The Guardian Chronicles: Book 03 - The Dark Tide (25 page)

“A creature summoned from the world of the dead…you fools do not know what evil you have unleashed” panted the giant captain.  He used his considerable strength to stand up as straight as he could.  He had broken his leg when he had been tossed from the beast which had a bone sticking out.  The adrenaline of the moment blinded the captain to the danger he was in.

“It is you who is ignorant.  You were not watching as you should have been and discarded rumors of our existence over the centuries.  Now, your failure will mean the end of the giants of middle Tuwa” laughed lord Tyrienwalker darkly.  His gray eyes appeared to bore into the giant.  There was lethal intent in that look.

The momentary exchange allowed Radesh to end the encounter.  He opened his massive maw while rearing up for his attack.  The giant captain stood transfixed as the beast came down on him.  Blood instantly gushed from where his head and shoulders used to be.  The lifeless body fell to the ground like a mighty black oak from Renshaw forest.  The raging battle seemed to pause briefly to watch the fall of their captain.  He had been the battle master entrusted with the training of new recruits.  He had been the greatest warrior left behind after the unification of the giant tribes and now within moments he was no more.

Time sped up and the battle recommenced.  The giants were losing ground slowly and with the loss of their leader, they started to give ground as though they were retreating.  As the giant fighters backed into a circle for their last defense, they noticed that their attackers were only a small portion of the army that was now descending on the giant nation.  There was no fear in them at this realization.  They faced the vile elves with grim determination.  They were outnumbered and they were going to lose.  That did not mean that they would go quietly into the night of endless oblivion.

Radesh, impatient to continue his feeding his blood lust, rushed into the twenty one giant soldiers.  He bowled them over as he slammed blindly into the heart of their defense.  Had he thought ahead, he would have used the tactic of attack and retreat.  However, he had chosen to do an all-out assault since they clearly had the upper hand.  He knew his mistake the moment he hit the first giant.  They had simply given away instead of standing fast in front an enraged underworld beast.  The instant he was in the middle of the giants he knew he was trapped.  They immediately grabbed him by the legs.  Two of the giants clasped his head in their massive hands.

As they rent the beast into pieces, the dark elves attacked.  They cast magical bolts at the giants’ backs.  The magic had no effect.  That did not dissuade them…after all; they could call on magic from the underworld.  They thought that the giants may not be able to naturally fend off the keeper’s dark magic, so they changed their tactic at once.  Before the first dark spell hit any of the giants, Radesh’s head was ripped free of its massive body by the two that had been grabbing the gigantic cranium.  They quickly tossed the beast’s head at the nearest group of dark elves.  The unsuspecting elves were knocked clean off their feet and were sent sailing through the air for about ten feet.  After hitting the ground hard, the elves did not move again.

“Enough of this!” spat master Shadowin.  He had a pure black battle staff in his hands and with a flourish sent a black mist at the giants.  The mist formed a huge hand reaching for the souls of the remaining giant fighters.

It did not have the effect he had hope for.  As the other dark elves threw their darkest spells at the brutes, they too discovered the truth.  The skin of giants will deflect both elemental and underworld magic.  This would make their mission more difficult and costly than they had anticipated.  Many lives would be lost due to their arrogance and folly.  They would have to change their tactics immediately to mitigate the losses as much as possible.

The giants threw the remaining pieces of Radesh at random dark elves before reforming their circle.  While the small victory gave courage to the giant soldiers, it only momentarily put off the inevitable…they were all going to die.  Even though their magic could not harm them, they were simply too few against far too many.  That did not mean that they were not determined to send as many of those filthy dark elves to the keeper before they took their journey to the paradise Kedem had for the strong warriors of Burien.

The dark elves focused on using the one brand of magic that could give them the edge they needed.  They moved closer so that they could make eye contact.  They correctly surmised that these brutes would likely be susceptible to mind control.  They did not know if this new attack would work and they were taking a huge risk by getting so close.  The reach of a giant is much farther than one would think.  It was never wise to get anywhere close to a giant regardless of whether you are a friend or foe.  Giants typically smashed first which left no reason to ask any questions later.

