Sekali, "The Sister City"
Chapter 6
Sekali sat up and cried out desperately, startling Mahkaia out of a deep sleep. Instantly a dagger appeared in hand as she leapt to her feet.
“What is it!” She hissed as she rested one hand on his shoulder. Sekali flinched at her touch, then shuddered, coming to his senses.
“A dream; only a dream,” he whispered hoarsely, trying to regain control of himself. Mahkaia sighed in relief and sheathed the dagger. Quickly, she began dressing, as if preparing for The Watch. As she slipped into her long black robes, Sekali arose and followed her example.
“Where are we going?” He solemnly inquired. Mahkaia shrugged.
“Out of the city. When I cast the spell on the Gorilith skeleton, should it go badly, I don’t want any innocents harmed. Not all within the safety of Sardakahn are trained to deal with the horrors.” Sekali quickly slipped into a light pair of long cotton stockings, tailored to fit tightly about the tops of each knee, followed by breeches and a lengthy, long-sleeve, tunic of similar material, woven to gently hug the neck. Wearing only a leather underlining, no matter how finely made, was asking for an instant temperature increase, which led to sweating, discomfort, then chafing. The cloth lining kept the soft leather underlay of the armor off his skin, keeping him as cool as possible.
Mahkaia was always attentive of her warriors needs, so overheating had never been a problem for long. The thought crossed his mind to ask her if she could cast a spell on his armor to permanently keep him at just the right temperature. Smiling, he checked himself from head to foot in the convenience of a full length mirror.
“What are you smiling about?” Mahkaia inquired, rolling her eyes as she caught his eye. Sekali shrugged, raising his hands as if surrendering to her.
“I have plenty to smile about. But to keep permanently cool, fully armored, would be a nice wedding gift.” Mahkaia walked over to him and gave him a look that earned a kiss.
“That you no longer have to armor up solo is my gift to you,” she teased as he stepped into his plated boots. Quickly she knelt down and began fastening the straps and buckles as he reached over and grabbed a leg greave and began securing it to his left leg. As Mahkaia finished with the boots, he took the other greave and began fastening it to his right leg. In turn, Mahkaia raised up and began making the final adjustments to the leg armoring as Sekali snatched up the hip-guard and overlapped it securely about the top part of the greaves. As Mahkaia moved about him, securing his armor, he grabbed the abdomen-guard and fit it against his lower mid-section.
Wearing a full set of plate armor hindered his movement, but he was grateful for the protection, which had shielded him from harm on countless occasions. Sekali admired the few who clad themselves in leather armor as they served upon The Watch. Of course, their training was much different than his. While he was considered a “meat shield” by many, there was the Assassin and the Thief, rarely seen with their team while preforming their duties on The Watch.
Those who followed the martial path of the Shintar or Vekkarian Monk were skilled in close quarter fighting. Sekali was genuinely impressed by their combat skills, which seemed unreal at times, especially among the veterans monks. After witnessing Master Djurin flawlessly solo a Wasteland Minotaur, Sekali secretly desired to study under him. But Master Djurin gained new students by invitation only. Still, Sekali hoped that one day he would be noticed, and the invitation would be extended to him.
For the time, Sekali would continue training in the path of the Warrior, where he was most comfortable. Last year, the Master of Arms had knighted him with his twenty-eighth promotion, opening him up to new techniques and knowledge.
Patience in biding his time was not an issue, as it was within the societies of other races, whose life spans were far less than the long lived Sardakk Elf. Out here in the Wastelands, the counter balance to living an average of seven ages, was ones life could be shortened in a moment.
Mahkaia fit the solid back piece against Sekali as he held the breast plate against his chest. Quickly she began securing both pieces together as he wrapped the neck-guard about his neck. Tediously, he secured a number of clasps, anchoring it about the neck the back and chest plates. Looking up, down and side to side, Sekali tested his range of motion.
“I don’t like this piece,” he mumbled. Mahkaia finished encasing him between the two most protective parts of Sekali’s armor and shrugged.
“It’s better than being decapitated,” she morbidly reminded him.
“True.” There was no arguing with that fact.
After securing and adjusting both arm-guards, Sekali grabbed his steel-mesh belt, upon which hung his scabbard and fastened it about his waist. After adjusting the scabbard to his left hip, he slipped on a pair of thick leather gloves, fully covered in small thin plates of metal.
Mahkaia casually walked over to his helm and picked it up. Turning, she looked him up and down in approval and yielded it to him and he neared her. Taking the helm, he flipped it around and looked into its face.
“You know, this armor was not only master crafted, but measured to perfectly fit my body. No where else in all Utaemia can you find such craftsmanship. It is altogether unique.” Mahkaia playfully sneered up at him and cocked her head to one side.
“You need to get out more.”
“There are others outside the Wastelands with the skill to forge such armor?” Nodding, she took the helm and turned it to face her.
“Bring your handsome head down a bit,” she stated, smiling at him.
