Star fall of the gods, p.16
Star Fall of the Gods, page 16
“All of you stay here,” he said calmly. His blue flames ignited with a furious rage and flared lethally across his skin, “I will handle this.”
He stepped out of the mausoleum, letting his flames build. Eventually, they engulfed his entire body. Flame spells flew at him, shattering like glass in his presence. They tried lightning, and it met the same fate as fire, splintering from his mere touch.
He used his flames to take to the skies, surveying the damage to the city. The enemy were everywhere as thousands of them had poured into the city. Seeing Nomad in the skies, they cried out commands to bring him down.
Brushing aside the onslaught they threw at him; he heard the fear in their voices as he let loose his flames upon them. Like an unstoppable force of nature, his flames came crashing against them, burning lines of men to ashes in seconds. In minutes, the enemies inside the city were all gone. Only piles of smouldering remain, and molten armour lay around.
Nomad blazed across the sky, seeing the bodies of the fallen everywhere he looked. He landed smoothly on the plains in front of the city. The High Magic of so many attacking him was impressive but to no avail.
He conjured impressive walls of flame, sending them forth. Like a tidal wave of destruction, they smashed apart the temporary bulwarks erected by the Eastern Forces, incinerating tens of thousands of infantry soldiers in moments.
Only one group was left – the High Magic divisions, which had banded together to form an impressive magical defence that Nomad’s flame walls could not burn away. No matter, he thought. Taking to the skies, he flew higher and higher with a blue streak following him like a meteor. He then turned, heading straight for the defensive line. He heard cries of despair among the mages.
He shaped his flames into a two-handed hammer and put himself into a spin. His flames blazing hotter as he descended, the hammer connected with the defensive barrier, shattering it. The force exploded outwards, fracturing the very ground beneath them. Panic ensued as Nomad continued slaughtering the Eastern mages.
Then he found Adle Karik alongside General Riod.
Mercilessly, he grabbed Adle by the throat. Adle tried to beg for his life, but Nomad did not listen. Controlling his flames, he burnt the general’s tongue to oil and grease, listening to him wail in agony with tears streaming down his face. Nomad could see his fear and grabbed Adle by the wrists. His grip was like a vice as the general struggled against him. After a moment the general stopped struggling, he looked Nomad in the eye for a moment a smile passed across his face as he tried to stare down Nomad who Slowly, let him burn; the smile was a disturbing grim sneer as the flames erupted from his body, searing him to ashes. Nomad let his ashes flutter away in the wind confused at Adle's actions and resignation.
Nomad then turned to Riod, who cowered in fear. “You! You’re a monster, a devil of fire!” Riod shrieked.
Nomad advanced on the general who threw everything into his defences. Nomad merely walked through them as if they didn’t exist. In a last act of defiance, the general attacked, although it was hopeless – Nomad just turned his attack aside. Grabbing his face, he lost his flames upon him. Shrieks came from him as he was reduced to ashes in mere moments.
What remained of the enemy force was now leaderless and disorganised. Nomad continued to burn away at the remaining forces until nothing remained. He stood for a while on the empty plains surrounded by windblown ash.
Only then, did he return to the city to find his friends sitting outside the mausoleum, awaiting his return.
Chapter 20
It had been two days since the Eastern Forces were destroyed on the plains of Rekelios.
The city was in celebration at the victory of their Avatar of Flame and was also mourning the losses they had suffered at their enemy’s hands.
At most, five hundred of the soldiers remained; only six members of the council, including Horbrakis had survived. Horbrakis was relieved that at least half of them had survived, including himself. He sat thinking of the power that the avatar had displayed. He was truly God-like, although it didn’t seem that way when he returned after the battle.
He remembered the scene when Nomad had landed back outside the mausoleum. Astari had walked up to him, slapping him hard across the face. Horbrakis was so shocked he didn’t know what to say. Tears were spilling down her cheeks.
“Why! Why didn’t you tell us!” she shouted angrily at him.
