Awakening (Telindell Book 1)

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Awakening (Telindell Book 1) Page 6

by Darren Lee


  Lian paused for a moment. “I have an idea.”

  The wolf walked to Lian and pressed his damp nose against Lian’s hand.

  “There are torches on the wall with oil all around them,” said Lian. “Lead me to one of the torches, and I can dampen this stick with oil.”

  The wolf yapped and ran to the torch at the entrance to the chamber. He jumped up against the wall and started tapping his claws against the rock allowing Lian to follow the sound. Lian carefully walked toward the sound carrying the rock and stick. He reached the chamber wall and ran the stick along it.

  Lian felt a splash of oil hit his hand, “Yes!” said Lian. He knelt down and began striking the rock once more. “Come on, come on!”

  The wolf remained silent and watched with anticipation. With another strike, the stick caught fire. Lian quickly raised it to the path of oil. They watched as the room lit up with flames. The wolf dashed to the statue holding the sword. He barked and howled for Lian to retrieve it. Lian walked over to the sword and reached his hands forward slowly. He trembled, nervous about picking up the ancient weapon. He placed a hand on the battered sheath and wrapped his fingers around it. Then, he slowly began to remove the sword from its age old resting place. Lian stopped trembling, a strange sensation filling his body.

  Lian felt a sudden surge of strength and empowerment. “What is this?” he said to himself.

  The wolf yapped and barked as he ran to the entrance of the chamber. He looked back at Lian and moved his head toward the outside of the chamber.

  Lian quickly nodded. “You’re right! We gotta go!”

  Lian walked toward the chamber’s entrance. He grabbed a torch from the wall, holding the sword in his other hand. The wolf darted across the chasm with Lian close behind. They came to the crack in the cave wall and the wolf slipped through. Lian tossed the torch on the ground and started to squeeze through the crack after him.

  Lian emerged from the cave to see his wolf companion crouched down, growling and snarling with his ears slanted back. He looked down the path to see the four other wolves ready to attack. Enforcers were closing in on them quickly. Lian watched wolves leap to attack the Enforcers. They each latched on with their mighty fangs in a vain attempt to stop them. Thunder shook the valley. A green lightning bolt struck the path where the Enforcers and wolves were battling. The mountain trembled, and the path crumbled beneath them. Rock began breaking away from the mountains and sliding toward the Enforcers. An avalanche of rocks and dust swept the wolves, Enforcers and lower part of the mountain path away.

  Dust rose from the rock slide as Lian gazed in astonishment. “What just happened?” he thought.

  Eva’s voice once again seeped into Lian’s mind. “Go. That will only slow them down,” it whispered. “I have done all I can. Follow Kane, he will lead you through the pass and protect you.”

  Lian looked to the wolf. “You… You’re Kane?”

  Kane nodded his head and grabbed Lian’s shirt. He tugged him to continue along the path. Lian wrapped the sword in his arms and held it against his chest tightly as they continued their journey.

  The temperature continued to drop. Lian was now able to see each breath he took in the cold air. Soon, snow began to blow in the air. Lian noticed the ice frozen along the sides of the mountain as they approached the entrance to Shana’s Pass, a large opening in the mountain with a path leading in. Kane walked in then looked back to Lian.

  “I’m coming, boy.” said Lian.

  Kane continued on with Lian close behind. Lian looked around as darkness surrounded them. Strangely enough, the pass had just enough light for him to see.

  Lian noticed multiple paths breaking away from each side of the path. “We are going the right way? Aren’t we?”

  Kane barked and continued on.

  Lian followed Kane. “I trust him,” he thought. “His pack saved me. He wouldn’t hurt me now.”

  Lian clutched the sword tightly. They journeyed deeper into Shana’s Pass. The path narrowed. The cave wall to the left of the path began to separate and the cave opened up into a ravine.

  Lian peered over the edge of the path and saw a large body of water at the bottom. “That must be hundreds of feet high.”

  Kane stopped and looked back. He began to growl and slanted his ears back.

  Lian turned and looked as well. “What is it, boy?”

