“Warriors of the Midnight Sun” - Act VI

And here's Act VI.

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“Warriors of the Midnight Sun”
© 2008 by Charles Shaver. All rights reserved.

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ACT VI

DARKNESS WITHIN A NEW DAWN: Wherein Stavros Battles the Brothers Jackal; Momoki Determines How to End the Battle; Dian Wails; Xiao-tep and Fei Li Mi Meet Once More Within the Clouds Over the Plain of Adoration

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CHAPTER 1

On ran Stavros of the Ruska Roma, diving headlong into the depths of the battlefield, fighting hither and thither as he searched for his sworn enemies, but to by fighting to say to allow himself stayed long enough only to push off one Bone Warrior after another so that he may continue his search. His blade bit flesh, but not once did he strike with a death blow. He left that for the two he sought.

At last he came to them. At last the Brothers Jackal, Tavaras and Trebizond, stood nearby, both now armed with large bones for clubs. The three eyed one another. Where the brothers smiled crooked, toothy smiles, Stavros grimaced with hatred.

Stavros worked his sword in his hand.

Tavaras said, “Look brother, our old friend has come back to us.”

“He must desire playful bonding,” cackled Trebizond.

As the jackals hooted and howled with laughter, Stavros said, “You have defiled those that were as my mother, my father, my family. You have dishonored them and yourselves. You foul the world with your stench and loyalty to the demon-dog.”

“Oh,” said Trebizond, “Has the rat come seeking revenge?”

“He wants to right the wrongs done to his pets!” mocked Tavaras.

“How will you fight us this time,” asked Trebizond. “On your back? I see it has a crook. Are you certain it has yet healed?”

Stavros said nothing. He bared his teeth, angry and plotting, watching.

“He desires no more idle chatting, brother,” said Tavaras.

“Too bad. I wanted to discuss how much I enjoyed fouling his people,” said Trebizond. “Some of them even to death.”

“And beyond!” cackled Tavaras.

The jackals laughed as one.

Stavros cried out, “I’ll let my blade speak for me!” He jumped in the air at his foes. He lunged and thrusted first at Tavaras.

Trebizond rounded to the other side of Stavros so that there stood a jackal on either side of the rat. Stavros fended them off, twirling his sword about his form, first high then low, much like the blade of a windmill.

Tavaras swung his bone club and Stavros stepped back out of its way, coming nearer Trebizond who, seeing the rat backing near him, thrusted his bone club out as a spear at Stavros’ crooked back.

Stavros leaned back, his arms above his head and holding his sword pointed at the ground, using the blade to swat away the oncoming blow. He twisted his torso until he stood facing Trebizond.

Trebizond swung his club wide. Stavros leaned forward and down, ducking under the blow, and reaching out with his sword. The tip of the blade bit into the jackal’s stomach, though not deep, and a bloody wound opened there. The jackal yelped and jumped backward.

The rat turned round to face Tavaras, who was already swinging his club. Stavros could not dodge this blow. The bone his left shoulder. Stavros winced.

Tavaras brought his club up and streaking down. Stavros raised his sword with both hands and blocked the blow. He shifted the sword until the club fell away.

On and on the three fought, not one gaining on the other. Stavros swung his sword about in many circular motions, blocking and parrying strike after strike of the jackals. As soon as he would block, Stavros would attack but each attack was light and swift and if it struck the resulting wound was never deep.

Soon each jackal had collected a dozen open cuts or more as Stavros was aching from bruises caused by the few blows his foes had landed.

Then the jackals struck as one, Trebizond’s club arcing high, Tavaras’ club swinging wide and low. Each brought their clubs down and in on Stavros with incredible force.

Stavros could not block them both. He chose to block Trebizond’s, raising his sword high for a parry and with his free hand tried to snatch at Tavaras’ club but missed.

Tavaras’ club struck Stavros in the left thigh. The rat cried out in pain as he collapsed to the ground.

The jackals jumped on their prey. Trebizond arced his club high once more and once more brought it down with incredible force onto Stavros’ shin. Stavros cried out as the bone within cracked. He tried to roll away, but Tavaras had hold of him and bit him in the forearm of the hand his sword was holding.

Stavros screamed again. He violently ripped himself free from Tavaras’ hold. He rolled across the grass plain, putting distance between himself and the jackals who were now standing and laughing joyfully at their success.

All around them the battle raged. Men and women and Gifted Ones and gods cried out in pain at the agony of the fight and of death. Stavros, his vision blurred and his eyes tearing up, felt himself a failure. He eyed the fighting around him. The blurry images of battle reached out to him and in the distance he thought he could see and hear his people, ghastly in form and crying out as they had as they were being slaughtered, called to him. On the air he thought he could hear the faint, shrill tone of a lone fiddle screeching out a song of his people.

His breathing hastened. His vision cleared. He looked to see the jackals walking towards him.

Stavros, struggling, stood on his broken leg. He sneered. His eyes leveled. And, as the jackals neared, he jumped with his weight on his good leg.

Stavros flew through the air, he leveled his body with the plain, his torso spun as he stretched out his arm, stretching out the blade that flashed in the morning sun. The sword came down upon Tavaras’ head and, with help from Stavros’ falling weight, bit through the skull, sliced down through the neck and into the chest. Blood sprayed forth from Tavaras’ body and spattered all across Stavros.

As Stavros landed harshly on the ground, his sword bit free from the jackal’s crotch and split him in twain. The two halves of Tavaras rocked, bleeding, then fell.

Trebizond gasped in horror, staring at the gore of his dead brother.

Stavros, ignoring the pain in his arm and leg, stood. His teeth were bared. His right side was streaked with blood. He stepped forward, towards the remaining jackal.

Trebizond, eyeing Stavros, panted heavily and stepped backward. For the first time in his short life, Trebizond was afraid.

Stavros pressed the fight. he attacked again and again. Trebizond parried each sword thrust and swipe. When the rat thrusted, Trebizond parried the attack, twisted his wrist and brought his club around Stavros’ sword and slapped his shoulder.

The rat pressed the attack.

Trebizond, backing away, thrust his club out at Stavros’ face. The club hit, but lightly. Trebizond tried the same attack, hoping this time to apply more force.

Stavros read the attack. He brought up his sword to smack at the club. He then stepped to the side and into the jackal’s attack. Sword and club slid past one another. The club went by Stavros’ head. He grabbed Trebizond’s arm, holding it fast as the sword came to a spot just above Trebizond’s shoulder.

Trebizond’s eyes grew wide.

Stavros twisted his wrist, bringing the blade sideways to point at the jackal’s neck. He shifted his weight, swung his shoulders. The blade bit into Trebizond’s neck. With incredible celerity, Stavros lopped off Trebizond’s head.

Blood geysered from the jackal’s neck, filling the air with crimson gore and raining down upon Stavros until his hair matted to his skin. In the years to come, as word spread and tales were told about the Battle Upon the Plain of Adoration, he would come to be known as Stavros the Red. And when the question was posed why a brown rat would have a name like ‘Red’, the most common answer given would be, “Because he bathes in the blood of his enemies.”

Stavros, his arm held wide, twisted his wrist again and brought the blade down and through Trebizond’s gut, slicing his torso free from his legs. The torso fell to the ground, Stavros still holding the arm holding the bone club. Once more Stavros twisted his wrist and swung the sword out and down, his sword slicing through the right leg above the knee. The remaining waist and leg wavered in the wind that blew across the plain before finally both falling.

In the distance, Stavros thought he could hear a softer, happier song of a fiddle. The voices of his people quieted. The Ruska Roma were finally at rest.

He let go the dead jackal’s arm. He breathed deep. His breathing became easier. His eyes leveled. His face calmed, losing its grimace.

Stavros limped deeper into the plain, lopping off heads and limbs as he went.

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CHAPTER 2

Balori flew upon his mystic cloud above the heads of those battling upon the plain. He swung his heavy club a time or two, knocking lose the heads of several Bone Warriors. On he flew until he came at last to the foot of the giant demon-dog Yaska Selith. His cloud lifted him high and when at last he came to the demon-dog’s chest he brought forth his broken tusk, with great effort and a terrible trumpet from his trunk, plunged the long ivory spear deep into the flesh of Yaska Selith.

The demon-dog winced, but only slightly, and peered down to the elephant floating atop his cloud.

Said Yaska Selith to Balori, “I thought I had swatted you from the sky once before.” And with a swing of his arm sent his hand out towards Balori.

Balori wrenched at the tusk. It broke further more, a great mass of it stuck under the skin of the demon-dog. With a small bit left in his hand, Balori commanded his cloud deftly, lifting him higher and above the offending hand. He came level to Yaska Selith’s eyes. With the remaining bit of ivory in his hand, Balori assaulted the demon-dog once more. He threw the bit of tusk and it sank, breaking the thin film over Yaska Selith’s left eye. It stabbed at the eye and great mounds of jelly spilled out, mixing with blood that ran from the corner of the demon-dog’s eye and together the falling, viscous liquids spattered across the plain in a vile rain.

Yaska Selith growled and barked furiously. He howled in pain and the men and women fighting upon the plain stopped, though momentarily, to spy what was the matter with the giant. His hand lifted to his eye and with his good eye stared at Balori.

“I’ll eat you alive!” growled Yaska Selith.

Neboshazzar, who had been resting upon Yaska Selith’s shoulder, lifted into the air and dove at the elephant.

Balori glided his cloud sideways, readying his weapons in his hand and trunk.

Neboshazzar came at him, wicked talons extended.

Balori let him draw near before he commanded his cloud sideways once more. He raised his kopesh and smacked the black birdman across the head, peeling flesh off his black, bald head to reveal deep crimson muscle beneath. Blood poured from the wound as Neboshazzar’s eyes closed and his wings ceased to flap. He fell some small way before gaining flight once more. He flew away and eyed Balori.

The elephant stood upon his cloud, ready for another attack from either Neboshazzar or Yaska Selith. Neither came at him. Instead, flying from below, came the catfish Fei Li Mi, his guandao outstretched and menacing.

Balori’s cloud slid sideways in the sky.

Fei Li Mi came level with Balori.

Neboshazzar flew to perch upon Yaska Selith’s shoulder once more, both he and the demon-dog content to watch the battle to come.

Fei Li Mi lunged, his guandao outstretched and twirling, his barbs flapping about his form. Balori backed away and knocked the guandao aside again and again with his kopesh.

Fei Li Mi slid the guandao high over his head and out, bringing it down to slap Balori in the head.

Balori grunted angrily. His trunk lifted and threw the mambele, the three-bladed throwing knife, at the catfish.

Fei Li Mi twisted, contorted, bending his body sideways to let the mambele pass without harming him. He then smiled at Balori.

Balori harrumphed with disdain. He was the one to attack this time. He came at Fei Li Mi with both his battle axe and kopesh flailing about.

Fei Li Mi defended himself with great skill and little effort, which only served to angry Balori furthermore. When Balori came at him with both the battle axe and kopesh, side-by-side in his hands, and Fei Li Mi parried the dual blow with the shaft of his own weapon, he slipped the guandao out from under the two weapons and around, spinning the shaft about his waist, until the blade came about and sliced into the left side of Balori’s rotund belly, though not deeply.

This panicked Balori and he backed his cloud away.

Fei Li Mi smiled a wicked smile.

Yaska Seltih lowered his blood-covered hand. His eye remained closed and showed small signs of swelling and redness. With his one good eye he looked to Neboshazzar and said, “Help our fish friend and finish that elephant.”

Neboshazzar, the blood on his head already drying and crusting over, dove onto the elephant Balori.

Balori descended, his cloud swiftly falling.

Fei Li Mi, sensing the killing blow near, flew after him.

Balori raised his weapons and swatted away first Neboshazzar’s talons then Fei Li Mi’s guandao. Neboshazzar lifted in the air and dropped again and again as Fei Li Mi attacked. So caught up was Balori by Fei Li Mi’s attacks that Neboshazzar’s talons were able to slip through his defenses and cut at Balori’s shoulders until he had dozens on streaked, bloody marks across his shoulders.

At last Balori reached up with his trunk and grasped one of Neboshazzar’s legs. The dark creature gave out a long screech of terror as Balori then threw him into Fei Li Mi, knocking them both back.

Balori watched as they regrouped and charged at him again. His chest expanded time again with his heavy, angry breaths. His throat rumbled with low, hate-filled growls as he wondered if he could survive the fight.

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CHAPTER 3

Xiao-tep spun his body, swinging the Spear of Sorrows and Aelis trapped within around in a circular fashion. The blades of the spear sliced into three Bone Warriors. Tears fell from the willow branch tied at his waist as the Bone Warriors fell.

All across the plain men and women were fighting. Xiao-tep took a moment to peer at the battle. He saw Akadia Dorn, his bow now forgotten and swinging a massive, heavy, hard stone club. The head of a Bone Warrior became as liquid beneath it. Akadia laughed at his efforts. Xiao-tep could not find humor or joy in the deaths and dying going on all around him. He thought how far he had come from the enchanted Celestial Gardens where once he had flown a kite with his mother.

A breeze passed him on the plain. He thought how lovely it would be to fly a kite here. He looked skyward and saw Balori battling Fei Li Mi.

Xiao-tep lifted onto the air. He flew to Balori’s side.

Balori lunged at Fei Li Mi, his battle axe extended out and his kopesh held high over his head. Fei Li Mi flew backwards, the barbs on his face flicking out as if taunting the elephant. He lifted his guandao and circled it round Balori’s battle axe until Balori pulled it back.

Balori then came closer to Fei Li Mi and brought his kopesh down.

Fei Li Mi brought the shaft of his guandao up and blocked the falling sword.

