Chapter IV (Part I) : When The Dust Settles (Uncompleted)
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Adelina stared out of
The Esmirada's starboard as the waves crashed restlessly against it, sending icy jets of seawater spraying onto the deck. She pulled her seal coat tighter around herself, they were sailing back to the Port of Seira Loca from another raid off its northern coasts, and the weather was much colder around these times of the year out here in the open sea. It hadn't been a bad raid at all, the schooner they robbed had belong to a snobbish prince who was reduced to crumbling heap of tears when she pointed
Galeheart to his chest.
"
Chapter 3 (Part 3): Breaking dawn
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The cloak was way too large for her, its tresses dragging long onto the floor despite her best efforts to hold it up, but Meia held onto it for the soothing warmth it brought. The morning winds blew in gales around the Cathari falls, sending chills up her spine. She kept largely in the pale shades of trees, hiding from plain view, she had barely enough energy to walk, much less fight, if attacked. Below the falls, the sound of skeletal feet rasping the ground sounded endlessly. The skeletal army, immune to fatige and hunger, had patrolled the area since daybreak, their poorly made blades jutting out from all angles, another encounter with them would surely spell her doom this time.
"Karien!" A girl's voice sounded out from behind her. "Over here!"
Meia's mind lit once again as the last reserves of strength kicked in, muscles whining as she willed them to draw her sabres.
"Who goes?" She mastered, trying to hide her weakness.
"At ease,
Ma'dame" came a calm reply. A young lad clad in the metals of a chain mail walked slowly towards her, his hands lifted in the air as a peace offering.
"Judging from those Sabres, I'd presume you are Adelina?" He inquired as another two people joined him.
"We are the Silfang pioneering family." The fighter introduced with a small bow. "I am Kaerien, a sword fighter. The girl you heard is Miho and this is my musketeer,
Luther."
"I go by the name Meia now," She eased a little, letting herself slide back down against a nearby tree. "Why are you here? It's not safe." Meia could've laughed at herself if she wasn't hurting so badly. 'Not safe' was so far an understatement she might as well had told them it was a pinic trip.
"Nunez got suspicious when your family did not return last night. He sent us to King's garden this morning, we met with the undead army and managed to fight out way through here." Miho offered chirpily, seeming unfazed that a hundred walking corpses surrounded the valley around them.
"Let Miho see to your wounds, we'd need to move out soon before the skeletons find us. Where's the rest of your family?"
"I'm not sure... We got seperated before..." Meia paused, hesitant to admit her weakness. "Before I got knocked out."
A spark suddenly lit in her head, "Kaerien? Did your family see anyone else here? He was wielding a rapier"
"No? We're the only people here." Karien replied. "Is there someone we're supposed to be looking for?"
"No..." Meia mumbled, "I think it's just my imagination."
But in her mind, Meia knew it was not.
Chapter 3 (Part 2): The water reach.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
When she opened her eyes, it was already dawn, the morning light fell over her body like a warm drape. Meia squinted as rays of light leaked between the ocher leaves of the tree above, and into her. She propped herself up gently against it, careful not to reopen her wounds. She looked down at herself, her clothes so badly torn they barely held her modesty. Her wounds had been dressed, dark patches of red showed where some of her blood at leaked through the bandage.
Beside her, a small grey cloak layed folded into neat layers; nested ontop were a handful of gold coins and an assortment of berries and nuts. Her sabres were assembled next to the pile, resting neatly next to each other.
Meia leaned back against the trunk, head swooning from the lost of blood.
"Shizurii?" Meia called out faintly, unable to do more. "You there?"
Only the soft wind responded, blowing the green grass yonder. There was nobody around- she was alone. A hundred questions flooded out, with noone to answer them. Who had came to their rescue? Where is he now? Where's Shizurii and Iwoji? For that matter, where was she?
Meia pushed herself off the tree and layed back onto the ground. A squirrel scittered next to her, greedy for the berries next to her.
"Ahaha!" Meia managed a soft laugh and offered a handful of them to the squirrel.
"Here," She smiled. "We can share."
Meia laughed in amusement as the squirrel hurriedly grabbed off a few berries from her outstretched hand and scampered off, feeling slightly better.
*
Four hours ago"Damn it! Where, Iwoji! Where!" Shizurii screamed as they sprinted down the cave tunnel.