  Kane’s green eyes stared in the direction from which they had just come. Then, he jumped into Lian, pushing the boy with his front paws. Lian fell over the edge of the path. Kane quickly jumped after the boy. Lian held the sword tightly as he fell. He was terrified so deeply that he was unable to even cry out. He watched the path he had been pushed from shrink in the distance. Lian could see Kane falling right above him. Lian crashed into the dark freezing water and sank deeper and deeper into the darkness. He looked around for Kane in the dark water but could no longer see anything. Lian took the sword in his left hand and began to kick and stroke. He ascended toward the surface quickly, his head emerging from the water as he gasped for air.

  Lian peered up at the ledge to see five pairs of glowing red eyes. “Kane saved me again,” he thought. “Where is he?” Lian repeated those thoughts in his head over and over as he looked around for his protector.

  Finally, Lian heard Kane emerge from the water. Kane paddled over to Lian and pushed against him.

  “Where now, boy?” he whispered.

  Kane paddled away and Lian followed slowly behind him. They swam across the icy body of water until they reached a shoreline. Kane trotted out of the water and onto the rocky floor of the cave, shaking the water from his fur. Lian waded out of the water, still clutching the sword tightly.

  Shivering, Lian placed his hand on Kane’s head. “Thank you, Kane. You saved me again.”

  Kane lowered his head and playfully licked the boy’s hand.

  Lian smiled. “Alright, do you know where to go, now?”

  Kane started trotting deeper into the cave. Lian followed quickly.

  Kane continued leading Lian farther along the path. Suddenly, the wolf stopped in his tracks.

  Lian stopped beside Kane. “What is it?”

  Before Kane could issue any kind of reply, a deep voice echoed around them. “Who dares trespass in my lair?”

  Lian heard the footsteps of something large approach him. A tall, wide figure began to emerge into visibility. It drew closer, revealing a beast that stood ten feet tall. The beast’s skin was pasty white, and its muscles appeared as if they were cut from stone. It carried a club chiseled from stone. The only piece of clothing it wore was a large piece of fur wrapped around its waist. Fangs protruded from the beast’s mouth, and it had coal black eyes and long matted black hair covering its head and back.

  The beast glared toward Lian and Kane. “Answer me now!” the beast demanded. “Why should I not enjoy you and your mangy friend as a snack?”

  Lian gripped the sword tightly. Kane crouched down and began to snarl.

  The beast noticed the sword. “Why do you have that? Have they…” the beast broke off into silence. “Yes, that must be it.” The beast lowered his club and crouched down to the duo with Kane still snarling him. “Calm yourself, wolf. No harm will come to the boy.”

  Kane began to relax, still eyeing the beast with caution.

  The beast looked to Lian. “I am Bagra-Shuk,” he said, “leader of this tribe of ogres. Shana’s Pass has been our home for nearly a thousand years.” Bagra-Shuk pointed to the sword. “We have guarded that since it was placed in its chamber. Now tell me, have they returned?”

  Lian slowly nodded, trembling.

  Bagra-Shuk let out a sigh. “I see. What of the forest and the village?”

  “Dead,” Lian answered. “The forest burns.”

  Bagra-shuk lowered his head and closed his eyes. “Did they follow you?”

  Lian nodded.

  The ogre stood. “Come. We don’t have much time, but you can warm yourself in our lair. Then, I w
ill show you the way out of the pass.”

  Bagra-shuk turned and walked toward the ogres’ lair. Lian looked toward Kane and the wolf nodded. Lian hesitantly followed the ogre with Kane beside him. He could see fire in the distance. Lian saw that there were more ogres watching him as he entered their lair. They were different from Bagra-shuk. They did not speak, but rather grunted amongst each other. And their skin was a dark green.

  Bagra-shuk pointed to the fire at the center of his lair. “Sit before you become ill.”

  Lian laid the sword down and did as the large creature commanded. He sat beside the fire and felt its warmth begin to thaw his nearly frozen body. Kane stretched and lay next to him, resting his head in Lian’s lap.

  Lian petted Kane’s head. “We’re gonna be alright now.”

  Kane whimpered a bit and closed his eyes. Lian lowered his head, his eyes now heavy.

  Bagra-Shuk sat across from Lian and dropped his massive stone club on the ground. “It is alright, boy. Rest while you can.” Bagra-Shuk’s words sounded almost gentle. Lian leaned over onto Kane’s soft fur and closed his eyes.

  Chapter 5: Into Darkness

  Lian slowly opened his eyes. “It’s so dark,” he said. “Where is everybody?”

