Tale of a blackbird, p.21
Tale of a Blackbird, page 21
Kye slipped his shield off of his back with his free hand and held it above his head.
It was getting closer.
His sense of time was muddled in the fog and din of battle. It could’ve been minutes or hours before he heard that snarl above the carnage. A monster appeared above the shield wall. It stood at least ten feet tall, clutching an enormous double-edged great-axe. Its arms and torso covered in mail, golden and silver beads shone in its dreadlocked hair, which was as bright as quicksilver.
The men before the monster held their ground, but to no avail. The axe bit into the wall of shields and sent men reeling. Men poured in through the gap and hacked at the stunned soldiers with hatchets. As the giant stepped through the gap he swung his weapon again, taking down three more to his right. The display of unnatural strength made the soldiers falter, slowly backing away.
Kye gripped his sword tight and made his way to the giant. “Fill the gap! Don’t let them in!” But while some men regained their will and fought back against the enemy now streaming in through the widening gap, their number was too great and were soon overpowered. The monster all-the-while swung his axe, ignoring a sword-thrust through his calf. The soldier tried to pull his sword back out to only have his head smashed in by the butt of the giant’s axe.
Men were falling back. Kye stood alone before the giant, its gaze fixed on his. The monster pointed a clawed finger at him and bellowed. Kye swished his sword, trying to figure out how best to bring the beast down.
There was only one thing he could do, now surrounded by the enemy. He sliced the Bloodblade through the skin of his wrist, invoking the Blood Surge—a desperate act for a War Monger.
The beast roared, flecks of blood flinging from its mouth, and the deep base of its shriek vibrated Kye’s teeth in his skull. Up the axe went as the monster came running, and he just had time to dive as the axe bit into the ground.
It moved fast for its size.
Circling the space made by the watching Eclipsi, Kye ducked beneath the sweep of the axe by a mere hand-length, whipping his sword down onto the beast’s hamstring. It bellowed in agony as the steel cut through to bone, then came stumbling after him, trailing dark blood. The beast caught Kye’s sword on the haft of its axe, locked it beneath the beard and spun him round, into the edge of the crowd. An Eclipsi pushed him, knocking him off-balance and he tumbled face first into the dirt. The giant’s axe bit into a man’s skull, spurting blood over the men behind him.
Kye quickly regained his feet and only just avoided the axe as it whistled around at him. The circle grew wider, and monster laughed as it made Kye dive and dodge, unaffected by the cuts it suffered. Kye managed to get the beast off-balance and rushed in, focusing his power on the tip of his blade, concentrating the Blood Surge along the metal which gleamed and heated to a red glow, and Kye drove it through the monster’s heart.
But it caught on something before piercing through flesh, and with a sharp crack the end of his blade shattered apart. His hands lost grip on the hilt as an enormous surge of energy erupted from inside the metal and he was hurled back across the circle. He bounced off a shield and hit the ground, but kept his eyes locked onto the beast as it fell to its knees. It looked down at the wide hole now in the chainmail covering its chest and touched a necklace pendant hanging there, which was blackened and smouldering.
The beast let out a deafening moan and large lumps began to form over its skin. Kye watched in horror as red beams of light shone from its eyes and the beast began to shrink, or fold in on itself, filling the circle with the sickly sounds of popping bones, before finally taking the form of a man.
The man let the axe that was now too heavy fall from his grip. His hands instead trembled as he slid the necklace over his head and let it drop to the ground. The man looked up at Kye, tears brimming in his eyes. “You broke the moon-stone.”
Kye regained his feet and picked up his sword, which still had half a blade. He pointed the jagged end at the man, and glanced around at the circle of Eclipsi, who stared at the pendant with wide eyes and horrified expressions. Then one of them let a morbid shriek, and the rest followed. They turned and fled back down the hillside, into the fog, their shrieks becoming lost in the murk.
Kye looked back down at the man.
The man touched the pendant. “You’ve broken the moon-stone. How? A sage’s moonstone is unbreakable.” He shook his head. “You’ve damned us all.”
