Exodus: The Windwalker Archive: Book 3 (Legends of Agora) (16 page)

Waters alight with fire. Vald ships burning. Phantoms stalk their prey, hidden by darkened feathers.

-Gretzen Spiritbone

They sailed west long into the night, reaching the western edge of Volnoss early the following afternoon. The plan was to hit the village that night. Until then, the ships would stay back, and Talon, Zilena, and Han would learn what they could from the air.

The weather had been unpredictable for the last two days, with rain falling one moment and then sunshine splitting the clouds the next. By the time Talon mounted up for their scouting mission, the rain had returned, though it was a light rain, and not unpleasant in the late summer heat. Han had planned for Zilena to ride with him, but the princess was adamantly against it, saying that he could either give her a different hawk to ride else give up his own. In the end he agreed, and asked Flick to lend his hawk. The young man eagerly agreed, enamored as he was with the elf princess.

The closer Talon got to Volnoss, the more his dread grew. He knew that he was disguised by the silver hawk feathers, which had changed to mimic the gray, overcast sky. But still the fear creeped in with every mile. He told himself to be brave, and reminded himself of the magic that he possessed. He had survived sixteen years on Volnoss without the aid of a magic ring, spirit wolf, and silver hawk, with them he should have been confident.

He reminded himself of this and many things as the island grew out of the northern horizon, and soon they were passing over the spot where he had so often fished as a boy.

They flew northwest over the small forest of pine separating the village from the rocky shore. They kept low, gliding just over the treetops, and continued on across a short field to the outskirts of the village.

Vald went about their activities below, unaware of the hawks flying overhead. Han led them around the village slowly as Zilena was trying to gauge the location of the dark elf, and did not want to get so close that she was noticed or felt by the foe.

Fly east, now!
Came a voice in Talon’s head.

Han must have heard Zilena as well, for he instantly banked a hard right and began a steep ascent. The three leveled out and flew sided by side with Talon in the middle.

“Was it the dark elf?” Han yelled over the wind.

“Yes. Near the heart of the village.”

“Did he sense you?”

“There is no way of knowing. I doubt it, however, unless he was searching. I pulled back as soon as I noticed.”

“Was Akerri with him?” Talon asked the princess.

“I believe so. Come, we have learned all that we needed to know. Let us return to Freedom.”

Han agreed and led them back to the ship, where the crew was waiting expectantly.

“What else did you learn?” Talon asked, catching up to Zilena after they had dismounted.

“The dark elf is much more powerful than I had first thought. I must prepare,” she said, continuing quickly to the captain’s quarters.

Talon stopped and called to her, “What should I do?”

She stopped at the door and looked to him gravely. “You should do the same.”

“I’ve never seen her like this,” said Han, stopping beside Talon. “Whatever she felt from the dark elf, it can’t be good.”

“She said nothing of turning back. We are going along with the plan.”

“You’re a fearless one, aren’t you?”

“No, not fearless. I’ve known fear my whole life, and I’ve never felt it more strongly than I do for Akerri.”

Han’s face became kind, and he put a hand on Talon’s shoulder. “We’ll get her back, lad. Mark my words.”

Talon went down to his private quarters and prepared for the coming battle, dressing himself in the armor that Azzeal had given him upon his departure from Elladrindellia. The metal and leather armor was a perfect fit for him, and allowed for maximum flexibility, while at the same time providing coverage of his entire body. He flexed and moved around, testing the agility that it provided. Happy with the results, he strapped his twin daggers to his belt and sheathed his short sword.

When he returned to the deck, he met with the others in the captain’s quarters and went over the details of the mission one last time.

“Now,” said Zilena when the meeting was through, “with your permission, I would like to lay a few enchantments on you both.”

“What kind of enchantments?” asked Talon, intrigued.

“Wards of protection mostly. They will work well against blades, and absorb some blunt force, but you should still be wary of the dark elf’s magic. My blessings cannot save you from him.”