Xiao-tep flew at Neboshazzar, the Spear of Sorrows spinning. Neboshazzar flew backwards, screeching so loudly Xiao-tep winced. He pulled his spear back, came up quickly beside the black creature and swung the spear round, slapping the side of Neboshazzar. He then pulled the blades sideways, cutting free feathers from his left wing.

Again Neboshazzar screeched as he fell, his missing feathers causing hampering his flight. He laboriously flapped, descending slowly and much to his distress towards the plain. He flew instead towards the foothills of the Black Mountains.

Seeing the fiend Neboshazzar disabled, Xiao-tep turned his attention to helping Balori. He joined Balori in his fight against Fei Li Mi. Xiao-tep lunged at the catfish, now on the defensive against two attackers, and slid his guandao down the length the Spear of Sorrows and pushed it aside.

Balori flew in then, swinging first his battle axe then his kopesh. Fei Li Mi flipped backwards as though swimming on the air and dodge both the attacks.

Xiao-tep once more attacked. Spear and guandao slapped together once, twice, three times before Xiao-tep could push the guandao away and slip deep into Fei Li Mi’s defenses, bringing his spear down and across the catfish’s belly in a light slash, bloodying the catfish.

Fei Li Mi gasped in horror. He turned and flew higher, disappearing into the clouds.

Xiao-tep looked to Balori. He said, “I’ll go after the catfish. You try your hand at the demon-dog.”

Balori eyed Yaska Selith. He then looked to his weapons. “I plunged my broken tusk straight into his heart. It did nothing. My weapons could not pierce deeper. I doubt I can do much more to the evil creature.”

Xiao-tep sighed. “If we rid ourselves of the demon-dog, surely his followers will flee. He is key to this battle. We must find a way.”

Balori nodded in agreement. “I know not how this will end, but if I am to have a hand in it, I will find a way to end the life of this Yaska Selith.” At this he looked to Xiao-tep. “Fei Li Mi will want to rob me of the Jewel of Zingtai. I cannot trust he will ask for the freedom of my people. We must prevent him from delaying me. Xiao-tep, please go after him.”

Xiao-tep nodded. “May the gods be with you.”

Balori nodded and watched the fish-god fly into the clouds high above.

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CHAPTER 4

Black tentacles lashed out, wrapping around the necks of three of Balori’s archers. Zom Loa stood amidst the chaos of the battlefield, his tentacles lifting the three mercenaries into the air, holding them high, slowly choking the life from them.

As the first of them died, Zom Loa flung the lifeless body to the ground. The body bounced off the plain and he pulled his body further into the battle with his other tentacles. Never had he wanted to take part in such a great battle. Never had he wanted to murder as he was now. Yet here, upon the Plain of Adoration, within the dark shadow of the demon that once was the dog Pup, he felt the presence of power, of desire, of longing. Lo, how he wished to please Yaska Selith, to make the demon-dog reel with the weight of his loyalty and actions. “How much the idiot was I,” thought he, “that I ran when first I saw Pup’s change. Look how much he alters the world with his presence. All my life I have worshipped and chased demons. Now is my chance to serve one.”

Zom Loa searched for more victims, more foes to murder to please the demon-dog. His eyes peered deep within the plain and found the odd sight of five beshadowed warriors, now sans their horses and all as dark ghosts, fighting as one against a surge of Bone Warriors. He marveled at their union. He drew near them, studying them, his victims still clasp in his tentacles.

He saw the red-riddled Angolas, the farmer fighting with the sickle, the woman fighting with a long knife. He saw the misfit fighting as if dancing with moon-shaped blades extending from his black hands. He saw, and recognized, at last the fisherman Ebi fighting with a giant hook.

Said he softly, “Ebi?”

He dropped the bodies of his victims, two unconscious and one gasping for air, fearful and running from the plain.

He came nearer the undead warrior.

Ebi turned and recognized Zom Loa.

“Ebi?” asked Zom Loa once more.

“Hello, old friend,” spoke Ebi with his deeply haunting, echoing voice. “Have you come to rescue Pup, as well?”

Zom Loa’s mouth worked. He thought of his time with Ebi in his home, of their friendship, of how Ebi had treated him kindly, almost lovingly. His heart welled with joy at seeing the one man he could truly call his friend. He then thought of Pup’s change. He eyed Yaska Selith. He looked to Ebi and thought of the moment he witnessed the demon-dog devour the fisherman.

Asked Zom Loa, “Are you dead?”

Ebi nodded.

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CHAPTER 5

Motharus took to the air, flapping his wings and stretching them out to glide over the plain. As he did, he summoned forth fireball after fireball and sent them down upon the attacking fighters of Aniabas. Within his head he heard the voice of Adonai Ku-jal, “Good. This is your destiny. Kill as many as you can. Remind the world evil yet exists in the world, demons are the true rulers of all.”

Motharus obeyed the voice. He dove again and again atop the enemy fighters, his knees extended out and crushing their heads as he landed upon them.

His keen eyes then caught sight of most unusual fighter, five in all and dark in form, fighting against the Bone Warriors. He chose one, the closest, standing near the Gifted One known as Zom Loa the Black Tentacled and dove upon him.

Zom Loa looked skyward and found Motharus diving there, aiming for the fisherman Ebi with his outstretched knees.

Zom Loa panicked. He thought matters over quickly. He could not let his friend die yet once more. He cried out, “No!”

Tentacle after tentacle whipped out, streaking high into the air and latching onto the form of the descending Motharus. Caught mostly were his legs and Zom Loa pulled at them, bringing him off his course and crashing into the ground. Motharus, aghast, struggled to stand.

“What is it that you do? What do you mean by attacking a fellow Bone Warrior of Yaska Selith?” Motharus demanded, attempting to pry the tentacles from around his legs.

Zom Loa held him fast, held him bound to the land. He turned to Ebi and told his friend, “I will help you.”

“Traitor!” Motharus challenged. He flapped his wings and lifted a small way into the air, but Zom Loa pulled him back to the ground.

The nearby Wu Chan Chu spied the matters occurring between Zom Loa and Motharus. She knew Zom Loa immediately to be the very Black Tentacle she was seeking, but she understood he held Motharus. She did not concern herself with the matter as to why she would do this, but felt her first attack would be best served against Motharus since he was being held and was therefore crippled. He would not be able to fight back.

Wu Chan Chu ran. Her newly donned leather armor at her shoulders, borrowed from the stores of Aniabas, slapping against her skin. Her powerful legs contracted and she leapt, giving out a horrible croak as a war cry.

Zom Loa, Motharus, Ebi – indeed, all the men and women fighting nearby – looked skyward and there found Wu Chan Chu falling, her knees outstretched before.

As she crashed down onto Motharus, she asked, “Remember me?”

Motharus collapse beneath her weight. Her knees slammed into either side of his neck, breaking both clavicles. She then brought her fists, both adorned with her brass knuckles, harshly onto the sides of his head, the brass knuckles cracking the skull at the temples, all before they hit the ground.

When at last they landed, Zom Loa slipped his tentacles free and Wu Chan Chu sat back, placing all her weight on the chest of Motharus so he could not move. She then rained punches down upon him, one after another. Her fists slammed into Matharus’ face, further cracking his beak. Blood ran from his broken jaw. His eyes swelled.

Weak with punishment, Motharus called out to Adonai Ku-jal, both within his head and vocally through mumbles. The demon within his head did not answer. Motharus searched for his presence and could not sense it. He had been left alone to die.

Wu Chan Chu punched again, this time into the neck of Motharus. Bones and larynx both cracked and collapsed beneath her fist.

Motharus was dead.

Wu Chan Chu picked herself from off her prey. She then turned and eyed Zom Loa.

Zom Loa, fearful of the scene that came before her, Wu Chan Chu’s fists and belly bloodied by the spatter of her enemies’ deaths. He stepped backwards as she drew near.

“Black Tentacle. I’ve come seeking justice for you theft of the Peony coffers,” said Wu Chan Chu.

Zom Loa shook his head. He said, “N-no. That was stolen from me! I now longer have anything to do with the matter! Please! Oh, please! Do not kill me!”

Zom Loa cowered in the presence of the brutish Wu Chan Chu.

Ebi said to her, “Friend, Zom Loa is ours. He comes to help with Pup.”

“Pup?” asked Wu Chan Chu, not knowing nor caring for Ebi’s tale.

“The demon-dog!” explained Zom Loa.

“This one stole from the Peony Tea House,” said Wu Chan Chu to Ebi. “And my friend Comet Fox was blamed for it.”

“I no longer have the coffers!” cried Zom Loa.

“I know, I took them from the soldiers that had taken them from you. I returned them to the Peony,” said Wu Chan Chu.

“Then the matter is over with!” Zom Loa tried to reason.

“Please,” said Ebi. “He is with us.”

Wu Chan Chu eyed Zom Loa. “Who do you fight with?”

Zom Loa looked to Ebi, then to the frog demi-goddess. “I fight at the side of my friend Ebi.”

Wu Chan Chu considered matters. She breathed deep and croaked disagreeably. She pointed a finger to Ebi’s face. “He is your charge. Make sure he does not betray us, or I will kill you both.”

At this the frog demi-goddess jumped, leaping away from them and into the fray of battle.

Zom loa thanked Ebi.

Ebi the Fisherman and Zom Loa the Storyteller stood side-by-side, shoulder-to-shoulder. They fought together against the onrushing army of Bone Warriors.

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CHAPTER 6

The battle raged across the plain, breaking and flowing, moving, fluxing with surge after surge. The demon-dog Yaska Selith joyously laughed with every death, with every maiming and wound. As a soldier in service to King Aniabas was slain, the demon-dog laughed. As one his own Bone Warriors fell, the demon-dog howled gleefully. How he loved the sights and sounds and smells of battle, of wickedness, of death all around him.

Renorio strayed from the center of the plain. He desired no part in the battle. He spied on everything from the coast, standing next to the sea. He watched as Sinverguenza guided Inno, the young girl crying hysterically, to hide behind a boulder near the shore.

Sinverguenza left her there, crippled with fright. He ran onto the plain, disappearing into the battle.

Renorio eyed Inno from afar. He stalked her from his place by the shore, his cloak of skins flapping on the wind whipping off the sea. He worked his mouth, smacking his lips and swallowing as he concentrated on her smooth, soft, youthful skin.

Inno paused in sobbing long enough to see Renorio coming. She screamed, stood and ran for the plain.

Renorio ran after her. He grabbed her up. She screamed, afraid. No one noticed as her screams mixed with the cries of men and women in battle and death. Renorio dragged her back to hide behind the large boulder by the shore. He produced his trusty knife.

Inno begged with Renorio. She pleaded with the gods. She asked for her life.

Her prayers went unanswered. Renorio slipped his blade into her chest. She struggled some time before going limp in his arm.

Renorio removed the knife and went about his work of slowly, carefully sliding its blade beneath her skin.

On a far part of the plain, Momoki rode his stallion to the foothills and there safely placed his friends Twila the Turtle, Gogi the Grasshopper and Szu Ri the Silk Moth. He rode from their side, riding into the battle and they watched him go, afraid for him. His friends hide amidst the tall grass growing there.

Gogi, Twila and Szu Ri eued the plain. They were in awe of the sights and sounds. They were horrified by the many deaths.

Said Gogi, “The fate of the world if decided by people far larger than we.”

Twila and Szu Ri nodded in agreement.

Momoki rode swiftly into the battle. By now his five warriors had broken their union, fighting in separate parts of the plain. He caught up with the farmer and mother, Joto Ba and Dian. His horse disappeared beneath Momoki, dissipating as smoke floating onto the air. Together the three swung their weapons, attacking, defending, fighting their way through the plain without strategy or concern other than their own survival.

It was Dian that heard the shrill cry for help, picking it out from all the others, of her daughter floating on the air. She said to her husband and Momoki, “Inno.”

Momoki and Joto Ba ran through the battles, following Dian who ran on in fury, frustration, confusion as she searched for her daughter.

A last scream came to her ears and she left the battle, breaking free to run to the shore.

Joto Ba and Momoki chased after her.

They came to the shore. They searched and there, behind the boulder, they found Renorio, donned in his cloak of skins, squatting and hunched over Inno.

Dian screamed a long, lonely wail that haunted the whole of the plain.

The three ran at Renorio.

Renorio stood. He turned to face the oncoming warriors. He knew not how to fight. he desired not to fight. Yet now the fight was coming to him.

Dian came to him first. Her massive knife slashed out. Renorio backed away, brandishing his own small but sharp knife. He was afraid. Afraid of having been found while doing his deed and afraid of having to fight. He backed away.

Joto Ba came next. He arced his sickle high, wide.

Dian lunged at Renorio and he forgot the sickle.

The curved blade of the farming tool plunged deep into the chest of Renorio, its point slicing all the way through him, the tip of the blade protruding from his back and the wood handle hugging closely to his chest.

Dian lunged once more. This time Renorio did not dodge the attack as he was busily eyeing the sickle sunk in his chest.

Where the sickle was in Renorio’s left chest, Dian’s knife plunged into his right. The knife sank all the way to the handle, the tip of the blade protruding from his back.

Renorio then stared at the knife in his chest. His form wobbled. Joto Ba and Dian both let go of their weapons and Renorio the Skinner fell to his knees.

Last to come was little Momoki. He jumped on the air, his tail twirling behind him as he streaked across the small distance between him and the man covered in skins. As the marmoset came down on the man, he plunged his pipe, pointed mouthpiece striking downward, into the temple of Renorio.

Momoki jumped away from him.

Renorio rocked back before falling forward.

Momoki approached him.

Renorio, lying on the ground, looked up at Momoki with a small smile. His eyes were quickly glazing over as he asked, with some bit of wonder, happiness and anticipation, “Will you be taking my skin?”

Renorio smiled. his eyes rolled back into his head. He died.

Momoki struggled to pull his pipe free.

