Blizzard (Black Ice Trilogy Book 2) Page 15

  “Now,” I croaked out to my mother as I mounted my horse with minimal help.

  She relinquished my reins and mounted her own horse, in stride with me without delay. Though Thedryk had been on foot, he had managed to cover a good distance; the sound of fighting had been deceptive. Though the town was not large, several buildings had been built in various clusters, creating a few extra turns that slowed the horses. When we came upon the scene of fighting, we found Thedryk surrounded by six large demons, two medium, and three dead. Of the six large demons, one stood apart in a disturbing way that made us all feel the tension of uncertainty. Two children stood clinging to Thedryk’s legs, and I could not help but to stare a moment at their state. Barely a scratch on either, but both filthy beyond compare. A wild look filled each child’s wearied, tear-riddled eyes, but I could not tell whether either was a boy or a girl as both had hair trailing down their backs and were clothed in shirts and pants too large for their size. They could not have been more than five in age each.

  My heart swelled in the anger of the scene, the confusion and questions that mounted without a breath to consider possible answers. My temper, as usual, was lost in action as I dismounted and charged in, my mother silently following. The demons before us had barely registered our arrival as we proceeded in massacring the group, a pincer attack that confused them. Thedryk immediately decapitated one large demon as it turned to consider our approach; the larger they were the slower their reaction time, which provided immediate openings to take them down first. However, we were intercepted by the two medium-sized demons. Taking a brief view, I thought the two looked as twins. Tails ran down to behind the knees tapering into a point, gray speckled skin appeared pocked and jagged in spots, and eyes were glazed over in a milky haze. Sets of horns outlined the too round eye sockets and squared jawlines, their hands as human hands, five fingers to each, with hooved feet.

  “Kareese,” my mother chided me through gritted teeth as she deflected the first blows the demon directed her way, the arms to fingertips straight lines that stabbed at her vital organs. “Perhaps you should take a moment to consider your options before just throwing—” I was parrying my own demon, my daggers requiring closer combat but my speed still exceeding that of the demon, as I heard my mother suck in her breath sharply, grunt against the pain, and then continue her reprimand “—yourself into a fight that endangers all those around you.”

  As she completed her anger-filled scolding, I completed my own counter against the twin demon I faced. I stuck both daggers up in and under its arms, deep within the soft tissue, and ripped the sharp blades back towards me, cutting the sinewy muscles and tendons within. Arteries were struck on both sides, and its dark blood pooled out in a fountain, steam evaporating into the air as it cried out in the pain. I kicked the demon back as it fell to its knees in submission and turned to find my mother standing with her demon flat at her feet, holding her right side at the ribs.

  “I’m sorry,” I mumbled while turning my attention back to Thedryk. If she was standing and able to condemn my actions, she had energy to fight; no amount of energy was wasted in wanton fashion.

  Thedryk had taken out four of the six large demons and faced the sixth directly, with the other seemingly normal demon slowly shifting into its own advantageous position. The demon that stood its ground was similar in very few physical attributes to the others that had been slain. This particular demon’s features were too human; the eyes were still black but were measuring each of our movements. A sharp nose upon its face, wide lips of its mouth twisting, with ears pointed on top and bottom. This demon had no tail and no horns, but the features were sharp as blades upon the face, a jaw and brow line that could literally cut stone. Its lips curled back and around the almost white teeth; a clicking sound issued forth from between the grinding teeth. “He…comes…”

  For a moment Thedryk dropped his guard entirely from shock. The split second was all the demon needed. It lunged forward, every motion painfully slow as I realized it would kill Thedryk; his response time was completely gone, and the other demon lunged towards the children.

