Chapter 12
The first of the Tusse swept a lazy stroke at Darion’s head which he easily avoided, jabbing his own sword into the heart of the creature. ‘One down nine hundred and ninety nine to go,’ shouted Le Fidler as he cut a swathe through the Tusse in front of him.
They arrived like a colony of ants and ignored the very minor infractions the four men made in the front ranks. The fight would all be over in a few minutes thought Darion. It would be impossible to repel such numbers even if they had a hundred men. He changed his mind suddenly as he thought the Tusse more like locusts than ants and he was satisfied with the comparison. The creatures razed the land leaving it barren after they passed. He felt certain there would be very little alive between here and the Niflheim by the time the army returned and they would certainly leave four bodies behind stripped of what small valuables they had. The whole situation annoyed Darion. He would soon die and just when he found this amazing woman to share his life with as well as the fact he left a very mundane and boring existence to now be a champion of a new world with lots of friends and possibilities. He again deflected a blow and then another and then another and all the time he could feel soon his strength would soon be gone. He quickly scanned how the others managed and although much better at sword craft than himself, they too struggled to contain the huge numbers of Tusse attacking them.
The piles of dead bodies grew and still the Tusse came and each time there seemed to be more to battle. They would be dead already except many of the Tusse were wary of Le Tare and gave him a wider berth than the others.
On top of the noise of shields and swords the loud blaring of a horn stopped the attackers and they drew back from the heavily panting men. The crowd parted and the new Tusse leader stepped forward, shorter and stockier than the last one and possessing a presence his predecessor lacked. In a guttural voice he spoke to both Darion, his friends and the Tusse army.
‘We play no more games. The children are ours. You will die now.’ He pointed his sword and the army leapt at the men literally frothing at the mouth. Darion felt the full force of their attack bending him to his knees as he tried to ward off a rain of blows, some striking causing blood to seep out of several gashes in his arms and legs. The noise of battle became deafeningly as he made peace with himself and wished Le Carra all the best as he prepared to die.
In an instant the black bodies of the Tusse around him thinned until no more attacked him. He stood gingerly and through blood soaked eyes he saw why. Three enormous men stood in front of him and drove in on the Tusse, each of their sword swipes killing a dozen at a time. The Tusse leader panicked and tried to run, as a blow from the biggest of the giants cleaved him in two, the top half flying twenty feet in the air and landing with a sick thud. The rest of the Tusse gave up any pretence of fighting, dropping their swords and running as fast as their stumpy legs could take them, bumping into each other and scampering over their fallen countrymen. Within minutes the entire field emptied of Tusse with the remnants fleeing towards the city to link up with the larger forces besieging the Silverarians. Darion and his companions now had time to see what saved them. Three of the biggest figures they ever saw, were calmly wiping blood from their swords on the bodies of the fallen Tusse.
‘Aeserians,’ said Le Tare in a hushed voice. ‘They live yet.’
‘Indeed they do,’ said Kolin as he presented himself to Le Tare, whom he assumed led the group. ‘You fight well for creatures so small and it is as I remember a thousand years ago.’ Le Tare raised his sword assuming the giant was challenging him but an open hand from Kolin made him lower his weapon.
‘Our battle was an eon ago master Le Tare and I do not come to fight you now. If I wanted you dead I would have merely sat and watched the Tusse do it for me. We still have some thousands of the enemy around us and it would do little good for us to destroy each other while they live. I come to aid you and I also bring some friends.’
From behind the giants Le Carra and Isaac emerged and a shout went up from men as they rushed to greet them Le Bow engulfing his sister along with Le Fidler and Le Tare while Darion and Isaac met in the middle of a battle field the noise from the plains in front of them ignored as the two men shook hands.
‘Now lets get something straight right from the beginning,’ said Darion. ‘She is mine. You always get the girl and now it is my turn. I want you to back off and give me a go for once.’
‘I don’t know Darion. She is amazingly beautiful. And we have already struck up a bit of a relationship.’ Darion’s jealousy showed on his reddening face making Isaac laugh. ‘Don’t worry, she wouldn’t want me even if I tried. For some unknown reason she actually is in love with you. She has done nothing except talk about you for hours. It drove me crazy.’
Darion smiled and gave his friend a bear hug and they both patted each other on the back, the relief at finding each other almost making them both cry.
‘Oh how touching,’ said the voice of Wodan behind them. ‘Warms an old man’s heart.’
‘You,’ cried Darion. ‘I didn’t know how we were going to find you. Do you know what you have put us through?’
‘Well let me see. I have made you a hero of the realm of Mesania. You have won the heart of the most desirable creature on this entire planet and for Isaac he has made these mountain of men move to assist in the greatest moment in the planet’s history and possibly the entire fate of the free universe can now be decided and in doing so he begins a reconciliation of two races who have hated each other for a thousand years. I think I have done a pretty good job.’
‘Well that makes one of you who thinks so anyway,’ said Isaac to Wodan as the two continued their animosity. ‘He is just as cantankerous as ever.’
Le Carra broke free from her brother and rushed to Darion and the two kissed long and passionately with Wodan making the others turn their backs to allow them some privacy, especially Isaac who seemed to be enjoying himself.
