Fiftieth Post - Sword Mage

The Sword Mage completed her mission and the War is over! If you think that means the Goddess will let her rest, think again! The saga is far from over…

Chapter Eighty-Eight – A Sword Mage Crashes

Ullisk’s ability to use the tarüqq had always been poor and as he got older it never improved. In his first battle the enemy used the killing spell. With his weak attachment to demon magic he never fell unconscious. Standing to see humans charging him, he ran as quickly as possible back towards their lands.

Their new Commander exiled him out to this Northern forest because the Seconds had judged him to be useless. He wasn’t even wanted as a sacrifice for the Demon Lord or the Bolg. None of the mages would waste any of their precious magic on such a worthless excuse for a warrior.

His tasks were simple. Ullisk gathered what food he found and deposited most of it at a gathering station. Often it was just berries and roots. Sometimes, small creatures would try to repopulate the area. He brought in what he could but was never allowed past a line with the station at its center.

The demon was napping in the late morning when the ground shook. The direction of the Demon Lord’s Mountain shone with a brilliant flash and a large cloud of dark smoke. He watched with some fear as a large object flew up over the mountain ridge. It trailed smoke as it cut a long swath through the treetops and landed less than a mile from his resting place. He stood and ran to the crash site.

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Kalara looked down at the branch. It had rammed up through the aircraft and was jammed into the left side of her abdomen. “That looks like bad internal damage. Maybe a punctured lung. I would be with him already but this stupid body refuses to die.” She tried to move, then coughed up blood as a spasm of pain left her unconscious.

A sound woke Robert. Someone was trying to open their entry hatch. It was clear from the breaking sounds that they didn’t know how. Obviously, the demons would find them quickly. Warriors, almost certainly. He was certain that none of their mages survived the blast or the radiation.

It was also obvious that Robert was in no condition to fight back. He could see that his legs were tangled in a mess of snapped branches and broken aircraft hull. “That should hurt like crazy”, he thought. The truth was that his whole body was numb. He mumbled, “Radiation poisoning for certain.” He felt oddly grateful for it.

The hatch finally gave way, and a curious demon face poked in. Robert thought there was something odd about him until he realized there was no trace of the demon magic in him. He spoke first in the demon language. “Hello. Please get her out.” He felt pain now as he tried to turn and look at Kalara. The demon looked at Kalara and his mouth fell open. “Ah. Ah. Bolg Ärutz.” Robert saw the look on the demon’s face was not anger or fear. He looked genuinely awestruck. Robert said, “What is your name?”

He looked at Robert. “I am Ullisk. She is caught on a branch. What should I do?” Robert replied, “If you can break the branch, pull it out. Don’t worry. The Kinting Ourem will heal quickly. Take her away from here. Keep her safe if you can.”

Ullisk snapped the branch and pulled it from Kalara’s side. Her eyes snapped open briefly then closed again. He set her aside clear of the broken craft. Turning back to the craft, he reached in to help Robert out. Robert held up a hand to stop the rescue. “If other searchers find no one here, they will keep looking. Also, to be honest, I am already dying. Our device that destroyed the Demon Lord emits a poison right through the rock. I have taken a fatal dose. The Kinting Ourem will survive. Please, take her with you and find a safe place. Tell her goodbye for me.”

Robert turned back to relax in his seat. Ullisk realized he was now dismissed. There would be nothing more to say. He backed out of the wreck and turned to pick up Kalara. Gazing at her face he remembered that day when she spoke the killing spell and dropped the whole demon army around him. The image of her beautiful face was burned into his memory. Now, even with that face distorted in pain as her terrible wound healed, he still admired it.

Ullisk set his own face in solid determination and started walking quickly. It was almost an hour later that he reached his shelter. He used the cave when the weather turned foul. It was an especially beautiful place. The glowing gems dotted the walls of the cave for fifty yards in either direction from his usual campsite. A swift, cold stream flowed down the center of the tunnel.

He climbed to the high, level place that kept him up away from the stream when the storms made it rush and flood. Laying Kalara in the woven branches and reeds that made up his small bed, he took a moment to admire her beauty again. His breathing caught as a complex mix of emotions surged within him.

