by C E Johnson
“I will,” Luke promised.
The streets were fairly empty during their ride. Scattered citizens were gathered together in small groups in driveways as teams were forming. Alliances were being made. Almost every cluster had guns in their hands. The majority gazed on Emily’s squad with wide eyes, likely amazed at seeing teenagers not only with guns, but also with bows and swords. Fear was already settling in, making everyone act in a different manner. Most of the people stayed silent, but from those that were friendly, they didn’t learn any new information.
Once out of town for a time, they rode down a dirt and stone driveway to Mr. Henry’s house. Smoke was curling from his chimney. Squinting through the foggy haze, he stood on his porch with a rifle in his hand. “Is that you Emily? Isabelle?”
“It’s us, Mr. Henry!” Emily and Isabelle called out in response. They leapt down from their saddles and hugged him. Isabelle told him about the plane crash and about everything else they had seen. “Our parents are all gathered together at Luke’s ranch on the lake,” Isabelle explained. “We were hoping you’d come and stay with us.”
I wonder how hard he’ll be to convince, Emily thought to Xena as she watched Isabelle explain the benefits of departing his home.
He’ll leave, Xena assured Emily confidently. No man is an island. He won’t want to remain here on his own.
“We thought you could bring a string of your best horses and let the rest go into the pasture for a while,” Isabelle added hopefully. Mr. Henry didn’t answer right away. Stroking his red mustache thoughtfully, he sat down on a wooden rocking chair on his porch.
“You don’t have to come with us if you don’t want to,” Emily said in a hushed voice. Feeling uncomfortable with his hesitation, she looked Mr. Henry up and down. Although he wasn’t in very good shape, she wanted him along. An expectant silence developed as they waited for his answer.
What’s best for him? Xena wondered.
Maybe he’d be safer here on his own, Emily thought reluctantly as she pictured him enduring a long ride on their quest.
This is going to be a very dangerous trip, Xena said while sniffing the air. She sent Emily the smells of horses, honor, and reliability. He’s loyal and honest, Xena added.
Emily sighed. She certainly didn’t want to force Mr. Henry to do anything against his will, but it would be nice to have someone they could all trust traveling with them. She glanced toward the sky. Ghostly clouds were drifting in and scattered rays of feeble light were barely penetrating through the smoggy gloom. A small shudder went through her as she thought over all they were going to attempt to do.
“I was going to stay here until the power came back on,” Mr. Henry began, “but perhaps there will be more safety in numbers.” Appearing uncertain as to what to say, he stared down at his boots. “I’ve never seen a power outage like this before or heard about what you’re describing.” He fingers tightened on the arms of his chair and he started to rock slowly back and forth.
He seems lonely, Xena whispered. A dog barked down the road, and a door slammed in the distance.
I think you’re right, Z, Emily agreed. She knew Mr. Henry lived by himself. His children were grown and living in other parts of the country, so he didn’t have any reason to stay at his home. His wife had died from cancer years ago.
“Your advice with the horses would be invaluable,” Isabelle said softly.
Allowing a small smile to flicker fleetingly across his face, Mr. Henry ran a hand through his thick red hair before letting his fingers trace once again lightly along his mustache. He cleared his throat. “You’re right. You probably do need someone to tend to the herd … I’ll come with you.”
Instead of feeling happy, instantly a cold sensation clutched Emily’s heart and she nearly gasped in pain. Trying to mask her discomfort, she turned her horse’s head away from the group. What’s wrong with me? she wondered.
Isabelle meanwhile let out a small cheer. “I’m so glad you’re coming,” she gushed.
“Let me pack my belongings and get organized,” Mr. Henry added.
While he was getting ready, they all helped in the stable. “I do love horses,” Isabelle said aloud before singing a song about the wonderful beasts. She let out a laugh of pure silver as she brushed and saddled Argos. Emily smiled as she arranged Apache. She was feeling much more relaxed. Her friends each went to their own horses that they rode during their lessons and readied them. However, not all of the horses were being compliant. Instead many were stomping at the ground restlessly, filling the air with frightened whinnies as their ears flicked back and forth.
