Sekali, "The Sister City"
Chapter 10
They spent the remaining days walking the citadel and talking. Sekali was quite taken with Mahkaia, and she with him. But their time together grew short, and then expired altogether as the morning came when they would serve three days upon The Watch.
Sekali awoke from a dream wherein all he perceived was blackness and shadow. He did not wish to disturb Mahkaia’s slumber, so he would lie at night with eyes closed, thinking of the curse, which now plagued his mind and harrowed up his entire being to the point of exhaustion. He constantly meditated on it, and how he could rid her of it. How he loved her; how he wished she could be free of this heavy weight. He began to be suspicious of every hidden corner, every darkened place within the citadel. When the mists above would suddenly move he would unsheathe his blade, his heart pumping, his vision narrowing until he could hear nothing but his own rapid heart pounding in his chest.
Mahkaia arose from the bed and dressed, wearing the robes she always wore for The Watch. But today, a worried expression dominated her as she looked at Sekali. He was armed and ready, looking as if he was going to war, so grim was his countenance.
“Sekali, have you slept lately?”
“No,” he said quietly, not daring to lie to her. She shook her head and opened the little box he had brought to her before and removed a delicate necklace, slipping it over her head and tucking it inside her robes. Slipping on both a silver and a copper ring, one on each hand, she stared at him, an expression of pity in her eyes.
“Sekali, will you be alright today? I need you fully in the here and the now. Nothing can get in the way, do you understand?” Sekali stiffened and saluted her formally.
“I am ready,” he flatly stated. He lovingly embraced her. “I will follow your lead Mahkaia.” She returned with a tight embrace and sighed, wanting nothing more than to come home with Sekali on the eve of the third day, for that was the length of each watch. Three days and two nights, and then another seven days to rest until the next watch.
“Sekali, when this watch ends, we should take a leave of absence and enjoy some time together. What do you think?” He nodded and kissed her on the forehead.
“Let’s do. Maybe a little time would help settle some things, and maybe you could talk to the master about this dilemma.” She secretly cringed. She had already told the master, but he could do nothing for her by way of removing the curse. Had she brought the Gorilith Vahkrin to him alive, it would have been different. She knew Sekali, and it was apparent he cared and worried deeply for her. She pulled back and smiled up at him cheerfully.
“Well, milord, let us go and keep safe the borders of our grand city, and then, after The Watch, let us organize this collective mess here we call home. We’ll fix it up nicely, and then celebrate with some fine drink I have stashed away.” She bit her lip, “If I can find it.”
Sekali smiled and ran his hand along the six braids on the left side of her head. “Thank you, Mahkaia.” She looked at him quizzically.
“For what?” Sekali ran his fingers along her slender jaw line.
“For you.” He placed his forehead against hers and closed his eyes, enjoying her thoroughly as tears of joy welled up in her eyes. It was then that Mahkaia fully regretted conjuring that accursed Vahkrin.
Soon they approached the main gate where the Portal Guards kept a forever vigilant watch. They were early; Mahkaia was never on time. Soon, five men, clad in dark steel plated armor approached the gate and saluted Mahkaia and Sekali. Both Sekali and Mahkaia saluted their five teammates, greeting them warmly.
The next hour was like a dream to Sekali. All he saw was the gate opening, the Portal Guards passing before his eyes, the closing of the massive gates as approached the Third Watch. As they passed, the seven upon the pinnacle greeted them respectfully, saluting them as they passed. There was something not right in the air this morning. Sekali felt like a ghost, floating along. No, something was amiss. Quickly, Sekali removed the shield he used on every watch duty and drew his blade. Six other warriors instantly followed his example as Mahkaia looked over at him, concerned.
She was so beautiful to him.
