Dawn of Man (Thanos Book 1) (20 page)

Instinctively, Jedek reached for his spell bag as the man pointed at him. Jedek gritted his teeth as a small, white blob of light shot from the man’s fingers, hitting him in the chest. He waited for the pain but didn’t feel any. Trying to feel the wound, he realized he couldn’t move his arm. Panic flooded   his body as another explosion roared from outside and shook the room. He ignored the sounds of battle, fighting to calm down.

The only things Jedek found he could control were his eyes and breathing, but he couldn’t even take a deep breath. Cutting his eyes, he saw his attacker join the battle against his dad and Theobald, which was only a few feet away now. A large group rushed them as a wave of light erupted from Theobald, blowing all the attackers back, and Jedek was terrified at the numbers. Vilarius lifted his hand, and a rope of blue light shot out, wrapping around a group of attackers. The men screamed as the rope continued to curl, and smoke poured off their bodies.

“Ahh!” Jedek heard and moved his eyes back to his dad, seeing five throwing knives in Theobald’s chest. Theobald reached down, pulled one out, and threw it, hitting an attacker in the forehead. The victory was short-lived as three men in the windows unleashed arrows, striking Theobald in the heart. Theobald started to shake as the venom from the knives started to take effect. “I’m sorry, sire,” Theobald gasped as he fell to the floor.

Looking back at his father, Jedek saw he was only fighting four, and the others in the room were just hanging back, watching the fight. Fear and anger flooded Jedek’s body knowing the attackers were playing to prolong his dad’s suffering, knowing death was inevitable. Hearing a grunt, he looked up and saw a man pull a sword from his dad’s belly. His dad dropped his sword, staggered toward him, and dropped to his knees in front of Jedek.

Vilarius reached out, grabbed Jedek’s hand, and realized he was magically binded. “Be strong; they want you, and Ahnon is coming. Remember that I and your mother love you and will be waiting on you. Life is but a journey, and this is just one step, son,” Vilarius said then grimaced. Blood started to come out of his mouth. “You survive this, and don’t give them the pleasure of seeing you cry for me. Let them know this house will always live and stay strong,” he said then collapsed on his face.

With the last of his energy, Vilarius rolled on his back, still holding Jedek’s hand. Jedek tried to scream but couldn’t. He wanted to touch his father, only inches away, and couldn’t. The only thing he could do was let tears run down his face as he watched his dad die in front of him.

Seeing the attackers move, Jedek looked up and saw them part to form a corridor for a man in a gray cloth like them, but the top of his head wasn’t covered, and a red cloth was tied around his face, covering his mouth and nose. He stopped beside Vilarius, and Jedek noticed the man’s hair was steel gray, and his eyes were a pale red.

“Jedek, I presume,” the man said, looking at him.

Vilarius coughed up blood and rolled his head to look at the man. “Please, you’ve done what you wanted. I’m dead, so please leave my son,” Vilarius gasped.

The gray-haired man laughed. “We didn’t come here to kill you, Vilarius. We came for your son.” He unsheathed his sword and rested the tip on Vilarius’ chest. “Rest assured, we aren’t going to kill him.” He pulled the red cloth from his mouth. “We have much bigger plans,” he said, smiling. “The brothers are going to be very put out with you for killing this many kytensa.”

“It was easy,” Vilarius whispered.

“Now, I like that,” the man laughed. “It may have been easy, but I’m the one standing, taking your son, and you’re just dying, so why don’t you?” He shoved his sword into Vilarius’ chest. Then he twisted the blade and pulled it out. “The great sovereign is dead,” the man said, wiping his blade.

“Brytil,” a kytensa called out as he ran in, and the gray-haired man turned around. “We have reports of bhari in strength coming over the south wall.”

“Well kill them,” Brytil said, sheathing his sword.

“My lord, I will need to pull from the west regiment.”

“Fine. The garrison is dead,” Brytil said, laughing, as the man ran out. Brytil looked down at Jedek. “You have the worst manners I’ve ever seen. You need to stand when I’m around,” he said with a grin. “After you kneel to me,” he added, his grin turning into a smile. Hearing movement behind him, Brytil turned and immediately bowed his head as the rest of the kytensa dropped to one knee. “Master Ryetan,” he said, holding the bow.