Zilena proceeded to lay her wards upon their armor, causing them to glow slightly with a blueish tint. The feeling was like a million goosebumps upon Talon’s flesh. Out on the main deck, she similarly blessed the other hawk riders before moving on to the silver hawks.

When her work was through, Argath gave the order to set a course for Timber Wolf harbor, and the two ships headed north toward Volnoss.

I put years into the creation of Kyrr, with the help of my friend by the same name. My friend died before we could finish the ring, but I like to think that a part of Kyrr still remains buried deep within the gem of his namesake ring. He was a clever one, my friend Kyrr, for he laid a spell upon the ring which makes it weaker the more it is abused, and stronger the more it is used for good. Talon could have just as easily broken the ring, but I have seen that he’s made it more powerful than either I or Kyrr ever imagined.

-Azzeal, Ralliad of Elladrindellia, in a letter to Zerafin Eldenfen

“Land ho!” cried the lookout from the crow’s nest.

The call was repeated by others, and Argath stepped up onto the poop deck and extended his long spy glass.

“Easy goes it!” he yelled to the wheelman. “Everyone to stations! Man the starboard cannons!”

The orders were repeated below deck, and Talon imagined the many cannons being wheeled out through the portholes, and the precious dragon’s breath rounds being carefully put into position. Redemption followed a few hundred feet behind, no doubt preparing their cannons, catapults, and harpoons as well.

It was well known that the Vald of Volnoss had only a small fleet of warships, and due to sanctions set forth by Shierdon, they had never gained the supplies needed to properly arm the ships. A few cannons reached them through illegal trade, namely from pirates, but Argath stressed the possibility that the Vald might be lying in wait. While flying over Volnoss, Talon had made a note to search the harbor along Timber Wolf Village’s western coast. He hadn’t seen anything, still, that had been nearly two days ago, and the ships could have easily gotten into position by now.

Ash had been sent out to get another look at the harbor when the island came into view, and now came back with a report that countered their previous assumption.

“They got a fleet o’ at least a dozen ships waiting in and around the harbor,” he said after landing.

“Feikinstafir!” said Argath, slamming his fist down on the rail. “Man the portside cannons! Bring the ballista weapons to bear as well. Looks like we’re facing a blockade!”

“If there is a blockade waiting for us, then the dark elf knows that we are coming as well. We have to abort,” said Zilena.

“Sorry, my lady, but it’s now or never,” said Argath before turning to Han. “Looks like its plan B. Get your boys into the air with those fire bombs.”

“Mount up!” Han called to the riders.

Talon hurried across the deck and shouldered into his cloak before mounting Brightwing.

“It is not unlikely that the dark elf or Akerri is on one of those ships,” said Zilena. “Do as I say, and you might all come out of this alive.”

Flick, having again lent his hawk to the princess, strapped himself into Ash’s saddle behind the dwarf and raised his crossbow. “To battle!” he cried, and the hawk leapt from the deck.

The others followed, with the princess soon overtaking them and leading the group northeast.

Talon’s heart raced as they drew closer to the blockade. It wasn’t hard to see the ships bobbing in the choppy waves. Their sails hung open, full of the billowing wind. He counted thirteen ships, and though none of them were as imposing as the big slavers with their dozens of cannons, any one of them might be hiding the dark elf or Akerri.

Prepare your firebombs,
came Zilena’s voice in his head, and presumably, the minds of the others as well.

Talon reached into the saddle bag to his right and carefully took out the apple-sized explosive. He knew little about such things, but had been told by Han that he need only drop it upon something solid with enough force to set off the sparking mechanism inside.

Zilena banked left toward a group of three ships farthest from shore and dropped the first of the bombs. Han let his loose soon after, followed by Haze, Ash, and Flick. When he had determined to be directly above the ships, Talon dropped his as well.

He craned his neck to see the result as the silver hawks continued on deeper into hostile waters. Many of the bombs hit their targets, engulfing large sections of the decks with flame. A large plume of billowing smoke rose into the night, and the riders dropped their bombs on another group of ships. Again the fires raged, and the surprised and furious cries of many Vald echoed across the waters in the wake of the thunderous booming.

