Myrkron (Volume Two of The Chronicles of the Myrkron) (46 page)

“
Mortow!  Consider yourself on borrowed time!  I will hunt you and your wizards down. Each of you will pay with your lives for Karin’s death,” Michael shouted.  He leveled his right hand at the troll army.  “You have a choice now.  Renounce Mortow and return to your homes or I will fulfill Myrkron Mason’s prophesy and destroy you all!”  Michael yelled, his fear now changing into anger.  “I will give you ten heartbeats to decide.”  He began to count, yelling the numbers for all to hear.  “One!  Two!  Thr…”  Before he could get the entire word out, the trolls broke and began to run.

The trolls had all seen the purple robe and golden sash.  They heard the promise the Myrkron delivered to Mortow.  They knew, through their legends, what he was capable of
doing.  As Michael had leveled his hand at them, their blood ran cold.  There would be no glory in this fight, only their annihilation.  They were frozen in place, until the Myrkron began the count.  It took a couple of seconds then several shouted, dropped their gahlns, turned and ran.  They practically trampled one another trying to get away from the Myrkron.  As they ran through the ogre lines, they shouted ‘Myrkron!’  Many of the ogres broke and ran as well.

Michael shouted after them, “If I find you taking to the battlefield again, it will be
the last time you draw breath.”

Chapter Forty-One

Mortow watched Michael and the two Avari as they stood alone before his army.  It looked as if the boy wanted to treat.  Mortow chuckled.  The young fool actually thought he could talk his way out of this war?  Mortow saw Michael send up a ball of light and the troll line stuttered.  He heard Michael cry out ‘Hold!’ and his jaw dropped when the trolls actually obeyed him.

Frowning
, Mortow sent a bolt of lightning at Michael.  He knew the boy would be shielded, but seeing him attacked might get the trolls moving again.  Michael’s shield absorbed the bolt.  Suddenly the ground under Michael erupted, sending the two Avari flying.  Both landed on their feet like cats and ran back to Michael.  Mortow sent two more bolts at Michael, neither had any more effect than the first.

Mortow heard Michael shout his name and threaten him.  The boy thought a lot of himself if
, he thought he could threaten him.  As Mortow continued to listen, Michael leveled a hand at the trolls, issued an ultimatum and began to count. Mortow was stunned when the troll ranks broke and began to flee.  He could not believe what he was seeing; an entire army running from one man.  The word Myrkron rang in his ears.  The Garolith had been frightened by something it called ‘Myrkron magic’.  Mortow paused and then transported himself and Hagan to Megan’s position.

“What have you not told me about the boy?”  Mortow demanded angrily.

Megan jumped at the sound of Mortow’s voice.  She, too, was unable to believe what she was seeing.  “You know all I do, Master.  What is a Myrkron?”

“We obviously need to know the answer to that question
.”  Mortow transported all of them to the rear of the army.  The trolls had disrupted the ogre lines with their fleeing and even those running close by did not stop when they saw him.  Mortow turned to Hagan, his hands drawn into fists shaking with rage at his sides.  “Your people fear this Myrkron.  What is it?!”

Hagan seemed just as frightened as the rest
. He cleared his throat and held his ground.  “Magika, the Myrkron is a legend among us.  It is told that when we and the ogres were at the height of our wars, a man appeared on the battlefield.  He was small and dressed as the man presently on the field. He told us if we would quit the field of battle and return to our homes, he would not destroy us.  It was cowardice to leave the field and no one believed he could kill all of us.  When the man saw we had no intention of leaving, he cast a spell that caused all those on the field, save two trolls and two ogres, to explode in a red mist.  He told those remaining, he had spared their lives solely to tell others of what they had seen and that we would be doomed to fight until the next Myrkron came to destroy us all.  It is told this was how the Steppes of Sorrow’s very ground became red.  The blood of both of our races changed the color of the soil for all time.”

“Your people run from a
child’s tale?”  Mortow asked in amazement, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Magika, you saw for yourself
. Even the Garolith fear the Myrkron.  It is more than a child’s tale.  If the Myrkron has returned, we are doomed,” Hagan said softly, turned and began to walk off after his people.

“Hagan!”  Mortow shouted after him.

“I am sorry, Magika, but if I am to die, I wish to be among my people.  Fanis is already gone.  I felt it the moment he died.  I will join him soon,” Hagan said sadly.

