by Brian Murray
All around them the beasts loomed forward.
***
The last Kharnack who surrounded the fallen Maldino and Gan-Goran was torn apart. Now nothing stopped the creatures from killing the two men. Gan-Goran was exhausted and at that moment could not recall any spells. Fear filled the old man’s soul. He leaned over and covered the unconscious Maldino’s face. He waited for the claws to rend his slender back.
***
The Dark One saw his former champion’s broad back. He arced a hack at his head, but Slayer moved quickly and blocked the blow. The Dark One stepped back and Slayer slowly turned to face his former master. He shook his head.
“Tut, tut. So, you would try and stab me from behind?” hissed Slayer, stalking forward.
“I do not need to kill you from behind,” said the Dark One, holding up one of his hands and whispering a spell. “You see, you cannot move. Am I not the Dark One? Do I not have power? You insolent wretch, I could have killed you at any time, but I want you again at my side. I like fighting sword to sword, but I am not sure if I can best you.”
Slayer tried to move his limbs, but the pain was excruciating. He lifted his arm a fraction of an inch, but agony washed over his body. He groaned.
“If you move, pain will engulf you. Now it is time for these mortals to die. I will start with her,” said the Dark One, walking past Slayer and looming over Megan.
Megan looked up at the Dark One, who raised his sword.
“Tanas, please help me,” whispered Megan.
“No one will help you now, child,” hissed the Dark One. He started to bring down the Blade of Yallas, but it stopped. He tugged, but it would not move. Slowly, the Dark One turned. He gasped. Slayer stood behind him, holding his black sword between clapped hands. Slayer’s face was flushed red and he grimaced with pain. “So, you would still defy me,” boomed the Dark One, wrenching his sword free and turning. “Well, with all that pain you cannot beat me.”
Slayer did not say a word, the pain unbearable. He just managed to block the Dark One’s
first blow. His movements were stiff and lethargic. Slayer screamed with defiance. “Help me!” he bellowed through the pain that reached even his high threshold.
“I will help you,” said the Dark One, misunderstanding his former champion. “Just say the word and I will stop the pain.”
Slayer looked at the Dark One and spat on the floor before him.
“Never,” he hissed and just managed to block the Dark One’s attack. Then Slayer felt a warm presence within him and a shroud of peace washed over him. A voice whispered in his mind.
“You did not think I would leave you without help.” The voice was sweet and musical.
“Thank you,” whispered Slayer,
“Thank you, Xefth. I will give you what you desire,” whispered the Divine One in his mind.
Slayer smiled at being called by his birth name. He had not heard the name in centuries. Actually, he had forgotten his original name and so took the name of Tanas.
The Dark One hacked a blow towards Slayer’s head.
Slayer crossed his swords above his head and blocked the blow, the spell the Dark One had put on him broken. The smile on his face grew and he stepped in close to the Dark One. “Time for you to beg,” he hissed, pushing the man away. Then clang, clang, clang. Slayer hacked and hacked at the Dark One until his helm flew off.
The Dark One turned to face him. He lunged forward, but Slayer slapped the black sword to one side. He punched the Dark One. The Dark One stabbed out again, aiming for Slayer’s head. Slayer parried and again punched the Dark One. The mighty mage stepped back and looked at his former champion. Screaming, he charged at him. Slayer swayed to one side and drove his knee into the Dark One’s midriff. Then he hammered down with his elbow, knocking the Dark One to the ground. The Blade of Yallas slipped from his fingers. He scrambled forward to reach his sword, but as his fingers circled the hilt, a foot stamped on the blade. The Dark One looked up. Slayer bent down and cuffed the Dark One backhanded. The Dark One looped in the air and with a noisy splash landed on his back in the mud.
Slayer stabbed his own swords into the ground and picked up the Blade of Yallas. Dark power flowed over the warrior and he roared with pleasure. His red eyes blazed and he stalked towards the Dark One. The Dark One tried to back away, sliding in the mud, but Slayer loomed over him.