The demon army had little use for medical treatment. Their soldiers went out to die by their thousands. Still, Ullisk wanted to do what he could for her terrible wound. Pulling the torn clothing aside he gasped as the gaping hole was completely closed. There was still a massive bruise where the branch had left a nasty, bleeding gash. Looking back to the Bolg Ärutz, no, the Kinting Ourem’s face, the signs of pain were starting to leave.

The man had said she would heal. Ullisk began to understand that this woman was someone very special. He grimaced as he thought how much the high demon warriors had complained about her power and skill. She had killed a Bolg in single combat, after all. There was certainly no need for him to try his nonexistent medical skills. In time she would awaken, and he could see if she needed food and water. Those things were within his skills.

He sat back against the cave wall to take a nap. When he woke up it was because someone was lifting him by his clothes. The Kinting Ourem was carrying him to his primitive bed. Her appearance was very strange. When he had pulled out the branch before, he had caught a glimpse of bright, blue eyes. Now they were filled with white flames and when she spoke, it was as if her voice was echoing from some distant place.

She said, “Thank you for saving me. What you did was very brave. Heroic, even. You deserve a hero’s reward.” What happened next shocked him. Even if he wanted to, he couldn’t resist her incredible magical strength.

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Kalara woke up and realized three things. First, she was alive and completely healed. Nothing hurt; she actually felt better than ever. Second, she was completely naked. Finally, she was lying in a crude bed with one arm thrown over a skinny demon male. He was naked, too.

She pushed away and stood up quickly. The demon woke up and pushed himself against the cave wall. He looked confused as if he was not expecting her reaction. She said, “What did you do to me?” Her former bedmate looked down and said, “Kinting Ourem, um, you did something to me.” Her face changed from anger to a dawning understanding.

Kalara stumbled down to the small stream and immediately and furiously cleaning all the dirt and blood from her body and hair. With no soap she just scrubbed as hard as she could. Stepping out from the freezing flow, she dried herself with a practiced combination of wind and fire magic.

Climbing back to the rocky platform, Kalara put her clothes back on. She put on her uniform top and tied the bottom of the shirt to pull the ragged hole closed. Part of her mind registered that the demon male had dressed as well. Most of her attention was on the next task.

Kalara knelt and forced her hands into a folded position even though her rage wanted to pull them into fists. Nothing needed to be said as her Spirit Gem glowed, and the Goddess appeared in her full form.

The deity said to her acolyte, “You wonder why I used you to create a new life?” Kalara’s jaw dropped and she scanned her womb. She was indeed pregnant. “Goddess, if you needed me to create another child, why with a DEMON?!” The pale figure fixed her with a level gaze. “This child will bind you to your next task. Before you ask, it is to rebuild their society. They have no leadership now and will quickly fall into anarchy and starve. The people of your former world have a saying. ‘If you break it, you own it.’ You have broken their society and now must build them a new one. Remove the last of the demon magic with a blessing and all the ones you need will survive. Please excuse my…ruthlessness.” A small smile replaced her usual light laughter as her image faded.

As Kalara turned to the demon male, he said, “Kinting Ourem, you will lead us now?” She realized two things about the demon’s speech. First, he was speaking the usual Human language. He also did not call her Bolg Ärutz.

Ullisk looked shocked, then puzzled. Kalara told him, “The Goddess has given you a gift.” She touched her abdomen with a sour expression. “More than one.”

Fixing him with her best glare, “You spoke to Robert.” It was not a question. He nodded and said, “Yes. The warrior would not let me remove him. Said he was already dying from your poison.”

Kalara moved to the bed and sat. She just said, “Julian and now Robert.” Her mission completed, she took some time to mourn her husband and her close friend.

Chapter Eighty-Nine- A Sword Mage Builds a Nation

The next morning Ullisk led her to his collection station. He was worried she would be attacked by demon warriors. She had first determined that he would use an Earth gem and gave him basic instruction in how to use it. More advanced lessons would come later, she promised.

