Chapter Three
The horns bellowed from outside, a clarion call to action. The Rangers ran from the tables, retrieving their bows and quivers from against the entrance wall. John and Kayne followed as Namorn and Garos moved in front of the Rangers. A lone man approached them.
"Hold your fire," Garos commanded. "It looks like Marcus."
"Don't shoot!" Marcus called out to the men from the snow.
Kayne looked at John. "Marcus? The Aazronian Magistrate?"
John nodded. "Yes. If he's here, it can’t be good news."
"You can say that again," Namorn interjected. "Aazronians are like unwanted relations. They only come when they need something, or to eat your food."
"Namorn!" Garos scolded.
"Well, it's true. And there is a feast inside." Namorn tapped the top of his bow against Garos' head. "And you watch, if it's not the food, then it’ll be something they’ve broken that Daly will send us out to fix!"
Kayne interrupted, "Count me in!'
"Kayne. Don’t encourage them, boy," John grumbled. "Enough you two. Let's just wait and see."
The sound of crunching snow signaled Marcus' approach. He opened his arms and hugged Garos. "I need to speak to Gaiana urgently. We need her help."
Namorn looked at Kayne and raised an eyebrow. "See?" He mouthed the word silently.
Dalynia stepped forward. "Gaiana is on Ketu for the Reconcilement blessing. I am acting in her place."
Marcus looked at her puzzled. "Ketu?"
"Yes, Ketu. A big blue planet with strange ore. Remember?"
"Of course, but it's not called the Feral planet for nothing." Marcus looked at the sky in the direction of the blue planet and continued. "Dalynia, I need your help finding one of my Coercers. Gaiana visited Aazronia to bestow her blessing."
Dalynia nodded. "Yes, that was several days ago. I argued it was pointless, given that you're all agnostics, but every year she holds out hope that one day you’ll change."
"Well, it seems it wasn’t as pointless as you thought. One of our Coercers, Salunas, loved the idea of someone dressing up and delivering presents for children in the middle of the night. I myself find the idea pretty creepy."
Reesus stepped forward. "Salunas? The prodigy that can bend minds from miles away?"
Marcus nodded. "But that’s not what he's doing."
"Well, what's he doing on Aazronia that's so bad that we're outside in the cold talking about it?" Dalynia replied.
"He was giving presents to children as they slept. Using his power, he would wake the parents if he couldn’t get inside, and make them open their door. He'd deliver the stupid gifts, raid their pantry for gingernuts, and then wipe the parents’ minds."
"I don’t see what’s so bad about that. In fact, I think that’s rather sweet. I’m quite partial to gingernuts myself," said Dalynia.
"The problem came when he visited the farms beneath the towers and was bitten by an Abomination."
Dalynia bit her lip and thought for a moment and then said, "Come inside. My feet are getting cold. We’ll discuss this further and then travel to Aazronia."
"No, you don't understand. He's not on Aazronia. He's here!'
The men looked about in alarm. Garos stepped forward and demanded, "What kind is he? What did the venom turn him into?"
Marcus stood firm and replied, "A flyer."
"They’re the worst kind," John whispered to Kayne. "Nothing can stop them. They fly over defenses and spread their venom wherever they go."
"No,” Marcus replied, “whoever said that is wrong. He's much worse."
John stepped out of the shadows. His golden armor startled Marcus. "Then tell me, what's worse?"
Amazed by the existence of a golden Apothecary, Marcus stood there, his mouth open. He became even more startled when Kayne stepped forward. His red hair parted in the breeze, revealing a scar that encircled his forehead. "Well, Magistrate?"
Marcus’ eyes widened. He dropped to one knee. "You're Highness!"
Kayne grabbed his arm and lifted him up. "Please don't do that, Magistrate. You're descended from the line of Kings. One day, I hope to return you to your crown."
Confused, Marcus stood and continued, unaware of the Prince’s vision, bestowed on him by the Crown of Dominion. "Salunas. He's a hybrid. His body is still human, but he has mutated. He flies with great wings. Their bone edges can slice through anything. Claws have replaced his hands and feet. And the worst part is"-Marcus took a deep breath-"he kept his power."
