A Sliver of Redemption (33 page)

“People of Mordeina,” said Melorak. He sounded tired, old, but his voice remained deep as ever. “My beloved people. I know you hear rumors. I know your hearts are weak, and turn to thoughts better left unspoken. I am human. I am Karak made flesh, and I understand these weaknesses. But now is not the time for doubt. Now is not the time for cowardice. The world has changed, and we must change with it. I am not alone with Karak, nor am I his only voice.

“Throughout the night, I heard your prayers. They strengthened me. They gave me hope. And now I give to you a gift in return. Look to the castle, and look to the sky! View what your faith hath created. View the power of Karak. Let it sweep across you, burn your heart, and set you on the true path. Rakkar! Come forth!”

A great roar swept over the crowd, seeming to explode from within the castle. Deathmask felt his heart chill at the sound. It seemed to shake his bones, it was so loud. A blade of pure shadow tore into the sky. Smoke billowed behind it, a trail that looked like a scar across the blue. It circled once, kept aloft by enormous wings that were reminiscent of a bat.

Beside him Veliana murmured something in shock, but the spell across them stole it away.

“Rakkar!” Melorak cried again. The beast turned and landed between him and the crowd, its wings curling about itself. The creature looked reptilian, its scales made of deep shadow. Violet eyes shone from the sides of its head, possessing a frightening intelligence as it surveyed the crowd. It walked on all fours, with enormous claws, each the size of a man. Its long neck lifted, and then it roared. The nearest rows collapsed to their backs, while the rest fell to their knees, pushed down by a compulsion even Deathmask struggled to resist. From deep within its throat fire burst in a great pillar, as if the creature were attempting to burn the very heavens. At last the spell ended, and the murmurs of the crowd rumbled to life in deafening waves.

“A dragon?” Veliana asked, having to press her lips against his ear to be heard.

“It’s not possible,” Deathmask said, shaking his head. He seemed to be trying to convince himself. “It just can’t be possible.”

Melorak lifted his arms in praise.

“Let the bastion of Ashhur fall to Karak’s might!” he cried.

Rakkar spread its wings and took flight, heading straight for where Avlimar floated above the city, a constant reminder of the angels and their absence. Deathmask swallowed, feeling a lump in his throat growing. Any chance of a rebellion died before them. No one would resist such a creature. A legend come to life. A dragon made of shadow, smoke and flame.

“What do we do?” Veliana asked.

“I don’t know.”

The creature flew closer, closer, soon just a trail of smoke as it neared the golden city. Deathmask watched, unable to look away. Just when it was to land, it pulled back, and he heard its wail of pain all the way from there. A thin smile spread across his lips.

“It can’t stand its light,” he said, suddenly laughing. “Watch it squirm!”

The creature breathed fire at the city, burning some of the outer pillars, but it could not draw any closer. It circled once or twice, and as the murmuring grew throughout the crowd, it turned back toward the ground. Deathmask looked to Melorak and felt greatly amused at how the priest-king seethed.

“Let’s go,” he said, grabbing Veliana’s wrist. “We need to see if Bernard has any idea how to defeat that thing.”

“He hoped for a far greater victory today,” she said as they cut into a side alley away from the crowd.

“Yeah,” Deathmask said, glancing upward to where a great trail of smoke led to the castle. “I think he’s accomplished enough. Long as that thing lives, our chances are nothing.”

“Then we kill it,” Veliana said.

He stopped and looked at her. In response, she laughed.

“You once prided yourself for accomplishing the impossible,” she said. “Have you really changed so much?”

He ran a hand across his horribly scarred face, burned by Melorak’s fire.

“No,” he said. “And so be it. Let us talk to Bernard, and find out just how to kill a dragon.”

27

T
he Eschaton met, fully understanding it might be their final time.

“Glad to have you all here,” Tarlak said. They gathered around a bonfire built far from the camps, for they desired solitude and privacy for their meeting. Some stood, and some sat on the grass. The wizard turned to each of them in turn as, high above, the moon waned.

“Glad to have you back,” he said to Lathaar and Jerico. The two paladins sat beside one another, and they saluted him half-heartedly. “I can’t imagine it a real meeting without some paladins to tell us what we’re doing is morally wrong.”

“Always happy to help,” Jerico said, and he smiled.

“And you brought a friend,” said the wizard.

“I will do my best not to interfere,” said Keziel, brought to speak for the rest of the priests.