Dian ran to her daughter’s side. Joto Ba joined her. They looked over their progeny.

As the two realized their daughter was dead, Dian sent up a long, angry, sorrowful banshee’s wail that paused the battle, only momentarily, as the many fighting shivered with dire chills.

Momoki slowly approached his two warriors. He eyed the young girl now dead. He eyed the blood-stained pipe in his pawed hand. He thought how he hated death and killing. He wished he had not come to the plain, but knew he had a purpose to fulfill. Never did he want to kill again, but if he must, he desired to kill just once more.

As Momoki thought this, he turned, looking up and eyeing the giant demon-dog Yaska Selith, laughing at the horrors occurring upon the Plain of Adoration. He wondered how a small creature such as he could topple such an immense demon-dog, then he thought of Xiao-tep’s words explaining that every demon had a weakness.

“If only,” said Momoki, “I could discover his weakness.”

The marmoset thought of the tale of his warrior, Ebi, and of how Pup had eaten the Ruby Bug to create the demon-dog Yaska Selith.

At that moment, Yaska Selith opened his third eye and sent forth a destructive beam of red light that destroyed and lit afire all it touched.

The third eye closed. Yaska Selith rolled back on his haunches in uproarious laughter.

“I wonder,” said Momoki, “if the Ruby Big be the source of that light.”

Unknowing, uncertain but determined to find out, Momoki left the side of Joto Ba and Dian wailing over their lost daughter. He ran deep into the plain, nearing the demon-dog. As the battle raged all about him, as men and women died alike, as fighters fell on both sides alike, Momoki grabbed handful after handful of fur and began the long climb up the demon-dog Yaska Selith.

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Be sure to check back next Friday for Act VII

"Warriors of the Midnight Sun" - Act V

Here's Act V of "Warriors of the Midnight Sun". We're more than halfway through! And in this act, the final member of the Warriors joins Momoki in the Many Hells. The big fight can't be far behind!

Enjoy.

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“Warriors of the Midnight Sun”
© 2008 by Charles Shaver. All rights reserved.

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ACT V

THE SOLDIER: Wherein the Warriors of the Midnight Sun Join the Forces Gathered at the Kingdom of Aniabas; Momoki Asks His Friends to Stay Behind; Battle Plans are Made; The Battle Begins

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CHAPTER 1

“We should not wait for his attack,” said Wu Chan Chu. “We should take the fight to him upon the plain.”

King Aniabas and General Vitor both nodded in agreement.

“But,” said one of the king’s captains, “defense is historically best. We would stand a greater chance defending our castle if we fortify it than traipsing into the open plain.”

“But if we remain,” said Angolas, one of the king’s most trusted guards, “and he comes he will destroy everything here. All our buildings, our farms, everythings. Then what purpose would we have in remaining here? No, our only choices are to attack him on the plain or flee entirely as he desires us to do.”

“And that is what we will do,” said Aniabas. “It is the best course of action, wouldn’t you say, Vitor?”

“I agree, my liege,” said Vitor.

“He has given us three days’ time. We will attack a day earlier. that leaves us a single day to prepare,” King Aniabas thought out loud.

“We should attack now!” cried Angolas.

“Who do you speak to?” demanded Aniabas.

Angolas cowered some. “Forgive me, my liege. I am impatient with plotting.”

“We all are, Angolas,” said Vitor. “But without a plan we would fare better chances at survival if we were to throw ourselves upon our own swords.”

They stood in the throne room of Aniabas. Surrounding him were Balori, Wu Chan Chu, Angolas, Vitor and his captains.

“I wish we Xiao-tep would return,” said Wu Chan Chu.

“He’ll be here soon,” soothed Aniabas.

“I stay say we attack in full force now!” said Angolas.

“Angolas!” yelled Aniabas. He drew so near his guard their noses nearly touched. “If you cannot speak calmly here, perhaps you need to remove yourself from our presences and cool your temper.”

Angolas, hurt that his king would send him away, gasped. He leveled his eyes. “As you wish, m’lord.”

Angolas left the throne room.

The others remained, waiting to hear from Xiao-tep.

Angolas left the castle and entered the barracks. There he met secretly with a group of twenty or more men who shared his desire to attack Yaska Selith right away.

“Two days?” asked one. “The demon could have lied and plans to attack tomorrow. Two days is unreasonable.”

“That it is,” said another.

The rest agreed.

“If we were to attack right away,” said a third man, “our king would not allow us to go headlong into death. Surely he would come right behind us with all the forces. In that way we could force his hand and attack immediately.”

Again the men all agreed.

A plan was made. Horses were taken and saddled up. With Angolas as their commander, the men rode out of the kingdom and onto the plain against the demon-dog and his followers.

An alarm was raised and King Aniabas learned of the attack. He ran to the highest tower of his castle, the others who had been meeting with him following, and through a spyglass watched his men riding to their deaths.

“What do they do?” asked Balori, who was cramped in the tower.

“They commit foolish acts,” said Aniabas.

“Should we go after them?” asked Vitor.

After some consideration, Aniabas shook his head “no”.

The men were met with severe force by Yaska Selith’s Bone Warriors. All of them, every last one, was slaughtered except the one known to be their leader. He was kept alive.

Angolas was stripped bare. Two large stones were brought forth. Each was so heavy that many men had to roll each one near. Chains were attacked to the stones and then shackled about Angolas’ wrists. He was taunted and tortured the rest of the day and at last Yaska Selith called for Renorio. He came to the demon-dog obediently.

“My loyal friend,” said Yaska Selith to the skinner who now no longer feared wearing his cloak and cowl of skins in front of the others. “Can you do what you usually do to this one shackled and bound here? But keep him alive?”

Renorio had never done so, but thought he could and said so.

“Then do it,” commanded Yaska Selith.

And Renorio skinned Angolas alive. He began at the soldier’s legs, peeling the skin until Angolas passed out from the horror of the pain and sight of his own torture. He was awakened with smelling salts and made to watch as Renorio worked around his waist. He passed out again when Renorio worked on his genitals. Renorio kept skinning Angolas and Angolas was kept awake.

The skinner stopped only when Angolas could not be awakened. The soldier’s pulse was checked and Yaska Selith, who had been watching nearby with great joy, was told he had died.

Renorio was told to stop. The body of the soldier was not released from the chains. Instead he was left shackled and carried as others laboriously pushed the stones to a cliff and dropped into the sea.

Angolas’ body sank with the stones.

When he awoke again he was standing before Momoki in the Land of the Midnight Sun. his form, unlike the other warriors that had come to Momoki, was largely glowing red. Only his left shoulder and head remained dark. His eyes mimicked the Midnight Sun.

Momoki eyed this new warrior. He said, “Welcome to the Many Hells. I am Momoki the Marmoset, Master of the Chamber of Despair. You have been chosen to ride with me against the false demon Yaska Selith.”

Angolas said, “I know him.”

Momoki nodded. “Know you also how to fight?”

“I do, though I am a fool.”

“Whatever happened in your former life is of little concern to me. I must know only you will follow me.”

Angolas nodded, “I have learned what I did wrong. I will do as you say.”

Momoki considered him. He nodded, saying, “Since you know how to fight I doubt I’ll need to train. Have you a weapon you are familiar with? Think of something now, something you knew in your former life well, something you can use effectively.”

Angolas thought a moment. Then from his hands extended large stones attached to him by chains. As the stones crashed into the black ground they sent up shards of broken landscape.

Momoki again nodded.

Together they returned to the Chamber of Despair. Waiting there were Ebi the Fisherman, Joto Ba the Farmer, Dian the Mother and Roku the Misfit. They were each introduced to Angolas the Soldier.

Gogi was harvesting his garden and proudly showing it off to Szu Ri. She smiled at him as he worked. She ate one of the fresh vegetables he had handed her and found it to be sweet and full of juice and delicious.

Momoki came to them. He said, “Gogi, Szu ri, the warriors are gathered. It is time to leave.”

They looked at him with some sorrow, but they each understood. Gogi asked if he could finish harvesting and storing his foods so they would be fresh when they returned. Momoki allowed this.

Szu Ri quickly spun together a silk satchel in which Gogi placed a few preserved vegetables. He slung the satchel upon his back, put on his weathered, beaten hat and picked up the pick he used to dig tobacco out of his teeth.

Szu Ri eyed him, in awe of his will to go forth so easily. She smiled.

Twila joined the group. Momoki sat atop Twila and Szu Ri and Gogi sat on either of Momoki’s shoulders.

As the doors to the Chamber of Despair opened, they ewre met by Radiant Gui. At his feet were six stallions, dark as midnight and looking as billowing, smoky shadows.

Each of the warriors took a horse.

Angolas helped Momoki, Twila, Gogi and Szu Ri onto the sixth horse.

Together they rode.

Momoki told Gogi and Szu Ri to once more close their eyes and not open them again until he had touched their shoulders.

The small lovers looked at one another, clasped hands and did as Momoki told them. They kept their eyes shut. They did not see the many-faced demons, the ghastly horrors, the murders and ugly sins around them. They barely heard the cries, the demons calling out their names, as Momoki and the others rode swiftly through the entrance of the Many Hells.

When at last Momoki touched their shoulders they were once more in the land of the living. They smiled at one another and hugged. They held the stallion’s man tight, as did Twila, as Momoki urged the dark beast onward.

On rode the Warriors of the Midnight Sun, across one country after another. Everywhere they rode the land was momentarily blanketed in darkness. The people nearby would look to the skies and wonder if storms approached. In every land they entered the people would whisper of things unknown, of sounds in the night, of voices heard when one was alone, of articles moved by unseen hands, of death and of dying and of the dead that haunted the lands. The warriors left behind no sign of their presence, the stallions left no footprints save frost atop blades of grass on chilly morns.

They stopped few times, and then only so Momoki could urge Gogi into asking a few people for directions and news. They never stopped to rest. They were relentless in their ride.

Gogi and Szu Ri slept atop the black horse, clutching its mane as they went.

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CHAPTER 2

Xiao-tep eyed Fei Li Mi. They had flown into the clouds far above the land and here remained, talking.

“I wish to return the jewel, too,” said Fei Li Mi.

“Then join Balori and help us.”

Fei Li Mi thought of this, thinking of how the glory would be shared with Balori, of how perhaps the Eternal Empress would ask Balori to watch over the children with Fei Li Mi. he could not allow that.

He shook his head, “No. and I will impede him in success. If either of us return to the Empress with the jewel, I will and I will do so alone.”

“Then we are moot here,” said Xiao-tep.

Fei Li Mi nodded.

Xiao-tep sighed. He turned and descended, flying towards the kingdom of Aniabas.

Fei Li Mi watched him go and said, “I’ll see you on the battlefield, then.”

And they would.

Xiao-tep returned to Aniabas and told him of what he saw, told him of Fei Li Mi. Comet Fox saw Xiao-tep return and joined the others in the throne room. Stavros followed him. Aniabas thanked Xiao-tep for the information. Balori took great interest in Fei Li Mi and asked many questions of Xiao-tep, and the fish-god told him of Fei Li Mi’s plans to stop him in his quest.

“He’ll not stand in my way,” cursed Balori.

Xiao-tep was told of Angolas and the men who had ridden to their deaths.

“We think we should attack instead at first light,” said Wu Chan Chu.

“And we put it off until then only because the world begins to grow dark as we speak,” added Aniabas.

“It would seem Kalavata comes early this day,” agreed Xiao-tep. “As I returned I noticed it was unusually dark.”

One of Aniabas’ men then ran into the throne room. In hurried tones he said, “My liege, more soldiers for our fight have come.”

“Good,” said Aniabas. “Show them the barracks and feed them. I will meet with them shortly.”

“I doubt they’ll need such amenities, m’lord.”

“Oh?”

The servant told the king of the forms the newcomers had. “I don’t think there are amongst the living.”

Aniabas eyed his fellows nervously. He then looked to the servant and said, “Send them in. We will meet them now.”

The servant did as he was told.

King Aniabas, General Vitor, Balori, Wu Chan Chu, Comet Fox, Stavros, the king’s captains and Xiao-tep were all in awe of the newcomers as they entered the throne room.

Came first Momoki atop Twila and with Gogi and Szu Ri on either shoulder. Behind him followed his five warriors.

“Th-they are ghosts,” stammered Vitor.

Wu Chan Chu nodded, thinking the same.

They drew near. Momoki bowed gracefully and introduced himself. “I am Momoki the Marmoset, Master of the Chamber of Despair. And these are my warriors.”

Gogi looked at all the Gifted Ones gathered here amongst men. He then noticed an old, familiar face. “Xiao-tep!” he called as he jumped from Momoki’s shoulder. He ran towards the fish-god.

Xiao-tep inspected the small grasshopper that approached. He bent low and asked, “Gogi. Is that you?”

“Yes! It’s me, Xiao-tep! Do you remember me from Taliesin?”

Xiao-tep chuckled. “How could I forget my little friend? It is fine to see you again. How are you?”

“Oh!” gasped Gogi. He reached up and asked for Xiao-tep’s fin. Xiao-tep offered his fin and allowed himself to be lead towards the marmoset.

Gogi turned and said, “Xiao-tep, this is Momoki.”

He then turned to Momoki and said, “Momoki, this si Xiao-tep, the one I told you about. The one that… oh my, erm, Xiao-tep, that is…” Gogi grew nervous, uncertain how Momoki would feel having bee replaced on Taliesin.

Momoki nodded. His red eyes looked up at Xiao-tep and completed Gogi’s thoughts, “The one that replaced me as caretaker of Taliesin.”

Gogi nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes.”

“It is an honor,” said Momoki.

Xiao-tep smiled and bowed deeply. “The honor is mine. You are still often spoken of in Taliesin, and it is always the highest of praise. You were very well loved.”