  He was greeted only by darkness and a vast emptiness.

  Lian looked around, unable to see anything but darkness. “Kane? Kane?” he called out. There was no reply, no howl or whimper from his valued protector.

  Lian heard a voice echo in the distance. “Come, young Lian. It’s your birthday!”

  Lian looked in the direction of the voice, still seeing only darkness. “But I saw him die,” he thought before shouting, “Elder Marrow!”

  Marrow answered Lian’s call, “Yes, now come, Lian! We’ve no time to dawdle!”

  Lian felt a spark of hope within his heart. He ran for what seemed like an eternity through the darkness.

  Lian shouted again to the vague figure in the distance, “Elder Marrow!”

  This time he heard only silence. Lian reached the figure to see Marrow and his eyes widened at the sight him.

  Marrow glared toward Lian. “Your fault,” said Marrow in a deathly calm voice.

  Lian looked upon the elder, the hole in his chest gushing blood.

  Lian shook his head. “No… I didn’t do that…” he said, staring at Marrow’s wound and trembling. “I didn’t want this to happen!” The elder looked upon Lian in silence. Lian closed his eyes. “I’m sorry!”

  The same dark hand that had pierced Marrow’s chest once again emerged from the wound.

  Lian screamed in horror as he watched Marrow being ripped to pieces once again. “No!”

  Lian looked to see Marrow’s body mangled on the ground, his cold dead eyes staring at him once more. Glowing red eyes pierced the darkness where Marrow was standing. Lian was terrified. He turned and ran blindly into the darkness, knowing only that he had to get away.

  Voices began to echo through the darkness. “You killed me,” said Ebon.

  “Let me tell you of your mother,” said Eva.

  “I should have gutted you me’self,” said the hunter.

  “My son wasn’t enough. You killed me and the entire village, boy.” said Alrad.

  Tears swelled in Lian’s eyes. “No! I didn’t kill anybody!”

  Suddenly Lian was surrounded by flames. He was back in the village. Every hut and shack was burning. Charred corpses littered the ground. Lian stood still and looked upon Dreathous. The monster held Eva in the air by her throat.

  Lian stared on in horror. “No!” he shouted.

  Dreathous severed Eva’s head once again. Her frail, lifeless body crashed to the ground. Dreathous turned and slowly walked toward Lian. Lian stepped back and felt a familiar furry rub against his hand. Kane growled and snapped towards Dreathous. He let out a spine-chilling howl that was followed by many more howls and growls. Kane’s pack leapt forth from around Lian, attacking the monstrous Dreathous. One by one, each wolf latched onto Dreathous with their razor sharp fangs. One by one, he grabbed them and smashed them to the ground. Each one let out a high pitched yap on impact, dying. Lian was appalled.

  Lian looked down to Kane. “Come on, boy,” he said. “We gotta get out of here!”

  Kane growled and stepped forward slowly, then charged Dreathous.

  Lian’s eyes widened. “No, Kane! No!”

  Kane leapt into the air towards Dreathous. He snarled and cropped his ears back, determined to protect young Lian at any cost. Dreathous reached forth his hands and caught Kane. He gripped Kane’s front paws with his left hand and his hind paws with his right. Kane let out a long high-pitched yap of pain. Lian watched as Kane’s body began to separate in the middle. Blood squirted as Kane’s intestines began to fall out. Dreathous ripped Kane in two and dropped the wolf’s pieces on the ground. Kane’s guts laid upon the ground, with his blood covered bones protruding from his skin. Kane’s green eyes stared back at Lian, lifeless and haunting.

  Dreathous stepped toward Lian once again. “He will die,” said Dreathous, his voice echoing all around Lian. “They all will die. After you have witnessed every drop of blood in this world be shed, you too, will die.”

  Dreathous kept walking toward Lian, the red glow from his eyes becoming brighter.

  Lian turned and began to run. “Faster, Lian… Faster!” he thought.

  He ran through the darkness with no escape in sight.

