Legends of Marithia: Book 3 - Talonsphere (37 page)

“That is an invasion army,” Yuski said, pulling out her orb. The colours still swirled inside, and would not settle.

“Of course, we need to protect ourselves,” Livae said.

“This looks far greater than protection,” Dryden said.

“Do not judge what you cannot understand. This army has been long preparing, in case you failed, Vartan. Surely, you do not wish Marithians to perish, if you had not made it to Talonsphere.”

Keturah, I know I have not called on you in a long time. Are they speaking the truth?
Vartan thought.

Vartan, I have been long waiting for you to ask for me, since Helenia’s death. It seems we face your own. My powers do not work here
, Keturah said.

Keturah’s sadness washed through him, but he was more concerned with what he was seeing. Their answers made sense, but nothing else did.

“Vartan, we have nothing to hide from you. Your chance to save Marithia is before you. What do you want to do?” Livae said.

Vartan stared at Talonsphere and the hole the size of a man that he could only guess was waiting for him. “What will happen to me when I activate Talonsphere?”

Livae stared at him with a grim frown. “We cannot say for sure, but we can tell that your soul is the power to active it. Anything else will be as much of a surprise to us, as it would be to you.”

Vartan stared at the weapon, knowing that his purpose was to activate it. “Peace. It is what I want for Marithia, and for myself.”

They heard distant rumbles, and the queens’ faces hardened, as if they were listening to someone speaking. “You need to make your choice fast, for darkness approaches. Shindar is here, and he is coming for you.”

Vartan drew a deep breath and approached Talonsphere. The weapon began to rumble as he approached it.

I am sorry, Keturah, what must be will be.

Shindar narrowed his eyes, watching the two kings through his mask. He had waited his whole life for this moment, and was not about to let them stop him, but he had to know more. They had exchanged magical blows, but neither had faltered. The two kings stood in his way, with their palms raised, and a magical net barrier preventing injury.

Far in the distance was the city he knew would hold Talonsphere, and the one who could activate it.

“Shindar, you dare oppose the elder kings? He should never have made it this far, should he, elder Kran?” an ancient king said.

“No, he should be dead already, elder Truhe,” Kran said.

“I have a tendency to be underestimated. Step aside. Marithia will belong to me, and we do not need to fight, unless that is what you want,” Shindar said, drawing his sword and extending his shield.

If magical weapons failed, then he would try brute force. As he charged toward the two kings, he came to an abrupt stop. Angeline, his dead wife that had been so brutally murdered all those years ago, stepped out from behind Kran. Her ears were elven, like the ancients, but it was her. He could not believe his eyes, and he lowered his weapon.

“My love, can it be true? You live? This must be some kind of trick,” Shindar said.

“This is no trick. It is I. I know how much my death hurt you, but then I have seen, over my many lives, who and
what
you have become. We have been watching all of you, hoping it would not come to this,” Angeline said.

Shindar retreated a few steps. “How could any of this be? I held your cold body. You died!”

The kings maintained their shields. “Because we created you, and her. The prophecies, all of the events that have unfolded, are of our making. Some surprises occurred and we guided events where needed.”

Shindar looked deeper into Angeline’s eyes. He saw the same spark that was there, all those many years ago. “How could she remember? And why would you do this?”

“Shindar, you were indeed sent by the gods, all those years ago, as a messenger of good. One of our own, Angeline, was tasked with being born into Marithia and finding you, when the time was right. She is one of us and retains her memories between lives,” Kran said.

“If you created her life—” Shindar said.

“Yes. We engineered her death. She knew what was coming, just not when or how. And in turn, the first of our weapons,
you
, was created. Sadly, you would not be strong enough to fulfil your purpose, and neither was Kassina, who we painstakingly manipulated for the Blood Red Moon prophecy.”

Shindar’s rage built, but he needed to know more.

Could my whole life have been a lie?

“Damn you!” Shindar said, charging into their shield with all his might. He connected with a solid thud, but the shield exploded as it sent him reeling backwards.

Truh continued, as they cast their shield once more. “This must be hard for you to grasp, but your own goals and this war that you have failed to succeed in, is not your own.”

Shindar’s body spasmed as he rose to his feet. “Damn your goals. I will win this war.”

“If you had succeeded, then we would have had no need for Vartan to activate Talonsphere. The fact he is here is proof that you have failed beyond all possibilities,” Kran said.

Shindar’s eyes widened and he stepped further back, shaking his head. “No! The weapon was never going to be used by Marithians at all, was it?”

The kings smiled, lowering their shields. “You are smarter than we thought, but not clever enough to stop what is coming. At any moment, Talonsphere will rise, and he will succeed where you have failed. Marithia will be wiped out, and the only ones left alive will be met with a swift death when we return, reclaiming the lands that should have always been ours.”