Momoki’s smile went unnoticed against his dark form. “Thank you, Xiao-tep.”

Comet Fox inspected the other warriors. He then thought he recognized one of them. He stepped forward and asked, “Roku?”

Roku nodded. “It is I, Master.”

Comet Fox looked over Roku’s dark form, trying to understand the red splotches that appeared to bleed all over his body. His mouth worked, but no words came for a long time. At last he said, “Are you dead?”

Roku nodded.

“Oh, Roku. I’m so very sorry. My training was not enough.”

Roku shook his head. “No, my path was molded by my own hands. You merely tried to help. Do not be sorry. It is I who tried to trick you. I left your side to fight at the teahouse.”

Comet Fox sighed. “It is good to see you again, even if you’re in this form.”

Vitor drew near Angolas’ bright red form. He asked, “Angolas?”

Angolas nodded.

“By the gods, have you come to haunt our king?”

Angolas shook his head.

“This one was brash in his life,” said Aniabas of Angolas. “His death was his own doing. Why is he here? To betray my trust once more?”

“He is under my command now,”Momoki said, “He will not betray you. He is here to redeem himself and his actions in his former life.

“We’ve come to help you in your fight against the false demon Yaska Selith.”

“False demon?” asked Aniabas, letting go his mistrust of Angolas.

“Indeed,” confirmed Momoki. “He is a dog that had eaten an enchanted bug. He is no true demon at all.”

“He may not be a true demon,” said Balori, “but he is quite powerful.”

Momoki agreed. “Which is why we have been sent to you.”

Aniabas looked at Comet Fox and Xiao-tep. “Can you vouch for these warriors?”

Xiao-tep nodded. “Gogi is a friend, as is Momoki. I trust their purpose here.”

Aniabas said, “Welcome, then. Welcome Momoki. Your warriors are our warriors.”

And so plans were made. Xiao-tep described what he had seen.

Wu Chan Chu said, “Our best chance would be to attack from all possible sides.”

Aniabas agreed. “We could send some to the Black Mountains, perhaps archers, to descend from there and attack their flank. Then we could send a smaller group north to cross Owl Bridge and come at them from behind while our main forces attack them from here.”

“What about the sea?” asked Wu Chan Chu.

“We’ve already lost our ships to the demon when we attacked once before,” explained Vitor.

“Then that leaves us only with attacks from the kingdom in the south, from the Black Mountains in the west and across Owl Bridge to the north,” surmised Wu Chan Chu.

“We’ve a few that can fly,” said Balori. “Myself included.”

Aniabas said, “True, but they count only three: Xiao-tep, Comet Fox and yourself. With due respect, that’s hardly a proper force.”

“What of the silk moth that came in with Momoki? She can fly,” suggested one of the king’s captains.

Momoki shook his head, “No. Szu Ri the Silk Moth and Gogi the Grasshopper are not to be considered. They are not fighters. They are here for my counsel only.”

“Again,” King Aniabas carried on the conversation, “we’ve no forces to attack from the east from or over the sea. That idea is out of the question. It is as Wu Chan Chu said: here from the south, from the west and from the north.

“Now we must decide the forces of each.”

“Your idea of archers to the west, attacking from the mountains, is good,” said Xiao-tep. “The elevation there could only aid their attacks.”

General Vitor explained, “And archers attacking a flank is always good strategy.”

Said Balori, “Most of the people I came with know how to use a bow.”

“I’m certain some of those that came with me were archers, as well,” said Wu Chan Chu.

King Aniabas nodded. “Then we will sort the soldiers into archers and send them to the Black Mountains under the command of Balori.”

“We would have to leave immediately if we are to prepare before dawn,” suggested Balori.

“As will those that move to the Owl Bridge. We will dispatch those men and women to the Owl Bridge and the Black Mountains as soon as we settle our strategy here,” said Aniabas. “Now as for the forces that would cross Owl Bridge, what do you know of that area, Xiao-tep?”

Xiao-tep answered, “There is a good number of the demon’s warriors some distance to the north. I am uncertain if a large force could make it there by morning, neutralize them and cross the bridge in time to attack with the main forces.”

General Vitor suggested, “Perhaps a smaller force would be best. They could slip past the demon’s men in the dark of the early morning and cross the bridge. Our main forces will attack from the kingdom here and Balori’s men would launch arrows at their flank. All we would require from the force to the north is a presence strong enough to add further confusion and frustration to the demon and his army. A half dozen men, perhaps a dozen, would suffice.”

Aniabas nodded. “Xiao-tep, you have seen the area most recently. It would be best if you lead the Owl Bridge dispatch.”

“This I will do,” said the Ankh-fish.

“Who would you take with you?” asked Aniabas.

Xiao-tep eyed his sister. “I’ve fought at the side of Wu Chan Chu before. Our experience together could be useful.”

“That may be true,” replied Aniabas. “But she brought with her nearly two hundred fifty mercenaries. I could only assume they would trust her as a commander and therefore I need her here to help command her branch of the main force.”

Xiao-tep nodded with understanding. Thinking his words still held some truth about fighting alongside one he had fought with before, Xiao-tep then suggested Comet Fox.

“Comet Fox would be good,” agreed Aniabas.

“If I go with you, Xiao-tep,” said Comet Fox, “I can suggest Stavros to join us. He has a good sword.”

Xiao-tep nodded, agreeing that Stavros should join them.

“Then our strategy is settled: Xiao-tep and his men will cross Owl Bridge, Balori will command archers from the Black Mountains and Wu Chan Chu, Momoki and I will attack from the south. Balori and Xiao-tep must depart immediately. I say they should make their respective destinations some time just shy of dawn. Wouldn’t you agree, Vitor?”

“I think they could,” agreed Vitor.

Balori and Xiao-tep both nodded in agreement to this.

“Then we will set our attack to an hour after dawn,” said Aniabas.

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CHAPTER 3

Momoki’s warriors did not mingle with the other soldiers, nor did the Aniabas’ men or the others approach the warriors. They remained instead with their dark stallions outside the castle. Only Gogi and Szu Ri broke with their company and found the company of others.

Szu Ri and Gogi quickly made friends with a young woman archer that had come with Balori. They chatted lightly and the woman liked Szu RI immediately for she had always had an affinity for moths and butterflies.

“I used to watch them,” said the woman, “every spring as they would break from their cocoons outside my family’s home in a tall tree and fill the skies with their flutterings. How I loved those springs.”

The woman asked then what part Gogi and Szu Ri planned in the coming battle.

Szu Ri answered, “We came only to support our friend Momoki, leader of the Warriors of the Midnight Sun.”

This name caused a chill to run down the spine of the woman. She shivered and said, “How brave you two are for making such a journey with such creatures.”

Gogi this time answered, “Momoki is our friend. We go where he goes.”

Szu Ri nodded.

The woman decided then to teach the two little creatures to find and identify turmeric and use it quickly to heal open wounds. Said the woman, “Perhaps you can help by healing those that are hurt. Even if you cannot, your knowledge could guide them to heal themselves.”

Gogi and Szu Ri happily learned to heal whereas all around them were so concerned with harming one another.

As the two learned from the woman, Momoki and the rest broke from the castle and began preparations for the battle planned for the next morning. Momoki came to them to check on them a last time.

“Momoki!” cried Gogi excitedly. “Look! We learn to heal o we may be of help on the battlefield!”

Momoki’s face grew sour, though his dark form did not betray this. Said Momoki, “You cannot come onto the battlefield with us tomorrow, friend.”

“W-what?” asked Gogi. “Why?”

“It is dangerous,” explained Momoki. “You came this far to escape the danger of Radiant Gui. You must now stay at the castle. King Aniabas will leave a small number of his soldier here to guard the town and castle. You’ve no need to go into battle with the rest of us.”

Szu Ri said, “But Momoki, we meant to stay with you through it all.”

Momoki shook his head, “No. That cannot be.”

Momoki left them to prepare his warriors.

Twila met him near their shadowy horse and he told her Gogi and Szu Ri were meant to stay.

“No,” said Twila. “They are your friends. They have delved the depths of the Many Hells to be with us and now you turn them aside when we may need them the most.”

“But it’s dangerous,” said Momoki. “They may die. There is no use in them riding into a battle meant for me.”

“They are your friends. Our destinies are intertwined. What you are meant to do, they are meant to do.”

“Surely you can see my logic, Twila. Surely you can see they’ve no need to get in harm’s way.”

Twila spoke slowly, considering all things, “I do not wish them harm. I wish them a long and happy life, if possible, with us. But I fear too much concern on your part my harm their wills, their desires. If they wish to go, let them come with us.”

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CHAPTER 4

Gogi left both Szu Ri and the woman archer behind. He wandered the streets of the town alone, unaware Szu Ri followed him. He eyed the many soldiers bustling about, readying themselves for battle. He saw Xiao-tep fly by with Comet Fox streaking close behind him. He came to and passed by Balori as he gathered together his band of archers. The elephant truly towered over everyone, most especially Gogi.

As Etain disappeared far behind the horizon, Gogi came to sit upon a stone just large enough for him to look out over the wild grass that grew outside of town. He watche Kalavata’s massive wings flap once, twice as night came over the lands.

He looked at the wild grass and knew, had he been standing amongst it, he would be lost for it was far taller than he.

Szu Ri quietly, carefully crawled onto the stone next to Gogi.

The two sat together in silence a long time.

At last, Szu Ri said, “Perhaps what Momoki suggests is for the best. I’m certain he wishes us to part now for our own safety. He cares for us deeply and does not wish to see us harmed.”

Gogi nodded in agreement, unwilling as yet to talk.

As the world roared about them with activity, the two small creatures reached out their hands and clasped them together.

Gogi finally spoke, though nervously for he did not wish to appear timid in front of Szu Ri, “S-sometimes this world seems so very big and I-I so very small. There are many great people gathered here. Balori is so large and powerful-looking. I-I bet he could squash dozens of men at once if he wished. The nights and days go on without concern of the stars.”

He thought a moment before saying, “My garden back home is probably failing with me there to tend to it. That is a great thing about a garden. You can feel in control of yourself. I-I feel I-I am capable of taking care of us when harvest comes.”

The two small creatures looked up at the night sky together, the many hundreds of men and women preparing in the town behind them. Gogi finished his thoughts, “B-but here, now… I feel so very small.”

In time Momoki and Twila came to them. Together they asked Szu Ri and Gogi to join them on the battlefield the next day.

Szu Ri and Gogi happily accepted.

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CHAPTER 5

Balori gather together his men and many from Wu Chan Chu’s to make his force of archers. Negkendra stepped forward and said, “I know nothing of how to use a bow.”

“We could teach you,” said Akadia Dorn and Macia Thrace.

“There is no time,” argued Balori. “Perhaps you should go with Xiao-tep and his men.”

Negkendra was given a short sword and scabbard and he joined Xiao-tep, Comet Fox, Stavros and six others to make the Owl Bridge force.

Balori and Xiao-tep left with their men.

Balori arrived at a perch within the foothills of the Black Mountains on the side of the plain, unseen under the cover of night. They rested for some time, awaiting dawn when they would come into formation with their bows.

Xiao-tep and Comet Fox wished they could fly to the Owl Bridge, but knew the rest of their small band could not. They traveled closely with them. They came at last to the northern border of the plain as Etain’s head crested the far horizon. They were tired, yet ready to fight.

The large collectiong of Bone Warriors were camped some ways north of the bridge. Few were awake and moving about when Xiao-tep and his men came there. They snuck by easily enough. As they crossed the bridge, Xiao-tep leading them, Stavros said softly, “Mayhaps we should leave one or two of our own to spy the encampment lest they find us and charge at us while we are caught crossing the bridge.”

This was deemed a good idea and Negkendra volunteered to stay behind to watch the camp until all the rest had crossed the bridge, he then planning to quickly follow after.

The bridge’s expanse was immense. The going was slow for the bridge swayed with every bit of wind. At last Xiao-tep and the others came near the other side of the deep, deep gorge and found another small group of Bone Warriors resting there. One was already awake and he raised an alarm.

Xiao-tep and the others swiftly emptied the bridge out onto the small hill and attacked the small number of Bone Warriors.

Negkendra heard the sounds of battle come to him from across the massive expanse. He turned and could barely make out the fighting through the early morning mist.

The sound carried on the wind to the larger encampment of Bone Warriors. They awoke, also raising an alarm.

Afraid, Negkendra darted across Owl Bridge as swiftly as he could. As he ran, the bridge made of rope and wood bounced beneath him. He chanced to look back and found the Bone Warriors chasing after him gaining. He knew he wasn’t a fast runner and was unsure if he could make it to the safety of his fellows before those chasing him caught him. He chanced a second look and knew he wouldn’t make it to Xiao-tep and the others.

His breathing labored. His mind raced. His feet and legs slowed their pace.

Negkendra stopped.

He turned to look at the oncoming Bone Warriors. They had reached the bridge and were filling it now. He looked to Xiao-tep and the others. He calculated matters.

He turned to face the enemy. He reached to the scabbard at his waist and pulled free the short sword there. He was not much of a fighter, he knew. He wondered if he could fend off the on-rushing mass. He thought he could not. He thought he would be easily overrun and the Bone Warriors would make it to his fellows, delaying their progress onto the plain.

He peered and could see Etain easily now. The hour past dawn approached and Xiao-tep and the rest would need to be making their way onto the plain as Balori would come down the mountains and Aniabas lead his men from the south.

There wasn’t much time left now.

Negkendra had to give his fellows the time they needed.

Xiao-tep, fending off three Bone Warriors at once, spied from the small of his eye Negkendra upon Owl Bridge lifting his sword into the air.

Comet Fox, fighting five men at once, was able to look long enough to witness Negkendra bring the sword down.

