by Ben Alderson
Tents shock, some even fell. Hadrian’s unblinking gaze looked into me, laced with worry. Another wave of power caused the ground to shake, taking more soldiers down to their knees and hands.
“Marthil,” I breathed.
It was the only explanation to this unnatural quake.
“It is time,” Hadrian replied, causing my heart to sink deep into stomach.
I STOOD AMONGST my friends on the front line, watching the cloud of dust and sand rush closer to us. Sparing a glance behind me I looked over the sea of soldiers and warriors alike, each ready and waiting to greet our guests with steel and magick.
Amongst the ranks, shifters prowled the sands, some circled the skies above. Arches stood behind us, arrows readied and waiting to be unleashed. Fadine’s closed fist raised beside her, a waiting signal. The moment that fist opened, the cocked arrows would fly.
Morthi warriors boxed our soldiers in as they rode armored serpents, ready to careen across the ground for our enemy. For as far as I could see, we had elves behind us, all as ready as the next to lay their lives down for the future. Even the sea, which sat peacefully behind us, was still. The only sounds I could hear were the muffled breathing behind helmets and the occasional clink of metal against metal.
Hadrian stood, chin high, to my left, Nyah to my right. Illera padded the sand, walking around Emaline who was already back to full health. Her wound had healed, only the silver mark of a scar was left. Vianne held two short swords to her sides, her long sun-toned hair laying still down her back. Even Kell kept her unblinking gaze on the sand dunes before us. We were as ready as the elf next to us.
The initial quake that alarmed us was not the only one to come. As our camp rushed to congregate, the ground proceeded to shake violently after paused moments. Each more intense than the last. The gap of stillness shorter than the next.
It was when they finally stopped that a scout noticed the rolling cloud of sand that raced across Doom to greet us. It was far enough away that we had time to prepare.
“Zac, you know what to do?” Nyah said, tapping my arm with her hand. “Don’t hesitate. You’ve got this.”
“Will you be ready?” I asked, trying not to look at her.
“I’ll be fine, but you must not be aware of my doings until the last moment. We can’t let Gordex catch on to our one chance.”
If I looked at her I worried my wall of strength would crumble. Nyah was putting herself at risk, arguably more than Emaline, Hadrian and me. I wanted to hug her, wrap her in my arms and tell her how much she meant to me. But now was not the time.
“I suppose I should tell you now how clever I think you are, wouldn’t want to miss out on my chance.”
“I know.” Her reply was simple. “No need to tell me.”
I had to glance out the corner of my eye at her as she smirked to herself. Her red hair had been tamed and pulled back into a tight bun. Only a single strand had escaped and tickled the side of her face.
“Have you concealed the dagger on you, somewhere he will not see it?” she asked.
I lifted the hem of the black uniform and flashed the handle which rested close to the skin of my hip. “It’s ready and waiting. If everything is taken from me, he shouldn’t find this one unless he pries.”
“By that point it will be buried in his head, no need to worry.” Nyah’s fingers grazed mine, and I took it and squeezed.
Good luck, I sent the thought to her.
You too, friend.
Black smoke seeped from my side and Nyah was no longer next to me. The archers behind her gaped in shock at her sudden disappearance, but I blocked out their gasps and focused on the sand clouds.
It was hard to ignore the tickle that crawled down the lip of my neck and rested across the bare skin of my chest.
Hadrian didn’t let go of my hand.
Not as I took steps ahead of the front line, readying myself. His hand held on, fingers pulling to keep me next to him, but he knew I had to go. If the sand storm reached us, we would be blind to Gordex and Marthil’s attacks. I couldn’t let that happen. Not when we still didn’t know what else waited in the storm. Had he found dead to control? Who else fought by his side, willing or not?
Eyes closed, I willed my shift to take over.
Once the weightless presence of my wings flexed behind me and the strong touch of the curved horns protruded from my head, I opened my magick to the world.
My intrusive silver strands of control lit up the sky around me. I pulled on the tight tethers, pushing my awareness all the way across the Doom for the sand storm. I reached into it, searching for its eye, its origin. I had to understand the storm if I was to stop it.
My wind tickled across two figures, concealed inside the wild sands. They walked, pulling the storm along like a dog on a tether. The power was shared between them. One controlling the air, the other controlling the sand. Then I recognized the faint pulling of my power. A feeling I’d grown used to every time Gordex used my own abilities.
This was no different.
The rushed winds got closer, enough that my hair began twisting from my head. That was all I would allow this unnatural magick to do.
I raised a hand, blocking rogue grains of sand from infiltrating my vision. Pinning all my attention on the horror before me, I breathed. Then, as the wall of orange and darkness got close enough I unleashed my full potential.
I threw up my own wall of wind, solidifying it into a hard, surface, invisible to the naked eye. My scream fueled my power. It lured the anger out into my body and willed the full potential of my Heart Magick to run free.
The wild clouds of sand slammed into it, barreling with all its might. A single droplet of sweat beaded on my forehead and ran down onto the tip of my nose. My concentration was being pushed to its limits.
