Dark Times

by Brian Murray

  Captain Jamie pulled Dax to one side. “Dax, I will not last much longer. I can feel the madness slowly taking me. The corruption is already seeping through my body, eating my sanity and my strength.”

  “What do you think we should do?”

  “We should move and get to the Black Palace as soon as possible. I will not die without my axe in my hand.”

  “I will make sure that does not happen,” promised Dax.

  “But you may not be around to ensure that, my friend. I want to die on my feet defending my liege, not waste away a whimpering wretch.”

  Dax smiled at the man’s bravery. “Let’s get the men moving.”

  “Thank you, Dax.”

  “No. Thank you, Captain Jamie. You gave up peace and Paradise for your king. These are my friends and that was enough for me, but you did not know Zane as I do. He will be a great man, a great king. You gave up everything for your king and that makes you—and your men—true Rhaurns. Your deeds will be sung about for generations.”

  Captain Jamie looked into Dax’s violet eyes for a long while, then nodded, turned, and issued his orders.

  The axe-wielders instantly obeyed their captain and were marching within minutes.

  “Dax, why are we moving so quickly?” asked Zane, sighing heavily.

  “Captain Jamie wants to see the end of this little trek,” replied Dax.

  “But the men are exhausted,” pressed Zane, thinking of his own tired legs.

  “Zane, we’re all tired, but the captain is dying and does not want to die without knowing you are safe. Give the man that. He will be there at the end, but for him the end is a body full of corruption.”

  Zane did not say anything, but looked over his shoulder towards the large captain. He wanted to drop back and say something. He knew the man had given up everything for him but saying ‘thank you’ just seemed hollow. Zane decided he had to say something to the captain, but wanted to find the right words. All of the axe-wielders had followed orders without question and each and every one of them had given up Paradise for him. Zane felt guilty, but also immeasurably proud of his Rhaurns. Through each and every obstacle put in front of them, every beast they had faced, the men had not complained, but got on with the task. The young king looked ahead at the Black Palace dominating the black sky. The colossal angular building was outlandish in design but was in its own right impressive. Against the backdrop of deep red clouds, the building seemed to ooze fire—a trick of the Yallaz’oom atmosphere. The building seemed to be alive –alive with the purest evil, the realm’s nature.

  ***

  Zorain and Conn walked the quiet streets of Down Town in Teldor. The night was clear and silvery light from the moon bathed the city. They had trained the new City Watch and given the new recruits their duties. So far, the men had done as they were told without question. Emyra had promised Zorain the men would follow his leadership and if there were any problems, he should contact her.

  Emyra did not stay in the palace, but at home, and commuted to the palace each day to complete her duties. The woman’s abilities impressed Zorain. Everyone who needed paying was paid on time and she collected all taxes due without any problems. He was sure she had her fingers in some of the contraband coming into the city, but Zorain decided to turn a blind eye—as long as it did not get out of control.

  “Quiet tonight,” said Zorain, trying to start a conversation.

  “Pardon me?”

  “I said, it’s quiet tonight,” repeated Zorain, with a questioning look at his friend.

  “Yes, it is very quiet,” answered Conn distantly.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” replied Conn. The conversation petered out as the two men passed the Flying Vessel, Rayth’s home. Zorain paused at the tavern and checked the locked front door. Good memories flowed into his mind and he smiled. Leaving Conn, Zorain ambled around the building ensuring all was secure. When he reached the back door, he instinctively rapped the secret knock. Zorain chuckled like a naughty child. He thought of his friends and prayed they were safe. He had wanted to travel with his king, but Zane had insisted he stay in the city. He was one of the few men Zane trusted with his home and Kingdom.

  Zorain finished walking around the building and reached Conn. He noticed something was wrong with the watchman.

  “What’s the matter with you, Conn?”

  Conn rose from sitting on the tavern steps and faced his friend. “I’ve received word from my family. My father has taken ill and I need to travel home.”

