Flames of Awakening: Faemoch Cycle Book 1 (18 page)

Chapter Thirty-five

"Wake up, sleepy head,"
Chlora said. She perched at the head of the shrub-turned-bed where Jaxius lay.

Jaxius slowly opened his eyes,
wondering how long he had been out. He tried to rub the sleep and dreams from
his eyes and mind, but the realization that he was not dreaming assaulted him
when he remembered everything, not as a dream, but a memory of life.

"You were asleep for a very long
time, Upuchwe."

Jaxius glowered at her. "You
know I hate that name."

"Upuchwe!" Chlora said and
sprung from her perched position.

She landed squarely on his stomach
and squeezed him tight. His numerous cuts and bruises reminded him of the pain
that he had left behind. Jaxius winced but tried his best to smile through the
hug.

"I knew you would come back. You
were asleep for a very long time, but I knew that I did the right thing by
feeding you trollberries. I knew you just needed to sleep. So, I let you sleep.
While you were asleep, I watched you and I fixed you. I kinda saved your life
again, but that's what I am supposed to do because you were who you were, and I
am who I am. But, of course, I am who I am, and you are who you are. But you
didn't know who you were, you only knew who you are. Now, you know who you are,
and you know who you were. I am so very glad that you are who you were and who
you are because the demons that attacked us have moved on to the human city
that I knew you would want to protect. Besides that, I remember who you were.
Do you remember the time that we fought together against the gre..."

"Chlora," Jaxius
interrupted the girl's rambling. "Hold. You said that they moved on? To
the human city?"

She sat up and looked at him with her
head cocked to one side as if trying to figure out what he meant.

"Yes, the one far to the north.
The trees told me. I mean I didn't really get to speak to new trees, but the
grass told the roots. And the roots told more roots, and those roots told more
roots. Until finally the roots told me. Now I am telling you. My roots are the
most precious parts of my forest. That's where we are right now, my forest,
remember? We could go back to your throne room. Are you going to rebuild the
Faemoch? Things have not gone very well there since you left. There is a
darkness. We don't really talk about it. It really makes my plant friends
scared."

"No, we don't have time for that
now." The awakened elf reminded the fae girl. "We must make haste to
the fortress. The demons will slaughter all of them. How many days head start
do they have?"

"One. But I think I can find a
way for us to travel much faster. You reminded me that I can do it. I forgot,
but then during the fight against the demons..."

"Good Chlora, but we need to
stop first and pick someone up."

"The singer friend of yours? Oh,
the demons carried him away. They flew off in the distance with him as well. I
think they were going to eat him. They sure do like to play with their food,
don't they? Speaking of food, are you still hungry? I have some real food now.
My plants gathered it for me."

She tossed him a bright red, round
fruit. He held it for a long moment, staring. After the dream feast that he had
just eaten, he could pick out every flaw in this fruit. Having fully examined
it, he bit into it. The flavor did not surprise him. He knew that the dream
feast surpassed anything that he could have eaten in the whole world.
Nevertheless, he was disappointed.

"Not him," he said between
bites. "The leader of the tribes on the front."

"Good, because my plants will
not go anywhere near your other friend. He has something wrong with him, and
it's not natural. My plants don't really like carrying you with all of your
human made clothing, but when I explained to them who you are and that you
command all of the forces of the Faemoch – and that is a lot – they decided to
let you come along. I think they may do just whatever you say they need to do.
That's the way it should be. The way it should have been for all time. You
should have stayed on to lead all of your people. Why did you leave to defend
the elves? They were your creation, but you didn't have to fight with them. They
could have survived on their own. You didn't have to throw away your life. You
didn't have to do everything that she..."

"Chlora," Jaxius tried
again to bring her attention back to the present. In truth, he felt more than a
little hurt by what he knew the little faerie was about to say. "Take me
now to the humans who live just north of your forest."

"Anything for my king,"
Chlora said and went to work speaking with the roots that formed the cocoon.

The ground beneath Jaxius' feet
lurched, and he was grateful that he was seated on the bush-bed. He started to
ask more about her method of travel but held his tongue as a memory surfaced.
With this in his mind, he looked around the room and felt most comfortable.
Moments later, the pod jerked again, this time in the opposite direction. By
the heavy feeling that filled his stomach, he knew them to be rising rapidly.
Jaxius smiled, knowing the reaction that he would get from the barbarians.