Negkendra swiped the sword downward and to his right. The blade bit through the two ropes sustaining the bridge there. The bridge buckled so that Negkendra had to reach left and grab the rope still holding the bridge.

The Bone Warriors coming at him stopped. They stared in horror. Many turned to run back the way they had come.

Negkendra once more lifted his sword. Once more he brought it down and through the ropes of the bridge.

Owl Bridge was split in twain, each half crashing into the cliffs bordering either side of the deep gorge.

Xiao-tep cried out for his falling soldier. He lifted into the air but was held fast by the hands of the three men that were after him, their hands clenching the fish-god’s long, flowing tail fins.

Comet Fox fought hard to gain ground and escape to rescue the falling Negkendra, but the five men who were on him proved too much.

As Negkendra fell, he gulped air as it rushed past him. He fumbled about to return his sword to its scabbard. He said a quick prayer to the gods, asking that his death be swift and painless. His prayers were granted as his body smashed to pieces against the jagged rocks along the bottom of the bottomless gorge.

Negkendra the First Mahout became the first to die at the Battle Upon the Plain of Adoration.

In a flurry of haste, Xiao-tep fought the three men. He stabbed at two of them and they fell dead. Tears exploded from the willow branch tied at his waist.

Stavros brought his sword down onto his foe and then leapt to Comet Fox’s aid. The five men were dispatched by them together.

The remaining Bone Warriors broke and ran in fear, hoping to raise an alarm, hoping to warn their master, Yaska Selith.

Xiao-tep came to the edge of the gorge and peered into it. He considered flying to its depths but knew Negkendra was dead.

“The bloodletting begins,” said Xiao-tep forlornly.

Stavros drew near and peered into the gorge with him. “Thou I am sorry it was one of our own,” said the rat, “I, for one, am glad of it. I thirst for the blood of my enemies.”

Xiao-tep did not share Stavros’ sentiment.

Comet Fox said, “We must go. We cannot let them gain more ground ahead of us and send up an alarm.”

Xiao-tep nodded.

He and Stavros turned from where the Owl Bridge had once been. They walked with Comet Fox and the other six men. As their minds filled with the death of the fallen friend, their pace quickened. Soon they were running.

Stavros placed the blade of his sword between his teeth and bent low until he came to run on all fours as he would when he was still a mere rat.

Xiao-tep and Comet Fox flew closely overhead.

They descended the hill and entered the Plain of Adoration.

Those that had run from Xiao-tep and his men made it to their master’s side, crying out and waking their fellow Bone Warriors. All of them rose, donning their leather armors sewed complete with bits of bones and teeth and death.

To the west, Balori’s men sent volley after volley of arrows, four in all, onto the plain until the flank of the Bone Warriors broke and ran in fear of the dropping arrows. Balori then stood upon his mystic cloud, raised his trunk high into the air and trumpeted a great, bellowing sound. With his broken tusk in hand, pointed at the plain, he descended the hillside, his men charging after him and sending up cries of war.

To the south, the soldiers of King Aniabas charged from the kingdom onto the plain. At their lead and upon horses were King Aniabas himself and his general Vitor.

To their side rode the Warriors of the Midnight Sun atop their black horses. Leading their charge, riding ahead of them, was Momoki the Marmoset, Master of the Chamber of Despair. With him rode his friends Twila the Turtle, Gogi the Grasshopper and Szu Ri the Silk Moth, all clenching the thick mane of his billowing, black, shadowy stallion. With them came chilly darkness into the newly dawning day.

Thus the Battle Upon the Plain of Adoration was begun.

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I hope you enjoyed. Look for Act VI next Friday!

Issue 13 has been published!

This year's Special Halloween Edition of If - E - Zine has been posted on my site TheLordShen.com.

Within this issue Iffy the Ifreet, the ezine's new mascot, hosts all the wonderful Halloween- and horror-themed stories!

Be sure to check it out!

Iffy the Ifreet

"Warriors of the Midnight Sun" - Act IV

Here's Act IV of "Warriors of the Midnight Sun". This story is a planned eight acts, which means we're not halfway through!

Enjoy.

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“Warriors of the Midnight Sun”
© 2008 by Charles Shaver. All rights reserved.

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ACT IV

THE MISFIT: Wherein Comet Fox Frees and Trains Roku; Wu Chan Chu Arrives Within the Kingdom of Aniabas; Old Friends are Reunited

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CHAPTER 1

Roku was ordered suspended within a cage outside the Peony Tea House so that all who came near knew not to commits acts against the teahouse. Every day people would pass by him, taunting him. Never was he fed. Often he had food thrown at him, most times rotten vegetables or fruits or, on occasion, cream pies. He had stripped himself of his clothes until he was barely covered at all. He found the weight of his clothes even too heavy for his thinning frame. Roku grew thin and weak with hunger and weary of the taunts until he never spoke back. He simply allowed the people to do what they would and, after they had left, if some small morsel was left within his reach he would grab for it and eat it.

A great, brilliantly glimmering tail streaked across the sky and ended before the Peony as Comet Fox landed outside the teahouse’s doors. He, like all others, first noticed Roku.

“Hey!” called up Comet Fox. “Hey, you!”

Roku did not answer, certain it was yet another cruel visitor wishing to taunt him. His eyes remained closed and he tried to sleep, wishing death would come to him in sleep.

“Hey! Why are you in that cage?” asked Comet Fox.

This was a new question. Most people simply had known of his crime or had assumed he was placed there as additional entertainment for customers or they simply never cared to wonder at his presence.

Roku looked down at Comet Fox. He saw the fox-god had no foods with him, no rotten tomatoes nor any cream pies.

“What did you do?” Comet Fox asked as he surmised he was being punished.

Roku looked to Comet Fox, peering at his closely. His mind worked, “I am but a victim. I was tricked by the Immortal known as Black Tentacle. I was framed for his theft of the coffers of the Peony. Please! Free me!”

Comet Fox was shocked by this. “Then Sal Igo knows the real thief?”

Roku eyed Comet Fox. “Who are you?”

Then, bursting forth from the doors of the Peony, came Sal Igo and eight men armed with short spears and swords.

“Comet Fox!” cried Sal Igo. “You dastardly fiend! You stole my coffers!”

Confused, Comet Fox said, “What? No!” Then pointing at Roku in his cage, “You’ve the real thief right here!”

“Indeed, and the mastermind before me.”

“No!” said Comet Fox. “I had nothing to do with it! You damned fool! Even when you’ve the evidence you need, the confessions of the criminals, you’re still blinded by the truth. Why is that?”

“I know the truth,” said Sal Igo. “And the son of a Trickster god is a Trickster himself. Get him!”

The eight men converged on Comet Fox.

Comet Fox bent backwards, his chest below thrusting spears. He knocked them aside and straightened.

“Sal Igo! Listen to reason!” he said.

The eight men attacked as Sal Igo laughed.

Comet Fox ducked Spear after sword. He kicked out with his right foot and pushed away one attacker. He grabbed the spear of another , twisting the length of the weapon and delivering a backhand to the neck of the man, pulling the spear free from his hands.

“Trickster god!” cried Roku. “Free me and I’ll help you!”

Feeling the pressure of the eight attackers, thinking another fighter would help – even one that has been starved to near death – could be a great benefit. Comet Fox thrust the short spear into the ground and used the force of the thrust to catapult himself into small flight. He came level with Roku’s cage and with a twirl of his body, as though doing a somersault mid-air, and the swipe of an ulu he produced from the sash at his waist, the lock on the cage was sliced in two parts. The cage door swung open and Roku jumped out.

Comet Fox landed at his side.

“It’s good to have a fellow fighter at my side, even if his crime has been blamed on me.”

“Uh,” stammered Roku. “fighter? I’m no fighter.”

Comet Fox gasped, looking to Roku. “Then how were you going to help me?”

Roku shrugged. “With my good looks and charm? My brains? However I can help I can’t do so by fighting.”

Comet Fox rolled his eyes.

The eight men charged at them.

Comet Fox placed himself behind Roku, reaching out and grabbing his hand to place it round the spear firmly.

Roku, holding the spear with Comet Fox behind him – also holding the spear – asked, “What are you doing?”

“Giving you a quick lesson.”

The eight men came at them. Comet Fox jerked his wrist, causing Roku’s hand to twirl the tip of the spear and knock away one man’s sword. Comet Fox then moved his hand slightly sideways and to the right, sending the tip of the spear left and knocking down yet another menacing sword. Comet Fox then pushed the spear with a palm on its base. Roku’s arm stretched out as the spear stabbed into the chest of a third man who then collapsed dead on the ground.

“I’m doing it!” exclaimed Roku excitedly. “I’m fighting!”

“No you’re not,” said Comet Fox in his ear. “I am.”

“Then why am I holding the spear?” asked Roku.

“In case one of them passes through my defense and stabs with their weapon.”

“If they do that,” Roku thought it out, “then he’ll not stab at you! They’ll strike me!”

Comet Fox smiled. “Exactly.”

Filled with fear, Roku faux-fought on. Every time he tried to let go the spear, Comet Fox would roll around his torso, under his arms, grab his hand and place it back on the spear.

The seven remaining men came at them, surrounding them.

Comet Fox stepped wide, grabbing Roku by the shoulder and bent back with him. The spears and swords stabbed the air above their bent forms. Comet Fox took the spear form Roku and swiped with it sideways, knocking three men in the knees and causing them to fall. He then slipped the spear over Roku’s chest between the thief and the other weapons and pushed them up as the two stood straight once more.

Roku tried to run away but Comet Fox grabbed him and pulled him back. A spear came at Roku and he naturally grabbed at its shaft. As he did this, Comet Fox stabbed sideways and sent another of the men to the ground with a serious wound.

Seeing Roku had a hold of a spear, Comet Fox pushed him into the man holding the very spear. Roku’s light weight and the force of Comet Fox’s shove sent the man to the ground and Roku was suddenly standing on his own with the spear.

Comet Fox stumbled about as if drunk. He fell into the arms of one man, fooled by the deception, and mumbled incoherently as a drunk would while quietly slipping the blade of his ulu into the man. The man fell away, dead.

Roku stood stupidly. He allowed four men to come around him and point their weapons at his neck.

Comet Fox executed a cartwheel and landed in a splits, finishing by sending his spear into the knee of one of the men surrounding Roku. The man collapses, dropping his weapon and grabbing his knee and screaming in pain.

Comet Fox pulled his spear free and knocked Roku in the back of the leg, causing him to fall backwards. Roku’s spear streaked high and came down atop the head of the man standing behind him, knocking him unconscious, as he fell.

The remaining men broke and ran in fear.

Sal Igo screamed, “No! No! Come back! I’ll pay you all well to kill the Trickster and the thief!”

Comet Fox stood, dropping his spear. He placed his ulu at his waist. He grabbed Roku by the elbow and said, “We had better go. Neither of us are welcome here.”

Comet Fox and Roku ran, hiding in forests and surviving off the land. Comet Fox learned of the story of Black Tentacle and the theft of the coffers. Roku learned of Xiao-tep and Wu Chan Chu and how Comet Fox was created.

“I know Wu Chan Chu,” said Roku as they sat around a campfire eating fresh cooked rabbit.

“Oh?”

Roku nodded. “She’s the one who discovered the theft. I was stupidly spending the money a little too liberally right at the teahouse.”

Comet Fox laughed at this.

“She left the teahouse, though.”

“Where did she go?” asked Comet Fox.

“After Black Tentacle.”

After some time Roku began to think about how well Comet Fox could fight. Thought he, “If I could talk this one into training me, I could return to the Peony and not be afraid of Sal Igo’s men. In fact, perhaps I could even become champion! I have seen him lose to Wu Chan Chu, the former champion, but she is gone now. And imagine the drinks I could get for free by telling the tale of how I tricked a son of a Trickster!”

His plan formulated, Roku said, “Please, Comet Fox, won’t you train me?”

Comet Fox shook his head. “No, I must go forth and find my friend Wu Chan Chu.”

“But she is bounded by the land, unlike you who can fly the breadth of a country in a day. Surely you could catch up with her easily. I, however, know not how to fight and I will be hunted by Sal Igo and perhaps this time by trained men. Please, fox-god, I beg your mercy and train me!”

Comet Fox thought of this. He thought if he refused and the thief die, his hands may be stained by his blood as much as Sal Igo. He wondered if he should even care about such matters. At last he wondered what Xiao-tep and Wu Chan Chu might say. Wu Chan Chu, he was certain, would leave the thief to fend for himself without concern. Xiao-tep, however, might give the thief a chance by training him. Comet Fox forgot such ponderings and sought an answer within his own heart. After a night’s rest, he awoke and told Roku he would train him.

Comet Fox combined his Drunken Style and Capoeira into a style filled with stumbling and acrobatics. With it he trained the thief Roku.

At last, when Comet Fox felt he could not spend more time allowing Wu Chan Chu to grow the distance between them, he said to Roku, “I have trained you all I can.”

Roku, who had seen his skills improve considerably, said, “Very well, Master. Go and find your friend. I’ll do what I can to fend off my enemies.”

Comet Fox sighed. He looked to his student and said, “Just stay out of trouble.”

Roku and Comet Fox laughed, knowing the possibility of that was minimal.

Master and student parted.

Roku, long after Comet Fox had left heading east for Wu Chan Chu, smiled a wide smile before returning to the Peony Tea House.

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CHAPTER 2

Renorio entered the kingdom of Aniabas unnoticed. He blended amongst the small number of citizens. He made friends and found a place to bed down. He mingled with the soldiers and counted their numbers. He drank ale with many of them. He stayed up long nights and listened to their stories and their fears of the oncoming battle with the demon-dog Yaska Selith. Renorio even made friends with Negkendra and met Balori. He witnessed Xiao-tep and was in awe of him.