  Zorain stepped in close to his friend. “I’m sorry to hear that, my friend. You’d better go to be with your family. Will you take your wife?”

  “No, I’ll travel alone.”

  “When will you leave?”

  “I will be leaving the day after tomorrow at dawn, if that’s fine with you. I should be back in a couple of months.”

  Zorain thrust out his arm and Conn took it, pulling his old friend into an embrace. “I’m sorry, Zor.”

  “You have to go, my friend. Family is family and you’re needed, so I understand. I will miss you.”

  “Aye, and I you.”

  “I’ll take care of your wife and child while you’re gone.”

  “That’s most kind,” replied Conn, forcing a smile.

  Nothing more about Conn’s leaving was mentioned during their patrol.

  On the morning of his departure, Conn rode his horse through the outer gates of Teldor. He reached a hill overlooking the city, stopped, and glanced back. He remembered the last few months in the city and smiled. The next couple of months would be just as fraught for the inhabitants. He turned his horse to the north and trotted away, leaving Teldor and its memories behind.

  ***

  Zane, Dax, and Captain Jamie scrambled on all fours, and crested a lifeless hill that overlooked the Black Palace. The colossal angular building stood proud against the black and red sky. Its huge spiral towers stretched upwards, seemingly forever, so that its conical peaks were lost in the clouds. In the distance, an active volcano sent plumes of black smoke and steel grey ash into the sky. As they watched, the volcano violently erupted. It vomited masses of debris high into the sky and the glowing liquid rock spewed over the crater, seeping down the mountain in murderously hot rivers.

  Zane dragged his eyes from the majestic erupting volcano and gazed at the Black Palace. With the volcano blasting in the background, the building looked like a gothic mass of evil. A moat surrounded the building. Zane strained his sight and stared at the moat. It was molten rock that bubbled and popped lazily as it flowed around the colossal building. One crossing extended over the moat, leading into the building. Hundreds of beasts stalked around the palace and several huge men guarded the bridge.

  He rolled onto his back and shook his head. The ground beneath him rolled and heaved gently, caused by the eruption. Zane gazed up at the sky. The crimson clouds mixed with the smoke and ash from the volcano, forming swirling patterns. The young king rubbed his tired eyes and smudged black soot across his face. Then it started to rain. It rained ash—arid, hot black ash.

  Zane looked at Dax, who studied the movement at the palace. For several minutes, he watched the older warrior, while the ash settled on him like dark grey snowflakes, lacking the purity of white snow.

  ***

  Dax stared down at the palace and estimated the number of beasts ambling below. His mind raced with problems. In the distance, the volcano erupted again, breaking his concentration. He stared in awe at volcano’s lethal beauty. He dragged his attention back to the problems at hand and the building that resembled a fortress. Looking at the only bridge that spanned the moat, he watched the guards and shook his head slightly. For several minutes, he memorised the scene and then in silence slid back down the hill to where the others waited.

  The rain of ash started to cover everyone and everything in a shroud of black, turning matte grey when it cooled. Dax sighed and looked at all of the grim faces that stared at him,
waiting for him to say or do something. He turned and looked back up the hill, then called his companions and Captain Jamie to one side.

  Dax took a moment to look at his fellow travellers. All looked very tired and badly travel- stained, but Captain Jamie suffered more than the others. Although he had a rising fever, he did not complain. Dark black smudges surrounded his hollow, dull eyes, and foul-smelling pus was seeping through his bandages.

  Dax suddenly smiled. “We’re here,” he stated, and saw the relief in everyone’s face. “But it’s not going to be easy getting into the fortress. The key is to get Zane into the palace and get him home.” Zane started to speak, but Dax stopped him by raising his hand. “Zane, I am too tired to argue with you, so just listen to me. You will be going home. The rest of us are here to ensure that.” Dax stepped in close to his young king. “But remember one thing, I will always be at your side.”

  Zane smiled his crooked smile. “How do we get in?”

  “Well, the men are all tired, so I think we will just walk up to the door and knock,” answered Dax with a wicked smile.