They found no one at the collection station and no demons, warriors or others, for several miles as they walked. At first, Kalara was curious to see the results of her work. However, as they neared the ridge that separated them from the former Demon Lord Mountain, she could feel the radiation. It would be centuries before the site was safe to approach.

At Kalara’s question, Ullisk pointed her to an entrance to their tunnel network. As her bombing campaign destroyed the demons’ structures and troops South of the Mountain, the Demon Lord had simply expanded the tunnels and moved all their operations underground or North and out the range of the air attack.

As they approached the stone structure that covered the entrance, Kalara could hear someone speaking. More precisely, the person was giving a speech. They rounded a hill and saw a mob of some two hundred of the small demon warriors standing ten feet below at the base of it. The one speaking was half again their size and shouted at them instructions to obey so that he would lead them to glory. He was not one of the giant demons but was big enough to use his bulk to intimidate the rest of the mob.

She thought, “What an idiot. Without the tarüqq, the demon army will die very soon.” One by one, the demons lost interest in their would-be leader and were staring at Kalara. The leader whipped his head around to his right and shouted, “Bolg Arutz! Kill her at once.” The demons barely had time to draw swords or darts before she wrapped him in Wind Wall and added her hottest fire.

The large fellow screamed as the wind-whipped fire took him. Kalara kept it going long after he stopped screaming. In only a minute all that remained was a fine ash that dispersed in the wind. Swords and darts returned to their places. Her Spirit Gem lost its fierce glow. Speaking to the demons, she said, “I must remove your tarüqq. Do not fear. You will be well.” She faced the mob and concentrated. Over the years, she had practiced this with smaller groups of demons and every one of them survived.

The crowd gasped as she spoke Mavy’s group healing spell. Every minor injury disappeared. If any of the demons had been inclined to attack her out of fear, they quickly lost that urge. Then she said gently, “Purify.” The wave of white magic spread out to cover them. All of the demons gasped again as the yellow-green magic disappeared. A few fell to one knee but as promised, all survived.

Kalara took a few steadying deep breaths. Ullisk stepped up from behind her and said to the warriors, “Kinting Ourem tells me that all of you and I now belong to the Goddess. If you stand with her now, Her Chosen One will lead us all to peace and plenty. The ones who would send you to die are gone forever.” He took a step down the hill and knelt before her.

At first in pairs and small squads, then all of the small army also knelt. Ullisk said, “Kinting Ourem, what is your will?” The whole demon mob repeated the words with some shouting them. Kalara lifted a hand and said, “Take me to the place where the females create young ones. If any try to fight us, do not kill them. The Goddess commands that they all must live under her rule.”

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There were three small skirmishes on the way to the Birthing Caverns but only two deaths of demons who were determined to fight. Kalara lost none of her army and quickly healed any injuries. That last ability made each warrior her most fervent supporter. When they reached the caverns, there were three women in labor. Two of the demon females and a captive from the Kingdom shouted in labor pains.

The woman saw Kalara and said, “Duchess! I don’t know how you are here, but please kill me. Don’t let them have another warrior.” She stepped up and used her healing magic to ease the pain. “This one will never be a warrior. The Demon Lord and all of his large warriors and mages are gone. This small army is with me. Relax and finish. The Goddess will claim the child and all will be well now.”

Kalara noticed the faint glow of the tarüqq in her chair and throughout the cavern. The demon magic affected every part of the process from conception to growth. A few hours later all the births were done and everyone was ready. She didn’t use the purification this time. As the Goddess instructed, it was a blessing.

She sang, “Röenet soa Sashre.” Solace and Healing spread across the chamber to the ones beyond. Kalara repeated her blessing many times as the number of chambers was huge. She toured every space that had produced the huge demon armies over the past eight hundred years. When she was done, every bit of the corrupt magic was gone.

In each chamber Kalara found more Human women. Many in the earliest stages miscarried as she destroyed the demon magic. One of the women who was almost two months along, did not. She cried, “Duchess, how can I continue this? How do I carry on with a half demon child?” Kalara held her shoulders and said, “Leytaren, we will do it together.”