Chills cascaded down his shoulders as the seven passed the Second Watch. Those upon the pinnacle greeted he and his team warmly as they passed by. As they passed, a darkness began to weigh heavy within Sekali’s heart, the dreamlike feeling transforming into a nightmarish moment. As the First Watch came into view, Sekali’s heart began to beat faster and faster. A deep anxiety clawed at his mind, causing him to scan the area about the pinnacle for hidden enemies.
Reaching the First Watch, they were met with weary, yet proud salutes from a group of seven that had seen much battle for the past three days. They looked truly exhausted. The sorceress atop the pinnacle sighed heavily as Mahkaia reached the top of the pinnacle.
“Good hunting, and good night Mahkaia,” the woman stated wearily. “We have been hard pressed this last night. I don’t know what it is, but your skeleton seems to attract attention. Reports show that since you left this thing to Jerstel and his brothers, encounters have doubled. I think it may be the stench of bone in the air that has attracted undue attention.”
Mahkaia looked suddenly worried. “I’m sorry, Aedahnna. Will you forgive me?” Aedahnna chuckled cynically.
“Well, we’ve gotten some resource out of it. So this has turned out well.” Before leaving, Aedahnna placed a hand upon Mahkaia’s arm.
“Beware, Mahkaia. There is a feeling in the air that I cannot describe. Be on your highest guard this watch. Bring yourself and your company safely back to us.” She began to depart, then turned and added. “Your slave fights well.” With that, Aedahnna sighed wearily and descended the steps, signaling for her team to yield up their positions to their brothers.
Sekali overheard the two witches conversation, which caused a sense of foreboding doom to fill his mind. Each took their place, saluting each other formally as The Watch changed.
Soon they were alone. Sekali looked back towards Sardakahn Citadel, spying out the Second Watch through the mists. Shifting his stance, he looked down at the Mahkaia’s horror, which stood silently, facing outward to the more wild area of the wastes. He hated it; he loathed the day she conjured it.
As he looked down upon the raised corpse, the symbol of Mahkaia’s curse, he felt a sudden pressure in his ears, as if he had been suddenly thrust into deep water. Something was wrong. Looking over, he saw the others shifting nervously, looking about the area.
Suddenly a vapor of darkness crept in past Mahkaia’s undead. That nightmarish sense of dread deepened within Sekali’s heart as thick strands of darkness crept like great shreds of tentacles across the blistered and charred earth. Mahkaia turned, making eye contact with Sekali for the last time, a look of regret in her eyes that caused his heart to leap and pound as a terrible feeling washed over him; a feeling that bound his limbs and made his movement difficult. The others groaned as if in pain as the Vahkrin Skeleton simply fell to pieces, the dark magic of its binding unraveling in an instant.
Out of the mists it came, flowing like a blackened steam, great lengths of darkness spreading out and probing the ground before it. It was Mahkaia who gathered her senses first and threw out a hand, fingers spread wide.
“Nuatcha Shrakka! (fire lightning),” she screamed, sudden wrath blazing to life within her eyes, which ignited with a blood-red flame. Red lightning seared forth from the palm of her hand, directly into the approaching enemy, burning into the very fabric of its shadow. In response, the blackened apparition howled in pain and rage as it shifted, rising up, forming into a robe which seemed to flow in a wind not of this world.
A blackened scythe appeared in skeletal hands as it advanced into six warriors who leapt in unison from the pinnacle, wielding enchanted blades with skill and deadly accuracy.
Sekali was the first to make contact with the enemy, followed by his brothers of The Watch. The words of the curse ripped through his mind as he ducked under the arc of the scythe meant to decapitate him. He thrust his blade into the darkness of its mid section and ripped it sideways and out as he fell to one knee, knowing that his brothers needed the room to strike as well. He knew their blades would follow his shortly. Their unified tactics were flawlessly executed, cutting into this apparition of horror with great impact . . . yet it was not enough. In an instant, one, two, then three of his brothers fell beneath the fury of their enemy, pierced by its blade that drew no blood.