Emily wrinkled her brow. “I wonder if they need a little indigo magus to help them get organized,” she said to Isabelle.
“I see what you mean.” Isabelle gave Emily a wink. She took a small breath and mouthed the words of her spell. Emily could see her aura flash. Instantly, the horses marched out of their stalls and lined up in perfect order, now submitting to the hands of their group members without question. Each head was held upright and still.
Mr. Henry appeared soon thereafter. “What in the world?” He was studying the horses. “I’ve never seen them act in such a manner.” He became quiet and his face lightly flushed as he stared at the silent horses standing in a symmetric line, evenly spaced.
“They look like they want to go on a journey,” Emily answered, trying to make light of the situation. She exchanged a pointed look with Isabelle, and Isabelle ended her spell. The horses started moving restlessly again.
Mr. Henry sighed and visibly relaxed. He began to guide their movements with regard to his herd and give advice. “We also need to choose horses for your family members, for carrying supplies, and for anyone else you’re going to bully into our troop,” he said while giving them a withering glare before replacing it with a grin and chuckling deep in his chest.
I think he’s now happy we came, Xena whispered.
“Let me grab a few more things,” Mr. Henry said when their horses were ready. He went back into the house, only to emerge minutes later with several rifles along with plenty of ammunition. They secured the firearms in slings and saddlebags on their steeds before releasing the remaining horses into a series of pastures. After everything on the ranch was secured, they started riding toward Poulton’s home.
* * *
It was late in the evening by the time they had obtained all of their supplies and they were swelling their ranks with their last addition, Coach Palin. Each of their coaches had joined their troop without much debate. Emily was proud of her successful recruitment. She surveyed her growing band. I like having a squad of strong warriors, she mused to Xena.
We’ve never had a group this powerful banded together on Earth, Xena agreed.
“Do you have enough food?” Palin asked slowly. He rubbed his hand over stubble which covered his lower face. Appearing hungry already, he licked his lips. “I was about to go shopping when all of the problems with the power started.”
Elizabeth opened the saddlebags on her horse and showed Palin the contents. She threw him a snack bar he selected.
“I believe we finally have everything we need,” Anna said. They had loaded up on food and supplies from the grocery stores and twenty-four-hour businesses that were still open and taking cash. From the looks of things, the few stores selling products wouldn’t be open much longer. Police were absent, and the owners of the stores were trying to sell whatever they could, probably knowing their places were going to be looted sooner rather than later.
Wearily Emily pressed her heels into the flank of her horse. “We’re still some distance from home,” she said while breathing out heavily. “We should get moving.” All at once, the wind began to build. The air became electric with apprehension and anticipation. It came in gusts, screaming between buildings, trying to tear away shingles on roofs. Rune began to howl far off in the distance where he was scouting. His baying cry came out in such a sad way and with such a melancholy that somehow it threatened to
break Emily’s heart.
Peering into the dark night, Xena pricked up her ears while listening to Rune. We need to get back to the ranch, she growled. Emily felt a coldness building on her skin and in her chest at Xena’s words.
CHAPTER 5
Iscar
The wind died away, and the sun bore into Ullr like a blade grinding through armor. I wonder what Maaca’s doing right now, Ullr pondered. He had only recently come to terms with the idea that he was thoroughly infatuated with the vampire queen. In fact, he was quite certain that he was in love with her if that was even possible. He slowly wiped the sweat from his forehead with his dark cotton tunic and gave a wary glance to the wave upon wave of sand in his surroundings. Sand and more sand, he thought with disgust. He was changing more and more rapidly, often becoming lost in reverie. This was one of those moments and he found his thoughts focusing both on his formation and on Maaca. The arch-mage Samil had created Ullr at the very same time as his twin brother Wuldur, and although their primary orders had been to protect Maaca, somehow Samil’s passions and desires with Maaca had been transmitted squarely into Ullr. Ullr hadn’t initially been aware of his feelings toward Maaca beginning upon his creation. However, he had found something wondrous blossoming in his chest as he worked with her on mission after mission. He had found himself in an enchanting interrelationship with the female vampire that he didn’t want to ever end.