Jedek saw the man and was shocked at his features. His face was, for better lack of a better word, perfect. His hair was so blond it was almost white and ran over his shoulders, but it was his eyes that drew Jedek’s attention. They were completely black. Ryetan looked around the room, shaking his head. “This is what you call having excellent kytensa, Brytil?” he asked, looking at the bodies.

“Master, they were waiting on us,” Brytil said, still not lifting his head.

“Of course they were, idiot. You expected them to open the door and just let you in?”

“Master, we used standard tactics coming in but prevailed and succeeded in our mission,” Brytil explained with a tremor in his voice.

“Luck is the only reason you’re alive. Any idiot can just keep throwing bodies in till the enemy gets tired. If these were just regular troops, I could care less, but they are kytensa. The Overlord is going to be displeased,” Ryetan said with malice.

“Master, we got him,” Brytil said, shaking now.

“What about the bhari coming over the south wall?” Ryetan asked, moving his hand to the katana at his waist.

“Master, I ordered troops from the west regiment to reinforce the south regiment.”

“Throwing more troops into a grinder,” Ryetan mumbled. “You will personally see that the south wall holds. We leave an hour after sunup, when the ships are off the docks and in the bay. I suggest you not be late and waste anymore of the Overlord’s kytensa.”

“Yes, Master!” Brytil shouted, never lifting his head as he ran out of the room, tripping over several bodies.

Ryetan moved over to Jedek and smiled. “Jedek, you’re bigger than I thought. That’s what you get for relying on spies for reports.” Ryetan chuckled. Jedek didn’t know if Ryetan was actually looking at him or not. Jedek couldn’t see any white in Ryetan’s orbs of tar. Ryetan took a step closer and was looking straight down at him.

“You may speak,” Ryetan said, pointing at Jedek’s mouth. Suddenly, he could move his mouth, and it felt so wonderful. Then he saw his father and wanted to cry but held it. “Nothing to say then?” Ryetan said, chuckling.

Jedek tried to shrug but couldn’t. “Not really. I don’t talk to troll droppings.”

Ryetan laughed. “Now, that’s the spirit,” he said. “Where’s your sho-ka? The one they call Ahnon?” he asked.

“He should be here soon. I promise I’ll introduce you,” Jedek vowed, forcing a smile.

“I would like that, but I assure you, he wouldn’t. Doesn’t matter anyway; the garrison is dead, and the closest troops to the castle are on the other side of the city. It will take them all day to get here. Your Ahnon shows up, he would have to get through five regiments of kytensa,” Ryetan said.

“Look who just throws bodies,” Jedek popped off.

“Boy, I really like you,” Ryetan chuckled. “Wasn’t my idea. The Overlord demanded the castle taken, and you see what happened. I want you to try and remember that, boy. What the Overlord wants, he gets.” Ryetan pointed at a man. “Tie his hands, and leave his weapons. Then, take him to the great hall till we start our withdrawal,” Ryetan commanded, and the man jumped.

“Where can I tell Ahnon to find you when he comes? I really want to introduce you to him,” Jedek said as Ryetan walked away.

“I promise you, boy, if he shows, I’ll be here,” Ryetan said, walking away, never turning around.

The man grabbed Jedek and lifted him, throwing his limp body over his shoulder. “Goodbye, Father. I love you. I will remember you always, and I will do what you said,” Jedek said, fighting not to cry as the man carried him out. Still hearing the sounds of battles outside and hoping for Ahnon, a single tear fell. Jedek never noticed the amulet getting hot, giving off a soft, red glow through his tunic.

Chapter 15

Unable to turn his head to look around, Jedek closed his eyes and concentrated on his hearing as the man carried him down the great staircase. He could tell the battle was still going hard outside, and there was a lot of magic being used with all the thunderous detonations and sharp explosions. Swords clashing could be heard till the next explosion rocked the castle. The candles in the great hall were lit, and as his head bobbed. Jedek could see a whole bunch of kytensa around when he opened his eyes.