As she saw three of her team fall, Mahkaia knew that more would die if she did not act quickly. Closing her eyes, she reached deep into the wells of her power and summoned more energy than she had ever attempted. Quickly, she began to chant a spell she had never cast before as her team fought for their lives. As her spell completed, she felt the change begin. At first, she began to panic. But they needed her if they were to live. She did not matter anymore.
Accepting the physical change, she relaxed, only to feel herself suddenly stretch and tear as every joint in her body suddenly rip away from each other. Like lightning, unbearable pain shot through her, causing an unearthly scream to fill the air like constant thunder.
A loud cry split the air from the topmost precipice of the Monolith, catching the attention of the Portal Guardians, who without hesitation leapt into a formation. Seven of them created a wall, drawing both sword and shield as the eighth fell in behind them and looked up to see a brilliant stream of luminescence exit the topmost point of the Monolith. The single strand of light streaked across the sky, unhindered by the concealing mists above.
“Oh no, Mahkaia,” she whispered, raising her hands high. “Erithereal (transport)!” she stated in a smooth voice as she worked her hands in a complex motion. Within seconds, the Portal Guardians vanished as a large number of men and women, with weapons drawn, raced from the opened gates with all speed.
Oblivious to the events surrounding occurring, all the nearby watches broke away from their posts as the gates of citadel were thrust open, releasing a flood of her brothers and sisters who rushed with all speed towards them. She felt her skull crack and split as it stretched, forming horns which protruded from the back of her head as she screamed in the voice of a dragon. Her arms and legs quickly expanded as she screamed in shock. The pain, which was unbearable at first, changed to a sense of energy and power within a few seconds as her warriors fought on.
She needed to act quickly if she was to save her faithful warriors now fighting desperately against a strange and terrible foe. As she leapt from the pinnacle, her arms became the great wings of a great fiery dragon.
“Senth enja, senth enja! (Back down, back down!),” she screamed in great wrath. As the three withdrew, she thought it would turn on them, but she was wrong. As they back away, it turned upon her, wailing in fury and hatred as she beat her wings once to propel her into the phantom-like apparition before it could ready its scythe. The impact of her attack drove it deep into the ground, forcing the earth to gape wide as she landed into her enemy. The touch of this creature instantly revealed its nature. As if she had placed her hand upon a hot stove, Mahkaia leapt back, retreating two paces, nearly trampling Sekali.
“Soul`Reaper!” She screamed as a black flame burst to life from the rent earth before them. From the crevice, Sekali watched on in horror as obsidian flames formed the shape of the Black`Fire Phoenix, a legendary creature of great power. He recognized it from a sketch in the page of a book he’d seen within the Shaklith Library. Taking the form of the Black`Fire Phoenix’s empowered it to mimic the fearsome black`fire ability, engulfing many foes in a single burst of life-draining fire.
This startling turn of events drained away all hope of victory as it turned its full attention upon Mahkaia. With a terrible cry, the Black`Fire Phoenix leapt from the rent earth, only to be struck by an intense blast dragon-fire, even as Sekali’s attention was drawn to a flash of light from his right. Another attack? No, the Portal Guardians had arrived, and just in time! Without hesitation, they leapt into action, swords igniting with a white fire as they adjusted their shields to form a shield wall.
Mahkaia’s fiery breath flowed against their now shrieking foe until just before the Portal Guardians stepped into harms way. Raising her head, she began to chant, fire yet flowing from her mouth. Without hesitation, the seven rushed the Black`Fire Phoenix, unhindered and unharmed by the heat of the area they charged into. The eighth Portal Guardian raised his arms above, clapping them together.
“Mitiasha (ruin)!” He shouted. An instant force of silver energy shot out from between his hands, striking the Black`Fire Phoenix as it screamed and thrashed about the area on fire. Instantly the image of the phoenix faded, revealing the black-cloaked figure as before, yet withered and bent. Crying out, it leapt to its feat, turning its attention upon the seven Portal Guardians, who fell upon it, blades flashing with a radiance beyond the brilliance of anything Sekali had ever seen.