“But that would defeat the purpose,” he countered.
“Purpose?” She curiously inquired. Sekali nodded, grinning mischievously down at her. Narrowing her eyes up at him, she hesitated, instantly distrusting him. The only sign of his intentions he gave was a sly smile, which caused her to hesitate. Happily, Sekali waited eagerly for Mahkaia to make the first move.
A minute passed in silence as they happily froze in a standoff that suddenly ended with Mahkaia’s quick attempt to put the helm over Sekali’s head. As fast as she could, Mahkaia raised up on her toes and lifted the helm up, barely tall enough to set it on the top of his head. Quickly, Sekali wrapped her about the waist and tried to steal a kiss, but was countered as she slid the helm down over his head in one swift motion. For the victory, she received a metal kiss.
Cheerfully, Mahkaia struck the top of his helm with an open hand, pushed his head back and fastened the wide soft-leather strap. After securing his helm, she threw her arms about his neck and squeezed as hard as she could. Playfully, she kissed him on the mouthpiece and laughed at an exclamation of disappointment. Looking into his eyes through the slits of the helm, Mahkaia mouthed the words, I love you, then slipped out of his arms.
“See if the fit is acceptable.”
Testing his range of motion, Sekali was satisfied to feel a perfect fit.
“Mahkaia, you are good at this.”
“Thank you milord.” Smiling sentimentally, she walked over to a large leather satchel and began placing the dried bones of the Gorilith into it. When she finished, Sekali took it from her and slipped it over his head. Adjusting the bulk of the load to his back, he nodded once.
“Shall we, milady?” Mahkaia nodded, and adjusted her long hair neatly back over her shoulders. Sekali felt his heart skip a beat as she turned and gracefully headed out into the tunnel. The way she walked nearly caused him to forget to follow. Shaking his head, Sekali trailed her out into the street , his thoughts turning to the last few years of their courtship. He had enjoyed every moment of their time together. He fondly took her hand, distracted by her presence more than usual, and failed to notice a mass of ominous mists beginning to gather directly above the center of the citadel.
Mahkaia shook her head, unable to hide a smile from him as pointed up, drawing his focus from her to the strange phenomenon above. Coming to his senses, he quickly pulled Mahkaia into the safety of a nearby shelter, constructed of four massive slabs of stone in which a dozen others waited in silence. Glancing at her, he could not help but notice her amusement; no doubt his being caught off guard. She grinned up at him and squinted, silently informing him she knew the reason for his distraction. Sekali ignored her teasing; it wasn’t funny.
Even with the threat of potential danger, Sekali found it a nuisance to pay attention to something that might wish to kill him, or destroy Sardakahn, rather than admire his bride. Sadly enough, he had to know what was going on, and so focused his attention to the sky and waited.
As he and the others watched the sky, a number of revolving shadowy tendrils suddenly extended out from the mass of blackness overhead, twisting and bending down through the mists on a course directly toward the zenith of the Monolith. As one, the tendrils grasped the highest point of the massive tower, wherein dwelled their master.
Visibly startled, Mahkaia quickly pulled her hand free of Sekali’s and darted out into the open, throwing her arms high.
“Ita mahduin min (I banish you)!” she cried, pointing at the main body of blackness, from which extended the tentacles. The ground instantly heaved to and fro, throwing Sekali and the others hard to the ground. As quickly as he struck the earth, Sekali sprang to his feet and rushed to Mahkaia’s side, unsheathing his blade.
As if in response to her spell, which seemed to do nothing against it, a single tentacle broke away from the tower, making its way swiftly toward them. Bracing himself firmly between Mahkaia and the enemy, Sekali readied himself to meet this overwhelming attacker head on in the hopes of shielding the woman he loved. A chant filled the air, followed by an intense feeling of strength as a rush of wind and debris whipped through the area, preceding the advance of their foe.
As Sekali bent his will upon the approaching tentacle, a feeling of energy and power burned within his entire being. Leaping forward, his blade sliced into the arm-like tentacle, severing it instantly as it effortlessly threw him back through a thick wall of solid wasteland stone, shattering it.
Sekali violently passed through the walls of a number of structures, leveling them with his own body. In no more than a breath’s time, he was stopped as his body slammed against the first building that did not give way to the force of his flight. As he hit the ground, the building cracked and shuddered, teetering on the bring of collapse.
Bewildered, Sekali shuddered, various images flickering before him. He saw Mahkaia on the pinnacle of The Watch, a white cloth binding his new bride’s hand to his, his hand within a purple flame, and many more images which flashed before his very eyes, all in a matter of three ragged breaths. Fighting to separate the scenes back into their proper place, he heard Mahkaia laugh, then saw her face as she neared to kiss him.
The grinding of stone grinding behind him was what anchored his thoughts to; based what was real and what was not. As his head cleared, a deep grinding sound from behind focused his mind, catching his attention to the present, driving away the images to reveal him staring down into a street, with chunks of wasteland stone falling to the surface all about him.
