The Spirit of Revenge (42 page)

“There is nowhere to run. They are retreating over the Alar to slow down the Andreds’ advance and bide some time at best. The river should prove an effective deterrent for our enemies if we manage to pull the bridges up in time.”

He fell quiet as the din of battle once again reached their ears. The two armies clashed on the docks, hundreds of thousands fighting to the bitter death.

“Our friends are over there!” Cain cried and rushed into the moonlight.

Malecai grabbed his hauberk as he passed. “It is not about any of you anymore! Pull your head out of your ass and listen to me!” Cain turned and gave a questioning look to his friend. “There is nothing you can do for them. We have to find their leader and put an end to this…”

Cain sighed and lowered his sword, blood dripping at his feet. “This is the end isn’t it, Malecai?”

“Come on,” his friend urged. They stepped back into the shadows and turned their backs on the carnage.

They followed the bank of the river, sprinting across the silent docks. After several minutes, Malecai turned and stepped out onto the river, leaving the docks and buildings behind.

“Where are we going?” Cain called out to his friend a few yards ahead.

Malecai stopped and knelt beside a decapitated soldier. The bodies of several Citadel Guards lay limp around them, staining the ice red with blood.

The sound of stirring snow reached their ears and the two men looked up at the direction of the noise. A lone figure approached.

C
ain and Malecai stepped forward warily, weapons poised.

“I didn’t know I would have to kill so many before you would come, but I knew you would, Malecai…” A deep voice called to them through the dark.

Malecai’s eyes lit up instantly. “I thought I killed you…”

The whites of his teeth appeared through the dark as the man smirked. “Kill me? I’m as hard to kill as you are.”

Cain stared uneasily at the man, struggling to perceive him through the shadows.

He stood a few inches taller than either of them. A great mane of silver hair parted over his forehead and flowed over broad shoulders. He had a sharp nose and sallow lips pierced with metal rings. Black plates of scaled steel covered his large frame from chest to toe, and the crest of a scarlet serpent danced across his breastplate.

“Ten years? Has it been that long?” He pulled his head back and looked up into the brightening skies, the moonlight fleeting across his icy gray eyes. “Let us restore our communion.” He held out a hand to Malecai.

“You killed her…Alanis.”

Alanis shook his head. “I didn’t kill her. You did. Abaddon gave me the order, and I simply followed my instructions. You were getting out of hand again. He needed you put back in place. But don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the deed.” He licked his teeth at this. “You see, Malecai…you killed Raven long before I did. You broke the girl’s heart. I merely released her from her suffering.”

“You’re sick!” Cain spat.

“Insult leads to bitter company, Cain Taran!” Cain’s eyes lit up at this. “Yes, I know who you are. My master is omnipotent, all knowing, blessed from the very heavens! He is divinity incarnate!” A fierce gale tore across the river as he continued.

“Why do you fight him? You cannot win against the immortal. You can only join him and hope for mercy. Don’t you see? No…no you do not. You have never seen him. None of you have. You do not know him, you do not see him. All of Tarsha fights but the idea of him. You fight your own fears, nothing more. We humans are fickle things…we fear the unknown. Do you understand?” Cain remained stolid, sword raised at a moment’s call.

“No,” Alanis continued, “I would not expect you to. Let me put it into context for you. He sees and knows all…he has wanted you dead for many years. His wishes have gone unfulfilled, even after we destroyed your pathetic Andaurel twice. Yet here you stand before me, giving me the chance to end it all at last.”

Cain stared at him for a moment, lost for words. “Because of me…Andaurel was destroyed?”

Alanis smirked. “All because of you.” Cain lowered his gaze. “Only you can wield Ceerocai. Only you have the potential to release the spirit within, for in you it recognizes its master. Abaddon’s soul was safe in the Tombs of Atuan, allowing him to live unhindered for nearly five hundred years. Now it is found, found by the one that will shape the future of Tarsha. You are a liability, Cain Taran, for as long as you have Ceerocai, Abaddon cannot achieve his genocide.”