Tarlak nodded to the Tun couple, Aurelia snug in Harruq’s arms. He felt glad Qurrah was not at their side, though he also felt guilty for such thoughts. With a sigh, he brushed them aside and did his best to keep his smug grin going.

“Of course, we must be honored by our beloved king’s presence, since he is only an honorary member of my Eschaton.”

Antonil nodded. He’d said not a word since joining them. Tarlak wondered if he missed Bram’s presence. The two had become inseparable as of late. With Mordeina only a day away, his nerves had moved beyond eating him up inside. They seemed ready to devour him whole.

“Last, but not least,” Tarlak said, gesturing to his left. “Thank you for coming, your wingedness.”

“I’ve come as you requested,” Ahaesarus said, but he saluted nonetheless.

Tarlak smoothed his robes and shifted his hat. His grin slipped, just a little.

“As you all know, well, this is it. This is the end. Tomorrow we reach Mordeina’s walls, and this time we’re not going to enter as Annabelle’s guests. Archers will line their tops, and arrows will be our greeting. But far be it from me to make things sound easy. We need a strategy. This is no normal military siege. We have enemy walls before us and an enemy giving chase behind. There is no retreat, no bargaining, and nowhere else to go.”

“We will make no assault unimpeded,” said Aurelia. “Thulos and his demons have rushed like mad to catch us. They will attack while we are in the midst of our own.”

“Have you seen them with your magic?” Antonil asked.

Aurelia rolled her eyes. “I can see their fires from here, as can all of you. The south glows from it.”

“We could turn to face them,” Lathaar offered. “Fight in a place of our choosing, and then if we succeed, we’ll have all the time we need to lay siege to Mordeina.”

“We cannot stand against them,” Ahaesarus said. “Not with Thulos amid their ranks. That is what I have come to tell you all. There is but one place where we shall have even a shred of hope, and that is within our city of Avlimar. Ashhur’s strength radiates from every hall, and within them, Thulos will feel weakened. Not a lot, but enough so that we might strike him a mortal wound.”

“But how will you get him up there?” asked Tarlak.

“We go and wait for him,” said the angel as if it were obvious. “He desires nothing more than combat against worthy opponents, and who is more worthy than Ashhur’s handpicked guardians? We will draw him and his demons into the sky. As for the battle on the ground, we will leave that to you.”

“I was hoping we could use your help to fly over the walls and break open the doors,” Tarlak said. “But it appears you have made up your mind. So onto my second plan. Keziel, if given time, do you think you could break down the first gate to the city?”

The priest rubbed his chin as he thought.

“If we combined our strength? Perhaps. It wouldn’t be a quick process, and we’d be vulnerable.”

“I’ll be there to help you,” Tarlak said. “I have a few tricks of my own.”

“If you can break open the gates, we can rush through,” said Antonil. “Can you force a hole straight through the second wall?”

Tarlak gave him a wink.

“I remember the defenses. That sharp hook and that narrow gap between the walls would be a horrific killing field. We’ll plow straight into the city, assuming our priest friends can hold up. From there, I say all of Antonil and Bram’s men rush in.”

“We’ll have our strength divided in two,” said Harruq. “Is this really wise? Why not have the angels fly us all to Avlimar and we make our stand there?”

Ahaesarus laughed.

“You are many thousands, and we are but a few. It would take days to bring everyone. If you remain outside the walls, Thulos’s troops will destroy you. Better we attack.”

“What of his ground forces?” asked Antonil. “He will have more than the demons. Do you really suggest we fight them on two fronts?”

Tarlak shrugged. “Yes. I’ll be with the paladins in the back, and we’ll have several lines set up to meet them. Ahaesarus will divert the demons and the war god to Avlimar, and the priests will help Antonil punch through the walls and into the city. So I guess you’re wrong, Harruq. We’ll be dividing our strength in three, not two.”

Harruq rolled his eyes. “I feel so much better. And where will me and Aurry be in all this?”

“That…I don’t know. You have a preference?”

“I do,” he said. “Where will Velixar go?”

“He will be at Thulos’s side,” Keziel said. “Of this, I am sure. I have never met him, but read much. Always he will be with the commanders, keeping his grasp tight on those who rule. Who wields any greater power than Thulos?”

“Then I’ll wait for him in Avlimar,” Harruq said. “After everything he’s done, it only seems right that I get to be the one to cut off his damned head.”

