The Dark Tide tgc-3

by Steven R. Burke

  “You there…see if you can make through those specters” barked the general aloud as he pointed distractedly at a soldier near the Seda. He was clearly getting desperate to find a way out of the situation he had unknowingly led his troops into.

  “What? Are you asking me to breach that bloody spirit barrier?” the disbelieving soldier asked incredulously. His mortal fear loosed his tongue to speak what he and everyone else were feeling. It was clear that he was being used like a big stick to spring the trap.

  “I’m sorry…you misunderstood me. Let me put it to you another way” said the general with a nod to someone behind the reluctant warrior.

  The soldier was shoved violently by a gigantic berserker into the spectral barrier. The Seda responded with great ferocity. They grabbed the unwilling volunteer and ripped him apart…limb by limb. Within a few seconds the unfortunate warrior was in pieces on the forest floor and his blood was smeared all over the foliage. As the orcs drew closer together in horror, a shriek tore through the skies above Tomo’s army. Everyone looked up to see huge eagles flying high through the air over their location. They seemed to be carrying something in their gigantic talons, but no one could make out what they were holding. Shadows began to descend upon their location.

  The clear sky soon became less sunny as strange objects began to obscure the sun. Several boulders the size of a horse smashed into the unsuspecting orcs with tremendous force. Many orcs were pulverized by the aerial attack and panic spread quickly among the ranks. Many of the archers on the fringes of the army turned their arrows on the eagles, but they were too high for even the most skilled among them. Many of the missiles came whirring back to the ground to hit several of their comrades. Some of the foot soldiers broke through the line of archers and made a break for freedom through the Seda barrier. Each fleeing soldier met a gruesome end. Black orc blood began to cover every inch of the forest floor.

  “Order!” barked General Tomo as he tried to regain some semblance of control. He watched several of his soldiers get torn to pieces by the Seda and knew that the situation was out of his control. He roared his frustration toward the eagles in the sky above. They could handle an aerial attack, but the Seda were something else altogether. They could only hope to outrun them.

  As the general cast his eyes around at the mayhem that had overtaken his troops, he heard a loud thud behind him that made the ground shake more than the boulders smashing into his ranks. He wheeled around to see the biggest white bear he had ever seen in his life staring down at him. Mahon, lord of the white bears, was up on his hind legs which made him stand as tall as a giant. As the bear’s emerald green eyes looked into General Tomo’s, a chill went down the spine of the massive orc leader. He was so entranced that he failed to notice the bear’s huge paws coming together toward his head. With a sickening crunch, the general was suddenly a foot shorter. General Tomo’s limp body swayed on the spot and fell to one side. Mahon raised his bloodied paws into the air and let out the most deafening roar any of the orcs had ever heard. The general’s head landed over thirty feet away.

  The Seda could no longer restrain their urge to attack the orcs and they gleefully joined the fray. Several hundred white, brown, and even black bears burst through the specters unharmed to join the battle. The giant eagles stopped their barrage of boulders because of their allies down below. They changed tactics by going into dramatic dives and tore at the leaderless fiends with great delight. The ground became darker as the battle wore on and looked like a massive black dot from the sky.

  ***

  The messenger owl that belonged to the elven king Ciel flew high above the western cliff of Landen toward the city of Prowburgh where the monarch resided in hiding. The capital city was a likely target for the opposition, so King Leroy felt that it was best to remove key leaders to different cities and towns throughout Landen. It allowed for better control of the war effort and it also proved to be an excellent strategic move because it would be difficult for their enemies to completely wipe out all of the leadership in one fatal swoop. The king’s faithful owl knew that it was important to report back to the elven king of the events that were transpiring in the Black Forest.

  The sky over Landen had finally cleared and the sun burned hotter than what was normal during the fall. The leaves on the trees were beginning to turn colors from the drastic change in weather. The owl searched for the home where the elven king resided as he soared through a sea of red, orange, and yellow leaves below him. The eastern part of Landen, which was closest to Lake Lachlan, was full of several different kinds of trees. The beautiful bird went into a sharp decent and landed softly in a tall willow tree which stood next to a beautiful two story home. The building was constructed of some of the finest lumber in Landen and it had a simple beauty to it which would not attract a lot of unwanted attention. The huge golden owl hooted softly to get the attention of King Ciel who was sitting at the window staring out at the serene landscape.

  The king stood up so abruptly at the sound of his messenger bird that the book in his lap fell to the ground. He cast his eyes towards the call and saw the tired looking owl in the willow tree next to his window. He nodded significantly to his messenger which clearly meant that he would be outside shortly to retrieve the urgent message. The bird hooted dolefully to acknowledge the silent command and closed its eyes against the bright sun overhead. King Ciel quickly put on his armor, which is something he had to do anytime he ventured outside these days, and casually made his way down the stairs to the main floor. Several of the king’s guard snapped to attention as their leader entered the anteroom next to the entry.