As if my shield was a door and I was putting my weight behind it to keep it closed, I felt someone—something else on the other side kicking it open. I fought against the pressure, holding my own.
Like a monstrous wave of water crashing into a stone wall, the clouds of sand splashed up against my own protective layer and hung there with the presence of a hungry beast, ready to devour. My feet dug into the desert ground under the force which I kept at bay.
I could feel the banging of feet from the soldiers and warriors behind me, urging me to keep strong. Their presence and support encouraged more of my power to join my protective wall. But with each force I gave up, I felt one going against me from the other side. Gordex.
He used my own magick, the Heart Magick, to keep his counter force attacking against my efforts. In my mind’s eye I could see him, standing within the shadowed eye of the storm, pushing energy into the angry winds, making them stronger and hungrier. I could hear his snigger, see his smirk, feel his enjoyment.
I knew he wouldn’t stop. He’d never lapse in his own counteract until I gave up on my own. No matter how much energy I put into my wall, with the ever-growing pressure it would not hold for long.
Marks had been made in the sand where I was being forced backwards. My wings began beating, trying to keep me in one place. Like glass, my shield was cracking. I could feel it in my bones. The sharp snaps building until it would smash and allow Gordex’s power to reign free. I had to act fast.
“Hadrian, I need you!” I shouted over my shoulder.
Hadrian was by my side in moments, his own beastly form free.
“Tell me what to do,” he said, calmly.
“I need you to throw as much flame as you can into the storm. But not yet! Wait for my signal.”
He didn’t refuse me. Instead, Hadrian widened his stance and readied his hands. Small flames conjured across his waiting hands, tickling around his fingers and reaching their cobalt kiss across his wrists.
I couldn’t get distracted. Blocking Hadrian out for a moment, I focused back on my shield as another enormous crack spread through it. This time it conjured an audible bang to spread through the sky and across us all. A thunderous n
oise that caused the shifters to roar and squawk.
My brows furrowed. Time for my next move to be played.
“Now!”
I dropped the shield, allowing the built-up pressure behind it to race faster towards me. Hadrian shouted his frustration towards the clouds and threw his arms to greet it. Flames sprouted across the distance and clashed with the clouds. The moment his fiery touch met the storm, I threw my shield up anew, this time knowing how much strength I would need to put within it. My shield sucked the very breath out of me.
I turned my face to the side as the flames came close to touching me. Even Hadrian raised an arm to protect himself. But the storm never reached.
Behind the newly formed shield the flames devoured the storm, fueled by the wild winds it burned, making clouds of magenta fire. All I could see beyond the wall was flame.
It was beautiful, majestic, horrific.
No longer did the pressure from Gordex press up against my own force, it receded like a scolded creature, running from a beating. He would use the power to protect himself against the wild flames, I knew that.
The fire reflected across the soldier’s armor as I turned to see if they were untouched. Some hands were still raised, expecting the fire and wind to reach them at any moment. But many screamed with pride.
It had worked.
We both watched as the inferno dwindled into nothing. No longer did the ravage winds roam free beyond. The sand was back across the ground, charred and black. Some even shone, reflecting the bright sun high above. The clear space gave view to the two beings stood atop the nearest dune, looking down over us all.
Gordex and Marthil stood side by side, hatred glares laid upon us all.
Marthil’s wings hung high behind them both, casting a devilish shadow across the desert.
Gordex was dressed in black, much like me, with layered plates of amour, and a sheer obsidian cloak that billowed in the light winds left behind from his use of magick. The Staff of Light was held firm in his hand, the crystal winked as he took a step forward. I was certain that shadow seeped from its crest, hungrily.
The dark rune marks that covered Gordex skin seemed darker than I had noticed before, his skin paler. The hood of his cloak covered the top of his face, blocking his piecing gaze from being seen. But the shadow didn’t stop me from feeling it. I could sense his wretched eyes running their way up and down my body, then shifting to Hadrian and Emaline, who was still on the front line behind us. He regarded us all as Marthil snarled, pointed teeth lapping over her thin lips.
They were both monsters in their own right. A right they’d both earned through their terrible actions.
Even from such a distance his voice carried over the space between us, loud enough for the entire regiment.
“Dragori, I give you this chance to prevent the blood shed that could soon follow. Give yourselves up, and I shall spare your kin. Do not, and I will unleash horror across these plains, and I will not stop until you are the last ones standing. The choice is yours.”
My mind almost made me step forward, but my heart screamed for me to stop. It was Hadrian who shouted back.
“I speak for us all when I say we are not in a mood for bargaining today.” Hadrian’s voice equally carried across the barren desert to Gordex.
“Shame.” Gordex turned to Marthil slightly and we watched him tilt his head towards her. “Remember when the desert runs with blood that I gave you the chance to stop this. Be it on your heads when death spoils the air.”
Marthil licked her lips and opened her fists into threatening claws.
“Ready!” Fadine shouted, commanding the archers.
“Zacriah, you can stop this.” I felt Gordex run his gaze over me again.
“Nock!” Fadine screamed, shared with the loud grunt which was followed by the notching of arrows and raising of bows. I recognized the slight sounds which was music to my ears.
