The Faithful and the Fallen: Ruin Part 2

The new light revealed a dozen attackers amongst them, dressed like the Jehar but moving differently, with none of their fluid grace, as if their bodies held too much power to contain within the confines of flesh and bone. They carved their way through the camp, sending those that attacked them hurtling away. Corban remembered how the Kadoshim had fought in Murias, just after they'd been raised from the cauldron, tearing limbs from bodies with a savage, inhuman ferocity. A wave of fear suddenly swept him, pinning his feet to the ground. He heard a strange language screamed in defiance and looked to see Balur One-Eye the giant, his kin gathered behind him, hurling defiance at the Kadoshim, who paused for a moment, then surged towards Balur.

They have come for the axe.

As he watched them charge together, Corban remembered his mam, their attack on her, how he had tried to stop the blood flowing as he'd held her, how the light had dimmed from her eyes. Hatred for these creatures swept him, burning away the fear that had frozen him moments before, and then he was moving forwards, running faster with each step, Storm at his side.

They saw him before he reached them, or perhaps it was Storm that marked him out. Either way, the Kadoshim obviously recognized him, and who he was supposed to be: the Seren Disglair Bright Star and Elyon's avatar made flesh. Some of them broke from the main bulk that was now locked in combat with Balur and his giant kin. Tukul and his Jehar swirled around their edges, slicing, cutting.

Storm lengthened her stride and forged ahead of him. Corban glimpsed the muscles in her legs bunching as she gathered to leap, then she was airborne, colliding with one of the Kadoshim in a ma.s.s of fur and flesh, her jaws tearing at its throat.

Instinct took Corban as he reached them; gripping his sword two-handed he raised it high, slashing diagonally, shifting his weight to sweep around his target. He felt his sword bite through leather and mail, shattering bone and carving through flesh. It should have been a killing blow. The Kadoshim staggered, one hand gripping Corban's blade. It stared at him, black eyes boring into him, then it grinned, blood as dark as ink welling from its mouth. These were no longer the human Jehar whose bodies they'd possessed upon emerging from the cauldron, but something far stronger.

Corban yanked his sword away, saw severed fingers fall as the Kadoshim tried to keep its grip. Its other hand shot out, grabbing Corban around the throat, lifting him from the ground. Impossibly strong fingers began to squeeze. He kicked his legs, tried to bring his sword round, but could put no strength in his blows. Stars appeared at the edges of his vision, a darkness drawing in. The pounding of his heart grew in volume, drowning all else out. Panic swept him and he found new strength, bringing the wolven hilt of his sword down on the Kadoshim's head. He felt the skull crack, but still it gripped him.

It regarded Corban calmly, head c.o.c.ked to one side.

'So you are Meical's puppet,' it growled, startling Corban. Its voice was unsteady, a basal rumble that seemed too deep for the throat it issued from.

Corban tried to raise his sword, but it was suddenly so heavy. Too heavy. It slipped from his fingers. The strength was fading from his limbs, leaking from him, a great lethargy seeping through him.

So much for everyone's hopes of me being the Bright Star. Is this what dying feels like? At least I'll get to see Mam again.

There was an impact, a crunch that he felt shudder through his body and he saw sharp teeth sink into the Kadoshim's neck and shoulder.

Storm, he realized, distantly.

The Kadoshim was spun around as Storm tried to drag it off Corban, but it would not release its grip on Corban's throat. Then there was another impact this one accompanied by what sounded like wet wood being split as an axe-blade hacked through the Kadoshim's wrist, severing it completely.

Corban crashed to the ground, his weak legs folding beneath him. He looked up to see Tukul wrestling with the Kadoshim, Storm tearing at the creature's leg. Then someone else was there, sword a blur, and the Kadoshim's head was spiralling through the air.

Its body sank to the ground, feet drumming on the turf as a black vapour in the shape of great wings poured from it, eyes like glowing coals regarding them with insatiable malice for a moment before a breeze tugged it apart. A wail of anguish lingered in the air.

Gar stood over Corban, reaching to pull him upright.

'You have to take their heads,' Gar said.

'I remember now,' Corban croaked.

'Remember earlier next time.'

Corban nodded, ma.s.saging his throat. He touched his warrior torc, felt a bend in the metal.

This must have stopped it from crushing my throat.

The battle was all but done. The grey of first dawn had crept over them as they fought, and by it Corban saw a handful of giants pinning the last Kadoshim to the ground, Balur standing over the creature. His axe swung and then the mist-figure was forming in the air, screeching its rage as it departed the world of flesh.

