Achil & The Rise Of The Mandrake

by David Papa-Adams

  Chapter XII

  Demons in the Mist

  The two armies of the Dragon people and Askalon merged into one. A long winding column of gleaming helmets slowly weaving its way through the lands of the Finns, at either side marched the Archers of Cashel. Their plan was simple; they were to somehow fight their way forward to the city of Findolin. The battle of the Haven Mountains had proven one thing, the Mandrake were not an invincible foe.

  As soon as had been possible, the army had set off, moving sluggishly, parallel to the Marsh; the intention being to cut across it, even though it was thought to be impassable. If successful they would come out unseen between the cover of the Stone Hills and the uplands of Findolin which meant they would be to the front of the encamped Army of the Mandrake, and from there they would emerge onto the open plain of Findolin. It was an audacious plan. The benefit of surprise, it was hoped, would afford them enough time to make the mad dash to the city. Scouts had already been sent out to make sure they would not be discovered. Above their heads flew the Krakon, sharp eyed, alert, keeping the army on the right path. There had been only a brief time to rest and eat, before the march through Findolin had begun. Achil was at Queen Lariset’s side, to her other, rode Wei, the Prefect and Ulathorn. Achil could feel a twinge of pain running down his right arm which made him cringe uncomfortably.

  “What’s wrong, are you hurt?” said the Queen.

  “The injury occurred when I fought an Ajatar and it has not properly healed yet,” replied Achil, who then turned and gestured toward the Marsh. “It's quite eerie, the quiet, the last time I was in the lands of Findolin there was so much life. Now, nothing; even the animals seem to be in hiding. It is like the brooding silence after a storm has blown in.”

  “No, think of it as the deep dark before the dawn," said the Queen. “By the way, thank you again for saving my life. I am greatly indebted to you, and the battle confirmed something else."

  “What’s that?” asked Achil.

  “For those Wolves to be able to shapeshift into men or to have men able and willing to shapeshift into Wolves can mean only one thing, that they were given that ability by one of my people,” said the Queen. “Jin has a lot to answer for.”

  “I was unsurprised when it happened,” replied Achil. “We had heard tell that the Mandrake had an army of shapeshifters at their disposal.”

  “My people learnt long ago.” said the Queen sadly, “How to take the appearance of certain creatures in nature. One of which was the Wolf, the other is the Bear. A few of us, the ones we refer to as the three, were more powerfully adept and subtle than others in how to achieve this. It is because of the three that the gift was forsaken many, many years ago. You see there’s a heavy price to pay for shapeshifting. You not only look like the creature, you also take on the traits of the creature, sadly some of my people found the more they used the gift the more difficult it was to change back to their natural forms. Sometimes it was because they couldn’t, and at other times it was because they chose to remain unaltered, remaining as some wild creature seemed to satisfy some base need of theirs. Giving them a freedom they hadn’t known before, a freedom they could not resist. But then there were the three. The masters of shapeshifting; who could assume any form they wished. But they became corrupt according to our laws, a violation of nature, monstrous, their carnal appetites knew no limits, they were eventually driven from Askalon. I’m afraid the problem with being a long lived race is the mistakes we make remain with us, and have terrible consequence. That is to say, once someone becomes evil, all the good they have done fades into a distant past and remains long forgotten replaced by the evil they have done or have become. And our greatest flaw was our pride and arrogance. We achieved so much that we thought ourselves superior to all others. We eventually lost site of what was important, of whom we really were. We even created six golden spheres as prisons that could hold captive the very essence of an individual, it was thought this way we would control the worst of us, though we found later, we were not the only ones to create such things. Such Orbs as the ones we made have different uses, and have been around Suberia for a very long time. We thought we were so mighty, but Jin with great subtlety and deceit of purpose made Spheres of his own without our knowing and when he was banished he took them with him, we destroyed the ones in our possession so that never again could anyone use them for their own gains. You see the problem with being a long lived practically immortal people is that our mistakes like our shadows always remain with us, a darkness that follows us wherever we go.”

