FARHAYVEN: VENGEANCE (36 page)

     Suddenly, hundreds of angry flying insects dive towards the two little girls, stinging their fair skin with countless painful stingers. The two girls run as fast as they can. They run and run, then suddenly, the girl in the blue dress feels the ground beneath her disappear. She falls into a narrow ditch at the edge of the field, shutting her eyes as she hits the bottom. She feels tremendous pain and cries out loud ‘Clover
! 
Clover
!
  Help me
!
Help me
!
’  She feels lost and loses hope. The pain is consuming her and then as she forcefully opens her eyes, Convian Serene Genox sees a familiar face above her. Verallvian Sayson stands over her with a gentle fatherly smile. She opens her mouth to speak.

     “Do not worry, madam. You are not dead, yet. I would not let you die, it makes me look bad
!
” said Verallvian Sayson before Convian Genox could even get a word out.

     Convian Genox bursts into laughter, but regrets it immediately as it amplifies all the pain that she is feeling. Tears flow down from the corner of her eyes. She is glad to still be alive
!

     The sun peaks slowly over the eastern horizon, marking the
18
th
Dawn of Second Month of Wet Season
. A shallow layer of dense early morning fog settles over the muddy terrain of the eastern border of Free Falls. Convian Genox stands on top of the eastern wall of Fort Eastguard, scanning the landscape before her. At her feet are the corpses of Serpentian soldiers, pale and stiff; no doubt a consequence of an earlier failed attack. She sees only a white, milky landscape, except for the two gigantic wooden structures that threaten her survival. She turns to look around, and her heart sinks to see that only two of her Heavy Catapults are still standing.

     She contemplates another cavalry charge at the remaining Grand Catapults, but Verallvian Sayson voices strong objections. Too much of their resources have been lost in the first attempt and the element of surprise no longer exists. Not to mention the act of galloping blindly in the thick fog is extremely dangerous. Convian Genox draws in a deep breath, feeling the cool, moist air fill her lungs. Both Fallsian soldiers stare into the eastern horizon, waiting for the temporary silence to be broken and more blood to be shed.

     An hour later, the layer of fog slowly lifts off the grassland terrain.
Boom!
  The first Serpentian boulder smashes into the border fort’s eastern wall. Pieces of debris burst out in all direction. The Heavy Catapults send their replies. Small boulders, clay jars of Black Fire and flaming stones are sent flying into the Serpentian columns, causing their own versions of carnage and destruction. Serpentian boulders keep landing closer and closer to the remaining Heavy Catapults. This fact worries both Convian Genox and Verallvian Sayson. ‘
Utilise ever option available
’, this term keeps appearing over and over again in Convian Genox’s mind. Yet what other option is there left for her to utilise
?
Reluctantly, she calls one of her soldiers. He stands before her and bows.

     “Madam, what are your orders, madam
!?
” asks the Fallsian soldier.

     “Bring me the prisoner who claims he is an Elementhar. Bring his silver staff and headband as well,” orders Convian Genox.

     “Yes, madam
!
” acknowledges the soldier and then he bows and carries out his task.

     The eastern wall continues to tremble with each impact of Serpentian boulders. The formerly smooth wall surface is now a texture of severe cracks and craters. Then the dreaded call happens. Shouts of ‘Breach
!
  Breach in the wall
!
’ comes from the behind the wall. Convian Genox freezes in disbelieve. She did not expect this to happen so soon. Moments later, another shout of breach of the wall’s integrity permeates the air.

     The door to Ray’s, Lance’s and Spirit’s prison cell burst open. Two Fallsian soldiers step in and drag Ray out. Spirit jumps on his feet and barks aggressively, but Ray manages to ask him to calm down before being dragged away. Lance sits in fear and confusion. The Fallsian soldiers force Ray up the series of stairs to the landing on top of the eastern wall, where he comes face to face with the young female soldier who had tortured him earlier. Ray looks at her defiantly, though there is no hatred in his eyes. She looks back at him, though she dares not meet his eyes. A slight feeling of guilt manifests on her face.

     Convian Serene Genox straightens herself up.

     “Are you really an Elementhar
!?
” she asks, trying her best to sound cold and sharp.

     “Answer _ of this, I have already given to you, therefore I see no point in repeating myself,” answers Ray in an equally cold and sharp manner.

     “If you really are an Elementhar, we… we… we need your help
!
” says Convian Genox hesitantly, looking at the ground.

     “Help _ I shall offer none of this to you, as you deserve none from me,” stresses Ray.

     “If you choose not to help us, this fort will be destroyed. Your young novice and your wolf friend will either die or be enslaved. You do not really have a choice, do you
?
” explains the convian.

     “Worse _ it is none of this than what we are in right now,” says Ray casually.

     “Help _ please, of this, I ask of you, not for me or my soldiers; but for the safety and security of the entire Eastern Falls Province. Vital _ it is of this that this fort must not fall,” says Convian Genox in a surrendered tone.

     Convian Genox’s sudden change in speech manner surprises Ray.

     “Speak _ you do of this in our ways, how and why
?
” asks Ray.

     “Speak _ I do of this in your ways as I have a relative who is of your kind and I do so for the reason of apologising for my error in judgement and behaviour,” answers Serene Genox.

     “Staff _ I shall require mine of it as well as my headband, and what is it that you for wish me to do
?
” agrees Ray.

     Convian Genox nods to one of her soldiers, who in turn returns the silver staff and the jewelled headband to Ray.

     “Catapults _ those of these that belongs to the enemy, we require that you destroy them,” says Serene.