She turned back and fired off another pair of shots, silently counting down the amount of ammunition she had-
Nineteen.
"I don't know! I never found an exit, it's just a hunch!" Despair lining his words as the man tried hard to conjure a ball of fire in the damp conditions. For hell, he'd rather take his chances with a cave-in then let those skeletons rip him apart. He glanced for a moment at the man carrying Meia and wondered who he was. Their rescuer wore a grey cloak that flowed down all the way to his feet and had faded blond hair . But right now, anyone NOT trying to kill him was just fine.
"This cave has water flowing in right?" Iwoji reasoned. "There has to be somewhere the water is flowing out or we'd all be neck-high in it."
"Okay Einstein," Shizurii mocked, unimpressed. "So where's this exit then?"
"I don't know," Iwoji returned again. "Follow the water streams."
The trio ran down the cave, following small streams of water. Twice, the stream ended in a small pool and they had to turn, fighting back out through their assailants. Shizurii and Iwoji barely needed to help out; even while carrying Meia, the stranger bore a hole through the enemy ranks with ease, his weapon cutting intricate circles in the air. The man used a silver-white rapier that exuded a dull glow; he swung it around like a feather, seemingly weightless in his hands. Skeletons fell apart on the receiving end of his finesse, a series of slashes, stabs, parries and counters.
Shizurii silently reminded herself not to get on his bad side as they followed other trails of water.
The sound of rushing water grew louder as they followed their third trail. A sliver of hope dripped into Shizurii and she dashed towards the source of the sound. Her haste nearly got herself killed as she barely managed to stop short of the gorge.
“Whew,” Iwoji whistled as he peered over the side. Below, the water rushed down in a torrent of a waterfall into a huge plunge pool that glistened.
“This is it” he announced.
“This!?” Shizurii nearly went hysteric. “It’s a huge pool of water! And nearly was my grave!”
“That’s because you don’t see it” Iwoji replied calmly. “It’s underwater.”
“Underwater?!” The musketeer was clutching her hair by now. “So how do we get out!”
“Easy,” Iwoji replied, looking grim. “Jump, or do you prefer the guys behind us?”
He was cut short by the stranger.
“Go on ahead. I’d hold them back for awhile.”
Shizurii cursed and swore she’d murder Iwoji if she made it out alive. The siblings took a deep breathe. And jumped.
*
Chapter 3 (Part 1): The Red fleet
Thursday, October 16, 2008
A letter sent to his wife by Rear Admiral Dela'mir.
November 12th 1695
On board the Opresian La Gloire
Louis is mad! We've been at war with those accursed Vespanolans for almost 6 years now and yet he refuses to let us port. That power hungry saluad*1! I swear, ja vais prende sa retraite*2 when I get back. You must miss be badly, and my children... I have not seen them for so long.
Every day upon this wooden vessel the war gets more pointless. The Vespanolans are heartless! We sunk a fleet of schooners today but one of my men saw a drowning Vesponolan sailor and tried to pull him out. But when the Vespanolan got on deck, he stabbed that man and shot another of my sailors in his guts before dragging a third into the water. Now I have three dead sailors just because one of them didnt have the heart to leave a man to die, à deux balles*3!
Ma cheri*4, I have not seen any of the Vespanolans face to face yet, but when I saw that man, I knew something was wrong. His face was pale and white, like a ghost, and his eyes... Before he leapt back into the water, he looked at me with those eyes. I could feel my soul freeze, ma cheri, those eyes are evil. They were cold, blank and emotionless. Emotionless like the eyes of a man who is listening to a story by his fils*5 and not one who had nearly drowned and then killed 2 other men.
I have ordered my men not to try to rescue anymore of those accursed Vespanolans.
Tomorrow, we sail east to Gauf de Pierre. There is a Vespanolan fleet there with red sails and flags. It is their last fleet. I will be able to go home after this my dear. I will see you then.
Je t'aime ,
Votre mari, Dela'mer *6
*
*1 Bastard
*2 I will retire
*3 Damn it!