"That's impossible!" Reesus replied, afraid.
"I didn't believe it myself. This Abomination can will its victims to approach, then, with a simple bite, they are turned."
Realization dawned upon Dalynia. She shuddered with fear. "If he's here, then it wasn't a Rabid that attacked our children."
Marcus closed his eyes. He was too late. "No. It was him. Salunas' mind is too powerful to succumb to the venom. Instead, he is caught in his last thoughts. Except, those thoughts have become twisted. I believe he traveled here using the Great Portal, to find Gaiana. Perhaps to turn her, I don’t know. I alone came because the Medallion of Justice protects me from his power, but the Rabids guarding your portal slowed me down."
Namorn laughed. "Slowed you down?"
Garos folded his arms. "This is serious, Namorn. Marcus, no one gets through that portal without an army. Where is it?"
"I can assure you, I came alone," Marcus replied, irritated at the accusation.
"If that’s true, then how did you get past them?"
Marcus snapped. "They let me past! Salunas arrived first and devastated their ranks. The Abominations’ true strength comes from their numbers. They may seem mindless, but they are driven by only one desire--to turn others into them."
Dalynia cocked an eyebrow at Marcus. Marcus took a moment and calmed down before continuing. "Once past their lines, I searched for two days for a way in. It took some time, but I was able to make a path up the mountain beside the waterfall." Sensing the Rangers’ concern, Marcus added, "Don't worry. The path is too narrow for an army, and I left no sign."
"I'll be the judge of that," Dalynia replied. She turned to Garos and Namorn. "We can't let the Abominations infest this world as well. Perhaps the Earth Mother can help us."
"How so?" Garos asked.
"Capture Salunas. If his mind is intact, then he may still be saved, along with the two children he took."
"Impossible!" Marcus argued. "I didn't come here to try to cure the man. There is no cure! It's bad enough we are forced to live in towers and struggle for food. Every day I have to count the number of Aazronian men who die fighting these things, or worse, become them."
"Killing for the sake of killing is not how we do things, Marcus."
"In this case, you need to make an exception, Dalynia," he implored. "The infestation has started. Who knows how many Rabids Salunas claimed when he arrived." Marcus pointed back towards the portal. "The Rabids practically showed me the way to you! They know the danger. The Abominations are here and they’ll kill anyone who gets in their way. I can kill Salunas, but I need your help to take out the others. Who knows how many there are now!"
"Gaiana would never refuse to help you Marcus, so I won't either. As your world’s Druid, I will do everything to help your people. But it has to be done my way." Dalynia turned to John. "Apothecary, if I fail, then I assume you will deal with the matter?"
John nodded. Dalynia turned back to Marcus. "Satisfied?"
With a reluctant nod, Marcus agreed.
"Good. Garos, Namorn, John, come with me. We'll go to the moon pool and speak with Gaiana."
Kayne and Reesus joined the others. "We're coming too."
"Very well, but stick beside John. I don’t want a Methuselan invasion if you get hurt."
Marcus stared at the large Apothecary as they made their way to the moon pool. "I t
hought I was tall," he remarked.
"You are," John replied. "It's the boots. They make me look bigger."
"I see," Marcus replied, staring closer. "Do they make you look more familiar as well?"
John scowled. "It's rude to stare."
"Sorry, it's just that I never forget a face."
John laughed as he hefted his large War-Hammer onto his shoulder. "If that were true, then you would recognize me."
They arrived at a large pool that glistened in the moonlight. Dalynia stood at its edge. She reached into her tunic, pulled out a small vial, and poured its glowing liquid into the pond. The liquid dispersed and made the pond glow. An image of Gaiana appeared in the water. Her voice was high and chipper, full of the joy of Reconcilement. "Dalynia! How wonderful to hear from you." Her smile fell a little as she looked around at the party gathered before her. "Is that Marcus I see?"
Kayne whispered to Reesus. "She can see us?"
"I guess so."
John scowled at them. "Quiet. They don’t have long."