  Achil listened to the Queen’s account of what her people were capable of with a certain amount of dread and awe, how grave were the consequences of the actions of Askalon, so these were the consequences of Gods and men, their actions carried a heavy burden. It was understandable why they were mistrustful of outsiders as they had seen first hand how their own people had been seduced and corrupted by the power that certain knowledge’s had over them. It was as though Knowledge were the master rather than them being masters of knowledge.

  “I don’t know if being immortal is a good thing or not,” said Achil. “You may have to live with all the wrongs committed by your people but at least you do not repeat them, and have the chance to learn from them. We mere mortals do not have that luxury, we live for three score years plus twenty, if we‘re lucky, and then let go of this mortal fabric. The next generation comes along to repeat our history rather than learn from it and what knowledge is learnt is often lost. So I think I would rather be immortal.”

  “I disagree I would rather be mortal,” said the Queen. “And have a new beginning than to walk with the contamination of past experiences, our memories are long, deep and in places dark. Anyway there is one thing we can both agree upon, whatever fate awaits; tomorrow will be a new day for the both of us.”

  Achil could hear the sad resignation in the Queens voice as she spoke; he had known Askalon as a proud and mighty people but the truth as always was a lot more complex. It appeared that her people had brought much hardship and ruin upon themselves and others all in the hope of trying to be greater than what they were.

  “We find out soon enough what surprises there are in store for us when we reach the plain of Findolin,” said Achil, staring out over the Marsh. “If I recall correctly from my youth; I think we're close to the point where we can cut across the Marsh, the going from here on will get a lot slower but we will be less likely to be seen by the enemy.”

  They carried on for another league after which Achil tugged on his reigns and urged his horse to turn into the Marsh. It was a treacherous journey, the bogs spluttered as they were passed, bubbling up and then subsiding, as though inviting people to trap themselves in murky mud. They moved two abreast so as not to fall into treacherous watery pools. The uncompromising Marsh was unwilling to let its privacy be invaded. As they penetrated deeper into it, a mist settled all around them like a thick grey veil. It became disconcerting not to be able to see the front or rear of the Column. And yet they crept on, the Krakon disappeared above the canopy of the mist, though every so often it would give out a shrill warning cry so that they knew the direction to move in. The metal pots struggled against saddles, like the hollow sound of wind chimes. The grunting of the horses could be heard, accompanied by the steady flop of hooves. In front of Achil could be seen the ghostly shapes of their companions, but further on the mist prevailed and seeing became impossible or was it impassable.“There are reasons my people do not enter the Marsh,” said the Queen. “It is said that the three shape shifters that were banished long ago, entered here, and became demons of the mist.”

  “Ha! I think perhaps that's something that we could have known before we entered the Marsh. What sort of Demons?” asked Achil.

  “That’s just it,” said the Queen quietly her eyes glistening in the mist. “We must be careful. The three could take the form of any creature, even of those you most trust.”

  Achil felt a chill run down his spine.
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br />   “Well there’s nothing for it; this is the only path we can take where we may not be discovered by the Mandrake. I’ll pass word to tell the others to watch out. Problem being, I don’t even know what they should be watching out for.”

  Achil shouted back to Ulathorn to be on guard that there might be some thing lurking in the Mist. Ulathorn passed on the message. As they laboured on, it was as though time stood still. Once the Queen had fallen silent, each step seemed to take an eternity. Achil was beginning to get restless, there was nothing quite like the apprehension felt from expecting something dreadful to happen, to make an individual more restless. The fog with its cold clammy hands seemed to reach out and embrace all. Achil felt drops of condensation and perspiration trickle uncomfortably down the back of his neck, he took out a silk handkerchief wiped his neck dry, and realised just how tired and exhausted he felt. As he did so he noticed that the Queen was staring at him.

