Taylon

by Scott J. Kramer

  Soldiers echoed the battle cry and ran forward. The surge surprised the elves, yet none showed fear.

  Nonk pushed forward, cutting through a furniture booth, the proprietor having long ago fled. His sword stuck when he tried to slash a chair out of his way. As he struggled, something jumped at him from behind a bench. Something small and green gripped his head, fingernails digging into his scalp. His hands left his sword and instantly went for the creature. Nonk’s huge hands grasped and squeezed and turned and broke whatever they found. A horrible scream of pain let loose from the creature as it fell to the ground. A bone poked through its forearm while one of its legs definitely twisted in the wrong direction.

  A heavy boot ended the creature’s life. But before Nonk could retrieve his sword, his peripheral vision caught sight of something, and he jumped back. A warrior elf swung downward, its sword barely skidding off the captain’s armor before striking the dirt. Instinct took over, and Nonk used the grounded sword as a step and forced the elf down to meet his uppercut. As the enemy released its sword, Nonk snatched it up to dispatch the elf.

  Leaving the elf impaled, the captain quickly retrieved his sword. He felt good. His purpose returned, filling him with anger and rage.

  “Onward!”

  ***

  “Something’s coming.” The wizard’s voice held a frightened tone that Fret had never heard before. He looked behind him at Ynob’s ghostly form. It stared deep into the market, through the fires and the smoke.

  Everyone picked themselves up after the blast—shaken, but not hurt. No one was sure what happened. The approaching elves backed off, looking confused and disoriented.

  “Ynob says something’s coming. Something powerful,” Fret told the group. Roberto the sprite twittered too.

  “Powerful? But what could that be?” Ra’na asked, knowing that no one had an answer for her.

  Fret looked back to the wizard, but he wasn’t offering a clue. What could make a dead man so scared? But as he turned back to follow Ynob’s stare, fear crept into his heart.

  Roberto shot forward, a red streak into the market. Something moved deep among the chaos—Fret could see it through the flames. It was something tall.

  The rest of the crowd looked toward Fret, his reaction turning into something that made everyone else feel unsure. Worry showed upon Jesset’s face. Hambone stepped forward, outstretching his arms in front of Ra’na and the group. Fret knew Ra’na could take care of herself, yet Hambone needed to play the male role and feel important.

  “Maybe we should go into the market. Meet whatever it is head on,” Ra’na said. She flexed her arms. Each hand had a short sword that looked very sharp. The elf was ready for battle.

  “Um….I don’t know,” the Mordock said. Reggie the crow was nowhere. The blast had probably knocked him out of the tree. Without any animals nearby, his talent was useless.

  Roberto zoomed back and buzzed by Ra’na’s ear. Sprite-speak came in waves as it sounded like the little guy was out of breath. Fret waited for someone to translate, but it appeared no one would.

  “This is not good.” Hambone said slowly. He looked defeated already and hadn’t even engaged in battle.

  “What? What did it say?” Fret asked.

  “He,” Ra’na corrected.

  “What?”

  “That it you spoke of is a being. He. He. And he said there is something big headed straight for us. The creature looks to be a blend of human and dark elf. And a necklace with a blue stone and a shard hangs from her neck.”

  Jesset looked shocked. “The human part could be Euphoria.”

  “And maybe my mother?”

  Everyone sounded defeated. Fret, on the other hand, fought his fear. “Ynob, I will need you to be at your best.” This statement snapped everyone’s glum mood for the moment, including the wizard’s.

  “What crazy notion do you have in your head, boy? Just because you have a little magic power doesn’t mean you can defeat it.” No one but the sprite and Fret heard the wizard speak. They looked on anxiously.

  Roberto twittered loudly.

  “The necklace?” Ra’na repeated the sprite.

  “Of course, the necklace!” Hambone exclaimed.

  “I don’t know, boy. It is not that easy. I am sure this super wraith will have some protection or something, knowing it is her weakness,” Ynob said, his tone a little brighter but still not convinced.

