Awakening (Telindell Book 1) (33 page)

The war waged on between the Elves and the vile Dalronians.  Elinar sat upon his horse, anxious for his father’s call.  Kane stared at the sky, watching the battle between Shinaugra and Roxees closely fearing for the safety of his friends.  Elinar looked down to Kane, seeing the concern within the wolf.  “Don’t worry, Kane.  Lian will be fine.”  Elinar’s smiled slightly.  Kane looked up at Elinar, and his ears twitched briefly before he quickly looked back to the sky.

Elinar sighed.  “I understand your concern.  I feel the same.”  He looked to the ongoing battle while arrows and fire rained down with great fury.  “It appears that their numbers are beginning to thin.”  Kane growled up at Elinar.  Elinar looked to Kane with an expression of worry.  “You’re right.  So are ours.  I don’t know how much longer we can last.  These creatures are relentless.”

A large crack of thunder echoed through the sky.  The depth of its sound shook Elinar’s body.  He looked up to the dark, clouded sky to see an eerie green glow.  Kane looked up at the sky as well, stomping his front paws in anticipation.  The wolf yapped and looked toward Elinar.

Elinar looked to Kane with hopeful eyes.  “It’s Lady Dusk!”  She has arrived!”  Elinar watched the sky, seeing the two colossal dragons pause in the air.  “What’s going on?  Why has combat paused?”  Elinar squinted and took note of the flying boulders barraging the fierce black dragon.  Elinar quickly turned to peer upon the Elves’ catapults.  “Those aren’t coming from our catapults.  We don’t have that sort of range.”  Elinar’s eyes widened.  “It must be Shinrok…”

Kane watched the black dragon begin to fall under Shinaugra’s charge.  Kane growled and lunged forward.  The black wolf looked back to Elinar, whining towards the elf he was charged to protect.

Elinar watched the two dragons strike the ground.  He looked to Kane.  “It’s alright.  Go.  Be swift.”  Elinar smiled toward the noble wolf.

Kane quickly nodded and took off toward the battlefield.  Beyond the battlefield, Elinar could see Shinrok’s army approaching.  Elinar’s gaze shifted to the Elven front.  They were beginning to wear down.  Enforcers were pushing them back, slowly but surely.

Elinar grunted impatiently as he stared at the bloody battle.  “Sound the call Father!”  Elinar clenched his fists tightly.  “If you wait much longer, there will be no one left!”

Oryn fought valiantly.  He found only brief moments of pause between enemies.  Fatigue was beginning the grip the General.  He quickly glanced around the battlefield at the thousands of bodies that littered it.  Blood and ice covered Oryn’s armor, blood from friend and foe alike.  His hair was matted from a mixture of sweat, blood, and ice.  Oryn panted heavily.  “We will not last much longer…”

Oryn dashed forward at a foe with his blade at his side.  Their swords clashed with great force that sent echoes of clanging metal throughout the battlefield.  Oryn grunted as he retracted his blade for another attack.  The Enforcer’s roars filled the General’s ears.  With relentless fury, the Enforcer swung his blade once again.  Oryn quickly raised his sword to deflect the attack.  Oryn trembled at the collision of steel and felt his sword snap under the force.  His eyes widened at the blade approaching his body.  Oryn dived to the monstrous creature’s side a moment too late and felt the steel pierce his side.  He let out a grunt of pain as he crashed to the ground and rolled through the bloody snow that covered it.

“Dammit!” Oryn said to himself.  He blinked his eyes rapidly, trying to clear his blurred vision.  Oryn watched the Enforcer charge toward him.  He quickly glanced around and saw the blade of a fallen Elven soldier.  He grabbed it and stumbled to his feet as the Enforcer drew close.  Oryn let out a scream of rage as he lunged forward at his attacker.  Steel pierced the Enforcer’s chest and a monstrous roar escaped its body as it fell upon Oryn.  They both crashed to the ground, Oryn pinned by the Enforcer’s lifeless body.

A deep crack of thunder vibrated through Oryn’s body.  He quickly struggled to free himself from the weight of the lifeless Enforcer.  Oryn stood to see the green glowing sky.  “Lady Dusk!”  Oryn’s eyes widened as he saw boulders being hurled toward the battlefield.  “Shinrok as well!”  Oryn looked to the flank, seeing Elinar and his Riders ready.  Oryn pulled a bugle from his waist and with all the might his lungs could muster, he blew.  The flat melody echoed through the air, signaling the riders.  Oryn turned back to face the few bits of his army not engaged.  “Forward!”  Oryn’s commands echoed loudly through the army, followed by the heroic battle cries of the Elves.