Kye put the blade against the man’s throat. “You’re a sage?”
“You see clearly for a dead man, War Monger. I’m Und-ar Felt, Second-Sage of the Twilight Temple. I beg you. Kill me if you are merciful.”
“You’ll have your wish, sage, but not by my hand. Your fate lies in the Hall of Faces.”
Chapter 26: Cat’s Out of the Bag
Birdie turned the page in her mother’s diary, trying once again to find some clue as to who her father might be.
Things in Mala are becoming almost too hostile to bear. I hear father in his study when he speaks with the family council. He is terrified that he left it too late, that the Clerics have been undermining them from the shadows for longer than expected. The Malian citizens are torn between hating and loving the Twelve. Last month three servants didn’t return from visiting the lower sectors. I fear it is too late for us all…
Birdie shook her head, closing the diary. She had read the damn thing three times now and still found no mention of her father. She pushed the diary under her pillow as a knock sounded on the door.
“Birdie?” Leek called. “You in there?”
“Come in.”
Leek entered and shut the heavy door behind him. He walked towards the bed, but then something caught his eye and he turned direction, moving to and touching the portrait hanging on the wall. “Woah,” said Leek, touching its surface. “You look so real.”
Birdie stood up and walked over to him. “It’s my mother.”
“You’re very alike.”
“It’s the only painting I could find of her so far.”
“It’s pretty good. I only ever saw cheap prints on market day, but this, she seems almost alive. What… happened to her?”
“She died. It’s only me and Maddox left. The ministry murdered the rest.”
“I used to read the books Marlo kept at the inn whenever I had free time. In those texts it said the Twilight Temple were responsible for the purges.”
Birdie nodded. “Lies spewed by Nefaro. He controls what people believe now.”
They turned, hearing footsteps on the stairs. Maddox appeared at the doorway. “Meet me in the main hall. I need to talk about something with the both of you.”
Once back at the hall in the castle, Maddox sat at the usual head of the table. On the table in front of him were four large packs. Birdie sat on his right-hand side, Leek on his left.
“Leek,” Maddox gave him a brief smile. “I don’t know why, but my niece has taken a fondness to you. At first I thought your presence might be a burden, but perhaps you can assist her in her training while I’m away. It’s not hard.
“While you’re here, you are ensured safety and will be given some basic training, to assist in the protection of our home. For these services I am also paying you beforehand with a favour.” Maddox nodded to one of the sacks. “Open it.”
Leek looked from Maddox to Birdie and finally let his gaze settle on the sack. He reached out and began pulling open the drawstring. Opening it, Leek glanced inside and gasped. He dropped it back onto the table. Birdie flinched as it hit the solid wood with a sickening squelching sound, and the contents rolled out across the table, staining a red trail on the polished surface behind it.
“Gurth…” Leek stared down with wide eyes.
A decapitated head stared glassily at the ceiling—the expression frozen in a silent scream of horror. Birdie put her hand to her nose, blocking the metallic scent of blood, and looked away as a fly landed on one of the eyeballs.
“This is not only a gift, but a promise.” Maddox pointed a finger at Leek. “It’s a promise that the same fate awaits anyone who would do my family harm, or harm to those who aid them. Understand?”
Leek nodded.
Maddox stood up. “I’ve to go into the city. Before I go, I’ll show you both how to use the Spinning Room.”
Birdie grabbed Maddox by his wrist as he made to turn away. “What about Ariss? You never explained how you knew her. You’re going to try and help her, right?”
Maddox hesitated. His lips moved but he said nothing.
“She helped me, saved my life. If you could find a way to get her out of that outpost, or at least find out if she’s still alive?”
“I’ll try, Blackbird. But Ariss is well capable of protecting herself. She’s probably well clear of the outpost by now.”
“You didn’t say how you knew her?”
“It’s a long story.” Maddox tried to walk away but Birdie held his wrist.
