by Mark Boutros
‘Hey! Want this?’ Frong said to Ryza, holding the gauntlet.
Ryza flew after him, while Marlens and Sabrinia ran to Karl.
‘Karl.’ Sabrinia held his hands and cried. ‘Can you do anything?’ she asked Marlens.
Karl opened his hands and showed them the Soul of Illuminus he’d stolen from Ryza’s neck. ‘I can’t outfight her but I outsmarted her.’ He smiled through bloody teeth.
Sabrinia stroked his hair. ‘We’ll use it as soon as…’ She bit her trembling lip.
‘I understand now,’ Karl said. ‘What Illuminus was saying. Not life is death, but life is Death.’ He cast a glance at the demon god, ending more lives.
‘What are you talking about?’ Sabrinia said.
‘Death!’ Karl held the orb. Ryza would realise it was missing. He had no time to tell Sabrinia everything he wanted.
‘No, Karl!’ She tried to pull the soul from his grip. ‘We use it to command him. Then we use it to save you.’
‘Illuminus’ life isn’t ours to use.’ His grip loosened. ‘Marlens, please.’
Marlens looked at him and cried. She took a potion bottle, opened it and stuck it under Sabrinia’s nose, causing her to pass out. ‘I’m sorry, Sabrinia.’ Marlens stared at Karl.
‘Thank you,’ he said.
Marlens dragged Sabrinia and rested her among some barrels, away from the chaos.
Death appeared and floated parallel to Karl. He stared down through hollow, pain-filled eyes.
‘There are less scary ways to arrive.’ Karl held the Soul of Illuminus to Death’s chest and it shone a stunning green.
Death lowered onto his feet and kneeled by Karl.
Illuminus’ face appeared one last time and she smiled. ‘Life is Death.’ The green orb disappeared and Illuminus formed in front of Karl. She stepped into Death’s body and he glowed.
Death stood. He appeared full, alive, completely in the land of the living. ‘Thank you.’ A tear ran down his face.
Karl smiled and glanced towards the alleys.
Ryza flew around the corner. ‘Where’s my—’ She saw Death and flew away.
Karl touched Death’s foot. ‘Help them fix things, please.’
Death nodded and ran into battle.
Marlens lifted Karl under the arms and dragged him towards the gardens. ‘Come on, pal.’ She choked back tears.
‘Where does me surviving land on the hopelessness scale?’
Marlens sniffled and chuckled.
‘Thought as much,’ Karl said.
‘Nothin’ you’ve ever done has been hopeless,’ she said. ‘I was able to give Sags a few more moments. Let’s do the same for you, old chum.’
An Honest Choice
Sabrinia awoke among barrels. Ahead of her Death stood with Fools destroying Man-Hawks, Cyclops women and turning the tide in Flowforn’s favour.
Karl…
She rose to her feet, grabbed her weapons and ran back to where she last saw him. Maybe he was still alive. Hopefully. He had to be.
Ryza landed in the courtyard, Quizmal in her grasp. ‘Stop!’ she yelled at everyone.
The battle halted and everyone watched her.
‘Quizmal!’ Oaf said, looking for Questions.
‘All of you in a bunch!’ Ryza commanded, backing towards the wall under the Lookout Tower.
The Flowfornians, Fools, Death and the others all stood where she demanded. Sabrinia stood behind Frong and Oaf. Where were Marlens and Karl?
Ryza placed the Grave Blade to Quizmal’s neck. ‘Give me the gauntlet or I shred his little neck.’
Frong stepped forward and threw it to her.
‘Death,’ Sabrinia whispered and held the arrow with the rune markings to him. ‘Can you charge this with your power?’
Death aimed those terrifying hollows in his head at her. He placed his scaly hand on her wrist, turned her wrist to face the sky and ran his nail along her palm, drawing blood. ‘You can do it yourself.’
Sabrinia held the arrow in her bloody hand and the rune markings glowed. What was going on?
Ryza put the gauntlet on and took aim at them. ‘You all think you are good but you’re no better than me. You kill to protect your people, and all I’ve ever done is kill to further the Man-Hawks.’