  “I will need four of you to accompany me outside” the king said in a determinedly bored voice. He did not want to give them the idea that he was about to do something important. He waited patiently for his guards to lead the way outside.

  “Sir!” snapped four of the king’s guard. Two of them opened the door and allowed the other two soldiers to walk out in front of the king. The guards holding the door held up their hands so that King Ciel did not immediately follow. They wanted to make sure the immediate vicinity was clear. After a minute of scanning the yard and the nearby trees, the signal was given to allow the vanguard to proceed out into the open.

  “I appreciate your cautious nature captain” the king said to the captain of the soldiers stationed at his temporary home. He was indeed thankful for the care he was seeing which made him sad at the same time. So much had been lost and the price for the caution was too high. He shook his head slightly to rid himself of such depressing thoughts. His mind was constantly reviewing all the major events that led to the current situation. His heart ached at the loss of his youngest daughter which reminded him of the death of his wife. All he had left in the world was his eldest daughter Kishi…the very thought caused a single tear to form and slowly leak out the side of his right eye.

  Once the king was clear of the doorstep, he made his way to the willow tree that had an anxious owl resting high up in the tree. There was an old wooden chair at the trunk of the massive tree that was listing to one side. The tree was central to a couple of houses just like the one the king was in. Ciel adjusted it so that it was level with the ground and took a seat. He crossed his legs casually as he stared out to the eastern skies. The king’s guard took up their positions and turned their backs to the monarch so he could enjoy some quiet reflection as he sat there.

  “My dear friend…what news do you bring?” asked the king after he connected to his faithful messenger’s mind. His demeanor was calm on the outside and the single tear had been subtly wiped away. His soldiers had become used to the frequent visits to the tree. It was where their leader went to think and often cry. They understood that his burden was great and the loss of his loved ones was weighing heavily on him.

  “The bears and eagles have attacked the orc General Tomo and his massive army while they were in the western part of Renshaw. The Seda surrounded the intruders without making them aware of their p
resence. As I left the battle, those wretched spirits joined in the attack” replied owl dutifully. He did not want to linger in the forest because of the destruction of his beloved woods.

  “What? The bears and eagles are working together with the Seda? I thought our spirit neighbors from southern Renshaw would join the orcs…not kill them.” He was having difficulty not showing his emotions as he carried on this silent conversation. His features tensed as he tried to make sense of the report thus far. The soldiers immediately sensed the drastic change in their leader’s mood. They all became alert and started looking for an immediate threat.

  “I have more detailed information for you master. The orc general is dead along with their only commander. They trespassed on the unholy grounds of Kylrilion. I believe that the axis army has been annihilated by now, or that they will be shortly.” The owl hooted quietly high up in the willow. He was tired with all the long flights to report to his master. He understood his role and the need to see everything. He was tired of being the target for any enemy to fire at. He just wanted to rest, even if it was just for a few hours.

  The king did not reply to these final remarks. He motioned to one of his guards to come to him as he continued to mull over the news he had just received. He instructed the soldier to send a small detachment to the western cliffs to determine whether or not the orc army reported to be in that vicinity was still there. He wanted to hear details of what was currently taking place in that region as soon as possible. He did not share with him the information that he had just received. He felt that an unbiased external confirmation would be best in this situation. He stood up as he finished his orders and returned to the house. He went straight to his room and locked the door so that he could continue to think uninterrupted. The soldiers went into action once their king had secluded himself.

  “So, you have heard the news” a deep voice said from the shadows by a large bookcase.

  “Who are…” began the king as wheeled about with his fine elven swords drawn. His swords sliced through a fine mist as he tried to locate the intruder.

  “Peace unto you Ciel Tiranidrol…we have much to discuss” replied the guardian as he walked into the light that was coming in through the window. He had a placid look on his face that hid any emotion or intention as he looked at the elven king. Ciel hastily put away his swords and bowed himself on one knee with his head bowed toward the floor.

  “My lord…this is truly a great honor. How may I be of service?” asked the King Ciel humbly. It was a rare event for the head of the guardian council to appear to anyone, so he knew that this visit was important. He trembled slightly to be in the presence of such a powerful being. The mist he had cut through now darkened the window and slowly encircled the entire room.

  “It is I that will be of service to you. It is clear that your owl has communicated to you the proceedings in the western part of Renshaw. Let me give you an update.” He motioned for the king, who had finally looked up, to take his seat by the window. He immediately calmed and felt warmth seep through his body. It was as though the guardian had done something to him. He thought the mist would be chilling; however, he found it to be quite the opposite.

  “Thank you my lord.” With another slight bow he walked to the chair and set his swords leaning against the wall before taking his seat. The mist was constantly changing colors which made the atmosphere light and inviting.

  “I have much to tell you, but let us begin with our first major victory in the war. Lords Arnaud and Mahon have combined their strength together at my bidding to attempt to make a dent in the massive army of General Tomo in the west. Unknown to either of these noble leaders was the fact that I had also secured the help of the Seda in the defense of the Black Forest.”