Catching the attention of his remaining companions, he signaled them to his side as kept an eye out for the possibility of added threats. At that point, many Sardakk Elves began to flood into the area, forming a living parameter about the area as the Portal Guardians continued pressing in against the Soul`Reaper.
In a single lunge, Mahkaia leapt over the Portal Guardians, landing behind the enemy and snapped at it, ripping and shredding unliving shadow. Howling in rage, darkness flowed from the shredded robes of the Soul`Reaper, catching six of the seven Portal Guardians within obsidian blackness, which solidified about their legs and feet. The one who managed to evade continued the attack, undaunted that his six companions, frozen, as if time had suddenly stood still for them.
Mahkaia stood her ground and shrieked another incantation in which she grew to thrice her height. Mage-fire burst forth from between every scale, her eyes blazing pure white. Arcs of lightning and bolts of energy came streaking down from the mists above as a dozen Sardakk Elf casters released their magic upon the greatest enemy known to attack a pinnacle in hundreds of years.
The free Portal Guardian’s blade danced within the shadow of the Soul`Reaper in its purity, shredding both shadow and darkness as the other six began to struggled out of their obsidian bonds.
Mahkaia raised up onto her hind legs, hesitated just long enough to get a clear strike, and came down upon her enemy, smashing it deep into the earth as another wave of energy ripped through the area, stripping all shadow and darkness that still clung to the six Portal Guardians. It seemed their combined effort was working against the Soul`Reaper, for it began to dissipate as spells tore into and burst upon it. A hail of many arrows streaked past Mahkaia, piercing shadow and dark flame.
Sekali’s hope kindled, even as their enemy began to falter. They were winning this conflict! A host of his brothers and sisters were on the move as one. An unearthly scream filled the air. A hail of arrows tore into it, driving it back as it leapt at Mahkaia in one last effort to cut her down.
Sekali broke away from the living border of elves, and focusing his attention upon the creature, rushed in and pierced it through amidst a hail of arrows. Instantly, he was thrown back as his sword shattered even as a blade pierced it through the neck.
The blackened specter shrieked as dragon-fire belched forth upon, even as a bolt of clear energy struck it to the earth from above, driving it to the Wasteland floor. To Sekali’s dismay, it arose from the ashen earth, fighting on with a sudden fury that startled him.
Mahkaia threw all she could at the Soul`Reaper, aided by three warlocks and another witch of no little power, who had not yet fallen to spell-exhaustion. Elemental spells of air, earth, fire and water pounded down upon their foe with unspeakable power, ripping through the area with the impact of a dozen terrible storms, driving the Soul`Reaper into the earth. To its utter ruin, they threw down their foe, smiting it to the dust.
But as it fell, its blackened blade slipped past Mahkaia’s defenses, passing through her right hand, unnoticed by all about her. She stiffened and screamed as the apparition folded in upon itself, shrieking as it faded away.
Mahkaia screamed in sudden agony as she fell back and crashed to the ground. As the body of the dragon stilled, she shifted back to her natural form, then faded away, leaving only her personal effects laying where she fell.
Mahkaia was gone.
As the battle ended, Sekali staggered to the spot where she had fallen and knelt, eyeing her now empty robes in silent disbelief. The survivors bowed their heads in silence to mourn the passing of many, who gave their lives to defeat this terrible foe. As silence came over the area, the realization of what had happened struck Sekali silent. Placing a hand upon her robes, he felt something shatter within his mind. The remainder of his company stood close to him, hands upon his shoulders.
After a time, Sekali gathered up his wife’s belongings and slowly stood. Holding her belongings to him, he was led to the gates of Sardakahn Citadel in a void of thought, guided by the now silent Portal Guardians who had fought desperately at her side.
He had lost. The curse had been fulfilled. There was nothing left for Sekali now . . . nothing.