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Eukara Vox -> RE: (DF) Memoirs of Mistress Eukara (11/2/2009 14:42:45)
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Chapter 27 – The Chikvir Arrives
“She told me everything! She told me about her captivity, about how she was treated; how she nearly starved because no one aside from one Vagaran took care of her. Every Galeocerda soldier scoffed at her and abused her. And you…you most off all wouldn’t heed her words and it has now blown up in your face!” Soren eyes widened, his mouth twisted in anger, “And now she could be dead because of you!”
Pushing his captors into the sand, Soren lunged at Zh’stos, driving his shoulder into Galeocerda’s ribs. Zh’stos fell back against the wall of the factory, the breath knocked out of him as struggled to separate himself from Soren’s grasp. Soren pulled back his fist and punched Zh’stos in the face. Blood began to pour from his nose but he made no effort to wipe it from his skin. Looking Soren in the eye, he stiffened as he saw another swing headed towards his face.
A pair of arms wrapped themselves around Soren’s chest and heaved him off of Zh’stos. In one smooth movement, Soren was thrown to the ground away from the Galeocerda Commander. “What do you think you are doing here, Commander Wyvern?” Leaping up from the ground, Soren spun around ready to fire back his response. Before him stood Commander Allingby, staring at Soren disapprovingly, while surveying the situation. “Why, Soren? What has made you become this creature of rage that I see standing before me?”
“This man, this commanding officer, could have stopped so much bloodshed had he but listened to a voice of reason. But instead he threw off sound reasoning for a bloodlust that has drastically reduced our numbers by his own troops.” Soren pointed at Zh’stos menacingly. “Everyone knows that the Galeocerda hate humanity. But to allow that hate to cloud intelligence is unacceptable! And to top it all off, he was one of those that held Eukara prisoner. So it is his entire fault that our people are dying, that Eukara was almost dead when she was found and now—”
“Commander, enough. Pointing fingers and accusations are not going to stop what is going on! I cannot believe that you have allowed yourself to be consumed by hatred yourself that you contradict your very words.” Commander Allingby shook his head, “I am disappointed in you and—”
“Wait.” Zh’stos stared at Soren, understanding perfectly clear what was going on, and in turn understanding what he must do. “This man does not deserve the reprimand you hand out, sir. I ask that you hear me out, please. May I have your name?”
“Commander Allingby, Cysero’s Defenders,” he said as he bowed slightly. “I am curious as to why you would be so willing to clear his name. He attacked you, seemed intent on beating you to a bloody pulp and threw serious accusations your way. So enlighten me please, as to why I should withhold my reprimand on Commander Soren.”
Zh’stos pulled himself to his feet and looked at Soren first and then to Allingby. “Commander, what he says is the truth. I was one of the ones that held a Defender by the name of Eukara prisoner some months ago. She was put into a small cage and held against her will under water. Though we knew it could potentially make her sick, we did it anyway. She was neglected, except for Gerahar’s attentions and care. Even when Eukara showed signs of weakening, illness and mental anguish, nothing was done to relieve her of her condition. She was forced to endure physical “training” towards the end to make her seem healthy to the people who ran this factory. She was to be our negotiation or sacrifice to make our point.”
He stopped a moment before going on and looked at Soren. “When she was asked for advice, she gave it without malice, judgment or hatred. Gerahar had reported on several occasions that her people, the Defenders, were not to blame and should be contacted for support. I refused to see the truth in her actions or Gerahar’s statements. Then I abandoned her here on the island, very sick and weak, because I thought she deserved to die for what humans had done. I didn’t care at the time.”
Reaching behind him, he pulled his triton from his back and presented it to Soren. “I deserve everything Commander Wyvern would like to do to me. Had our places been switched, I would have acted the same way.”
“That does not excuse his actions, Commander Zh’stos,” Allingby stated. “No Defender is at liberty to act in such a manner.”
