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Moon reined in the stallion and looked down at the town he assumed was Lysalis. He had left the refugees earlier that morning as they got set to resume their journey northward. Masrel had told him to seek a man called Casca, at the Philosopher's Folly tavern once he got to Petralis.
Set on a flat expanse of land, the town he now gazed upon was surrounded by green fields, with the river to the north. A road ran through the centre, with buildings on either side. Scanning the town, he could detect no signs of life except for the black mass of carrion birds circling it.
Steeling himself for what he would find, Moon heeled the stallion down the hill, and approached the town.
A hot sun blazed down from a cloudless sky, and what would otherwise have been a welcome cooling breeze blew from the south west. But all it brought was the stench of rotting bodies.
A deep gloom settled on Moon as he rode slowly down Lysalis’s main thoroughfare. Bodies of men, women and children were strewn everywhere. Some had crushed skulls and others no heads at all.
He could visualize the demon-hounds leaping and clamping huge jaws on the heads of the helpless townspeople. Dismounting, he examined some of the bodies. The hounds had sucked up and fed on the brains, and left the rest to rot and the tender mercies of carrion birds and scavengers
Thinking it inconceivable that all the inhabitants of such a large settlement could be dead, he took time to ride through the town, occasionally calling out, hoping to find survivors. Deathly silence greeted him. Apart from headless bloated corpses, all he found were countless mounds of clothes discarded on the ground. Poking a couple with his foot, he found they covered piles of human bones.
He pushed open the door of a small dwelling at the far edge of the town. Stepping in, he saw two mounds in the main room. One was obviously male, and the other, female clothing. An old sword lay on the floor nearby. Moon nudged one of the mounds with a foot. The clothes fell clear to reveal a pile of whitened bones. He mouthed a curse as he stepped back.
Pushing open the door to another room he found three smaller mounds. Clearly children, their parents must have tried to hide them from the demons. The discarded sword must have belonged to the father who tried valiantly to protect his wife and children.
With heavy heart, Moon left the dwelling. He walked down the path that bisected a well-tended garden with yellow and blue blooming flowers. The small gate at the head of the path creaked on rusty hinges as he pushed it open. He stepped back onto the road and stopped.
Looking around, all he could see was death and desolation. Death came to everyone, but it shouldn't be in this manner. This had been a peaceful town set in tranquil surroundings. A town of families and happy children playing in the fields. Then the demons had descended on them.
Moon couldn't remember ever seeing such a sad sight. He knew it would stay with him for a long time.
He wished he could do something. Light a funeral pyre to aid the departed on their way. But that was impossible as there were so many dead.
He trudged back to where he had tethered his horse. Climbing into the saddle, he touched heels to the stallion and rode south toward Petralis.
The Isle of Kandros
Liang was getting bored. She had been aboard the Mingzhu about forty days, and Captain Tao-Lin had told her they were still another thirty from Petralis.
The encounter with the pirates had provided a welcome distraction. But that had been twenty days earlier, and the days since had been of unremitting tedium.
The initial excitement of being aboard ship for the first time, and the joys of experiencing a storm at sea had long worn off. Spending so much time in a confined space was driving her mad and made her restless.
Fortunately, she had brought some parchment and her painting materials with her, and had managed to paint some spectacular sunsets and sunrises at sea.
At other times, she practised sword and empty-hand drills on a cleared space on deck. Sometimes the captain of Xiang Tse's warriors joined her, and they went through the moves of the White crane, Slumbering dragon, and others.
When they shadow-fought or practised with swords, Liang found she had to ease off lest she inadvertently hurt the man. He was skilled far above the average, but still nowhere near her level.
And the more she used the Storm Blades, the more they felt a part of her. She began to wonder what her ancestor Kyung-Su, had been like. She had been the first to bear the Storm Blades and used them to help defeat the evil of what her uncle had called the Gualich soul eaters, over a thousand years ago. But that was all she knew about her.
What did she look like? What had she been like? She was a fierce warrior without parallel, but was she also kind and gentle when needed? Was she a woman of great passions who loved fiercely? And how did she die?
Then the dreams began.
She saw a tall woman with long black hair and eyes like storm clouds, surrounded by a pack of huge, bone-white hounds with long barbed tails. The creatures rushed in, and it seemed they would overwhelm her. Lightning jagged overhead as the woman drew two blue-hued blades. In a blur of motion, she cut, slashed, and spun. The beasts lay dead at her feet, the bodies swiftly decomposing into writhing fat yellow maggots.
