Chapter 11
Karena stamped out the last remaining ashes of the fire. She had barely slept the entire night, despite the relative comfort of the cave. Ilian had tossed and turned, blurting out something unintelligible on more than one occasion.
I wonder what it is that haunts your dreams. We all have our demons.
She watched Ilian as he struggled to close the top of his backpack. “Hurry up, would ya? It'll be spring by the time you're finished.”
Ilian's cheeks were flushed with exertion and sweat soaked his back. “I've almost got it. Just a little...” he pushed down with a grunt and fastened the top of the pack with his free hand “...more. Phew, finally got it.” Ilian took a moment to catch his breath and swung the pack over his shoulders.
Karena couldn't help but grin at his efforts. I'm surprised that buffoon hasn't noticed how much more he carries. Least he can't run away again if he's too exhausted.
“All right, we need to up our pace today. Another two days journey and we'll be at Gambler's Pass.” Karena ducked out of the cave and into the cold air without. Her lips had dried and begun to crack on the journey up the mountain. She fought the urge to lick them.
A gust of wind blasted her face and stung her eyes. She shivered and raised her hood.
I hate the bloody cold.
Karena licked her lips, cursed herself, and shifted the pack on her shoulders. She scanned the rocks around them, but the fresh coat of snow made it difficult to look without squinting.
Something in the back of her mind told her that all wasn't right. She had come to rely on this sense; it had saved her many times in the past.
There's something, or someone, here. I can feel it.
Ilian popped out of the cave behind her and scrambled to his feet. He stumbled through the snow until he stood next to her, his eyebrows raised. “What's wrong?”
She extended her arm and pushed him back. “Be still. I don't think we're alone.”
Ilian sighed. “What kind of idiot would venture into the mountains in the dead of winter? Besides us, of course.”
Karena narrowed her eyes. “Someone that wants to die.”
A deep, booming laugh echoed off the cliffs around them. “Do you really think you can grant my wish?”
A pile of snow erupted as a man, coated in ice, and clothed in only a pair of ragged slacks rose to his feet. He was huge, easily five hand-spans taller than herself, and built like an ox with scars across his entire body. His long, dark hair was frozen to his back. He shook his head and chunks of ice fell to the ground beside him.
Blazing red eyes glared down at them.
She slid her pack from her shoulders and drew her daggers, Zephryos, in one fluid motion. “If death is what you desire, then so be it.”
Snow pelted her face and swirled around Karena's body as she drew upon the power of Zephryos. She ran forward and launched herself into the air, drawing deep on the power that surged though her. The familiar pale-green glow spread across the blades and tingled against her skin. Her body felt weightless as the wind carried her towards the man that blocked her path.
Blood spattered Karena's face as her daggers thrust with ease through his heart and lung. She tore the daggers from his body and slid backwards across the icy ground. His body landed face down in the snow with a sickening crunch.
“See? Wishes do come true.” Karena wiped her daggers clean and sheathed them. She faced Ilian and grinned at the look of revulsion in his eyes. She had become accustomed to people fearing her over the years. Just another perk of her job. Fear is a powerful tool.
Karena tensed as something scraped in the snow behind her.
She threw herself to the side just in time to dodge the massive hand that reached for her arm. The ground rushed to meet her, but she used her momentum to roll back onto her feet.
The man she had just killed stood across from her, admiring the scars on his chest.
Scars that, moments ago, had been two open wounds.
He grinned at her. “Interesting set of knives you have there. I haven't felt pain like that in a long time.” He cracked his knuckles and walked towards Karena.
This isn't possible. He was dead.
She drew her daggers and lowered into a crouch. “What in Zosimus's bane are you? Nobody should be able to survive that.”
She had faced all sorts of opponents over the years. Man, woman, and beast. They were all the same to her; just creatures of flesh and blood. But, this was different.
The rest had all stayed dead when she killed them.
“The name's Amaren. Let's keep this short.” He tilted his head towards Ilian. “I'm going to kill you and that lad over there. Any other questions?” Amaren winked at her.
“Just one.” The blades hummed as she drew on their power once more. “How fast are you?” Before he could answer, she summoned her winds and was gone. She rode the current, propelled at speeds that surpassed the human eye. Karena stopped behind Amaren, sliced through his back and flew backwards as he swung blindly, catching nothing but air. Blood caked his back and covered the ground beneath him, yet not a single wound bleed once her daggers left his body.
Amaren smiled. “I fought one like you years ago. She was almost as fast as you.” Amaren smashed his fists together and hunched over. “Problem is, you're nowhere near as strong as she was.” The air around him shimmered, and his skin reddened. Water poured off the rocks as snow and ice melted, and waves of heat pulsated away from him. Amaren screamed, and his whole body quivered in exertion. He separated his fists and let his arms drop to his sides.
His skin glowed crimson and crackled with heat.
Karena hovered in midair, frozen in shock. Who is this man? There shouldn't be anyone alive that can invoke that power...
For the first time in years, she felt fear.