“I realize this. But, if someone were to take my mate and treat her with such disrespect and blatant disregard for her life, I would have done the same as the commander. Though, I am sure that I would have succeeded in killing him.” Zh’stos looked Soren in the eye and cringed at the hatred he saw there. I am worthy and deserving of his wrath, as I am deserving of it from all humans. “The morality of your commander caused him hold back and I am sorry to say that I do not have the same morality as he. I should be dead, but I am not. On the same token, the fact that I did not listen to reason and am responsible for such destruction as my UoN troops caused have made the situation worse. Take my trident and do as you wish, for that would be the punishment I would have to submit to at home.”
Soren stared at the trident that Zh’stos presented to him, now unsure of his own thoughts. He deserves this death; delivered by the very weapon he used to kill others without care…doesn’t he?
Depends on why he deserves it, Soren. Ryu’s voice sounded strained, but his message was clear.
He jumped into a war without restraint. He has killed so many and for what? He condoned and contributed to Eukara’s imprisonment and mistreatment. He— Soren wavered internally as he looked on Zh’stos as he awaited judgment.
“It is admirable of you to take the brunt of responsibility off of Commander Wyvern. But the matter stands that his behaviour is unbecoming of a Defender, no matter the circumstances.” Allingby watched for a reaction from Soren. When he didn’t get one, he continued. “Have you nothing to say for yourself, Commander?”
Stop right there, brother. If Eukara was conscious right now, she would have knocked some sense into you and told you to stop lying to yourself. You know as well as I that you want someone to pay for Eukara’s misery, not for the war.
His throat tightening, Soren pushed the triton back towards Zh’stos. You are right, Ryu.
Suck it up and do what Eukara expects of you. Be the man she is in love with, not the hopeless boy that stands before his equals. She is not dead yet and Mnemeth, Zhoth and I are on our way…We have no choice, trust me. Mnemeth took off and we had to follow. We will continue this when I arrive.
Abruptly, Ryu was gone and Soren realized that he had been standing there in front of two armies, silent and vacant-eyed. They probably think I am insane. Wouldn’t be too far from the truth. “I cannot take your weapon, Commander Zh’stos, for if I do, I become a monster. One far worse than I have labeled you.”
Waves of magic hit the ship continuously, element after element, in no particular pattern or order. The randomness of the attack made it nearly impossible for the few mages on the mercenary ship to counter. Ben enjoyed watching the mercenary mages try to counter the onslaught on land and sea. UoN mages made a wonderful accompaniment to the human mages. If only they had seen this before, we would be done with the whole factory situation. Oh well.
Ben directed a few cell groups of mages to change places and attack at a different angle. Already, the ship had slowed down and was on its way to a complete stop. Cannonballs whizzed past and hit the beach, exploding and spraying sand in all directions. Mercenary gunfire peppered the area, mostly unsuccessful, though a mage here and there was hit. Ben had been prepared and had a core group of healers stationed out of reach to attend those who were injured.
As successful as this seemed, Ben knew that their victory here would be pale in comparison to the slaughter everyone else was experiencing. He wanted to celebrate, pat the mages under him on the back, but it would seem trivial once they returned to the other side of the island. And he knew that it wasn’t just the mercenaries that threatened them, but that the Chikvir was nearly there. Once it gets here, we are in trouble. That monster has haunted us for as along as I have been a member of this group. We have never managed to defeat it. And with Eukara at its mercy, many of the Defenders will be reluctant to attack, even though I know for a fact if she could she would be screaming at us to do so.
Adding his own magic to the fray, Ben engulfed the sails in mage fire. The blue flames bellowed outward, infecting anything else it touched, running down the mast and spreading across the deck. Mercenaries dove off the ship and into the deep blue water below, only to be met by the UoN mages that had approached the ship. It mattered not where the enemy turned, they were met with a wall of magic that left them with no other recourse but to die or give up.
“Destroy the ship! Blow it up so beautifully that the other side of the island will think that we are having a party and shooting off fireworks! Leave nothing, I mean nothing, to help identify that ship,” Ben yelled, challenging the mages.
Suddenly, an eerie silence fell over the mages as each prepared their strongest spell for the attack. The mercenaries that capitulated stared, wide-eyed and mouth agape, at each mage as he or she closed eyes and began to call forth a spell. The air vibrated with the gathered power, resonating in unison, UoN and human alike until every person was in sync. The soft footfall of one solitary mage approached Ben, though never once throwing off the pulse of power.