*4 My dear
*5 Son
*6 I love you,
Your husband, Dela'mer
Chapter 2 (Part 3): Cathari caves
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Iwoji stared, bewildered at the complexity of the inner caverns. Trails branched off in every direction and curved back, winding, twisting and trapping wanderers forever in their maze. Here, underneath the ground and deep inside the hill, the air was damp and moist. Stalactites dripped slowly, each drip echoing dully in the vast cavern. It was nearly impossible to create a fire, Iwoji had to reduce his magic into a tiny ember to conserve his strength. Around him, bugs sat as invisible watchers on the walls, silently watching him. Iwoji stiffled a shiver rising up his spine. He was almost defenseless in these moist conditions; he could barely even conjure and maintain light, much less a spell potent enough of do much. Furthermore, the violent nature of his fire spells were useless in such confined spaces. It'd be a wonder if he didn't cave himself in with even a small fireball spell.
He had marked the entrances of the paths he had taken with a small burn marks, pathmarkers so that he did not re enter a path he had already taken. But the marks were the reason why he stood staring; all the paths were marked- he had taken them all. Iwoji let out a few curses, listening to his own voice echo off the walls. Did he miss anything in the dark?
"Think... Think!" He muttered angrily to himself, refusing to believe that they were trapped.
"That damned dripping!" Iwoji fumed, unable to concerntrate.
"Wait...The dripping! That's it!"
A flash of hope streaked across his mind as realisation dawned. He turned back and sprinted towards the cave entrance, where his family battled for their lives.
I hope I'm not too late, He prayed quietly in his mind.
*
Meia's mind was a mess, the attack had came from a blind spot, she had not even seen it until it hit. The ivory mace smashed into the side of her head. Pain ruptured through her mind, blinding her senses. She felt her legs buckle under her, her strength sapped. She fell to the ground, fists still clenched over her sabres but no longer able to defend herself.
Am I to die here? Meia thought bitterly, she closed her eyes as the emotionless army moved in for the kill.
*
Everything happened so fast, Meia could only remember in parts. One moment the skeletons were advancing, then a blinding flash exploded sending debris flying all over her. Arms wrapped around her waist and lifted her up like a rag doll. Meia bit her lips as her wounds continued to burn through her, it was all she could do not to scream. She let the arms carry her without struggling, for a moment, she wondered who they belonged too. Iwoji was nowhere near strong enough to carry her like this.
Images blurred past her, noises sounded. Nothing made sense right now. She could feel a warm dark liquid trick slowly down her side. She felt so tired, so sleepy. Meia closed her eyes once more and, ever so slightly, curled into the arms of her captor.
*
Chapter 2 (Part 2): Cathari falls
Sunday, September 28, 2008
The cadaver army were as relentless as they were stupid. Bullets after bullets fired into the throng, blasting their bones into dust but their comrades neither seemed to notice nor cared. They retaliated with volleys of arrows from their poorly strung bows but now that Shizurii was prepared, their shots hit nothing but the barren rocks.
Cathari falls proved to be a very good bastion, its rocky and uneven terrain provided excellent cover from the arrows. They found an excellent vantage point perched upon the fall's low hills; a small cavern with a good view down to the land below. From their position Shizurii could see clearly the horde below: grotesque skeletons of animals, human and some demonic beings. They had mismatch bones, like some distorted puzzle. On top of a one of the skeletons with a human ribcage rested a hawk skull; another skeleton looked like it was made with only leg bones.
The cave had only one road up, making the skeletons' vast numbers a little easier to bear, Meia could hold the entrance as long as they came no more than two or three at a time. But it was also the only way down, it would only be a matter of time before they were overwhelmed.
Shizurii retreated back into the small cave as arrows clashed against the hillside, far from their target. She laid down her ammunition belt on the floor and counted-
"
Ni, yon, loku, hachi...*" Eight magazines left, ninety six shots.
"We can't keep this up," Meia growled underneath exhausted gasps of air. "Where's Iwoji?"
"He's exploring the cave, looking for escape route," Shizurii announced as she reloaded her pistols. "I have less than a hundred shots left."
"Make them count, we have company again" Meia shouted as she steeled herself for the next wave.
Shizurii looked on quietly as Meia fought. Dried blood caked a dozen wounds across her arms and legs, yet she fought on with fervor and zeal, cutting slashing and hacking at the skeletons that attacked.
Meia was not an immediate family member, she was not born into the Mizukira family. A year ago, Shizurii had met her and helped her locate the wreckage of a pirate ship. After that she swore allegiance into the family and took the name of Meia. At first, she appeared cold and distant, always lost in the thoughts of a past life. She would stare endless into the oceans for hours. Once, Shizurii made the mistake of startling her while she was lost in her thoughts, within seconds, Meia had drawn her sabre and pressed it against her neck, a move so swift, Shizurii had barely seen her move. Yet now, Meia stood between her and a horde of undead creatures, battling to protect her.
