Chaosmage (32 page)

The wounds began to close up, black tendrils writhed beneath the creature's skin and he sensed a strange whisper in his mind. It was the same connection he'd felt when Zannah had captured one of the Forsaken. The bloodhound was far more of an abomination than he'd previously imagined.

It shook off the wounds, climbed back to its feet and snarled at him. A dozen ideas ran through Balfruss's mind as it resumed its climb. The parasite possessing the bloodhound was not without its limits. It could heal wounds, but it could not bring the dead back to life.

“Let's see just how tough you are,” said Balfruss, rolling up his sleeves. Fire had always been something he'd used as a weapon, but since the war he'd avoided it. After what had happened to so many of his friends on the walls of Charas, he couldn't bring himself to wield it. Now as he contemplated using it to save his life a snowflake drifted down to land on his hand.

A smile touched Balfruss's face and he grinned at the creature. Drawing heavily from the Source, he reached into the sky for what he needed. Above the mist thick clouds were gathering and he focused on one, watching as tiny drops of water fell, froze and then drifted towards the city. Scooping them up with his magic, he reshaped them while they were still pliable, blending dozens together without having to summon any ice of his own.

The bloodhound was almost upon him. Its breathing was loud and he could smell its rancid breath. It didn't matter. All he had to do was stand in one spot and let nature take care of the rest. Weaving a shield around his head and body, Balfruss sat down on the roof and waited.

The bloodhound climbed out of the hole and paused, its sides heaving from the climb. The
once
-
human
eyes stared at him with hatred but it was also being cautious. It tilted its head to one side and looked at the area around him, as if it could see his shield. When it snarled at him and prepared to charge Balfruss began to laugh.

The creature's snarl faded and it seemed puzzled by his reaction. Perhaps it was the look on its face or that he was simply tired, but it only made Balfruss laugh even harder. Tears ran down his cheeks and his eyes hurt as the tears started to cool on his face.

The creature's muscles tensed as it prepared to pounce but Balfruss knew it was already too late. The first ice spear pierced the bloodhound through its left shoulder, pinning it to the roof. It yelped in pain and pulled back, snapping the icicle in two. A second later two more were driven into its back, stabbing huge holes in its skin. The parasite started to respond, driving out the shards, closing up the wounds and doing its best to maintain its host. Six more spears hammered into the creature's back, severing its spine and flattening it on the roof. Before it had a chance to recover, the rest of the shower fell in a single wave, peppering every inch of the building with countless icy spears.

They bounced and shattered as the ice collided with Balfruss's shield, but he maintained his grip on the Source and not one of them touched him. The creature's screams tore at his eardrums as the daggers fell from the sky. Every inch of the creature's back was covered and more hit it every second, ripping open wounds before they could close, tearing flesh and piercing organs beneath its malformed muscles. As the creature tilted its head to one side an icicle slammed into its face, popping one of its eyes like an overripe tomato.

A growing pool of purple blood started to cover the roof. Despite its injuries the bloodhound inched towards Balfruss. It seemed determined to kill him with whatever remaining strength it had. Finally the shower tailed off, the last icicle pinning one of its forelegs to the ground as it reached towards him.

Balfruss stared at its one remaining eye and waited. Its body was a mass of open wounds, some so wide that he could see pink muscle and even white bone in a few places. Black wires ran throughout the creature's innards but they were limp and lifeless.

The remaining eye glared at him balefully but then even that glow faded until the creature was just a misshapen monster freezing in the falling snow.

Taking no chances Balfruss drew the axe from his belt, raised it high overhead and brought it down with both hands on the back of the creature's neck. It took him three swings but eventually he severed its head from the body.

Raising his bloody axe on high Balfruss screamed at the sky in defiance.

All of Kaine's students were dead and he'd butchered his abomination. It was almost over and they both knew it. There was a chance that Kaine might try to run, or even continue to hide, but Balfruss didn't think his arrogance or his pride would let him. Soon Kaine would call him out and they would battle until one of them was dead.