  “We have to try. All of us have to try. Maybe something one of us can do will break through.” Fret looked around at all of them. Hambone nodded. Jesset looked a bit doubtful. The sprite…he looked like a sprite. Ra’na was unreadable.

  At last, she looked up at Fret. Her silver eyes mysterious, yet charming. “We go. We are the only ones that know anything about how to defeat this. The only thing is, we need to be careful. There is still a battle going on. Jesset and Fret should remain covered so the elf warriors don’t attack them. If Ynob helps, we can discourage the human soldiers from attacking us.” Fret nodded without consent from the wizard.

  It sounded like a plan, but the first step was one that would be the beginning of the end.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Taylon and Kara arrived on the outskirts of what used to be a thriving market. Pandemonium still bloomed deep within. Fires sent up black smoke. Bodies littered the ground.

  “You must go in, to the middle. There you will find your friends,” Warren said standing up in her pocket. His tone had no pity or remorse for the carnage before him. He spoke as he always did. Taylon didn’t question it. He drew his sword ready to protect Kara. She did the same, drawing out the katana.

  They moved slowly at first, not sure what dangers lurked the deeper they went in. Most of the merchants and patrons had fled or been killed. Booths lay empty and ransacked. Farther down on their left, two sides fought: human and elf.

  Skulking between aisles was, at times, difficult. A few of the booths remained standing, while others dissolved to piles of rubble. It was as they made their way through a pottery stand they encountered their first foe.

  “Halt!” An elfin archer had an arrow nocked and aimed at Taylon. He raised his hands up in surrender.

  “I mean you no harm. I’m just looking for my friends,” Taylon said quickly. He could sense the elf was young in his training. A skilled soldier would have taken out the enemy quickly. Kara remained hidden behind a pot.

  “Your friends? Your friends are all around here tearing the market to pieces!” The elf spat on the ground to emphasize his point. Kara tried to move through the pottery, but she had difficulty navigating the clusters of pots.

  “But why are you so far from the fighting?”

  Anger and fear passed through the creature’s eyes, making him take a step closer. “My honor and bravery are strong! Don’t you ever question that.”

  With his foot, he knocked over a clay jug in front of him. The elf’s aim, dipped to the crash and then quickly back up again. “Oops. I am just a little squeezed in here.” Taylon shuffled as he made his apologies.

  “Don’t move!”

  Taylon knocked over another pot. Kara followed suit, thinking Taylon was trying to cover for her. But her little pot started a chain reaction that made every single pot fall. The elf was so busy watching the pottery topple, Taylon was able to pounce on him. He knew he didn’t want to kill; Euphoria would have commanded death.

  The elf was taken by surprise, his bow and arrow thrown to the side as he grappled with the human.

  “Rope!” Taylon called out, doing his best to keep the young elf pinned.

  Kara stood and searched for rope. She quickly found a coil amidst the broken pottery. After a few tries, she was able to tie it around one of the elf’s forearms.

  “Kill me!”

  “No!”

  And in a matter of minutes, the elf was bound. Kara picked up the bow and arrow.

  “Why? This is war! This is a battle! Kill me!” The elf struggled.

  “I said I meant you no
harm. And I mean what I say. This battle has been lead by evil. I’m just trying to do what is right.” Taylon stepped over the elf and motioned for Kara. She began to drop the bow. “Bring it. We don’t want to be shot in the back when he comes looking for vengeance.”

  They headed forward, toward the darker smoke. One enemy down, only a thousand more to go.

  ***

  Nonk could not believe his eyes. They fought back the elves, enemies dwindling out quickly. Usually in war, the enemy only lessened when they were defeated or retreating. Were the elves retreating already?

  But then he saw the creature.

  It, or rather she, stood over some of the booths. Dark milky skin gave her the presence of being human, but the ears were that of an elf. A mix of chocolate and black hair cascaded down covering the creature’s breasts and naked back; strands were still burnt yet repairing themselves too. Powerful arms reached down at something in that aisle. Screams echoed, arrows flew—yet bounced harmlessly off it.