There was the silent, relief-filled moment that comes at the end of battle. Corban paused, just glad to still be alive, the fear and tension of combat draining from him. He could see it in those around him, the shift and relaxing of muscle in bodies, a change on their faces, a grat.i.tude shared. Then they were moving again.

As dawn rose they gathered their dead, laying them out along the stream bank next to the cairn they'd finished building just yesterday. Corban stood and stared at the pile of rocks they'd dragged from the stream.

My mam is in there, beneath those rocks.

A tear rolled down Corban's cheek as grief and exhaustion welled in his belly, swelling into his chest, taking his breath away. He heard a whine: Storm, pressing her muzzle into his hand. It was crusted with dried blood.

A cold breeze made his skin tingle as he stood before his mam's cairn. How can she be gone? He felt her absence like a physical thing, as if a limb had been severed. The events of yesterday seemed like a dream. A nightmare. His mam's death, so many others, men and giants and great wyrms. And he had seen the cauldron: one of the Seven Treasures, remnant from an age of faery tales. He had seen a bubbling wave of demon-spirits from the Otherworld pouring from it, Asroth's Kadoshim, filling the bodies of transfixed Jehar warriors like empty vessels. He knew the group who had attacked them had only been a small part of those remaining a dozen leagues to the north; Nathair and his demon-warriors camped within the walls of Murias.

What are we going to do?

He watched as the rest of his followers started to break camp. He searched for Meical but could not see him. Brina stood close to the fire-pit, Craf and Fech fluttering about her. He glimpsed Coralen moving quietly to the camp's fringe, checking on the paddocked horses. Her wolven claws were slung across her shoulders. Corban remembered their words before the battle at Murias, when they had heard of Domhain's fall, of her father King Eremon's death. She'd fled into the trees and he'd followed her, wanted to comfort her but not known how. They'd shared a handful of words and for a moment he'd seen through the cold hard walls she'd set about her. He wished he could go back to that moment and say more to her. He saw her head turn, her gaze touching him for a moment, then turning sharply away. Beyond her, a huddle of figures stood the giants who had fled Murias, cl.u.s.tered together like an outcrop of rock. Closer by, the Jehar were gathering beside the stream, making ready to begin their sword dance. He felt the pull of habit drawing him to join them. Without thinking he approached them, seeking comfort in the act of something familiar amidst the whirl of fear, death and grief that threatened to consume him.

They were gathered about their leader, Tukul, Gar beside him; a few score stood further behind the old warrior the ones who had saved Corban in Rhin's fortress. Others were grouped before Tukul, at least twice their number. As Corban approached Tukul raised his voice, saying something in a language Corban did not recognize. The ma.s.s of Jehar before him dropped to their knees and bowed their heads. There was one who did not Corban recognized him as one of the Jehar who had been with Nathair before realizing they had been betrayed. It seemed he was angry about something. Gar stepped forward. From years of knowing him Corban could tell he was furious, a straightness in his back, a tension in the set of his shoulders.

For a moment the two men stood staring at one another, a sense of imminent violence emanating from both of them, then Tukul snapped an order and they stepped apart, the other man stalking away.

Gar saw Corban and walked towards him. His eyes looked raw, red-rimmed. Corban remembered him weeping before his mam's cairn. The first time he'd seen him display such emotion.

He has always seemed so strong, so in control. Something about seeing Gar weep had made him seem more human, somehow. Corban felt a sudden surge of emotion for the man, his teacher and protector. His friend.

'What's happening?' Corban asked him.

'The Jehar that followed Sumur and Nathair,' Gar said with a nod towards the Jehar, who had risen and all started forming the lines for the sword dance practice. 'They have recognized my father as their captain.'

'Good. And him?' Corban said, looking at the one who had spoken with Tukul.

'Akar. He was Sumur's captain. He is ashamed that they followed the Black Sun, that they were fooled by Nathair. That he was fooled. And he is proud. It is making him say foolish things.' Gar shrugged, the emotion of a few moments ago gone or well hidden.

'He looked like he wanted to fight you.'

'It may come to that.' Gar looked at the warrior, mingling now in the line of the sword dance. 'And we have a history.'

Corban waited but Gar said nothing more.

'Where's Meical?' Corban asked.

'Scouting. He set off soon after the attack took a giant and a few of my sword-brothers and left.'

'Shouldn't we go and find him?'

'I think Meical can look after himself. He'll be back soon. Best use our time.' Gar ushered him forward amongst the ranks of Jehar warriors. Corban drew his sword and slipped into the first position of the dance, his mind sinking into the rhythm of it, muscle memory automatically taking over from conscious thought. Time pa.s.sed, merging into a fusion of contraction and extension, of focus and sweat, of pumping blood and his beating heart and the weight of his sword. Then he was finished, Tukul stepping from the line and ordering the Jehar to break camp.