She saw the same woman locked in combat with a huge man wielding a great double-handed broadsword. The man roared fierce battle cries as the sword hammered down with immense force, and it appeared she would fall before the raw elemental fury of the giant. The woman met him chest-to-chest, her slender blades deflecting and blocking. Ducking under a wild slash, one of her swords licked out, lightly caressing her opponent's inner thigh. The giant clutched at his leg and fell to his knees, the great artery pumping out his lifeblood.
The scene changed. The woman was locked in an embrace with a powerfully muscled dark-skinned man. She cried out again and again, as she rode on the currents of ecstasy.
Sometimes Liang felt she and the woman were one. She was fighting the hounds and the huge warrior, and making love to the dark-skinned man.
That frightened Liang, for it felt she was losing herself, losing the essence of her being – her identity, and becoming the woman.
The woman also frightened Liang. She knew it was Kyung-Su, her forebear. But there was something dark about her.
One night, she had a different dream.
She found herself on top of a hill made of human skulls. The sky was a dull grey, and she couldn't tell if it was day or night as there was no moon or sun. She had no idea how she got there. Looking down, she saw a sea of crimson eyes at the bottom of the hill. Chilling growls, gibbering, and the hissing of reptiles floated up to her. She shivered, for she knew with a grim certainty that whatever was down there, lusted after her soul.
A red glow appeared before her, and slowly dimmed to reveal the tall regal figure of Kyung-Su, only this time, her eyes shone a baleful red like the creatures below.
Startled, Liang reached for her swords, but she was unarmed.
Kyung-Su laughed. “Ah my dear,” she mocked. “You haven't your swords, or should I say my swords, but...”
Stepping forward, Kyung-Su drew two black-bladed swords. “Well met, kinswoman.” A forked serpent’s tongue darted between her lips. “I have been waiting an eternity for this moment. You bear the Storm Blades, and the link between us is complete. When I kill you here, your soul dies, leaving your body empty back on the physical plane. Drawn by the Storm Blades, I will take possession of your body, breathe air and delight in the joys of the flesh once again.”
Liang stumbled back, shock and fear in her eyes. “Why, Kyung-Su? Why do you do this? I am of your blood...you were a great hero who fought evil!”
“Yes, I was a hero,” Kyung-Su spat. “I was feted by kings and took powerful men to my bed. I helped save the world. But how am I rewarded?” She gestured at the lifeless grey surroundings. “An eternity in this grey soulless place, with no
company except for those creatures below.”
She pointed one of her swords at Liang's breast. “Why do I do this? A chance at life again! Come, sweet daughter, bare your breast and gratefully accept the great honour I am offering you. Your body will be the vessel for the great Kyung-Su, the first bearer of the Storm Blades.”
Liang stopped retreating and eased into a fighting crouch, her eyes blazing defiance. “Come then, ancestor. If you want my body, you will have to earn it the hard way. But first, you and I will see if the dead can die again.”
Kyung-Su leapt forward, her swords slashing.
Liang dropped to her haunches, her right leg arcing out in a reverse sweep at Kyung-Su's ankles.
Her legs swept away, Kyung-Su landed hard on her back. Liang kicked out, knocking one of the swords from her hand, then threw herself into a tumbler's roll. Her fingers closed on the hilt of black-bladed sword and she sprang to her feet.
“Let’s see how well you fight, you red-eyed witch!” she grated, storm clouds dancing behind her eyes.
Kyung-Su rolled to her feet and sprang forward, her sword licking at Liang's throat. Liang deflected the thrust, and countered with a reverse slash at her opponent's neck.
She almost died as Kyung-Su ducked and lanced her blade at her heart. Shocked at the speed of the thrust, Liang threw herself back, but not quickly enough to completely avoid the sword point.
A trill of fear and uncertainty ran through Liang. The brief exchange of sword-play had told her Kyung-Su was the better swords-woman. Better than any she had ever faced, but Xiang-Tse had told her it wasn't impossible to defeat a superior opponent.
She met Kyung-Su's next attack, blocking and parrying, studying her opponent's style and looking for weaknesses and tell-tale signs that may give her an opening.
Exasperated by Liang's obduracy, Kyung-Su over-reached, throwing herself slightly off-balance with a lunge at Liang's chest. Liang side-stepped, lancing her sword at her ancestor's exposed side.
Kyung-Su spun away, as the sword scrapped across her ribs. “You fight well, little one. You are indeed worthy of my swords,” she said, serpent’s tongue darting across her lips. “But it is time to end this, and reclaim them.”
Kyung-Su whispered an incantation; soft and sing-song. Liang's arms felt heavy, and her legs weak. Her sword fell from her hand.
Kyung-Su stepped forward, her sword lashing at Liang's neck. Liang stood there helplessly, her arms down by her side. Time seemed to slow as she watched the blade sweep down. Completely paralysed, she couldn't even close her eyes to shut out the moment. She prepared for death.