After some time he picked out a young lady, a mercenary from the area that had decided to work for Aniabas free of charge. She hated the demon-dog, though she knew nothing of him. Renorio made friends with her. They talked about intimate things and spent many hours together. While talking after dinner in a hut she had taken as her own he told her she should not fear the demon-dog, that he was a creature of great power and enjoyed the company of those who were loyal to him.

“How do you know this?” asked the woman.

Renorio realized he had said too much. He reached to his side where his knife was hidden beneath his shirt. He said, “Because I know him. He has sent me here as a spy.”

The woman gasped in shock.

Renorio pulled forth his knife. And though she was a trained mercenary, though she had skills superior to Renorio, she was frightened by his wild, hungry look and the thought of him as the demon-dog’s agent. She backed away, stumbling against a chair and falling to the floor. Renorio placed a hand over her mouth and his knife into her heart.

Her screams muffled, the woman succumbed to Renorio.

The next day, after he had taken all the skin from the young woman’s body and eaten some of it, he grabber her by the leg and dragger her out of the hut.

People stood in the streets watching. So ghastly was the scene of Renorio, wearing his cloak and cowl made of skins, dragging the mutilated body through the kingdom. He dragged her quietly. No one approached him, everyone was afraid to go near him. They simply allowed him to pass.

On and on he went until he came to the doors of Aniabas’ castle. By then someone had run to the king’s side and told him of Renorio. He came forth and met the murderer outside the castle.

Renorio let go the corpse. He stared blankly, silently at King Aniabas.

Aniabas wretched at the sight of the skinned corpse.

Renorio said, “I’ve been sent by the demon-dog Yaska Selith. He claims the plain as his own and will not tolerate an attack upon his country. This,” at this Renorio gestured to the corpse as he had been instructed, “is your only warning.

“My master has graciously given you three days to flee this kingdom. If you do not, he will come and destroy everything here.”

Renorio left the kingdom. The people let him pass. Even Xiao-tep the fish-god, one Immortal and therefore immune to the effects of an attack by a mortal such as Renorio, could not comprehend the sight of the murderer in his skins. He, too, let him by.

Off went Renorio. He returned to Yaska Selith, to the people of the Plain of Adoration, and he was claimed a hero.

Yaska Selith said to Sinverguenza, “The king’s men are surely bickering, if not fleeing, after Renorio’s display.”

The demon-dog was correct. To the south nearly a full third of Aniabas’ men, soldiers the king could have sworn would remain loyal to him to the bitter end, found the end of the young mercenary women far too bitter. They fled.

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CHAPTER 3

The young man came running frantically to Wu Chan Chu’s side. He had been sent forth, a day’s ride ahead of the rest, to scout matters ahead.

Panting, he told Wu Chan Chu, “There grows an army to the south of the plain where the demon-dog resides. Once it was a kingdom, now it is more an outpost of mercenaries and fighters. There are other Gifted Ones there. Their leader is King Aniabas. They had plans to assault the plain, but before I left one of the demon’s agents viciously murdered one of the mercenaries, a woman, and skinned her and ate part of the skins. As I left, so, too, did many of the soldiers. They did not want to face a demon with such an agent of death.”

Wu Chan Chu handed the young man a gourd of water. She thought on matters.

Stavros drew near, as did Shabar and the others that now numbered nearly two hundred.

“What say you?” asked Stavros.

Wu Chan Chu eyed her men and women gathered round her. “Never have I feared an agent of death. Scout, how far out is this outpost kingdom?”

“A little more than a day’s ride,” said the scout.

“Then we’ve not long to wait.”

The others nodded, excited they were finally drawing near their purpose.

Stavros clenched his fists in anticipation and thought of the Brothers Jackal.

They all looked skyward as a comet streaked overhead.

“Is it an omen?” asked one of Wu Chan Chu’s mercenaries.

“No,” replied Wu Chan Chu. “It is an old friend.”

Comet Fox landed near Wu Chan Chu. “I’ve been looking for you.”

Wu Chan Chu put up her hand to stop Comet Fox from speaking. He fell silent as she said, “I apologize, Comet Fox. I know now you were not the one that stole the Peony’s coffers.”

Comet Fox smiled. He pushed her shoulder and the mercenaries were in awe of this as Wu Chan Chu allowed it. They understood at once their friendship must be quite close.

“Stop it,” teased Comet Fox. “You’ll make me blush.”

Some of the mercenaries laughed at this.

Wu Chan Chu glowered at Comet Fox.

Said Comet Fox, “I met Roku. I know the tale and I know you go after Black Tentacle to clear my name. Thank you.”

Again Wu Chan Chu grew angry. She did not want to show concern or softness in front of the others. She croaked angrily, “I do it for myself. As champion of the Peony, I drew a cut of the winnings from all bets. The theft of the coffers was a theft against me as much as against the teahouse.”

Comet Fox said, “I don’t believe you.”

Again some of the other chuckled, knowing Comet Fox’s jest.

Wu Chan Chu grabbed Comet Fox’s shoulder as though being friendly, but she squeezed it mightily. Comet Fox winced in pain as she said, “What brings you here, fox-god?”

She allowed Comet Fox to peel her hand away. He said, “There’s a demon upon the Plain of Adoration. Xiao-tep goes to the kingdom to the south as we speak. We thought you might want to join in the fight.”

This made Wu Chan Chu smile. “I go to the demon-dog now. That is where Black Tentacle went. And these men all wish to fight the demon-dog, for various reasons.”

Comet Fox eyed the others. He nodded approvingly, saying, “Good. We will need the help. He is quite large.”

“Larger than Ketsueki Sato?” asked Wu Chan Chu.

Comet Fox nodded. “Indeed. Far larger.”

“Come,” commanded Wu Chan Chu. “We must press on if we are to make it to the kingdom in a day. I believe that is where our efforts should begin.”

The small group walked on. As Comet Fox fell into the marching order, Stavros drew near him. He said, “Hello, friend. I heard the frog call you a god. Are you?”

Many of the others listened carefully.

“That I am, the son of Coyote.”

A few of the mercenaries mumbled amongst themselves. A few said, as a Trickster, Comet Fox would be foul luck for them. Many more, however, felt honored to be marching toward a demon in the presence of a god and considered themselves blessed.

Stavros offered Comet Fox his clay jar of rice wine.

Comet Fox put up a hand, “No, thanks. I better not.”

“Why not?” asked Stavros and drank from the clay jar. “Good wine soothes the nerves.”

“That it does,” Comet Fox nodded. “But once I start drinking, I never can get enough.”

At this Stavros and a few others laughed. Stavros slapped Comet Fox on the back. “That is life! And you, I see, understand how to live it.

“I think,” said Stavros, “you and I will be good friends.”

Comet Fox smiled.

On went Wu Chan Chu and her band of fighters that grew to far more than two hundred before they finally reached the kingdom of Aniabas.

They marched towards the castle, filling the streets with their numbers.

As Aniabas had met Renorio, so now the king met Wu Chan Chu at the gates of the castle. At his side were his general Vitor and as well as Xiao-tep and Balori.

Wu Chan Chu and Xiao-tep smiled at one another as they drew near. They hugged. The he and Comet Fox exchanged greetings, happy to see one another once more.

“I understand by this, then, you know the fox and frog?” asked King Aniabas of Xiao-tep.

“That I do,” said Xiao-tep. “This is my half-sister, Wu Chan Chu, and my friend Comet Fox.”

“We’ve come to fight the demon,” said Wu Chan Chu.

“I see you’ve brought many with you,” Aniabas eyed the mercenaries.

“That I have,” answered Wu Chan Chu.

Aniabas nodded. “You are just in time. Many of our men fled, afraid of the coming fight. you are all welcome and you will all be treated as my own soldiers with bunks in the barracks and food from our stores.”

The men and women cheered in gratitude.

Xiao-tep introduced Wu Chan Chu and Comet Fox to Balori. Comet Fox introduced them to Stavros. Together with King Aniabas and Vitor, they entered the castle for a drink and to discuss the demon-dog upon the plain.

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CHAPTER 4

After choosing a bunk within the barracks and eating his first hot meal in days, Shabar wandered the streets of the kingdom. They were largely bare but he could see the beauty the buildings had once had. He wished matters were different wondered if, after the battle with the demon-dog Yaska Selith, he could return here with his family on a holiday after the town had grown once more. This made him miss his wife and son.

As he stepped into the one pub that remained open and operating, he spied a familiar face. He stepped to the table where he sat and spoke.

“Negkendra?” asked Shabar.

Negkendra looked up, stopping in his conversation. “Shabar!”

Negkendra stood and they hugged as if they had once been old friends. Shabar was invited to join the men sitting at the table. He was introduced to Macia and Akadia and the other two men.

“Shabar was the counsel of the Eternal Empress and helped begin the Elephant Crusade,” explained Negkendra.

Akadia nodded with understanding. “I ran the Elephant Crusade from the Grand Bazaar of Tenhar.”

Shabar asked, “I suppose, then, we are all here for the same reason?”

The men were quiet a moment. They then nodded as Negkendra said, “To correct matters.”

Akadia asked, “Did you come in with that massive army?”

“Just now? Yes,” confirmed Shabar. “It is commanded by a frog demi-goddess named Wu Chan Chu.”

“We came with Balori. Did you see him?” asked Negkendra.

“I did, though I had not the chance to speak with him. He has changed as I had heard.”

“Albert did it with his elixirs.”

“I would like to speak with Balori. I would apologize to him for my part in the Elephant Crusade,” said Shabar.

“Come tonight to the barracks. He sleep just outside, saying he wants to remain near his men that were loyal to him as we made our way across country to get here,” said Negkendra.

“I’ve a bunk in the barracks,” explained Shabar.

“Then you will certainly see him.”

They drank and toasted to their luck in the fight, to the health of the elephants and made many toasts to Balori Shongoyo.

That night Shabar spied Balori outside the barracks. He was hesitant to approach, but finally did so. He came near Balori and said, “My, how you have changed.”

Balori found Shabar’s face familiar. Said he, “Were you not once the head of the Elephant Crusade?”

Shabar explained he was and that he was the trusted advisor to the Eternal Empress and that he quit when he saw the way the elephants, including Balori, were treated.

“You were quite nice to me once,” Balori recalled.

Shabar was silent a moment. His head hung low. He feared looking Balori in the eye. Pain and sorrow filled him with images of the Elephant Crusade, of the wife and child he had left behind, of the beatings of the many elephants, of his wife screaming for him not to go.

At last, tears streaming down his face, Shabar looked up at the large Balori, looked him in the eye and said, “I-I’m sorry. I’m sorry for my part in matters. I’m sorry for all this.”

Balori nodded. He reached out with his trunk and placed it upon Shabar’s shoulder, caressing the man some small way. He said, “You are here now. That is what matters.”

Shabar was overwhelmed by Balori’s gesture and words. He could not help himself from stepping forward and hugging the giant elephant.

Said Shabar, "I'm here for you. I'm here for my past part in matters. I'm here because my wife is about to bring our second child into the world. I cannot let them grow up in a world a demon inhabits."

Balori, not knowing what to do, merely closed his eyes and hugged Shabar in return. They stood in one anothers' embrace for some time, bound by purpose, bound by the past.

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CHAPTER 5

Comet Fox and Stavros found the same tavern Shabar and Negkendra had reunited in. within its walls they sat discussing matters of the coming fight and sharing stories. Long after the crowd had died to a minimum of patrons, long after many of the soldiers had gone to sleep, Comet Fox and Stavros were asked to leave. They settled onto a fallen log outside of town where Comet Fox made a fire that warmed them in the night and over which they shared more tales.

Stavros had nearly drained his clay jar of rice wine. He offered Comet Fox to help him finish the last of it.

Comet Fox shook his head and said, “No.”

The fox-god had spent the night watching Stavros fill himself with drink at the tavern. He admitted to himself the smells and desires for a drink were strong in him, but he felt proud of himself for not having taken even a swallow of alcohol. He stared over the fire at the rat that stared back with weary eyes. They talked of other matters for some time.

At last Comet Fox asked, “What brings you here? All others here have some motive to be here, whether it be fame and glory or some personal ideal. What brings you here, Stavros? What brings you to fight the demon-dog Yaska Selith?”

Stavros stared at Comet Fox a long while, so much so Comet Fox started wondering if Stavros had heard the question through his drunkenness.

Stavros belched and said, “There are two with the demon-dog. Two jackals. They killed every last one of my people, the only people that ever treated me well after my transformation. That is until I found Yuki. They raped and murdered all of my people. I hate them. I am here because my gut aches with the deaths, with hate for those bastards.”

Stavros’ eyes blinked alternately, free from one another. He paused a moment in thought. He then said, “I cannot believe in a world where such crimes are committed, where good people can be viciously murdered and those that killed them go on to lead good lives, or any life.”

Comet Fox thought matters over a moment. He then cocked his head curiously, saying, “You don’t come seeking vengeance. You come seeking justice.”

Stavros hiccupped and belched at once, causing him to struggle with a series of coughs. He looked to Comet Fox, “Vengeance is part of it, friend. Don’t fool yourself otherwise.”

Comet Fox nodded. He then asked Stavros for his jug.

With a swallow of the rice wine, Comet Fox toasted Stavros and his people.

Stavros retrieved the clay jar. He said, “To a good fight,” and drank down the last bit of the wine.

The two remained by their fire a long time, sharing old drinking songs, Stavros playing his accordion. When at last sleep was winning its fight with them, the two friends staggered, leaning on one another, back to the barracks where they slept until late the next day.

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CHAPTER 6

Aniabas asked Xiao-tep to fly over the plain to spy on the demon-dog.

Balori had offered to join him, but Xiao-tep pointed out he may be recognized and attacked.