“Lost your nerve already?” Amaren cackled, his voice raspy.
Karena steeled her resolve. “You say you've fought one like me before. Then, let me ask you this.”
She pressed her daggers together and let them float freely in the air. The wind swirled around the blades and they began to spin towards one another. Each blade touched and vanished into a bright green glow. A moment later, there was a loud bang and the wind burst away in all directions.
“Did this person bring the full fury of the wind against you?”
She grabbed the hilt of Zephyros and brandished it in front of her. Where there had been two blades before there was now a single, gleaming sword. The blade glowed a sickly green, the power of the blade running through her fingertips and into her body.
This was the true form of Zephyros; the true power of a blood weapon.
Amaren stroked his chin. “Intriguing. What're ya gonna do with that?”
“See if you're truly immortal.” Karena focused the power of the blade into every limb of her body. The power pulsed in unison with her heart beat. “Ilian, take cover!”
Ilian was pressed up against the rock face. His eyes were wide with fright and he showed no sign of having heard her.
She used the wind to amplify her voice. “Ilian! Get out of here, now.”
“O—OK!” Ilian fell over and scrambled on all fours up to the other side of the cliff.
Karena's gaze slid back to Amaren just in time to see his massive body flying towards her. She released her hold on Zephyros and some of the power trickled from her body.
The wind crashed into Amaren's body and hurled him backwards into the side of the cliff. Ice and chunks of rock rained down on his body.
Amaren shook his head and pushed himself to his feet. Rocks skittered away from him. “I think my ancestors felt that one. I haven't had this much fun in ages. Alas, it must come to an end.” He bared his teeth and ran towards Karena.
“Sunxuô!” The full force of the wind burst from her body and she struggled to hold herself steady.
This is the first time I'v
e ever had to tap into this much of the weapon's power. It's almost overwhelming me.
The air surged towards Amaren and smashed into him. He crashed back into the cliff, but this time the wind didn't relent. It pushed harder and harder against his body, driving him further into the rock. The earth shuddered and gave in as the power of Zephryos cut into it. Huge boulders and shards of ice fell from above and buried Amaren beneath them.
She sighed in relief. It's over. There's no way he can—
An explosion sounded from beneath the rubble and the rocks flew into pieces. Karena raised her winds with the flick of her wrist and deflected the pebbles as they rained down on her.
Amaren's skin glowed redder than before and he wore a wide grin on his face. “Is that the best you can do?”
Karena threw herself into the stream and flew towards Amaren. I'll slice him into pieces. Even if he doesn't die, he'll be in no condition to fight, let alone walk.
She used the air around her to slow her descent and landed on both her feet with a thud. She brought Zephryos above her head and sliced downwards, intent on splitting him in half.
The blade bounced off his skin and shook in her hands. Her grip on the sword loosened and the onslaught of the wind lessened with the break in her concentration.
Amaren's hand shot out and grabbed the blade of the sword. Blood ran down the length of Zephryos. She tried to yank it free, but the sword only bit deeper into his flesh. His grip was firm.
He grinned and turned his head to meet her eyes. “You finally got close enough.”
Idiot! What in the bloody hell was I thinking? I fell right into his trap.
The current of air around Amaren faded away as the power drained from her body. She was spent.
Karena slumped against the hilt of Zephryos.
Amaren grabbed her around the throat, his rough hands scraping against her skin. “Swords don't have much effect on crimson skin, m'lady.” He slammed her body into the ground. All the wind in her lungs burst from her mouth and the world spun around her.
“That sounded like it hurt.” He smashed his huge fist into her ribs and Karena hissed as one of her ribs broke. Another fist smashed into her face and broke her nose.
Blood pooled around Karena and she felt herself slipping away. Her head lolled as Amaren picked her up and threw her battered body across the scarred earth around them.
Karena landed hard and cried out as her entire body convulsed with pain. She tried to claw away, but there was no strength left in her. Her arm dropped to the frozen ground and her breaths came in shallow gasps.
Through the fog she heard Ilian scream.
Why is he screaming? He has no reason to be afraid.
He's safe.
—
Despite the cold, Ilian felt hot. He'd been afraid at first, but after seeing this man beat Karena to a bloody mess everything had changed.
He's doing what I couldn't. She deserves this. Every bit of it.
But, as the beatings went on and became more savage, Ilian began to have second thoughts.
This is what she deserves, but—is this really right? Can I just sit here and watch him kill her?
Years ago, Ilian got into a fight with another kid over a toy. The kid had stolen Ilian's toy and broken it. In a fit of rage, Ilian jumped the boy and gave him a black eye.
Kane took him home and sat Ilian down. He placed his hand upon Ilian's shoulder and said, in a gentle voice, “It's just a toy, Ilian. It can be replaced. But, the damage you did to that boy today can't be undone. Our lives are too short to cause suffering amongst one another.”
“But, father,” he said, “it was my toy.”
