The New Age Saga Box Set

by Timothy A. Ray

  Though, he would have preferred having supplies and plenty of water before doing so.

  They made their way forward, the large pyramid slowly coming into view. His silent companion watched it with awe and he understood; but couldn’t sympathize. He knew what it had cost to build the structure and of the corpses wedged between the blocks as additional mortar to hold it together.

  Cresting the last rise, they came to a sudden stop.

  Kore’s armor hit the sand and the orc was reaching to bring his weapon to bear. On the dune directly before the pyramid stood a black figure holding a scythe. The cloak that shrouded the creature was slithering against the wind, hungrily reaching out for them, and he could feel cold penetrating eyes searching his soul.

  Death had found them.

  Chapter 20

  Honored Guest

  I

  John had refrained from telling his wife what he’d just seen, the joy he saw in her face when reunited with her father kept him silent. Let her have this moment; she’d hear about what happened soon enough. Aaron rushed into his grandfather’s arms and he heard the boy laugh with excitement; it was a sound he thought he’d never hear again.

  He smiled at his father-in-law when he approached and embraced the elderly elf. “I can’t tell you how glad I am that you’re here.”

  Bordin broke away and his smile slipped a bit, his eyes intense. “I was planning on coming here anyways, just not this quickly. I’m sorry about your father, he was a good man, and my friend. However, if you still think that my daughter—.”

  “That’s been resolved,” he told the other, trying to keep his voice low.

  “How? Do you know where she is?” Bordin pushed eagerly; the concern overwhelming the happiness he’d felt seconds before.

  He turned to watch the others milling about; this wasn’t the place. “Let’s go have dinner, we’ve all got a lot to talk about.”

  Jenna put her arm around her father and he turned to Windel, who walked patiently at his side. “Make sure no one mentions what we just saw before coming here, that’s your duty for tonight. I don’t want to spoil anyone’s appetites or destroy my wife’s reunion with her father.”

  “Yes, Sire,” Windel answered, bowing his head.

  It was a daunting task, word was probably already spreading throughout the castle grounds, and it would eventually reach the palace. Still, he had to try. “Also, I think it best that you relate to Bordin everything that happened since all of this began, you saw it first hand and it’d be easier coming from you.”

  “Understood,” the elf commented.

  Roland was approaching, and he turned to greet the man. “Is everyone within the castle walls?”

  The general nodded. “He brought over five thousand troops. I have no idea where we are going to quarter them all. Luckily, they brought extra wagons of supplies to help refill our stores.”

  “Speaking of supplies, how’d the raids go on the enemy supply trains?” he asked, tabling the matter while he thought it over.

  “They returned an hour ago. Complete surprise, Sire. The enemy didn’t even know what was going on. They torched as many as they could find, not daring to travel too far beyond our walls, but enough that the enemy will have to be hurting for food soon,” Roland told him.

  He shook his head. “It’ll just make them more eager to attack. Well, at least we got some help now. Have tents struck in every open space available and double up bunk assignments that have opposite shifts. We don’t dare have any of them camp outside, not after tonight.”

  Roland looked south. “I heard the screams.”

  “Well, keep that to yourself, I don’t want to disturb our new guests,” he cautioned the older man.

  “Of course, Sire,” Roland nodded. “Still, expect a hard day tomorrow.”

  He sighed. “Is there another kind?”

  II

  There was a cold chill upon the air and Amysta crouched near the fire, her hands out, struggling to warm herself. Fall was slowly coming their way and the clouds overhead threatened rain. It had been storming since their journey across the plains began and the constant lightning flashes were giving her a migraine. Several knights were standing sentry, but the others had quickly fallen asleep, and she envied the calmness they displayed. After everything they’d seen, she knew that sleep would be a long time coming.