‘Lucky sod,’ he said as Wodan grabbed him by the ear and moved him away. The others lifted the children from the carts and cleaned and fed them from what provisions they had. Le Carra began moving from one child to another ensuring they did not gorge themselves on food and water although sadly she saw only a few had the strength. Within a few minutes the children noticeably improved and their pale faces began to regain some colour. Darion looked at Le Carra and marvelled. ‘She will make a good mother to someone,’ said Wodan. ‘She may be the matriarch for the entire planet so long as there is one left after we finish our job.’
‘I see you are still talking in riddles,’ said Darion. ‘Care to explain yourself. I am sick of surprises and I think I am entitled to know your plans.’
‘Yes well you are all probably entitled to know what is happening.’ He gathered the group together and they all stood nervously around Wodan, each searching the area around them expecting more Tusse to fight at any moment. ‘This will come as some news to you Omarins or Mesanians or whatever you prefer to be called. The Aeserians have risen in the East and as we speak they have traversed the island and are crossing the Ice Mountain and are ready to lay siege to their ancient homes in Mesania. Their goal of course, is to wipe out the ‘Invader’ as they call you and re occupy the mesa. Your people Le Tare have no idea what is coming and their will be fierce battles ahead and an extraordinary loss of life.’
Le Tare and the others let out a gasp of shock and immediately drew swords and faced their giant enemy who also rose to strike. Wodan interfered to stop any blood shed. ‘Just you all wait a moment. I have not travelled half way across the universe to get to this point only to see you all kill yourselves. There will be plenty of fighting before the end and I would prefer it against the real enemy than each other.’
‘Be quick Wodan, who is the enemy if it is not the ones I look at,’ said Le Fidler.
‘Put your swords down,’ bellowed Wodan and immediately all of the weapons flew from the men’s hands, landing in a pile tw
enty feet away. ‘I do not have time for this. Use what little brains you have. Le Tare, would those who are your enemy rescue you from certain death and you Aeserians, would I lead you into a trap after all the leagues we have travelled. Be sensible. The answer to both is NO, so behave yourselves.’
The men sat back down still not entirely sure of the strangers opposite them. Kolin spoke first. ‘I will speak for my brethren here. We have befriended Isaac, who has been sterling and true throughout. If he is typical of the race then I will trust these new friends.’
‘I agree,’ said Le Tare after a short pause. ‘Darion has been the Rok and if his friend Isaac for whom we have travelled through peril to find, says the Aeserians are friends then I trust this judgement also. Are you satisfied Wodan? Then let us talk of this enemy you speak of because all I see at the moment are the Tusse beasts gathering anew. If we are not needed here we will rush to defend our homelands and face these new threats.’
‘Well spoken both of you,’ said Wodan sounding like a proud parent whose child decided to share for the first time. ‘We need to be sure we know who the real enemy is. The leader of the Aeserians has taken his people on a pilgrimage across the island to attack your people and we cannot let this happen. That is why we have Kolin with us. His greatest challenge lies ahead. It is for you Kolin to stop Hammer.’
‘I am ready Wodan. These are my people and not his. He has led them with folly. Have we learned nothing from the past and we will simply repeat the horrors of death from war. I too once had no love for the Invader however a thousand years has given me much time for thought. I conclude death from war is not the solution when a negotiated peace can be found. Unfortunately this sometimes requires sacrifice and Hammer will be making that sacrifice I assure you.’
‘As it should be then,’ said Wodan. ‘However, the great threat I speak of comes not from Hammer. Nor the Tusse. It comes from the deep west. It moves as I speak. I feel its presence, its dark thoughts always bent on destruction of all things prosperous. It knows my thoughts also, always intent on my destruction also. It is my enemy to be sure and it is also the enemy of all things good. Already it corrupts this place. It is no co incidence the Tusse are abroad and test the strengths of their neighbours. The enemy I speak of lives in their minds and drives them to mis-deeds and he laughs at their subservience. All of the carnage you see around you is only the appetiser for the end game which he has for me alone. The Raqnarok, The Gathering of the Gods for it is then I will fight the creature whom I fought in front of the Mesa an eon ago. It is the closest he has ever been to destroying me, yes Darion and Isaac, even closer than the night in the museum. I remember his fell breath, his evil thoughts. He grabbed me by the throat. He dropped his sword and bared his fangs and preparing to devour me, and then we would all have been lost but it did not happen. From somewhere around me a blessed surge of power rushed through my body and I drove the creature away from me allowing me to escape. I did not have time to ponder events until I cleared the forest and the beast was a light-year away as I jumped through a picture of Earth I finished only days before.
The beast would take time to reacquire me and this allowed me time to contemplate what had befallen. There could be only one answer. I have told you I exist as a compilation of energy bequeathed me from my brethren. They have all given me some of themselves and made me almost indestructible and this allows me to fight the evil. But here I stood on the brink of despair with the universe precariously balanced on a knife edge and the champion of the universe about to be defeated. My only conclusion was one of my people sacrificed the last vestiges of himself and gave it up to me thereby bolstering my strength to repel the beast. It is the only answer and I morn the loss as there are only a few of us and now there is less. You people have answered a great riddle for me. A great good has left the universe and as the Balance must be maintained then an equal amount of evil also perished and this is what has weakened the beast sufficiently to slow its progress.’ Wodan looked old again to the companions as the grief of his loss sat heavily on his shoulders. ‘You do not morn this loss like I do although you probably should. Greatness is hard to achieve and one of the Greatest is gone. I know who it was.’ Wodan voice drifted as if he now spoke only to himself. ‘Mighty Allaan. It was always going to be you. You were the most selfless of us all. I will not let you down.’
