Spirit Blood: Genesis of War

The unnatural black shroud which covered Talkain clouded the appearance of day and only shown signs of light when the lightening would flash overhead ripping through the sky. The Suterran Elves, deep dark dwellers of the land, had taken the city by storm allowing themselves to be ruled by Canoes. With them they brought ghastly mutated beings called Driders. These creatures were giant spiders ensued with Elvin blood. Death and wickedness engulfed the land bringing power to Canoes’ rule more and more everyday. Tonight was a special night; one in which Canoes had invited the most important in his campaign to join him for dinner and entertainment provided by the poor slaves, once the rich nobles, of Talkain.

Canoes sat at the head of the table, which had been modified so that he was sitting two feet higher than everyone else, as he menacingly watched the heads of his armies eating and celebrating their victories in the land. Giselle sat close by her master with her ebony hair kept tightly in a bun in order for her large headdress to fan out and display that she was the highest of the Order of Magi and had no equal. On the other side of Canoes sat Malik proudly displaying, as well, that he took orders from no one else in the room besides Canoes himself. Léon, the most trusted of Canoes, did not sit at the table. Instead he stood at Canoes’ side acting as a guard and the favorite to the master. Each other member had taken their place in order from most important to least flaunting their positions in the face of everyone else. The members consisted of Canoes’ dark elf relatives, orcs, hobgoblins, bugbears and, sitting at the end of the long table, Kalagin, the one time king and ruler of this great land. Beside Kalagin sat Baylor. Even though Baylor was by far Canoes’ best spy, he was seen as nothing more than a dog compared to everyone else in the room. Kalagin willingly took the seat of least importance, other than Baylor, but he had not given up on

his own plans of taking over. He was only waiting for the proper time to act.

The festivities were in full swing with food flying across the table when one creature would insult another and with the poor ladies of Talkain being forced to put on shows of entertainment. Canoes laughed at the display of humans being used as slaves. Baylor joined in as well nudging Kalagin to watch as the grotesque creatures would spit or throw weapons trying to scare the young ladies. The night was getting more and more dangerous for the human ladies in the room as the time passed. Finally a large pointy eared bugbear rose up from his seat and grabbed a young girl from off the table who was dancing in front of him. As the foul breathed creature stuck out his tongue to lick the girls’ face, sending her into a fit of screams, Kalagin rose to his feet, took a knife from off the table and slit the throat of the creature. The girl screamed again as she saw the blood, but was relieved to finally be free from the monster’s grasp. Kalagin helped the girl to her feet and placed her behind him. He stared back at the sea of crazed eyes focused on him.

“I’ve had enough of this intolerable abuse on my people and I will take it no longer!” Kalagin announced in the now quiet and attentive room. “These creatures may bow down to your will Canoes, but no wretched beast will lay his hands upon my people without MY say so!”

The nearest creatures began to raise from their seats which made Kalagin only tighten his grip around his knife. Canoes waved his hand signaling to Léon a command that only he understood.

“Stop!” Léon demanded, stopping the creatures immediately. “Lord Canoes did not approve the death of this man. He is of more use than any of you, so if you wish to kill him, you may, but I will then be forced to deal with whomever decides their will is of more importance than the will of Lord Canoes. Girl!” Léon yelled out again causing the creatures to hurry themselves back to their seats and the young girl to almost fall down in fright. “You may go now. We have no more need of you tonight. Take the

rest of your people with you, but know this: If Lord Canoes commands it, you will return and do as you are directed.”

The girl humbly bowed low and grabbed up her things, followed by the other ladies in the room, before quickly leaving the great hall and running home. Kalagin arrogantly stood his ground eyeing Léon intently.

“Leave us!” Léon ordered the servants and members of Canoes’ army.

One by one, every one left the room except the three surrounding Canoes, Canoes himself, Baylor and Kalagin still clutching his knife. Canoes began to laugh lowly quite amused at Kalagin’s attempt to seem dangerous or at all concerned for the people of Talkain. His laugh slowly died down until he was completely silent and staring maliciously at Kalagin.