  My mother, however, was not disarmed in the same manner as Thedryk and I, and she cleanly removed the demon’s head from its strong broad shoulders. Although my own reaction time was slightly delayed, the movement of the last demon had given away its intent and left me with enough time to send one of my daggers flying. It planted itself firmly in the demon’s chest. The dagger had flicked past Thedryk’s head, barely missing his ear and bringing him back to the perils still remaining. With his spear still in hand, Thedryk twisted his upper torso and carried the spear through the fluid motion, impaling the demon under its neck and up through its skull.

  The small area between buildings reeked of the sulfurous blood, clouding the enclosed area until a gentle breeze stirred between the opened wounds of the buildings. A collective sigh expelled the remaining tension as no other sounds followed the escaping breeze. Even the children, arms wrapped tightly around each of Thedryk’s legs, remained silent. Night was finishing its crest over the rooftops; the beams of sunlight had settled to face up towards the skyline as if to showcase the rising moon.

  “Are there any others?” My mother slowly advanced towards the two children and extended her hands, inviting them to accept her approach. White knuckled, puckered lips quivering, and lids brimmed with tears, they watched her warily before thrusting themselves away from Thedryk and into my mother’s arms. For a moment I wondered if they could sense the maternal warmth she emitted. Did she look like their mother, or mothers? Rather than answer, the two simply burst into sobbing fits, shaking their heads violently against her chest and shoulders.

  My mother turned her gaze to mine. “Kareese, take this child with you.” She motioned to the child closest to me, and I obeyed.

  Large blue eyes nearly hidden behind a mass of dulled red hair looked up at me, fatigue and malnourishment apparent in the child’s features, as the largest of teardrops I had ever witnessed spilled out. For a moment, I knelt down and reached out, carefully releasing the child from my mother. A girl, I took notice as I hoisted her into my arms. The other child, with warm hazel eyes and long, unruly blond hair watched wearily from my mother’s lap; slightly larger in size, this child I assumed to be a boy.

  “You’ll be safe now. Why don’t you come with us? We have food, drink, and warm beds. Perhaps you would like a bath as well?” At that, the child let go of the vice grip upon my mother’s arms and slowly turned, falling into my arms. “Oh!” I called out in surprise. The child was light, frail beneath the clothes. I lifted the small body easily and turned to find Thedryk had reigned in the horses, having already helped my mother mount swiftly and handing her the girl.

  He extended a free hand to me. “Be sure to wrap the child in your cloak, Kareese. The day may have been warm and unusually humid, but the night is already proving to be much cooler. These children have very little to keep them warm.” My mother had wrapped up the child she carried, that child already fast asleep or fainted.

  I gritted my teeth and fought back the enraged tears. How could he knowingly do this to people? I nodded to my mother and mounted the horse with Thedryk’s help, which involved him mostly lifting me with the child wrapped against my chest by my cloak onto the saddle.

  “How is your wound, Lady Eliza?” Thedryk stood beside his horse a moment, wary of mounting before certain we could all ride. Formality had returned with his addressing my mother by her proper title.

  “It hurts, but it’s only a slight scratch.” She was already moving along without room for doubt.

  “Should we not take a moment to bandage you? We don’t know what hidden dangers they present—”

  “Waiting is not an option; this is night and it is their time. We just killed several demons and no doubt smell of their kind. We will be their first goal to reach and settle the score. If there were poisons or curses, then it must be dealt with upon return to the castle.”

  I f
ollowed my mother’s lead in silence. I recognized the ire in her tone all too well, and I know I would pay for my brash actions.

  I only hoped it wouldn’t cost my mother her life.

  The ride back to our main fortress, the castle deep within the Mithirian Mountains, took the same number of days in total it had taken to get to the town. The children had awoken only twice, just long enough for us to provide them with food and drink to, hopefully, survive the ride back. Few words were exchanged after the first night, when Thedryk had nearly begged for my mother’s forgiveness, and we took time to discuss the one demon that had disturbed us all.

  “Lady Eliza, I put you in danger by letting my guard down. You must provide adequate punishment.” Thedryk sat before the fire we had managed to build for food and warmth, his eyes fixed on its heart.