  Nonk stood frozen to the spot, not out of fear, but out of confusion. The face reminded him of Queen Euphoria. His soldiers also stared.

  The creature saw the petty humans and stopped her attack on the elves. She tore aside the booths that blocked her path. From this angle, the creature didn’t resemble Euphoria as much, yet Nonk noted that the necklace seemed similar.

  I see you have come to join the party Nonk. Its voice was that of madness, and echoed as if in the castle’s dungeon. Nonk wanted to cry out for it to stop. Some of his soldiers ran.

  We have won the battle. These elves, these beings, are no match for me now. The creature cackled, driving nails of pain into all who heard.

  Elves continued to be vigilant and attack, but all who came close withered. The necklace’s stones pulsed with each life claimed.

  Nonk couldn’t think. The ringing pounded in his head. A third of his force now ran away in terror, and the ones who stayed also felt the pain in their heads. Was this his queen, somehow transformed? But how?

  Slowly, Nonk studied the beast again. She looked down expectantly, as if waiting for him to speak. “Who…?” But that was all he could get out before his own voice caused a painful sensation in his ears.

  The creature stood to her full height. When she addressed them, her tone was softer. “I am your queen.” The voice sounded like Euphoria’s.

  But then the creature turned to the elves. “And I am your mistress.” Nonk did not recognize the voice, but it appeared the elves had.

  “My ancient name is Lyra. Bow to your empress.” Lyra’s last voice was a blend of the two. She stood with her arms raised, as if ready to receive praise. Neither elf nor human did as she asked. All stood, confused.

  Lyra opened her eyes and looked down. There was a hint of surprise on her face when she saw no one was bowing. Her face slowly contorted into rage.

  So be it. And she unleashed a fireball on each group.

  ***

  Lyra? Chele’s mind quivered as the haunting voice rumbled inside her head. Queig must’ve felt it too. He gripped the side of his head when the thing spoke.

  Luckily for them, they had moved away from the elf army before the fireball struck the warriors down. Chele still felt the heat blast from the attack, but she was unharmed. Helplessly, they watched the empress destroy everything in her path. The geth barked at her heels, and Queig tugged on her arm. The fire spread and headed right for Chele. She was led to the side, Lyra’s massive back towards them.

  “What…what are we to do?” Chele coughed up smoke. The destruction around them was becoming unbearable.

  “I think we need to save ourselves. I don’t think there is anything we can do. If the whole elven army and human army can’t stop it, then how are we going to save the market?”

  Queig did have a point, but her heart was telling her to stay. She had been a coward too long, and it was time to change that. The goblin stared up at Chele. A black tear trickled from her eye as she readjusted her grip on the lava sword.

  “No Chele. It would be foolish. A true warrior waits ’til the moment is right. If we are staying, then we wait to attack.” His slimy hand found her leg. Its touch held her back. The geth barked as if in agreement.

  Chele lowered her sword.

  They ducked in a nearby booth, watching and waiting.

  ***

  Lyra. Lyra. Lyra.

  Icy fingers of fear massaged Fret’s heart. He remembered, remembered it all. And he was afraid.

  The group came up the aisle, expecting to find it difficult to progress. Other than the debris and the bodies, no one hindered them. Lyra came into view as they passed a burning food booth, its black smoke camouflaging the large empress. She turned her back while she addressed the two armies.

  Ra’na gasped when she heard her mother’s voice. The shock quickly turned to visible rage. “No…” Hambone held her back. She struggled for only a moment, and then wept in his arms.

  “Oh…crap,” The wizard muttered when the fireballs were unleashed. Lyra had not seen the group yet, but it was only a matter of time.

  Fret turned to Ynob. “We need a defense. What should we do?” But the wizard stared on. Roberto buzzed around Ynob’s head, which finally made the ghost come to.

  “Hold out your hands. I can try to put up a shield like last time, but it…she could be too powerful,” and instantly he began chanting. Fret did as instructed.

  Jesset watched the boy as a glow appeared around his hands. Fret, too, was amazed but held his hands steady. Hambone and Ra’na soon parted, watching in amazement.