The man threw him in the throne at the far end of the hall, making Jedek’s head slam into its back, sending stars into his vision. “Hey, you rock ape butt sniffer, that hurt!” Jedek shouted, making the man turn around. “I’ll make sure Ahnon comes to tell you hi also. The last time kytensa were here, he killed fifteen in minutes, never breaking a sweat. Then he got mad because there were no more,” Jedek said, seeing fear in his exposed eyes. “I’ll make sure it’s not gentle when he talks to you.”

The man snorted and walked away as Jedek cut his eyes back and forth, catching his breath. He couldn’t believe his eyes and started counting kytensa, stopping when he reached one hundred. Another explosion sounded outside to the south, but this one was close. Cutting his eyes toward the east windows, he saw a bright light flicker, like lighting, and closed his eyes, knowing what was coming.

When the detonation of thunder hit, the entire wall of windows on the east wall shattered inward. Jedek wanted to shake his head to stop the ringing in his ears but couldn’t. Opening his eyes, Jedek saw all the kytensa in the great hall moving to the east-side main door, forming a tightly packed wall. An explosion hit the door from the outside, and unlike the door to the state hall, this door shattered into splinters.

The wall of bodies bowled back as one, tumbling to the floor as a blur bounced over the mass of bodies and jumped high in the air. Suddenly, the blur stopped, hovering thirty feet off the floor, and Jedek saw Ahnon. Relief flooded his body. Ahnon’s arms were blurring at his side, and Jedek didn’t know what he was doing until he saw kytensa falling with knives stuck in their chests or throats.

Just as suddenly as he appeared, Ahnon blurred, dropping to the floor. Jedek saw him pull the sword from his staff and charge through the room. He never stopped moving, bobbing and weaving, swinging his sword, cutting off arms and legs. Though at one time it had made him sick, Jedek yelled, “Kill them all, Ahnon!”

Letting out a shout, Ahnon held up his left hand, and hundreds of flaming darts shot from his hand as he waved it around so the darts could find targets. On the north wall, Jedek saw a kytensa stand up and point his hand at Ahnon, but the man just burst into flames. “Yep, that’s why you keep your mind on the magic,” Jedek said, seeing another kytensa turn into a white light and detonate, killing several others.

Looking back at Ahnon, Jedek saw him swinging his arms in broad loops, and kytensa’s arms and legs were chopped off. Spinning around and swinging his right arm around, two kytensa’s heads fell off, then Ahnon was holding a knife in his hand. Letting the knife go, he started whipping it back and forth, severing body parts. Jedek smiled, remembering seeing the knife connected to some type of string to Ahnon’s right forearm all those years ago.

Seeing movement out of the corner of his eye, he saw a kytensa running toward him, and the kytensa had his sword out. “I will not be afraid,” Jedek said as the man neared him then froze. Falling down in front of him, Jedek saw a throwing knife stuck in the back of his head. “That’s my sho-ka. Told you he would be here to say hello,” Jedek said, lifting his eyes. He saw Ahnon pointing at him, and a glob of white light shot from his finger and raced across the hall then hit him in the chest.

Jedek lifted his tied hands to his face. “Thank you, Ahnon,” he said, looking back. Ahnon still moved through the kytensa, swinging and slashing, but there were only a few left. Suddenly, Ahnon jumped up, dropping some shiny objects on the floor, and they burst into a green smoke. Blurring again, Ahnon shot toward Jedek, dropping down beside the kytensa with the knife in his head.

“Sire, are you okay?” Ahnon asked, gasping for air.

“Yes,” Jedek said, throwing his tied hands over Ahnon’s head, hugging him.

“The king?” Ahnon panted.

“He’s dead, Ahnon. They killed him right in front of me,” Jedek said, fighting not to cry.

Ahnon wrapped an arm around Jedek, hugging him tight. “Sire, we have to leave now,” Ahnon said, gasping for air. Jedek lifted his arms off Ahnon.

“Ahnon, they killed everyone,” he said with tears in his eyes.