“Astari, I–”
And she gave him a look that would have killed most men. “Do you have any idea what you put us through?” Fighting through her tears, she slapped him again. “You were gone. You left us all alone. J’aara died because of you.”
The words hit Nomad like a hammer blow; he sank slowly down to his knees.
“All the deaths here could have been prevented,” she said angrily.
He knew she was right. He hated himself for not being here, for not being able to save his brother, for being absent yet again when his power could have turned the tide easily had he not been so reckless. Things would have been different.
It was just like what happened with La’haren. He had tried to save him, but ultimately, he ended up letting him die. He’d ended up failing the people of the city and his brothers along with Vali, which had been destroyed.
“Feeling sorry for yourself?” she scolded him.
Looking up at her tear-stained face, he asked, “What do you want me–”
She threw her arms around him. holding him close. “Don’t ever do that again...I want you to promise me.”
He put his arms around her, “Alright,” he said, softly stroking her hair, “I promise.”
Valketh and the others gathered around them. Edwin offered Nomad his hand. Taking it, the Lord of Vali helped him to stand.
“You aren’t getting off that easy, you know.” He smiled at Nomad evilly.
“Wait! What do you mean?” he asked, a little nervous at Edwin’s implication.
“You did save the city,” he said innocently, “its only right that–”
Nomad groaned. “Not another parade?!” he exclaimed.
Astari chimed in, “You know, I think we need to–”
Before she could finish, Nomad had gone pale. “Are you alright?” she asked with sarcastic concern.
Edwin began to laugh, “Astari, I think you are right; after all, it’s been a year.”
Nomad paled even more, “You don’t mean that? Anything but that!” His fear was plain to see.
“Oh, yes! We do!”
They truly were friends Horbrakis thought. In one moment, they were angry, yet in the next it was as if none of it happened; years of struggle just seemed to evaporate once they were all together again.
He smiled, though he did wonder what it was that would make someone as powerful as the avatar go pale and become fearful like that.
At present, Nomad and the others were helping with the relief effort, however Horbrakis had heard that the king would be requesting the help of the Avatar of Flame for the war with the Great Western Forest, although those border wars had been quiet for months now.
NOMAD WAS EXHAUSTED as the four returned to the room in The Monarch. He collapsed on the sofas in the common area, muttering, “That was worse than the last time”
Both Astari and Edwin laughed. “You are quite popular, you know,” Edwin chuckled.
“But we were mobbed from the moment we left here,” he replied in a bone-weary tone.
“We can have dinner in the main lounge again,” she chimed in an almost musical tone. She grabbed Triselle by the arm, “and we have to look our best now, don’t we?” A conspiratorial glance passed between them as they giggled on their way into Atari’s room.
The hours passed slowly as the morning changed into afternoon.
A sudden knock sounded at the door to the room, which Edwin answered. It was a Royal Guard with the King’s Announcer. He handed Edwin the Royal Summons for the Avatar of Flame to attend the castle that day. Taking the summons, Edwin returned to the common room, placing it on the table “It seems the king wishes to see us all.”
Nomad picked it up, reading through the request. He looked up at Edwin once he was done, saying, “Get Astari.”
Edwin knocked on the door quietly. Atari’s head popped out of the doorway “What is it now!” annoyed at being interrupted.
“We have a Royal Summons,” Nomad waved the document, clearly irritated. The door closed and she was quickly back out in travel clothes. She eyed the document cautiously, then sighed, “I guess dinner is out the window.”
Astari stomped back into her room, coming back out a moment later with Triselle. They all sat in the common room. “So, who has any guesses about what the king wants?” Edwin threw out the question.
“Well, over the last year there have been increasing conflicts with the denizens of the Great Western Forest” Astari put in, “the beast-people who live there are very territorial.”
Edwin claimed, “I’ve been hearing that the kingdom is planning a counter offensive against the Easterners.” Eyeing Nomad cautiously, “Maybe they want us to participate in it?”