Wodan rose to his feet looking at the group, some of whom like Darion, were patting at their many cuts with what rags they found, while the giants stood hands on hips with grim faces. ‘“You are the Light that must end the Darkness. We cannot fail but what constitutes a win? As Isaac has said, should we destroy the beast then will not Good also be destroyed to maintain the balance. I do not know the answer and still we must fight and what will be, will be. Let us return these children to their families so they might enjoy some moments of peace and joy before the end arrives.’
The troop gathered the children and searched the road to the city. As the battle raged in front of them, each member of the group mulled over the words of Wodan. They could do nothing other than view the events below from the relative safety of the rise they occupied. The children were still in danger until they could get them to the city and they could not afford another fight and endangering them further. They would have to wait and see if the Silverarians claimed victory and then attempt to enter the city. Should they not prevail they would try and work their way back to Mesania hiding most of the way. A depression sat over them and they did not know which path to take.
‘I suppose we have come too far not to finish what we started,’ said Darion. ‘I have a great many friends here now and I wouldn’t like to lose any. It seems however that Wodan gives us lots of problems and not too many answers. What do you think Isaac?’
Isaac did not seem to hear.
‘What is the matter?’ persisted Darion.
‘I think I might have an idea,’ he said distractedly.
Arad sat besides Isaac smiling ‘Does it hurt?’ he asked.
‘Does what hurt?’ said Isaac.
‘Your head. I think it would not be often that it had an idea harboured inside it. It seems to have caused you some discomfort.’
Minar slapped Arad on the back making a sound as loud as a thunderclap. ‘Good one Arad. I like that, you are getting nearly as witty as myself. Tell us then master Isaac of your idea.’
‘Not quite yet, I need to put some flesh on the bones of it’
Wodan looked at Isaac curiously but said nothing.
The Aeserians continued to banter in a relaxed fashion cleaning their weapons as they sat, one eye firmly on the Tusse armies ahead, ready to wage a brutal war on them if they strayed too close. Below them the field turned black with bodies. The Silverarians marched and rode from the city gates in large numbers and relied on their cavalry to out flank groups of Tusse and they would run them through with their long spears and lances and move to another. In this way they killed resistance in whole quadrants of the battle field and demoralised the Tusse as they went.
The Tusse lost motivation quickly and within ten more minutes they broke off the attack on the Silverarians and moved in a great mass westwards, disappearing in a blur of dust and a cacophony of yelps and screeches.
‘Me thinks they give up too easily,’ said Kolin. ‘I believe the city was only a target of convenience and once it showed resistance they move off to where they have been ordered to go and that can only be Mesania.’
‘It is so Kolin,’ said Wodan. ‘The paths past Silver City are the quickest to access the northern realms and they were willing to sacrifice some numbers for expediency. The beast drives their minds of that you can be sure.’
‘We need to overtake them or at least find a more rapid track to Mesania and reach the mountain before them or we will be cut off ourselves. First these children need repatriation with their mothers.’ The troop began moving towards the city when Wodan stopped them.
‘I do not think the people o
f the Silver City will be quite prepared to see a squad of Aeserians marching up their garden paths. I suggest you skirt the city until you are on the north western borders and make yourselves scarce. We will meet up with you tomorrow morning as I am sure the marshals of the city may want us to stay for the evening at least to explain how we have their children with us.’
‘But what of speed?’ asked Le Tare.
‘I know some routes that are fast. Do not be overly concerned,’ replied Wodan.
The group separated and soon the Omarins, Darion, Isaac and Wodan with the wagons of children reached the battlefield. Immediately a hundred Silverarians surrounded them and led them back to the city gates they left only a day earlier. The gateman whom Darion and the group encountered when they left the city now greeted them as a Captain of the Silverarian Army. He stared incredulously at the wagons and the many cuts and bruises the men wore.
‘Identify yourself,’ said the captain who, looking closer, recognised Darion. ‘I see you have found some friends, one I assume to be Isaac, master Darion,’ he said smiling broadly.
‘And Hanna I see you are not merely a gate keeper sir,’ replied Darion.
‘Indeed we wear many different titles in the city master. In peace I keep gates and in war I am Captain of the Southern Reaches. I see you are covered in the wounds from the cursed Tusse. We need to bathe these or they will fester. But what brings you back through a war zone if you have found your friend?’
Darion moved to the wagons and threw back the covers. ‘I believe these belong to you.’
The captain and the other men leapt off their horses and ran to the wagons searching the faces of all the children hugging and petting them and gently lifting them all out. The Captain kept searching and eventually lifted a tiny yellow haired bundle who burst into dry tears when she saw her father. After a minute the Captain turned to Darion. ‘We thought them lost. They disappeared days ago and none knew where or how. The Encalla told us they were spirited away to the north and we sent many men to scout the area but we could not find them. We guessed the Tusse caused this and we now know from the attack that it is true. We never thought we would see our beautiful children again. You will be hailed in the city as the greatest of heroes.’