“Sire, I can’t survive a battle of this magnitude much longer. It took everything I had to get here. We have to leave now,” Ahnon said, standing up. It was then that Jedek noticed Ahnon’s torn, blood-soaked, and burned clothes, wounds all over his body, and the blood coming out of his mouth, nose, and ears. Lifting Jedek, Ahnon took off the cloth around his neck and wrapped it around Jedek’s face, covering his mouth. “When we move through the green cloud, try not to breath deep, and close your eyes. The gas is deadly, sire.” Ahnon threw Jedek’s arms over his head and turned around putting Jedek on his back. “Wrap your legs around me. We will be moving fast, and I’ll have to fight to get us out. Try to remain like a rock on me, sire,” Ahnon said, squatting down.

Jedek could feel the energy building, then suddenly, they were airborne, sailing over the hall when a ball of blue light came at them, and Ahnon dropped to the floor and ran at the green cloud. Ahnon flicked his left wrist, and Jedek saw him holding a pyramid with a string connected to the top. Reaching back, Ahnon threw it high above the green cloud. With a sudden jerk, they were airborne, but Jedek noticed they weren’t flying. They were swinging.

Glancing down, Jedek gawped at the mass of bodies then looked forward as they swung through the cloud. He forgot to close his eyes, and they started watering. Emerging to the other side, Ahnon threw a handful of metal on the floor in front of the main entrance under the staircase. As the metal objects bounced and spread out, Jedek saw they were foot spikes.

Ahnon flicked his wrist, and they started to fall toward the staircase. Landing on the handrail, Ahnon jumped off toward the wall and kicked off it back toward the handrail. When he hit the handrail, he threw another handful of objects but this time at the great doors. As the objects separated, heading toward the door, Jedek noticed they were tiny, flat, and had four sharp needles spaced around the flat edges. They flew through the air, spinning toward the door, and just as Ahnon kicked off the banister, Jedek saw the doors start to open then disappear from view. Ahnon kicked off the wall, but this time, they landed on the balcony. As screams filled the air from below, Ahnon straightened.

A kytensa on the balcony charged them, swinging his sword down, but Ahnon swung his sword up, blocking the blow. Continuing the swing, Ahnon passed the blade through the kytensa’s body, and he kept moving before the body hit the floor. Moving through the door, Ahnon looked down each hallway but didn’t see movement. Turning around, he pointed at the door, flicking his wrist, and the doors slammed shut. “Dad and Theobald’s bodies are down there,” Jedek said.

“We…don’t have the…time, sire,” Ahnon gasped. Reaching inside his shirt, he pulled out what looked like mud. Ahnon threw it at where the two doors met. “Sevta mua goyza,” he said, pointing at the mud, and it turned a pale yellow.

“Ahnon, please just make sure I’m right and they’re dead,” Jedek pleaded. Nodding, Ahnon leaned toward the state room, and the hallway blurred in Jedek’s vision. Suddenly, they were standing in the room among the mass of bodies. Jedek fought the tears, seeing his dad and Theobald still lying on the floor. Ahnon moved over to each, cutting a lock of hair and shoving them in his pocket.

“I’m sorry, sire,” Ahnon said as he moved to the door. Stepping into the hall, Ahnon took off running.

Two kytensa jumped out of doorways on each side of the hall, raising their swords and charging them. Ahnon picked up speed and suddenly dropped to his knees, sliding down the marble floor. Swinging his sword from right to left, Ahnon caught both in the belly, doubling them over as he slid past them. Jumping back to his feet, Ahnon yelled, “Hold on!” They blasted down the hall. Just before reaching the end where the hall split, Ahnon jumped and extended his leg, kicking off the wall, sending them down the hallway to the right.

Instead of running to the balcony ahead, Ahnon slowed, trying to catch his breath, and started coughing. When he took his hand away from his mouth, Jedek noticed blood covering the glove. “Is that your blood?” he asked.

“Yes, sire,” Ahnon panted. “Don’t worry, sire. I still have quite a few tricks left.” He reached into his pouch and pulled out a crystal ball bigger than Jedek’s hand.

“I really don’t want my fortune right now, Ahnon,” Jedek said.

Ahnon gave a chuckle that ended in a coughing fit, stopping him in his tracks. Jedek watched in horror as Ahnon coughed up a lot of blood, forming a pool on the floor. Standing back up, he wiped his face and staggered down the hallway. Behind them, a thunderous
KA-BOOM!
sounded, shaking the castle.