Sabrinia took aim and stepped forward. It was too risky. If Ryza moved Quizmal he’d be dead. ‘The only killing we’ve done is when we’ve been attacked,’ Sabrinia said.
‘So have I!’ Ryza said. ‘Father told me of a time Man-Hawks lived peacefully, but it was humans, jealous of our ability to fly who tried to clip our wings.’
Sabrinia raised a hand. ‘You can’t blame all humans for the stupid actions of a few. Much like we can’t dismiss all Man-Hawks as evil.’ Sabrinia placed her bow and arrow on the pebbles. ‘If you give us Quizmal, we can discuss a way to live together, to help each other and end the conflict.’
A wounded Man-Hawk limped out of the alleys. ‘I like the sound of that.’
Ryza looked at the Man-Hawk. ‘History will only repeat itself. Shared power doesn’t work. Beings need someone they can look up to, to respect, to fear. It’s the only way.’
‘We can change that,’ Sabrinia said.
Ryza scoffed. ‘Gods don’t need to make deals with people. You can all burn with your wretched home.’ Flames covered her arm around Quizmal and he screeched.
‘Quizmal!’ Oaf yelled and ran towards them.
Ryza aimed her arm towards Oaf.
Arazod leapt from a window in the tower and landed on her.
Oaf ran to his son and pulled him out of harm’s way.
Arazod grabbed Ryza and pushed her against the wall.
‘Shoot her,’ Frong said to Sabrinia.
‘I can’t. Not with Arazod there,’ she said.
Ryza pecked Arazod’s shoulder. ‘You idiot, Little Arazod. You’ve cost me everything!’ She pecked him again and again, tearing at him. She tried to spread her wings but he held them down.
‘Sabrinia. Do it!’ Arazod cried through the pain. Ryza pecked the meat off his shoulders and flames covered her body.
Arazod’s screeches would haunt Sabrinia for however long she lived.
‘Please, Sabrinia. It’s the only chance,’ Arazod shrieked. ‘I’ll only betray you again. It’s in me.’ His feathers darkened and his claws reddened.
Sabrinia lifted her weapon and released the arrow. It wedged the siblings together and they fell to the floor, joined in death. With her last breaths, Ryza pecked at Arazod again and again.
One Life
Sabrinia punched Marlens in the face and she took it. ‘Why? Why did you let him?’
Frong held Sabrinia back. ‘It’s what he wanted.’
Karl stretched his arm out. ‘Do you really want to say goodbye like this?’
Sabrinia kneeled by Karl and grabbed his head. ‘You idiot.’
He smiled. ‘That’s me.’ He placed his hands on her face. He wanted to feel that warmth and take in the glow of her eyes one last time.
‘We could’ve used the orb to command Death and then revive you,’ Sabrinia said.
‘But it’s not ours to use.’ Karl looked at Death who nodded.
‘Is there anything you can do?’ Sabrinia asked Death.
Death shook his head. ‘I can help him to pass without pain.’
‘That’d be nice. I am in a fair bit of agony right now.’ Karl coughed. ‘Ryza’s sword is really, really awful.’
Oaf, Questions and Quizmal approached.
‘Will I miss you?’ Questions said, tears in her eyes.
‘I’ll miss you too, Questions,’ Karl said. ‘Remember to put that cage around the pool of tortured souls,’ Karl told Oaf.
Oaf nodded. ‘If you turn into a ghost, come and visit us from time to time, but not in a spooky way.’
‘Of course I will.’ Karl chuckled, his throat tight.
Quizmal cried and hugged his mum. ‘Bye Uncle Karl.’
Karl smiled at him.
The trio left Frong and Marlens to say their goodbyes.
Frong held Karl’s hand. ‘If there’s a way to bring you back, know we’ll find it.’
Karl shook his head. ‘Don’t worry about that. I’ve had a good go at this life.’
Marlens pulled on her hair. ‘Sorry I couldn’t save you.’
‘Stop it. You both made my life better. Frong, promise me you’ll visit my grave and tell me long and boring stories from time to time.’
He choked up. ‘I promise.’