  “You know we didn’t realise that Jin would cause so much harm,” said the Queen sadly, as if looking into some unknown distance.

  “Our current predicament not your fault.” said Achil. “He has his own mind or did, though it seems to have been overrun, and consumed by an unquenchable desire for power which is perhaps a cover for his pain. He was after all rejected by those he loved, if he did indeed love anyone other than himself, he was cast out and banished, look at the history of all those that carry such shame. Look at what they go on to become. There is some bitterness in their hearts that seems to overwhelm them. Jin being a man like any other has been poisoned by an obsession for power and that has obsession fills a void a great emptiness he feels, from the great loss he feels. He is surrounded by acolytes poisoning his ear each telling him that his way, is the right way, and so his bitterness is fuelled, and then within him grows an even greater resentment towards those that would resist him. His heart has been twisted by his desires and being motivated by them, he is blind to all else. He believes he is doing the right thing, and perhaps there was a time when he was truly the greatest among us. But not anymore, now like all those who crave power for there own ends; the energies that consume him, might go on to consume us all, and that is why more than ever he must be defeated.”

  “Achil, the man I once knew is not the one who conquered the east and has like a plague descended upon you,” said the Queen. “There is something else that motivates him, more than blind obedience to the intangible want of power. Do not misunderstand me, I do realise what you are saying, but the man I knew was more deliberate than the one you speak of. The man I knew would never have acted rashly, sending an army into these lands without surety of victory; he would move a peace on the board in the knowledge that his true design would remain hidden. If he loses this war, it will be because he wanted to be defeated. He is more calculating than any can guess. He will take us all to the edge of the chasm and then either we all fall in, or he will pull back from the brink not because he has to but because he has achieved his aims. He is a man unmatched in intrigue and guile. It is for these reasons that he should be feared. There is more to his actions than we know, and that you can be sure of.”

  “It is hoped with so much time passed since he was once considered an Askalon,” replied Achil. “That Jin is not the man you knew, and that he has changed. Perhaps he has lost some of the craft you speak of, otherwise all may be lost.”

  Before she could speak further there was a terrible screeching sound ahead. They stopped immediately the horses began to wrestle wildly with their stirrups, rapidly breathing in large draughts of air. They held on tight trying to calm them. Achil swung his shield over his back, secured his sword to stop from losing it, and moved to intercept the Queen just as he did so, his horse reared up sending him and his belongings flying. The horse free of its passenger, hurtled forward and disappeared into the fog. Achil lay on his back in the boggy Marsh dazed for a moment, before gingerly getting to his feet.

  “Well it looks like your giving me a lift,” said Achil.

  “I’m sure Aifa can take both of us,” replied the Queen “What do you think that was. It did not sound of this world.”

  Achil nodded, and gathered his things together, he did not really want to think about what could have given off such a terrifying sound, but since he fought the Ajatar, he could guess.

  “So tell me more about the three that disappeared into the Marsh. Do you know what became of them?” asked Achil warily.

  “They were called Juno, Cu and Roi,” said the Queen. “As I said they had mastered the art of shapeshifting like no other, and became very powerful. They could make themselves become anything that was of Suberia. Not being confined to any particular form meant that they could become practically invisible. You could say, that when they were told to leave they weren’t very happy; but that was a long time ago, way too long to hold a grudge.”

  “Oh, way too long, like Jin,” said Achil.

  “If it is them,” continued the Queen. “They may perceive this as their opportunity to strike back at Askalon.”

  Achil was beginning to think that his suggestion of going through the Marsh was not such a good idea. So far each new danger seemed to grow ever bigger.

  There was another haunting screech. Wei came forward to make sure the Queen was okay, but was ushered back. Both the Queen and Achil could sense his unease as they felt it also.

  “Tell me, how are we to kill such things if they can take any shape?” asked Achil.

