Chapter 5

Breaking the pattern, I am not continuing the stories of Dusdane or Dion this week, though they are not gone. In fact I am writing a part right now where the two meet.

This Tale is about Daniel, he was mentioned back in October as one of the guys in the first random short story I posted. This piece is a bit more action packed and also a bit longer than pieces I have posted thus far. Also I must apologize, it is probably rougher than the other pieces because I have not even given it the cursory editing glance I usually do. Edits on all postings will come at a later time, my focus right now is to get the story done.

Enjoy.

Grayish light trickled through the cracks in the roof of Daniel’s chamber. The light poured lazily from the ceiling hitting a floating crystal then the light shattered cascading down the wall and through the room. Every beam of light that hit a crystal refracted at insane angles bathing the whole room in gray. On a small squat cylinder, Daniel sat naked. His legs crossed and back straight, he turned his closed eyes to the speckles of gray light flowing through the room. The gray light only made his stark white flesh the more apparent. His flesh goosebumped slightly as a cold breeze flowed in through the gaps in the ceiling but Daniel didn’t move. His breath flowed in and out slowly and deliberately. As the room began to grow colder his breath formed mist in the air. Daniel remained unmoving.

The door to his chambers creaked open. A young woman clothed in long brownish robes stepped in. Her skin was just as pale as Daniel’s. Here eyes were red. Her hair was blonde turning into white. She stood silent for a moment watching the mist flow in and out of Daniel’s mouth.

After a few moments she spoke, “Daniel, it is time.”

Daniel’s eyes opened and narrowed immediately on the woman. “I am ready, Jessica.” Daniel stood up and instinctually reached for his habit, then paused. “They are soon here?”

Jessica nodded.

Daniel instead grabbed a padded woolen garment and slowly put it on. Over that he threw a long shirt of chain mail flecked with crystal. Finally he grabbed the brown habit and wrapped it around his armored body. He tied a red sash around his waist. He approached Jessica. She held out two black heavily padded gloves with a strange device mounted on the wrist. She too was wearing the devices. Daniel placed his hands in both of them and the padded expanded to fit snugly around his hands. He curled each finger in rapid succession.

He returned his gaze to Jessica. “Have the evacuations begun?”

She nodded, “Yes, Abbot Lot began them an hour ago.”

Daniel frowned deeply, “Good then it is simply our job to ensure that they have a good head start.”

“So simply delaying again?” Asked Jessica a hint of heat followed her words from her cold and pale mouth.

“What alternative do we have?”

“Hit then hard, make their attempt too costly.” She said the red gem on the wrist device glowed for a moment then dimmed. “We can’t just let them keep taking settlement after settlement with only paltry wounds.”

Daniel bowed his head. “I know this is frustrating Jessica,” Daniel clenched both fists and turned away from her. “Believe me I want to hurt them as badly as you do.” He lightly placed a fist against the wall. “But we can’t mount an effective attack force, with so many of our brothers and sisters off on Roamus.”

“I know, but we can make a stand here.” Jessica said placing a hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “We draw a line in our caves, the beastmen don’t know them as well as we do they will spend weeks trying to ferret us out.” She gestured upward with her other fist, “We’ll shame the other Abbots into helping us make a stand here.”

A scream echoed through the hallways.

Daniel looked Jessica in the eyes. “There is something happening Jessica,” he said his red eyes unblinking. “There is a reason so many are on Roamus.” He turned to face her, her hand sliding off his shoulder. “This is bigger than any one world, this is more important than the battle here with the Harantons.” The gems on both hands began to pulse slowly. “We will do as Abbot Lot has instructed,” Daniel said then added with a smile, “but that doesn’t mean we can’t bloody the Harantons noses while we are at it.”

Jessica smiled as well. The two made their way through a long rocky corridor into a large open chamber. Small buildings were carved out of the rock and the two could see their three comrades positioned on top of one blocking a tunnel. Two ramps led up the side of the squat two story building.

The three were dressed similarly to Jessica and Daniel, brown habits, black gloves. All were three of them were young, barely reached their second decade.

