The Wrath Of the Forgotten (2 page)

The younger woman averted her eyes for a moment. “I know that. I came anyway. I’m one of the fastest flyers in our entire tribe, and you know it. This mission needed stealth, speed, and grace. I have all those things.”

Gayjock guffawed loudly. “Problems, Commander Tov?”

Tov whirled around to face him. “Shut up, you fool. Do you want them to hear you? This is supposed to be a surprise attack.”

Immediately, the Oni King stopped laughing, but a smug smirk still creased his dark blue face.

“As for you,” Tov said, pointing at the young woman. “I explicitly told you I didn’t want you participating in this mission. It’s too dangerous.”

Urae clutched her hands behind her back and stood up with her back straight. “I wanted to help too! I’m just as patriotic as you are! I’ve seen the plight of our people. Why can’t I serve like these guys?” Urae gestured to the three men behind her. “They get to risk their lives. What makes me so special that I must remain safe?”

Tov breathed out a heavy sigh before he chuckled. “You’re just like your mother.” He stared into Urae’s green eyes. “I’m your commanding officer, and you will obey me. As soon as you give me the report, you’re going back home.” He turned his attention to the others. “All of you. It’s going to get dangerous. I want all of you safe. Are we clear?”

Urae’s face lit up like a miniature sun cresting over the horizon. “Yes, Father. The Onistans are unaware about the impending attack. However, they’re on guard because none of their scouts have returned. As the hour passes, they will become more agitated. Most of their guards and militia are gathered along the southern and eastern wall. Their defenses on the western wall are non-existent. The north gate has minimal forces.”

Tov nodded. “Good. We still have the element of surprise. Return home and let the elders know the attack has begun.”

A deep crease appeared in Urae’s forehead. “Permission to speak freely, Commander?”

Tov winced. “Go on. I could never prevent you from speaking before. Why should I think to do it now?”

Urae frowned. “You’re going to fight, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am.” Tov reached up and placed a hand on her shoulder. “No, you can’t help me. Yes, I have to do this. Yes, I’ll send word as soon as the battle has been won. If there is nothing more, then I need you to leave right now. We have to get this battle underway.”

Urae narrowed her eyes for a moment, but then nodded. She reached up and grazed her fingers against Tov’s cheek. “I understand. I love you, Father. Fight well. Live on. Our people need you. The Celestial Ones need you.”

The light pink energy wings extended from Urae’s back. She leapt into the air and hovered for a moment as her three friends joined her.

“Go!” Tov said. “I’ll be fine.”

Urae nodded before she turned and soared away from the city of Onista. Tov waited until she disappeared behind the mountain peaks, and then gazed up at Gayjock.

“Sound your war horn,” Tov said. “Leave no man, woman, or child alive.”

Gayjock reached for the war horn at his side and brought it up to his face. From the looks of it, it had been constructed from the broken horns of other Oni. The Oni King licked his lips again before he pressed them against the mouthpiece. A thunderous resounding note pierced the air. A second similar horn echoed from the south. A third called from the east.

Thousands of Oni raised their weapons high and screamed out as one. The sudden debut of so many deep voices struck Tov like a winter avalanche. Harmonized battle cries echoed in other parts of the mountains as well. A great pressure slapped down on Tov, but he dismissed it as he summoned his wings again.

He rose into the air and stared down into Onista, the city of the enemy. To their credit, the humans roared back at the unseen Oni in defiance. More armored warriors ran on top of the walls. The gigantic portcullis within the gate house slammed shut. Onista had braced itself for its death.

Drumbeats overtook the Oni roars. Thunder reverberated, despite the clear blue sky. Tov’s spirit trembled too. The Oni army poured out of hiding like a flooded river. Each of the giant creatures clutched their chosen weapons eagerly. The anticipation of death polluted the air. Tov nearly choked on that stink.

Archers started collecting on the tops of the walls. Tov screamed down to his Oni comrades, but their war chants drowned out his voice. They were on their own, much like Tov was. Nothing could stop the tide of doom that would befall these pathetic, treacherous humans. Still, Tov forced back the urge to tear up. He controlled his breathing and held out his hand in front of him.

Tov couldn’t afford to waiver in his conviction now. The Yaoguai people wouldn’t survive if the Onistans were not slaughtered. Magic coursed through his fingertips. Energy flowed out from his skin, taking shape. Soon, Tov held a long slender purple energy blade.

A loud collective ‘
thwunk
’ reverberated in their air. Tov’s heart beat faster as he gazed up. A humongous black cloud blocked out the sun for only a moment, and the storm of arrows fell toward both Tov and the Oni.

So it had truly begun. Nothing could stop the tide.

THE BOAT LURCHED
to a stop beside one of the many piers that lay before the great western city of Jadai. Dozens of other ships were connected to the mooring as well. People walked onto and off of the many ships, all going about their daily routines. They had become used to this wharf and the city itself. Would Nori ever find that same sense of comfort?

Nori stood on the deck of the ship as the sailors lowered the gang plank and secured the vessel to large posts. Other passengers started collecting on the deck as well. They all cast disturbed glances toward Nori as they passed by him. It wasn’t anything Nori hadn’t seen before, most people assumed that Onistans were stupid brutes.

Several of the other passengers whispered to one another, as if Nori couldn’t hear them.

“Can they lower the gang plank already? The sooner we can get away from the likes of him, the better,” one man said.

A woman sneered at him and nudged another lady beside her. “What is that damned ogre staring at? I really wish he hadn’t come on this trip.”

Ogre.

