Awakening (Telindell Book 1) (7 page)

Bagra-shuk pointed to the fire at the center of his lair. “Sit before you become ill.”

Lian laid the sword down and did as the large creature commanded.  He sat beside the fire and felt its warmth begin to thaw his nearly frozen body.  Kane stretched and lay next to him, resting his head in Lian’s lap.

Lian petted Kane’s head. “We’re gonna be alright now.”

Kane whimpered a bit and closed his eyes.  Lian lowered his head, his eyes now heavy.

Bagra-Shuk sat across from Lian and dropped his massive stone club on the ground. “It is alright, boy.  Rest while you can.”  Bagra-Shuk’s words sounded almost gentle.  Lian leaned over onto Kane’s soft fur and closed his eyes.

Lian slowly opened his eyes. “It’s so dark,” he said.  “Where is everybody?”

He was greeted only by darkness and a vast emptiness.

Lian looked around, unable to see anything but darkness. “Kane?  Kane?” he called out.  There was no reply, no howl or whimper from his valued protector. 

Lian heard a voice echo in the distance. “Come, young Lian. It’s your birthday!”

Lian looked in the direction of the voice, still seeing only darkness.
“But I saw him die,”
he thought before shouting, “Elder Marrow!”

Marrow answered Lian’s call, “Yes, now come, Lian! We’ve no time to dawdle!”

Lian felt a spark of hope within his heart.  He ran for what seemed like an eternity through the darkness.

Lian shouted again to the vague figure in the distance, “Elder Marrow!”

This time he heard only silence.  Lian reached the figure to see Marrow and his eyes widened at the sight him.

Marrow glared toward Lian. “Your fault,” said Marrow in a deathly calm voice.

Lian looked upon the elder, the hole in his chest gushing blood.

Lian shook his head. “No… I didn’t do that…” he said, staring at Marrow’s wound and trembling.  “I didn’t want this to happen!”  The elder looked upon Lian in silence.  Lian closed his eyes. “I’m sorry!”

The same dark hand that had pierced Marrow’s chest once again emerged from the wound.

Lian screamed in horror as he watched Marrow being ripped to pieces once again. “No!”

Lian looked to see Marrow’s body mangled on the ground, his cold dead eyes staring at him once more.  Glowing red eyes pierced the darkness where Marrow was standing.  Lian was terrified.  He turned and ran blindly into the darkness, knowing only that he had to get away.

Voices began to echo through the darkness. “You killed me,” said Ebon.

“Let me tell you of your mother,” said Eva.

“I should have gutted you me’self,” said the hunter.

“My son wasn’t enough.  You killed me and the entire village, boy.” said Alrad.

Tears swelled in Lian’s eyes. “No!  I didn’t kill anybody!”

Suddenly Lian was surrounded by flames.  He was back in the village.  Every hut and shack was burning.  Charred corpses littered the ground. Lian stood still and looked upon Dreathous.  The monster held Eva in the air by her throat.

Lian stared on in horror. “No!” he shouted.

Dreathous severed Eva’s head once again.  Her frail, lifeless body crashed to the ground.  Dreathous turned and slowly walked toward Lian.  Lian stepped back and felt a familiar furry rub against his hand.  Kane growled and snapped towards Dreathous.  He let out a spine-chilling howl that was followed by many more howls and growls.  Kane’s pack leapt forth from around Lian, attacking the monstrous Dreathous.  One by one, each wolf latched onto Dreathous with their razor sharp fangs.  One by one, he grabbed them and smashed them to the ground.  Each one let out a high pitched yap on impact, dying.  Lian was appalled.

Lian looked down to Kane. “Come on, boy,” he said.  “We gotta get out of here!”

Kane growled and stepped forward slowly, then charged Dreathous.

Lian’s eyes widened. “No, Kane! No!”

Kane leapt into the air towards Dreathous.  He snarled and cropped his ears back, determined to protect young Lian at any cost.  Dreathous reached forth his hands and caught Kane.  He gripped Kane’s front paws with his left hand and his hind paws with his right.  Kane let out a long high-pitched yap of pain.  Lian watched as Kane’s body began to separate in the middle.  Blood squirted as Kane’s intestines began to fall out.  Dreathous ripped Kane in two and dropped the wolf’s pieces on the ground.  Kane’s guts laid upon the ground, with his blood covered bones protruding from his skin.  Kane’s green eyes stared back at Lian, lifeless and haunting.