Xiao-tep left the kingdom and flew over the plain.

Many of Yaska Selith’s followers witnessed Xiao-tep. Motharus was about to fly after him when Fei Li Mi said he would. The catfish flew after the butterfly koi.

Whites and oranges and golds were chased by browns.

Xiao-tep noticed Fei Li Mi and was startled. He pulled up and hovered high above the plain.

Fei Li Mi came before him. They stared at one another a long time, each in awe of the other.

At last Fei Li Mi said, “Never would I have guessed there was another fish Gifted One.”

“Never would I have thought I would have found another,” said Xao-tep, then corrected, “though I am not a Gifted One. I am a god.”

Fei Li Mi stared.

Xiao-tep stared.

Xiao-tep said, “It’s as if I’ve found my dark mirror.”

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CHAPTER 7

Sal Igo did not appreciate his new champion. He was a braggart and a drunk and a bully. He was large and smelled and no one liked him so rarely did anyone bet on him. But Sal Igo could not argue he was a strong fighter.

When Sal Igo called for a new challenger, never would he have thought Roku would answer. Yet Roku stepped forward from the crowd and placed a bet on himself.

Sal Igo accepted the challenge for his new champion, then said in his ear, “Kill the thief.”

The fight was begun.

Roku rolled sideways and punched the Peony’s champion in the gut. It did little to the large man. He cartwheeled to the left, his feet slapping across the champion’s face. This only angered the large man.

At last Roku dove forward, head down and wrapping his arms about his foe’s waist, pushing him back into and crashing against a table. The table broke.

The two men struggled on the floor. The champion then reached out and grabbed a dinner knife that had been rest on the table and with it stabbed Roku in the side of his neck. He pulled the knife free as Roku pushed away and stabbed him once more in the side of his gut, the blade breaking off and piercing the kidney.

Roku stumbled about in pain. He huffed repeatedly.

The Peony’s champion stood. He charged Roku and with the broken blade stabbed him again and again until he had some half dozen wounds in his chest and a dozen more elsewhere about his body. Many of the gathered crowd left the teahouse. All were silent. No one chanted. No one cheered. They all wondered at Sal Igo who refused to stop the fight.

The large champion stole a mug of ale from a patron’s hands and drank deeply from it. He wiped his mouth and smiled as Roku fell face-first to the floor.

Sal Igo called for servants to come clean up the floor and throw the body in the trash. Both tasks were done.

Deep in the Land of the Midnight Sun, Momoki was sitting atop the Black Rock Of Meditation. Roku appeared before him, his eyes and many holes where once had been knife wounds all glowing red.

Momoki lowered himself from the rock. He approached the thief.

Roku looked down at him, wondering.

Momoki said, “You have been chosen to ride with me and others against a false demon. You will be trained like the rest. You will follow me into battle like the rest. Yet, unlike the rest, you have been granted a certain gift.

“This gift granted to you is the power to give but one living creature life again after they have fallen and died. To do so you merely have to give them your breath.

“You have been given this gift because, in your life, you have taken from many. You have stolen and lied to others, robbing them of their trust as well as their possessions. Now you will know what it is to give. Not only will your afterlife end after sharing your breath, high within the many chambers of Heaven Stork will erase your record from all Memory. You will know what it means to sacrifice and to truly give.”

Roku eyed Momoki, unsure and afraid of this new land and his new form.

Momoki continued, “Now, think of an object in your life, something you used often and are familiar with and can be used as a weapon.”

But Roku had never used a weapon in his life. He thought over many objects. At last, he thought of the time that he and Comet Fox had fought off eight men together. In his hands appeared a brilliantly white short spear.

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Be sure to look for Act V next week!

"Warriors of the Midnight Sun" - Act III

Here's Act III of "Warriors of the Midnight Sun". I hope you're enjoying.

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“Warriors of the Midnight Sun”
© 2008 by Charles Shaver. All rights reserved.

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ACT III

THE MOTHER: Wherein the Mother Joins Momoki in Hell; A Gathering at the Throne of Aniabas; Stavros Joins Wu Chan Chu

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CHAPTER 1

Neighbors found and retrieved Joto Ba’s body. A funeral was hastily held for him. Many came from all around, not merely because he was well-liked, which he was, but because many desired the truth of his death, to confirm his murder.

Dian wailed at her husband’s funeral. She had left home as a young woman and married Joto Ba because of her love for him. She had struggled so hard to be a fine wife and mother. Her pride and joy, her daughter, had been stolen from her home. She felt empty, without worth or purpose.

On went her wailing, long after the funeral. She left her home and came to kneel by the side of the small lake in the land. Each night her neighbors would hear her screaming in pain, in agony for her lost family. So horrid was her weeping that no one could muster the courage to attend to her, to go to her side.

Night after night the people near the lake would hear her wail and ignore her, though largely unsuccessfully.

One night, on a night when her cries were so excruciating many gathered and debated going to her, her wails finally ceased. Not one of her neighbors spoke a thing more of her. It would be days later when someone would finally find the courage to retrieve and bury her body. And when they did, she had already begin her new life, her afterlife.

When Dian came into the Land of the Midnight Sun, she was of dark features like the previously selected had been. Her eyes glowed, matching the Midnight Sun. In her stomach was a streak of red where she had plunged a knife.

Joto Ba was there at her side. He reached out a hand and touched her shoulder. She looked at him.

Joto Ba gestured to the marmoset seated upon a nearby black stone. He said, “This is Momoki. He will help us.”

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CHAPTER 2

Quite the awe was Balori and his men as they rode into the kingdom of Aniabas. Many of Aniabas’ subjects had gone and only those that desired to defend their kingdom and liege remained. Many were battle-hardened soldiers, yet still they gasped at the presence of a Gifted One.

Balori was given passage to the castle where he alone was taken before Aniabas.

Aniabas, Balori mused, appeared a grand figure on seated upon his giant throne of gold and royal reds. His crown was immense and appeared heavy. He wore heavy armor and a cape of bright red trimmed with gold frills. Balori wondered at the man’s scarred and ugly face. To the sides of the throne room, in dark recesses, Balori spied a few men armed with bows loaded with arrows pointed directly at him.

Said the king somewhat suspiciously, “Why have you come here?”

“I am Balori Shongoyo of the Elephants of Ife. I have been charged by the Eternal Empress to retrieve from the demon to the north of your kingdom the Jewel of Zingtai and with it restore the stars to the nighttime sky. I have gone to the demon and he refuses to give up the jewel without a fight. I and my men alone cannot possibly overthrow the demon alone. We must seek help, hence I have come to you under the assumption you wish to rid your northern border of the demon.”

King Aniabas considered the elephant. He was a large creature and wondered at his powers. He said, “Your assumptions are true. How many men do you bring?”

Balori said, “A few dozen.”

“Feh! That is no army!”

“Hence I am here.”

King Aniabas asked, “What can you do as a Gifted One?”

“I have been trained by Masters Nahum and Dark Ram in the ways of fighting. I can fight with three weapons at once. I can crush a man’s skull under my foot,” bragged Balori as he eyed the hidden archers.

“Then you are as strong as you appear. What of your men?” asked Aniabas.

“Many are trained fighters. A few have personal matters to deal with against the demon. They are all loyal and strong and healthy.”

“And what personal matter have you with the demon?”

Balori huffed impatiently. He said, “The Eternal Empress uses my people as her slaves. If I can restore the stars to the night, she has promised to let them go.”

“Are you certain she will make good on her promise?”

This angered Balori. He yelled, “She better!” as he clenched his fists.

Aniabas considered Balori’s reaction, seeing they betrayed the truth of his words with passion for success in his quest. After considering many more things, Aniabas said, “Welcome Balori Shongoyo. Welcome to my kingdom and my side.”

“No!” Vitor cried and stepped from a dark recess. He drew his sword against Balori but did not attack. He said, “My liege, we do not know this creature. He could be lying. Can we put all our trust in a stranger at such a precarious time?”

Said Balori, “Come to me, whelp. Attack me. I’ll show your king what Masters Nahum and Dark Ram have taught me. I’ll show you my forehead.”

Aniabas said, “I doubt he will betray us. He is too impassioned about freeing his people. And a Gifted One at our side would definitely tip the scales of chance toward our favor. Put down your sword, Vitor. I know you are my general and my personal guard and in that you succeed, but now I tell you this elephant is not our enemy. Put down your sword.”

Vitor reluctantly followed his liege’s command.

Balori stared down at Vitor.

Aniabas stood. “Take me to your men, Balori. I would inspect them.”

Balori nodded, “Of course, your highness.”

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CHAPTER 3

Long had Sinverguenza and his companions traveled. When they felt it was safe, when they knew the girl Inno would not recognize the countryside and make attempts at escape, they unbound her. Sinverguenza took her as his own and had he not been so hastily returning to his master, the demon-dog Yaska Selith, that he would have taken her as his bride and consummated their relationship. She did not love him and he could see that in the way she looked at him. He did not care. He was determined to make her love him as he desperately loved her.

After many days of hard rain they finally came to Owl Bridge and crossed it to enter the Plain of Adoration. Sinverguenza went immediately to Yaska Selith’s side and presented to him Motharus.

“He is a mighty fighter,” he told Yaska Selith. “He left the championship of the Peony Tea House to come serve you.”

“A Gifted One, eh?” Yaska Selith eyed Motharus.

Motharus flew up to the demon-dog’s eye level. “I have been told to come to you,” he said.

“Oh?”

Motharus nodded, “By the demon Adonai Ku-jal.” Motharus hoped the demon-dog would know the name.

“And he speaks to you?” asked Yaska Selith.

“Yes. Within my mind.”

Yaska Selith nodded with understanding. “He rides you as a vessel in this world. He plays with your mind. Does he know me? I do not know this demon.”

Motharus searched his mind, but Adonai Ku-jal was not making his presence known. “I do not know that he knows you, but he told me to come to your side and serve you.”

“Welcome, then, Motharus. Welcome to the Plain of Adoration and welcome to my side.” Yaska Selith looked down at Sinverguenza, “The others you sent have come to me. my numbers swell because of you and my riches grow. I am grateful to you, Sinverguenza. Know you have the favor of Yaska Selith.”

Sinverguenza smiled.

Some time passed. Sinverguenza settled once more onto the plain and kept Inno at his side. He reacquainted himself with those that had followed him while he was away from the demon-dog including Laskmana, the woman who had been his second. She filled that role once more as an informal hierarchy of command seemed to form wherein Sinverguenza, Motharus, Raiju Yu the Weasel King and Neboshazzar the Ruiner were made Yaska Selith’s lieutenants. From there each of them had made their own seconds and personal attendants.

This was how Zom Loa found Yaska Selith and his followers as he came onto the Plain of Adoration.

He came across Owl Bridge, his tentacles whipping out one after another, pulling him closer to the wicked knot of men and women. As he drew near so few of them appeared to notice him, as though he were somehow a natural creature, as though he were once again at the Peony Tea House where Gifted Ones frequented often. Those few that did pay his attention brought to him foods and wines and welcomed him to their numbers.

“You’ve come to see our great master?” asked one.

“I come to find the demon,” said Zom Loa.

“That is he,” said the man who spoke to him as he pointed high to the demon-dog some distance from them.

Zom Loa eyed the demon-dog. He said, “I’ve seen him before.”

“Have you?” the man asked excitedly. “You must have seen him then when first he came into the world and traveled the many countrysides.”

Zom Loa thought back to Ebi and Pup, to the Ruby Bug, remembering the change the dog that changed into the massive creature he now saw. He wondered if the people gathered around him understood his origins, understood he was perhaps not truly a demon. Zom Loa knew, for he had studied so many years, since childhood, the many legions of demons and their tales. But he doubted these people much cared about Yaska Selith’s true nature. Yaska Selith was a Gifted One, a rather large and powerful looking one at that. And such power was attractive. He knew then any argument towards the truth would be disarmed.

He knew, also, not only would many flock to Yaska Selith’s side to love him, many would come to usurp him.

Zom Loa asked, “Could I meet with him? I’ve something to say to him. We may be in dire straits momentarily.”

“Oh? What could you know?” asked the man.

“I am a Gifted One and while I am no demon, I am hunted by men. If my small presence in the world can be hunted, surely Yaska Selith’s name passes over the lips of assassins. We must warn him to fortify this plain.”

Zom Loa was taken to Yaska Selith. He suggested to the demon-dog he send men to the far side of Owl Bridge to guard the passage there. It was done. And so were many other plans.

Sinverguenza and Zom Loa were introduced. Together with Yaska Selith, they prepared for any oncoming assaults.

When the world grew dark under Kalavata’s outstretched wings, Yaska Selith turned his head to look at Neboshazzar perched upon his furry shoulder and spoke softly, “I fear this Zom Loa speaks the truth. There may very well be many plotting against us.”

Neboshazzar’s head bobbed nervously, he shifted his weight from one talon-filled foot to the other. His dark head lifted and he breathed deep. Murder indeed appear to be on the air. It made Neboshazzar quite hungry. His jagged mercury teeth clacked together as the night grew darker still.

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CHAPTER 4

It had been many years since the traveling merchant Hano last visited the people of Yuki village. As he entered the hilly countryside he was pleased to find all was as he had remembered. The windmill still lifted on the air, churning the rice within into mochi. The people remained working in the paddies, though now each was years older. The land was bright and green and alive and it made him happy. He smiled at the day and at the farmlands and at the farmers as he came to rest in front of the hut of Dubai.

He waited some time in the hut as Dubai worked the fields with the others. Elsa tended to him and fed him and gave him a cup of rice wine. Hano was quite pleased and they chatted happily.

As dusk came on the land Dubai returned to his hut with Stavros in tow. They, too, were happily chatting as they entered the hut.

