Stars' Light, page 44
Chenda nodded in satisfaction as the right side of the wall fell in a few brief moments. She could see the units of the Third Army taking the top of the wall amongst the various bodies of the enemy. Only a few of the humans had survived, but her secondary target was in front of her. She would deal with the humans soon, and they would be easier to crush if she made an example out of one of their precious knights. They would learn the Tracian Knights were not invincible.
“Clean up the wall and stay behind me. I do not want you to interfere.” She turned and ordered Major Cohnal Fellmirr. He bowed, his golden command horns dipping in deference, and then he took command, ordering the Fallen about. He was thorough, with a strong voice that brooked no complaint or disobedience.
Chenda began to make her way down the wall. Arrows flashed out at her, but she easily dealt with them by redirecting them with the wind. Her main focus was on the boy, who was staring at her and looked to be patiently waiting for her.
“Pull back! Pull back!” Kiril yelled to what remained of his units, while watching the Fallen advance towards him. He took in a deep breath. “I am with you, my wielder. I shall feed you light, so you should have no worries about that. We should connect through the Essence of Consciousness.”
“I thought we already were.”
“No. Well…only on the surface. We can join our two consciousnesses. It will make us more efficient and formidable. We must work as a team. I shall submit to you, and you shall submit to me. Neither of us shall be in control. We shall be directed by the heavenly winds.”
Kiril doubted for a moment, but in the present situation where he was almost completely surrounded, he opted for a chance at living. “Let’s do it.”
Sarannya felt Kiril join with Wrath. “What are they doing?”
“Wrath and Kiril have joined their consciousnesses. They have become one. This is usually reserved for Master Knights. This is very unorthodox,” Retribution told her.
Sarannya laughed to herself. “I think all of this has been a little unorthodox. What does this…merging do? I mean, why do it?”
War Bringer interrupted his sister, taking over the conversation. “It is the perfect merging between body and blade. It also bridges the gap between the spirit and the physical. It allows one to draw upon all of their learned and acquired skills.”
“How does that work since there are three of us?” Sarannya asked. Her legs were moving her down the pass at a rapid pace. She could see Kiril on the wall, but there was not a mass of people fleeing. She could see smoke wafting on the breeze, and then she smelled the burned bodies. She saw the crumpled and smashed forms littering the ground.
“Colonel!”
Sarannya stopped and saw Lubos running towards her. Her archers, Klara and Danica were behind him. “Sergeant, where is the rest of our unit?”
Lubos looked down, not wanting to meet her eyes. “They elected to stay on the wall with Colonel Noah. He ordered me off the wall, and to oversee the retreat. As you can see, there was not much of that.” He gestured back to the destruction on the right side of the wall.
Sarannya stood for a moment, taking it in and watching the enemy crest to the top. She could clearly see Kiril waiting patiently for the Fallen to make it to him. He seemed to be gathering light. In fact, he was starting to radiate light.
“Good work, Sergent. Do exactly what the Colonel told you.” She took a step towards the wall, but stopped when Lubos grabbed her arm.
“Colonel, the wall is lost!”
“I know it is, but Colonel Noah is not, and I shall not leave him behind. You have your orders, and I have mine.” She smiled as light began to gather around her, darkening the small area around her, Lubos, and her two archers. She would not have to follow the plan, as the right side of the wall had already fallen.
“Colonel, we will go with you and cover you.” Klara strung her bow and turned back to the wall.
“No. I want you to move forward and report to General Masamiria. He will have new orders for you. It will make my escape easier if I don’t have to worry about you. Go, and secure the second choke point. Inform the General what has happened here.”
Sarannya launched into a burst of speed towards the wall and Kiril, gathering light as she went.
Kiril could see the female horned Fallen coming his way. She was smiling, and he knew that he would not be able to defeat them all. He could slow them down, but in the end there were too many. He took a deep breath and continued to gather light, but he also began to go into a meditative mindset. He almost flinched, feeling Wrath slide into his sense of being. There was a pulse that reverberated through him. It felt like he had been here before, standing on this wall, looking out at the pass at an enemy; like he had joined consciousness with his War Blade before; like he had come to the aid of a girl before, but like this time, he had been a touch too late.
The weight and length of his War Blade felt good in his hand, feeling like he had held this blade before; they were in balance, a perfect harmony with each other. Another pulse vibrated his body, breaking his thoughts. He moved into action, the enemy closing in around him.
All in all, Kiril had only been standing for a second or two, and when he moved, he moved with assurance and power. Wrath drew in vast amounts of light, darkening the whole area. It streaked around Kiril in a blinding line of light. Everything fell around him. There was a bubble, a section of calm as fierce winds, fire, earth, blood, and water attempted to assault and kill him.
Fallen moved against him and entered his bubble. Snow began to fall, but it was dirty snow mixed with dust and ash. A natural wind began to blow through the pass, breaking around his area of calm, but it brought colder temperatures as dark clouds blew in, shadowing the entire pass. Kiril alone was a beacon, holding the center for his people.