Since he'd first learned about the Warlock at the start of the war, everything he'd done had been leading up to this moment. Kaine was responsible for it all. The Warlock, the Splinters, the Flesh Mages and now all of the deaths here in Voechenka. For years Balfruss had been playing a game of Stones against Kaine's pawns without even knowing.

Every struggle, every triumph and loss, every lesson he'd learned about magic and the Source. All of it was for this fight.

This was his crucible and he was ready.

A
lyssa stared into the dark, desperately hoping that someone would walk down the street. As night fell they lit the torches above the gate and her shoulders slumped in defeat.

“They're not coming.”

On her way back from the old wood with Zannah, she'd visited the other mercenary camps. She'd made the same offer and once again they'd rebuffed her with bravado that barely masked their terror. Alyssa had hoped at least a few people would change their mind, but it seemed that no one had.

The Forsaken ruled the night. Everyone else would be huddled behind their walls by this hour, praying and waiting for the dawn. Praying that the terror in the dark would come for someone else. But with each base that fell, the odds became much smaller. Tomorrow she would try again and even make the longer journey to the temple where Fenne ruled. Alyssa despised him but she knew that there were many innocent people trapped inside his base. She owed it to them to at least try and help.

Since coming back from the woods Zannah had retreated into herself again. Her behaviour hadn't changed. She still barely spoke and not once did she smile, not even at Alyssa. If she hadn't been there with the Morrin it might seem like she dreamed it.

Stood beside her were Balfruss, Tammy and Kovac, who looked warm in his grey furs. Zannah stood nearby, wrapped in silence, all of her attention seemingly focused on the city. She didn't join in the conversation but Alyssa knew she was listening.

It seemed as if today marked a significant change for all of them. Balfruss had spoken briefly about what had happened to Kaine's students. He clearly loathed what he'd been forced to do, but no one offered him any sympathy. He didn't want any and it had been a difficult decision to make, but in this city, that was all that remained. Despite his calm exterior Alyssa could feel a river of rage bubbling just under the surface. She was reminded of the stories she'd heard during the war about his final battle with the Warlock. She wondered if any part of the city would be left standing if he and Kaine went to war with one another.

“It was an abomination,” said Balfruss, talking about Kaine's monster. Not that long ago the very same beast had pursued her through the streets. They had wounded it but she'd never really believed it was dead. “He'd blended an animal with a man and one of the parasites.”

“I'm just glad it's dead,” said Alyssa. He'd made sure by cutting off its head. Nothing could heal itself from that. It also made her wonder if the creature in the lake was another of Kaine's creations.

“I think he's out of tricks and puppets,” said Balfruss. “Tomorrow, he will have to face me alone.”

“What if he just hides instead?” asked Tammy. “Can you find him?”

Balfruss's smile was wintry. “I will find him.”

Kovac shifted uncomfortably but said nothing. Although he did his best to hide it, Alyssa could see the Sorcerer made him very nervous. It was one thing to hear the stories about what Balfruss had done during the war. It was something very different meeting him in person.

Alyssa could see why Kovac was standing with them on the wall, while the other mercenaries were inside in the warmth, even if Tammy couldn't. She hid a smile behind her hands as she blew on them to try and stay warm.

“We found something as well,” said Tammy, including Kovac in her gesture. “I know where the Forsaken have been hiding.”

Over Tammy's shoulder Zannah stared at her in shock for a few seconds before turning away again.

“Where?” asked Balfruss.

“It was in the Dureen district, right under our noses.” There was a lot Tammy wasn't saying. She'd only been gone for a few hours but Alyssa thought she looked more than just weary. It was almost as if the experience had sapped not only her body but also her spirit. Kovac's shoulders were also slumped from exhaustion, but his eyes were full of concern for Tammy. Something had happened to her that worried him.