  Lyra turned, and saw the group. She let out a deep sigh. All eyes went up toward the naked, self-proclaimed goddess. Ynob did not break stride.

  “And here I thought I would have to search harder for the magic.” A smile crossed her face. It was a beautiful face, yet as Fret stared up there was a flash of something hideous behind it. The necklace hung between her breasts, his shard embedded into it. It pulsed and called to him.

  Ynob finished his chant, exhausted. There was a woosh and the glow around Fret’s hands disappeared. The group looked around.

  “How pathetic! Such a feeble attempt to do magic, dear Fret.” She laughed heartily. Ra’na looked to Fret, who was only able to shrug. The wizard had his hands on his knees. Fret turned to ask, but he saw Ynob’s exhaustion.

  Ra’na stepped forward. “What did you do to my mother?” She had her swords out, wielded in each hand.

  “Why, nothing that she didn’t want to happen in the first place. Didn’t you realize she was so motivated? Now, begone, girl.” Lyra made a gesture with her hand, and an invisible force threw Ra’na to the side. She crashed into a nearby booth causing it to collapse inward.

  “No!” Before anyone could respond, the Dwarc charged the empress. Fret and Jesset knew he shouldn’t, but their voices didn’t react in time. Hambone had his huge battle-axe cocked, ready to strike. Each powerful step brought him closer.

  Lyra waited for the wild Dwarc to approach. A hint of a smile crept across her face.

  When he was about ten feet away, Hambone felt the first of his life energy slip away. Watching from afar, it appeared the Dwarc aged rapidly. At five feet away, he knew his attack would be useless and his life given in vain. Hambone, what was left of him, fell forward. The axe barely scratched Lyra’s leg as it came to strike the ground. A small drop of blood oozed from the wound, before it instantly healed.

  Fret and Jesset looked on in horror. Only Lyra’s voice broke through. “Mmmm… As you see, I am invincible. So you might as well turn over the magic and beg for my forgiveness.”

  Arrows began to pelt Lyra from behind. Her face grew annoyed as she turned around. She unleashed another fireball toward the elves. The human army also tried to attack, but they too received the gift of fire for their trouble.

  It was when Lyra released the second fireball that Fret saw her weakness. A lone arrow struck her shoulder as she was unleashing her magic. It wounded her, unlike the previ
ous arrows that bounced off.

  “Jesset! I think I know how to stop her!” Fret exclaimed excitedly. As if in answer to him, a crow cawed high in the sky.

  ***

  Burning flesh assaulted Kara’s nose as they crept through a half-ruined blacksmith’s stall. It was impossible not to hear Lyra’s speech and the screaming afterward. It wasn’t until she and Taylon made it to the current lane that she realized what the screaming had been about.

  He crouched, his eyes darting back and forth, as if he would flee at any moment. Kara reacted similarly. They didn’t talk about it. They moved forward, toward the chaos.

  Human soldiers still burned when Kara and Taylon made it to the aisle before Lyra. Kara had to look away from the horror, as the flames brought back memories of home.

  Taylon wept. These were his men that roasted alive. Many had fled, but still there were some that pressed forward, aggravating the goddess or whatever she crowned herself as.

  When the second fireball attack came, they felt the heat of the flames. Kara tried to focus on the giant. Last time she brought down Euphoria, she had the necklace. This time it looked as if roles reversed. Lyra had the necklace now.

  Kara wracked her brain, trying to remember why her attack worked last time. Why she was able to shatter the mirror, when the wizard couldn’t?

  A burnt soldier ran by screaming, half his face a blackened mess. Kara saw Taylon’s eyes follow the man. She recognized the need to help. Too much interference would draw attention to their presence. What could they do to bring down the beast?

  Another soldier fell into the booth. He looked back and saw the ex-captain. His face was puckered red on one side, and the other faded into a dark charcoal. One eye was barely open, while the other looked wide enough for it to pop out. The soldier’s eyebrows, hair, and eyelashes were gone.