Just as the elves were starting their mind attack, the giants did the unexpected…they ripped their own eyes out.  This proved that they were correct about what they were attempting.  The dark elves were momentarily stymied; however, they opted for the less elegant method of attack.  As master Shadowin pointed his staff toward the ground beneath the giants, a thousand dark elves which surrounded the twenty one giant soldiers attacked.  Roots had sprung from the earth to ensnare the giants briefly which gave the elves a chance to get in close.

Even with the loss of sight, these fighters were deadly accurate with the swing of their clubs.  Some of the giants threw their eyes at their assailants to distract them.  The elves that fell for this trick were crushed to death by the rock that had been thrown an instant after the eye ball.  Black elven blood began to pool in the rough terrain.  Hundreds of broken elven bodies lay at the feet of the twenty one soldiers.  The attack continued to escalate as the day wore on.  At one point the giant fighters were successful in freeing themselves of the roots that had held them fast.  The roots had actually made the battle go longer than need be and only added to the dark elves death toll.

Lord Tyrienwalker watched from the hillside adjacent to the battle field.  He looked impassively as hundreds of dark elves died at the hands of twenty one blind, bloody giants.  He shook his head slightly and let out a slow, measured breath. 
The desperation of a dying race is beautiful to behold.  These twenty one will be remembered for the great warriors they were.  It is a real pity that they must die along with the rest of their primitive race.
  His face hid any sign of the awe he held for the brave giant soldiers below him.  He was a ruthless bastard to be sure…that did not mean he could not appreciate the valor of a worthy foe.

Master Shadowin looked up to where lord Tyrienwalker stood.  The dark figure nodded grimly and turned to leave.  The fearsome face of Shadowin became fixed as he walked slowly toward the giant circle.  He slammed his battle staff into the ground and then drew out a wicked looking pair of swords from over his shoulders.  The blades had a greenish hue to them that did not leave any doubt in the minds of the giant soldiers that these swords had been imbued with underworld magic.  This did not worry them in the least as they felt sure that their magically resistant hides would protect them from the cursed blades.

As the dark blade master made his way closer to the nearest giant, he began to twirl the blades in front of him.  He started to dance gracefully in circles as he intensified his movements with the swords.  As the speed of the dance increase, a greenish haze started to appear.  The giants held fast and did not show any signs of concern.  They knew they were dead, but they did not think that it would be magic that would prove to be their end.  So they thought that this move was nothing more than a distraction and remained vigilant on all sides for the real attack.

“You come any closer to me and I will end you!  I swear it!” bellowed a giant called Darvin.  He was nearly twenty one feet in height and was easily the tallest giant in the region.  He was young as giants go and was still not able to grow any facial hair.  His hair was bright red and it hung in braids down his massive back.  He did not have any armor on like the others in the circle.  He had two massive swords strapped to his back that he drew out as the dark elf continued his approach.

The dark elf did not seem to notice the threat as he continued forward.  Two other giants picked up the dead bodies of dark elves and hurled them at Shadowin.  The master swordsman easily moved out of the way of these feeble attacks.  In a flash the blades were flying through the air at the two giants who had thrown the dead bodies.  Both swords found their marks between their eyeless sockets.  Both giants fell lifeless to the ground before anyone knew what had happened.  The unexpected attack actually lowered their defenses for a moment.  This was the distraction that the waiting dark elves had been waiting for.  They swarmed down the hill at the distracted giants.  This took only moments to transpire and the cost to the giants was devastating.

The next part was a blur of action and confusion.  Several giants went down as though they were being cut down like trees.  After a few minutes of intense battle, there was only one giant remaining.  Darvin was now surrounded by hundreds of dark elves.  They formed a circle around him as master Shadowin stepped forward to face the giant who was easily three times his height.  The dark elf look at the twenty lifeless brutes that lay piled around the last giant fighter.