Corban stood there a moment, savouring the ache in his wrists and shoulders, clinging to the familiarity. He looked around and saw his friends were nearby, watching him Farrell and Coralen, standing with Dath. A figure walked towards him Cywen, their mam's knife-belt strapped diagonally across her torso.

'Happy nameday, Ban,' Cywen said.

'What?'

'It's your nameday. Seventeen summers.'

Is it? He shook his head. It's been over a year since we fled Dun Carreg, since I last saw Cywen. A year of running and fighting, of blood and fear. But at least I have spent it amongst my kin and friends. What has she been through? A year by herself, surviving who knows what. And only to come back and be reunited with us and help bury our mam. He took a long look at her thinner, grime on her cheeks highlighted by tear tracks. The bones in her face were starkly defined, and her eyes were haunted. They hadn't spoken much last night before sleeping. There'd been too much happen to all of them that day for them to relive anything else. Instead they'd sat by the fire for hours, just comfortable in each other's company, Dath teasing Cywen and trying to make her smile, Farrell quietly watching and Coralen pacing as if she couldn't quite settle.

Before he could respond to Cywen's greeting there was a drum of hooves as a handful of riders crested the dell. Meical led, with the hulking forms of giants following behind. Corban could barely believe that what had once been mankind's fiercest enemy was now their ally. Meical rode into the camp, dismounted smoothly and strode to Corban. Balur and another giant, a female, accompanied him, with Tukul following behind.

'Only one of the Kadoshim survived last night's attack. We tracked him halfway back to Murias before we gave up the chase. The land between us and the fortress is clear, for now,' Meical said. 'My guess is that the Kadoshim will stay within the fortress walls a while and become accustomed to their new bodies.'

'Fech is watching them for us,' the female giant said. 'We will not have another surprise like the one last night.'

'Good,' Corban nodded, then looked at Meical. 'What next?'

'That is what we have come to ask you,' Tukul said, staring at Corban.

'Me?'

'Of course you. You are the Seren Disglair. We follow you.'

Corban felt a shift around him and looked about to see the whole camp still and silent, all watching him. He gulped.

CHAPTER THREE.

UTHAS.

Uthas of the Benothi stared down at the dead. He was standing just within the great doors of Murias, the sun warming his back. The bodies of his kin were laid out before him, scores of them, the might of the Benothi laid to waste. Here and there survivors of his clan moved, a handful remaining of those who had joined him little more than two score pulling fallen Benothi from the ma.s.s of the dead. The whole chamber was clogged with corpses, giants, men, horses the stench of blood and excrement underlying all else.

Other figures lurked in the shadows, the Kadoshim. They moved awkwardly, not yet fully accustomed to their new bodies of flesh and bone. Uthas suppressed a shudder and looked away; the sight was unsettling now the chaos and rush of battle had pa.s.sed.

Most of his surviving kin were gathered around a large ink pot, dipping bone needles as they inscribed the tale of thorns on their bodies. All had killed during yesterday's battle; all would have fresh thorns to tattoo into their flesh. He saw Salach, his shieldman, bent close over Eisa as he tattooed her shoulder. Uthas' eyes strayed back to the corpses lined at his feet, searching the faces of the dead. One that he had hoped he would find was not there. Balur. I should have known he would not have the good grace to die. He felt a flutter of fear at the knowledge that the old warrior was still alive, knew what Balur would wish to do to him. He will carry this blood-feud until the end of days. He needs to die. His gaze came to rest upon the corpse of Nemain, once his queen, now so much food for carrion.

What have I done? Fear and doubt gnawed at him. He cursed the events that had led to this. Cursed Fech, the d.a.m.n bird that had warned Nemain of his betrayal. He put a hand to his face, felt the claw marks that Fech's talons had raked into his forehead and cheeks.

Things could have been different if I'd had time to reason with Nemain . . . He gritted his teeth. No. It is done, no going back. I must salvage from this what I can, protect and rebuild my clan. I am King of the Benothi now.

Voices drew his attention and he looked up to see Nathair's adviser, Calidus, emerge from a hall, the giant Alcyon looming behind him. After the battle they had set a makeshift camp in the chamber of the cauldron, deep in the belly of the mountain, but Uthas could not stand it in there; the stench of so many dead wyrms was making him retch. Besides, it was foolish to leave the great gates unguarded, the only entrance and exit to the fortress of Murias. Their enemies had seemingly fled, but who knew what they were capable of? Meical and his followers had already stormed their way into Murias once and shattered the ceremony, preventing many of the Kadoshim from pa.s.sing through the cauldron into the world of flesh.