Fallen hesitated. The boy looked older, more menacing. He did not look, stand, or hold his sword like a raw recruit as they had been told.
“You have all come to die. It would be best for you to kneel and pledge yourselves to redemption and the light. I am instructed to take all offers for redemption. Only the pledge will save you; otherwise, my wrath is coming for you.” Kiril’s eyes shone with silver brillance, and the air vibrated with his voice over the entire wall; light dripped and steamed around his blade and him.
Chenda felt a moment of panic. He is a true Tracian Knight. They have returned, she thought. “Kill him!” She sent the order out to all units on the field. She slowed her advance. Let him use up his light on those more expendable than her.
Sarannya hesitated, hearing Kiril’s voice, but it almost did not sound like him, and she could feel there was something different in how he felt through the War Blade connection. “Can we do the same? Can we join our consciousnesses?”
“We can,” War Bringer responded.
“I do not think this is a course we should follow,” Retribution said.
“I don’t think I can survive that battle without it. Will I be able to use more light and fight better?”
“Yes. We will bring the Fallen a War they have never seen before,” War Bringer urged her.
Sarannya stopped in the middle of the road as lines of troops ran past her, some limping, some being carried, but all trying to get to the second choke point, and a place where they could defend and get a moment of rest. Her eyes opened wide, watching Kiril move and fight. It was like nothing she had ever seen before. He appeared to be skating across the stone like he was on ice. Wrath dealt destruction and death in every flick of the blade. The Essences moved about him, protecting him, throwing Fallen, lighting them on fire, choking them with water, blood, and dust, and stabbing them with ice and stone.
A section of the wall tumbled down on the right side with a great rumble of noise and dust filling the air. The bonding had been broken, and Fallen poured forth and began charging towards Sarannya in an attempt to kill any who were fleeing or stood against them.
Sarannya’s face scrunched up. “It’s now or never. Either we join, or more than likely I will die.” She drew both swords and attempted to calm the butterflies in her stomach. Her breath was coming in small gasps, and her mouth was suddenly dry. She could almost hear Jorian’s voice. “Calm. There is nothing to fear. Trust in yourself, your blades, and the light. Everything will be as it is supposed to be.”
Bran’s words came back to her, “Your truth and my truth are different. This is an important thing to learn and to become aware of inside yourself. It is about learning self-control and being aware that there is something greater at work.” He had told her this in his bedroom, when she found out he had earned a Mara blade.
Sarannya took a quick breath and allowed her light to shine forth. Her eyes illuminated silver and her breathing began to slow. She noticed that many of the fleeing soliders were stopping and forming up behind her. “I shall hold here. Get to the second choke point. There isn’t anymore that you can do.” Her voice reverberated amongst her soldiers.
She could feel the edges of her identity seeping into that of War Bringer and Retribution. She let go, relaxed, and faded into them.
Masamiria stood outside the second choke point, feeling everything that was happening. He attempted to move forward, but his leg would barely support him, and the poison made it very difficult to use light. He would be a hinderance instead of a help. He bowed his head and made a silent prayer as soldiers moved past him to take refuge behind their second wall.
CHAPTER FORTY
Asenath stepped onto the docks with Ivana and Maarika behind her, and Koios bringing up the rear. She saw a tired looking young man standing, waiting for her. His clothes were battered and worn, but otherwise well kept. He had a Mara blade on his hip, but there was only a small amount of light in him. Soldiers moved about the docks, and she could see patrols riding through the hills leading up to the mountains.
“Lady Seffora?” he asked, stepping forward.
“Yes.” Asenath nodded to him. She noticed his short black hair, and soft blue eyes. He was handsome, and he wore the rank of Colonel. She almost allowed her allure to seep out, but a hand on her elbow stopped her. She smiled at the young officer.
“My name is Bran Tatara,” he told her. “I have been instructed to take you to Lady Tal.” He gestured to the carriage and team of horses. “Your belongings will follow you shortly, but I must insist that we leave right away. Your people will be settled in the Citadel. We have placed all the refugees there as we sort them out.
The carriage bumped along the not so smooth road. The carriage was silent, but Asenath noticed the young Tatara kept stealing glances at Ivana. Asenath smiled.
“So…you are Sarannya’s brother. She spoke about you often while we trained. She lov…she has great feelings for you.” Asenath attempted to control her expression, frustrated that she could still not say love.
“You trained her?” Bran’s tone held doubt, but he was learning that women could be amazing warriors, such as Lady Tal.
“I did.”
“You can tell me if Sarannya is all right? You can tell me what has happened to her?”
Asenath smiled, and just a trickle of her allure slipped out. “I can,” she said, as the carriage bumped along the road and the afternoon sun made its way across the sky.
Aviel Amon-Ra Sarosh stepped light side. He squinted his dark blue eyes against the afternoon sun. His silver hair moved about in the cold breeze that blew over him. It was almost winter. He pulled his cloak about his armor, hoping to hold in some heat. He adjusted his two Exirian blades, taking in a deep breath of the cold air. It felt good to feel something again. He began to immediately fill his Well with light. Light that was not diffused with shadow.
