The Crystal Warriors (23 page)

Out of the flame emerged a figure, his cloak smoldering. The man staggered, fell to his knees, then attempted to rise.

That must be Macha,
Ikawa realized, the fatalistic fury that had seized him reasserted its hold, and he dove to the ground, skimming over hundreds who stood transfixed by the impact of the strike. Macha saw him coming and raised a wavering arm. The blast that snapped out was weak by former standards, but still powerful enough to nearly overwhelm Ikawa's defensive shield and knock him sideways through the air.

He knew he would never survive the next shot, but turned to charge anyway.

Macha's arm was poised for the final blast when he was struck from behind, his weakened shield flaring and fading as he almost lost consciousness.

Mark hit the ground hard, rolling away from Macha. Standing, he let loose with a tremendous kick, catching his foe square in the groin. Reaching down he ripped the offensive and defensive crystals from Macha's wrists.

The rest of the offworlder battle group came in around Ikawa and together they landed, forming a protective circle around Mark and Macha.

For the moment there was nothing to protect them against. The ground still smoldered beneath dozens of scorched and torn bodies. The entire command team, except for its leader, had been blasted to oblivion.

Mark looked over at Macha. "You bastard, I should kill you now," Mark roared. "But Allic probably needs you alive." Macha didn't reply as he lay on the ground, doubled up in agony.

"Captain, we better get moving," Kraut shouted. "They're reorganizing." Mark looked up and could see a number of enemy sorcerers and demons swinging in to protect their fallen leader.

Mark motioned to Ikawa and together they picked up Macha. Straining under the burden, they lifted, and flew just above the enemy host, racing to the protection of their own lines.

Screams rose from the Torms at the sight of their leader being borne away. The Torm sorcerers tried to cut them off, but dared not fire.

From out of the Landrian line, Allic and his entourage came, soaring above the offworlders to provide protection. The Torm sorcerers drew back as the Landrians jeered their contempt.

They crossed into the beleaguered fortress to the shouts of the embattled defenders. Alighting next to the command tent, Ikawa and Mark dropped their burden as Allic landed beside them.

"Mad heroics," Allic said grimly. A sad, almost bitter smile creased his face and he clapped Mark and Ikawa on their shoulders.

"Mad heroics, and damn admirable, as well."

"It was Storm," Mark said. "She broke his defense. We merely did the mop-up operation."

"Yes―Storm," Allic replied.

Where was she? Mark looked up and for the first time realized that the sky was clear, the air fresh.

"Storm?"

"She's in there," Allic said, and pointed to the tent.

Without asking leave Mark rushed into the tent.

He was almost afraid to approach. She looked small, fragile, as if somehow she had drawn in upon herself. As he drew closer be couldn't contain a low cry of fear.

Her face was badly burned, the injury streaking down her left shoulder to her flame-charred hand. He realized that Macha's blast must have overwhelmed her, bursting her defensive crystal.

"Storm?" he whispered, drawing closer. But she was silent.

A panic swept over him. She was dead!

He came to her side, his hand slipping under her tunic, trying to find a heartbeat.

"I am a little too tired for that kind of attention right now," she whispered, opening her eyes.

She tried to chuckle but it was obvious that every movement was an agony. She grimaced, trying to suppress just how badly she felt at the moment, but Mark could see the charade.

"The fight?" she whispered.

"We have Macha," Mark replied.
And I'll cut his heart out for this.

"Good, very good. You must understand, Mark, that it was a fair fight between us."

"You make this all seem like a game. Sometimes all of you make me sick with this damned honor."

Her eyes started to flutter closed.

"Storm!"

Was he losing her? He reached out and shook her unburnt hand.

"Damn you, that hurts," she whispered. "I'm only resting. The Essence is gone from me; I must draw it back into myself. It'll take time―be almost pushed me beyond the edge. I'll come back, love, but it'll take time."

Her words slipped away. A deathly stillness came over her. Mark could barely detect the flutter of her heart, the gentle swelling of her breasts, as she drew in the shallowest of breaths.

He watched, still fearful that somehow he would lose her. In the background he could hear words of anger. Coldly he rose and strode back into the sunlight.