Ahnon held up the crystal ball. “Hygat noma gecta wydrac,” he said, and the crystal started turning a dark blue. Ahnon dropped the ball on the floor, and it rolled over to a small table in the hall with flowers sitting on it.

Concentrating to move one foot at a time, Ahnon moved to the balcony, which seemed to be moving away from him.

Trying to look over his shoulder to see if anyone was coming, Jedek said, “Ahnon, we have to check on Kenna and Mom. If you can’t, let me.”  Turning back around, he noticed the ball under the table looked like it was filled with fluid that was boiling and was slowly changing colors.

“Okay, sire, but we have to wait here for a second,” Ahnon said as they reached the balcony. The sky was starting to lighten, and the sounds of battle still raged from around the castle. Ahnon reached into his pouch then dropped some powder at his feet. “When I jump, it’s going to hurt, sire, so be ready,” Ahnon said, hearing running back in the hallway.

“Where are we jumping to?” Jedek asked. Unable to talk, Ahnon pointed to the south wing. “Ahnon, that’s over a mile away,” Jedek mumbled.

“It’s going to hurt, so tense your body when the explosion sounds.” Looking down at his feet, he said, “Purgyon lartcuz polbavic ah nunza.” The powder glowed, and the glowing flowed to Ahnon’s feet and ran up his legs then faded. “They’re coming. Don’t be afraid, sire,” Ahnon said, steadying his breathing.

“I won’t be scared, Ahnon. Father asked me to show them no weakness,” Jedek said with determination.

Ahnon turned around and looked back down the hallway, taking a casual stance and sheathing his staff sword then rested his hands on it. Then, a group appeared at the T and looked toward them, several letting out shouts. From down the hall, they heard someone with authority yell, and the group kneeled. “Uh-oh,” Jedek said.

“What?” Ahnon asked.

“It’s the boss.”

“What does he look like?” Ahnon asked, and Jedek described him. “Sounds like one of the brothers. Good work, sire,” Ahnon said, seeing blond hair come around the corner. “Remember what I told you,” Ahnon said in a low voice as the man approached, looking like what Jedek described.

“I told you he would come, cow. Look who’s stupid now, Ryetan!” Jedek yelled from Ahnon’s back, making Ahnon grin.

The man laughed and walked toward them without a care in the world. “No, Jedek, that was my brother. I’m Ental, and I’m not as nice as Ryetan.”

“You look like a baboon’s butt to me,” Ahnon said, making Ental pause then stop.

“You must be the notorious Ahnon. Ryetan is going to be so mad when I kill you. Those mini stars you threw caught him in the face. It looks like it’s going to leave a scar no matter what magic we try,” Ental said with a fake smile.

“My condolences, and tell him for me, ‘The pain doesn’t go away…ever,’” Ahnon said, smiling, and his was genuine.

“I think I’ll take you alive because I would really like to know how you did that. He is almost tearing his face off, and the cuts aren’t that big,” Ental said, his fake smile turning into a vicious grin.

“Can’t do that. It’s a secret,” Ahnon said. “What makes you think you’re good enough to take me? I’ve waded through your kytensa like they weren’t even there. You’re nothing but a lap dog that I can kill at will.”

“You remember your words when you hear your sire scream, sho-ka!” he yelled.

“Ah, did I make the little baby mad?” Ahnon teased.

“You talk tough for someone who is about to know death, and you don’t have anything ready for me,” Ental said, drawing his sword.

“Don’t have to,” Ahnon said. “You’re already dead; you just don’t recognize it yet.”

Ental laughed, then worry replaced calm when he saw the grin on Ahnon’s face. Ental froze and slowly looked around then spotted the crystal ball that was now a deep black and looked like it was boiling inside. The men behind Ental saw where he was looking and screamed. “Don’t move!” Ental shouted, but they turned and ran, activating the magic.

The ball let out a ground-shaking explosion, filling the hallway with a deep, black fire that melted the very stones of the castle as it shook the ground miles away. When the ball exploded, Ahnon focused his mind and body, pushing with everything he had.