There was a flash of light so bright, it hurt her eyes, then a shining silver sword blocked Kyung-Su's death stroke. Liang heard the blades scrape together, then saw her ancestor’s black-bladed sword spin from her fingers to land with dull clang on the skulls underfoot.
Finding she could move again, Liang threw herself to one side, then rolled to her feet.
A tall dark-skinned man stood before Kyung-Su. The crimson-eyed woman appeared to cower before the man, then she became indistinct and faded away.
The man walked up to Liang and inclined his head.
“Thank you,” Liang whispered.
“It was nothing,” the man replied, his voice deep.
He stared at Liang for what seemed ages, then smiled, his deep-set brown eyes, warm and friendly. She could detect another emotion in those eyes, one she couldn't quite grasp. And though there were no physical similarities, something about the stranger reminded her of Pagan.
“Come with me, Liang,” he said. “There are things I must tell you.”
He waved his arm, and Liang found herself in a richly furnished room. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and rich tapestries adorned the walls. The highly-polished wooden floor was covered with thick rugs. Two deeply upholstered chairs sat before a blazing fire.
Gesturing Liang to sit, the stranger sat in the other chair.
Liang sank into the chair, then sat forward. She placed her elbows on her knees, cupped her chin between her hands and looked intently at the man opposite her. She felt completely at ease in his company.
Taking a deep breath, the dark-skinned man met Liang's gaze. “She...Kyung-Su wasn't always like that. She was brave, fearless and kind...like you.” He paused briefly. “Then she met me. We became lovers.”
Liang interrupted. “I saw you together...in a dream.”
The man nodded. “Yes...We lived together as man and wife, and had a child. A beautiful girl...you look like her.”
He smiled at the memory, then his brow darkened, and his eyes became sad. “Then I made a great mistake. I introduced Kyung-Su to magick. Some might call it sorcery, but I always used my powers for good. We were happy for many years, watching our daughter grow. But Kyung-Su became obsessed with the idea of prolonging her lifespan, even immortality. I tried to dissuade her, but she wouldn't listen. She studied forbidden lore, the blackest sorcery. The rites were...” He shook his head as if mentioning them would stain his soul.
“I died after a short illness, and Kyung-Su carried on along the same dark path. She managed to prolong her life by a few years, but her dream of immortality was never fulfilled. Her dark deeds tainted her soul. So many suffered and met painful deaths to satisfy her lusts. When she died...departed her physical body, she found her herself trapped in that desolate place where I found you. Doomed to live with others of her ilk because of her evil.”
“But you are not evil, so why do you remain?” Liang asked.
The dark man smiled sadly. “For the part I played. For it was I who introduced her to sorcery. I watch over her, try to guide her onto the right path. Once I succeed, she will be able to move onto the next stage of her journey, and I too will be permitted to leave. But as you saw, she is a long way from redemption. She is intent on returning to the physical plane, no matter the cost.”
Liang sat quietly as the import of the dark man's story hit her. An ineffable sadness overwhelmed her, and her eyes filled with tears. Kyung-Su, her ancestor, had helped defeat the Gualich and save the world, now she was doomed to haunt a grey soulless place. Brought to this by, her own wickedness. Liang was aware of her own dark side, the murky emotions that roiled within her. Her paintings and love for Pagan helped keep them at bay. She hoped she too wouldn’t succumb, and end up like Kyung-Su.
Liang looked at the dark man. “You mentioned a child who looked like me. Does that mean you are also my forebear?”
The dark man smiled again. “Yes, I am, daughter.”
The smile faded, and his eyes became grave.
“You must be on your guard, for Kyung-Su will try to kill you again and possess your body. The blades you carry link you. I believe she cast a powerful spell on them. Unfortunately, I don't know the nature of the spell, and haven't the power to undo it. The danger isn't past, but as you are now aware of her scheming, she won't be able to draw you to her so easily.”
Liang was still uneasy, but decided against questioning the dark-skinned man further.
He rose to his feet. “It is time you return to the flesh. Live long daughter, and remember well the lessons in what you have seen today. Now, close your eyes and think of where you were before Kyung-Su called you away.”
Liang closed her eyes.
And opened them. The feeling of motion, and the creaking of the ship's timbers told her she was back in her bunk aboard the Mingzhu.
She lay there going over what she had just experienced, and the words of the dark-skinned man. She knew it hadn't been a dream. Kyung-Su's appearance – the crimson eyes and serpent’s tongue – had shocked and saddened her. It occurred to her she hadn't asked the dark man's name.
Lulled by the gentle roll of the Mingzhu, she drifted off to sleep again. This time there were no dreams, nor was her spirit summoned to a hill of skulls.