Shizurii shook the thoughts out of her head and locked her pistols at a skeleton advancing on Meia's flank.
Gunshots rang obligato to their racing heart beats.
"
Nii san... Where are you?" The musketeer whispered to herself.
*
Drr'Rjork wondered for a moment as he raced stealthily towards the mansion. What was it that Karthaes was keeping a secret that had intrigued Master Rvön so much?
A shadow retreated in the corner of his eye, causing the creature to almost trip over itself, if that was even possible. Drr'Rjork stopped dead, looking at where he had seen the disturbance. Short feelers sensing the air for danger.
Nothing.
Shrubbery gaited gently in the night breeze. The moonlight shone everstrongly, casting an eerie glow around.
Must have been a ferret. Drr'Rjork thought to himself as he hurried along his way to the mansion.
The Master would not be pleased if he took his own time.
*
Chapter 2 (Part 1): Walking dead.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The arrow volley stopped just long enough for Shizurii to glimpse out from behind a rock. Nothing gave away the positions of their assailants nor who they were. She ducked back under cover just as another salvo burst through the air. Iwoji crouched next to her, nursing a wound on his arm where an arrows had grazed him. Shizurii looked across the courtyard where Meia was seeking refuge behind a pillar.
Then she saw them.
It wasnt clear at first, but as they stepped into the moonlight, their grostequed features sharpened into sight. Walking skeletons marched in uniform towards Meia, their weapons raised. They weren't very well equipped, Shizurii could see that, a motley assortment of axes, pikes and poorly forged swords. But their numbers were huge; they spand as wide as she could see, a slow steady pace forward- unchallenged. Meia had noticed it too, the army of undead soldiers advancing upon her. She retreated a little deeper into the corner formed by fallen pillars and held her sabres ready.
Undead or not, that was her family member they were trying to kill.
"
Nii-san*, Meia needs us" Shizurii whispered, drawing out her twin pistols.
"
Jya. Ikkimashou**," A smile spread across his face, bloodlust reigning him.
Shizurii jumped out from behind the rocks, guns blaring as a jet of flames shot out from behind her, towards the skeletal ranks.
*
Gun shots rang from behind the pillars and a wave of heat washed over the nape of her neck. Meia looked up and saw Shizurii firing off shots, her hazel hair fanning with the wind.
"Just what I need," Meia smiled to herself and leapt out from behind her cover,
Galeheart and
Stormfang singing as she whirled them around.
Feral rage took over her mind as she charged into the first line of enemies, horrific skeletons, some still with rotting slabs of flesh dangling off their bones. Her sabres collided into the ribcage of a cadaver, the bone collapsed away at the blow, but the soldier made no sound as it collapsed onto the ground. A blinding vortex of slashes and cuts, Meia's blood burned as she burrowed into the army throng, cutting a path through.
Pain exploded from her side as one of the skeletons sank its blade into her. Meia sank onto a knee and slashed blindly at her attacker, severing it's torso. Behind her a skeleton swung its axe at the former pirate but before it could land the hit its skull shattered from a pistol bullet.
"Meia!" Shizurii shouted, her pistols levered at where the head of the skeleton used to be.
"That silly girl." Meia laughed, vigor renewed.
A fireball blew up a few metres to her left, opening a small pathway to her allies. She was not about to waste this chance; a few slashes and the last few skeletons still standing in between them were dispatched.
"This way!" Iwoji called out. "Let's move to higher grounds at Cathari falls!"
The three ran. Exhausted and wounded, but ready to defend themselves till the last breath.
*
Drr'Rjork scampered across the hallway, his many feet scraping the marble floor. Master Rvön had summoned him, for reasons unbeknown to him. The master rarely summoned him, if only for a mission that called for Drr'Rjork's talents at... persuasion.
"Master?" The worm-like creature crooned as he reached the huge oaken doors.
"I have a task for you, worm." A voice sounded behind the doors. "Karthaes has been keeping secrets from me. Can you ask him to share them for me?"
"Your will be done master."
Drr'Rjork turned and moved back down the hallway. Oh, Karthaes would be most persuasive. Yes he would.