Blood, Faith, and Steel

by Mike Dukk

  The Dragon King landed behind the Lich, and the entire plateau shuddered. “Lich, I will allow you to retreat only so you may return a message to this petty force you serve. I have awakened, and know of the Omega Brotherhood. Tell the craven cultists to disband and leave the land in peace or I shall eradicate every single one of them.”

  Black magic glowed around the Lich as it spoke. “Fool, you seek to usurp the power of the —”

  The Dragon King tail-swiped the Lich. So high and far did the body fly, I was certain it would hurtle into the sea across which we had sailed.

  The Dragon King spoke to us. “Handle these remaining few. I shall sink the boats that brought these cretins to my home.”

  The Dragon King soared into the air, leaving eleven armored humanoids standing not twenty feet from us.

  Birch wasted no time. He roared and charged, rage bubbling in his eyes. Celiann followed directly behind him. A lightning bolt flew from Mina’s hand, cutting an electrical bolt of blue fury through the enemies.

  “Oh good Lord,” Yensid said. “A handful of diplomatic words and they’d have surrendered.”

  I drew my mace, gripped it with a righteous intention I’d never felt before. I knew what overcame me: purpose. “Words will not distract mortal enemies. They only understand the blood shed at their feet.”

  Yensid looked at me and shook his head. “Ridiculous, I can’t believe anyone would believe such…”

  I missed the rest, for I’d charged to stand with the warriors.

  Birch and Celiann fought back to back, surrounded by bugbears and orcs. The brown, hairy body of a bugbear lay upon the ground, shaking as electricity still rippled through its form, bits of its skin singed black. It struggled to rise as two daggers of pure ice drove into its chest and planted it into the ground.

  Yensid had stopped whining and started fighting.

  I stepped over the bugbear and behind one of those that surrounded Birch and Celiann. With my heavy mace, I bashed an orc in the back of the head. It stumbled forward directly into Celiann’s blade, which cleaved neatly through its neck, removing the orc from the burden of its head. In three steps I formed a combat triangle with Birch and Celiann, improving the odds that none of us would be stabbed in the back.

  I despised melee combat when it could be avoided. But when necessary, the Archangel Berythal granted me some backbone. And I felt braver that day than I ever had.

  There was no fooling our enemies — of the three of us, I was the weak link.

  Two bugbears attacked me at once. The first blow I parried with my mace, but the second would’ve landed had not Birch’s sword swung in front of me with such force it knocked the battle axe from the bugbear’s hand. I stepped behind Birch, turned and swung at an orc that was trying to backstab him.

  The orc was not expecting my attack; it unsuccessfully tried to deflect the twenty-pound ball of steel that bounded toward him. A sickening crunch dented the chain mail of the orc’s right shoulder. It screamed as it dropped its weapon and retreated. In its place another bugbear attacked, wielding a morning star, a heavy, steel-headed ball surrounded with pinpoint spikes.

  As the weapon swung, Celiann’s shield (she had been given a new one by the Dragon King) moved lithely in front of me, blocking the blow. For the briefest of moments, our eyes met, hers so focused I wondered if she even realized that we were staring at each other. But the slightest of smiles creased her divine face for a mere instant, and I felt a surge of emotion. The moment passed, and she parried another attack and turned to thrust her sword with such power and precision it shattered the mail protecting a bugbear’s stomach. Blood exploded from the wound, and the bugbear howled in frightful pain.

  I began to chant as a bugbear tried to swing at Celiann. “Unz Aloxum Viridu Ga.” A beam of fine light streaked from my extended finger and smacked the bugbear in the face. It grunted as froze, held in place by my paralysis spell.

  “Birch, left and back!” I yelled as I turned to take his place.

  Birch finished off another bugbear with a sweeping blow that took off its left leg. He turned and deftly maneuvered around me, catching and deflecting another axe blow with his great sword as he went. He swung the massive sword at the paralyzed figure, and from the corner of my eye I saw the bugbear’s head leave its body.

