Amelia tried to mask her grief and organize the soldiers following the chaotic scene against the drake. Rico’s body was placed in the cave and covered under a spare cloak. The scout sergeant was missing, as was the patrol up the pass. Three infantrymen were dead alongside the two scouts that were in the clearing.
The fiend cost them nine soldiers, a higher toll than fleeing the enemy encampment. Amelia cursed herself for allowing the Rima to be roasted. Hindsight was clear that it would draw predators. Waking up and responding to the battle had cost her too many precious seconds. Only by stopping to draw Fang from Alton’s side was she able to battle against the drake.
Poor Rico fought against it with only his standard issue steel sword. Ineffective against the scale armor of the monstrosity. He was so brave, and so foolish. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes again, and she wiped them on her sleeve.
No one slept for the rest of the night, nerves far too rattled to trust the quiet darkness. Amelia stayed out in the clearing. Unable to bring herself to sit in the cave with his body. Their relationship was complicated at first. Fierce rivals who believed only one of them could make it. They traded barbs and teased each other throughout the academy.
Once in the training camp, they pushed each other to the top of the class. A mutual respect was built and while still rivals, the barbs became less acidic and more friendly. It wasn’t until Alton arrived that a friendship had truly begun. The revelation that they could both make the team had eased the barrier preventing them from getting closer.
Rico was quiet. Less prone to socialize in large groups unless forced. He was dedicated to his training. She never knew what he was running from, but he was determined to succeed and never go back. She regretted it now, not getting closer. Heavy footsteps sounded behind her in the clearing.
Nelson and Miser joined her at the ledge, both plopping down and swinging their legs off the side. Amelia stood for a moment longer before sitting down to join them. She laid her head on Nelson’s shoulder and a companionable silence encased them. Letty and Prian joined soon after, as if drawn together by an outside force.
“I remember the first time I sparred him. Me and Nelson snuck out that first night and stole a crate of that horrible whiskey the captain drinks. Stayed up late with some of the other shields and enjoyed ourselves. He either guessed it or smelled it on me. Beat me black and blue and called me a disgrace to the army.” Miser said to break the silence, ending with a chuckle before starting again.
“I was so damn determined to get revenge on him and pay the favor back. Worked harder than I ever have in my life to get the upper hand on him. Remember Nelson? Me, of all people. Up every morning with Yuri and that other blade. Can’t remember his name, just taking beating after beating.”
“Horus. He taught blade lessons, but he was a skirmisher.” Prian offered.
“Yeah, that’s the one. Him and Yuri worked me over every day for two weeks until our the next time it was mine and Rico’s turn to spar. I was so cocky, standing there with my new practice shield. I don’t think I got my spear within a foot of him before he tapped me three times on the side. Quick as lightning when he wanted to be,” Miser finished and trailed off.
“Only tapped you three times? He definitely liked you.” Amelia laughed. “First time I sparred against him he broke my leg with a kick in the kneecap. Told me I was too slow and couldn’t rely on mana all the time. He did that twice, actually. At least he made sure there was a healer in the yard for the second one.”
More laughter sounded from the group. Silence crept back in as everyone absorbed themselves in their own memories. It was surprising how important a person could become to her in only six months. She closed her eyes and pictured his smile the day Alton named her sergeant and him corporal. No hint of malice or jealousy, just pride.
“I nearly dropped out after that the second sparring ladder, before they split us off as observers.” Prian said in a muted voice. “I lost every single spar and not well. Rico found me standing in the training yard, venting my frustration on a post until I broke the sword. He walked over to the rack and grabbed another one, throwing it at my feet. I shouted at him in anger, and all he did was shrug and take a dueling position. Arrogant prick.”
More laughter from the group. “I…felt out of place in the training camp. I have aspired to be a combat mage since I was young. Most laugh at me like it’s a silly dream. The teasing got so bad I started sneaking out to eat alone every night. Rico must have seen me do it once and followed me. Every other night at least he would sit with me and we would dream up all the things we would do once we trained our mana.” Letty choked out, tears streaming down her face. “He was like a brother to me, far more like a brother than the ones I was born with.”