“Kalagin,” Canoes said calmly, “you have definitely won my favor this evening with your little show.”

“I don’t care about your favor Canoes,” Kalagin replied, his voice filled with resentment. “You told me I would still be King, yet you sit in my throne and I sit here amongst your rabble. I am King by title, by right and by blood. Not even you and your cronies can stop that!”

Canoes sat back and laid his hands over the sides of his oversized chair, “Well Kalagin, it would seem that I already have stopped that, and when your brats get here…”

Kalagin interrupted him angrily, “Those are still my children you’re talking about you wretch. I may not care one way or another whether they live or die, but you have no right to speak of them as if you are their equal.”

Canoes rose to his feet wearing a maniacal grin on his face, “Well, then I will give you the chance to reclaim your throne King Kalagin. You will have one chance to take me on, here and now. If you beat me I will give you your throne, but if you lose…well, if you lose you’ll be dead, so it won’t matter.”

“DEAL!” Kalagin yelled turning the knife upside down in his hand and springing up on top of the table with a fury none in the room had ever seen him display before.

He ran down the table towards Canoes who stood with outstretched hands welcoming this chance to inflict pain upon someone. With grace, Canoes moved and dodged Kalagin’s wild attacks with the small knife. Kalagin slashed at the air, yelling loudly, as he tried to cut Canoes. With one quick movement, and surprising skill, Kalagin cut Canoes’ arm tearing his robe and drawing a small amount of his almost translucent blood. The shock of being cut threw Canoes in a fit of fury. With the next attempt by Kalagin, Canoes grabbed the fist which held the knife with one of his hands and Kalagin’s face with the other. Canoes twisted Kalagin’s wrist and gruffly broke it causing the knife to fall to the ground and Kalagin to scream in agony. Now with both hands, Canoes tightly gripped Kalagin’s head and began to squeeze until Kalagin’s screams were loud enough to be heard out in the city streets. Finally the screams were muffled as Kalagin’s lifeless body hit the floor in a heap. Canoes bent down and tore a large piece of Kalagin’s regal robes off and began to wipe his own hands clean.

“He served his purpose, but he overstepped his bounds. This could be any one of you here,” Canoes warned coldly pointing to Kalagin’s body and eyeing the remaining four people in the room.

As he sat back down upon his throne the twin doors of the hall burst open and the body of an orc guard came sprawling in the room. Beyond the doors stood a large man of a menacing spirit wearing a grin on his face to see the orc laying on the floor.

“Jayhem,” Canoes said pleasingly, both announcing the unusual man and allowing him entry. “What is the status?”

Jayhem walked into the room with an air of superiority around him. Ignoring any possible protocol, Jayhem walked within feet of Canoes and stood, not kneeled, at his feet.

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“Well…,” Jayhem started, scratching his head. “Makaylen is still alive. The knight is still alive, and now the soldiers of Malvra are undoubtedly mounting an attack against the kingdom.”

Canoes rested his back against the large velvet lined chair and sniffed in a small sniff through his nose, a bit irritated.

“Why is Makaylen still alive?” Canoes asked, his voice no longer carrying a tone of welcoming.

“Gee, I don’t know,” Jayhem answered sardonically, “maybe because he’s ten times better than I am, or maybe because he has more help than I have, or maybe…”

Canoes interrupted, “Or maybe you’re just incompetent!”

“No! That’s not it at all! The fact he is still alive is because you can’t seem to get the job done any better or faster than I can!” Jayhem shouted back.

“Silence!” Canoes bawled, rising from his throne in a fury. “You mock me and then you dare to insult me?! How dare you come into my kingdom and face off with me as a spoiled child! You are, without a doubt, the most ignorant man possible when it comes to handling Makaylen.”

Jayhem merely shook his head without care or fear, “My fee doesn’t change. They’ll be here soon, I can contend with that.”