“What are you saying?”

Alanis brushed the hair from his eyes. “Abaddon has always known of your family’s ‘uniqueness.’ He has spent four centuries eradicating those of the blood, until only you and your parents remained. Why else would we attack Andaurel?

‘The first assault on your precious city had but one intent, to eliminate the last remaining threat to Abaddon, your family. Yet, you somehow survived the purge and for the thirty years since, we have hunted you.

‘We discovered you had laid roots in your old city, so we attacked Andaurel yet again and killed your son, the last of the blood. Now only you remain.”

Cain shook his head at this. “No…this can’t be. Because of me Andaurel was destroyed, my family killed, thousands killed…because of me?”

“Don’t fret,” Alanis continued. “That’s not even the half of it. You are the very cause of so much of Tarsha’s suffering. Abaddon has waged this genocide in the name of the Forgotten. Long ago he would have succeeded and cleansed the world of the filth that is humanity.

‘He needs you dead, Taran. You must be dead. You are the one thing that is standing between him and the Forgotten from easing Tarsha of her misery. That is why we attacked Morven. You see, Abaddon has planned this from the very beginning…

‘This attack on Morven is only for you. Abaddon allowed Tarsha to know of this attack beforehand in the knowledge that you would be lured here by your superiors and your own thirst for vengeance. And here you stand…giving me the chance to end this war at last.

‘Now do you understand? The attacks on Andaurel, the assault on Abraxas and Alon Heath, they were nothing more than a ruse to lure you in and kill you. Yet you always escaped. Until now. The Destroyer lured you here, giving me the honor to finish you.

‘For as long as you are alive with Abaddon’s soul in your hands he cannot achieve his god-given vocation. Your so called friend here knew of this; why else would he have given you the sword after so many years of searching for it?”

Cain turned and glared at Malecai. “You knew that the attack on Morven was a plot to kill me? That only I can wield this sword? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Malecai looked at him solemnly. “I was going to tell you on the ship back to Morven. But I did not have the heart…you were not supposed to find out like this, Cain.”

“Why me? Why me, Alanis?” Cain screamed. “I’m just a soldier! I want my wife back! I want my son! I don’t want any of this! I don’t understand…” Cain bowed his head in distress. “I don’t understand…”

“If only you knew who you really are,” Alanis replied, “if only you knew what you could become, the things you could do against the Destroyer. Alanis laughed heartily. “If only you knew, Malecai. Don’t you realize the mistake you’ve made?” Malecai tore his gaze from the man and stared wide eyed at Cain who held Ceerocai before him, stupidly returning his gaze. “You shouldn’t have given him the sword, terrible mistake. You’ve strived for perfection all these years…it must be dreadful to feel only human.”

Alanis swung his cloak to the side and revealed a five-foot long sword. The blade was made of dark steel, emblazoned with many jewels. A hilt of twisted steel fashioned like the wings of an eagle curved over a bone handle.

“Allow me to ease your heart of pain. You may finally join your lost love,” Alanis flicked his sword up at Malecai, “and maybe this time…she’ll forgive you.”

“I will kill you right this time!” Malecai screamed. He raised his broadsword and led Cain in a charge towards Alanis.

Malecai threw his sword forward and Alanis blocked the strike, swords clashing with a ring of steel.

Cain rushed past his friend as Alanis jumped back. Their swords met and Cain flicked his weapon back, sliding Alanis’ blade down its edge before catching it in the vicious hook.

“Ah, Ceerocai,” Alanis muttered, inhaling deeply as if to smell it. Cain grimaced and spun his sword, breaking their lock. Alanis shot forward and punched Cain in the face before grabbing his arm and forcing him to his knees. With a fierce kick to the chest, Cain was thrown across the ice.

Malecai rushed at Alanis once more and their swords collided in a blur of sparks. Alanis ducked as Malecai’s blade swung overhead. He grabbed Malecai by the neck as he dodged and lifted him into the air. Malecai threw a hand onto his arm and black lightning danced between them. Alanis cried out in pain and dropped him.