“Set up my tent, and get me my projection crystal.”
“Of course, sire.” Fallen soldiers bowed and immediately rushed off to obey his command.
He stood alone, just taking in the feeling of not being imprisoned in a realm that was devoid of any direct light. The sun felt good upon his face. He turned, standing close to the Gate of War. He was not far from Bosc City, but it would take some time to get the First army organized and ready to march out. The march would take yet more time, but he figured that within four days, he would be in Bosc City, dining on fine wine and fine women.
Markos lifted his head and attempted to stand before the projection of his master.
“No, my general. Stay in bed. You need to rest and heal.”
“The spy is here, my master. I fear the General may actually be deeper in the pass guarding the Forges, or he has left for Marpesia to protect them there.”
“Do not worry, my General. We will find them. Jorian may have already closed the Forges, hiding them away. Either way, we are now in a different war than we originally thought.” Aviel paused. A dark look came across his face. “I thought I told you to not personally fight. I told you that I could not replace you.”
“I know, my master, but I had an opportunity to destroy Masamiria. I was able to wound him, but I do not know if it will be enough. He was always very canny, and able to use shadow as well as light.” Markos’s eyes narrowed, and his tone took on a lethal quality. “I wanted revenge for my unit.”
“He used that to bring you out! He used that to get you to make a mistake, which you did. At least you survived it; unlike your unit and many others,” Aviel hissed.
Markos remained silent, hatred burning in him. He hoped the poison was destroying his old enemy. He wanted Masamiria to suffer.
“Where is General Chenda?” Aviel asked, regaining his composure.
“She is leading the assault on the wall. I have been informed the wall is falling as we speak. She may even be able to kill one of the knights and bring me the other.”
Aviel frowned. “What other?”
“There is one who can use shadow. If we can get her, maybe we can corrupt her as we did a long time ago. She does not know very much, and appears to be a knight in training.”
Aviel was silent, thinking. “The dark knight you are thinking of was not corrupted by us. She was something different. Make sure that Chenda proceeds with caution. I will be there as quickly as I can.”
“Of course, my master.”
Sarannya stood, snow and ash falling about her. She felt like herself, but also not. She could almost recall elements or memories that she felt were hers, but she could not get them to come to her mind. It was like having a name on the tip of the tongue, while not being able to actually get the word out.
Only a few of the Fallen had been able to get past her defenses, and all of them had perished. She was fighting and moving in a manner that was not usual to her. Again, although it felt familiar, she knew in her heart that this was not normal, even if it felt so much like her. There were moments where she felt she had done this many times before, while at the same time, her War Blades felt like they were foreign to her, like when she held them for the first time in the library.
It was all very confusing, but she put it aside and stayed in the flow with the War Blades, for her own survival. The first wave of Fallen had been destroyed by her. She lost count around thirty or so. Her armored top and pants were still faring well, but the weave that was inside was starting to show in various places where she had taken hits. She used light to take the pain out of the bruises as none of the blades had actually made contact with her skin. Someday she’d have to learn true healing.
Sarannya looked at Kiril and knew that he would not leave the last of his people to die on the wall. They were completely cut off, and he was not going to be able to punch a hole through. In essence, he was fighting a fight he could not win. He was going to die. A raw wave of emotion hit her. Silver light tears formed at the corners of her eyes, and then a feeling of hatred for the enemy welled up inside her. “Fucking animals. I will kill everyone of…” She paused, seeing a figure flying through the air to land not far from her, still between her and the wall.
Chenda smiled to herself, watching the first wave of Markos’s troops fall to the girl’s blade. She was moving differently than she had before. Maybe that had been a ruse. A ruse to make it look like she was not as good as she really was. She moved quickly, grabbed the air to jump and land not far from the girl. Chenda could see she was watching the boy. Maybe they were together. She could use this to her advantage.
“It is only a matter of time before he tires, and we kill him.” Her gold command horns shifted a bit with the cadence of her words.
Sarannya looked from Kiril to the Fallen in front of her. Raw emotion welled up inside her heart. An emotion she had never felt before. It was mix of utter happiness and love and absolute fear for what could happen. She took a deep breath, hearing the words of her teacher again. She was trying to trust in something greater than herself. She drew in light and shadow, gathering both to her.
“I’m going to fucking kill you.” It was her voice, but not her voice. She could feel a struggle in herself, not like something was trying to take over, but trying to remember. Trying to get her to remember. Also, in the background of her consciousness, she could hear the War Blades arguing. She could only make out a few sentences, “we can help her. We can reconnect her with her past.”
“No we cannot! That is for her to do on her own. It breaks the natural cycle.”
“You are afraid.”
“We could be recalled if we do this. Is that what you want?”
Sarannya lost track of the conversation as her enemy closed in.
Chenda was slow to advance. She could see the light gathering around the girl, but what really unnerved her was how the shadows crawled across the ground towards her as well. It was unnatural, and the hairs on her neck stood on end. She was cautious as she started to close. There seemed to be a decision in the girl’s eyes and in her posture.