Mortow could see all his plans and ambitions evaporating.  Five years of work and twice that in planning
, simply brushed away by one impetuous young boy from a non-magic world.  He bellowed suddenly and began throwing great balls of orange flame at the fleeing trolls, blasting and burning hundreds as they fled.

Megan retreated from Mortow.  When he was this angry
, it was best to be somewhere, anywhere else.  Maybe it was time to reveal her true identity to Michael.  Megan spoke the words of transport and vanished.

King Brose, Commander Salic, Axethanes Ralk and Bran, Merric and Karg
, all joined Michael and the two Avari.  The King laughed heartily and slapped Michael on the shoulder.  I don’t know how you managed to scare an entire army, but it was well done.

Michael could see a small group of ogres still coming their way.  The center one towered head and shoulders above the others.  It looked as though maybe fifty had remained.  He would have to make lessons of them.

Oreg saw the trolls scatter, their shouts of Myrkron causing his people to turn and flee.  Only his personal guards stayed. He had to threaten to kill every one of their families before their eyes, if they abandoned the battlefield.  A few had fled anyway.  He would make good on his threat when he returned.

Seeing the man standing there in purple with
a golden sash angered him.  The Myrkron had already returned and destroyed his people.  They were now cowards, who ran from the field of battle screaming.  Well, if he were to die, it would be fighting, not hiding under his bed.  Oreg saw Karg standing with the Myrkron and bellowed out a challenge.  “It is time you died, traitor!  I have come to show those foolish enough to have followed you, their mistake.”

Michael raised his hand and began to speak
, but Karg placed a huge hand on his shoulder.  “You must not, Myrkron,” Karg said interrupting him.  “This challenge was issued to me, personally.  It must be fought, one on one, before the eyes of my people.  If you kill him, they may come to doubt my leadership.”

Michael looked up at the big chieftain.  “If you win
, what happens?”

“If I win, those with him will join me.”

“And if you lose?”  Michael asked pointedly eyeing the bigger ogre.

“If I lose
, my people will join with Oreg, and you will probably be forced to kill them all because he will not leave the battlefield.”

“Then if I kill him now
, only he and his men will die instead of all of you,” Michael said shaking his head.  “I am sorry chieftain, but that is a risk I am not willing to take.”

Oreg listened to the exchange and taunted Karg.  “So the great chieftain hides behind a human
?  You are no leader.  You are a lap dog!”

Karg looked pleadingly at Michael.  “It must be done this way to have the
peace we are working for.”

“I would advise against this, Michael,” Merric commented.

“No.  This is a point of honor for Karg, and if he wins, he could join all the ogre tribes under one rule.  I don’t like it, but I will not stand in his way,” Michael finally said placing his hand on Karg’s and speaking softly, “
Transfero.
”

Karg’s eyes flew wide as he felt energy pour into him from that touch.  He flung his head back and laughed.  “Fear not
, Myrkron, this will only take a few minutes,” Karg yelled out for all to hear.  He removed his war hammer from his back and tossed it to the ground, as he walked out to meet Oreg.

Oreg sneered at Karg
, and tossed his own hammer aside.  They met between their respective groups.  “Now I will finish what we started as boys,” Oreg said, smiling.

“At least one of us had to grow up, Oreg.  I am not the young boy you used to push around.  I am chieftain now.  You could have sided with us
, but your pride would not allow reason to rule you. I must kill you, cousin, and it brings me no joy,” Karg said sincerely.

“Oh
, but I shall enjoy choking the life from you, Karg. Only this time, I will not stop when you pass out.”  Oreg shot forward and tried to grab Karg. He was a full head taller and every bit the match for Karg in physical strength.

Karg stepped to his right and landed a fist to Oreg’s jaw
.  The blow would have been sufficient to knock a lesser ogre senseless.  Oreg just shook it off and smiled.  They circled one another looking for openings.  Oreg shot in once again and ducked under Karg’s swing. He hit Karg in the stomach with his shoulder and locked his arms around the smaller ogre’s waist.  Karg could hear the tendons in Oreg’s arms snap as he tightened his hold and tried to lift him off the ground.  As Oreg began straightening his back, he felt a crushing blow land on his back.  Karg brought a knee up into Oreg’s chest, breaking his grip.