“You make it sound so easy,” Jerico chuckled.

“I hope it is.”

“Does our king approve of this mad plan?” Tarlak asked.

Antonil nodded.

“Very well then,” Tarlak said. “We all know our roles. Get some rest. Tomorrow will be long and bloody. We may never see each other again, so just in case, I have one thing I wish to say: Antonil, you’ll be paying me even in Eternity, so don’t think dying gets you out of your considerable debt.”

Several chuckled, but the humor was forced, and they all knew it. Tarlak looked about the fire, and his heart ached for those who were gone. His sister, who would have sat to his left, always ready to support him if he felt lost. Brug, who should have been guzzling down some ale and telling him how stupid their plan was. Haern, who would have mocked the demons’ blades and smiled underneath his gray hood. Aullienna, who would have bounced on her father’s knee, unaware of the dangers facing them, and the blood they would spill to protect her home. Even Qurrah and Tessanna’s absence was felt, though by the look in Harruq’s eyes, none felt it more keenly than him.

“Seriously,” he said, suddenly feeling quiet and awkward. “It’s been a pleasure to know all of you. Stand tall now, and may we meet each other once more, be it in this life or the next.”

“May Ashhur watch over us,” said Keziel.

“Amen,” said the paladins and the angel.

“Dismissed,” Tarlak said, waving his hand. “Go drink or talk or make love. We’ve got one last night. Spend it well. Come the dawn, we must forget ourselves, and let killing be all we know.”

M
ake love is what Harruq and Aurelia did, once they found a secluded spot far enough away. He kept his movements slow, and his touch tender. Afterward he lay beside her, her arms atop his chest and her face nuzzled into his neck. He felt her tears against his skin, and he shifted so he might hold her tighter.

“Don’t worry,” he whispered. “We’ve faced worse before and came out all right.”

“That’s not it,” she whispered back. “I’ve something to tell you, but I’m scared to say it. It might just be a cruel joke, or an unfulfilled promise stolen away from us by such a pitiless world.”

Harruq stared at her, and he felt the gears in his head slowly turning.

“You’re not,” he said.

She nodded, then broke into nervous laughter.

“For about two months now,” she said. “We’ll have another child, should we endure. You’ll be a father, and I a mother.”

He kissed her again and again, then pressed his forehead against hers as he felt his own tears building.

“We’ll endure,” he said. “And you should have told me sooner.”

“I know. I love you, Harruq.”

“I love you too, Aurry.”

“T
here are just so many,” Lathaar said as Jerico sat beside him.

“Let them learn to pray for themselves this night,” Jerico said in return. “You have your own prayers to make.”

He chuckled as Lathaar nodded, as if reluctantly accepting the wisdom.

“How many of them die tomorrow?” Lathaar asked, gesturing to Antonil’s army around them.

“All,” he said. “None. Some may die tomorrow. Some the week after. Given enough time, all will die. At least they’ll die fighting for something greater than themselves.”

“Cold comfort to those they love.”

“It is for those they love that they fight.”

Lathaar threw up his hands in surrender. Jerico chuckled again, feeling like he dealt with a stubborn student.

“Will you be ready for tomorrow?” he asked.

“Of course.”

“I’d prefer an honest answer, not the expected one.”

Lathaar pressed his face into his palms and rubbed. He looked so exhausted…

“Ever since Mira died, I’ve found myself doubting. Where is Ashhur’s strength? Where is the god I have put so much faith in? Our order is destroyed, with only you and me remaining. Everywhere his priests have been butchered. Hundreds of thousands have died in the past few years alone. So much death. So much loss. How do I trust Ashhur to protect me in the face of such tragedy?”

He fell silent and waited for his answer.

“I don’t know,” Jerico said at last. “Do we judge him by this world’s failings? Is Ashhur wrong to ask us to forgive? Is he wrong when he asks us to help others? I know he’s not, for a world where kindness and mercy are seen as weakness and folly…that is a world I don’t want to live in. So I fight for the one I know. I fight for the one I love. We know little of the past and nothing of the future. In this bleak darkness, we must be a light even when others would fade. Don’t blame yourself for doubting, Lathaar. Your question is honest, intelligent, and true. I wish I could give you a better answer.”

Lathaar leaned closer toward the fire and stared at the burning embers.

“Yours will do for now,” he said.