The others helped the Silverarians with the children and a rider rushed ahead with news of the return of the children and thousands of people swarmed to the gates. The towns people lifted the Mesanians on their shoulders, acclaiming and hailing them. One lady crushed Wodan in such a tight bear hug, his cheeks became red and looked ready to burst. Joyous laughter continued as grateful parents claimed their child and celebrations commenced throughout the city. Food, music and dancing spontaneously appeared on every street corner and the taverns freed up their casks to all who entered. The chanting of ‘Victory, Victory,’ could be heard from thousands of mouths as the defeat of the Tusse and the miracle of the lost children was celebrated by all.
After some hours the festivities quietened and Hanna asked them to go with him to the city hall to speak with the Chief Marshall. Many thousands of people gathered to hear the leader speak and to see their northern and ancient brothers from Mesania. Le Tare filled the role of spokesman for the group and spoke eloquently, careful not to mention Wodan by name and certainly did not mention the Aeserians at all.
‘You will forever have the gratitude of the peoples of Silver City,’ said The Chief quietly to Le Tare. Le Tare looked closely at the Chief of the Silver City. The man stood as tall as himself with greying shoulder length hair and trimmed beard. He did not look like a typical city administrator and he sensed a power behind this man. The formal dress covered a broad chest with sledge like hands poking out of the thick purple robe draped with gold leaf and sash. The Chief raised his arms to the people and in a louder voice, ‘Hail and salutations to the brave people of Mesania who have delivered our loved ones back to us out of the darkness.’ The crowd cheered and threw pieces of confetti, the meeting hall a blizzard of coloured paper. ‘We have searched for our children for a week now. We thought them lost and suspected the foul Tusse were somehow responsible. Never did we think the beasts would rise again in such large numbers. We have heard only brief rumour of them for a hundred years and now they decide to mobilise. It will be their greatest mistake.’
The Chief who seemingly did not have a name other than ‘Chief’ grew serious and angry as his speech to his people became more passionate until he worked himself up into a rage startling Darion and the others.
‘We call a War Council immediately. The city will be locked down and all will be armed. A full third of the fighting force of Silver City will ride with me in one days time. We take few stores and ride light for battle will be nigh. The rest will secure the perimeter and none will be able to come or go. Let the scouts be sent to all the surrounding tenements. Bring everyone to me that wishes to come. We go to destroy the Tusse once and for all.’
The people cheered and punched fists into the air and hot streams of people thundering back to their homes to gather weapons. The outrage the Silverarians felt at the theft of their children burned bright in each of them, rekindling their ancient animosity and hatred of the Tusse. Darion did not want to be the Tusse when the men of Silver City found them.
Everywhere the group of friends looked movement caught their eye that had nothing to do with parties and celebrations. The whole city rumbled with preparations for war and for a moment it seemed they were forgotten. A few minutes later however The Chief appeared in front of them.
‘You are most welcome to come with us friends. I am sure you would like to see the end of the Tusse. We will ride them down and destroy each and every one of them well before they reach your homes. Their terror will never return to these parts.’
‘We would love to help Chief,’ said Le Tare, however we must get to Mesania before even the first Tusse crosses the borders of land or the city will be unprepared. We know fast routes and we will tell the Mesanians an army of Silver is on its way and we will send our people to greet yours and together we will crush the monsters.”
Wodan shook the Chief’s hand. ‘Beware people of Silver City, the world of evil is greater than the mere Tusse and it beats its path to Mesania as we speak. There will be dark days ahead.’
‘Then we will face them together,’ said the Chief defiantly, ‘and when this is all over we will make a treaty lasting forever. We have become estranged as a peoples and that should never have happened. Travel well and when next we meet it will be with the Tusse crushed under our feet.’ He began walking away when he hesitated and returned taking Le Tare by the shoulders and kissing him on the cheek. He disappeared leaving the seven friends alone in the square, surrounded by tables full of food and wine.
‘I have to say that was a damned quick decision,’ said Le Fidler. ‘One minute I was eyeing off a pretty young thing who naturally was overcome by my bravery and charm and then next she has bolted to do who knows what to the Tusse.’
‘You have to understand,’ said Wodan. ‘Although the Tusse have not bothered these people for a long time there always existed an underlying fear the creatures would return. They awaken quickly to protect their own. I did not expect these events to unfold but I am glad they did. We all need to mobilise against the evil. I am sure it is the beast who drives the reappearance of the Tusse and it would not expect to suffer a defeat so early in its campaign of terror. It will not like this at all and maybe it will sew a seed of doubt in its ego. It is a small first up victory and an important one for both of us. Well done everyone now lets get to the mesa and avert whatever the Hammer and his army have prepared for the Mesanians.’
They left immediately walking through the streets of Silver City, commotion everywhere. Their fame spread to every house and although few stopped for long conversations nearly everyone they passed at the very least called a heart felt ‘thank you’ over their shoulders as they dragged heavy swords and armour or horses towards the southern gates.
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Darion and Isaac walked with Le Carra and Wodan. ‘We best meet up with Kolin and the others quickly. There are too many people about and the sight of some Aeserians will only worry them further. They have enough to consider without us complicating things,’ said Wodan.
‘And how do you propose avoiding two fighting armies between us and the mesa?’ asked Isaac a bit too impudently for Wodan.
‘Well I did think of leaving you tied to a tree somewhere to distract them. What did you think I would do, walk side by side with the Tusse and Silverarians?’ Wodan looked contemptuously at Isaac. ‘Or maybe I might pick a less well travelled route I know allowing us to perhaps avoid all contact with anyone until we reached the forest again. Sorry I didn’t consult you before we set out Isaac. It won’t happen again.’ Wodan stormed off muttering under his breath.