Jessica and Daniel reached the top of the structure. Daniel looked to one of the three, a young man a growth of white bristles on his chin. A look of cold determination graced his eyes as he surveyed the large chamber. “Absolom,” said Daniel, “What is our situation?”

Absolom, took one quick breath before responding. “A few families weren’t quick enough in their evacuation, they have been overrun.” Absolom looked over to another of the three another young man kneeling down overlooking the plaza below. With each breath he shook slightly.

The third, a slender woman, her hair long and tied back, unlike Jessica’s short hair, answered Daniel unspoken question. “David tried to get to them but was too late.” She placed a comforting hand on David’s back and she knelt beside him.

Between shaking breaths he spoke softly, “thank you Abigail.”

Jessica furrowed her brow at the two. “We have no time for sentimentality.” She said.

Daniel kneeled on the other side of David. “David, I need you here, or more will die. I need to count on you.”

David closed his eyes and forced his breathing to slow. When he opened his eyes, his body was still again. “Daniel, I am here to the end.”

Daniel patted him once firmly on the back, “Hopefully that won’t be necessary,” he stood and spoke to the rest. “Abbot Lot, was clear in his instructions: Delay. This is not a fight to the finish, if one is overwhelmed we all fall back.”

Jessica grinded her teeth silently.

Daniel ignored her and continued, “we have a few choke points we can use. Obviously this is our first, two obvious spots to hold back their advance. If either of those spots fall or weaken we fall back to the tunnel entrance, force them through a few at a time. When we begin to tire we fall back again to the next tunnel intersection. That point is where we need to hold out the longest before sealing the other routes and retreating to Library. From there it is hit and run as we all make our way out of the settlement.”

Another yell echoed from a tunnel opposite them, this time a warcry.

Daniel began to speak more rapidly, “Listen, once we hit the library it is important that we split up and take separate routes out of the city. We have to scatter them as much as possible and distract them with pillage rather than pursuit.”

He looked to Absolom, “you will direct them to the crystal mine.” He pointed to David, “I need you to direct them to the remains of the armory, there should be enough left there for them to fight over. Until that is they find it is broken.” David smirked. Daniel turned to Abigail. “Abigail, you have one of the more important jobs. I need you to lead them to the core and I need you to smash it on your way out.” Abigail nodded. Daniel turned to Jessica, “Lead them to the council chamber. And I will lead them in a circle back to the entrance hall. This should scatter and distract them as much as can be managed.”

“They’re here,” said Absolom simply.

Daniel turned to see the first of the beastmen rush into the plaza. One pointed at them and shouted. Daniel clenched his fists and shouted orders, “Absolom take the edge and start sending them gifts!”

Absolom raised one finger and drew lines from between his other fingers and where he pointed liquid crystal congealed into pointed shards.

“Abigail, take the right ramp!” He shouted, Abigail had already shaped here sword and shield. Daniel did the same, a quick circular motion over his left hand and the circular buckler spread out and congealed. With a flick of his right hand the blade extended from the glove. “I will take the left ramp! Jessica and David you pick up what slips by!” David and Jessica crafted their weapons quickly. David held two short blades, one in each hand. Jessica held a large double bladed axe.

Daniel got into position at the top of his ramp. Absolom began showering the beastmen ranks with his crystal spikes. The mass of beastmen, probably over a hundred began to split and rush up each ramp. They were expecting to just roll over them, they hadn’t encountered real resistance yet, let alone battle trained scholars. Even if the five were merely novices they had trained most their lives and were ready for this.

The first beastmen came in swinging distance of Daniel. The barbarian lifted up a great club over his head and began to swing downward. Daniel stepped to the right slanting his shield to deflect the blow and swung his blade immediately for the beastman’s heel. The tendon snapped and the great beast man fell to the ground. Daniel thrusted a foot into him and he slide back down the ramp catching a few beastmen off guard. Daniel moved forward slicing the two that had fallen then retreated a few steps and moved to one side lining up his attackers. One reached into grab him, he ducked low and stabbed the gut. He turned to the left moving out of the towering beastman’s fall. He immediately saw an axe coming at him but his shield clashed into the axe and the axe broke. Daniel kicked the unarmed man and sliced at another. There were curses being hurled at him from many beastmen but they slowed in their pursuit seeing six of there men wounded without even a scratch on Daniel.