Kane had smiled at that and reached into his satchel. From it, he pulled a small wooden horse and handed it to Ilian. “Here's a new one for you. No matter how much you hate someone, you should never intentionally cause harm to them. Treasure life, for even the darkest of souls can be redeemed.”
Ilian shook the memory from his head. You were right, Father. I won't become like her. I won't be a killer.
His fingers curled into fists and he nodded. I don't know if there's anything I can do to help you, Karena, but I'll try.
Ilian slid down the cliff towards Karena. She lay motionless, covered in blood next to a rock. He ran up to her and gently shook her. “Are you still alive? Say something.”
She let out a low groan in response and her fingers twitched.
He drew his knife and pointed it at the man walking towards him. “Amaren, was it?”
Amaren stopped and cocked his head. “Yeah, that's my name. Sorry for cutting your reunion short, but I have to kill you now.”
Ilian thought back to the time at the inn when he was attacked. He had done something then to conjure some sort of blue flames. All he had to do was remember how he did it.
“Blue flame, I summon thee!” He stared at the blade but nothing happened. “I command you to show yourself.”
No reaction.
Amaren threw his head back and laughed. “I'm not sure what you're trying to accomplish, but it's hilarious. I almost feel bad I have to kill ya, kid. You're a damn funny one.”
In an instant Amaren was at his side. The back of his hand smashed into Ilian's face, and knocked him to the ground.
Ilian slid back several feet and crashed into a pile of snow. He tasted blood in his mouth and a thin stream of it trickled from his nose.
“It's a shame I have to kill ya. I kind of like smacking you around,” Amaren jeered.
Ilian wiped the blood off his face and picked up the dagger. This was the last thing Kane had given him. He pushed himself to his feet and shook the snow from his hair.
I won't let your gift go to waste, Father. We didn't always agree, but it was you who made me who I am now. I cannot stand by and watch anyone, even her, suffer.
His blood covered the hilt and made it slippery in his hand. Ilian tightened his grip and raised his other hand.
“Come.”
Something inside of him stirred. There was a thumping sound in Ilian's ears followed by a high pitched ringing. His vision blurred for a moment and then snapped into focus. He glanced down at the dagger in his hand and his eyes widened at what he saw.
It glowed red-hot.
Then, the dagger burst into a bright blue flame, the blade swallowed up in its bright glow. It ran up the length of his arm but, like last time, there was no pain. The flame flickered and snaked around his arm as if it had a life all its own.
What is this power? I don't understand where it comes from.
“That's more like it.” Amaren balled his hand into a fist. “This wouldn't be any fun if you didn't put up a fight.” He swung his fist towards Ilian's face.
Ilian swiped the blade upwards wildly and fell to the ground. His dagger cut cleanly through Amaren's wrist.
Amaren grabbed his arm and howled in pain.
Ilian stared at the stump in disbelief. The hand had disintegrated into ashes before ever hitting the ground, and where his hand had been attached there was a mess of torn and burnt flesh.
No blood flowed from the wound.
Amaren retreated several steps and cradled his arm. “W—What are you? Why do you have his power?”
Ilian gripped the blade tighter. “His power? What're you talking about? Do you know what this is?”
Amaren stuck his hand in the snow. “That damned lord. He knew. He knew what you were. That's why he sent me.” He gritted his teeth. “Rodach, I'm going to kill you for this.”
Ilian advanced on Amaren, blade held at the ready.
I can't let my guard down. There's no telling what he may do now.
Amaren met his gaze, and Ilian could see more than physical pain hiding behind them. There was more to this man than there appeared.
“Ilian,” Amaren rose up to his full height, “I've decided that, for now, I want to live. I want to live to see what
becomes of you. So, I bid you farewell.” He smashed the fist of his remaining hand into the ground.
The entire mountain shook in response.
Ilian lost his balance and fell to his knees. The dagger clattered to the ground and the flames extinguished. He looked up just in time to see Amaren heading towards the edge of a cliff.
“You might want to take shelter,” Amaren shouted over his shoulder before throwing himself off the cliff.
There was a rumbling sound from further up the mountain. Ilian looked upwards and saw a cloud of white heading his way. A few seconds before he realized what it was.
An avalanche crashed down the mountain, heading straight for him.
“Take shelter from that? Are you serious?” Ilian grabbed his dagger and slid it into its sheath. He looked around desperately trying to find some place to go. His eyes settled on the crack in the mountain side.
I hope I'll be able to make it back out afterwards.
Ilian started towards the cave, but a groan caught his attention.
Karena was still alive.
He could just leave her and be done with her forever. She had killed Kane in cold blood and dragged him along on this suicidal journey across the Crystal Mountains.
Even after everything you've taught me, I still hesitate, Father. Why should I save her?
He took several more steps and came to a stop. “I can't do it.” Ilian ran back and tossed Karena over his shoulder. “You know why I can't leave you, Karena?”
Her only response was another groan.
“Because I have a heart.”
Ilian ducked into the cave just before the torrent of snow swallowed the cave entrance.