  “Well if it is them, then I and my people have discovered a potion that prevents them from changing shape. So once the potion is introduced into them, from that moment on they will be unable to alter their form.”

  The Queen pulled a small pouch from her belt, in it was a little vial and passed it to Achil.

  “When the time comes dip your arrow heads in the ampoule,” said the Queen.

  Achil accepted the pouch with thanks, and tied it to his belt. As the hours passed and they slowly moved forward, what light there was began to fade. Achil‘s horse made its way back to its master, having thought better of travelling alone in the Marsh at night. So Achil transferred his belongings to it, scolded it for going off, and mounted it. As the gloom got worse they lit torches to guide their way and continued forward. The Marsh with its dangerous bogs was difficult to traverse in the poor light of day, now in the dark, it had become truly treacherous. Achil like most Finns knew the Marsh but still so much looked the same that he could not be sure of where he was. The Queen slowed and held out her arm preventing Achil from proceeding; in the distance she had spotted a strange glow.

  “Wei halt the column here,” said the Queen. “I will scout ahead and investigate. There appears to be something in the mist.”

  Wei appeared out of the mist and took the reigns of the Queens horse.

  “I should go you should not risk yourself so needlessly,” said Wei. “There could be danger ahead.”

  “That’s the point,” said the Queen. “I will not send one of my people into the unknown when there is the possibility of danger up ahead.”

  “Well I’m going with you,” said Achil. “And there's no good protesting about it, I’m not one of your people.”

  Queen Lariset and Achil steadily stepped into the foggy mantle. In the torch light the Queens dark eyes shone out, there was no indication in them that she was afraid, more a curious glow seemed to emanate from them but the light kept the same distance away from them. It was almost as though it had some keen intelligence of its own. After a little while Achil stopped, he had become deeply suspicious of the light and its strange behaviour.

  “I don’t like this that light is something unnatural,” cried Achil. “As we move it moves. It's is leading us away from the column, let us go back while we still can. Remember Wei‘s warning we should not move too far ahead.”

  At that point a voice clear and loud came out of the dark.

  “You already have gone too far. Who is it that enters the domain of Juno, Cu and Roi?”

&nbs
p; Three men appeared from the cover of the mist.

  “It is I Queen Lariset of Askalon, I remember you well and the disguises you wore. We mean you no harm, will you let us pass?”

  The three hesitated a moment seeing the Queen in front of them brought back long forgotten memories, and for one brief moment they stood uncertain as what to do.

  “Come back to us,” continued the Queen. “And I will grant you an amnesty for your crimes and your treachery.”

  “Treachery,.” cried Juno. “It was you that betrayed us left us in this foreign world, you turned your back on us, driving us out; making us strangers in our own lands.”

  “You chose that fate,” said the Queen. “When you chose to become what you became. Your cruel acts were strange to us and made you strangers to us. I’m not here to debate the right or wrongs that occurred so long ago that there are many that walk Suberia that cannot know what happened then. But here is a chance for redress; come back to us, and redeem yourselves.”

  “It is you that needs redeeming,” replied Cu angrily. “We did nothing wrong but follow our hearts and the ways of shapeshifters. A way of life you could not abide.”

  “We did tolerate you for a time,” said the Queen growing impatient. “Until your base lecherous bestial ways became too disturbing for us, but if you can change one way, surely you can change the other. Come back to us now while you are able.”

  The three stared at each other and slowly turned their gaze back to the queen.

  “You, tolerate us!” said Roi. “Look what we have had to tolerate, you self-serving Queen of the damned, the only reason you didn’t let us remain was because we were a threat to your power. We showed others that all things are possible.”

  “Your beliefs were an affront to our laws,” said the Queen.

  “It always comes back to that same old argument,” replied Roi. “When all else fails and you have no other argument left, it comes back to the old excuse of we disobeyed archaic laws.”

  “Isn’t that why you really banished Jin also,” said Cu. “Isn’t that why you punished all of us because we stood against the old order and wanted to build a new world.”