“Captain Ben, I believe that there is someone on the ship that shouldn’t be there!” It was the young female mage from before. She whispered lowly, “And whoever it is, waves the Defender colors.”
Ben looked towards the ship, casting an augmentation spell on his sight. Those are Defender colours! But who…Anoril! That has to be who is doing that. “You are one of our teleportation mages, are you not?” Ben responded without looking at the girl.
She swallowed hard and nodded, her voice cracked as she replied. “Y..yes sir, I am.”
“Then here is your day to test whether you can earn your next stripe, mage. Bring whoever that is back.” Ben looked her in the eyes.
“I have never worked with anything bigger than a small child’s chair, sir.” Her voice, panicked now, began to rise in pitch. “Certainly not anything alive!”
Accept, he willed. He stared into her frightened eyes, never blinking. Accept it now!
She looked at the ship and back at Ben for two seconds. "If I must, I will do it, Master Mage." She bowed her head low and tried to keep herself from crying out of fear.
Ben put his hand on her shoulder. "I would not ask you if I did not already see, in you, the ability to do this." Turning her face up to his, she saw the sincerity in his face. "Find him and get back."
Nodding slowly, the young woman disappeared from view. Ben felt the rush of power hit him after her teleportation. We will have to work on concealing our exits, won't we? She will have to be watched. Abruptly, the colors disappeared from the small window. Ben counted the seconds. Five. Ten. Fifteen. Twenty. Where is she? She should not be taking this long!
******
The sun began slip beneath the horizon as Zh’stos stared at Soren, beside himself. He refuses to take my triton an exact revenge! What is this madness? Do not humans have the same rules as we do? Humans are civilized people, as are the races of the UoN. Shouldn’t that mean that we all handle things like this similarly? “You refuse to exact revenge, for the pain I caused your mate?”
It was then that Soren realized that Zh’stos was referring to Eukara as his mate and that he had done it moments before. She is, isn’t she, by his definition? “It is because of Eukara that I stay my hand. I have already made a mess of things because of my love towards her. I cannot create further trouble by doing the exact opposite as she would wish of me.” Soren looked Zh’stos, face to face, and shook his head. “No, I do neither of us good by acting on emotions better left for a training ground.”
Soren looked at Allingby, hoping that his fellow commander would leave the issue for another time. The look on Allingby’s face was indescribable. “Hold up. You and Eukara are—”
Commotion on the fringes of the gathered troops interrupted Allingby’s question. UoN soldiers and Defenders alike were pushing away from the shore and heading inward. Men and women were pointing at the sky as others rushed by, trying to get far from the water. Suddenly, a piercing scream ripped through the air, smashing its way towards Soren. His heart stopped for a brief moment before his feet took him towards the sound.
“Soren! What in Lore are you doing?” Allingby screamed after him.
Unable to stop his feet, Soren ran towards the scream of doom. That monster has Eukara and I will get her back. It will pay for whatever it has done to her. Skidding to a stop in the sand, Soren watched the Chikvir barrel down on the island. Allingby slammed into his back, unable to stop as he too watched the beast maneuver through the air towards them.
“Is that what I think it is?” he asked fearfully.
Hovering for a few seconds in the air, the Chikvir focused on Soren’s face and presented Eukara’s body to him. Her body was lifeless as it lay in the monster’s clawed foot, limp as a rag doll. Soren wanted to cry out, call her name, but knew in his heart she couldn’t hear him. His fear rose in his throat, threatening to cut off his breathing. Half-choking, Soren stood still as the creature stared at him.
The Chikvir’s eyes dilated and narrowed as it watched Soren. Then, almost in an act of malice, it stopped beating its wings and landed on the sand with a loud thud. Eukara was not spared the landing and both Soren’s and Allingby’s bodies involuntarily shook. Opening and closing its talons, the Chikvir shrieked at Soren and snapped its large beak.
“Warriors prepare your swords and get into small core formations!” Allingby shouted, pointing at strategic places to settle each group.