Slayer looked down at the pitiful creature. He could give a long speech, but that was not his style. It was not the style of the warrior once known as Death.
“Time to die,” hissed Slayer. The Dark One raised his arms in defence, but Slayer ploughed the Blade of Yallas through his arms, through his armoured chest, and cleaved his heart in half.
The Dark One looked up at the warrior in total disbelief.
“I will be back,” mouthed the Dark One.
Slayer violently wrenched the blade free and held it aloft.
Lightning ripped across the sky, illuminating the steely-grey, angry clouds.
Thunder boomed.
The Dark One’s body disappeared. Slayer grabbed the hilt of the sword and snapped the Black Crystal free. He raised the black broadsword in his right hand and the Black Crystal in the left. “Beasts and creatures of foulness . . . BE GONE!” he bellowed. He then stabbed the Blade of Yallas into the ground and turned away.
***
Platos thought of his wife again and smiled. His smile turned into a grimace when he screamed a war cry and charged into the Caynians. He closed his eyes and dived forward. But when he should have cannoned into the first massive warrior, he continued moving. The smithy landed on the ground with a grunt, grazing his forearms. He turned and looked up. The Caynians had disappeared. Rising to his feet, he looked around in disbelief. He walked to the end of the alley and saw no beasts or massive warriors. He lifted his arm, punched the air, and roared in triumph. His elation was short-lived. The tired man suddenly felt melancholy. He turned around and walked home. He needed to see his wife. Tears ran down Platos’s face, mixing with rain. He was tired, so tired.
***
Danf and his fellow clansman fought back-to-back. He stabbed out at a Talon Hunter, but the creature slapped away his bloody tulwar. The beast stepped forward and for the first time Danf closed his eyes with fear. Nothing happened. He opened one eye and then the other. The beasts had disappeared. For a moment Danf was silent, taking in the miracle, then he whooped loudly, punching the air. He turned around, but his comrade had been killed. One more heartbeat and the man would have survived, but he lay on top of the mound, dead. Danf fell to his knees, his joy gone. The young man cupped his face in his hands and wept.
***
Gan-Goran did not feel the beast rend his back as he had been expecting. He opened his eyes and looked about. All around him in the teeming rain, men were embracing each other. Kharnack hugged Dar-Phadrin, Dar-Phadrin embraced Rhaurn, and Rhaurn hugged Kharnack—all embraced each other. Today, race did not matter for man had won—man was victorious. Below Gan-Goran, Maldino opened his eyes. Elation got the better of Gan-Goran and he grabbed Maldino’s face and kissed his forehead. “We have won,” said the old man, smiling at the chieftain.
“Truly?” asked Maldino, sitting up with a grunt.
“Truly,” replied Gan-Goran.
“Well then, come here, you old leather-faced Rhaurn,” said Maldino, smiling and kissing Gan-Goran on both cheeks. Maldino rose to his feet and roared with pure pleasure. He slapped Gan-Goran on the back, nearly sending the old man flying.
“I have friends in the city. Let’s go find them and celebrate.”
“I need a bed.”
“No bed for you, Glowing Hands. You healed me and I owe you my life. We drink now.” Gan-Goran smiled up at the tall Kharnack and the odd pair walked towards the city.
***
Admiral Rendel had been trapped under a dead Talon Hunter since the first charge. He prayed the beast would disappear. It did. Reedie sat up warily and looked around. He still
held his ornamented sword that had cleaved the beast’s heart.
The Talon Hunter had jumped at the admiral. Luckily for the man when he fell from his horse, the beast landed on the sword. Reedie stood up and peered around. The next thing he knew, a Kharnack ran up to him, hugged him, and kissed him on both cheeks.
“We won, aye!” exclaimed the Kharnack warrior, beaming.
“Did we?” replied Reedie, confused and still looking about.
“We go and drink,” said the warrior, looping his arm around Reedie’s slim shoulders.
“Now that’s the best suggestion I’ve heard in a while. Aye, we will go and drink.” The two men walked towards the city. As they did, more and more men joined them to celebrate.