Dreathous stepped toward Lian once again. “He will die,” said Dreathous, his voice echoing all around Lian.  “They all will die.  After you have witnessed every drop of blood in this world be shed, you too, will die.”

Dreathous kept walking toward Lian, the red glow from his eyes becoming brighter.

Lian turned and began to run.
“Faster, Lian… Faster!”
he thought.

He ran through the darkness with no escape in sight.

“Get the sword, Lian,”
said Eva’s voice in his mind.
“Get the sword…”

Lian looked back at Dreathous.  He was getting closer with each step, no matter how fast Lian ran.  Dreathous reached his hand forward. To Lian, he seemed like a giant as his hand shadowed over him.  In the distance, Lian saw the sword floating vertically.  He could feel the sword’s allure with his entire body.  It was as if the sword was calling to him.  Lian approached the sword as Dreathous closed in.  He grabbed the sword and turned to face Dreathous.  As he began to draw the sword, the guard lifted from atop the sheath and a golden light sprang forth from the blade.  It spread through the darkness, driving it back.  Dreathous roared as the light overtook him.  All Lian could see was the bright, blinding light.

Lian opened his eyes and gasped heavily.  He was back in the ogre’s lair.

Lian looked to Kane who was sound asleep.
“Was that… was that just a dream…”
he wondered.

Lian heard roars coming from the body of water, the grunts of the ogres and the sounds of battle.  Bagra-Shuk appeared from the darkness of the cave.  He had blood dripping from his hands and gaping slices across his upper body.  He no longer carried his club.  Kane sprang up with his ears tucked back and began to growl.

Bagra-Shuk reached his blood covered hand out to Lian. “Come, boy,” said the Ogre.  “We must go. They have come for you.”

Lian stared at the bloody, wounded ogre who was offering his hand.

“Come, boy!  We have to go now!” Bagra-Shuk shouted.

Lian looked deep into the ogre’s eyes. “Where are—”

The ogre quickly interrupted Lian’s words, “Out of the pass. That is all that matters. Now get up!”

Lian nodded and looked to Kane. “Time to go, boy,” he said.

Kane snorted in agreement.

Bagra-Shuk pointed to the rear of his lair. “This way, boy,” said the ogre. “The exit to the pass is not far.”  The mighty ogre walked toward the rear of his lair.  He looked back to Lian. “Hurry.  My ogres will be dead soon.  They have claimed the valley, and soon the pass will be theirs, too.”

Lian’s eyes widened. “Dead?  What do you mean, dead?  You ogres are bigger. You must be stronger!”

Bagra-Shuk looked at Lian. “These foes possess a power of the likes I have never faced,” said the ogre.  “They are large, they are fast, they are cunning, they are powerful and some wield magics.”  Bagra-Shuk looked toward the rear of the cave.  “We ogres are much stronger than you humans.  That is why we can hold them for a short time.  We are heavily outnumbered.  My ogres will die.  I am taking you out of the pass to ensure their sacrifice is not in vain.”

Lian quickly stood and shook his head. “Sacrifice!  What sacrifice?” said Lian.  “Why is everyone protecting me?  Why are you doing this?”  Tears escaped Lian’s eyes. “I don’t want anyone to die for me!”

Bagra-Shuk sighed. “Because it is my oath,” said the ogre.  “That is all I know.  If I wanted to abandon you here, I could.  It will make no difference now.  If I do, we all will die.  Now come, dawn quickly approaches and once we reach the exit of the pass, I will seal it, giving us time to escape beyond the mountains.”

Lian looked to Kane, then back to Bagra-Shuk. “Seal the pass?” he asked.  “How are you going to do that?”

Bagra-Shuk grinned, baring his mouthful of fangs “These warriors are not the only ones who can wield magics,” said the ogre.

“Magic?” Lian asked, curious.

Bagra-Shuk motioned for Lian and Kane to follow. “No time to explain, boy,” said the ogre.  “You will see soon enough.  Now come.”

Lian grabbed the sword and held it tightly against his chest.  Bagra-Shuk led them into a passageway.  They journeyed deeper within the mountains, the echoing sounds of the ogres’ battle fading from their ears.  In the distance, a small speck of light became visible.

Bagra-Shuk pointed towards it. “There’s the exit!” said the ogre.  “We are almost out!”