  “No, you were punished because of the harm you did and could do to our people,” said the Queen. “But I still believe in absolution. Those that knew what it was to be an Askalon can be an Askalon again."

  “Is that why you are here to redeem us, if it is then you have failed,” said Roi. "We shall entertain you no longer, we were wronged. And it was you that wronged us. But still we are willing to let you pass; you simply have to pay the tithe if you truly desire safe passage. If not we shall lead you into bogs and hazards where there is no escape.”

  Achil stood still his torch held aloft, from out of the gloom he could make out the three shadowy figures, all in human form, all tall proud looking men. Their long dark unkempt hair straddled their shoulders. Their tunics were worn and ripped in places. There was an unquenchable fire in their eyes, and their faces were toughened by years of living in the wild. Achil on seeing them instinctively had drawn his sword. The Three shapeshifters had paid him no regard until that point, they turned to face him and laughed.

  The One called Juno stepped forward and glared menacingly at Achil.

  “Your puny weapons have no power here,.” said Juno. “Go on strike me for all the good it would do you.”

  “Fare enough,” said Achil, he placed his sword back in its scabbard and taking his bow from around his neck, he dipped an arrow into the amalgam the Queen had given him and attached it to his bow. “I do not have the time or the inclination to argue with you. You will let us pass or I will fire.”

  The three shapeshifters laughed. Achil raised his bow but before he could fire they melted back into the darkness leaving behind the echo of their cold laughter. The Queen began to chant something whilst waving the torch light in the air. The light quickly began to swirl around them and exploded outward removing from their immediate vicinity all traces of the fog. The Queen collapsed to the floor.

  “Quickly you won’t have much time you must strike now.”

  For the first time since they had entered the Marsh, their surroundings were completely clear. The three shapeshifters were standing directly ahead within easy range of his bow. Realising what the Queen had done, they quickly began to change form. One becoming a wolf, another a bear and the third a Formorian, a demonic giant whose upper body was that of a man and whose lower body was that of a bull, large horns began to grow from its head, its teeth becoming fangs, its eyes seething red. All three began to roar and circle their prey. Achil was stunned for a moment at the sight of them changing form, and lost precious seconds to react. He soon recovered, firing an arrow at each creature in turn. The arrows bit deep into the shapeshifters hides; the creatures let out a scream of agony and rage. Breaking the arrows off, they threw them scornfully down at Achil’s feet.

  The Queen rose steadying herself, before drawing her sword, the blade glinted in the light. The Wolfman jumped forward at her, as it rose in the air, she swung her blade round whilst leaping to the side, twisting the blade behind her, missing the creature. Achil had a choice the Great Bear or the Demon. He let his bow fall to the floor and drew his sword as the great bear roared once more and advanced upon him. As it closed on Achil it raised itself onto its haunches, towering above him it gave out another loud fierce roar. An arrow hit it straight through its mouth. It slumped to the floor, dead. Ulathorn hearing the commotion had raced toward the sound, when he had heard the roar he drew back his bow and fired as the clearing began to fill once more with mist. The demon then charged at Achil. Achil lowered his shield for protection. The creature rammed right into it; they both fell to the ground. Luckily the horns did not impale Achil, though the demon had tried to skewer Achil with them. The Demon backed away to give itself enough space so as to lunge once more at Achil. Seeing the danger Achil freed his dagger and as the demon came onto him; he shoved it hard into the creature's eye. It roared and hit Achil dropping him to the floor. He rolled to one side and managed to retrieve his sword. Picking it up just as the creature lunged once more, this time it felt his blade through its chest. It fell to the ground limp. The Wolfman seeing this gave out a loud howl and disappeared into the dark. Achil fell to the ground panting; he grabbed the hilt of his sword and freed it from the creature. The Queen stood over the other creature making sure it was dead.

  “Are you okay?" asked Ulathorn.

