Marker of Hope (35 page)

CHAPTER 39

The moon was red and three times its normal
size as I journeyed into the forest, tension burning my shoulders
and stomach. Cold mist blew from the north, forceful against my
stride. Not knowing how much time I had, I quickened my step,
clearing branches with my sword and tripping over the occasional
fallen tree.

My warriors were supposed to be close by, but
where were they? It was like walking through the valley of the
shadow of death. I’d never felt more alone. Or afraid. What if
everything went wrong? What if I wasn’t tactful enough to handle
Turpis? What if this was a trap from the Council and the demons
were luring me there to kill me?

I’d gone over the plan in my head no less
than twenty times before I noticed the trees and shrubs growing
scarcer. The edge of the forest was near. I paused for a moment to
swallow all the air and courage I could.

Deus
, I implored,
if you can hear
me,
help me through this.

My legs felt weak, yet I willed them to
sustain my weight and walk… Walk to the edge of the forest where an
army of Turpis would be waiting for me, their demon queen. I moved
to the last line of trees. By the red moonlight, I saw Sendor in
human form standing a few feet away. His satisfied smirk sent
chills up and down my spine.

“Evening, Your Majesty.” He bowed. “You’re
early. And well armed, I see.”

“You tried to kill my newborn daughter when
we last met. I wasn’t sure what to expect this time around.”

He laughed an unusual gurgling sound. “Such
cognizance. You’ll make a fine queen. Come.” He offered me his arm.
“Let me introduce you to your army.”

I hesitated.

“Cold feet?” he asked.

“Not at all,” I said, sliding my hand through
the crook of his arm. His overpowering stench of rotten eggs
wreaked repulsion in my stomach. How could I have missed it on the
night Faith was born? Oh, yes… The labor of birth was what I was
focused on then.

We walked across the dirt road adjacent from
the forest. I set foot on the barren field, and a multitude of
Turpis appeared in the fog like a hellish mirage. Snarls erupted
from mouths with jagged teeth. Embers burned beneath carbonized
skin. Wicked eyes aglow with fire. The number of demons didn’t look
like the swarm of five hundred Frederick estimated.

“I wasn’t expecting such a massive turnout,”
I said. “Is this the entire Turpis militia?”

“All of them. We’re but a few heads short of
one thousand in our brotherhood. But soon, with your help, we’ll
surpass those numbers.”

One thousand!
I stopped breathing for
a moment. If the demon army didn’t agree to battle the Council, the
odds of my own army’s triumph were less than slim. Or altogether
void.

“Good,” I said, a fake grin on my lips. Now
was as good a time as any to put the plan into action. “Let’s get
on with it. Present me as your queen.”

“It pleases me to see your eagerness,” Sendor
said, and then turned to view the crowd of demons. “Brothers!” he
said, and the Turpis horde quieted. “I present onto you Isis,
mother of our future brethren, guarantor of our freedom from the
pits of darkness. From this moment forth, you will know her as
Queen of Turpis.” He raised my hand in the air. “Warrant your
loyalty unto this creature, and she will warrant her loyalty to us
in turn.” Every demon, with the exception of Sendor, dropped to
their knees and bowed their heads. Sendor turned to me and said,
“And now, a toast.”

I sensed movement in the field, and I
squinted at the figure walking in my direction. As the shape came
closer, I recognized it to be a demon carrying an object in its
claws. I watched as it approached, taking swift steps toward me.
The demon kneeled at my feet and raised the bowl over its head.
Sendor stared at the bowl and nodded once, signaling me to take it
from the kneeling beast. I did.

“Drink,” Sendor raised the bowl to my mouth,
“and the oath shall be sealed.”

“What is it?”

“Should it matter?” He raised a judgmental
brow. “Drink.”

I looked into the bowl filled with dark
liquid. Floating by the brim was a piece of something that
resembled a dismembered finger. Or a nose? I stifled a screech.

Do whatever you’re told
.
But resist
temptation.
I remembered Frederick’s words.
You’ll be
tested.
Turpis don’t play fair, and they’ll try to trick
you.
But the ritual won’t bind you if your intention is
insincere
.
Madam, remember that only you know how you truly
feel inside. Only you know who you truly are.