Elinar heard his father’s signal.  He drew his sword and held it high in the air.  “For Alinshahar!”  The Riders followed suit, drawing their swords and echoing his words thunderously.  He kicked his horse and was off with two hundred Riders at his rear.

Elinar rode alongside the battle, leading his riders up the flank.  He studied the horde of Enforcers closely.  “We must enter the horde and separate them!”  Elinar could see his desired point of entry.  He turned and led his riders into the black horde of death.  Their swords pierced the Enforcers with deadly precision while a sea of horses divided the monstrous ranks of Dalronians.  Elinar swung his sword at each unsuspecting foe.  He saw Shinrok’s infantry engage out of the corner of his eye.  Elinar turned his head to watch the desert people attack with ferocity.  Dressed in robes, their faces covered by cloth, they were making sure the Enforcers felt the sharp edges of their curved swords.  Elinar smiled at what seemed to be a coming victory.

Elinar looked only to hear his horse grunt and squeal.  He was thrown from its back as it crashed to the ground.  An Enforcer had pierced the noble steed’s chest, killing it.  Elinar rolled along the ground and quickly recovered.  He looked back only to see many of his Riders suffering a similar fate.  Elinar glanced around.  He was surrounded by Enforcers.  He snarled and gritted his teeth, raising his sword.  “If I die, you die as well!”  Enforcers crowded around him, advancing on their prey.  Suddenly, green lightning struck an Enforcer and radiated to all those around Elinar.  The elf’s eyes widened as those Enforcers burst into clouds of dust.

Green lightning struck the ground in front of Elinar.  In a bright flash, a fierce Elintae appeared.  She gripped her wooden staff, poised and ready for battle.  Elinar stared at the goddess.  Elintae returned his stare briefly before an Enforcer attacked her from behind.  In a smooth, swift manner, she spun around, twirling her staff in her hand.  Elintae delivered an elegant blow to the Enforcer’s mid-section.  It roared loudly and burst into dust.  She turned to face Elinar once again, raising her hand towards him.  A beam of green magical energy erupted from her hand.  Elinar’s eyes widened as the beam shot past his face.  It struck an Enforcer that had been about to deliver a deadly blow to Elinar.  The Enforcer stumbled backwards and dropped its weapon.  Its body seemed to be ripped inside out as it crumbled to the ground in a bloody mess.

Elintae smirked at Elinar, her skin wrapped in a green glow.  She held out her staff in a horizontal fashion, her hand at the center.  It glowed green while the wood turned into a black metal.  On each end curved and jagged blades cut from jade extended.  Her staff had transformed into a doubled ended scythe, ready to reap her foes.  The green glow upon her skin faded to reveal her battle attire.  She wore a layer of skin-tight black clothing that left her upper chest and abdomen exposed.  Along her forearms were thick metal plates that gave off a light green glow.  She wore a form-fitting breast plate that covered only her breasts and more glowing plate covered her groin, thighs, and shins.  A green sash wrapped around her waist and tied at the side, the slack blowing in the wind.  A metal band wrapped her head and emitted the same green glow as the rest of her armor.

Elintae’s hair fluttered in the frigid wind.  “Come now, pay attention!”  She turned to face the horde that was engaged by the weakening Elves.  “Teelia, nor Lian would forgive me if I let you perish.”  Elintae dashed forward into the horde of monstrosities, leaving nothing but death and destruction in her wake.

Elinar quickly followed suit and made his way toward the Elven front while dispatching wounded Enforcers along his path.  He saw Oryn fighting alongside Elintae, foe after foe falling to their might.  Elinar quickly joined them to form a triangle of fury.

Elinar glanced to Oryn.  “We can win this!”

Oryn brought his blade across the neck of an Enforcer.  “With the Lady’s assistance, our victory is assured!”

Elintae’s scythe reaped foe after foe, destroying them.  She glanced to Oryn.  “Victory is not assured until Lian defeats Roxees.”

Elinar lunged, thrusting his blade into the chest of an Enforcer.  He quickly kicked the monster’s corpse to detach his blade and looked at Elintae.  “What of Lian?  I saw the dragons fall.”