  Achil nodded still trying to catch his breath.

  “Get back to the column,” he said urgently. “And inform the others that there’s a Wolfman loose roaming the Marsh, everyone needs to be on their guard.”

  With that Ulathorn turned and headed back. Queen Lariset poured a little liquid from a vial over the dead figures, and uttered some incantation. The bodies changed back to human form and then started to dissolve into a vapour before disappearing. Achil seeing the anguish on her face as she did this respectfully waited by her side. They slowly returned to the main column. It was beginning to get light, the fog was still an impenetrable wall, but at least they could see each other more clearly.

  After the ordeal with the Shapeshifters the Prefect joined them at the front of the column. His ears alert to the slightest sound that might prove to be of an unnatural origin. Though there was nothing to report, it was as if the last of the three had slipped away to lick his wounds. Achil also kept his mind focused on the road ahead, his only difficulty was that he felt sore all over, he arched his back and rubbed his side, trying to free himself of the aches and sharp pangs that were creeping up him. It was some hours before the Queen ventured to speak again.

  “Can you tell how close we are to leaving the Marsh?”

  “I think or rather hope we are close to the edge of the Marsh,” said Achil. “Pass the word for the army to ready itself, I'll go with Ulathorn and Wei and scout ahead. Halt the army here and wait our return.”

  With that Achil and his two companions disappear
ed ahead. It wasn’t long before the three of them ventured beyond the fog, and into the blistering gaze of the sun. Thankfully at the edge of the Marsh, was the cover of the long reed grasses and wooded crop. They were forced to stop briefly as a Mandrake patrol, passed them by seemingly in a hurry to get to where they were going. They waited, hidden away, and then moved on again. As they made their way further forward, the marsh became more heath, and then altered as the land undulated in a rugged pattern, they had reached the Stone Hills which provided them with easy cover and soon were well beyond it and in the uplands of Findolin.

  After scouting out the lands they returned with the news that the land beyond the Stone Hills was calm. The army left the cover of the marsh and moved with great speed until they were in the more open uplands.

  It was Ulathorn who first sighted a shadow in the distance, rising up to touch the sky.

  “What do you suppose that is?” asked Ulathorn.

  Achil gazed at it for some time considering the alternatives but only coming to one conclusion.

  “It must be Findolin, she burns,” said Achil. “I fear we are too late.”

  As they reached the top of one of the rising hills, Achil gestured for everyone to slow and keep low. Resting on their stomachs they crept forward gazing out in front of them was the plain of Findolin, and in the distance the camp of the enemy. But it was not Findolin burning as they had thought, but the enemy camp; one corner of it was ablaze.

  They could see the Orochi fighting to escape from its bonds. The creature had already pulled the Siege engines to the base of the Plateau and in its haste to be free of them had crashed into them. Something had happened to the creature. It was in a frenzy, crazed, fighting to break free its chains, no longer compliant or sedate, no longer under the influence of the Jin. Achil noted more importantly that the beast now stood between them and the Mandrake, that in the current situation they could quite easily break through to the city without actually having to fight their way through. Achil grabbed Ulathorn’s arm excitedly pulling him close. They needed to act otherwise the situation could change.

  “Quick,” said Achil. “We must seize the moment, before it's lost. Go back and spread the word. We are going to break through to the City, Wei you go with him tell the Cashel to ride alongside any that are able to carry them.”

  The two of them without hesitation turned and raced back to the Army. Above Achil the Krakon was flying, Achil whistled to the bird, which landed close by. He crawled over to it.

  “Fly to the City my friend,” said Achil. “Your appearance will encourage the people; they will know help is not far behind.”

  With that the great eagle climbed into the sky and flew off toward the city. Achil surveyed the enemy camp; it was in disarray, but still a formidable fighting force. So it was Achil thought that Findolin owed its survival to a Dragon from the east, but only if they survived to make it inside the city.