Looking up, he peered back through the wreckage, his vision clearing as well as his mind. A large stone glanced off his right shoulder, flinging him onto his back. Shaking his head, he looked up just in time to see the structure above him fall to pieces and fall directly on top of him, burying him in a heap of ruin.
Blackness engulfed him, though he felt little pain. As if re-living a nightmare, he heard the screaming curse of the Gorilith Vahkrin.
Sekali despaired.
“No!” Sekali screamed as he went berserk, fighting against the immense weight of the rubble he was buried beneath. Thrashing like a madman, he fought against the stones with all his might. He did not wonder how he freed himself, nor did he contemplate why he yet lived. Mahkaia needed him, and nothing would stop him from protecting her! With all his might he flailed and kicked against the rubble, which gave way to his efforts.
As he saw the mists through the yielding pile of stone, the chilling scream of a woman split the air. Freezing in horror, his thoughts fell to the curse. Fear, unlike any he had ever felt, stabbed at his heart, threatening to engulf him in misery. Renewing his efforts, he shoved and pushed and kicked his way free of the prison of rocks.
Sekali pulled himself from the debris of the building that had collapsed on top of him and staggered to his feet unsteadily. What remained of his armor hung in shredded tatters over less than half his body. His sword was nowhere to be seen.
He tried to shake out the loud ringing in his head, but it was no use. Stumbling to his hands and knees, he began to make his way to the edge of the debris, and was suddenly thrown onto his back by a sudden wave of intense energy that ripped through the area.
A brief flash of white radiance, like the sudden rare appearance of the sun slipping through the mists, burst forth from within the highest tower of the Monolith, and sped into the main body of darkness. Vanishing into the writhing body of blackness, it vanished, leaving Sekali blinded for a moment. A moment later, the entire sky was illuminated by a brief radiance, the likes of which Sekali had never beheld.
In wonder and amazement, Sekali witnessed the massive tentacles recoil and shudder spastically, as if in terrible agony. Suddenly the body and arms of their assailant disintegrated into a massive cloud of fragments. Like firefall, each shred of darkness burst into flames and slowly drifted down upon Sardakahn Citadel as an unearthly cry filled the air.
Pieces of the strange creature in the blackened haze above began to shred and break apart as it moved away from the Monolith, heading away from Sardakahn Citadel. Soon all was quiet, and the normal blanket of dark wasteland mists moved in to take the place of an attacker that fell to its ruin just outside the parameter of The Watch pinnacles.
Panicked, Sekali staggered to his feet and leapt from the rubble, rolling heavily out onto the surface of the street. The impact of his fall caused the remaining pieces of his armor to break lose and scatter out upon the ground.
Sekali began making his way back to the spot where he had last seen Mahkaia, desperately hoping she was alright. As he entered the area, his eyes fell upon a terrible scene of death and suffering. The cries of the wounded filled the air amidst the torn and mutilated bodies of many. In a haze, he saw others tending to the needs of the survivors, among which were healers, who cast spells to mend both flesh and bone, reversing the damage first among the more critically wounded.
He quickly waved away the offered assistance of two approaching men.
“I am unharmed,” he stated emotionally, turning them away to those who needed the aid. Desperately, Sekali moved among the toppled buildings and ruined streets in search of his wife, feeling as though he walked in a living nightmare. He continued his search, when only those searching the wreckage were the ones collecting the dead.
Calling for her, Sekali worked his way over a pile of rubble, and entered into a building with only two walls yet standing. As he entered, he caught sight of black robes pinned beneath a large slab of collapsed wall and the ground. Freezing, he fell to his knees silence, disbelieving his own eyes.
Suddenly, he felt like his insides were being ripped out through a gaping hole in his chest as he looked down at a deep puddle of crimson liquid pooled up against the edge of the stone.
She had saved his life, but at a terrible price.
As the tears began to flow, he thought he heard someone call his name from the street. Confused, he staggering to his feet and made his way out of the building, and walked into the street. Again he heard someone call his name, though the ringing in his head was too loud to discern who it was.
The spark of extinguished hope instantly fanned to life as he saw Mahkaia emerge from one of the damaged structures.
“Sekali!” She called out emotionally, not yet seeing him. Sekali’s eyes widened in surprise. She was alive! Suddenly, he felt exhausted, drained. Without a word he approached her from behind, grabbed her by the arm and pulled her about, embracing her in silence.
“I thought I lost you,” she wept, embracing him. Kissing her blood-soaked brow, he felt the terrible pain in his chest melt away.
“Mahkaia, are you hurt?” Shaking her head slowly, she smiled and lifted a trembling hand to his face.
“No, just drained. I healed as many as I could.” In one smooth motion, he lifted her up into his arms.
“You saved my life. Thank you.”
“My pleasure, husband,” she whispered. Curling up against him, Mahkaia closed her eyes.