Legends of Marithia: Book 3 - Talonsphere (3 page)

Tusdar breathed deep and combed his fingers through her hair. He watched as the slivers of light dimmed. Her words reminded him of watching his army burn from the inside, all at the hands of Vartan. Tusdar hoped he wouldn’t have to face Vartan again.

Tusdar’s voice deepened as he hid the anger within his words. “Don’t try that again. I can’t bear to lose you. You’ve no idea of what he’s capable. Did you see what he did to our people?”

“Our people?” she said, grinning. “So you’ve truly become one of us.”

Power returned to the rising Blood-Red Moon, and the beams of sunlight had transformed to burgundy moonlight, they received a message from Kassina. Her voice strained in their skulls.

How did this disaster happen? Marithia crawls in the afterglow of their victory. Be careful returning to our lands.

Tusdar tugged at his shirt and stared at the tattoo of an eye in the centre of a pentagram, on his chest. The etching was foreign, but it linked him to the rulers of the underworld. “I’ll get us home.”

Darkness gripped the lands. It was now or never. Tusdar grunted as he shifted the block of wood barring the door. Edging it open, they watched for signs of human or elven warriors hunting them. To his surprise, the town appeared calm. He heard the gentle crunches of footsteps and murmuring voices around Crondor.

Tusdar whispered, “I don’t think they know we’re here. We can make a break for it and head to the forest. It leads back to Tr’Arch River. We’ll make our way through the lowlands.” He took a moment to watch the red moonlight illuminate his lover’s face. The soft glow accentuated the feminine features on her otherwise powerful frame.

“That sounds like a good plan, but we haven’t fed; we are weak. Shall I take the lead?”

He brought her close and took her by the hand. She was shaking. Her mask of resilience failed to hide her crumbling physique. “No. Hold on to me and stay close, all right?”

He led her across the street’s shadows. Their blood granted them superior speed, even while weakened. They ran to lean against an ice cold wall, beside a crumbling graveyard. Spirits whispered their names from every corner. Tusdar brought a finger to his lips as he watched shadows move. Surveying their location, they were in between three houses and had no other way out.

“Damn it,” Tusdar said. He crouched down and clenched his jaw, readying himself for the inevitable as footsteps approached. His moment of weakness was overcome as he looked at Mestal again, steeling his strength.

Come on, you can do this. If you can steal from castles, you can get out of here.

Peering around the corner, he spied four elven warriors. Two of them wielded flamed torches, which shone against their armour as they patrolled Crondor’s streets. Their young voices echoed through the alleys. He narrowed his eyes as he focused on their position, making out their words.

“Hey Drubb, do you really think this place is haunted?” a warrior said, staring into the shadows.

The stockiest elf laughed, making hand puppet shadows of animals in front of his torch. “Boo! We’re out to get ya all!”

Elves, and not the brightest of them. We have a chance after all
, Tusdar thought, managing a grin.

Furrowing his brow, a smaller warrior punched him in the shoulder. “Stop it! That ain’t funny! I’m seeing and hearing things all over this place. Don’t like this post at all. We were supposed to get reinforcements. Where are the lazy cretins? Probably too busy fucking lonely widows.”

Latching on to Mestal’s hand and resting the other on his sword’s hilt, Tusdar remained perfectly still as the warriors’ flames licked the air between them. The elves neared their position and halted in the centre of the path. Their elongated shadows danced over the graveyard.

Drubb shrugged. “Dunno, Marr. Maybe they’re busy helpin’ wit’ the rebuild? Or maybe they’re shackin’ up wit’
our
women! Your wife must be gettin’ lonely there without you, aye?”

The taunted elf’s breath erupted in a cloud of fog as Marr shoved him. “You better watch your mouth!”

Good! Fight, you bastards, and let us slip out of here.

Drubb stumbled back from the blow, almost stepping on Tusdar’s hand before the vampire snatched it out of the way.

Marr growled and raised his clenched fist. “Blasted new recruits! You’ve no respect at all.”

Tusdar began to draw his blade, its surface about to reach the moonlight. He jumped at the sound of branches snapping, deep within the forest.

“Hey, do you hear that?” asked another one of the warriors. He stared into the forest surrounding them with squinted eyes.

Tusdar surveyed the scene, his eyes darting in all directions. He knew that a window of opportunity presented itself, and he readied for the right moment.

The elves drew their swords and approached the tree line, watching for signs of movement. The elf they called Marr spun his sword’s tip, taunting whatever was in the forest.

Kassina’s voice entered the vampires’ minds.
That was too close! I can’t always get you out of a mess. Keep moving!

Tusdar rose to his feet, elated at the queen of the darkness lending a hand. He was growing to like her more with each passing day. He helped Mestal to her feet, and they snuck around the building, easing their feet on barren patches of dirt. Taking a few more steps, they entered an area lit by lanterns as another bunch of twigs snapped in the forest.

A warrior barked, “There! I
knew
I heard something!” He took the lead into the forest.

By the gods, I can’t thank you enough, Kassina
, Tusdar thought.

The sound of a woman’s humming echoed all around them. Windows unanimously slammed shut throughout the town.

That wasn’t me
, Kassina said,
Get out of there. Now!

“
What are you? Come out and fight, you coward!” Marr said, fogs of breath puffing from his mouth.