Chapter Thirty-six

The ground shook so violently that it
bounced Grundar from his seat at the massive table in the central tent of the
sprawling camp. After a few seconds, the earthquake stopped, and Grundar stood.

"Grundar," one of the
guards called from outside. "Ye need to see this."

Grundar took three long strides and
was out of the tent. He slid to a stop just outside and stared at the giant
shell that had surfaced in the middle of his camp. It stood seven feet tall and
twice as wide. He looked frantically for a weapon nearby. His panic heightened
as the vines that made up the pod slithered and loosened.

Finding no nearby weapon, Grundar
clenched his teeth and resolved to take on whatever came forth bare handed. He
decided that this winter had already proven the busiest and most taxing winter
he had ever faced.

The top of the hull opened wide to
the sky, and the front flowed away. The last of the greenery receded into the
ground to reveal Jaxius. He stood with one hand casually on Chlora's shoulder,
the other gripping his mighty
viortassi
.

"Get your gear. We need
you," Jaxius called.

"Ye blasted elf. Ye could 'ave
tol' me ye were comin' this way. Where's me boy? An' yer bard?"

"All in due time. I have word
from Bergar. And Tolian is on his way to our destination. No need to
worry." Jaxius said, fervently wishing he believed his own lie. He did
have news from Bergar, just not much. And, although he believed that Tolian was
more than capable of taking care of himself in a fair fight, Jaxius knew he had
not been given that. "If you hurry we might even beat him to
Werlgart."

"Werlgart? Why're we goin' t'
th' Fortress? Winter's jes' half o'er."

"Come on. I will fill you in on
the way," Jaxius said.

The urgency in his voice must have
gotten through to Grundar because the clan chieftain sprang back through the
tent flaps. He returned a moment later with his great axe over his shoulder.

"Are you ready?" Jaxius
asked, knowing that there was no way that his friend truly was.

Grundar nodded.

Jaxius and Chlora walked over to
stand beside Grundar. The roots again shot up from the ground and enveloped the
three. The large knot of roots and vines shot back into the earth, shaking the
Dernegart camp for a second time.

"Wha'... how... Ah, ne'er mind
ye," Grundar said.

Jaxius laughed, amused with the
barbarian's acceptance of the magical transport, and attempted to clarify,
"We set out to the south, but before we had gotten two days from your
camp, we were set upon by an army of demons. Chlora had just shown up to warn
us. After the fight, I found myself in a deep sleep and was forced to confront
my past. Your son was there, too. Thanks to him, and Kaird, I know all that I
set out to learn. Now, we must travel to Werlgart to intercept the demon host
before they destroy your kin."

Grundar sat on the bushy seat
contemplating all that he had just been told. "So me boy could still be
out there? Somewhere."

Jaxius shrugged and nodded. For the
first time, he thought deeply about it. Bergar could have returned to Tolian's
body, or perhaps found his way out into the world as a freed soul. Bergar might
even have found his way into some happy afterlife and was being rewarded as
they spoke for his valor. In truth, Jaxius had no idea. The uncomfortable
discussion was cut short as the cocoon lurched, indicating a shift in momentum.
The heavy feeling again dropped Jaxius' stomach. This time, the increase in
pressure lasted much longer.

"I won't be able to join you,
Upuchwe. After you left, I was tasked with the protection of my forest. I have
spent as long as I can spend away from my trees. Their roots run deep, but not
quite this far north. The grass tells me that we passed the demons a few
minutes ago. They fly slowly. But they will be here in a short time. I hope to
see you again, Upuchwe. I know that you will teach these nasty, evil, foul,
grotesque, horrid, gross, putrid, smelly, icky demons a lesson. Oh, and goodbye
sad barbarian human man-thing. I hope you don't die today." Chlora's
speech was hurried, as usual with the flighty fae.

On cue, the vines slipped open and
down, forming a ramp to the lip of the wall of the fortress of Werlgart. Bergar
stepped off first, his knees wobbling and grateful for the solid ground. His
comfort was short-lived, however, because when he looked back he saw that they
had been suspended thousands of feet in the air by a single vine.

"Stranger, ye might want t' be
movin' yer feet," he said.