As they turned around for another pass, Talon spotted Freedom engaging the first of the ships. Her cannons fired one after another, and subsequent explosions rocked the enemy vessel. Freedom continued on and Redemption finished what they had started. By the time they had engaged the next ship in line, the first one was already sinking beneath the cold waters.

Talon dropped the last of his fire bombs as Zilena led them on a pass over the center of the armada. He watched, delighted by the damage they had caused the fleet in only two passes. Then a streak of light caught his eyes and he instinctively jerked the reins as a fireball shot through the air from one of the ships and came at him. Another glowing orb came from Zilena and intercepted the fireball only a few yards from Talon. The explosion temporarily blinded him as Brightwing gave a cry and flew through the fire and smoke. They came out unscathed but for a few smoldering feathers, and Talon searched desperately for the other riders. He spotted Zilena when a spell streaked from her hand and fell like a meteor through the sky, hitting one of the ships below and snapping its main mast in half before continuing on down through the deck and setting the ocean aglow.

He couldn’t help but fear that Akerri was on that ship. If not her, then it was the dark elf himself.

A cry snapped Talon’s attention to the south, and he had only a moment to jerk Brightwing’s reins to the side to avoid the creature coming at him. Brightwing barrel-rolled as Talon tried to keep an eye on the passing beast. Its shimmering, scaled hide was dark green and oily. Leathery wings twice as wide as a silver hawk’s carried it swiftly around in a tight arc, and it began to bear down on him. Upon the beast’s back rode a dark-skinned elf. In his right hand he held a crackling ball of light.

Dive!

Talon instantly heeded Zilena’s command, pushing the reins and ducking low against Brightwing’s back.

The crackling spell seared the flapping end of his cloak, and a flashing explosion erupted above him. He didn’t look back until Brightwing had leveled out. Searching the sky above and behind him, he saw only a thick cloud of white smoke, illuminated by constant flashes like lightning, which projected the silhouettes of Zilena’s hawk and the dark elf’s beast caught in the throes of battle.

Talon searched the ships for any sign of Akerri as he flew overhead, still camouflaged by Brightwing’s feathers. Freedom and Redemption had torn through the outlying ships and were now headed straight through the main body of the armada. Cannons blazed on both sides of the ships, and the harpoons twanged sharply.

Zilena’s aerial battle continued to light up the night as Talon frantically tried to locate Akerri. He knew that it had been she who shot off the first spell, for the dark elf had been flying on a mount of his own.

Suddenly her location became apparent as a ball of fire erupted from one of the ships nearest the shore and hit Freedom on the starboard side.

Talon steered Brightwing toward the ship and withdrew his timber wolf trinket. As he drew closer, he finally saw her standing behind the aft rail of the Vald ship. Her blood-red hair stood on end, as though a hot wind emanated from her very being, and her eyes gleamed like hot embers.

“Akerri!” he cried, trying hurriedly to unstrap himself from the saddle.

He got the buckle loose and pulled back on Brightwing’s reins as the hawk came upon the ship.

“Chief, come to me!” said Talon before leaping off the saddle and flying through the air toward the ship.

Akerri saw him coming and shot out a glowing hand. The spell hit Talon as he cleared the rail, sending him spinning back through the air end over end. He landed on the rail on his stomach, with legs dangling over the side of the ship. Frantically he grabbed at the wood and found a hold.

Talon wondered for a fleeting moment why he was still alive, then noticed the acidic-smelling smoke wafting up from his armor. Silently thanking the princess for the protective ward, Talon pulled himself up over the rail. He spotted Chief easily, for the glowing spirit wolf was only a few feet away, pinning a furiously thrashing Akerri to the deck.

“Keep her there, boy. Don’t hurt her,” said Talon before giving a loud whistle for Brightwing.