‘I could almost see the dark cloud over his head. You sure know how to press his buttons.’ said Darion.
‘Yeah well he annoys the hell out of me too sometimes. He treats me like the village idiot.’
‘You are the village idiot,’ came Wodan’s voice back to them from around the corner ahead.
Le Carra held Darion’s hand tight as Le Bow and the others caught up.
‘Are you strong enough for rapid travel sister?’ asked Le Bow.
‘I think so, I just want to get home and help our people. It would be terrible if anyone from either side dies when the real enemy is yet to show itself.’
The group reached the western walls of the city and passed without challenge. All around them they could see signs of the army mobilising. Hundreds of riders on sleek imperious black horses galloped passed them and met with others who spoke briefly and then headed to the southern gates where they would rally with the remainder of the forces.
Once past the gates Wodan’s horse appeared hitched to a bush and he mounted and rode ahead leaving the rest with the gurgling noises of the Silver Rapids swimming in the air around them. The path they walked on, snaked through sporadic bush land preventing any further views around them. Wodan appeared out of the brush to the north.
‘I have scouted quite a fair way ahead and it seems the Tusse have crossed the river and follow its course and will come on the mesa from the south east and possibly between the Southern and Guardian Sentinels. We will cross the river also and drive west to the trade routes and speed north and eventually back to the Southern Sentinel also, hopefully well before the Tusse or what will be left of them after the Silverarian army catches them.’
‘Sorry to be a pest Wodan but did you see how fast these Tusse move. We couldn’t overtake them on foot in a million years,’ said Isaac.
‘Which is why I have provided horses for us smaller folk. The Aeserians can cover the distance quite easily themselves without steeds. It would however give me no end of pleasure to watch you foot it for the whole journey, unfortunately I do not have time for fun.’
Five black horses and Snaps emerged from behind Wodan with each ebony horse having a white streak through their manes. Their streamlined thoroughbred looks made them appear fast even when stationary. Each possessed smooth tough muscles stretching along their flanks and hinds, and tails plaited and embroided with small beads of what Darion knew to be diamonds.
Le Carra went to the first who nuzzled her neck and she deftly leapt bare back onto the animal who stood frozen while she got comfortable. ‘Come, they are willing beasts and most beautiful. They will bear us wherever we wish.’
The Mesanians managed to climb the steeds easily with Wodan floating unto his while Darion slipped and slid until he dangled clumsily across his. ‘It has been a long time since the farm days,’ Isaac said to Darion. ‘This is Snaps. We met a few days ago.’ Isaac climbed aboard Snaps more easily, the horse leaving a patch of drool soaking on Isaac’s leg.
‘I would have thought a farmer would have been more deft on a horse,’ said Le Tare knowingly to Darion who gave him a crooked smile.
‘We were too poor for riding steeds and only owned working beasts for the fields,’ he said convincing no-one.
‘You will tell us your secrets when you will,’ said Le Fidler. ‘For now lets away to Mesania, it boils me to think our people are at war without us.’
‘Farmer eh?’ said Isaac quietly to Darion. ‘You will need to tell me more.’
‘Maybe later. For the moment shut up while I concentrate,’ replied Darion as he began slipping off his stallions back.
The horses stood their ground looking at each other with patience until they were certain the men sat safely on their backs after which they trotted to Wodan. ‘Lets find the others and move out,’ he said.
They met Arad, Minar and Kolin a few miles north and after a quick dry meal and summary of events they moved off. Kolin took the lead with Wodan and Le Tare and Le Fidler adopting his customary position covering the rear. They travelled for much of the day and saw no sign of any of the Tusse or indeed any other living thing and although they knew what lay ahead they began to relax.
‘What is your idea?’ asked Darion as he brought his horse up to Isaac.
‘Oh nothing really, I just thought if Wodan could create all these worlds just by painting them then why can’t he make one that will house the beast and then we can all go home. Seems pretty easy to me but I can’t say anything to him. Crabby old git would just tear me down. Why don’t you ask instead?’
‘Well OK but why do I feel like I do when I am about to go to the dentist?’
Darion and Isaac jogged up to Wodan, followed by Le Bow, Le Tare and Le Fidler who heard the end of the conversation. Le Carra caught a bright yellow butterfly and began counting its dark spots, ignoring the men for a moment.
‘Wodan,’ started Darion. ‘I have been thinking about the beast. Why can’t you create a new world just for him, so he can’t escape?’
‘That’s a good question Darion shows you are thinking a bit.’ Darion looked at Isaac who raised his eyes to the heavens and cursed under his breath.
‘All the worlds I create have some basis in reality. This beast can fly and the vacuum of space worries him not. No, he would search the planet for a couple of hundred years, make sure I was not there and then continue his chase. I have pondered that very idea before and it gives me nothing. But keep trying all contributions greatly appreciated.’
Wodan jogged ahead smiling to himself knowing full well the content of Isaac and Darion’s conversation. There was something about Isaac he really did like and it was a shame they would all probably be dead in the next couple of days otherwise he might actually get to know him. But he sure enjoyed tormenting him.
‘Boy I can’t win with him can I?’ said Isaac sulkingly.
‘Don’t worry too much I think deep down he does actually like you,’ replied Darion.