"You treacherous bastard," Allic roared. "I'll cut out your heart and stake it to the ground for this!"

Still on his knees Macha glowered up at Allic.

Half a dozen of Allic's sorcerers surrounded their captive, each focusing on a separate ring of containment, concentrating with all of their energy to hold the demigod in place, now that he was starting to recover from the shock of Storm's blow and the coup de grace delivered by Mark. Nearby, two of the remaining wall crystals were positioned to give support.

"Go ahead. I don't give a damn," Macha gasped, "but I'll still have the satisfaction of knowing that all of your carcasses will be heaped upon my pyre before the day ends. Maybe you'll live, though, Allic. It'd be like you to desert your retainers and fly off once you lose this fight, drunken scum that you are. You, the son of a god? You aren't worthy to wipe my ass."

"Damn you to fire forever!" Allic roared. "Bring me a sword!"

He looked to Pina. "You heard me. Bring me a sword!"

"My lord Allic," Pina said softly, drawing closer so that the others would not hear. "You can't just execute Macha, especially not like this."

"Can't I? I've lost more than a thousand here this morning. Are you telling me they should go unavenged? My sister lies near death in that tent because of him."

"All of it was a fair and open fight," Pina replied softly. "Restitutions and levies can be demanded from Torm as Macha's ransom. Our men fought with honor against his. Killing Macha will not bring them back."

"I don't care," Allic cried. "I want his head on a stake, with his damned black heart jammed into his mouth."

"My lord," Pina said, a note of pleading in his voice. "As long as we hold Macha alive, his people will not attack. The moment they know he's dead, they'll keep on coming till they all are dead, or we perish."

"Better that than to let this back-stabbing oath breaker live another minute."

"Me, an oath breaker?" Macha roared, struggling against Allic's sorcerers to come to his feet. "You're the back stabber. Your people crossed the river, raided my villages, and killed members of my family. If I had not struck back you'd probably have destroyed another dozen of my towns while still whining about your innocence."

"You lie!" Allic screamed. "A sword, are you all deaf? Bring me a sword! I'll not honor his body with flame."

Pina was motionless, the others around him frozen at the uncontrollable fury of their lord.

Allic looked around the circle. With a shout of rage he strode up to Sergeant Saito and snatched the pistol out of Saito's belt.

"Is this loaded?" Allic asked.

Saito nodded, looking to Ikawa for guidance.

Allic took the pistol, cocked it, and put the weapon to Macha's forehead.

"My lord, not like this."

Allic swung around. It was Ikawa.

"And who are you to challenge me?" Allic shouted, his face contorted. "You are my vassal!"

"Precisely why I speak, my lord," Ikawa replied. "A samurai serves and protects his lord, not only on the field of battle, but also in counsel. If you wish to kill me for speaking, then do so. But I must speak, my lord. Do not kill an honorable foe in such a manner."

A hush fell over the assembly. Ikawa dared a glance to Mark, but he could see the rage in Mark, as well. It must be over Storm, he realized. He braced himself.

"You are brave but foolish," Macha shouted. "Your lord is an oath breaker. He betrayed his treaty to me―why should he listen to you?"

"That's a lie," Allic cried, his gaze still riveted on Ikawa, who drew closer so that only Allic could hear his words.

"I respect you too much to see you thus dishonor yourself in a moment of rage," Ikawa whispered. "If I had known that this would be the result, I would not have helped bring this prisoner to you. I've spared prisoners who were my hated foe. Do the same now. Please, my lord."

Allic was silent, his gaze cutting into the vassal. Ikawa closed his eyes, bracing for the impact of the bullet, either into his skull or into the man who kneeled on the ground before them. As he waited he was amazed at the sudden clarity of it all: only minutes before he had risen into the air, driven by a terror beyond his imagining, praying for death to snatch him.

The fear of death still had clung to his heart when he dove to his confrontation with Macha, hoping only to take a foe with him into the void. But now..

Now he wanted to live. He felt death even closer here, but at last there was no fear.

The gentle wind felt unnaturally hot. As though from a great distance, Ikawa could hear cries of alarm. The breeze grew, hot and strong, buffeting him.