Canoes smiled as he walked towards Jayhem standing only feet away from him. With an open hand, Canoes backhanded Jayhem sending him over the dinner table. He walked up to where Jayhem was laying and holding his cheek.

“You ever talk to me that way again and I will kill you without word or warning.” Canoes looked around the room at his other faithful servants, “Is there no one here brave enough to fight this one lone man?” Each of the four glanced at one another when Canoes added, “So be it. I will fight Makaylen and show you all that he bleeds and will die like everyone else.”

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Baylor stood up and stepped forward, his fur lined coat dragging the floor, “That is a wise decision my lord, but I must suggest we first try and separate him from his allies. When you come out victorious it will help to stamp out the last of their morale.”

Canoes turned to Baylor, “Keep talking Baylor. This may be the first time I actually have genuine interest in what you have to say.”

Baylor grinned and took this opportunity to creep in closer to his master.

“The knight, Jason, will surely be out in the midst of the battle. From the reports I have seen, he will likely not leave them in battle nor will his half-breed sidekick leave him. Besides, Léon will surely stamp out any threat he may become.”

Canoes walked back to sit in his throne listening to Baylor’s plan.

“Let’s face facts, my lord, the cleric will probably not come. He will most assuredly stay back to look over the left behind women and children. The former king of Karza will fight on the field alongside Jason and his living brother. The other insignificants will stay by their friends leaving the weaker of the force to follow Makaylen into the city. Our main worry, of all those that may possibly make it as far as the castle, is Makaylen. We will simply need to find a way to lead him to you, Sire. I suggest you face him in your newly built arena where no one will be present to help him. And, not that you need help my liege, but you will also have the help of Giselle and her magic to tip the scales while here in the arena.”

Canoes nodded and looked deep into Baylor’s eyes. It was obvious at times like these to see how the spirit-blood running through Baylor’s veins helped him. He was a genius when it came to plans of ambush and traps of deceit.

“My lord, if we give off the appearance that we are not ready, and not waiting for them, they will be duped into thinking they have the upper hand and then we can take them by surprise. The citizens of your

kingdom could go on with their mundane lives, as normal, which will fool our enemy into thinking we are not prepared. They will worry more about the lives of these insignificant beings instead of ambushing us. We can, in return, hit them from the opposite flank and from a full frontal charge from the main castle itself.”

Canoes sat up straight and nodded, “You impress me Baylor. Who would have thought you could be so wickedly strategic? Certainly not myself.” He looked to Léon, “Would your army be able to accomplish such a feat?”

Léon nodded, himself impressed by Baylor’s suggestion, “We do have the means, my lord. I can’t see any possible reason why not.”

Canoes grinned under his shadowing hood, “Good, good.”

His voice was sinister and then silent filling the room with an eerie chill. Suddenly he broke the silence with a full hearted laugh of pure evil.

The elements were against them, along with the dreaded sporadic appearances of Saber Jaws, keeping the army from reaching their destination quickly. For a week they had battled with sunless days and freezing nights. They knew it could only mean that Canoes had powerful magic on his side and he was using it to keep people away from Talkain. Jason feared the harsh weather conditions would deter some of the less experienced soldiers back home where an enemy army might be awaiting their return. Makaylen, however, believed the weather was being used to wear out and batter anyone foolish enough to attempt to visit the kingdom unannounced or uninvited. Both agreed that no matter what the reason, they would need to be at the top of their game to ever have a chance to defeat what awaited them.