“I deserve to know the truth.”
Maddox turned back. “You can have the short version.” Birdie let go of his arm. “Ariss is of House Vanderholm, once ruling family of Mount Lena. A first-born daughter and royal pain in her father’s arse. He couldn’t wait to marry her off and my father, Morin, wanted to join our houses together. He wanted to use the Fortress as a refuge in-case of an emergency. He agreed to the match.
“I didn’t want more responsibilities or to be tied down with some dolt who I’d never met and probably had a wandering eye, so I began arranging transport out of the Sea of Circles. But then your mother got pregnant and begged me to stay, which I couldn’t refuse. So I stayed, and as the wedding drew nearer Ariss and I finally met.
“I was surprised, as she was beautiful, and had a sharp mind. But a few weeks before we were to be wed Nefaro made his move for power. She survived the purge and fled her home like us. I hadn’t known she was alive until I received a message from an agent one day at the cottage. I left you and Bella to find her, but arriving at the town she’d been hiding-out in far to the south-west, I found it burnt to the ground. An official in a nearby outpost told me it had been pirates from the Sun Isles. But I knew the sea surrounding Mala was too well patrolled for a pirate ship to slip through this far south. I knew my best bet to find her would be in Stadarfell, the prison island.
“Using contacts in High Shoals I made a false identity, putting the coin I’d stored in a bank on the island to use. I found Ariss in Stadarfell, working in the mines and offered to buy her freedom, but to no avail. So that night I killed a few of the guards on duty, broke her free and we escaped on a merchant ship bound for the Isle of Bones.”
“Why didn’t you both just come back to us? To the cottage?” Birdie asked.
“Not possible,” said Maddox. “Nefaro had begun seizing power in the nearby islands. He brought in strict policies, high taxations and executed any who stood against him. We lost contact with most our allies and had no way back onto the mainland. We both decided the best thing to do was undermine Nefaro from our position. We combined what wealth we had left and bought a ship, then slowly built friendships in Breccia. King City also reached out, and an alliance was made in secret.”
Leek’s eyes widened. “You met the Powder King?”
Maddox nodded. “Ubba’s not as insane as they say he is. He despises Nefaro but he won’t make a move until the people of the other cities turn against their master. Ubba might be considered a madman, but he’s no fool.
“Breccia took some time before they began to trust us. The Hangman demanded that we help out in a series of raids on neighbouring islands before he decided we could be trusted.” Maddox pulled down his tunic, showing the scar of the letter P. “It was on one of the raids that I got branded.
“Ariss and I spent years building alliances with those who hate Nefaro. We have the Hangman and his fleet of pirate ships, a dozen tribes of the Sun Isles, and Ubba the Powder King. But we’re still outmatched. Nefaro’s navy is as strong as ever, and all of the more powerful cities still pay Nefaro tribute and pledge allegiance to the ministry.”
“You can’t leave it there!” cried Leek. “Tell us more about Ubba. Is it true he forces pitched battles between his subjects?”
“Another time, Leek, I promise. For now, I need to show you both the Spinning Room and then I really must be on my way.”
The Spinning Room was a room filled with rotating beams covered with padded leather, swinging chains, and snapping metal loops that you had to time just right to slip through. Maddox had Leek spin a large wheel connected to a series of pulleys, and then briefly showed her how to move through the obstacle course. It was a far-cry from the climbing of trees and swimming lengths she’d had to do with Bella, but Birdie didn’t hesitate when Maddox indicated for her to attempt it.
What he hadn’t told her was there were hidden pressure plates in the ground, and stepping on these would make the rhythm of the entire course change, or the metal chains to momentarily extend in length. At the end of the course she was covered in sweat and a handful of marks that would soon bruise.
“Leek, you can stop now!” Maddox called, and the room slowly fell silent. He looked at Birdie. “It’s pretty simplistic, and only the beginning of what I’ll teach you, but it’s something to do while I’m gone.”
“Will you be gone long?” asked Birdie.