  They found the source of the smoke. It wasn’t her daughter’s kidnappers, but the remains of a smoldering human settlement. It had been put to torch recently and she had gagged on the smell of burnt flesh that was heavy upon the air. She had to question whether her daughter’s kidnappers were a force large enough to do something like that, and whether she’d brought enough knights to help bring Bella back.

  Yet, it hadn’t been just the charred remains that had unsettled her, it was the farmland around it. Every crop had blackened, as if suddenly drained of life. Livestock had been strewn about, nothing but empty shells of loose skin and bones. Whatever had happened there, it was beyond her ability to comprehend. She shouldn’t have dismissed bringing a couple of druids with her, maybe they could have figured it out, or at least protected them in case whatever it was returned for more.

  Even though dusk had approached, she refused to make camp anywhere near the place, getting the willies just by being there. Something evil had passed through and she felt dirty from its touch; her soul violated.

  “You really must get some rest,” Pendoran told her, the elf snacking on a piece of dried jerky and pretending that what they’d seen hadn’t affected him; she knew better.

  “I really thought we’d found her,” she sighed, her dashed hopes shattered.

  The knight nodded in understanding, then looked west. “We know for sure now they’ve been this way, so there’s that at least.”

  “What are you talking about?” she asked, confused.

  “While the rest of you searched for survivors, I found a campsite just north of the village. In it were the remains of a goblin, more than likely the one that bled out when they attacked your daughter,” Pendoran explained softly.

  Her anger stirred. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you wait til just now?”

  “My Queen, I saw what that place did to you, I didn’t think you could take any more. The goblin had been eaten, roasted by his kin. Now, if they could do that to one of their own—,” the elf trailed off.

  Her heart was hammering in her chest. Her daughter’s kidnappers had come this way; she might be closing in on them. “Don’t you worry about what I can handle. Next time you find any trace of them, you inform me immediately.”

  “Yes, my Queen,” the knight nodded.

  Satisfied, her head turned west, eyes searching the horizon. She thought there was a spark of light in the distance, but it could’ve been no more than her wishful thinking. With any luck, their prey had poked through the village searching for plunder. It wasn’t very likely, but they were goblins, and you couldn’t discount anything when it came to them. It was possible.

  “Your Majesty,” Pendoran pushed again.

  “Yes, yes, I know, I should get some sleep. Tell me, Sir Pendoran, how can you people sleep after seeing something like that?” she mocked, yet truly wanted to know. He held up a flask of elven wine and she was forced to chuckle. “Of course. Men will be Men.”

  “It’s in our nature,” the knight smiled in return, handing over the flask.

  She put it to her lips and slowly let it slide over her tongue. It was sweet, the alcohol strong, and immediately she was coughing, some of it getting into her lungs.

  Pendoran broke out laughing while reaching for the flask.

  She refused to give it back and took a quicker drink, letting it go straight down her throat without pausing to taste it. After a few gulps, she handed it over and felt heartburn immediately set in. Coughing once more, she asked the man “what did you put in there besides wine?”

  “Mixed it with some Grog, gives it kick,” Pendoran laughed.


  She groaned, she hated dwarven ale. “It does. I feel like I just got kicked in the head. I think I’ll take you up on that offer to let me sleep.”

  “Of course, my Lady,” the veteran knight chuckled.

  She left him there by the fire and went to find a soft place to rest. Her stomach was beginning to ache, but the alcohol was starting to work on her mind. Grateful, she lay down and stared at the stars. “I’m coming, my daughter. I’m coming,” she whispered, as she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

  III

  They were finishing up dinner when there was a loud thump from overhead. John set his drink down and looked to the rafters, trying to figure out what could have caused it. The hall was full of laughter and loud conversations, but when another came just seconds later, it was clear that it had not been his imagination.

  “I assure you, King Erik will not let—,” Tar Reiz was saying as a runner came bursting into the room.

  “Sire?” the man beckoned, scared eyes sweeping the gathering before settling back on him.