As Karg felt Oreg’s grip loosen
, he wrapped his right arm around the bigger ogre’s neck and slid it up between his own chest and Oreg’s shoulder.  He threw his feet up and locked them around Oreg’s waist, falling backward, and pulling Oreg down with him.  Karg grunted as he felt Oreg’s fists dig into his back when he hit the ground, but he ignored the pain.  Oreg tried to apply more pressure to Karg’s kidneys though he had no leverage.

Karg grabbed his right fist with his left and tightened his hold around Oreg’s neck.  He pushed with his legs and arched his back in a quick spasm
.  A loud crack reminiscent of the earlier thunder came from Oreg’s neck, and the big ogre went instantly limp.  Karg rolled and straddled Oreg’s lifeless body.  He raised his hand high over his head and plunged it down into Oreg’s chest.  Pulling back, he ripped Oreg’s heart from his chest and stood, displaying it high overhead. He faced Oreg’s men, threw the heart to the ground and mashed it beneath his foot.

“Any of you wish to challenge me?”  Karg roared at them.

All of the ogres averted their eyes.

“You now have a choice before you.  Follow me or die by the hand of the Myrkron.”

One of the ogres stepped out from the rest and placed his hammer on the ground at Karg’s feet.  “We only remained because Oreg threatened our families.  We would return home if the Myrkron and our Chieftain would allow it.”

Michael walked up beside Karg
, and the ogres all stepped back a few paces.  “I will allow you to leave this field under the condition you swear a promise to me.”

The lead ogre bowed down in front of Michael and placed his forehead on the ground.  “What do
es the Myrkron require of us?”  He asked in a voice that shook slightly.

“I require two things.  First
, you must swear to cease your warring among yourselves and with the trolls. Second, you must acknowledge Chieftain Karg as your rightful leader.  I stand behind him with all my power.  The wars and challenges will cease or I will destroy you all as Myrkron Mason promised.”

“You have my word, Myrkron.”

Michael looked to the others.

“Aye,” they replied bowing before him.

“Chieftain Karg, would you allow them to leave?”

Karg smiled to himself.  Michael was enforcing Karg’s leadership by deferring to him over the fate of his people
. He was surprised to hear the Myrkron would back him with his power.  “Aye, they are free to return home, if…”  Karg paused, waiting until they all looked at him.  “They tell others what the Myrkron has told them.  It is either peace or death.  Agreed?”

“Aye,” they replied again.

“Then you are all free to go,” Karg rumbled.

“One more thing,” Michael added as they all rose to their feet.  “I will require a meet
ing of all your warriors and elders in the near future.  I will let Chieftain Karg set a place and time.  There, all will swear fealty to him in my presence.”

“It shall be as you command, Myrkron,” the lead ogre assured.

“What is your name warrior?”  Michael asked with a stern look.

“Bryok, Myrkron,” he replied.

“If Chieftain Karg’s orders are not followed to the letter, you will be the first one I hunt down,” Michael said with finality.

Bryok swallowed audibly and nodded silently.

“You have your Chieftain’s leave.  Depart before I change my mind.”  Michael watched as they all bowed several times backing away from him and Karg.

A
ll of the ogres turned and ran.  Michael felt himself crashing.  All the adrenaline pumping through his body was wearing off, and he began to shake.  He had turned around when a voice called his name.  He stiffened and turned back quickly.

Standing about twenty feet away was a slight woman with chestnut hair flowing over her shoulders.  The
familiar voice had nearly caused Michael's heart to stop beating.

Seeing her eyes, Michael could not draw a breath.
  “Karin?”  Michael asked in stunned disbelief.

“Yes and no, my love.  My real name is Megan,” Megan replied smiling.

Michael took in the black robe she was wearing and the red sash with eight black stripes on it.  His eyes returned to hers, and he saw in them something he had never seen there before, malice.  He sank to his knees and grabbed his head with both hands.  He saw in his mind Karin as he had known her and the Karin that stood before him.  He felt the reality slice his soul like a blade.

She was a wizard, one of Mortow’s wizards
, just like Mieka.  Magic was the cause of all this.  It was the cause of all that had happened.  The third golden door loomed into view and Michael suddenly knew its name and its purpose.  He threw his head back and screamed, “
Ianua ruina!
”