Daniel took a few steps back. The beastmen grew emboldened and began to advance when two shards struck two advancers in the head. Daniel didn’t have the time to even look at Absolom since he was once again assaulted. A group this time, Absolom had given a bit of a reprieve but four more now came at him rushing.

“Two coming your way, Jessica!” Daniel shouted and rolled into the legs of two of his attackers. A slash preceded his roll and he knocked two of the beast men over. Daniel simply kept moving forward not looking back, but he heard the cries of the other two he left standing.

Another group of them was approaching and Daniel took a breath. He had advanced a fair way down the ramp and was approaching a place where he could be assaulted on all sides. On the other hand he was unsure of how many were simply wounded behind him. He was sure Jessica would finish them off but he needed to hold his ground. He let a small smile cross his lips. Ten down, he could do this ten more times he thought to himself.

A spear clanged to the left of him. He raised his shield up quickly enough as two more came screaming at him. One struck his shield and pushed him to the ground. He heard more spear strikes and heard a scream, higher than the pitch of the beastmen. He wanted to see who it was but another group of beastmen were advancing. Daniel rolled backwards shield ready when he came up standing. Two club strikes came at him he dodged toward the building and let one hit his shield. He stabbed at the one closest to him and backed a few steps waiting for the others to approach. They did and with each attack Daniel moved back a few more steps but with each assault he took another beastman down, but he had reached the top of the ramp and the beastmen had stopped their advance.

“Everyone, spears incoming, to me!”

The five grouped together, even the now wounded Absolom. They formed a column behind Abigail and Daniel and ducked behind the shields. Metal spearheads slammed into the shields but they did not move back. Abigail and Daniel lowered their shields to see new waves approaching from both ramps.

“Jessica, David, Strike and retreat!”

Jessica came out whirling in circles her axe blade slicing through any who approached. David leaped towards the fray slicing madly. The ferocity of the attack pushed the beastmen back but their numbers swelled as Jessica and David moved back in time for the next spear volley.

Absolom clutched his side where a spear had hit him. The point had not pierced the mail but had likely damaged his ribs. He formed more shards and hurled a handful at each ramp. “I think it might be time to retreat to the cave entrance.”

Daniel and Abigail rushed forward shoving attackers back into the crowd slashing as they retreated. Daniel looked back. “Absolom give us cover as we withdraw!”

Abigail and Daniel stepped back slowly keeping their shields between them and the mob of beastmen. Shards flew by Daniel’s ears and into the oncoming masses. This slowed their advance but the retreat also made them bolder. A club slammed into Daniel’s shield repeatedly causing him to back up faster than Abigail. A group from Daniel’s ramp broke off to flank Abigail.

David cursed and leapt into their ranks flailing madly with his blades.

Daniel shouted, “Full back! David jump!”

David leapt out of the crowd to Daniel who adjusted his shield to slant towards David. David kicked off of the shield and was down the tunnel. Daniel twirled his blade around using the momentum of the kick and backed away keeping his feet dug into the stony roof.

The five made a slow retreat down the tunnel. Abigail and Daniel stood shoulder to shoulder blocking the advance. Occasionally the two ducked to allow Jessica and David to quickly strike and smash the enemies ranks, but the hordes seemed endless. More had poured in from behind the first wave. Now they fought more cautiously, knowing the skill of the Icenians.

The scholars reached the tunnel intersection and they dug in, but Daniel was beginning to tire. Also Absolom was wounded, it was doubtful that he would be able to continue on his own. His shards came less and less often, he coughed and blood began to trickle out his mouth. Daniel had little time to think as one after the other the beastmen came hammering at his shield. His hand had long since gone numb from the impacts.