I could stop this. If we gave him what he wanted, no more death was needed.
“Mark!”
I looked over my shoulder to see Fadine, face red, shout for her archers
“Draw…”
All Fadine would need to do is open her first and a storm of iron tipped arrows would rain down upon Marthil and Gordex. It would not stop them, but it was enough deterrent to cause Marthil to falter on her move.
“You had the choice,” Gordex said a final time, sighing.
“There are two of you,” I shouted. “And we are many. Do not make the mistake and go against us.”
“Ants work together, small creatures with such great strength. But it only takes a single boot to kill an entire colony. I am that boot.”
“LOO—"
Gordex laughed, the ocean listened. His joy did not make sense until our soldiers screamed out in terror. I turned around out of panic to see the shallow waters explode with bodies of dead beings. Shadowbeings rushed out of the sea, rusted weapons raised, and rushed the back lines of our regiment.
By the time I looked back to Gordex, he was no longer standing amongst the dunes. Only Marthil was left, a cunning smile plastered across her face.
She brought her hands together, and the ground split at her feet, creating a crevasse that snaked across the desert straight towards me.
MY ENTIRE FOCUS was on Marthil. I couldn’t worry about the soldiers dealing with the surprise attack. Not when Marthil planned to bury us all before the shadowbeings even struck.
I threw myself into the air, my wings pumping with vigor. Only seconds after my feet left the ground did it open beneath me, the crevasse greeting me as it caused the ground to split in two. Sand fell into the darkness that waited below.
It kept moving, snaking for the front line. I reached a hand to my side and pulled it through the air to my side. It caused a sharp slice of wind to rush straight for Marthil. She had not seen it until it was too close. She dropped her own magick and dived to the side, missing my attack by inches.
This would have been the perfect time for the archers to unleash their arrows, but they were all turned towards the hordes of dead that rushed them. Hadrian was already flying above, sending liquid fire down across the ocean to stop the bodies from crawling out. But without removing their heads, the shadowbeings kept coming. This time covered in hungry flames, which only benefited them. Their dampened bodies didn’t hold onto the fire for long.
I searched for Marthil, but she had fallen behind the dune. I was about to fly for it when a boulder the size of a cow came flying through the air towards me.
Spinning out of the way, it missed me. But then another came, and another. One after the other the boulders flew from behind the dune, each one getting closer to hitting me. I tried volleying them with wind, but I was either too weak, or too slow for my efforts to matter.
My wings carried me higher into the air as another boulder came for me. My feet pushed upon it, but the sudden force caused me to lose balance.
I tumbled through the air, spinning wildly.
The ground collided with me. My back screamed, and my lungs burned as the air was knocked out of me. I was certain I heard a rip sound from my left wing, but no pain followed, so I ignored the noise.
I gasped out, trying to regain my breath, but I was deprived as the sharp pain settled. I rolled onto my stomach, looking towards the fight at the shore. The boulders lay amongst the ranks, bodies squashed beneath. Blood in shades of black and red stained the sands. From my position, I could see a single arm reaching out in death from beneath one.
Anger boiled in my stomach in reaction. Death, already, death had graced the soldiers. It did not discriminate who it took. It hungered on any soul that stood in the wrong place.
A shout of frustration, laced with guilt, burst out of my mouth. I pushed myself from the ground and turned back to where Marthil last was, but she was now standing inches behind me. Her arm flashed out for my stomach, but I slammed my own palms down, knocking her attempt from touching me. She moved again, wings reaching for me with th
eir curved claws. Its sharp tip caught my uniform but did not pierce it. The layered material was all the protection I needed for that.
In the rush, I didn’t see her open hand reach for my hair until my scalp shrieked in pain. My natural reaction was to pull away, but she had a firm grip on my hair. Under her force, she pushed my head down, bringing her knee straight into my face. Blood burst out of my nose, filling my mouth with the harsh taste of copper. I choked on my own gore.
Marthil’s fist rained down heavy on my face, knuckles connecting with bone. Even her punches felt like rocks, so strong and unbreakable. Adrenaline was no longer enough to override the sense of pain. It barreled into me, stirring the anger within me to twist like a snake following the sound of its prey.
She turned me, back facing her where she wrapped her forearm around my neck and squeezed. Her face was close to my ear as she laughed, causing spit to fly from her deranged snarl. Her arms bulged as she held on, squeezing as hard as she could.
“Watch them all,” she said as we looked upon the struggle of my regiment going up against the shadowbeings. “See how they fall under his power.”
Tears of frustration leaked down my dirt-covered face. From the angle Marthil held me, I could see the bodies of our soldiers falling by force of death. I watched my friends blur between the shadowbeings as they fought for their lives. I longed to help them, but she had me trapped.
Putting all my strength behind my legs, I rocked forward, almost causing her to fall on top of me as I tipped to the ground. As my face got close to the sandy bed, I closed my eyes and blew. With as much might and magick as I could muster, wind exploded from my mouth, giving me enough force to slam the back of my head into her face. Sand sprayed, scratching at my face and closed lids. But from Marthil’s scream and the way her hold on my neck loosened, I knew it had gotten in her eyes.