I’m growing crazy, Ullr thought to himself. He drew his sword, and running his index finger along the steel, he felt the smooth light oil that covered the weapon. Touching the sword made him think of the two enchanted blades Maaca had wielded with such ease and dexterity. Closing his eyes, he attempted to picture the stunning vampire queen in his mind.
“Sir, are you considering our strategy?” a deep voice asked from just behind him. The words interrupted Ullr before he had formed a clear vision of Maaca in his head. The characteristic tone and the distinctive clink of plate armor was enough to let Ullr know who had approached his side, but he decided to peek open his lids nonetheless for visual verification. Seth’s face, with his unnaturally pale skin, was in front of Ullr. He was glistening like finely buffed porcelain in the powerful sun. Seth was a male vampire, a Black-blade taught by Maaca herself, and he was Ullr’s lead lieutenant for this combat mission.
Ullr sighed and closed his eyes firmly again. “I was thinking about something more important than strategy for this battle,” Ullr answered in a low voice. His eyes remained firmly closed as he again attempted to bring Maaca into his mind.
“Tell me when you are ready to talk of war,” Seth said quietly. The vampire impatiently began to drum his fingers on the hilt of his sword.
“I’m thinking about war advice from my mentor,” Ullr lied through clenched teeth. He really wasn’t ready to think about the battle just yet. Although he was currently following Iscar’s commands, deep down he only wanted to follow Maaca’s.
“Your creator, Samil?” Seth asked curiously.
“No. I’m thinking about Maaca’s strategies,” Ullr blurted. Once Maaca’s name was mentioned, Seth instantly stopped moving his fingers and became silent. Ullr could picture her perfectly now, her silver hair billowing in the wind, her piercing blue eyes regarding him. Don’t dwell on her, he chided himself. She doesn’t think of you in that way. Reopening his eyes, he tried to shake off the past. Concentrate on the present moment. He glanced at the position of the burning sun above him. It was midday in a desert, certainly not the optimal attack environment for half-deads, but Ullr understood his mission. The lighting would be most favorable for the camera images at this time. “I’m ready for war,” Ullr grunted.
“Nothing is more important than Iscar’s orders,” Seth taunted with a dark smile, clearly not believing his words. The hierarchy of following commands for half-deads was exceedingly complex. Samil was Ullr’s creator, and therefore Ullr was bound to Samil’s directives. Before he died, Samil had insisted that all of his half-deads follow his son Iscar. The half-deads would comply, but as Iscar wasn’t their creator, his decrees became less of a commandment on their souls. Ullr’s heart would always belong to Maaca, and he often wondered who he would follow if push came to shove.
“I’d rather follow Maaca’s orders than Iscar’s,” Ullr blurted in a whisper. Now why did I reveal that? he asked himself.
“You would follow a vampire over a magician?” Seth asked slowly as if the idea was incomprehensible, but there was amusement in his dark eyes.
“Don’t you ever wonder why we have to follow these fool magicians when we’ve evolved into something greater than them?” Ullr asked.
“Ours is not to wonder why, ours is but to do or die,” Seth retorted quietly with an impish smile on his face.
“A quote from Alfred Lord Tennyson,” Ullr said, recognizing the verse. One of the earthlings Ullr had killed on Earth had been a literature scholar and Ullr had assimilated large components of the man, enjoying his essence immensely.
“I do like the style in that man’s poetry,” Seth chuckled.
“Our knowledge is going to waste,” Ullr scoffed. Rubbing his bald head, he considered his task at hand. Today he would need to test the power of magic vs. well-armed earthlings. “Seth, are the satellites in position?” Ullr asked. His voice was hushed.
“They are,” Seth answered Ullr in an equally low-pitched tone while also nodding an affirmative. He had become all business.
Ullr studied Seth’s sharp white teeth. Seth’s canines reminded him of Maaca. Does everything remind me of Maaca? Ullr inwardly cursed his weakness.