  “I don’t like the sound of that,” said Thade, cringing.

  “But it’s the only way,” started Dax, who then went on to explain his plan.

  Captain Jamie smiled at the plan’s simplicity and nodded when Dax looked at him for reassurance. In response, he said, “We’ll be ready, Dax. You can rely on my men.”

  “There is no doubting that, Captain Jamie of the Axe-wielders.” Dax stepped towards the huge captain, who stood a head taller than the older warrior. Dax offered the soldier his hand and smiled. “You and your men are the bravest, most courageous I have ever met,” he said.

  Captain Jamie gripped the man’s arm warrior style at the wrist. “It has been a pleasure, and your men are the best, the very best.” He turned to Zane and dropped to one knee, bowing low. “I have been proud to serve you, your Highness. You are and will become a great king. I can read men like others read parchments. You will be a great king and I’m immensely proud that my men and I have served you during your hour of need.”

  Zane was choked with emotion. This was a goodbye—he knew it. “Rise, my friend. Apart from my friends here, I’ve never known others like you and your men. I will always be in your debt and I will treasure your memory forever. I cannot give you or your men anything but my gratitude. It isn’t a lot but you have that, and my hand in friendship.” The two men shook hands.

  “My men followed you to Hell itself and fought foul beasts for you, my king. Now it is time for you and your friends to go home.”

  Zane nodded and looked at Dax. “I’m tired of this place. Let’s go home.”

  “I hear you, boy,” answered Dax, smiling. “I hear you.”

  ***

  Five grey-robed Keepers walked slowly down a charred hill towards the Black Palace—the home of the Dark One. The valley was hotter than the hottest day on the Steppes. Shadows and Talon Hunters ignored the group as they moved towards the palace looming in front of them. The closer they got to the palace and the lava moat, the higher the temperature rose. The volcano behind the palace erupted again, spewing more ash and molten rock high into the sky.

  The Keepers approached the crossing that extended over the lava moat. Two Talon Hunters started fighting to their left. The beasts fought until one of the creatures was lifted by its opponent and thrown into the bubbling liquid rock. When the Talon Hunter hit the molten rock, its body instantly combusted, sizzling loudly. Around the moat, other Talon Hunters howled and slammed their fists against their chests. The victor strutted about, accepting the eerie accolades.

  The Keepers reached the moat and stepped onto the black stone humpback bridge. The heat from the lava was sweltering but the Keepers did not pause, moving directly towards the guards at huge arched metal gates in the wall.

  ***

  Captain Jamie and his men crawled down the hill in silence while the ash rain continued to fall. They were lucky, for the ash rain hid the dust that rose behind the scrambling men. At the base, the men spread out and Jamie gave a silent order for them to clean their weapons, breastplates, and helms, using the rags they had carried their weapons in. He wanted his men to look like the axe-wielders they were and not a disorganised rabble.

  As Jamie cleaned his own weapons, he thought of Dax’s plan. It was perilously dangerous, but he could not think of anything else. Once the men finished cleaning, the plan was put into action. He watched five grey-robed Keepers crest the hill behind him, walk slowly down the hill and cross the open plain. Jamie’s head started to pound as he watched the Keepers reach the black stone bridge. Just a little more time, he told himself, a little more time and then I can rest.

  The volcano behind the palace erupted again, this time booming loudly and brutally rocking the ground. He could see the lava being thrown into the sky above the palace. What a revolting place to die, thought Jamie. The pain intensified and he started to lose grip of his sanity.

  Just then a voice whispered into his mind, the Divine One’s lyrical voice. “I am with you, Captain Jamie. I will hold off the fever for you.”

  “My men?” asked Jamie in a whisper.

  “Finish your mission, Captain Jamie, and know peace.”

  Captain Jamie felt the pain in his head decrease and his thoughts cleared. For the first time in days, his mind was sharp and his body felt reinvigorated. He looked at the men to his left and right, and smiled. His men were grim-faced but ready and again looked like axe-wielders. They could see an enemy and they were ready for battle. Jamie returned his gaze to the Keepers who approached the huge palace gates.