Outwardly, Nori didn’t react to their statements. His stomach churned. An empty throbbing feeling pulsated in his chest. Every breath felt a little heavier with each consecutive intake. Sure, he had heard the word directed at him both to his face and behind his back over the last few years. Every time he did, a little piece inside him had shuddered. It wasn’t Nori’s fault that others were born so small or frail. Onistans were just big people. To be fair to the people, Nori not only possessed great stature, but he also carried an unusual battle weapon with him.

He only paid the other passengers notice a little while longer before he focused on the city of Jadai. A stone wall wrapped around the city itself, barring it from the docks. A great archway and gate house opened up and allowed entry and exit into the city. The stone wall looked sturdy enough, for lowlanders anyway. They wouldn’t have compared to the marvels that his people would have crafted. To be fair to the lowlanders, they didn’t have access to the same high quality stone that the Onistans did. Nori couldn’t see the actual buildings of the city yet, aside from the colorful spire standing over the walls. Would their architecture be anything similar to the practical simplicity that he had grown up with? Would it have the elegance and sophistication that the capital city of Xian Ba boasted? Or would it be something more common like the other cities that the ship had passed by on its long voyage down the river?

Nori had seen very few places that even remotely resembled his beloved mountain home. The terrain surrounding Jadai had a unique wonder. His heart danced at the prospect of seeing yet another new place. The urge to smile tickled his lips, but Nori maintained a stoic expression. The lowlanders had the impression that he was a dumb brute. Why rob them of that notion when he could keep them ignorant and unenlightened?

The people on the docks all wore the same kinds of thinner clothing material that people in the capital wore. People adorned silk and cotton fabrics of various hues. The men typically wore slacks and long sleeved shirts while the women usually wore dresses. Nori also wore a silk garment, although he would have preferred wool.

Nori stood next to one of the rails of the ship. Two very large sacks and a lute case lay beside him. Nori held his tetsubo in front of him, with the top edge of it being placed against the deck of the ship. The large war club had large square metal studs embedded in the sides of the weapon. Each of those metal studs could smash bone, stone, wood, or even metal, provided that Nori put enough force behind the swing. While the rest of the world shunned him, Nori always felt calm when he had his beloved tetsubo close by. Even touching it now reminded him of home.

As soon as the sailors secured the gang plank, the other passengers briskly walked over to the exit and onto the pier. Nori waited until only he and the sailors remained on board.

One of the sailors approached him. The man only came to Nori’s chest, which was typical of most lowlander males. “Hey, you! It’s time to move along. The ride is over.”

Nori hoisted the pair of large sacks and the wooden case onto one shoulder while he rested the tetsubo against the other shoulder. As the weapon traveled through the air, the other sailors froze. They had already witnessed what Nori could do with his war club during the river pirate raid several days ago. Nori bit the inside of his lip. No one moved as he made his way to the gang plank. He stopped before he descended onto the pier and gazed back over his shoulder.

The sailors had continued to watch him with palpable discomfort. Several of them nervously toyed with whatever they were holding. Others stood defiantly, waiting for him to do something heinous.

Nori said “I’ve never been to Jadai before. Can you please direct me to the University?”

One of the more brash sailors waved his hand at him. “We’re not your tour guides. Find it yourself.”

The air grew tenser. Several workers on the docks stopped what they were doing and gaped open eyed and open mouthed at him. The longer that Nori stood in place, the more people noticed him and regarded him as if he were some kind of river monster.

A wild tingling danced in Nori’s stomach, but he pressed it down deeper into himself. This was not the first time he would have to acclimate among lowlanders. Perhaps Jadai would not be as uncomfortable as the capital was. Nori moved down onto the pier and started walking toward the city gate.

An all too familiar silence heralded his coming. More people halted in their steps and watched him. In his wake, quiet murmurings crept up like flowers. The crowds thickened with more people as Nori got closer to the Jadai city gate. However, as soon as people noticed Nori behind them, they gave him a wide berth.

Nori studied the forty feet high stone walls as he got closer. In many places, stone blocks jutted out ever so slightly. Only one or two soldiers walked atop the walls. Based on their movements, they did so lackadaisical. Nori frowned.

Several armed guards stood at the city gates, each armed with spears. They wore light blue colored breastplates, tan colored slacks, and matching light blue helmets. The guards stopped everyone who wished to enter the city, and they either traded soft spoken words or passionless searches through sacks of questionable size.

When the guards noticed Nori, they stepped back and lowered their spears in defense. A collective gasp echoed from behind him. Instantly, the noise on the docks stopped.

One of the female guards stepped forward. Her armor appeared a little more decorated, and her helmet had a yellow stripe running down the center of its bowl. She didn’t have a spear, but a sword hung at her belt.

The female guard said “Hold on for a moment. Where do you think you’re going? That’s a very big weapon you have there.”

“Well, I’m a very big fellow,” Nori said. “Am I breaking any of Jadai’s laws by carrying a weapon?”

The female guard winced. “No, you’re not breaking any laws, per say. I still want to know where you’re going. You’re liable to make decent citizens nervous with that massive club of yours.”

Nori shifted his stance to the side and gazed behind him. Dozens of eyes watched him eagerly. Many more observers stood in the mouth of the gate leading into Jadai. Only the sound of anxious breathing broke the aura of complete silence that had dominated the docks moments before.

Nori swallowed in hopes to moisten his dry throat. He regarded the female guard again. “I’m headed to the Jadai University of Magic. Would you be so kind as to show me the way?”

One of the guards took a step closer to him. “Why are you going there?”

“My business is my own,” Nori said. “I’d appreciate it if you gave me directions and let me go on my way.”

The female guard rested a hand at her hip, right beside her sword hilt. “It’s our business to protect the citizens from perceived dangers.”

“Am I a perceived danger because I’m a warrior or because I’m an Onistan?” Nori asked.