***
General Urkin rode down from his vantage point with his messengers. He rode through the battlefield, shocked by the many dead that littered the ground. He heard his name called and turned in his saddle. He smiled and watched Maldino walk towards him.
“Well met, General,” shouted Maldino, surrounded by cheering Kharnacks.
“Well met, Maldino,” replied Urkin.
“You come and celebrate.”
“I’ll find you later, I promise.”
When Maldino and the others had left, Urkin silently rode to where Dax’s body lay covered in the royal standard. He dismounted from his horse and said a silent prayer. The general then rose and walked his horse slowly to the white city.
***
“Tanas,” called Megan softly. “Where are you going?”
Slayer turned and Megan looked up into his blazing red eyes. She reached out and tried to touch his face, but Slayer pulled back. Megan watched as the warrior’s red eyes faded, until only milky white orbs remained. Megan reached for Tanas, but her hand froze. Around him all was still. The rain did not fall and a streak of lightning froze below the clouds, not reaching the ground.
Slayer surged forward and took control of his body, his eyes once again blazing red.
A sweet musical voice sounded softly behind him. “Thank you, Xefth.”
“Xefth, no more,” whispered Slayer, not turning.
“What do you desire more than anything else?”
“To be with my family,” answered Slayer softly.
“Then that is what you should have,” replied the Divine One.
Slayer turned his eyes away, which brimmed with emotion.
“Do not think me harsh, Slayer, but Tanas deserves a life and I will let him have it. He will not forget about you. He will enjoy his life, grow old, and sire sons.”
“What of me?” asked Slayer.
“You will always be there, when you are needed. After all you are Slayer, my champion.”
Slayer bent down on one knee and lowered his head. “I have tried to redeem myself. Can I now join my wife?”
“Yes, you can with my blessing, but I may call on you again.”
“Whenever you call, I shall come.”
The Divine One touched the warrior’s head lightly. The warrior rose and cocked his head to one side.
“What have you done?” asked Tanas, feeling strangely empty.
“I have sent Slayer to Paradise to be with his wife and friends.”
“Will he be happy?”
“Yes.”
“I shall miss him,” said Tanas, his voice choked with emotion.
“And he you. Now it is time for you to live. Thank you, Tanas, you have long carried a burden, but now it is gone.”
Tanas opened his fist. The Black Crystal had disappeared.
“Where?”
“I will not tell you. But you know.”
Tanas nodded and smiled. “I know.”
The Divine One moved to Thade and lightly touched his head. She did the same to Zane.
“They will be healed when time restarts. Thank you, Tanas, and enjoy your life. I have returned the Solus and the miners to their rightful places. Thanks to Slayer, many of them will now reach Paradise, and the rest proudly walk on the Grey Path with new friends. That is the best I can do for them.”
Tanas nodded.
The Divine One reached up, touched Tanas’s cheek, and smiled. He felt a warm glow in his body.
Before Tanas could reply, the rain started to fall. He slowly turned to face Megan and smiled. “It is all right Megan, I am back.”
“And . . . ”
“He is gone. Just before he left I felt his joy, he was so happy. It is just you and me now.”
Megan rushed forward and hugged her man, tears flowing and mixing with the rain. She did not want to let him go.
Behind the hugging couple, Ireen cradled Thade. The former gladiator opened his eyes and smiled. “Are you trying to strangle me?” he asked with a groan.
Ireen leaned back and looked down at Thade. She wiped her eyes and looked into his stormy grey eyes. “You’re . . . .”
“Yes, my love, I’m well, I think,” he interrupted, sitting up and hugging the young woman.
“Hey, will you all stop that loving stuff,” called Zane, who sat up rubbing his head.
Thade rose to his feet and walked over to Zane. “You good, my friend?” he asked.
“I think so. Where’s the Dark One?” he asked.
“Gone,” answered Tanas with obvious relief.
“So, we’ve won?”
“Aye, we have won. But we lost an awful lot.”
“That’s true,” answered Thade, thinking of Dax.