Malecai then jumped forward and swung his sword as his foe shook himself from the shock. The two men began a fierce exchange of steel, sparks searing across the ice.

Cain ran towards the struggle and threw himself between them. The Iscara spun, blocked his sword, and immediately deflected a blow from Malecai as the two men bore down on him.

Alanis tossed his sword between his hands, deflecting every strike with inhuman ease.

The three swords flew in a haze of gray, singing shrill with every fearsome blow.

Cain jumped back as he parried his opponent’s sword and brought it around for a second strike. Alanis blocked the attack and spun his sword, sliding it down Ceerocai’s edge. He swung it down and slammed Ceerocai into the ice.

Cain pulled on Ceerocai but Alanis struck him in the throat with the pommel of his weapon and sent him tumbling to the ice.

Malecai jumped over his friend as Alanis brought down his sword. The two blades struck and sent a shower of sparks over Cain.

Alanis swung his opponent’s sword to the side and spun around. He thrust his arm out and a wave of wind sent Malecai skidding across the ice as he struggled to retain his balance.

Alanis stepped back and twirled his sword with indifference. “Even after ten years,” he muttered, “nothing has changed. You’re still the same weak, tortured soul.”

“I have changed much in ten years…”

Alanis flicked his shoulder, knocking the cloak off his back before casting it aside. “And how is that?”

“See for yourself.” He suddenly lurched forward and threw his weapon at the man. Alanis jumped aside and the massive sword flew inches past his face before imbedding itself in the ice behind him. Malecai sprinted towards him and swerved to the side.

He flew at his sword and landed on its side before bounding off it. He threw down his hands as he leapt over the Knight, fire exploding from his palms. The flames blazed towards their target, and Alanis dove to avoid them.

Malecai landed and slid across the ice. He held out his palm and his weapon rose from the ice and shot toward its owner. It jumped into his hand as he skidded to a stop, smoke rising about him.

Alanis turned and charged. Malecai jumped into the air and swung his sword. The Iscara jumped as well, and the two men sailed past the other, blades caressing with a kiss of sparks. They landed and dove at each other once again, weapons dancing fiercely.

Cain stood up and shook himself of ice. He rushed towards the fight and unleashed a savage barrage over his opponent.

Alanis barely blocked each strike tossed his way, the enormous swords smashing into him with brutal, crushing blows. The two men continued forward, throwing blow after blow into the Knight, each strike sending him stumbling in desperation.

Alanis swung his sword out and the three blades met in a strident clash of steel. The men struggled against each other, fighting to bring down their opponent.

The Iscara threw his opponents’ swords back and jumped away. He then thrust his hands forward and a powerful blast of wind sent the two men flying across the ice.

Alanis then grabbed his sword in both hands, and with a cry on his lips, dropped to one knee and slammed his sword into the ice. A massive web of light shot from his blade and seared across the river. The ice suddenly exploded apart, violently tossing great chunks of ice in the air with a torrent of river water.

Night held sway over the skies, the city below cast in its dim abyss. The southern half of the city was now swarming in a black sea of Andreds.

The battle for Morven had turned to a bloodbath, a butchery of the masses. The city streets were soaked knee high in blood, and every second thousands of bodies sank beneath its depths. The battle pulsed across the docks as each side pushed back the other before slowly faltering again.

“Drop the bridge already!” Adriel cried up to the towers behind them.

“We’re trying!” A soldier replied as several men wound the gears atop the towers. The chains of the drawbridge gradually lost their slack and lowered the bridge over the river. The Alliance pressed against the drawbridge, their front ranks thinning by the second.

With a great thud, the drawbridge settled at last against the opposing riverbank. The Alliance began a mad dash across the bridge, each fighting for their very lives to cram across the bridge. Hundreds sprinted across the drawbridge, their forces slowly amassing on the other side.