The trio began to run as the exit drew closer.  Then, Bagra-Shuk came to a sudden halt.  Lian and Kane stopped behind the colossal ogre.  The pass began to shake.  Lian turned to see a bright light flying towards him.  His eyes widened, and he stood paralyzed by the sight.  Lian felt a large hand grip his upper body and toss him toward the exit of the pass.  Bagra-Shuk let out a roar of pain as a ball of fire struck his body.  Lian raised up as the flames cleared from the pass. Through the smoke, he saw the glowing red eyes of a Battle Sage with Enforcers behind him.  Lying on the ground, Bagra-Shuk let out a gasp.  He struggled to stand, his white skin now burned and scorched black.  Kane began to growl in the direction of the approaching enemies.

Bagra-Shuk coughed. “Go, boy,” said the wounded ogre.  “I will--” Bagra-Shuk spat up some blood. “Seal the cave.”

Lian shook his head and screamed, “No, you can’t!” Lian looked pleadingly at Bagra-Shuk. “You’ll be trapped! I won’t leave you!”

Bagra-Shuk growled. “I said go!  I am dead anyway. At least you may live one more day.”

Lian shook his head. “And I said--”

Bagra-Shuk roared, “Go!  Or I will bring this mountain down on all of us!”

Lian stood, trembling, still grasping the sword tightly.  Kane nipped at the boy’s pants, tugging him toward the light.  Lian ran as fast as he could, with Kane right beside him.  The pass began to tremble as Lian and Kane emerged from the passage.  Lian quickly turned back and saw Bagra-Shuk raise his large scorched hands into the air.  Enforcers were nearly upon the ogre.  Bagra-Shuk let out a deafening roar as white lightning began to circulate around his hands.  A blast of white magical energy shot from his hands into the ceiling.  White light flashed from the cave, followed by a violent explosion.  A shockwave flew from the cave, knocking Lian and Kane to the ground.  Lian sat up and looked through the dust filled air.  The entrance to Shana’s Pass was now filled with rock.

Lian closed his eyes. “He did it…” he said, his words trailing off for a moment.  “But now he’s dead.  All because of me.  Why do they want me?”

Kane whined at the boy and sprang to his feet.  He walked to Lian, who still sat upon the ground.  Kane nipped and tugged at Lian’s shirt.

“You’re right, boy,” said Lian.  “We should get out of here.”

Lian grabbed the sword and stood.  The path down the mountain widened almost immediately and led into a forest.

Lian looked around and then to Kane. “Any idea where to go?”

Kane looked up at him and whined.

Lian shrugged his shoulders.  “Guess we’re on our own,” he said.

Kane and Lian turned at the sound of falling rocks.  Lian’s eyes widened, and Kane began to growl.  Red energy erupted from the rubble, causing rocks to rain down around Lian and Kane.  A lone Battle Sage emerged from the rubble.  The Sage’s robes were tattered and soaked with blood.  He held his chest with his right hand, as he leaned against the battered staff he clutched in his left hand.

The sage glared at Lian. “You are mine!” he said in a hissing voice.

Lian stared at the Sage.  “Who…” Lian paused briefly, “what are you? How did you survive that?”

The Sage laughed. “You think a rock slide could stop a Battle Sage?”

Lian glanced down to Kane, then returned his sights to the Battle Sage. “What… do you want?” asked a trembling Lian.

The Battle Sage pointed towards Lian. “Your head,” he said. “I’m sure the Lord Commander will give me a reward for delivering it as well!”

Lian glared towards the Sage.  “Why does the Lord Commander want me?  Why did he have everyone killed?  Why destroy my village and the valley?”

The Sage snarled. “You ask far too many questions, wretch.  I will tell you how.”

Anger began to swell within Lian. “How?” he asked through clenched teeth.

The sage chuckled, “Yes, how…How I’m going to skin your mongrel friend as you watch.  How I’m going to peel the skin from your body while you’re still breathing…” The sage raised his voice to a scream, “How I am going to rip the very soul from your body!  You will wish you had died with the lesser human filth in the village!”

Lian trembled with fear and anger.  Kane tucked his ears back, snapping and growling at the sage.  His paws dug into the rock and dirt beneath them.  Kane charged the Battle Sage valiantly.

“Kane, no!” Lian screamed.

The Sage smirked at the charging wolf. “How foolish,” he said.  “The beast charges to his death.”

Kane closed in on the sage.  His green eyes stared into the sage’s red glowing eyes, and Kane leapt at him, baring his fangs and ready to strike.  The sage gripped his battered staff and struck Kane with a swift swing of his staff.  Kane flew to the side of the sage and crashed into the mountain.  He let out a brief yelp before he came to rest on the ground.  Kane’s body quivered as he laid on his side, panting for his life.