‘How deep have you got to go? What do you think Le Carra, your a woman and have a better sense of these things. Does the old goat really hate me?’ asked Isaac.
They looked over their shoulders and they could not see Le Carra. They only spoke to Wodan for a few minutes and in that time they somehow separated. ‘She’s gone,’ shouted Darion and immediately the others swung around and galloped in different directions calling Le Carra’s name.
‘This cannot be happening again,’ screamed Le Bow.
Wodan brought his horse next to him. ‘I cannot see what has happened. She is a princess and there are many jealousies out there. We must be quick I sense danger is around us.’
The lands they now entered transformed from the green they left surrounding Silver City, to a much more rugged territory. Outcrops of rock, clusters of trees and ridges of dirt covered the land. They could only see a stone’s throw in any direction before something blocked their way and now their frantic search quickly separated them from each other. Darion and Isaac crossed a large hill dropping into some tress and scrubs and they found themselves alone for the moment.
‘This is madness,’ said Isaac.
‘We have all just run off without thinking. We need to have a plan.’
Darion scratched his head and his eyes, wringing his hands together as if he were drying them with a towel. He could not believe what had happened. Twice now he lost Le Carra and he chastised himself for not being more vigilant. He knew Isaac was right. He needed to start thinking straight. Riding his horse off randomly could not possibly help anything.
They rode back to where they first discovered Le Carra missing and they could not see any of their fiends.
‘This is not good,’ said Isaac. ‘If I were the enemy I would be attacking us individually right about now.’
Darion’s rage built to a crescendo. The people in this world did not seem happy unless they were killing each other?
‘Bring them on, I have had enough.’
Dismounting, they led the horses slowly back the way they came, retracing their steps and stopping every now and then to examine the ground around them. They didn’t really know what they expected to find. They knew any clues to Le Carra’s disappearance would be found in the area they last saw her.
The hard ground did not offer any solutions. Even the trampling of seven horses and three Aeserians left little mark on the on the rocks and compact sand. After a few minutes Isaac saw something.
‘Look here. Tracks leading both to and from where we last saw Le Carra.’
They walked in a crouch, the reigns in one hand and their heads almost touching the ground so they could spy any changes in the direction of the tracks. ‘I think we now know she didn’t just merely trot off somewhere and get lost. This looks to me like she was kidnapped,’ said Isaac.
Darion didn’t reply being too intent on the scratchings in the sand. From the markings he knew the Tusse were not responsible. Their chaotic nature would have created too much noise and the horses would have sensed them. He new only a human could do this and that worried him further. His stomach tightened at the thought. They reached some hedges of spiny brush where the tracks seemed to separate. One heading north and the other south.
‘What now?’ asked Isaac.
‘I’m not sure. It could be one path is the kidnapper moving towards us and the other when he escaped. Or there could be more than one. I don’t know. We have to follow them. You take the south track and I’ll take the north.’
They split up, Isaac remounting his horse as he could see his path went quite straight for some distance until disappearing behind some trees.
Darion remained hunched over and moved slowly as his path travelling over some harder ground making it even more difficult to follow. He passed the rocks and reached some softer ground clearly showing the tracks recommencing. He mounted his horse and dug his heels into its side, trotting next to the tracks while at the same time unconsciously unsheathing his small sword. The person he chased did not seem to be on horseback, although may have one hidden somewhere. The tracks changed to clear drag marks and Darion broke into a sprint as he felt time evaporating around him. He burst from a cluster of trees into a clearing and saw the limp form of Le Carra lying across the saddle of a horse and a man struggling with the stirrups obviously also trying to mount.
Darion did not waste time in parlaying or explanations. He leapt towards the figure who turned to face him, a curved sword in its hand stopping Darion a few feet from Le Carra.
‘Who are you?’ asked Le Frag calmly. ‘I don’t recall you from Mesania, are you from the Silver City? I usually like to know the names of those I kill.’
Darion did not answer and lunged at the man, swinging his sword dangerously close to Le Frag who dodged then rolled to the side, bouncing effortlessly back to his feet an evil grin on his face.
‘You don’t like conversation I see,’ he said. ‘Then you can die quickly.’
Le Frag knew how to hold a sword. As with all of the Omarins, he attended structured lessons as a teen and these continued into his youth. He became adept and could defeat those he trained with ease. When he started his worldly travels he often needed the skills he learned in both defence and attack and no-one ever bested him. He immediately ascertained from the grip of this new enemy this one rarely if ever vied with swords and the clumsy swipe only confirmed it further. He stood now firmly, his legs slightly bent balanced on the ball of his rear foot and flat and sure footed on his leading leg. This should only take a few seconds he thought and he had to be away quickly lest Le Fidler or one of the others who could fight found him. He knew the justice they would allot would be swift and deadly.
‘Before I kill you answer me one question. Do you want your head severed and thus die quickly and relatively painlessly or I can stick you in the stomach and you will die much slower although you will linger perhaps hoping beyond hope you may survive. In the end you will be just as dead. I leave the decision to you.”
Darion stood still the sword held tightly in his hand. A few weeks ago he knew he would be trembling in his shoes. Now however he stood calmly and defiantly. Whoever this person was who stole Le Carra and left her dangling like a shot buck was not going to have his way.