In that moment, the sky brightened, and an almighty roar filled the air. Shindar brought his arm up to shield the bright light, then blinked hard until his vision cleared. A bright light shone through billowing smoke.

“It has already begun. Run now, with your pitiful demon army that follows you. You are no match for us,” Kran said.

“Did you ever love me, Angeline?” Shindar said.

“With all my heart,” Angeline said, her eyes welling with tears.

Shindar fled toward the entrance. He had a new purpose and enemy, and his bitter hatred for Marithians was no more. The ancients would rue the day they ever crossed him.

Vartan screamed at the intensity of the weapon activating. It roared through the air around him. His companions maintained a safe distance. He watched as his life flashed before his eyes. Every moment from being born, his childhood with Finn, and recent events, all played out before him within minutes.

There was no pain, but he was slipping away. An energy built within him, and his vision flashed as Mazu tried to send him messages. The god’s frantic voice was overshadowed by the dark laughter of Talonsphere.

You fool! Played right into the hands of my masters. Finally, I can be free of this vile contraption and see out my purpose. Once Marithia is cleansed, then my masters can return. Yes, it will be a glorious death for Marithians
, Talonsphere said.

You demon! Why did you lie to me?
Vartan said.

Because it was the only way and what I was built for. You will not be reborn with me, but I am not without a heart for your gift of freedom. I will send you to Mother Dragon, instead of destroying your soul. You should thank me!

Mazu’s booming voice cut through.
Vartan! It is too late for you to free yourself of Talonsphere’s grasp, but know this: Once he is set free, I will take over your body, and I will fight for Marithia and stop the ancients. Your death will be avenged.

Talonsphere puffed.
I would like to see you try!

The last images Vartan held on to were ones of Helenia.

My love, I am coming to you. Find me, as I will try to find you.

Vartan cried out as his soul was taken from his body and his world turned black.

Chapter 22 : Dead Flowers

“Everything I thought I knew to be true, is a vile lie.

The anger that fed my hate has left me, and only one purpose remains: to survive and win back the heart of my love, who I thought I would never see again.”

(Shindar)

D
ryden held Yuski’s hand, fleeing the ancient castle with Anakari flying behind them. The force of Talonsphere activating had made them airborne. Vartan’s body flew with them, and only the weapon was left behind in a pillar of fire. Anakari, or Losa who had been activated within her, had cried out at the sight and took to the air, blowing fire and smoke through the castle like a tornado. She had swept in and picked up Vartan’s limp body.

Dryden had seen nothing like Talonsphere’s activation. It had been so sudden, and they weren’t sure of anything that took place after the initial blast. What scared him the most was the final cry from Vartan before everything flashed:
They betray us. Run!

They were taking fire from magical blasts, and he could only assume it was from the ancients.

Why are they attacking us?

“Mazu! Brother, wake up. I can feel you fading,” Losa said.

Yuski stayed with Dryden, beads of sweat running down her pale face as they kept running. Dryden drew his sword and gritted his teeth. They were among enemies, not friends.

“No matter what happens, just keep moving!” Dryden said.

Yuski nodded and he glanced up to see Losa above them.

“Don’t worry, I will keep you safe!” Losa said.

A whirlwind grew around them, blowing back attacking ancients.

He knew that there was only one place to go, and it was the entrance to Marithia. They could not survive against an army of ancients. A massive explosion sounded from behind them. Dryden wanted to look back, but he knew that if he spent any time stopping, it could mean the death of them. Marithia would need them now more than ever.

He heard a mighty roar that sounded like an immense beast. It could only have been Talonsphere. His armour was heavy, and they could not sustain running for too much longer, but he knew they had to escape the city. Daessar’s forest was before them, and as soon as they made it past the first line of trees, Dryden thought it safe enough to survey their surroundings.

“Losa, I have to see Talonsphere!” Dryden said.

“We are not being followed,” Losa said, dissipating the whirlwind, and hovering toward the ground. Her glowing symbols accompanied her flowing hair and glowing eyes. Dryden knew they were among gods, and he watched Vartan be eased to the ground.

Dryden’s heart thumped heavily against his chest as he turned around. The top of the castle had been blown open, large chunks of it had fallen to the city below, crushing nearby homes. Sitting atop the castle was a dragon, but unlike any dragon he had ever seen.

“By the gods, what have we done?” Losa said. “That is no peaceful dragon. The dark magic soaring through its veins will bring much death to Marithia.”

Talonsphere’s scales were as black as night, and its eyes glowed red. Its body emitted a dark smoke, and its spine was covered with large spikes. It blew long jets of fire, roaring as its body continued to stretch and grow. It was already as large as Finn. Its muscles rolled, and it cried out as its bones stretched, expanding its mass.