Jaxius smiled and took one last
chance to bow deeply to Chlora and stepped off the vine carriage. He turned and
waved his farewell to Chlora who was already weeping. The vines of the
transport enveloped her and she lowered back to the ground and beyond. Jaxius
noticed little of this, however. His eyes had affixed to the black cloud on the
horizon.

"Grundar, go and raise the
alarm. Get as many people inside as you can."

"But, ye'll be needin' me fer
th' fightin'," Grundar argued.

"Go!" Jaxius commanded. His
eyes flashed emerald, and his hair stood in a halo around his head. Antlers
sprouted from among the floating strands. He floated inches above the ground,
and viridian flames danced crackling along his arms and legs.

Grundar, fearing the change coming
over his companion, fled into the streets of Werlgart, the barbarian clans'
winter safe-haven.

Jaxius turned back to the growing
cloud of monsters and tightened his grip on his elven
viortassi
. A
luscious bed of grass and foliage sprouted all about him and grew to envelop
the platform where he stood.

"Let them come. I shall show
these demons the full power of the fae of old."

Chapter Thirty-seven

The first attackers approached
swiftly. The leaders of the demon pack were the smallest and fastest ones. What
they gained in speed, they gave up in strength and hardness. The first tiny
thing swung a vicious claw at Jaxius in an attempt at a fly-by attack. Jaxius
batted it away with his
viortassi
and, with the same movement, sliced
the demon in half. Another winged demon darted in, and then another. Each found
its attacks futile and its body crumpled to the ground. This dance carried on
until nearly a dozen of the waist tall demons were littered in butchered pieces
all about Jaxius. Green flames slowly consumed the remnants of the small
monsters.

Jaxius tensed and readied himself.
The short break in action between the fast sprinting demons and the bulk of the
attacking force gave the awakened elf-lord a moment to catch his breath. A
dozen of the demons flew in and landed all about him, the heat from their
demonic bodies wilting the wild fae-grass beneath their feet. Jaxius cut his
eyes and glanced over his shoulder. He studied every movement, every breath,
every muscle twitch. Mentally he braced for their concerted attack. One demon
led the movement; Jaxius saw its leg muscles tense just before it launched
itself. The scaly black thing hadn't even left the ground before Jaxius'
viortassi
snapped out and cut its throat wide open. With little effort, Jaxius
changed the momentum of his blade and cut down through the thing's stomach,
spilling its otherworldly insides to the ground.

Time slowed so much that Jaxius, if
he had wanted to, could count the snowflakes falling. Jaxius spun about,
sensing the next of his enemies leaping through the air. His warrior instincts,
honed to perfection, were amplified in his time altered state. Jaxius caught
the beast in the air and sliced through it, using its own energy to push it up
and over him. His third attacker slipped in behind him then. The monster scored
a minor hit to Jaxius' far shoulder as the half-elf reversed his grip on the
elven blade and swung the metal up and out behind him. The blade exploded
through the creature. Jaxius took a step forward and removed the blade. The
demon slumped bonelessly to the ground.

The remaining nine demons of the
second wave rushed in, but they found no target waiting for them. Jaxius'
new-found speed and powers proved too great an obstacle for the demons. He was
in the air long before they reached the center of their encircling ring. He
landed several yards away and watched the confusion build in the fiends. When
they finally figured out what had happened, they turned around and, spotting
Jaxius, charged as a unit after him. Jaxius smiled, knowing the monstrous
beasts were dead before they even started. He called upon his innate fae
powers, conjuring a burst of intense light. The light stopped the advance of
the demons just as Jaxius had hoped it would. Their eyes, although able to see
in the bright light of the mortal world, are not used to such brilliant,
momentary flashes of light. The demons blinked and squinted through burning
tears. Not charging blindly onward was their last mistake. Jaxius shot through
the group of demons too fast for any of them to react. When he had finished his
offensive, he skidded to a stop and spun about. He watched as the bodies all
slumped to the ground.

From all around him Jaxius heard the
telltale sounds of violent battle erupting. He was pleased that Grundar had
followed his instructions. Perhaps, with the help of the barbarians, this
battle could be turned to the defenders' advantage. As Jaxius looked around he
noted, at least, two score more of the demons engaged with at least twice that
number of the tundra barbarians. He turned back to see what other infernal
beasts might challenge him. The warrior knew deep in his heart that this
assault was aimed at him. Why else would over a dozen of the creatures target
him specifically?