After nightfall the caravan stopped to set up a small camp in order to rest before traveling their final

few miles to Talkain. Their fighting of the elements and creatures along the way had worked to their advantage to give the inexperienced men some much needed practice before the actual battle. It pleased Jason to see the soldiers preparing themselves mentally and physically for their arrival to the kingdom. It was a much desired reprieve from their unpleasant morale the month they had trained in Malvra. As he walked through the camp he noticed, by a small fire, Amon and TaeAnne reading with Moira. He stared at them noticing how much they had grown since the day they’d had to flee their home and their mother. To this day neither of them had asked what happened with their mother and why she hadn’t come with them. It was almost as if they could sense the answer wouldn’t be something they wanted to hear. Jason assumed that they believed their mother to be dead since he never spoke of rescuing her, or anything else about her for that matter. They’d both had to endure burdens no child should ever have to face, yet they had grown in maturity and knowledge from their experiences and would definitely make fine rulers when all this was over. He frowned as he thought about their lost childhood, for this was certainly a turning point, not only for their own lives, but also for the existence of Krysala herself. Now, he thought to himself, I mustn’t focus on them, but rather the enemy I know I will be facing tomorrow…Léon. I cannot let him walk away this time.

The group approached a large clearing at the edge of the forest. Jason had led them back the way he’d left when Talkain had first been attacked. From the clearing they could see the battlefield sitting outside the heavy city gates, the same area Jason had witnessed his father’s death. The sight of the hideous makeover of Talkain made all fall silent with only gasps of horror sounding throughout the group.

“What has happened here?” Kenneth asked in disgust, eyeing the devastated land.

“They will pay for this desecration!” Lockefren yelled out in anger.

“Keep your calm Lockefren,” Ben said. “Use your anger for the battle.”

Jason could only stare at his once beautiful and luxurious home. Guilt came over him knowing he had left when the fight started so long ago. Davien inspected the land below them, behind the open gates, and noticed that people were at work harvesting and tilling the dark and desolate land. Others were hard at work transporting boxes in and out of the city.

“This doesn’t seem right,” he whispered to Makaylen. “If they know we’re coming then why would they have the gates open and the people working as normal?”

“You’re right. This isn’t right. I know in my whole being that they’re aware of us coming. This has to be a trap. Regardless, there are too many innocent lives at stake with citizens out of their homes.”

“So, what are we going to do now?” Davien asked as he and Makaylen made their way back to the group.

Without losing a step, Makaylen answered while leaping onto his horse, “We change our plan.”

Makaylen set his horse at a full charge down the hill and toward the gates. Davien quickly followed his friend causing many around them to stare in shock.

“What are you doing?!” Jason yelled to them. “They’re going to give away our position as well as alert them to our presence.”

Jason tried to think of a logical reason Makaylen would act so rashly. Surely Makaylen had seen something none of them had become aware of yet.

“I know why they’re leaving!” Ben replied looking through his electrical binoculars to inspect the land himself. “Look!”

Terrell and Jason ran to the edge of the hill overlooking the battlefield and surveyed the land. They could see Davien and Makaylen riding hard towards the city gates, only they were not alone. Gray

skinned drones in distorted armor of Talkain were rising out of hiding places in the field and running wildly behind the two men. Then from within the gates, after they had passed into the city, came a barrage of cavalry and infantry troops made up of dark creatures including the Driders, the Shadow Knights and the Suterran Elves numbering fifty to one against the soldiers of Malvra. The trap was unexpectedly sprung with the surprise attack of only two men. Each of the dark soldiers believed the two men to be the beginning of the battle, but were shocked to see no one behind them charging the city.

“Makaylen was trying to expose a trap,” Jason said more to himself than to anyone in particular. “Riflemen to the front!”

Jason ordered his men as he activated his armor. With Deadly Wave in one hand, and a large vibro-shield in the other, Jason resembled his father Haldrov before he’d been killed. The riflemen lined up in front with the second line standing behind them.

“Calvary! Infantry! Ready!” Jason ordered. “This is how you win victories,” he whispered to himself, repeating something his father had taught him.

Terrell took his place next to Jason while Kenneth and Garrett took a part of the cavalry to the rear of the army, partially hidden by the forest trees.

“Lockefren!” Jason bellowed, keeping his eyes on the army below that had started to assemble in formations.

“Yes Sir!” She announced running over to his side.