“I need to find my father,” said Ireen, suddenly leaving Thade and rushing into the palace.
Thade and the others followed Ireen when they heard a loud shrill scream. They entered to find Ireen kneeling next to her father’s body. They left Thade to comfort the distraught princess and went to search for other survivors.
***
To the east of Evlon, a massive earthquake rocked the Steppes. Nobody felt the tremors nor did anyone see the massive fortress disappear into a deep fissure. The fissure opened, swallowed the fortress, and then closed, as if the enormous building had never existed. Many years later grass would start to grow on the land, finally purged of its evil.
CHAPTER 26
MOURNING FOLLOWED THE battle of the beasts at Kal-Pharina, covering the city in a gloomy blanket of grief. Men mourned the loss of their comrades. Over fifty thousand men from three nations had entered the field of battle. Only fifteen thousand men survived the carnage. Fifteen thousand men from the three nations mourned the deaths of their brethren. Of the thirty-five thousand men who lost their lives, two were mourned above all others.
The first was the Emperor of the Phadrine, and a state funeral was given for the Chosen. People travelled from far and wide to attend the funeral of their beloved leader. The route through the city was lined by the surviving soldiers and other mourners. Over two hundred thousand Dar-Phadrin and Tan-Phadrin came to pay their respects. Imperial Guards carried the emperor’s coffin in their full gleaming battle armour. The coffin was lavishly adorned with gold and gems, fitting for the emperor. Flowers from all over the empire were brought in and the coffin bearers walked the city streets on a carpet of petals. Rowet was finally laid to rest next to his wife in the white palace gardens.
A second coffin followed that of Rowet. It was carried by axe-wielders who wore full polished armour. On the coffin lay two short battle-axes, still stained from battle. It was Dax’s coffin. Like the emperor’s coffin this was also decorated with gold and fine jewels fitting for the warrior of his stature. Dax had been proclaimed the greatest warrior of all of the nations. As a tribute to him, his body was laid to rest in the gardens of the white palace near his friend, Rowet.
Many dignitaries followed the coffins. Ireen walked arm-in-arm with Thade. She had been inconsolable when she found her dead father. But the death of their loved ones had brought Ireen and Thade closer together. During the few days that had passed between the end of the battle and the funeral, they were never apart. They used each other for support. Behind Ireen and Thade came Zane a
nd Maldino. They walked side-by-side, two nations who had hated each other for so long had now come together. Even their warriors now mixed together along the funeral route. Behind Zane, walking tall, was Tanas with Megan on his arm. Next came two burly men and a short old man. Platos and Rayth walked either side of Gan-Goran. The old magic-master had attended to Rayth’s wounds and despite orders to the contrary, he walked the route. He had had a blazing row with Gan-Goran for he wanted to carry his friend’s coffin. Ireen’s intervention had settled the matter and Rayth admitted he was not well enough.
***
Following a week of mourning, the city prepared itself for a celebration. They had lost their emperor, now was the time for the new Chosen to be crowned. There were many changes to the coronation of Ireen as empress. The tattoo of the Chosen was placed on her left shoulder blade rather than on her left breast. Rowet’s wishes were announced to the people invited to the Temple of the Chosen. They all rose when Ireen was crowned the first Phadrine Empress. The second change was her marriage. Again Tikar, the Senior Priest of the Chosen, announced that her father had wished her to marry Thade of the Rhaurns. There was some muttering within the Temple, but Tikar confirmed he would have the title of Emperor Consort. Thade, himself, would not run the nation.
After the marriage ceremony, the couple were paraded through the white city. Everyone came out again, but this time to celebrate. Massive parties took place in the parks and arenas around the city. The white palace was opened to everyone and commoners mixed with dignitaries and shared their jollity.
Ireen’s first business as empress was to seal new peace treaties with the Rhaurns and the Kharnacks. At the same time, Zane sealed peace and trade treaties with the Kharnacks. It was a new time for the nations. All could now roam each other’s land without a permit. The state of Khanachi was established and now recognised by the other two nations within the Great Mountains.