  ***

  Dax led the others onto the black stone bridge. Only when he was examining the palace earlier did he remember the robes he had kept when they defeated the Keepers to enter the mines. It seemed such a long time ago when they fought the Keepers. The men had been through so much since then and now they were nearly at the end of their quest.

  “This is not going to work,” said Zane in a harsh whisper as Dax distributed the robes to his friends.

  “Quiet, boy!” snapped Dax in frustration.

  Halfway across the bridge, Dax let his axes slip down slightly, but not far enough for the blade points to protrude from the long sleeves of his grey robes. Behind him the others were all armed, including Rayth, who had his battle-axe hidden in the folds of his robe, held against his chest. The group approached the huge guards—the Caynians.

  Lightning ripped across the sky, lost in thick ash. Thunder rumbled. The men’s footsteps crunched on the stone bridge. The sounds mixed but were lost in another booming volcanic eruption.

  At that moment, the first Caynian guard looked up at the sky. Dax let one of his axes slip down and he gripped the leather hilt. Within a heartbeat, he swung the weapon and buried the blade into the Caynian’s exposed neck.

  ***

  Captain Jamie watched the five companions dressed as Keepers cross the bridge. Lightning streaked across the sky and for a moment it lit up the Black Palace. Thunder rumbled and the volcano roared. Captain Jamie saw Dax strike the first guard—the signal.

  “Axe-wielders—forward!”

  In unison, the axe-wielders rose from their hiding places. They stepped out into the open, their polished breastplates and helms gleaming red, reflecting the fountain of lava thrown into the sky by the erupting volcano. The men formed a fighting wedge around their captain and slowly marched out towards the enemy.

  Talon Hunters and Shadows watched in disbelief. Walking towards them were armed men with their battle-axes glinting, their armour gleaming crimson.

  ***

  At the palace gate, the first Caynian fell under Dax’s axe. Thade, Tanas, Zane, and Rayth instantly armed themselves and attacked the other Caynian guards who stood unmoving for a heartbeat in shock. Then as two more of their brethren fell, they started to defend themselves. The fighting was ferocious, but the men had more to fight for and chopped, slashed, and hacked their way through t
he remaining three guards.

  After cutting down the last guard, the five friends dressed in Keepers’ robes rushed into the courtyard of the palace. They passed through the huge gateway, where Dax stopped and looked back at the axe-wielders. Many of the men had fallen. They were being used as a decoy, needed to draw attention away from the gateway and the five friends.

  Dax said a quick silent prayer for the men, then turned and followed the others. They raced across the wide courtyard and climbed the steps to the building. They passed through the huge arched doors. Instantly, rage and anger struck them. Dax calmed his aggressive emotion and breathed deeply. Why so angry? he asked himself. The palace, the entire building, oozed evil and it emitted foulness. Inside the palace, the five friends discarded the Keepers’ robes and strode onwards.

  ***

  Outside the palace, the axe-wielders were bloodied but continued their march forward, to death. The men chopped and slashed all of the beasts that now charged them. Many men fell, but the wedge remained solid and continued growing in momentum. Captain Jamie pushed his way to the front where he chopped and hacked with new vigour. His king was inside the palace so they had completed their mission. Now they had one more task; to destroy as many of the beasts as they could and uphold the axe-wielders’ honour. Suddenly, a booming cry stopped the beasts charging the axe-wielders.

  Captain Jamie called a halt to the march. He glanced around and saw he had lost many of his men. Through the ashy rain, he saw huge warriors with battleaxes and massive broadswords move forward to face his axe-wielders.

  “Men, I’m proud to call myself an axe-wielder,” began Jamie, his voice strong. “You are the best of men and it’s time to show these base whoresons what it means to be a Rhaurn—what it means to be an axe-wielder. Axe-wielders!”

  “We!” replied his men, bravely slapping their breastplates.