‘You talk too much,’ said Darion as he slashed confidently at Le Frag’s head. Just briefly Le Frag found himself off guard and he managed to avoid the blow, the wind of the attack brushing through his hair. As he regained his balance Darion again attacked and Le Frag this time deflected the blow with a deft flick of his wrist and the blade harmlessly missed. His repartee took a chunk out of Darion’s shoulder.
Blood burst through his shirt and splattered in the air. He ignored the pain in his arm. His pain at the thought of Le Carra being taken to who knows where with this man, made a cut arm seem meaningless.
Le Frag attacked again and Darion met his blow with his own sword crossing them chest height and both men were inches from the other’s face their noses almost joined as the sweat of fear and excitement dripped off their temples. Darion felt Le Frag’s other hand moving and instinctively knew it held a knife. He broke the hold and rolled away, his jerkin scratched by Le Frag’s hidden dirk.
He regained his feet and mentally strained to find a weakness in his opponent. He knew he couldn’t win a fight with as skilled a swordsman as this man. If he could just survive long enough for the others to arrive then he may save Le Carra, even though he would probably die. It was not nobility driving him and he knew it. Simply, he would give himself freely if it meant this beautiful woman would live. He knew the depth of his love and for a second he amazed himself. ‘Finally I found what I need and no-one is going to take her away from me.’ He believed he had only thought the words, but they hissed out of his mouth with such venom Le Frag broke off his assault and suddenly felt unsure of himself.
It was no slack jawed country boy facing him now. He saw a man who fought with absolute commitment and knew this often out weighed any lack of skill. He decided he would end the battle now before this stranger gained any benefits. He had to get Le Carra away.
Darion eyeballed his foe and the two circled each other with a renewed respect. Le Frag with a permanent grin etched on his face and Darion’s face blank and dark. Le Frag drove directly at Darion’s heart and rather than try to deflect the blow Darion dropped his whole body flat to the ground and Le Frag overbalanced and tripped forward. Before he righted himself Darion jumped to his feet and sliced at the back and arm of Le Frag cutting the sword arm to the bone and tearing a gash across his whole back.
Le Frag let out a scream mixed with disbelief and despair as he saw the battle turning. Surely not after all his work, when everything neared fruition would he lose. Ignoring the pain he dropped his knife and swapped the sword to his good arm and swung again at Darion. This time the blows did not have the same power, the wounds sapping Le Frag’s strength. Le Frag rallied as best he could with blood streaming down his flanks. He swung again and again, each time Darion jumping out of reach and blocking and parrying enough to ward off the blows.
He felt his opponent becoming desperate a
nd if he could stay out of reach then he knew Isaac would arrive at any moment to his rescue. Darion saw the blood fanning down his enemy’s back and arm and he felt a power in him he was both ashamed of and exhilarated by.
Le Frag weakened and with his last reserve of strength he rallied for a final assault. His left arm was not as strong as his right and although all swordsmen could fight with either hand, he knew he was now disabled sufficiently for the contest to be more even. He struck again and again at the head and then the body of this stranger who jumped back too quickly for impact, the air swing sapping his strength further. He broke off the attack and sucked in huge gulps of air. Being the aggressor failed him so he changed tactics.
‘A lucky blow and you think yourself clever,’ rasped Le Frag. ‘You do not know with whom you are dealing.’ He sidled towards his horse and Darion followed at a safe distance. Le Frag intended to force the stranger into attack rather than merely defending his own blows. Every attempted strike he knew confidently he could deflect even with one arm and each time he knew this clumsy enemy would offer and opening he could exploit.
Darion watched carefully as the other reached the horse and struggled to mount, one hand insufficient to hold both the sword and the bridle. For a moment he lost some control. As he tried to mount the horse moved and the sword slipped out of his hand dropping to the ground with a puff of dust.
Darion took his chance and leapt at the now defenceless man knocking him too the ground his sword edge resting against the man’s throat. The two glared at each other for a moment before Le Frag spoke.
‘What now? You are a hero. You have captured the great Le Frag one of the most wanted criminals in Mesania. What now? You will have to kill me of course because I will kill you the instant I have opportunity. I doubt you have the capacity to kill me. Can you kill?’ Le Frag’s grin widened with each second Darion hesitated. ‘You hold a sword awkwardly and are none too comfortable in close quarters. A true warrior would have already killed me so I suspect you are not trained. What will you do?’ Le Frag did not panic. Not yet. He knew he was right in one aspect. If this man were a trained soldier then he would already be dead.
‘I do not kill people Le Frag no matter who they are and your name means nothing to me. All I know is you hurt Le Carra and it doesn’t take a soldier to rally when loved ones are in danger. I will take you to my friends and if you are who you say, then I am sure they would have heard of you.’
Darion kept the sword at Le Frag’s throat, dragging him to his feet when the bushes behind him parted and Isaac and the others came bounding through. The moment they reached him all bar Isaac stopped and stared in amazement at the prisoner.
‘Le Frag,’ gasped Le Tare. ‘You were supposed to be dead.’
‘And so I am,’ said Le Frag as he drew another blade from his jacket and stabbed at Darion. Whether providence looked at Darion at that moment he could not tell but at the same moment as Le Frag drew his blade Darion dropped his sword enough so the thrust bounced off the hilt. Le Frag brought his hand down for another strike when Darion drove his sword straight into Le Frag’s chest, piercing his heart and killing him instantly.