“You were right about how to find them.” Tammy spoke directly to Balfruss and her voice quivered with anger. Her hands curled up into tight fists and it took her a while to regain control.

“I'm sorry,” said Balfruss. He reached out towards Tammy but then changed his mind and dropped his hand. She also wanted no sympathy from anyone for what she'd been forced to do. The city was leaving an indelible mark on all of them.

“The Forsaken are hiding in a network of tunnels beneath the city,” said Tammy. “It was old but looked
man
-
made
. Have you ever heard of anything like this before?” The question was directed at Alyssa and she took a minute to think about it.

“No, never. I thought I knew this city's history. Perhaps someone else might know.”

“I've heard of them before,” said Kovac.

Tammy rounded on the mercenary, who swayed back slightly under her glare but to his credit stood his ground. Even when she and the Sorcerer were staring at him Kovac didn't flinch.

“Why didn't you mention this before?” asked Tammy.

“Because I thought the tunnels were a myth until we saw them.” Kovac shook his head and laughed at himself. “It's the main reason so many mercenaries came to Voechenka when the city fell.”

“What reason?” asked Alyssa.

“Why do mercenaries do anything?” said Tammy rhetorically. “Money.”

Kovac winced but didn't deny it. “There's an old story floating around about a city that was here before Voechenka. This was long before people with golden skin came to this country and called it Shael.”

As he spoke Alyssa noticed Monella had come up the stairs with two of her assistants. Each carried bowls of steaming stew. Alyssa was about to interrupt the mercenary when she noticed how Monella was looking at him.

“It was supposed to be a glorious place full of riches,” continued Kovac, unaware of his new audience. “People used to come from all over the world to visit. We thought they might have left some of their riches behind. The problem was we couldn't find anything.”

“Do you know what happened to the city?” asked Tammy. Balfruss was listening intently, his brow furrowed in concentration. The story sounded totally unfamiliar to Alyssa and she'd lived here all her life. Not once had she heard even a whisper of such a thing.

Kovac shrugged. “No one knows. It could've been a plague or an earthquake. The story says that one day the people were here and the next they were all gone. Just wiped clean.”

“There was treasure here, but not the kind you're after,” said Monella, handing out bowls of stew. Alyssa tried not to make a face when she saw lumps of rhubarb floating on the surface. At least it was filling and would warm her up. “Voechenka was the birthplace of the Blessed Mother. The first church devoted to her was built here hundreds of years ago.”

Followers of the Blessed Mother claimed it to be one of the first religions in the world. Alyssa had always known that it was an old faith, but people with golden skin had been living in Shael for centuries. How could Monella know such a thing?

“What happened?” asked Tammy, before Alyssa could ask.

“What always happens,” said Monella, shoving a bowl into Kovac's hands with more force than was necessary. “War. One tribe didn't like the new religion. They fought and tried to kill everyone who followed the Blessed Mother. Some escaped and they spread the Faith.”

“If it's not gold or riches, what was the treasure?” asked Tammy.

“The original sacred text,” said Monella with more than a hint of reverence. “All eight books of the Harvest written on stone tablets. The divine word passed down from God through a true Oracle. It was so precious they built a maze and hid the books at its heart to keep them safe.”

Alyssa saw that Monella was taking perverse pleasure in telling Kovac that his treasure hunt had been for nothing.

“How do you know this?” asked Alyssa.

Monella's expression darkened and she didn't answer until she'd ushered her two aides away down the stairs. “I suppose it doesn't matter now. I used to be one of the Faithful. I devoted my life to the Blessed Mother. The origin of our faith is a secret that has been passed down through the generations of priests here in Voechenka. It has been this way since the old city fell.”

“The High Priest. Other members of the Faithful elsewhere. Do they know?”

Monella shook her head. “No one knew outside this city. There are dozens of stories out there, but they're all fake. All of the Faithful in Voechenka are dead. Now, you are the only ones that know this secret.”