As sordid as it was, I gulped the contents.
It went down—smooth. This was the temptation I’d been warned about.
Blood and tiny pieces of flesh shattered my tasted buds. It was
delightful. Sating. I couldn’t get enough of it. I’d craved it for
so long; it was like floating in bliss. I felt crazed. Eager.
Frantic for another taste.

“More?” Sendor offered.

I licked my lips. Yes, I did want more. But
Frederick’s words rang in my head:
Resist temptation
.

“No,” I said to Sendor, my voice shaky,
defying the beast’s hunger. I wouldn’t allow myself to be
enthralled. I’d never been a monster, and I wouldn’t become one
now.

My stomach contracted, and I turned away from
the swarm of demons. The metallic aftertaste of blood and flesh
suddenly became nauseating. I gagged. Sendor’s critical stare
burned through me. The urge to retch was strong, but the resolve to
see my plan through, to save my family, my people, was by far
stronger. I fought against my stomach until it settled. When I’d
composed myself, I turned to Sendor, sword in hand.

“Bow to me.” I pointed the blade to his head.
“Release your reigning power to me or I’ll split your head in
two.”

“There’s no deceiving you, is there? I
thought for such a young creature, you’d be less observant.” He let
out a sick, gurgling laugh. “But alas, you’re every bit the bitch
queen we’d hoped to find.”

“
Kneel!”
I said, anger bursting from
every pore. I felt a pull on my skin at the upper half of my face,
and I knew I’d woken the less-attractive individual inhabiting me.
“I won’t repeat myself, Sendor.”

Sendor studied my features. The malevolent
smile on his face reached his eyes. It was then I understood he’d
expected a rise from me. Was this the last test—witnessing my inner
beast roused? Sendor lowered himself, both knees to the ground, and
took my hand.

“My Queen,” he said. “I am your servant.”

I looked down at him with concealed disgust,
and then raised my vision to the army of demons in the field.
Beyond them, I saw a mass in movement. I didn’t have to guess what
was approaching. Clearly, there was no time to spare.

“Then you won’t be opposed to fighting for
me.” My question came out as a statement. I pointed to the field
beyond the Turpis army. “The Council is coming to collect my head.
I order you to fight for your queen.” I pulled my hand from his.
“
Now
.”

Sendor jumped from his knees to his feet. He
yelled at the Turpis army in a foreign tongue. In two seconds,
bodies collided against one another, and the uproar of battle
occupied the formerly soundless night.

“Stay here,” Sendor told me. “I’ll send for
you, My Queen.” His appearance changed from human form to the
hideous, overcooked demon he actually was. He soared into the air
and disappeared behind a cloud of fog and smoke from where violent
screams erupted.

From the chest plate of my armor, I picked
out a miniature cylinder and stuck it in my ear. I lowered my head
and spoke into the silver plate covering my neck and chest.

“Frederick, Frederick, can you hear me?”

“Loud and clear.” His voice came through my
right ear, while the clang of metal against metal and frantic
shrieks in my left made it hard to hear. I covered both my
ears.

“Where are you?” I asked.

“Right behind you.”

I twisted my neck toward the forest, but I
saw nothing.

“I can’t see you. Listen, I…” An explosion
made me jump. No one told me there’d be those kinds of weapons.
“Frederick?”

“Still here.”

“I can’t tell how many enemy deities are out
there,” I told him. “Your demon army calculation was way off.
Way—
off.”

“I know. I’ve been listening in. Let’s hope
the Council has enough manpower to take them down.”

“But what if the Council army exceeds your
calculation, as well? We need a headcount on the… Frederick, Turpis
at seven o’clock, coming my way.”

“We see them. Maintain your position. You’re
doing great, madam.”

I hoped the five Turpis wouldn’t take notice
of the silver cylinder in my ear. Why did I wear my hair up?
Stupid!
One of the Turpis beckoned me with its clawed hand,
but I didn’t budge.

“Where’s Sendor?” I asked. The shortest of
the five demons raised a hand to his neck and sliced the air.
“Dead?” I asked, and he nodded. “Are you…
we
losing against
the gods?” The same Turpis shook his head. I wondered if Frederick
had seen. “We’re
winning
?” The demon growled instead of
answering my question. It beckoned me again. “Where to?”

“Ne—tttthhhher—world,” the fiend said.

