and rushed in at an angle. Darvin was prepared for this move and deftly moved out of the way as their blades clashed. The dark elf reeled from the block. The giant was considerably more powerful and was more agile than the dark swordsman gave him credit for. The giant made the next move by jumping high into the air with his swords outstretched. As he came back to earth he spun about smoothly as he cut down several dark elves that made up the circle. His knee slammed into the ground hard which shook the ground severely. Shadowin was knocked off his feet temporarily.
Several of the dark elves rushed in to avenge their comrades, however, their haste led to a quick end. They were summarily cut down as they approached. This did allow Shadowin to regain his feet and to make his next move. He started to run in a circle around the giant. He was testing the senses of this blind swordsman. He had to know if he could use the visual impairment against the brute. He continued to run around the stationary giant who did not move at all. It did not appear that he was following the dark elf’s movment. So, more of the elves in the circle attempted to attack the giant…this time from where they stood.
As black shafted arrows flew at Darvin, he quickly swung his swords up to block the projectiles. It was amazing to watch the giant swat away every arrow fired at him. As he knocked down the last arrow, he turned to face to Shadowin who was rushing him. With his right hand, the giant raised his sword at an angle and swung downward. He quickly did the same with the sword in his left hand. He cut the legs out from underneath the master swordsman. The elf slid to a stop and lay motionless at the feet of the giant. Wasting no time, Darvin unceremoniously smashed the head of Shadowin with his right foot. Black blood poured from the stumps of the dark elf’s legs. There was a moment of shocked silence quickly followed by a flood of elves rushing the giant.
It was over in a few minutes. Lord Tyrienwalker came down the hill to where Darvin lay dying. His eyes found the broken body of his friend Shadowin. His look was impassive and difficult to read. However, it was hard to miss the waves of hatred emanating from him. His gaze returned to the severely cut form of the last giant fighter in the region. His eyes were cold and calculating as he looked the giant over from head to toe. Darvin’s breath was ragged and loud. He coughed up blood as he lay there.
“What is your name?” queried Tyrienwalker smoothly. He was looking intently now at where the giant’s eyes should have been. He held his grief mingled with his hatred in check when he the waited for the giant to reply. He still could not help but appreciate the heroics he had just witnessed.
“Darvin Stonewalker…you can call me Darvin the Great” he sputtered up more blood as he laughed. He turned his head slowly toward where Tyrienwalker stood. “End it you filthy bastard…what are you waiting for?” Blood flowed freely from his massive mouth. He looked deranged with no eyes and his face covered in blood.
“Darvin, your name will be recorded in our histories. You will be remembered as the giant who defied the keeper’s own. You are like a mighty stone in a river, immovable and strong. However, against the tide of Meleirélnar you fell. Your bravery will not be forgotten” explained Tyrienwalker smoothly. He may be cruel and unrelenting as a foe, however, that did not mean he did not appreciate the giant’s last stand. The dark elves appreciated the powerful fighter whether friend or foe.
“Anything you want me to pass along to your master on my way out?” asked Darvin through spasms of laughter. He then left this life laughing. His heroics would live on in stories throughout all the different races of Tuwa. The tragic hero then lay still before the feet of the dark elves.
“Bury him” order Tyrienwalker solemnly. He did this for those he felt deserved a proper exit from the world of the living. He respected the giant’s fighting skills and grim determination. After all, he did kill several hundred elves by himself, not to mention killing master Shadowin. Anyone who could defeat the finest swordsman in all of Meleirélnar was a worthy foe indeed.
After the burial, the dark elves continued their journey north. They slaughtered the entire race of giants. They killed with ruthless efficiency having learned from earlier mistakes. The suddenness of the attack along with the lack of soldiers to defend the homeland made the genocide possible. The entire land of Burien was wiped clean of all giants. No one was spared during the weeks of slaughter. A dark cloud seemed to now follow the elves though they did not take notice. A sign of the curse Darvi
n had spat in anger at the forces of the Meleirélnar.