Calidus saw him and strode over.

'How many of the Benothi live?' Calidus asked. A cut across his forehead was scabbing, the skin puckering as he spoke. After the battle he had appeared weary to Uthas, face drawn, his silver hair dull. For the first time he had looked frail, like an old man. Now that was gone. He stood straight, his body alive with new energy, his yellow eyes appearing feral, radiating power.

'Forty-five, fifty maybe of those who stood with me. Others still live who fought against us, or at least, their bodies have not been found. Balur is one of them.'

'Balur has the starstone axe. He took it from Alcyon.' Calidus flickered a withering stare at the giant beside him who stood with head downcast, his face stained with a purple bruise. Uthas noticed Alcyon had a war-hammer slung across his back, replacing the black axe that had been there. Taken from a fallen Benothi, no doubt. That stirred anger in his belly and he scowled at Alcyon, a member of a rival giant clan, the Kurgan.

No, he told himself, if my dream is to become reality I cannot think like that. We were one clan once, before the Sundering. It can be so again. Looking at Alcyon, though, he realized just how deep the old grudges ran.

'You have something to say?' Alcyon growled at him, standing straighter, returning his dark look.

Control your temper, build bridges, he told himself.

'I see you carry a Benothi weapon. There is much honour in that.'

'Honour, in the Benothi?' Alcyon sniffed.

'Aye,' Uthas growled, anger rising. 'As there is in all of the clans. Even the Kurgan.'

Alcyon looked slowly around, his gaze lingering on the fallen Benothi. 'I see little evidence of Benothi honour here.'

'I did what had to be done,' Uthas snarled. 'For our future. Yours, mine, all of the clans'. If Nemain had continued to do nothing all of the clans would have faded, become a tale to frighten wayward children.'

'And instead we will slaughter ourselves to extinction.'

You fool, you do not see the long path, only the next step. His temper was fraying.

'You would be better served by concentrating on the task set for you.' Uthas shrugged, feeling the spite rise in him like bile after too much wine. 'But you were unable to do that, as you could not even hold onto the starstone axe.'

'Do not judge me, you that have betrayed your kin, your queen.' Alcyon looked about the room, eyes resting on Nemain's broken body. 'And I lost the axe to Balur One-Eye. I feel no shame in that, when I can smell the fear in you at the mere mention of his name.'

Uthas felt the words like a blow across his face. 'We have both served the same master here,' he said.

'Aye, but you out of choice,' Alcyon glowered.

'Enough,' Calidus snapped. He glared at Alcyon until the giant looked away from Uthas. 'Balur is a problem. I hoped that he would have been slain in the battle.'

As did I. 'He will do all in his power to see me dead.' Uthas felt a stab of shame at the tremor in his voice. He gripped his spear tighter, his shame shifting to anger. 'He could be dead, slain by those that left in the night.'

There had been a disagreement after the battle; one of the Kadoshim had argued with Calidus. It had been unsettling, hearing a voice so alien issuing from the Jehar's mouth rasping and sibilant.

'You have failed Asroth,' the Kadoshim had accused Calidus, arms jerking. 'We must regain the axe now, before it is too late, and reopen the pathway.'

Calidus had taken a long shuddering breath, mastering himself. 'It is too great a risk, Danjal,' Calidus had said. 'Battles are still being fought. We must secure the fortress, make sure the cauldron is safe. Would you have us abandon it?'

'Our great master must be allowed to cross over. For that we need the starstone axe.'

'Seven Treasures are needed to open the way for Asroth, not just the axe. It will happen, but we must wait. I seized an opportunity, and over a thousand of our brothers are now clothed in flesh. Be content with that. Asroth waits to enter this world wrapped in his own form, not filling someone else's, as you have done. And, besides, to pursue Meical now would be foolish; it would put the cauldron at risk, and many of you will lose your new skins.'

'Your body of flesh and bone has made you craven,' the Kadoshim had snarled. 'Asroth will reward me when he knows it was I who secured the axe and made his pa.s.sage possible.'

Calidus took a step back from the Kadoshim and unsheathed his sword, the rasp of it drawing all eyes. 'Craven? I have just fought Meical, high captain of the Ben-Elim, and seen him flee. I have fought countless battles to reach this place and made a bridge between the Otherworld and the world of flesh, to bring your worthless spirit here. You will not call me craven. Or would you challenge me, reckless Danjal?'