The beastmen had caught on they braced against each other and surged forth. Abigail and Daniel were shoved back. Daniel stumbled back, Absolom hurled shards at the adjacent tunnels. The shards hit a switch causing the side tunnels to collaspe catching some of the beastmen, Abigail’s Shield became caught by a boulder. David rushed to defend her.

David’s blades crossed to brace against an axe blade. He scissored through the shaft of the axe and plunged a blade into the beastman wielding it.

Jessica moved in whirling the axe holding the horde back with the threat of her axe. Abigail hit a switch and her sheild evaporated.

Daniel knew they couldn’t hold here long he began to shout, “Fall back to the libr…”

Their shields had been lowered too long, javelins hurled through the corridor. Abigail took a spear to the shoulder falling backwards. Jessica dodge to the side but had a javelin point slice her side. David took two and fell to the ground. Daniel raised his shield in time and defended the cowering Absolom.

For a second his calm repose left him, “RUN!” shouted Daniel. Abigail without a thought broke the spear shaft and charged into the beastmen and was engulfed. Jessica limped back to Daniel. Daniel took her arm over his shoulder removing his shield.

Absolom hurled shards into the oncoming crowd. “Get out of here!”

Daniel and Jessica made their way to the library, their weapons dissolved. Fighting was no longer an option, flight was all Daniel could think of. Blood and steam poured out of Jessica’s side. He tried to staunch the flow, with some bandages he had within his robe.

Jessica reached up and stopped his hand. “Stop this,” she said. Her cold eyes looked on Daniel’s face, “You knew we weren’t going to make it out of this. We all knew.”

Daniel’s gray eyes locked with hers, he gripped her hand firmly. “I didn’t plan to die today, and I didn’t plan to watch you die.” He used her grip to pull her too her feet. “I am going to get you out of here, then I need to go smash the core.”

Jessica pushed him away slightly, “No, you are going to smash the core. Forget about me I will hold them off here.” She began to move her hands to form her axe again.

Daniel grabbed her lightly by the wrist stopping her. “No, you won’t.”

She looked at him, pain was persistent on her face but a small smirk began to form. “You can’t order me around, Daniel, you aren’t the Abbot.”

“I was put in command of this,” Daniel replied, his chest began to ache.

“Then you are acting out of irrationality, I will help you finish the job.”

Daniel grabbed both her hands and pulled her close. “You are my friend, I won’t let you die.”

Jessica reached up, placing her fingertips on the back of his neck, her thumb rubbing his cheek. “Only the best survive, Daniel. You are the best of us, you have to make it out.”

Daniel lowered his head, letting go of her hand. “If I was the best I would have led you all out of here. I would have told David I think of him as my brother. I would have told Absolom I forgive him his annoyances. I would have told Abigail she was the better swordsmen. I would have told you…”

Jessica raised her hand to his mouth. “Keep your mind here, not in what was and what might have been.” Daniel silenced himself. “A scholar is nothing without focus. Use that now. Focus on accomplishing the task at hand.”

Daniel nodded.

Jessica formed the axe and turned to the tunnel entrance. “Go,” was the last thing she said to him.

Daniel darted off out of the library. He reformed his sword and shield. Again he was the only survivor.

As he left the Library he heard Jessica cry out, “This is the last step you will take beasts!”

His footsteps fell hard and quickly down the corridors heading to the core, the center of all Iceneian settlements. His ears were alert for the sounds of the beastmen, but it seemed they had drawn most of them away as they had planned. He finally arrived at the crystal pillar, in a large chamber off the main meeting cave. It shimmered from a light generated within, the surface jutted his protrusions that refracted the light sending rainbow splotches of light all around the room. The core powered all the lights, the heating systems and the memory crystals, the devices which separated the Iceneians from the rabble of the many worlds.

After taking a moment to take in the sight of the glittering floating pillar of crystal, he realized he wasn’t alone in the room.