Behind Chief, Vald warriors had begun charging across the deck of the ship. Talon held his ground, not wanting them to get between him and Akerri. A Vald came at him from the right with a big shield leading the way. Talon unsheathed his daggers in a blur and moved with speed and agility that startled the giant barbarian. He ran straight at the Vald and dropped to the floor, easily sliding between the widely placed legs and slashing both hamstrings as he passed. Talon came up out of the attack and moved swiftly to his left, where a Vald was starting for Chief. A long sword came for his head, and Talon ducked under the blow, coming in hard and burying both daggers in the man’s exposed neck.

He leapt back as the oncoming warriors slowed and stalked him instead. They filed onto the deck one after another, and soon Talon lost count. Behind him, Akerri was screaming like a woman possessed and shooting spells wildly from her pinned hands. Chief held her down, eyes alight with their blue glow and lips peeled back as a warning to the Vald.

Talon stood in the rain, his feathered cloak dark as the surrounding night. He whistled again to Brightwing, though his quivering lips made it hard to get the call right. His body shook with power and rage. Kyrr burned bright blue on his finger. The killings left him feeling sick, but at the same time exhilarated. He thought of Jahsin, Tyson, Marcus, Windy, Thorg, Forrest, and every Skomm who had ever suffered at the hands of the Vald. The Vald fanned out in a semi-circle around him, and he smiled upon them all. There must have been a look in his eyes, for the men stopped and tensed.

“Come one step closer and you all die,” said Talon.

Kyrr flared, temporarily blinding the Vald, and Talon felt a rush of power like he had never known.

The Vald attacked.

Talon gave himself to the ring, letting it guide his steps and his strikes. He twirled left and then right, slashing the throats of two of the Vald before they could begin to parry. He picked up a fallen Vald’s seven-foot sword and hacked at the closest man, swinging the heavy blade as though it weighed no more than a twig. The sword connected with another and shorn it in two. On the backswing, Talon beheaded the surprised man before twirling out and throwing one and then the other dagger swiftly. Two Vald fell dead before him.

“I claim Bjodja!” Talon bellowed.

The Vald stopped in their advance once again and glanced around at each other. It was barbarian tradition that any Skomm who challenged and killed three Vald would be named a Vald himself.

“I am Talon Windwalker! I was born a Vald, named a Skomm. I have killed twice the number named in the Bjodja. By your own law you must now name me Vald!”

The men looked to one in particular, a wide-shouldered man whose face was painted red and whose teeth had been filed to points. The leader eyed Talon murderously as he strode forth, getting closer than any other dared and stopping to stand before Talon.

“I have known your father Kreal for many years. And now that I see you are Vald, I am glad to know you as well.”

Talon stood tensely, suspicious of the man’s words.

“I am Felltree of Timber Wolf Tribe,” he said proudly. “I name you Vald, as is written in the Bjodja.”

“Call off your men,” said Talon.

Felltree raised his hand, glancing to the side, and the Vald relaxed their weapons.

Talon rushed to Akerri’s side and searched for the gem that might be embedded in her flesh. She spit curses and continued to engulf both she and the wolf in crackling lightning. An arc shot out and hit Talon, and he gritted his teeth against the pain. He followed the snaking lightning back to its source—the gem embedded in Akerri’s right palm.

Talon!
Zilena screamed in his mind.

He whipped his head around in time to see a fireball coming for the deck.

“Chief!” he cried, bringing up his hands instinctively.

A blue streaking light went through his back and out his chest, and a glowing Chief met the spell head on. They collided and disappeared, leaving only a shower of sparks in their wake.

The dark elf suddenly landed on deck, barely ten feet away, and Talon acted quickly. He spun around as fast as he could and brought his sword down on Akerri’s wrist, severing the hand and the gem that commanded her.

Akerri cried out in her own voice and Talon moved in front of her. He raised Kyrr before the dark elf and stood his ground.

“Leave us alone!” he screamed, and to his surprise a shockwave of energy shot out of Kyrr and spread wider, hitting the dark elf and sending him over the far rail.