  He had already risen from his seat and came to the runner’s side. “What is it?” He had a dreadful feeling that the horde was answering Serix’s attack with one of their own.

  “Bodies are falling from the skies, my Lord,” the man whispered with horror.

  “Whit was ‘at?” Bendor grunted, as he stumbled their way. He had been taking to the ale rather hard, and his eyes were bloodshot, mouth spraying spit as he talked.

  There was a veranda connected to the hall that looked down upon the castle below and he was already making his way there, while the man relayed what he’d said to the dwarven general. Bodies falling from the sky? Did the enemy have their own necromancer? Were they about to be attacked by the undead as well?

  “Sire, I cannot allow you to go out there until I verify it’s safe,” Captain Reyes told him, stepping before him and placing his arm to block his King’s path.

  “Captain, I will be going out there. So, you’d best turn around and take a quick look because you’re not going to stop me,” he told the Guardian, shoving his way past.

  Captain Reyes signaled for three of the Guardians standing post around the room to check out the veranda and before John had reached the double doors, they were past him and through the doorway.

  “What’s happening?” Bordin asked from somewhere to the rear, but he didn’t bother answering, as he strode through the opened doors and onto the veranda beyond.

  The Guardians had quickly swept the area, the tables and chairs looked untouched, the balcony clear. One remained near the rail, looking out upon the city as two others reported to their Captain that they hadn’t found anything amiss.

  He walked briskly to the railing and stood next to the other Guardian, eyes searching the castle grounds. At first, everything seemed to be normal, the celebrations were under way. He could hear the sounds of Bordin’s army making camp nearby, as well as laughter rising from the center of town.

  Then the screams began.

  He caught flicker of movement in the sky and watched as a body fell swiftly towards the town square. He hadn’t seen what had done it, but even at this distance, he had no doubt what had been dropped upon them.

  “Sire, maybe it’s best if you step away from the railing,” Captain Reyes told him, not looking out at the castle and keeping his eyes trained on his King.

  “John? What’s going on?” Jenna asked from the doorway and he wanted to tell her to go back in, to not worry about it. But he’d been sheltering her the entire night and he knew that it was a lost cause to do so much longer.

  General Brasten was on duty, so he hadn’t attended the dinner, but the rest of his generals were there. They were lining up on either side, followed by Bordin, his advisors, and Tar Reiz. Jenna gripped his arm on his left and he spared her a quick glance, her confusion increasing with the look of dread on his face.

  “Sire?” Captain Reyes pushed again, and his anger needed an outlet and found one.

  “That’s enough Captain Reyes. Windel!” he summoned, not sure where his aide had gotten off to.

  “Yes Sire?” came the elf’s voice from over his right shoulder.

  His eyes caught sight of another body falling near the west wall and he almost felt the crunch when it hit the ground. “Find a runner and order the archers to find whatever’s doing that and bring them down. Send another to Brasten and have him double the watch on the walls, this might be a distraction from an imminent attack.”

  He felt the aide dodge away and Bendor was cursing by his side. He was trying to peer through the rail posts at what was going on but wasn’t having much luck.

  “Are we under attack?” Bordin asked, his smile finally lost as the elder elf searched the skies.

  “Necromancer!” he bellowed, eyes searching for the mage.

  Tar Reiz had already turned from the group and was in a whispered conversation with one of the elven druids that had accompanied him.

  “Yes?” asked the mage, stepping into view. His eyes darted between him and another body arcing down on the city and though it was an upsetting sight, the man’s face appeared calm.

  “What magic is this? Are they undead?” he asked, not bothering to answer Jenna’s unspoken question.

  A loud screech pierced the air and he jerked his head in that direction. Something was flying at him and he felt arms grip him, forcing him to the ground. He hit the stone flooring hard, his head impacting and sending stars cascading through his vision. His breath went out of him in a rush. Then an object impacted his stomach, forcing a grunt out of him in response. He looked into the sky and just visible over the rail was a winged goblin, teeth barred, claws clenching, and laughter dancing in its eyes.