“I want you and Ben to take archers to the east flank. Leave two siege weapons here, but take the rest with you and nail their side when I give you the signal. I want another way into the city; take down the wall.”

As she ran off to follow her orders, Jason witnessed five riders emerge from the shadows behind the

drones. Behind them followed monstrous creatures and even more drones. Jason knew the dark riders had to be more men like Léon. One of them may even be Léon, he thought to himself.

Terrell spoke to him, pulling him out of his battle trance, “Jason, you plan on holding this mass with a small group of soldiers and two siege weapons?”

Jason didn’t answer him. He continued to watch the riders come out of the gates and take their place on the battlefield overlooking their army. When Terrell couldn’t get Jason’s attention, he himself looked out on the battlefield witnessing the horrible creatures making their way out of the gates.

“Those look like Driders,” Terrell said almost shocked. “The Suterran Elves must be backing this darkness. I had hoped they wouldn’t be involved.” Again he looked to Jason inquiring as to what his plan may be, “Jason, did you hear me? What is your plan of action?”

“I have more than weapons on my side and I plan to use it more than just mere fighting this time around. We will be victorious,” Jason answered never taking his eyes from off the dark riders. “However, I would like to make sure Makaylen and Davien are okay.”

Terrell knew exactly what Jason was implying. Quickly he ran over to the people he knew would be perfect for a mission of stealth.

“Jashel, Nephida, Jason needs you two to sneak into the city and find Makaylen and Davien. Make sure they are alright and that the gates to the city remain open. After the battle is fought on the battlefield, we are still going to need to get inside to destroy the leader,” Terrell announced.

Jashel’s face lit up in a pleased grin. She had been dying to breakaway and follow Makaylen and now she had the okay to do so.

“You got it sweets,” she said with a cock to her head.

“Perhaps I should go with Jashel as well,” Iwo recommended to Terrell.

“No, I’m sorry. You are much needed here and I don’t think your size would be very helpful to you in sneaking around,” he replied.

Iwo only shrugged, actually a bit pleased to be told no. It’d been quite some time since she’d been able to take part in a full frontal attack with highly aggressive warriors. Quickly Jashel and Nephida made their way to the secret entrance Jason had mentioned during one of their battle briefings. Only a few knew of the tunnel, Jason was sure, so nothing should, they all hoped, hinder their entrance into the stables and castle through it.

Jason continued to watch the mannerisms of the five dark riders on the field. Through his electric binoculars he could see they were all outfitted in special armor bearing the crest of Great Chaos. One of the riders took off his mask revealing to Jason that Léon indeed was one of the five. Jason watched him closely with his very blood beginning to rise. He knew this fight may be the last for one of them. If Léon was any more skilled than before, as Jason surely was, then a mere scar on his face may be the least of his wounds this time around.

“Terrell,” he said as Terrell joined him again. “I’m going to need your help with the five riders down there. One of them is Léon, he I will take on, but the other four are unknown to me. If their skill is anything like Léon’s, they will not be easy to defeat.”

“Of course,” his friend chimed.

“Good…Gideon,” he called into his wrist communicator, “advance down the hill and take your ground.” When Gideon had gotten into place Jason ordered, “Riflemen, Ready…Fire!”

Gideon carried out the command with the riflemen opening with a volley of terrible proportion ripping through many of the infantry that were making their way to the battlefield.

“Bildan, use the siege weapons!” Gideon ordered.

With the command, Bildan barreled through the line on his all terrain automatic fireball and cannon-fire launching weapon. He rode in the cockpit which was located on the left side with an electrical fire cannon next to him in the center of the contraption.

“Out of the way lads!” Bildan yelled. “I’m goin’ to show these punks what for!”

He unleashed a storm of fire upon the swarm below. He reached over to another control panel next to him and flipped several switches activating a remote flame thrower located on the rear. The dark and cloudy sky was lit up with the fires Bildan launched one after another.