  My mother huffed a heavy sigh. “Thedryk, you can stop calling me ‘Lady’ Eliza. We have been fighting side by side for some time now. No punishment will be meted out, to you at least…” My mother’s eyes gleamed at me from the corners, and I felt my shoulders slump.

  Thedryk followed her shifting stare. “La…Eliza, she is still the youngest of us. Even I was prone to brashness at Kareese’s age.” He was speaking under his breath, barely audible to me as I sat opposite the two, both children lying down with their heads across my thighs.

  “There is a great difference between your reckless behavior in training and hers in active battle, Thedryk.” Her harsh undertones were not missed. “Unfortunate as it may be, this is what my daughter has been trained for. She cannot let her emotions rule her now.” There I caught the sadness. I cast my own gaze into the fire, feeling the shame in my actions.

  “Forgive me for countering you once again, but as that may be, she was correct about the children. Had we mounted and left without delay, we would have missed those two.” He tilted his head towards the children. “Surely they would have died.”

  I peeked up from beneath my downcast focus, seeing my mother’s face fill with the complacent acceptance of the fact.

  “These are matters to discuss later, Thedryk.” It was a whisper, weakness creeping into her veins and exposing itself in her voice. “I have more concern for the demon that spoke to us.” Her voice raised, identifying her requirement of my understanding and involvement, at least on the listening end.

  “It was too much like one of us,” Thedryk agreed. “Even its skin was almost human in color.”

  I shuddered at the memory. Almost was a correct assessment, but not quite. The flesh had been a pinked-gray, reminding me of baby rats being born, a slight slick look to the exterior. The words had been spoken with a tremor, as though there were underlying messages within that could only be understood between instruments.

  My mother was nodding in agreement. “…changes things.” I came back to the discussion, realizing I had focused too closely on the memory and not the ongoing conversation. “Zachariah and the others will need to be informed immediately. Perhaps they have better news.”

  “What do you think it means?” Thedryk looked up to her. I could see the expression on his face. Still enamored with my mother, I thought flatly.

  “I fear what it could mean, but I will not assume. We will need to gather more regarding this…development.”

  My mother was still the most beautiful woman alive, I believed. Her white-blonde hair came to life with the fire; those crystal clear blue eyes matched with perfect skin and the fullest lips brought men to their knees. Thedryk was no different; though only four years older than me, he had fallen victim to the weakness of the male species. I considered my mother’s petite frame and my own that matched. Am I simply a consolatory match for him? My heart ached at the thought in a way it had never before.

  “We should rest. We have a long ride ahead of us yet.” My mother lay down and stretched out upon the spot she had been sitting, her bedroll already unfurled.

  “Yes, good…Eliza.” I watched Thedryk consider her a moment, a lithe figure in the firelight, freshly bandaged rib cage, before looking back towards me. “Goodnight, Kareese.” His expression confused me; it was a mixture of the held back desire to share a thought and sadness.

  I know…I am not the one you love. “Goodnight.” My voice still sounded so childish to my own ears, which made me feel bitter. Why must everything make my heart feel a crippling tweak? I closed my eyes tightly and fell into a light sleep. All through the night I heard sounds, noises, rustling all around. We were just at the edge of the forest, three days still remained.

  Each that followed seemed as one, a complete blur until we reached the only home I had ever known.

  SUNLIGHT WAS JUST beginning to crest between the mountain range, snow still heavily blanketing their peaks. Around the path leading to our hidden home trees lined the base of the mountainous ranges. They were tall, strong, offering some refuge from the robust winds that swept through the hollows between. Nothing stirred from within the confines of the forest but the rustling of wooden chimes, giving little credence that people lived within. The familiar took-took-took of the wooden chimes sounded out in the slight gusts of wind that shuffled the branches of the trees, shaking them to the lowest levels. The children had not spoken since our departure, but they had no need. Their physical state, the hunger they exhibited, and the restless cries they could not contain during their sleep told us all the torment they had endured. Concern for the children and their wellbeing slowed our return home, so we arrived two days later than expected.