“Let this be a lesson to us all. One that we will never forget. The captain looms so large over us now. We depend on him for protection. Right or wrong, it doesn’t matter. We have to get stronger, we have to push ourselves as hard as we ever have. I don’t want to ever feel like this again.” Amelia said, defiance in her voice. She took a deep breath and then began the prayer of the fallen soldier.
“Oh, Mad God, hear my plea,
In this moment of sorrow, comfort me.
A fallen soldier lies here, brave and true,
In service to ideals we hold dear and pursue.
Though he journeys now beyond mortal sight,
His memory will remain, a beacon bright.
Grant us the strength to bear the loss,
And grant us courage to carry onward, no matter the cost.
Mad God, we offer this prayer to thee,
For Rico, our fallen comrade, now forever free.
Watch over him, in his new home,
Until we meet again, under your chaotic throne.
---
Her heart ached as she surveyed the rising sun, bringing light and a new day to chase away the darkness. The team had sat together through the night trading watch. Laughing, reminiscing, enjoying the fleeting company of friends, now family. Amelia stood and stretched, greeting the sun and basking in the warmth it brought.
It also brought Edorians, many of them. Drawn by the fight with the drake, they marched up the pass after first light. Amelia was the first to spot them and alert the rest of the company. There would be no way to hide the scene of the battle, let alone the massive corpse sitting in the middle of it.
Two columns of twenty marched up. Spread throughout were Edorian elites, confirmed mana users by Letty using her longsight. She cursed what wicked luck had brought them these ruinous events. Without Alton, they were sorely over matched soldier for soldier.
The company was down to thirty soldiers, of whom two were still unconscious and a few more injured but able to fight. Amelia grimaced and tried to think of any way to tip the odds. The clearing behind her was a hive of activity, everyone preparing for the battle, another battle that might be their last.
She organized the scouts into a volley formation under Prian. There were thirty arrows remaining between them, each shot had to count. Her infantry were formed into two rows of shield walls that would block the choke point leading up to the clearing. Miser and Nelson were placed with the first group and given command, Torne took the second.
Letty and Lews were rounding up boulders to throw down the trail with the second infantry group. Amelia was a freelancer, to plug any holes and adapt on the fly. She prayed over and over that none of the Edorians were above the fourth tier. Prian guessed they had ten minutes until engagement.
Amelia walked back into the cave and studiously avoided looking at Rico’s body. She knelt down next to her captain and placed her hand on his head. Praying again that he would return to them soon. She brought Fang and his new sword out with her, passing the new sword off to Miser, who could infuse it. She would keep Fang, their best chance of defeating the elites.
---
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Alton stood in a blizzard that howled across the tundra endlessly. The scene was familiar to him, but this time he didn’t know why he was here. He remembered…fighting the Edorian elites. The incredible surge of strength that entered him and flowed through to his team. He remembered running down the Sapient and christening his new sword in blood.
As last time, a massive Wolf walked out in the snow towards him. Alton stood his ground and waited for his fickle friend to approach. The power offered by the ethereal being was addicting in a way Alton had never felt. It changed him, turned his thoughts to anger and violence.
“You were not ready.” A voice growled out, seemingly coming from everywhere. “A price has been paid. It was not my choice. A balance must be kept, those of us who tread the ethosphere held in check.”
“What price? What has happened?” Alton demanded.
The Wolf continued its placid walk until it stood before him. Its haunches sat at Alton’s shoulders, its head larger than his torso. Snow swirled around the Wolf but never landed on its fur. It left no traces of its passage on the ground behind it. Almost as if…
“Is this place real? Do you exist in the physical realm?” Alton asked the mythical figure.
“I exist between the planes. My physical body has not manifested in an age. You have come close, you are not strong enough yet, it would kill you. You must go now, Alton. You are not ready.” The voice sounded from inside his own head this time.
He met the creature’s eyes. “I need answers.”
“You need to wake up, Alton. They need you.” It said again, urgency slipping into the disembodied voice.
“Who needs me?” Alton asked in confusion.
“Your pack.”
That was all the answer Alton received. He felt a pull on his soul, like it was being ripped out of his body, like it was a physical part of him. The scene around him faded as the snowy back drop mixed with a dull orange glow. Alton squinted in confusion and found himself lying on a stone floor.
He rolled to see Jonah laid out next to him. His friend looked near death, brow sweaty and shivering. Alton rolled to his side to get his bearings as his mind cleared. He heard the sounds of battle nearby, sounds of shouting. Pushing himself up to his knees, he used the wall to lever himself up.