  An arrow pierced the creature’s shoulder and it screamed in rage as it was flung back out of sight.

  “Captain, you can get off me,” he moaned to the man holding him down.

  He could feel something heavy on his chest and he hadn’t been able to move enough to find out what it was. Jenna looked down at him and screamed.

  Forcing himself to a sitting position, he felt the weight shift and roll between his legs. A severed head lay there, dead eyes peering up at him. It was human and looked to be one of the cavalry they’d lost earlier that afternoon. He kicked his feet and pushed himself back. One of the Guardians swept in, gripped the head, then got it out of sight.

  Jenna was in her father’s arms and she had a look of embarrassment mixed with fright.

  He got to his feet, flanked on both sides by Guardians, Captain Reyes standing before him watching the skies. “Serix!” he bellowed in the direction the mage had been.

  “King John, there’s no magic at work, they are just corpses,” Tar Reiz told him as he broke from his companion and addressed him.

  “Just corpses?” Bordin asked, horrified. “Is that not enough?”

  He didn’t have time for this. “General Cox! Go see to your men and make sure the archers are bringing those bastards down!”

  The younger general was standing in the doorway, standing apart from the rest, and hesitated under his King’s glare. Then he shifted backwards and took off in a run.

  Bendor was gruffly barking out orders, but his words were slurring. He was in no shape to command this night.

  “General Firefist—,” he began, intending to dismiss the raging dwarf.

  “Dornt e’en hink abit it, laddie,” the general growled. “Ah haven’t hud nearly bevvy enaw yit.” It was obvious his short companion had missed that he was already jumbling his words, but his eyes were defiant, taunting John to say something about it.

  Serix was standing near the railing, eyes following something. Muttering under his breath, the mage reached out and sent a white light arcing across the sky. John’s eyes followed its path and watched in fascination as it struck a winged goblin that had been coming their way, a torso in hand. With a terrifying scream, the goblin was consumed by the light, its skin beginning to melt, the wings catching fi
re. In agony, it let go of the torso it had been holding and dropped from sight. Moments later there were two sickening thuds from below.

  A druid had gone to the man’s side, and together they searched for their next target.

  He went back to the railing and watched as other flashes of light went up around the castle grounds, arcing into the sky.

  “When I arrived, I ordered my druids to patrol the walls,” Tar Reiz said from his left. Jenna had retreated back into the hall with her father and the knight was standing in their place, eyes on the sky.

  “Sire, I think it’s best if I give the soldiers a hand retrieving the bodies,” Roland told him grimly from his right.

  He nodded, knowing that it was the general’s men being flung down upon them, and that the man wanted to see them properly handled. “I’m sorry,” he muttered, trying to convey sympathy for the man, who’d begun to turn away. He thought he saw tears at the corner of his general’s eyes as the man nodded slowly, then moved out of the veranda, and disappeared from sight.

  The skies had become quiet and the arcing lights of magic came to a slow halt. He looked upon the town and noticed how eerily quiet it had become. The laughter and music had ceased and only the periodic shouts of soldiers clearing the streets pierced the new imposed silence.

  The party was over.

  IV

  Merlin took a step forward, his staff gripped tightly in hand, digging into the sand and pulling him along. Kore moved to stand in front of him, his axe ready to go to work, but the orc’s grip was loose, his arm tired. They were both too exhausted to fight, and though they would if they had to, neither were eager for it.

  He drew closer to the specter in black, warily watching the black cloak reaching out to them, as if hungry to consume their souls. The hood shrouded the figure’s face and he had his back to the rising moon. He could feel the eyes penetrating him, thoroughly scouring his whole being. He fought down the fear that was creeping under the surface; resolved to his fate.

  Ten yards from Death, he came to a halt and held his staff before him, calling forth his magic and holding it ready in case it was needed. His eyes ran along the dark silhouette.