He opened his eyes. A pillar of fire was hovering before him, pulsing with flame.

Allic was looking to the light, and Ikawa followed his gaze.

The light pulsed, coalesced, and took the shape of a being Ikawa could recognize. Judging by the hawklike eyes, sharp brow, and narrow face, this must be Minar, the father of Madia.

Ikawa looked again to Allic. His commander, still torn with rage, stood before Minar's pulsing image.

"Come to save your son?" Allic taunted. He spun away from Ikawa and pointed the revolver at Macha's head.

"Both of you are fools," Minar said quietly. "If I even start to feel your intervention," Allic said coldly, "this offworld weapon will smash your son."

"I'll not stop you," Minar replied, "for if I did my son would live in shame. Better that he die than live as half a man, believing that he needs my power as a shield."

Macha looked straight ahead, and as the assembly looked to him they could sense the truth in Minar's words.

"Kill me or let me live, Allic," Macha said, "but do it of your own will. I don't want him here or need him."

A silence came over the group. Allic stared at his enemy. With a shout he swung the gun skyward and squeezed the trigger. The explosion echoed in the walls of the pass, then all was still.

Allic turned to Minar. "In the past I never had cause to doubt your words. If you have not come to save your son, then why are you here?"

"In the past," Minar said, "did you ever have cause to doubt the words and honor of my son?"

Allic looked back at his foe who was now standing, though Allic's sorcerers still kept their containment ring about him.

"Though we had our differences," Allic's voice grew cautious, "no, I never had cause."

"And you, Macha? Did you ever know Allic to deceive you?"

"No, damn him, though I thought him too driven by his passions, still I believed him to be honorable."

"Then why this war?" Minar asked, his voice now showing a flicker of anger.

Neither demigod spoke.

"You are both fools." Minar's rage showed as his form grew larger.

"But my border watches, my family, my friends―slaughtered," Macha protested.

"And Allic's too!" Minar barked. "Both of you lost much in the weeks before this conflict boiled over. But I ask you both to swear in my presence: did either of you ever attack the other, or know of attack launched by your underlings?"

The two stood silent, exchanging a look. The truth was becoming clear.

"There was a third, who brought down this shame upon your houses."

"The Accursed," Macha whispered.

"Do not run off for blood yet," Minar roared. "Both of you are guilty of that: you, Macha, for attacking. And you too, Allic, for not realizing that Macha would only attack with a justifiable reason, and that there would still have been room to parley."

"Is it the Accursed?" Allic asked.

"That is why I am here," Minar replied, his rage passing as quickly as it had come.

"Your father, my brother, reached out to me and told me how an offworlder had discovered that even now Sarnak is attacking Landra."

"
What?
" Shouts of rage exploded around Allic.

"Jartan knew that Macha would never knowingly serve the Accursed. But he surmised that my son could have been deceived into this war to decoy Sarnak's thrust. Jartan knew also that if he delivered this news, Allic might believe, but you, my son, would doubt. And thus I came as soon as I heard, to stop you hotheaded idiots from destroying each other, while the true culprit goes unpunished."

Allic looked at Macha, who stood trembling with fury. The sorcerers containing him withdrew at Allic's nod.

"We have both been taken for fools," Macha snapped.

"Landra?" Allic asked.

"Under attack at this moment."

"Will you help me?" be asked, looking at Minar.

"I'll help," Macha said quietly.

Allic turned to face him.

"Not out of love for you," Madia said coldly. "I started this war to avenge my kinsmen and my people. I attacked the wrong foe, and for that I will answer. But my enemy is yet unpunished, and I will have vengeance!"

Allic nodded silently. His rage was directed towards another target. Macha was, in his mind, now a comrade in arms.

"My army marches within the hour." Macha continued. "Hatred might still be strong between our men, so I suggest that your ground commanders meet with mine to plan our separate routes. I intend to stay with my army; you may do as you please. When the army reaches Landra, we'll plan our attack."

"Until we meet, then, after Sarnak's defeat," Macha said icily. He nodded to Allic, and then to his father. He started to turn, then looked back towards Ikawa.