  Two orcs stabbed at me with spears. I managed to barely brush one aside, but the second grazed my forearm, and blood rippled from the wound. Failing to shift the heavy weapon from suddenly numb fingers, my mace fell to the dust.

  The two orcs howled victoriously and struck simultaneously. I couldn’t move backward, for Birch blocked my path. The sharp spear points surged toward me.

  Bright light exploded in front of both the orc’s eyes. I had to blink several times in order to avoid being blinded. One orc dropped its spear and swatted at its eyes as if surrounded by bugs. The other one flung his arm across its face, the shaft of his spear striking the other blind orc directly in the face. Blood erupted from its nose, and it grabbed its supposed ally, biting its cheek as hard as it could. The orcs wrestled each other to the ground and fought like mortal enemies.

  I looked around and realized there weren’t any more in front of me. Quickly I mumbled a healing spell and clamped my glowing white hand upon my wounded forearm. Coolness replaced the pain, and blood ceased to pour from the wound. I flexed my fingers and could feel them again, and then knelt and grabbed my mace.

  Behind me, Birch fought two bugbears, and Celiann was in combat with a rather savage-looking orc with an eye patch. Another bugbear in front of her surged from being seven feet tall to a height of fifteen feet in a matter of seconds. It stood twice as tall as the other bugbears. The shield it held was as tall as Celiann.

  “Caster!” Celiann yelled.

  A black bolt of light hit Celiann square in the chest. For an instant she gasped, though she managed to follow through on a kick that snapped the chin of the one-eyed orc, causing it to stumble and fall upon its back. Celiann screamed in pain, and for a moment her shield dipped to the ground. The enlarged bugbear in front of her gave a grunting roar as it drove its shield across its body. The blow resounded against Celiann’s mailed head, knocking off her helmet. She fell to the ground, stunned and shaken.

  “Birch! To the right,” I yelled.

  Though it cost him a nasty gash down his left shoulder and bicep, Birch stepped to the side and brought his sword up to parry the oversized battle-axe from the enlarged bugbear. His arms shuddered from the blow, but did not give.

  As I moved to occupy the other two bugbears, an enormous ball of fire appeared from behind one and rolled into the back of its legs. Its eyes widened as it looked down, seeing that somehow it suddenly stood in a pool of red fire. It tried to unsuccessfully dance out of the fire as four purple balls exploded into it. For the briefest of moments its chest lit with an amber glow. The bugbear managed one last gasp before it collapsed into the ball of flame.

  The other bugbear hurled a javelin toward Mina and Yensid. As it did, I scanned the surroundings, searching for the caster. A black beam zipped by my face, missing me by no more than a hands-breadth.

  I turned to the right and saw a bugbear standing partially behind a man-sized rock fifty feet away. Its fur was dyed red, and a tabard of the Omega Brotherhood was draped over its wide chest. In one hand was a black, warped quarterstaff, in the other the severed head of an orc, the bugbear’s arm half-buried inside its skull.

  Mina’s bolt of lightning zipped past and caused the bugbear next to me to dive for cover. I focused only on the caster. Birch fought the spell-empowered bugbear, its prowess with the axe and shield obvious since the barbarian wasn’t managing to draw any blood.

  I called upon the power of Berythal, focused my will upon the bugbear caster. “Isuthdus Kralidath!”

  A high-pitched wail streaked from my extended hands. Directly in front of the shaman the wail became a torrid burst of sound. Blood popped from the shaman’s nostrils and ears as it staggered
away from its cover. It stumbled on the headless orc’s corpse near its feet and fell hard to its knees and hands, shaking its head.

  Celiann had managed to get back to her feet. I yelled, “Get the caster. I’ll help Birch.”

  She grimaced, pain evident in her every movement. She dropped her shield, grasped her sword two-handed, and charged the caster, which struggled to get to its feet.

  I turned to Birch. His sword emitted sparks as it screeched across the too-large shield. Birch managed to duck as the axe as big as his shoulders swept just over his head, taking some of his black, greasy hair with it as it passed.