Soren waved at the Defender captains. “We need to set up a rotation! Remember what we fight. Defense is more important that offense.”
Allingby held his arms up and slammed them down to his sides. “Hit it with all you got!”
“We need a plan!” Soren screamed.
Soren and Allingby shouted out orders simultaneously, throwing everyone present into confusion. Both men were calling out contradictory orders, forcing the Defenders and UoN alike to choose who to follow. Some fighters formed up in core groups, while others set about assigning people to rotations. Then, in staggered groups, everyone attacked the Chikvir.
Raising itself up, the Chikvir watched the oncoming horde through unnatural eyes. Seeing the threat approach, it lifted each wing, allowing the guns to drop from their compartments. The Chikvir aimed for the people rushing it and opened fire. The sound of the ammunition’s discharge rang through the air as fighter after fighter dropped onto the darkening sand. Soon, everyone was running for cover and what little sanity there was left with the lives of the fallen. There was nothing that a sword could do in the face of the Chikvir’s offense.
“Fall back immediately!” roared Soren, trying to desperately corral the survivors. As the men and women retreated, the Chikvir stopped its barrage of bullets. People swept past Soren, buffeting him, nearly knocking him to his feet. Allingby stared at the Chikvir, shaken and pale.
Once everyone was a safe distance from the Chikvir, they turned to see how many of their friends had fallen in the few moments of attack on the bane of Cysero’s Defenders. Allingby looked at Soren apologetically, knowing that he should have deferred to Soren’s judgment. No apology would make up for the slaughter before them.
Soren turned back towards the Chikvir and stared at it. Now that he was out in the open, he could see the Chikvir for what it was - an enormous monstrosity of machine and animal, built to kill. Its size was comparable to the house that Soren himself lived in No’Bell. The house that I intended to share with Eukara after all this was over.
The Chikvir stared back, blinking only once. And Soren could swear that a very human taunt was displayed across its horrendous face.
******
Waiting was tearing at Ben’s heart, waiting for the young woman to return from something she should never have been sent to do. He paced back and forth, as the pulse of the power around him waited for the word of release. Stopping for a moment, he looked at the ship he was about to destroy, watching people still running around trying to reverse what his mages had already done. Idiots. Can’t they see that there is no hope? Why do they insist on staying on there?
Suddenly, the air around him shifted slightly and the young mage appeared before Ben. She fell to her knees before him, skin translucent and slick with sweat. “I…found him, Master Mage.” Letting go of Anoril, she collapsed to the ground beside the Defender Sword in her hand.
Kneeling beside the young woman, Ben took her hand and gave the order to attack. “Hit the ship with everything you have! I don’t want to see a plank of wood after you are done!” He gently laid his fingers on her throat to check her pulse, finding it very lethargic. Her skin reflected the colors of the mage attacks as each element raced through the air towards its target. He whispered to her as he swept a strand of hair from her face. “I am sorry.”
Anoril bent down and picked up his sword, gently as he did not want to cause the young mage any more harm than she had endured for his sake. He watched the display of the Defender’s entire mage corps as it destroyed the ship. In awe, he stood as the explosions sent up something akin to a fireworks display. Pity more of the mercenaries couldn’t be saved. Anoril looked at the ones surrounded by mages, watching their shipmates die in the attack. They all deserve to rot in the dungeon of the king’s castle. That or at least pay for what they did physically. Hmmm, handing them over to the Galeocerda or Sarkanians wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
Turning his attention to Ben, he watched the young mage… Master Mage he corrected himself, pick up the young woman. Only then did Anoril finally meet the eyes of the man responsible for rescuing him. “Thank you, Ben. For a minute there, I saw my life flash before my eyes as I watched every Defender mage power up to attack. I have to say that it was a very intimidating display to watch. You have no idea, seriously, what something like that looks like to a mundane warrior. I daresay it is why so many mercenaries jumped ship.”
Ben smiled slightly, proud of the mages under his charge. “They are formidable fighters, General. One day, I hope the rest of the world sees what you did.”