His contemplation was cut short when
a massive blur of black and purple scales slammed into him from the side. His
viortassi
slipped from his hands and skated across the frozen ground. Jaxius spun
into a crouch and faced the new attacker in one swift movement.

The beast that loomed above Jaxius
sneered, opening its gorilla mouth to reveal large, yellow dagger teeth. Its
dark leathery wings spread open, and it coiled back on its long purple
snake-like body. This beast was a new type, not one the warrior had seen
before. The enormous demon stood more than twice as tall as himself. Each of
its large, heavily muscled arms was as big around as Jaxius' waist.

"You may defeat my lesser
minions, but I assure you, this is merely a scouting party for the main
contingent of my army. I will crush you and then haul your broken body to
deposit your shell at the feet of my master," the creature said, its voice
like the low rumble of thunder.

"Do your best, demon,"
Jaxius said. He forced all of his courage into his words. He was not as sure of
himself now as he was just moments before.

At Jaxius' command, the giant demon
sprang forth, razor sharp claws leading the way. Jaxius dove backward, reaching
for his
viortassi
. The demon moved with a speed unmatched in any of the
other attacking fiends, but Jaxius managed to grab his heavy elven blade and
turn in time to interpose the flat of the blade between himself and
Gredgeshnosch. The demon's attacks were lightning fast and carried the force of
a siege engine. Jaxius struggled to parry the onslaught. The hollow clang of
his blade on Gredgeshnosch's steel hard skin rang throughout Werlgart.

As groups of warriors finished off
their demon foes they formed a circle around Jaxius and the demon, intent as a
group to aid the half-elf. The first of the barbarians stepped forward to help
but was cut short. A twenty-foot tall ring of fire leaped from the ground,
obscuring the fight from the humans and forcing the impotent barbarians to back
away.

Jaxius and the hideous demon circled
round and round. It clawed at him. He parried and stepped back. Finding small
openings, Jaxius pressed his attack. Jaxius' blade rang louder and louder, the
ringing nearly deafening even in the open air. The back and forth of the
contest sped up. Each combatant spent less time attacking, laboring to stay
even on the defensive. Seconds turned to minutes as the fight raged on. Jaxius
changed his tactic abruptly, watching for the opportunity to finish off his
opponent. He fought more defensively. He rebuked and dodged attack after attack.
Sweat beaded Jaxius' forehead with his efforts. Sensing his foe tiring, the
warrior plunged forward, pressing his attack.

Green flames streamed from Jaxius'
eyes, his muscles tensed, and he lunged,  his elven
viortassi
a mere
blur. He came up inside of the demon's reach with his
viortassi
buried
to the hilt in the beast's gut. Gredgeshnosch howled with pain. Jaxius called
on more of his fae heritage and set his blade ablaze with his verdant flames.

Gredgeshnosch's eyes narrowed in
hatred and its nostrils flared wide with pain. It slammed its palm into the
side of Jaxius' sword, snapping the elven steel just above the hilt. Its tail
swung sharply from the other direction and connected solidly with Jaxius' ribs.
The half-elf went flying and rolled across the ground, landing face down. He
pushed himself up onto his hands and struggled to pull his feet under him. His
muscles ached, and sweat dripped from him like rainwater.

The demon's roaring, mocking laughter
split the air and vibrated the ground. The horrendous brute celebrated its
victory. It grasped the blade of the
viortassi
and pulled, wanting the
accursed burning thing out of him. Jaxius' eyes narrowed and the fires burning
there flared and enveloped his head. The flames on the blade of his
viortassi
rose, searing Gredgeshnosch's hand. The glowing green flames grew, fed by
the mental command of Jaxius.

"Demon spawn," Jaxius said.
"Your time is not now. It shall not be soon. You will go back to your
torments. And if I ever see you again ..." Deer antlers sprouted from his
forehead. His hair blazed green and flowed around him. "I will erase you
from history!"

The flames exploded from
Gredgeshnosch. The force of their explosion put out the encircling demonic
fire. When the brilliant emerald light faded, the
viortassi
blade fell
to the ground, bent and twisted. The demon was no more, consumed by the faerie
flames and sent back to his hell.

Jaxius rose and his flames of anger
subsided.