Darion stood over the body, all the colour draining from his face. It was one thing to kill the Tusse, who seemed almost animal in both body and soul, and another entirely to kill a fellow human being. He could not believe what he had done. He let the hilt of the sword drop from his hand as Le Frag also fell into the dirt, the dark resin of blood seeping out of the hole in his chest.
Darion fell to his knees retching into the sand as Isaac and the others rushed to Le Carra. Le Bow lifted her off the horse and drew a wet cloth over her brow and lips, listening for her breathing which was shallow and regular.
Wodan arrived along with the Aeserians and it was quickly obvious what happened. Wodan and Isaac placed their arms around Darion, helping him to his feet Wodan giving him a nip out of a flask he carried which shook Darion back to his senses.
‘Is he dead?’ he asked Le Fidler who bent down over the body.
‘Sure is, dead as dog poo,’ he said ‘A good thing too I warrant. Le Frag is a fiend Darion, had you not done such a brave deed then he surely would have made off with Le Carra. He must have known Le Carra’s secret. It is the only answer. The Encalla contacted him through the psy waves and he appeared, no doubt, to make her some type of consort to gain him power back in Mesania. He deserved to die Darion, you did all our nations a favour.’
‘Well it is a favour I wish I could retract because I never meant to hurt anyone.’
Wodan placed a sincere arm around his shoulders. ‘Darion we are at war and in war men die. You may have saved many lives with the extinction of this one, we will know soon enough. Come let us bury him and be done with it. Go to Le Carra she will need you.’
Darion knelt by his betrothed and held her hand, gently stroking it until she woke, her eyes radiating their own heat as the others told of how Darion rescued her.
‘You are forever saving me my love. No greater hero could any woman marry.’ She kissed him softly as he helped her to her feet and while every one told him he was a hero he felt the emptiness of a coward. He knew his first taste of death would never wash clean from his mouth.
Two days later they came upon the southern reaches of the forest. They could not see any Tusse so they assumed the Silverarians caught them although they sensed an eerieness in the trees around them immediately.
‘There is oddness here,’ said Kolin to the others as they rejoined the southern road they had skirted for the last few days.
‘It smells of death,’ said Le Fidler.
‘You may be right,’ said Wodan. ‘Look yonder.’
They watched a mist rising in tiny spires ahead and they knew it came form the Southern Sentinel and the surrounding buildings. They broke into a trot and a few hours later came across the first of the buildings they left a few days earlier, now completely razed. They began searching for survivors but curiously there was no trace of anyone either dead or alive. They moved slowly each man with a sword drawn as they picked through the rubble. They reached the Sentinel and the thick iron clad timber doors had been flung to the ground broken and split. Wodan and Le Tare went inside for a few moments and returned.
‘They are all dead, there is crimson on all the walls and floor. The people must have retreated into this Sentenil and fought valiantly to the end against an enemy too strong There are giant hands at work here,’ said Le Tare
Before old enmities resurfaced, Kolin made himself the conciliator. ‘It was many lifetimes ago we fought each other and now Hammer has placed us all in jeopardy. We must forget the past and fight together. ‘
‘It is not us who need the convincing, perhaps you should tell your Hammer that,’ said Le Fidler threateningly but Kolin did not retaliate.
‘I agree master Le Fidler. I will be dealing with him personally,’ said Kolin.
‘Then let us away as I might have a few words to him myself,’ said Le Fidler.
‘Then we need to be quick as the last of the sun’s light bounces off the spires of Mesania as we speak. The group urged the horses through the forest, the Aeserians now at a run to keep pace and they split through the forest like a fire, pushing their horses through their fatigue as a dark cloud of danger settled into each of their hearts.
Wodan suddenly stopped, raising himself on his stippups and staining both ears and eyes.
‘To Mesania,’ he cried. ‘The Raqnarok has begun it is time to face the end of the world.’
Wodan dug his heels into the side of his horse and it leapt ahead, the others following. They galloped for two hours and eventually spat out of the forest, the mesa stark in the hollow in front of them. The Aeserians stopped running and dropped to a knee as they gasped their air and stared incredulously at the mountain, the tall, brightly lit spires stretching to the sky as the star light radiated off its facets.
‘It is as beautiful as
we were told,’ said Arad.
‘But it is under siege as we speak,’ said Le Bow.
As they looked at the mountain they could see red bursts of light on the mesa’s roof, some so bright they lit the now dark sky in flashes of brilliance. They watched for a few minutes when Isaac began peering through the night to the east, each star burst making him more and more ponderous.
‘We have a problem,’ he said ‘Look east.’
The next explosion of light showed clearly a vast army moving across the plain out of the eastern forest towards the mountain, black ants quickly filling the concave valley like running water.
‘Tusse,’ whispered Le Tare.
‘And thousands of them,’ said Le Fidler. ‘Lets hurry or there will be none left for us.’
Charging down the incline, heading for the main entrance of the mountain they kept eyes on the Tusse swarming from the east and clearly now they could see a second army almost at the base of the mount. Kolin pointed as he ran. ‘It is the Aeserians, they have arrived.’ Hammer’s army assailed the mesa from below unaware of the the Tusse threat. Only Wodan was looking westwards to where he knew the true enemy would arrive.
Level heads always prevail. The impulsive often
win the battle but lose the war. Remember in the
dark days of the Raqnarok victory comes
from places unexpected. Look for it or it may
pass you by.
Jharnell 42/12-16