  “Get the sword, Lian,” said Eva’s voice in his mind. “Get the sword…”

  Lian looked back at Dreathous. He was getting closer with each step, no matter how fast Lian ran. Dreathous reached his hand forward. To Lian, he seemed like a giant as his hand shadowed over him. In the distance, Lian saw the sword floating vertically. He could feel the sword’s allure with his entire body. It was as if the sword was calling to him. Lian approached the sword as Dreathous closed in. He grabbed the sword and turned to face Dreathous. As he began to draw the sword, the guard lifted from atop the sheath and a golden light sprang forth from the blade. It spread through the darkness, driving it back. Dreathous roared as the light overtook him. All Lian could see was the bright, blinding light.

  Lian opened his eyes and gasped heavily. He was back in the ogre’s lair.

  Lian looked to Kane who was sound asleep. “Was that… was that just a dream…” he wondered.

  Lian heard roars coming from the body of water, the grunts of the ogres and the sounds of battle. Bagra-Shuk appeared from the darkness of the cave. He had blood dripping from his hands and gaping slices across his upper body. He no longer carried his club. Kane sprang up with his ears tucked back and began to growl.

  Bagra-Shuk reached his blood covered hand out to Lian. “Come, boy,” said the Ogre. “We must go. They have come for you.”

  Lian stared at the bloody, wounded ogre who was offering his hand.

  “Come, boy! We have to go now!” Bagra-Shuk shouted.

  Lian looked deep into the ogre’s eyes. “Where are—”

  The ogre quickly interrupted Lian’s words, “Out of the pass. That is all that matters. Now get up!”

  Lian nodded and looked to Kane. “Time to go, boy,” he said.

  Kane snorted in agreement.

  Bagra-Shuk pointed to the rear of his lair. “This way, boy,” said the ogre. “The exit to the pass is not far.” The mighty ogre walked toward the rear of his lair. He looked back to Lian. “Hurry. My ogres will be dead soon. They have claimed the valley, and soon the pass will be theirs, too.”

  Lian’s eyes widened. “Dead? What do you mean, dead? You ogres are bigger. You must be stronger!”

  Bagra-Shuk looked at Lian. “These foes possess a power of the likes I have never faced,” said the ogre. “They are large, they are fast, they are cunning, they are powerful and some wield magics.” Bagra-Shuk looked toward the rear of the cave. “We ogres are much stronger than you humans. That is why we can hold them for a short time. We are heavily outnumbered. My ogres will die. I am
taking you out of the pass to ensure their sacrifice is not in vain.”

  Lian quickly stood and shook his head. “Sacrifice! What sacrifice?” said Lian. “Why is everyone protecting me? Why are you doing this?” Tears escaped Lian’s eyes. “I don’t want anyone to die for me!”

  Bagra-Shuk sighed. “Because it is my oath,” said the ogre. “That is all I know. If I wanted to abandon you here, I could. It will make no difference now. If I do, we all will die. Now come, dawn quickly approaches and once we reach the exit of the pass, I will seal it, giving us time to escape beyond the mountains.”

  Lian looked to Kane, then back to Bagra-Shuk. “Seal the pass?” he asked. “How are you going to do that?”

  Bagra-Shuk grinned, baring his mouthful of fangs “These warriors are not the only ones who can wield magics,” said the ogre.

  “Magic?” Lian asked, curious.

  Bagra-Shuk motioned for Lian and Kane to follow. “No time to explain, boy,” said the ogre. “You will see soon enough. Now come.”

  Lian grabbed the sword and held it tightly against his chest. Bagra-Shuk led them into a passageway. They journeyed deeper within the mountains, the echoing sounds of the ogres’ battle fading from their ears. In the distance, a small speck of light became visible.

  Bagra-Shuk pointed towards it. “There’s the exit!” said the ogre. “We are almost out!”

  The trio began to run as the exit drew closer. Then, Bagra-Shuk came to a sudden halt. Lian and Kane stopped behind the colossal ogre. The pass began to shake. Lian turned to see a bright light flying towards him. His eyes widened, and he stood paralyzed by the sight. Lian felt a large hand grip his upper body and toss him toward the exit of the pass. Bagra-Shuk let out a roar of pain as a ball of fire struck his body. Lian raised up as the flames cleared from the pass. Through the smoke, he saw the glowing red eyes of a Battle Sage with Enforcers behind him. Lying on the ground, Bagra-Shuk let out a gasp. He struggled to stand, his white skin now burned and scorched black. Kane began to growl in the direction of the approaching enemies.

 

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