“Did you ever try to find it?” asked Alyssa. “Find the heart of the maze?”

Monella started to turn away but paused with her back towards them. “No.”

“Why not?”

“My faith wasn't strong enough.” With that the old woman stumped away down the stairs.

“A maze,” said Balfruss, poking at his stew with a spoon. “That could take weeks to map.”

He didn't need to say it. They were all thinking the same thing. They didn't have time. The Forsaken were destroying a different base almost every night. Their power and strength would be growing, so too would their numbers. They left no bodies behind unless they were truly dead. It wouldn't be long before they came to the winery. For all Alyssa knew, they could be next.

Even as she thought about the Forsaken Alyssa heard a scream drift through the air from elsewhere in the city. Next came the roar of battle and the clash of steel as people in another camp fought for their lives.

Part of her was grateful that it wasn't their turn tonight and she immediately felt guilty for such an unworthy thought. The Forsaken would come for them soon enough.

Closing her eyes Alyssa offered a prayer to the Blessed Mother to watch over them all. If she couldn't protect them then perhaps she could gift them with a swift and merciful death. The more Alyssa learned about the Forsaken the less terrifying she found the alternative.

Knowing that others would be looking to her for strength and hope, she went to her room to pray.

This time, as she sank down on her knees in the silence of her own room, she found other thoughts didn't intrude. Other noises in the building were muffled but she could easily block them out. Despair and fear about what might happen to them all caused tears to run down her cheeks, but she didn't wipe them away. Lying down and just waiting to be consumed by the tide would be so easy. They'd fought long and hard, but now it seemed pointless. You couldn't fight the ocean and the Forsaken seemed as implacable and relentless as the waves.

Alyssa knew a small portion of her fear came from the city and its taint, but the rest was all of her own making. It was she who had given comfort to her people in the death camps when all hope was lost. It was she who had taken on the role as spiritual leader when others lost their faith. And now it was she who had been chosen to lead her people and inspire them. But for all of her people's recent accomplishments and their spark of defiance, she was afraid it was far too little, too late.

Here, in one of the darkest corners of the world, Alyssa wondered if the Blessed Mother still listened to the prayers of her Faithful. Surely, if this was truly her birthplace, then she would hear.

“Blessed Mother, help me.” Alyssa choked back a sob. “Blessed Mother, guide me. I didn't want it, but I have become the leader of my people. I try to offer them hope in the darkness, but the evil surrounding us is so strong. I have given everything and now the well is dry. I need something. I need help.”

She bowed her head and tried to find even a spark of something that would lift her up. But she was hollow inside, scraped clean by years of terrible experiences, and now more was being asked of her. Behind the closed door of her room, Alyssa began to cry. She did her best to muffle the noise, clamping a hand over her mouth, but her body still shook. It hurt so much she felt as if her heart was going to explode from the anguish inside.

The Forsaken would win and everyone in her camp would die or be taken. Every child would scream and beg for mercy, but none would be given. Everyone would be dragged away and the betrayal in their eyes would cut deeper than any blade. She would see their faces right up to the moment she too was hollowed out and became one of the damned.

When a hand fell on her shoulder she stopped crying, afraid that someone had overheard and come to investigate. Then she noticed the door was still locked. Looking up from the hand on her shoulder to the person's face Alyssa's heart skipped a beat. Her mouth stretched wide in a cry of joy but no sound emerged.

A pure white light began to fill the room, driving away all of the shadows, wrapping her in a cherished warmth she'd not felt since being a child. It was so bright it hurt her eyes but she didn't look away or blink. The light passed through her skin and filled her being with joy unlike anything she'd ever known.

A voice told her to rest but she fought it, desperate to stay awake. But she was so tired, right down to her bones, that eventually her eyelids began to droop. Slowly, she drifted into a dreamless sleep, but Alyssa knew someone was still there, watching over her and protecting her from the darkness, within and without.