Elintae dispatched another Enforcer to the cold grips of death as she glanced at Elinar.  “I have felt a large draw of energy from the world.  I fear for his life.  If he falls, we all fall.”

Elinar grunted at Elintae’s words.  He looked toward the area where Shinaugra had crashed to the ground.  “We must go to his aid!”

Elintae gracefully jumped into the air with her scythe gripped tightly in both hands.  She let out a scream as lightning struck her staff and began to emit a bright green aura.  Elintae descended to the ground with great speed and slammed her scythe into the icy tundra.  The battlefield shook as the ground cracked.  Elintae unleashed a massive burst of magical energy toward the Enforcers.  The first group of Enforcers struck by the wave were reduced to dust, while those behind them were knocked from their feet.  Elintae turned to face Elinar.  “No, we must win here before we can help him.  We must fight as one!”

Elinar glared and shook his head, tightening his grip on his weapon.  “He’s my friend!  I won’t lose him!”

Oryn quickly turned to Elinar during the brief pause of combat Elintae’s attack had produced.  “Lady Dusk is right!  If we splinter our fighters, we splinter ourselves!”

Elinar closed his eyes tightly and let out a scream.  “You’re… you’re right, father,” he admitted reluctantly

Elintae jumped to Oryn and Elinar’s side.  “We must have faith in Lian.  There is always a path to victory.”  Elintae clutched her scythe, watching the Enforcers charge once more, bringing an end to the pause in combat.  “We will prevail.”

Lian felt every ounce of his body being torn.  The weight of his unrestrained power was a heavy burden.  He watched Roxees fling Sarath into the rubble.  Once again, her screams of pain pierced his ears.  He stared at Roxees and let out a scream.  Lian clenched his fists and took flight across the ground with incredible speed as he drew his right fist back, ready to deliver a blow to Roxees.  Roxees snarled and took one step back, holding her hands out towards Lian.  She let out a scream and formed a large red ball of energy.  Lian watched her intently as he charged.  Roxees flung the ball of energy toward Lian.  The young warrior held out his left hand at the approaching ball of death.  A loud pop echoed through the area as Lian caught the energy.  He screamed loudly and flung it back at Roxees.  Her eyes widened at the reversal of her attack.  Roxees jumped to the side, allowing the energy to fly past her.  She turned her head watching it pass.

Roxees quickly turned back towards Lian, only to see his fist inches away from her.  Lian screamed while his fist made contact with her cold face.  Roxees’ eyes widened as blood erupted from her mouth.  Lian grabbed her neck and continued his charge through the air.  The two combatants flew through the air and quickly approached the ruined town of Allendale.  Stone shattered as they burst through the wall of a building.  They bounced along the floor while stones crashed down around them.  Roxees quickly rebounded and launched a counterattack.  Lian stumbled to his feet to meet it.  Her amulet glowed red, her right hand shifting into razor sharp talons.  She screamed as she sliced toward Lian.  He jumped back, feeling his shirt and the skin along his abdomen being sliced.

Roxees smirked, feeling his warm blood along the tips of her talons.  “I will kill you, boy!”

Roxees quickly slashed at Lian once again.  Lian snarled and reached forth his hand.  He caught her arm, stopping her attack.  Roxees looked on at the young warrior in shock.  Lian screamed and grabbed her arm with his other hand.  With great force, Lian threw Roxees, sending her flying.  Roxees let out a gasp as she collided with the stone wall of the building once again.  She burst through the wall and landed on one of the stone streets of Allendale.  Roxees rolled along the icy ground, crying out in pain.  She came to a stop and stood, gazing at the hole she had left in the stone.

Lian slowly emerged from the building.  The glow of his eyes was increasing.  Roxees smirked toward the warrior, then burst into laughter.

Lian stared at Roxees and, with an echoing voice, he said, “You are going to die.”

Roxees continued to laugh before taking a deep breath.  “That may be, but tell me, how long can you keep this up?”  Roxees narrowed her eyes and grinned.  “I can see the strain.  Surely you must feel it.  The power within you.  Swelling, almost ready to burst.”

Lian glared.  He could feel it.  His body was filled with a burning sensation.  He could feel every fiber of his muscles stretching, trying to contain the power.  “Long enough to kill you.”

Roxees smirked once again.  “Kill me?  Oh my, what did I ever do to you?”  She burst into laughter again.