  I began to cast again, focusing upon the dim glow that etched the bugbear. Several enchantments surrounded it, none more potent than the enlargement spell that gave it superior advantage over Birch. I centered my focus, seeing only the dim, red-edged glow on the enlarged bugbear.

  “Caziaghi Asipahine Halmingta!” The spell left my hand and enveloped the bugbear. For a moment, nothing happened. I thought my attempt to dispel magic failed as the bugbear raised its axe, ready to strike at Birch.

  As the bugbear struck downward, the axe, shield and bugbear moved away from Birch as it very quickly shrunk from its fifteen feet back to seven.

  That left it almost at eye-level with a very angry Birch. The bugbear tried to deflect Birch’s attack, but this time its shield rung from the force of the half-orc’s great sword, which hit with such force it burst a hole in its middle. The bugbear howled, its arm punctured by large wood pieces from the sundered shield.

  The bugbear brought its axe forth, but Birch kicked its arm wide. Sword high, Birch sliced the great sword cleanly through the bugbear’s bicep, severing arm from body. Its shield arm dropped, and Birch drove the pommel of his sword directly into the bugbear’s left eye. Its skull cracked as it staggered back. As it fell, Birch keenly removed its face from its head.

  I turned in time to see Celiann knock the shaman’s staff from its hands. Four purple balls erupted through it as two beams of fire struck the bugbear caster in its other arm. The fire burst to life upon impact, consuming the bugbear’s entire torso in red and orange flames. Celiann stepped forward and drove her boot into its chest, knocking it to the ground.

  The shaman twitched for several seconds before it finally died.

  We had won.

  Chapter 7

  Afterward, we waited for several hours for the return of the Dragon King, which gave me ample time to apply healing to our party. Mina and Yensid were barely injured, although each had several nicks and cuts from the few dead orcs that lay scattered about their feet. Celiann and Birch took nearly all of my healing spells.

  “What now?” Birch asked after he could actually stand again. Going enraged in combat always exhausted him.

  “I think Celiann and I should leave,” Yensid said. “We should return to our family and —”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” Celiann said. She walked over to stand by me and Birch and Mina, and somehow her arm wrapped around my own. “I — we made a commitment to the Dragon King. We are meant to serve him.” Celiann’s entire arm touched mine, and we were holding hands by the time she finished speaking.

  Birch chuckled.

  Yensid sighed, turned, and walked away from us.

  “My brother expects me to return,” Celiann said. “I cannot.”

  I turned to face her. Those grey eyes mesmerized me, and I could no longer deny my attraction toward her. “I’m staying too — for the Dragon King.” I said as my eyes darted to Mina and Birch.

  Both of them were smiling at us.

  Berythal guide me, Elanor was going to kill me.

  What happened to us after that day? Well, the Dragon King returned early that evening, and we returned to his mountainous home and began what seemed like an endless task of dusting and cleaning.

  And yes, Elanor and Lelliani were okay.

  Did we live happily ever after? Did Elanor indeed kill me after she found out about my feelings for Celiann? If so, did Lelliani gleefully assist? (Of course they didn’t kill me, for how else would I ever have managed to scribe this tale?)

  Would adventure once more call upon us?

  Of course. But that is another tale.

  Berythal bless you,

  Brady Theirot, Servant of the Dragon King, Cleric of Berythal, Archangel of Love

  Currently courting…. Ah, I can’t tell you.

  Really. I can’t.

  If you would like to read more from “The Journals of Brady Theirot”, please tell the author. Visit his page at www.mikedukk.com and encourage him to write more.

  Mike’s next project, a novella named “A Tale Better Left Untold”, will be released the latter half of 2012.

  CHARACTERS BACKGROUNDS

  Brady Theirot

  Race: Human

  Height: 6’

  Build: Average

  Hair: Brown

  Eye color: Blue

  Distinguishing trait: Handsome

  Weapon of choice: Divine magic

  Brady was born on a farm outside the Great Domed City of Alexandor. He always felt that there was something more than farming in his future. A traveling monk convinced Brady to leave his home for the seminary. There, he devoted himself to the service of Berythal, the Archangel of Love.