“Brytam will record all components of our conflict with the satellites that survived the first EMP blast,” Seth continued. Seth’s face had now completely lost its humor, becoming drawn and pinched as he concentrated on their mission.
“This will be a lethal test of magus vs. firearms,” Ullr said as he thoughtfully stroked his powerful jaw. He wondered if Seth had started worrying about death like he did. Ullr never used to worry about battles, but with the sheer number of assimilations he had incorporated, his mind was changing, evolving. He wanted to confess his feelings of affection to Maaca before he died. He wasn’t ready to die today.
“If you know your enemy and you know yourself, you don’t need to fear the result of any battle,” Seth whispered while standing ramrod straight, frowning as he appeared to be carefully analyzing their approaching conflict.
“Now you’re quoting Sun Tzu.” Ullr was impressed. He brightened as he realized his lieutenant was enjoying the literature of Earth as much as himself. “When did you become so learned?”
“Sun Tzu was a great warlord from ancient Earth,” Seth acknowledged while studying the sand-crowned dunes that restlessly towered around them. “Many of the soldiers I’ve assimilated had studied the words of scores of the champion warriors from this planet. I’m fascinated by their ancient strategies and inherent concepts.”
“Didn’t Sun Tzu also say that the art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting?” Ullr asked. Trying to hold in a laugh, he raised an eyebrow in question. Lately he was finding more joy in the Socratic method of teaching and he wondered about the stunning facets of his evolution.
“He did, but that concept won’t work in our mission today,” Seth said with a smirk that erased a portion of the pale and pensive look that had become pasted on his face. The headstrong sun blasted rays upon Seth’s armor making him glimmer and shine. “Here, we’re going to have to kill.” Seth had broad shoulders and he wore a black breastplate with the insignia of a wyvern, wings unfurled, etched into the steel. Wearing no helmet, the gentle breeze buffeted his brown hair which was closely cropped to his skull. His boots were worn, and he had a longsword at one side and a throwing knife on the other hip. “We will win this battle, shade Ullr,” Seth spoke succinctly. “I promise you that.”
Ullr nodded to his lieutenant before studying his surroundings much more intently than he had studied Seth. They were behind several prominen
t ridges of sand. A team of his goblins was attempting to listen to the enemy soldiers organizing just beyond their position. “How many warriors are on the other side of this?” he questioned his lieutenant in a low voice while pointing to the sand.
“Two platoons,” Seth answered quietly in a voice no louder than a whisper. Seth had studied all components of Earth’s military and he began to teach. Ullr could tell Seth wasn’t sure if Ullr was well-versed in the language of his assessment. “A platoon is composed of four squads of ten to twelve warriors each. Usually the composition is rifle squads and weapons squads, but there will be machine guns and possibly larger anti-tank weapons with this group. Most of their larger artillery will now be useless after the EMP blast which affected all of their advanced circuitry.”
“Will they be a challenge to our warriors?” Ullr asked. Peering at his squad forming up around them, Ullr basked in the esteem bordering on reverence in the eyes of his troops. He treated his warriors like his children, and he hated to picture what might happen to them if everything went south.
Seth pursed his lips even more tightly before answering, “The first enemy platoon is a component of Seal Team 3, men skilled with desert warfare.” His countenance turned to something beyond grim. “They will have two junior officers that we will need to eliminate first to disrupt their chain of command.”
“And the second platoon?” Ullr asked. He didn’t like what he was hearing.
“The second platoon is made up of Rangers, with a commander, a sergeant, and four squad leaders.” Seth hesitated before adding, “They’re all true warriors … for earthlings.” He balled his strong hands into tight fists. “But again, I’m certain we will win. I’m just not certain how many casualties we will take.”
Ullr felt his heart begin to race. “Anything else important about their weapons?” He had to raise his voice slightly to hear it over the pounding beat of his blood which was flowing more swiftly in his ears as he prepared to fight. He hadn’t fought against many of Earth’s firearms, and he wasn’t sure if Brytam’s theories about magical shields were going to hold up. This could be a massacre.