“I’m not sure. Just keep training until I return.” Maddox looked at each of them for a moment, before giving a brief smile, then turned and left.
* * *
Birdie slipped the diary out from under her pillow and flicked through the pages. She’d read the entire thing again, but found nothing new. The writing in it spoke of her mother’s daily life, both court and personal. It told of the problems in her life, the growing distance between her mother and father. About the stress of life in the spire, and having to deal with scores of cousins and relatives—like a bustling anthill.
Birdie couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness for the life she could’ve lived had things worked out differently.
She flipped through the pages once more, expecting her eyes to fall on some hint to her father’s identity. But there was nothing.
Why wouldn’t she leave me a hint? Why had she ignored to leave any trace of who my father really is?
‘Why couldn’t you just be here?’ Birdie muttered as she tossed the diary onto the end of the bed and rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. The diary bounced off the edge and fell off the bed.
“Damn it.” She leaned over the edge and picked it up. But the cover had partly slid off, revealing a thin slip of a compartment underneath. It seemed to be sealed shut, but she began digging and clawing at it with her nails. After a few minutes it cracked open, and inside were two things. One was a very old and dried petal of what she believed was the lilly plant. The other was a small note written on a scrap of parchment. It had one sentence scrawled across it.
For my one, my love, my Lillith.
Chapter 27: Strange Company We Keep
After retrieving a special box within the castle stronghold’s hidden chamber, Maddox left through the portal and entered Mala under disguise of the old merchant once more.
Once inside he found Mala was alight with a nervous energy. The Masked Lodge were gathering in large groups at every gate and guardhouse, with little to none on patrol. The streets of the market sector were unusually quiet, market stalls stood empty, shops and tavern doors were shut and windows dark. As night passed into dawn, Maddox found himself headed back down to the industrial sector. Hidden away in a shadowy corner of a crowded tavern, Maddox met an off-duty soldier and got him blindingly drunk.
The soldier said he was part of a cavalry unit and had been sent to bring a message to an officer at the portcullis. But the garrison there had been instructed to give no aid to the army south of the portcullis. The rider had then decided to get passage to Mala instead of returning to a battleground and more than likely his own grave.
The drunken soldier smiled widely as Maddox once again refilled his tankard to the brim. “Thank’ee kindly, shur. Where wash I? Oh yesh! More than sheventy thoushand men marched out thoshe damned gatesh, and how many had come back, huh? Shit-to-none, thatsh how many! I hated marshin’ with that War Monger. Bone Wallsh could’a held thosh Ecslipshi. Curshed everything under the open shhky, sho I did when that Kye shed we musht fight. But now, now I feel blesshhed, cosh my corpshe would be rottin’ in shome ditch or field jusht like mosht the resht of ‘em if I hadn’t been shent back here.”
“And you saw this War Monger with your own eyes? Kassova Kye?” Maddox whispered, refilling the man’s tankard with ale. The man nodded.
Kassova Kye had been there the night his family was slaughtered. Kye was Nefaro’s little lapdog, and if he could kill him, then it would be some shred of revenge. Kye hadn’t ordered the death of his family, of course, but he was known to have been one of the blood thirstiest fighters as he fought his way through the spire.
“What about this sage? Did you see him?”
The soldier’s glassy eyes narrowed as he focused on the dark patch beneath the hood that was Maddox’s face. “Well that’s jushht a tale, ain’t it? I heard the mansh a monsther, I sware. Eyesh that would freeshe yer bonesh. Eyesh that could peer into your shoul. Hic! I thought I’d… I thought I’d be a hero, bringing back that messhage, but I wash glad I didn’t have to tell Kye I failed. Jusht yeshterday I wash given ordersh to be in the military shector atch noon, but I’m gettin’ outta here ash shoon ash I can find ashhlip… A shhhliip… A ship. Hic!”
Maddox filled the man’s tankard once more to the brim. “Would you care to sell your uniform and papers? I could find you some means of transport to wherever you want to go?”