“Hano!” called Dubai as he entered his hut. The two men clasped one another as family. Stavros smiled at the man and bowed in respect as they were introduced.

“Who is this?” asked Hano, his face not contorted with suspicion.

“This is Stavros. He lives with us now,” explained Dubai.

The three sat at a small table as Elsa stoked a fire and made supper for them. Their meal was awash with light talk and happy reminiscences. Stavros learned Hano was, indeed, a distant relative of Dubai and had been born in Yuki. When he came of age he had moved to the nearby town, then taken up the occupation of traveling merchant. Stavros explained he had once made friends with a traveling merchant, a man who had taken great care of him.

At last Hano turned to Stavros and said, “Tell me, friend, what business does a Gifted One such as yourself have in our little Yuki?”

Stavros explained his battle with the Brothers Jackal, the death of his people, and spoke of the giant demon-dog Yaska Selith.

Hano listened carefully. When Stavros paused in his tale, Hano said, “I passed a small collection of mercenaries traveling east a day ago. I did not approach them. Their leader appeared to be a Gifted One, as well. I asked about them however, and I learned the Gifted One is a demi-goddess, a frog, seeking a giant demon-dog.”

This sparked new life in Stavros, new passions he had not felt strongly in some time. He said, “Where were they?”

“They were a day’s ride behind me. I could travel faster than them only because I was alone and had no merchandise with me. I suspect they’ll be in town by tomorrow morning.”

Stavros thought matters over. He looked to Dubai who eyed him suspiciously. “They seek the very demon-dog,” he said.

Dubai shook his head. “It cannot be.”

“What other demon-dog resides within the world instead of the Many Hells?” asked Stavros. “It can only be the very one.”

Dubai considered this and, at last, nodded in agreement.

“I must go find them.”

Elsa came to Stavros. “Please, no. Your home is here now.”

“But my people,” was all Stavros said. He looked to Hano, “By next morning, you say?”

Hano nodded.

“Then I’ll go to meet with them.”

“To what end?” asked Dubai.

“To discover their purpose, to discover if their demon-dog is mine.” Stavros stood. “If I’m to be in town first thing in the morning, I’ll have to sleep now. I wish we could spend more time together, hano, but I hope you understand the importance of these matters.”

Hano said he understood.

As Stavros fell asleep on his small cot with a mattress filled with straw, he could hear Dubai and Hano speaking softly.

“I do not trust him.”

“Many were suspicious, Hano. But he has proven trustworthy.”

“Until now. Perhaps he is a demon’s imp. Perhaps he is this demon-dog’s servant and you’ve been allowing him to stay here. How could you do this? Did you not consider the safety of the people of Yuki?”

“I considered many things,” defended Dubai. “And I’ll consider anything you’ve to offer about him, but I will not consider his betrayal. He is a Gifted One and he is a good creature. I am convinced he was sent here by the gods to care for. In the time he has been here, not only has he added his hands to our paddies, but our harvest has nearly doubled. He is most certainly a creature of good fortune.”

“And I love him,” Elsa interrupted.

There was a long silence. Stavros, who had been listening in a state between sleep and wakefulness, opened his eyes upon hearing this.

Dubai whispered, “Quiet, granddaughter. Go to bed.”

Stavros heard the rustling sounds of Elsa preparing for and getting into her own cot. He then heard the two men stepping outside for a long, private walk. He thought a while about what his presence must mean to the people of Yuki. Surely many had been frightened of him, thought he as he remembered the first village he had come into when he had been carrying the giant green jewel, of how he had been chases away.

The people of Yuki were good people, he decided, and if they wanted him to leave he would do so. He hoped only they would know to trust him enough to tell him so.

Stavros stopped his wandering thoughts. He told himself, “I have another people to tend to.” He thought of the Ruska Rome. He reached under his cot and pulled from it his accordion. He felt it with his clawed fingers in the dark. His heart ached with missing the Ruska Roma as he quietly returned it to the darkness beneath his cot.

He rolled on his back and stared into darkness. “A frog demi-goddess,” he whispered to himself.

Sleep finally came to him.

Long before Etain poked her head over the horizon the next morning, Stavros was awake and gone from Yuki. He traveled alone, quietly, down the hilly country toward the town. His mind roiled with thoughts. He hoped he had not missed the frog demi-goddess, he hoped Hano had not be wrong in their direction or speed.

As the town came into view, so too did the encampment of a small group of mercenaries just on the edge of town. It was a small collection of men and women, about forty in all, Stavros surmised. He steered himself towards them and as he approached them he saw they were already awake and eating and preparing for their day’s travels. It did not take much effort for Stavros to spot the frog demi-goddess. Hope pounded within his chest as he entered the encampment. He asked a few of the mercenaries if he could speak with their leader. He was pointed toward the frog and told she was quite approachable, though at times impatient as she was determined to march onward.

Stavros drew near her.

“Are you the frog demi-goddess that seeks a demon-dog?” Stavros asked.

Wu Chan Chu, busily packing her supplies and placing them on her back, looked at Stavros. She considered him a long time. “That I am.”

“This demon-dog, does he travel with a pair of jackals?”

“He once traveled, though now I’m told he’s settled upon the Plain of Adoration. I know nothing of those that are with him, except that one called Black Tentacle seeks his company and I seek Black Tentacle. Everyone else here seeks the demon and a few seek glory at my side.”

“I seek the two jackals that are with him.”

One of Wu Chan Chu’s men confirmed he had heard Yaska Selith traveled with two jackals. “I saw them myself,” said the man.

“Then it is the very demon-dog!” said Stavros. “I would join with you!”

Wu Chan Chu eyed Stavros’ small hunch. “Though I recognize you as a Gifted One, I doubt we could use a broken rat.” She then commanded her men to hastily pack and break camp so they may start out for the day.

Stavros was enraged. He attacked Wu Chan Chu, grabbing her by the arm and pushing at her.

Wu Chan Chu struck back. She punched Stavros, slamming two fists into his chest and sending him backwards onto the ground. Her face contorted with anger. “How dare you touch me? Lesser creatures have died at my hands for that very offense! Off with you, rat! You have no purpose here!”

Wu Chan Chu and her men, their camp broken and supplies packed, walked away.

Stavros picked himself off the ground and ran after her. He considered her words and knew this frog would not answer to violence except with violence. He instead decided to plead. He ran around her and bent himself painfully low to the ground. His crooked back popped and he groaned as he prostrated, his hands clasped together and pleading, his arms outstretched, his head low.

“Please!” cried Stavros. He looked up at Wu Chan Chu. “These creatures, those jackals, they killed my people. Every last one of them died. I alone survived and they left me broken as you see me now. But I have grown strong since then with work in the rice paddies. I can still fight. Please, demi-goddess, the memory of my people demand it.”

Shabar, the farmer and once counsel to the Eternal Empress, stepped forward and said, “Wu Chan Chu, if he has fought the creatures before, perhaps he could lend aid with what he has previously seen and knows.”

Wu Chan Chu paid Shabar no heed. She ordered her mercenaries around Stavros.

As she passed, Stavros stood and they stared at one another.

“Whether I join with you here is no matter,” Stavros said determinedly. “I will follow you to this plain and find the jackals and kill them.”

Wu Chan Chu breathed deep. She gave a small croak. “You’ve no supplies. The plain, I’m told, is a long distance from here.”

“I’ve supplies in a village nearby. And a good, strong sword.”

“I’ll not wait for you. We press onward at a difficult pace.”

“I’ll keep up,” said Stavros.

Wu Chan Chu watched as her mercenaries obediently marched ahead of them. At last she nodded, saying, “I’ll not wait. Gather your things and catch up with us when you can.”

Stavro smiled, baring his long rat teeth. “Thank you.”

Wu Chan Chu walked away from him and joined her men, taking the lead and pressing east.

Stavros ran back to Yuki. There his running caused quite a commotion. Many of the people, already working in the paddies and in the mill with Etain breaking over the horizon, stopped to watch him pass by.

He ran into the hut of Dubai. The elder was there, as was Elsa. Hano was not.

“They seek the very demon-dog,” explained Stavros. He was a flurry of fur and activity as he scooped up first his accordion and finally his sword. He stopped long enough to look at Dubai. “Where’s Hano?”

“He’s gone on about his business,” said Dubai.

Stavros was hesitant. He said, “I have to go.”

Dubai smiled and nodded.

Elsa approached. She handed Stavros a bundle filled with rice and mochi and with it a clay jar filled with rice wine.

“You knew,” said Stavros as he took the food and wine.

They nodded.

Stavros slung his sword on his back. He tied the accordion at his waist along with the wine. He looked again at the ones who had most recently been his family.

“I have to,” he said again.

“We know,” Dubai said as he hugged Stavros. “Fare well.”

Elsa looked at him longingly, tears in her eyes but as yet not spilling. “Will you return to us?”

Stavros wanted to say that he would, but knew he had once before been defeated by the Brothers Jackal. He knew the times ahead of him would be bloody and messy and he did not want to lie to her, to commit an affront to those who had so lovingly accepted him.

Said Stavros, “I do not know that I’ll be able to.”

Elsa nodded, straightening his clothes about the neck and fighting back tears. She knew he spoke the truth.

Stavros grabbed her by the shoulders. “If I can, I will.”

She smiled.

They hugged.

With a flurry of activity, with many goodbyes, Stavros was gone from the small village of Yuki.

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CHAPTER 5

Renorio settled onto the Plain of Adoration with little notice. He made acquaintances and lived peaceably amongst the people there all the while secretly desiring the girl Inno. But rarely did Sinverguenza allowed her out of his sight. Even as he commanded the Bone Warriors she was nearby. Always did she appear nervous and afraid. He desperately desired to steal away with her, to treat her kindly so she would love him and when they left the plain he would…

Renoiro rarely allowed himself to think further. He instead became friends with Laskmana. She grew to trust him. At last, one day, he lead her away and when they were alone he produced a small knife and stabbed her in the chest and began the slow process of peeling her skin away from her body.

Two men found Renorio bent over the body of Laskmana. They were outraged and disgusted by what they saw. They grabbed Renorio and dragged him away the body, raising an alarm until more people came and witnessed the deed Renorio had been caught doing.

At that moment Yaska Selith had called Sinvergenza to his side. He placed a hand down to the plain and picked Sinverguenza gently up to bring him to his own eye level. Said the demon-dog, “There may be plots forming against us. We must not only fortify our borders, we must do away with our greatest threat.”

“You mean the king to the south?”

Yaska Selith nodded. “Indeed, I do.”

“I doubt he’s had enough time to completely revitalize and reform an army. A few of our people have gone there and mingle with the citizenry. They say the common man is all but gone, only soldiers remain and then not many. We may match this king in number, but if he truly has an army justly due to a kingdom they will be well-trained. We have many experienced fighters here, but we are more likely less organized and informal than a king’s men.

“If we are to abolish this king, we would most likely do best by subversive action.”

“And how would you suggest this? Setting them afire? Assassination?”

Sinvergiunza confessed, “I cannot truly say. My experience with subversion does not exist.”

It was then the two men dragged Renorio before Yaska Selith. They told the demon-dog of what they had found as he lowered Sinverguenza to the ground, of how Renorio had murdered Laskmana and was skinning her corpse. They then produced the cloak of skins they had found amongst his possessions.

“He is a foul creature!” cried one man.

Yaska Selith sighed. He stared a long time at Renorio who crouched, frightened and silent, before him. He then looked to Sinverguenza and thought of the matters they had been discussing. He wished he could concentrate on matters with Sinverguenza without interruption from the others about their frivolous tribulations. Again he sighed, then thought of something. He said to Sinverguenza, “Perhaps we have found our subversive operative.”

Sinverguenza looked to Renorio, disgusted by the thought of this man he had traveled with skinning the woman that had once been his second in command. He knew then Yaska Selith’s idea of using Renorio was perhaps well placed.

Sinverguenza looked up at Yaska Selith. “He succeeded in striking fear here. He most assuredly would do the same in the kingdom.”

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CHAPTER 6

The Spear of Sorrows broke free from the roots and vines that had held it in place at the base of the mountain called Taliesin. Aelis awoke within it as Xiao-tep formed his fins into strong arms and held his weapon forged by dwarven smiths once more. She squirmed within, crying softly, questioning.

Xiao-tep turned to Comet Fox. “Perhaps we should part ways.”

Comet Fox nodded. “I would go the Peony Tea House. Wu Chan Chu is most likely yet upset with me, but with word of a demon and her love of a good fight will perhaps persuade her to hear me out on matters.”

Xiao-tep agreed. “You should mend matters with her. If you cannot persuade her any other way, tell her I seek her, that I ask for her aid.”

Comet Fox smiled. “We’re at it again.”

Xiao-tep did not smile. He eyed his spear. “I wish it were not so.” He then looked to Comet Fox, “There was a kingdom to the south of the plain. I will go there and determine our allies. Fare well, friend.”

Xiao-tep bowed deeply at the waist with great respect for his friend.

Comet Fox smiled and winked. “Until we see each other again.”

Comet Fox flew from Taliesin, a great comet-like tail following behind him.

Xiao-tep breathed deep. He told a Otti, Aglina and Zingtai of his plans. They all wished him well and he left the Mountain That Lived in the Sky.

Taliesin was once more without a caretaker.

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CHAPTER 7

Xiao-tep was well-received by the soldiers. King Aniabas welcomed him and his alliance in the fight against the demon-dog Yaska Selith.

“He plagues me with his presence,” said Aniabas.

Xiao-tep stared at the deeply scarred face of the king. “I will do what I can. I have fought one other demon.”

“Have you? Then you will be a great benefit to our cause.”

“I can only hope,” said Xiao-tep.

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Be sure to check back next Friday, October 3rd, for Act IV!