Leytaren looked at her in shock. “You? How…why?” Kalara responded with a wry smile. “The Goddess has tasked me to rebuild the demon society. Used my body to start another child without consulting me.” At Leytaren’s skeptical stare she added, “Oh, not many people know this but our Goddess can be quite ruthless.” Looking to the side she allowed herself a small sigh. “Especially with me.”

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Jayek was new to duty on the North Wall. He had heard all the stories and legends. They stood as the rock that the demons were forced to go around. It was the middle of his shift when he saw the grasses at the edge of their cleared area begin to move. He picked up a Farseer and watched as a single figure pushed his way through the foliage. The slender male figure had the typical facial features of a demon.

He shouted, “Alert! Demon sighted.” His Captain returned the shout as he pounded up the stairs, “How many?” Jayek scanned the area, then looked hard again. “Sir, ah, just one.” He handed the Farseer to his Captain who also scanned the whole area twice. He shouted down the line, “All hold! Anyone looses without my direct command gets notched for a year!” All the archers who were readying arrows immediately put them away.

The demon walked slowly to the wall and stopped about fifty paces away. “Hello the Wall! I have a delivery and a message. May I come up?” They could see he carried a sack over one shoulder. It was small but looked heavy.

A pair of warriors were lowered by the crane. It was used to send people out who would clear the space before the Wall to give them a clear shot. The warriors approached their visitor and quickly searched him. They marched him to the crane and he was promptly winched to the top. The warriors followed him up with his belongings.

One warrior presented his items to the Captain. “He had only a small travel pack with food and water, this sack and a scroll.” The Captain asked, “You inspected the sack?” The warrior swallowed and replied, “Sir, we did. It’s, it’s…” The demon interrupted. “It’s a gift for your King.” The Captain looked into the sack, then reached for a chair. He sat down heavily and asked, “What…is your name sir?” The demon smiled as if enjoying a private joke and said, “My name is Ullisk. I’m a, ah, friend of your Commander.”

The sack was filled to the top with a colorful assortment of magic gems. The wealth it held was incredible. The demon gestured to the scroll. The captain saw it was thick. There was another scroll inside. He opened the outer one and read.

“For the Commander of the North Wall, greetings. Please see to the delivery of the inner scroll directly to the King. You may not open it. Also send the gift package to His Majesty with my compliments. Make sure of its safe delivery. Also please see that my friend who brought you these things is also safely delivered back into the valley. By My Hand. Kalara, Commander of Troops High and Low, Baroness of the Great Green, Duchess (ret.) of Bayen, Second Princess of Oceanside, Queen of the Dragon Valley, Chosen of the Goddess.”

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The young King sat in his father’s old chair in the study reading through the scroll for the third time. He had also read the outer scroll. He muttered to himself, “Queen of the Dragon Valley. Hmph.”

“For the King of Emèthand, greetings. First, let me say before all else that the Demon Lord and all of his greater minions are dead beyond any doubt or question. His dusty tomb is a poisoned place of terror that may not be visited for many centuries. The war is over.

The remaining demons are now under my command and protection. The Goddess has directed that I take charge here and rebuild their society. Thus, I will not be coming home for a long time.

I ask that no one visit us. But I do ask that if any of the Afgère tribe wish to return to the Dragon Valley they will be very welcome. Some women who were taken and survived may wish to go home. I will see that they have an escort to the Wall and ask that you help them resume their lives in the Kingdom. Most have lost all their family and every possession. To that end, I hope that a portion of the proceeds from the magic gems can be used to help them. I leave that to your merciful discretion.

Give my family my regards and love. Especially for my dear daughter, your wife. It is possible that I may never see them again. Take care.

Kalara.”

He finally rolled the scrolls back together and returned to the Court to make the most important announcement in eight hundred years. The cheering and the celebration went on for thirty days. When everyone asked what the Knights would do now, they immediately held games and contests to demonstrate their skills. Everyone else breathed a huge sigh of relief and got on with life.