He was Haranton by his size alone. He wore and animal hide and the skull of a large dog on his head. The hide was a reddish color, the hair on the man’s body has dark black. His eyes though were Gray like Daniel’s. The two looked at each other for a moment, and it was too late before Daniel realized this was exactly what he shouldn’t have done.

Daniel’s body was frozen as his eyes were locked in the gaze that the Haranton wouldn’t break. This was a Haranton Shaman.

“I thought you had all fled or died by now.” The Shaman said as he took a few steps closer to Daniel. He looked at Daniel’s weapons. “No need for those.”

Under the compulsion of his words Daniel dissolved his sword and shield. Daniel knew he was in trouble, but he knew that the Shaman’s abilities were limited. The Shaman couldn’t make him override his own self preservation or make him betray something he truly cared about. He tried to focus his mind on Jessica, he wouldn’t let her die in vain. His mind railed helpless against the hypnotic effect.

“I assume you are here to smash the core so I won’t get a look at it,” the Shaman shook his head, never letting his eyes contact break completely. “You Iceneians, so selfish, won’t let your dear friends and neighbors share in the delightful mysteries of the Old Ones.”

“We keep our secrets to protect the worlds as a whole, not to exalt any single world.” Daniel said through a clenched jaw.

The Shaman smiled, “Impressive, you have a strong mind. Most wouldn’t be able to form complete sentences when locked in my gaze.”

“I am a scholar,” Daniel said, beginning to feel the effects weakening. He began to slowly move his hands a little.

“I know you are, I even think I know your name. At least I think that is you, Daniel.”

Daniel froze. More out of confusion and shock than the Shaman’s ability.

“We have a mutual acquaintance,” the Shaman replied to Daniel’s unanswered question. “A hunting party found him, he told us so many interesting things Daniel. So many things.”

“Who did you find?”

The Shaman smiled again, “Solomon.”

Daniel spat at the Shaman, “Solomon is dead.”

“No he is quite alive,” The shaman looked away and Daniel felt a moment of freedom he took a step forward. “He probably is wondering what happened to Isaac.” The Shaman said and locked his gaze back on Daniel. Daniel tried to look away but was caught again. “But we both know what happened to Isaac don’t we, odd how his name never stays long in your mind, how if you don’t see him for long you can forget him entirely. It as if he was swallowed into the void, but not quite.”

“You aren’t Haranton.” Daniel said, a chill colder than the one he felt on Roamus ran up his spine.

“I am, but I am not.”

“But the voidshaped have never been more than mindless monsters.”

“We were more long ago, but the ones you called the old ones forced us away. Locked us outside, but we are coming back, and there is no one who can stop us.” The Shaman was standing close now. Daniel’s face was at his chest. “Remove your weapons, Daniel”

“No.”

The blade flowed from his glove and stabbed through the Shaman’s gut. Daniel kicked him off the blade and the body stumbled back and fell backwards on the ground. An inky blackness poured from the would and formed a cloud above the body. Daniel stabbed suddenly at it and it quivered and lessened from the crystal’s contact before it flowed away like smoke on the breeze.

Daniel had been lucky, the voidshaped hadn’t know the Shaman’s power well enough to know that he couldn’t make him drop his weapons in front of a creature he had sworn to kill.

Daniel looked to the core. He didn’t know what the voidshaped had gotten from it but he had to make sure that no one could get anything else. He deactivated the core then smashed it repeatedly with his blade.

They could possess people it seemed, maybe one had taken Solomon. But how could he have ended up on Harantos, there was no gate connecting Roamus and Harantos, and he couldn’t have come through the gate on Icene, the scholars would have seen it.

Daniel heard the sounds of beastmen approaching. He had no more time to puzzle this he had to run. He had to leave behind his home and friends. He had to keep fighting so that Jessica didn’t die pointlessly, and now it seemed her death had done more than he could have thought. That brought him little comfort as he stepped out of the cave complex. Cold winds hit him from all directions, he raised his hood over his head to block out the wind. He feared the long walk to the next settlement, for he would be alone with his thoughts.