Léon sat calmly on his steed as many of his soldiers lit up in flames. He flagged a signal to another commander who in turn signaled for their weapons of mass destruction to be brought out of the city and onto the battlefield. Suddenly large gaps in the very walls of the castle crumbled as newly placed cannons came shooting out ready to fire their own magic missiles.

“Lt. Gideon, pull everyone back!” Jason commanded over his communicator once the enemy revealed their weapons. “We need to regroup!”

The line quickly fell back, out of range, and Bildan continued with his onslaught of fire missiles.

“You didn’t tell me the castle had remote defenses!” Terrell said in great astonishment.

“It didn’t! Those are new!” Jason answered. “We need to get a distance between us and their volley so we can take them on with blade and bow! Gideon,” he called in his communicator, “I need a signal for Lockefren to engage the castle and begin their assault!”

“Yes, Sir!” Gideon called back, a slight grin on his face.

Gideon ran towards Bildan and the second siege weapon. Sitting in the cockpit, he took aim for the castle, knowing it was still too far out of range, but he let a blast go right into the midst of the army behind the city gates that hadn’t yet begun their attack. A fire lit the nearby fields where the fire bolt hit raising

high enough for even Garrett and Ken to see. Jason and Terrell advanced down the hill to join their men, taking their place right in front.

“That has to be the signal!” Lockefren said aloud, hoping she was right. “Archers draw!”

With her command, even Ben drew back his bow as they took aim on the army from the side.

“Archers loose!”

Her order gave way to a volley of armor piercing and high explosive arrows which took many of the unsuspecting Dread Army down. The siege weapons pulled forward and opened fire on the castle causing large chunks of it to crumble to the ground landing on another many soldiers. Jason could see through his binoculars that Lockefren had recognized the signal and was assaulting the castle ridding them of some of their defenses. The attention of the Dread Army turned from Jason and his siege weapons to Lockefren and hers. In the distance Leon could be seen ordering his army to halt from running to aid the battling forces on the east side. He showed no signs of nervousness or dismay making Jason wonder if there was still a trap to be sprung.

Makaylen and Davien rode hard despite the increasing number of creatures they saw rising out of the ground. With poor aim, and Shiloh’s help, they were able to enter in the city gates and beyond without being hit by the arrows and rounds being fired at them. They had no choice at this point, but to ride straight up to the castle itself.

“Do you think this wise?” Davien asked as he grabbed his rifle out of his horse’s side holster and followed Makaylen into the castle.

“It has to be the wisest coarse,” Makaylen answered. “We’ve forced their hand and made them reveal

themselves. Now we must find the head of the serpent to kill the whole body.”

“Serpent?” Davien mumbled to himself. “I thought we were after some chump.”

Intensely they entered the castle as screaming women raced passed them attempting to find some security in their own homes. Behind the women were the inner security team, gray skinned and armored drones.

“Follow my lead and don’t worry about exhausting them. They’re already dead,” Makaylen said to Davien.

He unsheathed Shadow Splitter and began to make a path through the undead security with lightening quickness. Davien commenced to picking them off one by one with his rifle. The emotionless drones dropped easily as the two attempted to clear the room.

“We need to split up Davien. I have the find the one responsible for this,” Makaylen calmly pointed out.

“No problem,” Davien replied. “I’ll lead these things away, so you can get moving.”

Davien began taunting the soldiers, making fun of their slow reflexes and dead gaze, trying to gain their attention to himself. His plan worked and the drones turned towards him almost ignoring Makaylen completely. Makaylen broke away and turned to his right ready to search the castle for the one man he knew was behind the darkness befalling Krysala. However, his actions did not go unnoticed for prying eyes were hidden deep in the shadows.

“Now Jayhem, here is your chance to redeem yourself in my eyes. Take out the whelp with the gun. I’ll have security lead him into the outer courtyard,” a raspy voice spoke.

Jayhem grinned at the thought, while Makaylen ran down the corridor and disappeared around a corner.