This was only the second instance of genocide in the history of middle Tuwa. Many races had been targeted before, however, not in the way that the dark elves had murdered the Eldar and now the giants. The race of giants was not completely eradicated; however, those who were fighting in the race war were not aware of how precious each of their lives had just become. They were the last of their kind in the middle lands. While it was likely that there would be no more giants in this part of the world, there were still other tribes scattered throughout the rest of Tuwa.
***
Lord Adair’s eye glazed over as though he were either lost in thought or was looking at something far away. A tear leaked out of his right eye followed by tears out of his left eye. He wept soundlessly as he felt the loss of so many lives. He felt the death of the giant nation. He knew that a dark force had been unleashed and that the keeper had now cast his lot. The ruler of the underworld had chosen his time well to strike at the living. With everyone focused on the war of the races it would be the perfect time to act. The question was what the keeper’s end game was. Of course everyone knew that he envied the living that had bodies; however, Adair was not sure that it was envy that was the driving force. This move required his attention and he did not have time to waste. He vanished in an instant and was on the move again.
Westward Bound
As master Aiden approached the elven capital he could not help but feel the sense of loss all around him. He was always very in tune with his surroundings and the enchanted forest was speaking to him as he traveled. He could feel the pain and anguish as though it was tangible. He had always enjoyed his time visiting the tall black oaks of Renshaw and was saddened by what he was sensing. Nothing escaped the ravages of war. He was glad for this opportunity to get away from the day in and day out bloodshed. He had been charged to lead a contingency of elves on a journey to a secret location where the mysterious Orb of Nitesh lay hidden. He was curious who he would be meeting with once he arrived. He had a feeling from the guardian that there was someone there that no one would expect.
As he reached the clearing just east of Tarisdell, he noticed that the massive wolves he had heard about were burning in gigantic bon fires in the middle of the open area between the forest and the eastern walls. He was glad to not have to deal with those beasts while traveling through the Black Forest. He knew that in his future travels that he would be confronted by the unnatural beasts. At least he could travel with peace of mind while in the woods when it came to those beasts.
As soon as he thought this there was a chill wind that sprung up out of nowhere that sent unpleasant shivers down his spine. What made this unnerving was the fact this wind was from the west and not the north. He stopped dead in his tracks and did not move for quite a while. The wind persisted and did not gain in strength nor did it diminish. He sensed immediately the evil behind the steady breeze. His gaze shifted to the west; however, he could not see anything over the massive bulwarks of Tarisdell. He waited for a few more moments before continuing to the eastern gate.
As he neared the gate he could sense that the barrier was still up even though the elves had returned home. He saw the shadows of archers preparing their bows from within the shadows of the walls. This made his pause once again. He stood stock still with his hands raised high over his head and waited for someone from behind the gate to address him. He knew that the city was on high alert as these precautions were not typical even during times of war. It was as though Tarisdell was under siege once more.
“We are not under siege…there are some disturbing events unfolding in the west that necessitates these measure. Master Aiden, will you allow us to scan you?” came a strong female voice. It seemed to originate from directly above the gate itself.
“Do as you must, I do not take offense” replied the master swordsman. He stood still as he awaited the scan. He much rather enter as a known entity than deal with doubts from the elves.
“We will need to do this up close and outside the barrier. We have had to change some procedures to ensure everyone’s safety including yours” replied the same voice again. Aiden simply nodded his consent once again and waited where he was.
Three elves detached from the shadows on either side of the gate. The one in the middle made straight for Aiden while the other two watched for things unseen. Their scrutiny was intense and more thorough than what this soldier was used to experiencing. It was clear they were using magic to try to discover what may be hidden. As the elf in the lead reach the barrier, there was a brief pause before the home guard mage continued. The other two elves stayed behind the protective magical wall.
“This will not hurt and will be over momentarily” was all that the elf said before doing her scan.