Marlens and Frong left Karl and Sabrinia alone.
His body ached. ‘You were right. We never get enough time with the ones we love.’
She nodded. ‘Sorry we were never bound.’
He shook his head. ‘We didn’t need a ceremony. It’s here.’ He touched his heart.
Sabrinia bit her lip. ‘I love you.’
‘I love you too.’ He took a breath. ‘Time to go now.’
She kissed his lips and he felt alive one last time.
He stroked her hair. ‘Good luck and be careful...’
They finished the sentence together, ’It’s a strange world out there.’
Sabrinia hung her head.
Death touched Karl’s forehead. Everything around him peeled away and the faces of those who had given him meaning faded. His world turned green and he was on the shore where he had seen Illuminus, only she wasn’t there this time. The green sea swirled around his feet and a sense of calm came over him.
The layers fell and the green crumbled into darkness and screams.
New Life in Death
A sunset passed and the air was still heavy with sadness, particularly in Flowforn’s cemetery where they gathered. Sabrinia wished the tears would stop, but something burst within her and it would be a while before it repaired.
Oaf touched the hair of the wizard-lizard to Arazod’s back. His wings returned with red and blue feathers.
‘I know it’s raw right now,’ Oaf said. ‘But he’s proof that there’s good in everyone. Somewhere.’
Sabrinia nodded.
Oaf jumped into the grave and laid Arazod to rest. He placed the Soul Bleeder in Arazod’s claws. The Man-Hawk would be buried among Flowfornians.
Oaf shovelled soil on top of him.
Karl’s grave was next to Larnela’s; mother and son reunited.
Sags’ grave was next to theirs, although his body wouldn’t be in it. The hair didn’t work at restoring Sags’ form, but Frong kept his hand in a satchel. People would find it strange, but Frong didn’t care.
Proster’s death stone rested under a tree. They never recovered Hargon but placed his death stone next to Proster’s.
Sabrinia approached Death.
‘There’s more to you than you know,’ he told her. ‘I suggest you travel to the northern islands – find out more about your parents.’
‘But my mother and father were from the south.’
Death shook his head. ‘No. The guardians they left you with were. You are more than this castle and your people. Go and seek your true roots.’
He could’ve given her that news less bluntly. ‘Why should I believe you?’
Death stared at her. ‘It’s up to you. Stay and wait for the next evil, always reacting, or go and become the force to prevent it. You’re not as heroic as you think. Neither are you as weak as you fear.’
Her life was dedicated to the people. Leaving them in their time of rebuilding would be selfish and she had no idea if she could trust a god. They were known for manipulating people, not helping them. She thought it best to change the subject. ‘Arazod, if you’re here, bound to me, thank you for what you did. If you’re not, then – well, I’m talking to the wind.’
Death chuckled. ‘Bound souls? That’s all nonsense. A story invented to stop people behaving like animals. He is now in the Realm of the Dead.’
It was bittersweet. She wished she’d married Karl.
‘We’ll help you to rebuild, Sabrinia, then you can decide what you want to do,’ Frong said.
It was all a bit much, the thought that her father wasn’t her father. It made her think about all the signs. She realised his lack of affection wasn’t because he was worried about tragedy, but perhaps because she was a burden he was protecting.
‘I’m thinking of heading north,’ Marlens said. ‘There’s an alchemist who knows how to raise the dead. If he’s alive I want to learn from him.’
‘I’ll help you,’ Death said. ‘I sense a god there. The sooner I rid the world of the others, the better. And now I can no longer cross between realms they will sense me too and come out of hiding.’
Frong scratched his beard. ‘How about before we rush into any decisions we grab a drink? Death, I’m sure now you’re in the land of the living there are things you want to try.’
‘Well, yes. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have a nap, and perhaps an ale would make my insides feel a little less empty.’
‘Then it’s settled. We won’t make a decision on our next steps until we are suitably drunk,’ Frong said.
‘Plus Bar Witch needs a hand looking after that kid,’ Marlens said.
‘I’ll follow,’ Sabrinia said.
They walked away.