Tusdar didn’t want to stick around to find out what creature or demon was coming their way. Whatever it was, the elves should serve to slow it down. He quickened their pace and reached the town’s inn. A red, star-shaped crystal hung above its door, glowing and flashing furiously. Tusdar was distracted for a moment, staring at the strange artefact. He was unsure if it was detecting their presence, or the worse alternative, a demon’s.

If it stops demons and is this strong, then we are in serious trouble
, he thought.

Mestal bumped into his side and let out an involuntary whimper. She quickly covered her mouth and stared, wide-eyed, far behind him. He turned to watch Drubb and Marr bear down on their position. His dead heart sank at the realisation that this wasn’t going to be the easy escape he had hoped for.

The elves had split into two groups. The other two headed into the forest.

“Halt!” Marr said. “Who goes there?”

Tusdar and Mestal shared a glance before turning toward Tr’Arch River. Mestal’s eyes glowed crimson as she hissed in the elves’ direction, baring her glistening fangs. They fled at an inhuman speed under the moon’s burgundy glow.

“Vampires!” Drubb said. “Kill ‘em both!”

Tusdar turned to see Drubb attempt to give chase, and Marr kneeling with a readied arrow, taking aim at their path. The gleam of the arrow’s head looked familiar and he clenched his teeth.

Silver! This could mean the end of us
, he thought, swallowing hard.

A blood-curdling scream escaped the forest. Marr released his arrow, before turning back toward the dark woods. Mestal flicked her gaze to her left and grabbed Tusdar by his clothes. She jerked him back as the arrow split the air in front of his face, landing a nearby home’s bricks. They grimaced as they heard an approaching group of Marithian warriors marching from their right flank.

“It’s our reinforcements!” Drubb said, his voice ringing.

Tusdar seized Mestal’s hand and they ran together. They slowed as their energy was sapped away. He knew that they couldn’t sustain this, and for a moment, his mind clouded with doubt.

“It’s been too long since we’ve fed!” Mestal said.

“Vampires! Sound the alarm!” a voice said, in the direction of Greenhaven. The sound of a battle horn soon followed.

Tusdar’s face drained of blood as he heard the fire order. The likelihood of avoiding a barrage of silver arrows was incredibly unlikely. He knew he had to do something, and fast. His mind scrambled for options, and his breath quickened. They reached Tr’Arch’s flowing waters. He turned to Mestal and snapped, “Follow me and do
exactly
as I do.”

She nodded and he heard her struggling to keep pace as he leapt to the other side of the river. He ran a short distance on the opposite bank, and then leapt back to the other side. “Mestal, keep up or we’ll die out here!”

The whistling in the air was a short warning. Volleys of silver arrows rained down on their position, narrowly missing them. Some arrows slid through the water and embedded into the river. They caught their breaths and pressed on. Their blurred vision worsened as they struggled to retain their strength. Mestal continued for a few moments before falling hard to the rock bed. She stumbled forward before Tusdar caught her, her bodyweight dropping into his embrace. He fell to his knees. It was at that moment that he knew they couldn’t go on.

“If we die here tonight, I want you to know that I love you,” Mestal said.

“Don’t talk like that. Neither of us are dying now.”

Tusdar surveyed the distance already covered. The air was silent. Crondor’s lights glowed far from them and the tiny flickers of the elven torches were deep within the forest.

Maybe that demon finally took priority over fleeing vampires.

The thought made him chuckle, and he hoped that whatever demon was there would tear their limbs from their bodies. His hunger took over and his stomach growled. Turning to the stars, he saw they were now under the lowlands’ storm clouds.

Have we really gone so far?

Tusdar cradled Mestal in his arms and took a few forced steps toward the lowlands. He panted as he expended his last shreds of energy.

Mestal whispered with a soft voice, “I think they’ve given up on us.”

Don’t get complacent
, Kassina said.
Continue on. Now that you’re close enough; our lord has graced you with a gift. You’ve done well. I doubt that Marithians would dare come this close to my tower.

The clouds rumbled and it began to rain. Tusdar stuck out his tongue and tasted blood. He gently lowered Mestal to the rock bed and wiped the dark tears from his eyes. He couldn’t believe it.

Looks like I made the right choice after all. Vartan and the resistance left me for dead. With the forces of darkness, I have found love, redemption, and they had saved their lives. I must not betray their kindness.

He laid a kiss on his love’s head and laughed.

Mestal’s voice trailed off as she said, “Never have I been so happy to hear her voice in my head.”

They cupped their hands, sipped blood, and regained their senses as their hunger subsided. Tusdar’s vision sharpened and he watched the forest’s edge. His eyes widened as the image of a scantily clad woman, crouched and feasting on a steaming hot heart, appeared before him. As she caught sight of him, her eyes glowed white. Blood streamed down her arms and chin; she scowled and rose to her feet. Tusdar opened his mouth, but the demon fled deep into the forest before he had the chance to speak.

It appears that the demon lives. Wumvarn managed to escape from Greenhaven after all. She should have been punished for defying me
, Kassina said.

Should we pursue her? We’re recovering our strength
, he thought.

Let her go. I doubt you’ve both got the power to defeat a master demon. I’ll deal with her later, but your courage is refreshing.

They wiped their mouths clean and turned toward the lowlands, bolting at a renewed speed toward the vampire city, Zhendur. Their replenished power coursed through their darkened veins. The clouds erupted in a vicious storm, pelting their skin with hail and intense winds. They covered their faces with their arms and leapt over the many large cracks in the lowlands. They bounded across the decayed ground. Cloud flashes were accompanied by blinding forks of lightning.