Nomad thought about it a little. “Don’t strain yourself,” Edwin mocked him.
“I was thinking if they are beast-people, we should bring Valketh with us.”
The room was briefly silent. “That’s actually a good idea,” Astari replied, a little surprised that Nomad thought about such a thing. Smiling cheerfully, possibly he is learning a little, she thought.
“Shall we go then? Let’s not keep King Sedrin waiting,” Astari added. They walked to the door, “Tris, are you coming?”
She sat there, quite still, “I’m not a hero nor was I summoned–” she started.
Edwin went over to where she sat “You are a part of this, Tris,” he said holding out a hand, “Come on, let’s go.”
Astari flashed back to when she found Nomad’s conscious mind floating in the corruption. He had said the same thing to her then. She thought about it, then the four walked out of the room and down the hall to the reception area.
The concierge, Errol, was waiting for them, only to be crest fallen that they had been summoned to the palace. “Sorry, Errol; we have to go,” Astari apologised. “We will just have to do it tomorrow,” she smiled at him.
“Very good, miss,” he replied a little stiffly. “Then I will call a carriage for you.”
The Monarch had become the unofficial home of the three heroes since the year Nomad’s sleep had started. They had become quite well acquainted with the staff there, knowing most of them by name now. Errol bowed on one knee as Nomad walked past, “It is good to see you are back with us, Avatar of Flame,” he said with pride. Nomad offered him a curt bow as he passed by.
The four of them then went outside to the street. The carriage pulled up a moment later, ferrying them to the palace. This time there was no siege nor the need to free the king. They took their time to take in the majestic spectacle of the palace.
With the Royal Guard as an escort, they proceeded to the throne room, a large hall decorated beautifully. Adorned with the visages of past kings, the throne itself was a simple high-backed tower chair with gold leaf inscribing its back and along its arms and legs. The gold leaf flecked into the wood as if the tree it was made from was golden as well. On either side of the throne sat two smaller thrones, fashioned similarly for the queen and first princess.
As the four walked up to the throne, the king smiled, “Avatar of Flame, it is good to see you well again.”
“Your Majesty–” Nomad began but was cut short by the king.
“Please, it’s Sedrin” he said heartily, placing a hand on Nomad’s shoulder and looking at his companions. “I know Lady Astari and Lord Edwin,” he said and pointed to Triselle, “but who are you?” He eyed her curiously for a short while, looking back at Nomad momentarily, “She isn’t your wife, is she?” he asked shamelessly.
Triselle blushed bright red. The queen stifled a laugh, looking back at Nomad with a raised eye expecting an answer.
“I assume you summoned us here for a reason, Sire?” Nomad responded, letting the question go unanswered.
“Ah, yes, I have something I need you to do...and it’s Sedrin,” he corrected Nomad again as he sat back on his throne. “I need you to investigate the Great Western Forest.” Astari smiled to herself. “There are rumours of a Nexus of Wild Magic there,” the king took on a sour expression. “I have sent others before, however none of them ever made it back.”
Remembering the reports he read, he added, “They were either killed by the forest itself or the beast-men who live there.” A sombre tone overtook the room. “I am afraid you will be going in blind,” the king said simply. “You are to make ready and leave in three days.”
They all bowed to the king, saying, “Yes, Sire.”
Out of the throne room and back down to the courtyard, the evening was barely beginning. Astari was smiling, “It looks like dinner won’t be cancelled, after all” she beamed, looking at the others.
Nomad shook his head, “I don’t think I will ever understand you, Astari.”
Her body suddenly shimmered and disappeared. Nomad felt a whack on his head.
“Well, that’s because you lack awareness.” She strolled around him as he clutched at the top of his head. The other two were dumbfounded. Astari flicked her hair and walking off to the carriage, shouted back, “Well? Are you coming?”