He immediately felt a strong intrusion into his person in a way he had never before experienced. Though he did not have any real magic of his own, he was quite adept at protecting his mind. He was so good at protecting himself that even most expert magicians were unable to tell that he was subverting their attempts. He simply redirected the mental perusing to areas that were relevant. In this case, it worked without much effort. It was clear they were looking for specific information or tampering. The last part of the scan made his skin burn. It was as though they were looking for magical artifices contained within him.
“You are clear” said the elven mage simply. She gestured for him to take her arm as they approached the barrier. When they passed through the magical wall he felt a rush of warmth run through his body. It made him feel comfortable and at home all at once.
There was no talking as they marched to the gate and entered without any further delays. Once they were inside the walls, the guards that had met him vanished. He was met by none other than King Ciel. He had a considerable vanguard with him and looked surprisingly relieved to see him. The reception had not been what he had anticipated. He had expected the elves to be happy to be back in their homes and to be protected by so much magic that they would be a little more at ease.
“We have much to discuss before we get to the plan to head west. Mistress Khalida will be here tomorrow to go over what will be expected of you for this task you have volunteered for. For now, let us first eat and then we will discuss some of the strangeness you have become aware of” said the elven king warmly.
“Thank you my lord…I appreciate you taking time to come to meet me personally” bowed Aiden graciously.
The private council room hidden off the throne room was intimate and welcoming. The dinner had been comfortable and enjoyable. It seemed like a treat after all the hardships that had been plaguing everyone since the beginning of this conflict. The king sat in a comfortable armchair next to a roaring fire that was burned brightly in an ornate fireplace. Sitting across from the monarch was master Aiden. There was no one else seated around the fire and the guards that remained stayed in the shadows. It felt more secure than any other meeting place in quite some time.
“Tell me what you sensed as you entered the clearing?” asked the king with a pensive look on his face. He was staring intently at the dancing flames.
“That is when I felt the cold breeze start. It had the feeling of evil to it and did not seem to dissipate even once I entered the gate. Also, the forest seems to be trying to warn me of something…you could say a kind of wrongness” replied Aiden thoughtfully. He was not a master of words and what he was describing was rather difficult for him to articulate effectively. He hoped that King Ciel would understand what he was trying to convey.
“The cold breeze you are referring to just started at the moment you described. It has continued and shows no signs that this unusual wind from the west will stop anytime soon. You are correct about the evil feel to it…I will explain that as best as I can in a moment. The forest is warning us about a danger that none of us anticipated” the king said slowly. It was clear that he was steeling himself for something and Aiden was getting a little anxious as he waited
for whatever came next.
“So, what is it that I do not know? I have heard that there is a rumor of some dark force in the west; however, I am not clear as to who or what that is. So, why don’t we jump to that” Aiden replied directly. He was a man of action after all, so this dancing around the topic at hand was not in his nature nor did he think he would ever be comfortable with it.
“My apologies for prolonging our conversation…I forget that the way of elves can be quite irksome to anyone not of our race. It is a curse of the immortal…but I digress. The evil in the west is our distant cousins who were banished and cursed to live under ground for the genocide of the Eldar. They are known as the dark elves of Meleirélnar” the king started with a little more purpose and direction now that they were truly getting down to business.
“I have heard tales of those murderers, however, I must say I do not know a great deal about them” replied Aiden honestly. It was true…among the kingdoms of men the tales about the dark elves were legends. Not many believed that the stories were true and almost everyone thought the dark elves were myth. They were stories meant to scare the young or gullible.
“Unfortunately the tale of the dark elves is a long one, however, for now we will focus on the important points. The most crucial thing to understand is that every dark elf has the command of elemental and underworld magic. This makes them a force to be reckoned with. However, the most vital piece of information you need to understand at this point is what I just learned from Mistress Khalida. The dark elves have completely annihilated all the giants that remained in their home land of Burien” King Ciel said with a heavy heart. He had a debt to pay back to the giants for their assistance in defending their capital. They were there when the elves were in need and he had not been able to do the same for them. This weigh heavily on him and the need to do something burned his every waking moment.
The Guardian Chronicles: Book 03 - The Dark Tide Page 19