Sabrinia returned to Karl’s grave and sat in front of his stone. She thought about Ryza and felt guilty. People craving power often drove innocents to extremes and pulled them into their way of living. If Ryza was telling the truth, her people were victims too of some evil before. Sabrinia had to find a way for good to get to people before evil did. It was an infection that spread by using weakness and fear, but Arazod proved there was always good in people.
She left the cemetery and joined the others in the Adventurer Tavern.
Frong and Death chatted away and ate stew while Bar Witch served a customer. Sabrinia approached the side of the bar and lifted Alf from his cot. He wept.
‘Oh no,’ Bar Witch said. ‘It took me ages to get him to sleep. I’ll have to give him some ale now.’
Sabrinia glared at Bar Witch.
‘I’m joking!’ Bar Witch took Alf and made bizarre noises. ‘It’s what Hargon did.’
Sabrinia placed a hand on Bar Witch’s shoulder. ‘I’m sorry.’
Bar Witch shrugged. ‘What can we do? At least we have his art to remind us of him.’
Sabrinia scanned the paintings. So vivid. There was the time Karl was in the dungeon, then when Arazod was in the dungeon, and the painting of Sabrinia firing the arrow at the dummy. Then there was a bizarre painting of Hargon but it was awful.
‘I did that one,’ Bar Witch said. ‘Not got his skills but they say it’s about the meaning.’
Sabrinia chuckled and took in a song from the troupe of tree people. They should’ve been playing their violins at Sags and Frong’s wedding, not at a mass funeral. One of the tree people tapped her feet, kicking up a jolly rhythm.
Life is a road on the path to death,
Better make it fun,
Savour every breath.
There are twists and turns along the way,
To find meaning,
But it’ll never delay.
It’s coming! It’s coming! Death is coming for you!
It’s coming! It’s coming! So give meaning to all you do!
Death stood up and sang along.
‘Death’s coming! Death’s coming! So live a life that’s true!’
Sabrinia smiled at Marlens and Frong and left, not in the mood.
She searched the debris of the King’s Tower in the courtyard and found the wreckage of her old room. She opened the crate of Karl’s belongings and held his tatty shirt and wept.
She saw an old book, For Sabrinia, and opened it. She smiled through the tears. It was all of the three-word monsters they’d conjured up in their imaginations. There were her favourites, the flaming donkey sloth, the hollow bread bat, the leaf-headed ant woman. The drawings were terrible but that made them all the more beautiful.
She clos
ed the book and held it to her chest. She gazed at the sky. She’d never imagined leaving her people, but her adventure was only beginning.
THE END
Epilogue
Mud filled Karl’s mouth. He coughed and grasped at anything until he felt a rock. He grabbed it and pulled himself out of the muddy pit and onto what felt like sharp stones.
Screams echoed around him.
He coughed mud out, wiped it from his eyes and caught his breath. He sat up.
What was going on? The last thing he remembered was Death touching him. Had Death sent him to hell?
Karl touched his bare chest and wiped mud off it. The wound from the Grave Blade was gone. It was as if he were healed, but for what? To suffer again?
Fire burned in the distance.
Karl walked towards it but a red sword hovered and blocked his path. He took another step but the sword pointed at him.
That was enough of a warning. ‘I guess I’ll go the other way.’ He turned and faced a long rocky path he could easily fall off.
‘Great.’ Karl spotted a dead man dangling over the edge of the path. He pulled him up and nearly threw up.
The man’s face had been scratched and his chest shredded. His eyes were missing. Why had Karl been sent here? When could he finally rest?
Karl spotted what he assumed was the man’s dagger in the distance. He picked it up.
Beyond a mountain, cheers erupted and a puff of fire rose.
Karl continued and a ghostly figure in scratched armour walked towards him. Karl stopped and so did she. Her dark hair clung to her face like a net and her bloody smile shook his soul.
She beckoned him with her finger, but Karl froze. He wanted nothing to do with her.
She folded her arms and two half human, half bats emerged from behind her and perched on her shoulders. They screeched and looked hungry.
She beckoned Karl once again. ‘I don’t need another warning.’ He walked towards her, terrified of what awaited. He would have to earn his rest.