  The delay allowed me time to think, time to prepare for whatever harsh words my father, Zachariah, would have to unleash upon my mother’s divulgence of all that had occurred. During the return her anger had only seemed to increase, a steady growth that felt cancerous to my existence. I had been bracing myself for all manner of punishment: a three-day physical and magical training session out in the mountains with minimal provisions—a favorite between my mother and father—helping in the fields for a week during the anticipated hard freeze, or worse yet, training with Xavier. All of these were a regular part of their discipline regime for me, which left me praying for God to save my soul. The one benefit I always found in the first option was that Thedryk was required to accompany me—at a distance—to ensure my safe return. He always brought extra provisions of his own, never minimal for his own purpose, and would train with me on occasion.

  What we found upon return was no salvation, but there was no opportunity for punishment, either.

  My father swiftly strode out of the castle doors to greet us and spoke hushed words to my mother; her face drained of any color it held with the impending fury she had pent up. She turned to me, her lips forming a perfect O, and I knew whatever lay ahead meant my time had come. I had been raised knowing of my importance, with constant reminders and reprimands when I made mistakes that I would change the world. The thought had crushed me. How could I, just a child, just one soon-to-be woman, change the world? My mother certainly seemed the better for the task, yet she cut that idea from my mind as though with a dull-edged spoon. The first book I had learned to read was the Book of Blessings from the line of priestesses that had been passed down through all the women in our family, but one spell in particular I was not allowed to utilize. I wasn’t even allowed to practice it in any part, but I had to memorize it and was told that, should the need ever arise, I would know when the time was right.

  It all felt too vague and uncertain, like a black curtain that hid the many truths I knew lurked beyond. Were those truths demons in themselves? I feared I knew the answer, my intuition always on point with such matters and my sixth sense beyond any known in our lands. It was something I feared, but an innate ability had saved those I cared for, and those such as the children we brought back with us now.

  We dismounted, with my mother tending to the children. My father approached me and Thedryk. “You both must come to the council chamber immediately. The final battle has arrived.”

  Through his strained, harsh tones, his voice
hit me squarely, not missing any part of my being in body, soul, and mind. My breath was knocked from my lungs and stolen from my lips, my head was light.

  I’m only fourteen, but here is the final battle—it’s too soon! I panicked in my mind and had to use all my lifelong training to keep from my legs’ desire to give way from underneath. My father had the keenest of eyes, aside from Xavier, and came to my aid by pulling me into a hug, kissing the top of my head, and whispering sweetly, “Don’t worry, my dahlia. Let’s warm you up and get you fed before anymore such talk.” He turned to Thedryk. “When did you last eat?”

  “Not since last night. Eliza fed only the children as we were low on supplies.”

  My father nodded to Thedryk, casting a quick glance to my mother and the children who were already headed inside, each in a different woman’s arms. Mothers themselves prepared to tend to the broken souls they carried with a disturbing ease; the children were too thin for their height, making my heart sink as their worn clothes were pressed tight in the grips. I could see the outline of their ribs even from the distance that grew between our groups.

  As my father held my arm firmly in place he continued to speak in the hushed manner he had met us with. “Reegan has finally found a way to advance our lands. It seems he has been a busy bee, and we may have a traitor somewhere within our lands.”

  My body became rigid as my hand squeezed his arm, alarms ringing in my head.

  “We have less than two days to prepare our troops. The demons have already invaded Sorden to the far west and, as your mother identified, Avlein to the south.”

  “Are you certain of a traitor, Master Zachariah?” Thedryk, who, even at his young age had already been a member of the war council for two years and was well versed in battle, kept his voice low, pausing as a group of servants passed. “That seems terribly unlikely. Everyone here has been with us since the beginning, I just can’t believe we would have a traitor in our midst.”