Anoril clapped Ben gently on the back. “Captain, if the rest of the world sees what I saw, they would tremble at your feet and never be able to look you in the eye without fear. Nay, I think for now, it is just as well that they don’t see that. Mages would be even more isolated than they already are.”
Turning to the mages that had gathered around the two leaders, Anoril opened his arms wide. “You have truly made the Defenders proud today. Not only did you rescue me, but you took down a mercenary ship alone. You are a formidable force to be reckoned with and I smile knowing to whom you owe your allegiance.” Anoril nodded and turned around, making his way towards the front of the group. “It is time to join the others. I assume they are on the other side of the island.”
Anoril started forward but soon realized that he was alone in the march. When he turned around to look at the group, he found that the mages were looking at Ben for instruction, not Anoril. They stood silent and expectantly, awaiting Ben’s orders. The Master Mage looked at his general proudly and questioningly.
I understand. Who am I, but a warrior who does not understand the ways of mages? He is their leader, for it was not I that led them successfully through this turmoil but him. Anoril bowed his head low, giving Ben the position he earned.
“Let us go and save the warriors from themselves!” Ben roared to the army of mages, both UoN and Defender alike. The response was jolting, as Anoril swore that the very yell they answered with shook the air around him. The mages marched, determined and faces hardset, causing Anoril to pity anyone that may cross their path.
******
Captain KDC’s breathing labored greatly as he watched the fighters under him attack the final escape boat from the mercenary ships. The injury he sustained an hour ago made breathing torturous, in turn sapping what little energy he had left. Sitting aside and watching everyone fight chaffed at him. I should be fighting, not sitting here like an invalid! I still have plenty in me to get the job done. But is didn’t matter how much he thought he could bring to the fight, the Vagaran set to watch over him had already made it clear that if he moved, there would be trouble.
“That is the last ship correct, Gerahar?” KDC grunted.
The Vagaran turned her eyes on KDC and nodded. “Yes sir, it is. They are taking care of it efficiently. You have no cause to be alarmed.”
That’s just peachy. “Can I at least get closer to watch the final strike?” Trying not to pout, KDC looked away from the fight and stared at the slowly darkening water. “I hate being so far away from my men and the action.”
“Are all Defenders like this, Captain KDC?” Gerahar inquired as she stared at him. Her eyes made KDC uncomfortable, for he could not tell if she spoke out of curiosity, playfulness or frustration. “I mean, are all of you this determined to beat yourself into a pulp to make a point or get something done?”
KDC looked at the Vagaran astonished. “You haven’t spoken to me in an hour and suddenly you ask me that! What spurred that question on?”
“You sit here, wounded deeply in the abdomen, breathing labored and yet you want to go watch. As if you have to make sure it is done right, or perhaps slip through my grasp and participate.” Gerahar watched the battle, proud of her own Vagaran brothers and sisters engage the boat as it neared shore. “You are not the first human Defender that I have had to watch over. Had she not been so sick, I am sure that she would have been a handful.”
KDC tried to laugh at Gerahar’s statement. “This ‘she’ could only be one person. You are the one that took care of Eukara during her imprisonment.” Though he was trying to be positive, KDC winced as his voice conveyed a touch of rage.
“Yes, Captain, it was me for a time. I liked her very much. Had the circumstances been different, I think she and I would have made great friends. I tried everything I could to help her, but everything I did needed to be done in secret.” The Vagaran smiled solemnly and continued. “She got so sick at the end; physically, mentally…I think she thought she was going to die. And there wasn’t anything I could do about it.”
They quietly watched the boat sink and the prisoners bound. Lifting a sword in the air, one of the Vagaran fighters yelled into the air, claiming victory. As he did so, an explosion of sound and color drew their attention to the west. Somewhere off the opposite coast, something was destroyed and destroyed good. KDC surmised silently. What the heck just happened over there? The main battle is north of here!
Watching the Vagaran fighters and Defenders approach caused KDC to sit up more. No one needs to know how bad this is just yet. “I think we have a decision to make,” he addressed the group. “We can either head to the main battle or intercept what ever caused the explosion on the other side of the island. What do you say?”