His body felt beyond stiff. How long had he lain there? What happened to Jonah, and where was everyone else? He staggered over to the entrance of the cave, obvious from the sunlight streaming through. His foot clipped something, and he fell forward, pulling a cloak off a body in the process. Alton recoiled when he found himself staring at the deathly pale face of Rico.
The shouting outside became clearer, and Alton pegged the voice for Amelia. If Rico and Jonah were in here…where was everyone else? He looked around for his swords, but the cave was clear except for piles of various supplies. Alton breathed deeply into his how healed lungs and stepped outside into the sun.
---
Alton stopped short on exiting the cave. A large clearing was in front of him and the corpse of a massive drake was in the middle of it. He could see the remnants of his company fighting at the choke point between two boulders leading up to the clearing. Scouts were off to the side, firing down in volleys while Amelia directed action down and out of sight.
He started across the clearing while testing his body to determine what kind of shape he was in. Alton couldn’t afford to distract his team if he was a liability. He reached down to his core and found it full and pulsating with anticipation. Swinging his arms up and over his head and giving a quick jump showed no apparent injury.
“Amelia.” Alton said when he reached the far side of the clearing, not wanting to startle her.
“Captain! Thank the Mad God you're awake!” Amelia exclaimed loudly enough for all nearby to hear.
“Situation.” Alton said before she could get distracted.
“Sir. Edorians started up the path at first light after hearing…” Amelia choked off her answer and hesitated. “We set a defensive line at the choke hold and forced them to withdraw temporarily. They have probed it a few times now and I think they are going to breach with elites soon.”
“Well done, sergeant. Continue on the current defensive course. Fang and Fury?” Alton asked, palming his empty sheath.
Amelia unbuckled Fang from her side and held it up for him. “Fury, sir?” She asked.
“That’s what I’ve named the new one,” Alton shrugged.
“Down with Miser, sir. He seemed the best choice to wield it.” She replied.
“Fair enough. We can worry about that later. How can I fit into your plans?” He asked his young sergeant.
“Sir…” she hesitated.
Alton could feel raw emotion rolling off of her. His team had been through much these past few days and while he didn’t know the full story. The Edorians were about to face a reckoning. Anger built in his chest as he thought of Jonah lying in the cave. Rico’s face flashed through his mind.
“Steel yourself. In the crucible of adversity is where inner strength is forged. Stand tall, shoulders squared, let them see your unwavering resolve. Make them feel your strength, your poise, make them know your purpose. Courage is your armor, determination, your blade. Let not fear nor doubt cloud your mind. It is infectious. If they see it, they will feel it. You can show it to me, my girl, never them.” Alton said with a soft intensity.
“Sir, act as counter engagement to their elites. Remain out of sight until they commit and then…do your normal murdery things, sir,” she grinned at him.
He clapped her on the shoulder and took his place near the trail down and circulated through his limbs, testing each muscle carefully. Amelia proved right. Sounds of heavy boots crunched on the snow up the trail and shouts of incoming. Alton positioned himself so he could see her and waited for her signal. She had led them this far, she would see this through.
Swords clashed against shields below, and Alton listened as arrows sang overhead. To his great amusement, Letty and Lews appeared, throwing rocks the size of fists at the enemy. Loud thumps could be heard, and it took self control not to laugh at the sheer audacity. Miser and Nelson called out for spears and swords, launching a co-ordinated attack.
Alton kept his eyes trained on Amelia, waiting for a signal. Her face was a canvas of emotion that she tried to master, but his long years on the battlefield let him see it clearly. She grimaced and glanced at him. Her head shook sideways and his wait continued.
More tense seconds passed as Alton listened to the battle. He admired the common soldiers standing with them. Many soldiers broke in the face of enhanced on the field. These, though, were hardened by the trials of the past few days. Their resolve was firm, the stakes clear.
Amelia’s eyes widened and Alton tensed. She held up a hand to halt him and stepped forward down the trail. His mind raced as he considered the implications. He trusted his young sergeant, but Alton wasn’t one to let others fight his battles. Alton heard a series of shouts in a distinct language that sounded almost like…
Chaos truly ruled the mountain pass now. Shouting from all directions and the sounds of soldiers dying. Amelia reappeared and waved him out without urgency. He stood and walked out, prepared to fight and confused all the same. The strangest sight Alton had seen in years met him and left him far more confused than a moment ago.