“I applaud your skills with swords, however, it is time for you to die” Shadowin said with a slight nod in Darvin’s direction.  He really did appreciate the amount of skill Darvin had shown in fending off their attacks.  While the others used their strength and clubs, he used his swords in a way he did not think possible from a giant.

“Know this you sons of the keeper…your time will come.  I curse you, in the name of the creator Kedem.  In the end you will be left alone to your own devices and that devil you serve will no longer support you.  You will be left to face a world that hates you.  You killed the Eldar and now you will end the giants of middle Tuwa.  Your curse will be to suffer eternally in the darkness you crave!”  He spat angrily at Shadowin.  A more observant person would have felt the effects of the curse that had been laid down.  The dark elves did not think that the giants were capable of actually cursing anyone, so they merely ignored the drivel from Darvin.

Shadowin twirled about again and rushed in at an angle.  Darvin was prepared for this move and deftly moved out of the way as their blades clashed.  The dark elf reeled from the block.  The giant was considerably more powerful and was more agile than the dark swordsman gave him credit for.  The giant made the next move by jumping high into the air with his swords outstretched.  As he came back to earth he spun about smoothly as he cut down several dark elves that made up the circle.  His knee slammed into the ground hard which shook the ground severely.  Shadowin was knocked off his feet temporarily.

Several of the dark elves rushed in to avenge their comrades, however, their haste led to a quick end.  They were summarily cut down as they approached.  This did allow Shadowin to regain his feet and to make his next move.  He started to run in a circle around the giant.  He was testing the senses of this blind swordsman.  He had to know if he could use the visual impairment against the brute.  He continued to run around the stationary giant who did not move at all.  It did not appear that he was following the dark elf’s movment.  So, more of the elves in the circle attempted to attack the giant…this time from where they stood.

As black shafted arrows flew at Darvin, he quickly swung his swords up to block the projectiles.  It was amazing to watch the giant swat away every arrow fired at him.  As he knocked down the last arrow, he turned to face to Shadowin who was rushing him.  With his right hand, the giant raised his sword at an angle and swung downward.  He quickly did the same with the sword in his left hand.  He cut the legs out from underneath the master swordsman.  The elf slid to a stop and lay motionless at the feet of the giant.  Wasting no time, Darvin unceremoniously smashed the head of Shadowin with his right foot.  Black blood poured from the stumps of the dark elf’s legs.  There was a moment of shocked silence quickly followed by a flood of elves rushing the giant.

It was over in a few minutes.  Lord Tyrienwalker came down the hill to where Darvin lay dying.  His eyes found the broken body of his friend Shadowin.  His look was impassive and difficult to read.  However, it was hard to miss the waves of hatred emanating from him.  His gaze returned to the severely cut form of the last giant fighter in the region.  His eyes were cold and calculating as he looked the giant over from head to toe.  Darvin’s breath was ragged and loud.  He coughed up blood as he lay there.

“What is your name?” queried Tyrienwalker smoothly.  He was looking intently now at where the giant’s eyes should have been.  He held his grief mingled with his hatred in check when he the waited for the giant to reply.  He still could not help but appreciate the heroics he had just witnessed.

“Darvin Stonewalker…you can call me Darvin the Great” he sputtered up more blood as he laughed.  He turned his head slowly toward where Tyrienwalker stood.  “End it you filthy bastard…what are you waiting for?”  Blood flowed freely from his massive mouth.  He looked deranged with no eyes and his face covered in blood.

“Darvin, your name will be recorded in our histories.  You will be remembered as the giant who defied the keeper’s own.  You are like a mighty stone in a river, immovable and strong.  However, against the tide of Meleirélnar you fell.  Your bravery will not be forgotten” explained Tyrienwalker smoothly.  He may be cruel and unrelenting as a foe, however, that did not mean he did not appreciate the giant’s last stand.  The dark elves appreciated the powerful fighter whether friend or foe.