Discussion ensued, leaving KDC to wonder if this decision will cause them problems. Finally, a silence settled over the group and a young Vagaran stepped forward. “I believe that we would like to intercept what may be coming this way from the explosion. If it is a foe, it would be better to engage them out here than to let them surround us in the north.”
Smiling widely, KDC nodded his head towards the young woman. “Very well, gather what you need, fighters, for we intercept what may be an enemy at our backdoor!” Slowly easing himself off the enormous rock he was set upon, KDC stood at the front of the marching army and led them northwest through the forest.
After a few minutes, a Defender approached cautiously. “When the last boat came in, there were king’s men on it. They claim that they were on Commander Eukara’s ship headed here for negotiations. What do you want me to do with them?”
“Send them up here. This could be interesting.” KDC struggled to walk, slowing up a bit as Gerahar joined him. “Who on earth would have been held hostage on a mercenary ship from Eukara’s ship?”
“We were,” a harsh voice answered.
Turning slightly, KDC saw a man in a dirty suit walk up, followed by three knights. “And who are you?”
The man cleared his throat. “I am Dr. Montgomery Fastion, chair of the King’s council. These are the knights sent to help me negotiate a peace treaty between us and the UoN that Commander Eukara began: Sir Laeg Olahs, Sir Thomas Beauford, and Sir Krystof Skylr.”
KDC nodded to each one in turn, his eyes lingering on Sir Laeg Olahs’s face. Why doesn’t he make eye contact like the others? Surely a knight of his reknown would have the confidence to look me, a lowly Defender captain, in the eyes. “I see. And where, pray tell, Commander Eukara, because she is certainly not with me. And I have heard nothing from the others to indicate that she is with them.”
“She’s not here?” Sir Olahs gasped and looked around, slightly panicked. “But surely she got off the ship before it sank. No…she has to be here on the island somewhere.” Sir Olahs glanced at Dr. Fastion briefly and then looked at the ground and spoke under his breath. “No, this cannot be happening.”
“Remember yourself, Sir Olahs.” Dr. Fastion walked next to KDC and answered KDC’s statement. “I can only hope that she got off her ship. It was attacked by something you Defenders call the Chikvir. She forced everyone off the ship before I assume she made her own escape.”
The Chikvir!!! “Did you see her actually leave the ship after you did, or did you just run for your lives without so much as a thought to her safety?” KDC looked ahead to avoid glaring at the men in his company.
“All I saw was her attempt at keeping it occupied so that the rest of us could get to safety. I have no idea how or if she got off her ship.” Dr. Fastion shook his head, “So tell me about this creature the Chikvir. Where did it come from? What is it exactly? And why does it have such an interest in the Defenders?”
“You are going to walk here beside me, tell me that a powerful creature attacked one of my commanding officers and then sweep it aside as if nothing so that you can ask me questions that I have no interest in answering?” KDC couldn’t believe this guy. What an insensitive idiot! Luckily, the knights know to keep their mouths shut.p
Dr. Fastion raised an eyebrow at KDC’s demeanor and cleared his throat. “As one of the King’s Council, I think I am entitled to getting answers to any question I decide is worthy of asking.”
KDC smirked, “And as a Defender, Dr. Fastion, I have the right to deny answering any question I want to, by word of the King.”
Growling internally, Dr. Fastion glared at KDC. “Yes, that blessed immunity granted to your people in payment for your services. What a convenience to play at the most inopportune times. Fine, if you will not answer questions about the Chikvir, will you tell me about Mnemeth, Ryu and Zhoth?”
KDC stopped in his tracks and whirled around to face Dr. Fastion, grimacing slightly at the burning sensation it created across his stomach. “How dare you speak their names without permission! No one speaks the names of the dragons so casually. I suggest that you just keep quiet until we get to Commander Soren. He can deal with you.”
“I merely wanted to know what it takes to get one of those creatures and how it is that Soren, Ben and Eukara managed to get their hands on one! Is that so awful of me?” Dr. Fastion retorted. “What is so special about the animals anyway?”
KDC, despite the pain, marched harder towards the point of interception. He didn’t know what it was about Montgomery Fastion, but the man seemed a little too interested in things surrounding his friends.
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