Hell? Pass.
“Neither you nor I are
going anywhere.” I said sternly. “I have a war to win. Go back and
fight. Your queen demands it.”

The demons bared their teeth at me. My throat
tensed, and then, much like a reflex, I let out a thunderous roar.
The Turpis responded by bowing their heads, walking backward, and
then lifting off the ground and flying back into the chaos of
bodies and cries of battle.

“What the hell was that?” I heard Frederick’s
voice echoing my thought in my ear.

“Well, it wasn’t gas. That’s for damn sure,”
Galilea’s voice streamed through the earpiece.

“Why is she here?” I seethed. “Frederick,
Galilea is supposed to be with Claire and Faith!”

“We need her,” Frederick said.

“My daughter and mother need her more. Damn
it, Frederick! Send her back.” Silence. “Did you hear me?”

“Yes,” he said. “But I can’t do that, madam.
The element of surprise is our only chance to win this war. They
can’t fight what they can’t see.”

“Fair point,” I said. But wasn’t it cheating?
“Frederick, Galilea wouldn’t leave Faith’s side without good
reason. What’s happened that I don’t know about? Why did you call
her in?”

“I was getting to that,” he said.
“Gemini—Galen and Eryx—circled the battlefield from above. They
have a rough estimate on the numbers of the Council army.”

I braced for the bad news. “How many?”

“They think three quarters the amount of the
demon army.”

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but I
was so overwhelmed I did neither. Adding up both enemy armies
totaled close to two thousand heads against our two hundred. I
scanned the field. Contained the inclination to hyperventilate.

I cleared the knot in my throat. “What do we
do?”

“Wait until one of the armies has
fallen.”

The cries in the field sounded louder.
Closer.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. They’re
gaining ground,” I said. “I think the Council’s seen me.”

“You’re sure?”

“Pretty sure.” I watched the line of demons
battling, attempting to barricade me from the army of gods. “Get
everyone ready. We’re moving in. I don’t want them getting any
closer to the house.”

“Copy,” he said. “Galilea, activate invisible
block. Ayrie, give the signal.”

“Way ahead of you,” Galilea uttered.

“All set.” Frederick said. “On your command,
madam.”

“Who’s our first target?” I asked.

“The Council gods, madam. Then the
demons.”

Gripping my sword, I closed my eyes for a
second. I breathed, fighting the trembling in my chest. When I felt
a hand touch mine, I raised my sword, ready to strike.

I sighed with relief when I saw David.

“Did you think I would let you go in there
alone?” he asked, and then handed me the shield Eryx had gifted me.
“You forgot this.”

“You shouldn’t have—”

“Madam, every second counts.” Frederick’s
voice urged via the earpiece. “We’re standing by.”

“Y-yeah. Sorry. I’m ready. I’m ready, now,
Frederick,” I said. I glanced at David. He gave me a reassuring
nod. I turned to face the forest and lifted my sword, signaling the
warriors to ready themselves. Still holding my sword high above my
head, I turned in the opposite direction toward the war. The
adrenaline coursing in my veins made my skin tingle. I allowed
gravity to take control of the sword, and I let it fall.

“
Onward!
” I decreed.

My heart pounded hard in my chest. The soles
of my feet tore into the dirt as I raced across the field. From the
corner of my eye, I saw David keeping an even pace with mine. The
sound of galloping heels shadowed my own. I turned back for a brief
second and caught a glimpse of the warriors, glints of crimson
moonlight reflecting off their steel garb and weapons. They were
farther behind than I thought. I turned to focus on the
battlefront. A bit more, and I’d be there. In war.

“Stop! Isis, stop!” David yanked on my arm. I
lost balance and faltered, but he steadied me quickly. I stood
looking at him, perplexed. “The army…” He huffed. “Let half of them
go in first. Where’s your earpiece?”

I touched my right ear. It wasn’t there.

“It fell out,” I sounded panicked. No wonder
I couldn’t hear Frederick anymore.

“It’s okay. Frederick says to stay calm.
Just… Raise your sword and point it at the clash so the army knows
to continue moving forward. I’ll tell you when we’re cued to go
in.”

I did as David instructed and listened to the
trampling of feet and rattling of metal become louder and louder
behind me. A moment later, bodies whisked past my sides. Winged
gods flew overhead. The roar of combat grew louder. I turned to
view David.