Lian stared at her.  “This isn’t about saving the world.”

Roxees raised an eyebrow. “Oh no?  Then tell me, what is it about?”

Lian snarled and clinched his fist.  “You ordered the attack that attack cost my mother her life.  Now you endanger my friends and the woman I love.”

Roxees smirked, then smiled, showing her vicious fangs.  “It killed your mother?  Well, good.  She was going to die anyway.”  Roxees chuckled.  “The woman you love?  Oh, you mean that whore?  Just between the two of us, you could do better.  Then again, I bet your mother wasn’t any better.  Poor examples breed poor choices.”

Lian’s eye twitched.  He let out a scream that shook the ground and lunged towards Roxees, drawing his fist back once again.  “You die now!”

A sinister grin came across Roxees face.  She brought her arms up, bracing herself for Lian’s imminent attack.  “So young and foolish,” she said to herself.  “Go ahead, become a martyr.”

Lian soared across the stone street toward Roxees with snow flying into the air in his wake.  Allendale’s ruined castle was directly behind her.  Lian brought his fist towards Roxees’ face.  She raised her arms, guarding her face.  Lian’s fist made contact with her arms, a crack of thunder resulting from the impact.  Lian brought his knee toward the vile sorceress’s side to deliver a blow to her ribs.  Roxees gasped and took a step back.  Lian spun around, swinging the backside of his fist towards Roxees.  The blow sent Roxees flying to the ground.  Lian felt his body pulse.  He let out an agonizing scream of pain.

Roxees tumbled along the ground, then caught herself and bounced to her feet.  She stood hunched over while she panted.  “Hurts, doesn’t it?”  Roxees began to laugh while blood streamed down her face.

Lian groaned and dropped to his knees for a moment.  Then, he quickly stood, the glow from his eyes becoming brighter.  “It’s nothing in comparison to what you are about to feel!”

Roxees held out her hand.  Red lightning circulated around it.  She summoned the skeletal staff she had claimed from the murdered Ansheth.  Roxees gripped her staff tightly.  She spread the talons on her other hand wide.  “Is that so?  Let’s see what you’re made of, Telindell.”

Lian lunged toward Roxees.  He felt immense pain throughout his body, but he did his best to drive the pain from his mind.  Roxees gracefully sidestepped Lian’s attack.  She swung her staff around, making contact with Lian’s face.  He let out a grunt as he went tumbling to the ground.  He quickly stood, taking a step towards his foe once more.  Lian let out another cry of pain and dropped to his knee.

Roxees laughed hysterically.  “You are almost finished boy!”  Roxees pointed her staff toward Lian.  “If I don’t finish you, you will finish yourself!”

Lian listened to her words.  He knew there was truth in them.  His body ached.  He was quickly losing control of his power.  Lian knew he could not contain it much longer.  He dropped his head momentarily, then glanced up and said, “If I go, you’re going with me.”

Roxees smirked.  “Well, maybe this truly is about petty revenge.”  She began walking toward Lian slowly.  “Go ahead.  Let it destroy you.  Kill me.  Your Elves and desert filth may win this battle…”  Roxees shook her head, looking at Lian.  “But without you, do you really think they can stand against Lord Commander Dreathous?  Gods fall before him.”

Lian’s eyes widened. 
“She… She is right… Even if I kill her, right now… Everyone else will die,”
he thought.  Lian let go of his power and returned to his normal state, his body feeling a temporary sensation of relief.

Roxees swung her staff toward Lian with violent force.  Lian felt the pain of the blow along his face as he was knocked to the ground.  Roxees laughed.  “You know, I would say you did the smart thing…”  Roxees paused, smiling in a sinister fashion.  “Then again, there really isn’t a smart thing to do in this situation.  You’re going to die.  Your friends are going to die.  Everyone in this pathetic world is going to die, and it is all your fault.”  She burst into laughter at Lian’s failure.

Lian struggled to his feet and stared at his enemy.  “I haven’t… I haven’t been beaten yet!”  Blood dripped from Lian’s face.  He panted, trying to catch his breath, ready to continue the fight.

Roxees lunged toward Lian, grasping his shirt with her talons.  She lifted him into the air.  “Foolish boy.”  Roxees raised her staff, ready to end his life.

Before she could deliver a fatal blow, she heard a voice cry out, “No!”