  Three years ago, a small group of adventurers help defend the seminary from a savage attack by orcs. Once the orcs had been repulsed, Brady accepted the adventurers’ invitation to travel with them.

  The Archangel Berythal has granted this young man divine powers to use in Brady’s quest to spread love to the world. Adventuring called upon him, as did the allure of two women, Lelliani and Elanor, the former his ex and the latter his current lover. Though he doesn’t realize it, he plays a crucial role in keeping the party focused. This tale is told from his colorful, snarky point of view.

  Elanor Cooper

  Race: Human

  Height: 5’5”

  Build: Petite

  Hair: Curly red, shoulder-length

  Eye color: Green

  Distinguishing trait: Beauty

  Weapon of choice: Rapier

  Elanor was born on the outskirts of Waterbourne. She was an only child, and her mother died soon after she was born. Her father made barrels for the local wineries, but there never seemed to be much money around. Elanor was always independent and took to running the streets of Waterbourne at a very young age.

  She came home late one night to find her father murdered, which she later discovered was because of a gambling debt. She lived in the streets for a while, stealing only what she needed. Fate intervened, and a thieves’ guild took her in. Within a year, she was their most successful burglar.

  When Elanor came across a group of adventurers needing abilities such as hers, she jumped at the chance to join them. Elanor’s charisma draws appreciative eyes, yet she can intimidate people with a mere look. Deft with her rapier, she can hold her own in combat. A rogue of the shadows, she feels at home in immense cities, and has many contacts within them. Her spirit for adventure draws her all over the land. Unlike most rogues, she tries to see the best in people.

  Birch

  Race: Half-orc

  Height: 6’10”

  Build: Brawny

  Hair: Black and unkempt

  Eye color: Black

  Distinguishing trait: Tusks protruding from lower jaw

  Weapon of choice: Great sword

  Birch was born in the breeding pits and raised in Cardolan amongst orcs. He was taught their evil ways, but he rejected them. Only half orc, Birch was taller and stronger than those around him, and eventually escaped when he was an early teenager. Birch ran for days until he found an ocean. Then he swam — swam until he could swim no more.

  Birch woke up on an island among a strange people. These people taught him the song of battle. They trained him to understand the ever-pitched conflict between good and evil, and that good must always win. Once he was able to defeat their chieftain, the
y gave Birch a magical great sword. Then Birch left them to search for evil to vanquish.

  Birch is a strong, intimidating barbarian with a heart of gold. He is surprisingly intelligent, loyal to his companions, distrustful of outsiders, and a physical force in battle. His superb use of tactics in battle is swept aside when he loses himself in Bloodlust. There, he transforms into a killing machine and becomes a near unstoppable force. He is also quite accomplished at giving people grief.

  Mina Ravensblack

  Race: Halfling

  Height: 3’

  Build: Slight

  Hair: Shoulder-length, black, pulled into pigtails or worn back

  Eye color: Brown

  Distinguishing trait: Lightning arcing on her fingertips

  Weapon of choice: Arcane Magic

  Born Bellamina Persimmon Lemondrop, Mina was the youngest daughter of nine children to a family of confectioners. Her early life was filled with happiness until age 12, when her powers began to manifest. Taken into a school for those of natural arcane talent, Mina trained to become a sorceress. She was shunned by her classmates, and her family simply didn’t understand what she was going through. One night, Bellamina became Mina, and left both school and home in the middle of the night, and by a matter of necessity became an adventurer.

  Slight by even Halfling standards, Mina uses her inner power to channel arcane magic. Her foci are lightning and force spells, and in battle she is potent and dangerous. She wears purple and black, and collects items that hold little value and are offensive to most. Bright, fun, and cheerful, her inner spirit of kinship and positive personality brings smiles to those that know her.

  Lelliani Alechthia

  Race: Half-elf

  Height: 6’

  Build: Muscular, very fit

  Hair: Thick, wavy blonde

  Eye color: Blue