Nomad smiled to himself even though his head was throbbing from the blow. “It’s good to see she is herself again; she was badly affected by your coma – she thought it was her fault,” Edwin said sharply. A teary expression flickered across his face momentarily, “We were all profoundly affected by it. It was Triselle who pulled us back together.”
Edwin followed them, although Nomad stood for a while ruminating about what he had just heard. He still did not know what to say. He never really had comrades when he was a god; he just had his Soul Brother, Riastures, the opposite side to him. Whereas he was a God of Power, Riastures was a God of Creation.
Nomad had seen the wonder of creation many times. The ability to create and bring to life whatever one’s mind could conceptually understand was a true gift to the universe, whereas he wielded the power of pure annihilation. He remembered when he used it to stop a red giant when it began to supernova into a black hole. It only ever took one hit. That’s all he had ever needed to win, just one clean shot – life was so simple back then.
“Hey, are you just going to stand there?” He jumped back from his thoughts. Astari was standing there, hands on hips glowering at him, “Well, are you?”
Nomad stood slowly, “Sorry, I was lost in thought.” He gathered himself and stepped towards the doorway. Astari was just behind him. The rest of that evening was a blur to Nomad; everything just seemed to pass by, almost as if none of it existed.
Finally, he sat in his room alone, thinking about things some more. I was just a tool of the gods, he thought bitterly. Perhaps that’s why none of them were looking for him. Just a puppet with broken strings. The wild thoughts passing through his mind made him feel so conflicted about everything, so confused and bitter that he had no way to reconcile his feelings.
A soft knock came from his door. Instead of moving, he stayed in place letting his flames snake out and open the door gently for him. Triselle walked in.
“Nomad are you alright?” the concern in her voice had so much depth that it snapped him out of those thoughts.
“Tris...when did you?” he trailed off. She knelt in front of him, so they were face to face. She cupped his face with her hands, looking him in the eyes, “Where are you? Where have you gone?” There was an intensity in her eyes Nomad hadn’t seen before. “You look so lost.”
He didn’t know where to begin. Placing a hand on hers, he gently took them from his face. “It’s nothing; I think I’m just tired,” he lied.
He wished he could speak to J’aara about this. The thought of him being gone bore a heavy weight on him. It was his fault that J’aara was not here. He wished to all creation that he had not been so reckless. He stood slowly, letting Trivelle’s hands fall away. He went over to the corner of the room, gathered up his cloak and put it on swiftly.
“Where are you going?”
He turned to meet her gaze with his own vacant eyes. “To see Valketh. I need to ask him to come with us.”
With that he left the room and entered the common area. Astari was in her room, and Edwin was sitting on one of the sofas, reading a large leather-bound book, his smoking pipe in one hand.
“Off out, are you?” he asked almost cheerfully without turning.
“I’m going to see Valketh about the mission,” Nomad replied, and with that, he left for the hotel reception downstairs, where he drifted past everyone like a ghost. Once out on the street, he took in a deep breath and started towards the Enclave, still lost in his own thoughts. In no time he was there at its main gate. Seeing his brothers, the ones who had lost their home because of his reckless behaviour, filled him with painful regret. He saw the speckled visage of Valketh just ahead.
“Brother Nomad...Brother?” he said with a slight edge of curiosity in his voice. “Brother, look at me.” Nomad’s vacant gaze met Valketh’s.
“Brother, what is the matter?”
Nomad feigned a smile. “It’s nothing, Brother, pay it no mind,” he tried to lie again.
“Then...why do you look so lost?” Triselle had said the same thing earlier. The speckled Lycan tilted his head to one side, saying, “You are lying.”
“You feel it too, don’t you,” Nomad tried to find the right words; he stammered, stumbling over his own words. A large, clawed hand softly touched his shoulder.
Valketh was shaking his head, “It’s ok, Brother, I feel it too,” he said softly
“I have never felt this way before, Valketh,” Nomad said sombrely.
A bitter feeling welled up in him as his failings came to the surface again, like shadows from the past come to haunt him. “How do I make it stop?” he asked, not knowing what else to say.