A flanking force had enveloped the Edorians and was busy slaughtering them to the man. Alton recognized the dress as one of the mountain tribes, though, which he could never say. It was said there were hundreds of tribes littering the deep mountains surrounding the Agorran valleys. Alton felt a tremble in the air and activated his manasight. His shock grew.
The mountain tribe had a dozen mana awakened and were using some sort of controlling attack to blanket the Edorian elites. He watched the ebb and flow between the two and noticed a sharp difference when the elites began to turn it around and break free. His time of sitting on the sidelines was over. He didn’t know if these were allies or more foes, but he knew which one the imperial Edorians were.
Alton surged and pounced on the closest elite. Fang held high and blazing with renewed glory. Three quick slashes disarmed the Edorian and saw him lose his sword arm. Alton kicked him in the chest and he tumbled down toward the tribe. Moving to the next elite, Alton found his mana unaffected by the tribal users. Without full access to their mana, it was a slaughter.
He weaved through the line and killed or maimed the five other elites just as the tribesmen finished the Edorian commons. An unsteady silence spread over the clearing and Alton caught his breath. His core was still full and his body felt electric. He scanned the faces of the tribesmen.
Alton made the first move and held Fang high, pulling the mana back inside his body. He stepped back and held his other arm out to the side in a gesture of peace. The soldiers behind him stared in confusion at first before following his example. He turned to Amelia and nodded for her to join him.
When she reached his shoulder, he handed her Fang and walked slowly towards the tribe. There was a quick conversation between them and he swore they were speaking Agorran. One stepped forward, his body betraying his age, but his face hid behind a mask of white and black paint. The tribesmen held no weapon and approached with his arms out to mimic Alton.
He pointed at Alton and spoke. Alton could almost make out the words, as if spoken with an accent never heard to his ears. Alton spared a glance with Amelia and she shrugged. He stepped closer to the tribesmen.
“Do you speak, Agorran?” Alton asked in a slow, loud voice.
“Say. Eludit.” The tribesmen said, matching Alton’s tone and cadence.
“I don’t understand.” Alton said in confusion.
“Sir…I think he said he spoke Eludit. It’s a language that used to be spoken in the southern reaches of Agorra before the fall. It’s similar to Agorran in the written form, though harder to speak.” Lews said, appearing at Alton’s side opposite Amelia.
“Eludit…” Alton shrugged. “Can you?”
“Not me, but I know who can,” Lews said with a drawn face as he turned and looked in the direction of the cave.
“Ah.” Alton sighed and turned back to the tribal man. “I can’t speak Eludit, but I have someone that can. Very sick. Needs help.”
The man shook his head in more amusement than frustration. Alton made a gut decision and motioned for the man to follow him. Distrust flashed across his eyes and he conferred with a few of the others before following Alton up the trail. Three more came behind him, and Alton let his paranoia pass.
He led them up into the cave and back to the prone figure of Jonah. Alton’s heart quivered at seeing his friend in that state. Amelia had followed them and dropped to her knees at Rico’s exposed face. In his rush, he hadn’t covered him back up earlier. Tears filled her eyes and Alton’s heart broke for her.
As soon as the tribesmen saw Jonah, he ran back out and shouted down the pass. A new masked figure soon entered the cave with pouches strung about his body. He crouched down to Jonah before stopping to look at Alton. The question lingered unasked until Alton nodded his head. If Lews could heal him, he would have. Lews himself arrived shortly after and watched the man work.
Alton paced nervously as the tribal man dug through his pouches and spoke over Jonah. After a quarter of an hour, the figure sat back on his heels and said a series of sentences that sounded like chanting. When he finished, the others in the cave repeated the last sentence and moved out of the cave. Alton spared a last look at his friend before leaving Lews to watch over him.
The clearing was full of both Alton’s company and the tribesmen now. They had brought food and water and were sharing it without hesitation. Alton’s mind worked as he watched the strange scene unfold. He had the very beginning of what was going on, but would have to wait for Jonah to wake to confirm. He graciously accepted a water flask and sat on a large boulder, basking in the morning's warm sun.