  “They agreed to help us?” He could not restrain himself…the Seda were treacherous fiends that had long been a source of consternation for the elven king. Siding with these specters did not feel right to him. A shiver had gone down his spine at the mention of the Seda. The elves had had dealings with those spectral devils for millennia and he was not about to trust the very creatures who could have helped save his wife from her fate.

  “Let us say that they are trying to make up for past actions. They do not want to be on the wrong side again and were easily persuaded to join the cause. They have promised me to protect the Forest of Renshaw from the axis powers. I have explained to them who exactly they are to prevent from entering…they are to kill any of those I identified to them as the enemy if they should stray into the woods.” He could not help but feel a certain measure of pride at his own brilliance. He had been able to twist the creatures that many have distrusted, and rightly so, for thousands of years into doing his bidding. They will actually be helping others for once in their existence.

  “I do not wish to question your decision my lord, but what assurances do we have that they will distinguish between the allies and the axis powers? They have shown no regard for either in the past.” The king had a timid look on his face as he said this because the guardian was the most powerful being in all of Tuwa. He did not want to get on the wrong side of such a powerful person; however, he simply could not believe what he was being told. The tragic death of his youngest daughter had caused him to doubt more than he would have normally and his deep seated hatred for their inaction in the death of his wife had made it impossible for him to ever trust them.

  “I understand your concerns. I have made an agreement that will ensure they do not do the very things you just described. I believe that I have motivated them sufficiently for the time being. Do not be afraid to express your concerns to me or the other guardians…we are obviously not without faults. However, the Seda will not break their agreement with me…I promise you that.” His steely, yet kind look told the elven king that he could trust what was being promised. He just needed to trust Lord Adair to keep those vile apparitions in line.

  “Say no more my lord.” The king bowed his head again in humility before the towering figure of Lord Adair. His white goatee was luminous from the light filtering through the swirling mist.

  “As of right now the orc army that was led by General Tomo is no more. They have been completely destroyed thanks, in large part, to the Seda.”

  “That is great news!” The elven king felt real relief for the first time since the untimely death of his beloved wife all those years ago. The Seda have done the impossible…that does not mean they are forgiven. After this war has ended, I will do whatever it takes to remove them from my forest!

  “It is good news, but this victory will be a rare occurrence. Kana will avoid the Black Forest from now on, so the Seda will not be able to assist us any further in large scale attacks. However, now we can move some troops back into the forest where they will be protected. I want the elves that are not fighting to return to their homes and work on producing supplies for their army. I do not want everyone tucked away in Landen with no escape route. The detachment you send back, along with yourself, will be responsible for irritating passing axis soldiers. They will also establish a supply line from Renshaw to the western city of Shafrig that is on the cliffs of Landen.”

  “Excellent plan my lord! Should I relay this information to Kings Angus and Leroy?” King Ciel was relieved by this news because it meant that he was going home. This would provide his people with a significant morale boost and his troops would get supplies that are meant for elves. They had struggled to adapt to the food the mortals ate. They had never taken to the protein laden diet.

  “Do not worry yourself about that…I have already taken care of it. They are aware of the changes I have ordered and of the amazing victory of Kylrilion. Your concern now is your people and their safety. Do not worry about the Seda…they have shown us their intentions and their devotion to the allies. Good luck Ciel Tiranidrol.” The guardian vanished with a faint popping sound. As always a faint mist hung in the air momentarily and then dissipated. The mist that had lined the room disappeared at the same time. Natur
al light filled the room once more.

  The king mused over the unbelievable news he had just received. The war had taken on a new dimension…one that only the guardian himself foresaw. I simply cannot believe our good fortune. We will surely crush these axis fools now that we have destroyed one of the orc armies. The door opened slowly as one of his guards poked his head in. King Ciel stood up and motioned for the soldier to enter the room. He did not hide the joy he was feeling inside.

  “I assume you heard everything?” asked King Ciel with a smile. He had thought that the mist muffled the conversation; however, he was pleased that they were able to hear the good news.

  “Yes sir…I could not help it…we heard both your voices in our minds” replied the soldier meekly.

  “Not to worry…I want you to spread the word…we are heading home!” He slapped his guard on the shoulder genially. They had much to look forward to now.

  The Floods Recede

  The newly created lake shimmered in the early morning sun as the water lapped against the canyon walls of Nairi. The debris that had polluted the surface for many days had disappeared without a trace into the depths below. The portents of the canyon lake were clear now instead of murky. A lone figure stood at the edge of the eastern shore looking out over the oddly beautiful vista. The person was tall and slender with long flowing red hair and appeared to have black wings. Her eyes were mostly red with a gray outline around the edges. As a breeze picked up from behind her, the light reflected off of several silver strands that were hidden within her silky long hair. She was not really looking at the scene before her…she was looking far off into the west as she stood rooted to the spot.