     Ray, wearing his headband and clutching his staff, steps closer to the parapets. He sees the two remaining gigantic wooden structures. He is unsure if he can destroy them, for they seem very far away. He takes in a deep breath and draws in the stored soul energy of the rubies in his staff and in his headband. Then with a sudden exhalation and a loud shout, he thrusts forward his right palm and sends a series of large Heat Bursts, the size of small boulders, straight towards one of the Grand Catapults. Convian Serene Genox freezes in surprise and so does Verallvian Sayson. Loud explosions occur as the large flaming spheres smash into the first Grand Catapult, sending pieces of flaming debris flying through the air and creating fear and confusion amongst the Serpentians.

     “Fire
!?
Your kind is supposed to be extinct
!
” says Convian Genox in disbelief.

     Ray ignores the two confused Provincial Guards. He draws in another deep breath and executes the same spell at the second Grand Catapult with the same devastating effect. Then suddenly Ray coughs, and miniscule droplets of blood sprays forth from his mouth. The world around him begins to spin. Then Ray’s vision goes blank and he falls to the ground, only to be caught by the alert Verallvian Sayson, who with the help of another Fallsian soldier, carries Ray off to the side. He then gives out instruction for several of his subordinates to carry Ray off to the infirmary. Convian Genox, meanwhile, breathes a sigh of relief as the biggest threat to their defences has been eliminated. The Fallsian soldiers shout out loud in defiance at the Serpentians. The gentle morning breeze blows as the stage is set for the next phase of the battle.

     Battlelord Constrictor’s eyes narrow with a suppressed and hidden rage as the last of his precious Grand Catapults crumble into a pile of flaming heap. Waving his hand, he sends the signal for attack. The commanders of the three Serpentian forward columns shout out their orders and their subordinates begin their slow but sure march forward. Another shout of command is given and the march turns into a light run. Then the Fallsian arrows fall. The Serpentians’ light run turns into a full sprint. Frontline Serpentian swordsmen lay long ladders onto Fort Eastguard’s eastern wall and climb them as fast as possible while their archer comrades let loose volley after volley of arrows onto their Fallsian counterpart.

     A fair number of Serpentian swordsmen arrive at the top of the eastern wall. A large number of Serpentians penetrate the fort via large holes in the wall itself. Convian Genox shouts out orders for the Fallsian archers and swordsmen to take defensive positions behind the buildings in the fort which are facing the eastern wall and engage their enemy. Arrows fly, blades cut and blood sprays forth from dying soldiers on both sides. Red is the colour of the ground. Red is also the colour of the various shapes and figures locked in mortal combat. Battlelord Constrictor affords a slight smile. His soldiers are gaining steady entry into the fort. He expects the battle to be over soon. The Fallsians are excellent horsepersons and fairly good archers, but when it comes to close contact combat, the Serpentians have immense advantages in the form of extreme brutality and aggression as well as a bigger built. The fort will be his, and with it, the entire Eastern Falls Province as well.

     Meanwhile, Ray wakes up to the sound of fierce battle and finds himself in the infirmary. He sees several wounded Fallsian soldiers pick up their weapons and walk out to join the battle. Ray forces himself to get up. He grabs his silver staff and taps one end hard onto the ground while focusing his thoughts. Slowly, he absorbs a small amount of energy from the stone floor. The healers nearby look at him in surprise. He walks off several paces to another spot and does the same again. His headache begins to subside and some amount of vigour returns to his body. Then he walks out of the infirmary and tries to get to Lance and Spirit. The healers, still puzzled by Ray’s behaviour, afford no effort in trying to stop him. Slowly, they recompose themselves and return to tending to their patients.

     Meanwhile, Fallsian arrows fly in continuous streams towards the eastern wall, targeting the huge holes where the Serpentian soldiers are coming out of. Serpentian arrows stream in the opposite direction, forcing the Fallsian archers to break off their volleys occasionally to avoid being hit. Serpentian swordsmen jump down from the wall’s huge holes and rush forward to engage their Fallsian counterparts. Blades clash and bodies fall in the ensuing bloodbath. Every single pace of ground in the fort is fought, killed and died for.

     A Serpentian swordsman eyes his target, a female Fallsian commander. She seems to be wounded, judging by the bandages on her arms, body and leg. She is engaged in fierce battle with one of his comrades. He creeps up behind her, poising for a quick and clean stab to her spine.
Stab!
A cold wet blade protrudes from within his torso. A loud shout of frustrated pain catches the Fallsian commander’s attention and Convian Serene Genox turns around momentarily to see the Serpentian swordsman’s shocked expression. Verallvian Sayson draws his blade out of the Serpentian swordsman. The verallvian then engages another Serpentian nearby.

     “Convian Genox, you
should
really be more careful, you cannot expect me to save you all the time, can you
?
” says Verallvian Sayson jokingly while blocking and striking at his opponent.

     “Thank you for your advice, Verallvian Sayson. I would
love
to hear more about it but as you can see, I
am
very busy. And as for saving me all the time, do not think that I do not appreciate it, I do, actually. But I am sure that before this battle is over I shall be able to repay your kind deeds at least once
!
” replies Convian Genox while she stabs a Serpentian in the torso.

     The midday heat caused sweat to flow continuously from the foreheads of the men and women manning the barricades in Eastgush Village, stinging their eyes. Most of the men awaited the upcoming battle with silent anticipation while the women hugged and comforted each other in preparation for it. Approximately 250 Serpentian raiders were sighted by the village scout earlier on. This would be the ultimate test for them. This would be the main and final raid on the village.

     The Serpentians had realised that some of their raiders were unaccounted for. They had no doubts that these raiders were killed by the people of Eastgush and that the village was being defended by someone knowledgeable in the art of war, as common Fallsians would not have stood a chance of beating battle-hardened Serpentian raiders. Thus the Serpentians were required to follow up in full force and with extreme caution. The Serpentians were ruthless and cruel, but they were not stupid.