"Yes, Gaiana. He's come to warn us of a terrible Abomination that has escaped to Whetu."
Marcus interrupted. "Gaiana! You must instruct your Rangers to help me track and kill them before it's too late."
Gaiana looked at Marcus and frowned. "Marcus. It is the time of Reconcilement. We will find another way."
"Another way? Abominations don’t care about Reconcilement. The longer you wait, the more children you will lose."
Gaiana turned her gaze to Dalynia. "Children?"
"We lost two children when this Abomination attacked the night school. It was dark and we never saw it coming. The surviving children are sick and injured. We believe it has also turned Rabids."
Gaiana turned away from the party and spoke to someone in a language foreign to those gathered around the pool. Marcus grew more impatient.
"Please, Gaiana. I respect Dalynia, but I fear her youth is getting in the way of making the right decision."
"Her youth? And what does she propose exactly?"
"She seeks to capture the creatures and hopes that the Earth Mother will know how to cure them."
Surprised, Gaiana replied, "What an excellent idea! I have someone here who's willing to help. His name is Lugah."
This time it was Dalynia’s turn to be surprised. "A Feral is going to help?"
"Of course! What a wonderful Reconcilement. I see an Elemental, an Apothecary and, oh my, is that a Prince? You have gathered quite an ensemble, Dalynia. You have the makings of the next Druid Mother at this rate." Gaiana leant forward and whispered. "Are you after my job?" She laughed.
Marcus stood bewildered and muttered to himself, "Mad! They are all mad." He looked once more at Gaiana, beseeching her. "Gaiana, please, this is serious! Now is not the time for joking."
"I know, Marcus. Dalynia, I have every confidence in you. Bring the Abominations to my house. In the field beside the house is the Earth Mother's Avatar. Go inside. You will need to find the ancient jar of Thyme, as well as the items to summon her. The Thyme will cure the sick who haven't changed, but the leaves must be intact. Perhaps she can save the Abominations."
Marcus interrupted. "I hope you have a plan to find the Abominations, Gaiana."
"I don't, but Lugah does. Now, enough talk. The decision is made. If we fail, then it's on our own heads, Marcus, not yours. Please don't think lesser of us and our ways."
Marcus calmed. "Of course not, Gaiana. I just don't believe this plan is the right way."
"Of course, Marcus, but Reconcilement is the time for forgiving each other, and the mending of wounds. It is our Earth Mother's tradition. Not Ophidia, or the god of light, or any of the other deities out there. Who are we, if we don’t practice what we preach in a time when it is needed the most?" Her voice was gentle, and her words hung in the air as her image faded.
The pool began to broil. From its depths, a tall Feral emerged. Standing eight feet tall and armored in steel plate, he towered above the men. His humanoid form, mutated before birth by the ore that formed their planet, held strong against his feline half. Lugah removed his helmet with his human-like hands. Kayne stared closer as Lugah's claws retracted. Long black fur covered his body and face, with the exception of a white slash of fur across his face that brought out the deep blue of his eyes.
"Good evening, I believe are your words." Lugah's voice was deep and velvet. A short sword hung at his side, and a small, circular shield strapped to his back.
Standing only four feet tall, Dalynia strained her neck to look up at Lugah. He knelt down and kissed her on the cheek. "So you're the next Druid Mother I hear so much about. I'm more than pleased to help you against these Abominations. I understand that some were Rabids?"
Marcus replied. "That is correct. Can you help?"
"Normally, we would feast first before imposing on guests." Lugah reached into his breastplate and pulled out a small vial. "On Ketu, we don't have magic. We believe in science, not deities. But I think you will find this useful."
"What is it?" Kayne asked.
"Our scientists call it pheromones. When released, it will deal to any Rabid."
"But they aren't Rabids anymore," Marcus argued.
Lugah laughed as he put away the vial. "Trust me, Wizard, they are still Rabids."
The horns rang out once more from the village towers. Dalynia looked up. Shadows crossed the moon’s light. "You may not have to wait long to test your theory, Lugah."
Lugah frowned. "What? You mean, those weren't dinner horns?"