Richard Tuttle - Army of the Dead

Within minutes the other sentry was slain, and HawkShadow moved stealthily out onto the long finger of wooden slats. He emitted a sound that resembled the screech of a hawk. A like sound echoed back to him from the harbor. Three successive birdcalls brought a large shape into view, gliding slowly across the water. HawkShadow grabbed a coil of rope attached to the dock and threw it towards the bow of the ship. Someone caught it. The Sakovan assassin moved quickly to grab another coil of rope and toss it to someone on the stern of the ship. Within seconds the ship was tied to the dock and people began disembarking. There was no need for speech or hand signals. Everyone knew his task. HawkShadow stood to one side as the other Sakovans moved silently along the dock and into the city. When StarWind got off the ship, HawkShadow moved alongside her and joined the column of Sakovans. The last to exit the ship were the Sakovan mages led by the Star of Sakova and her uncle, Temiker.

The Sakovan mages walked off the dock and waited patiently on the fog-enshrouded wharf while the Sakovan warriors moved along the streets and into the city. Although fog typically dulled and distorted sounds, an eerie silence pervaded the city. Temiker listened intently as he counted numbers in his head. After an interminable delay, Temiker spoke softly.

“It is time,” the old mage announced. “Remember the Star’s instructions, and do not unnecessarily endanger yourselves. We can afford the time to stay in Meliban until the task is complete. There is no rush.”

A hundred Sakovan mages followed Lyra and Temiker into the fog. As they moved along the main street of the city red-clad bodies appeared on the ground, dead eyes staring into the mist. The mages walked around the corpses or stepped over them. When they approached the center of the city, mages began to peel off to each side of the street. Some moved silently into narrow alleyways, while others sought the safety of dark corners formed by adjacent buildings.

Lyra and Temiker halted in the park that occupied the very center of Meliban. The remaining mages split off in three different directions to hide themselves and await the proper moment. Temiker began counting anew, giving time for all of the mages to find hiding spots.

“If you are ready?” Temiker asked softly as the numbers ran down inside his head.

“I am ready,” nodded Lyra. “Where will you be?”

“At the edge of the park against the building,” answered Temiker. “You will not be able to see me, but neither will the Motangans. Be careful, Lyra, and do not let the power drain from you. If you get into trouble, shout, and I will come to your aid. I will lift the fog as soon as I see your blue cylinder.”

Temiker did not wait for a reply. He walked away from the Star of Sakova and placed his back against one of the buildings bordering the park. He quickly wove an illusion that made it appear as if there was a pile of crates in the spot where he stood. He hoped that no one would desire to climb up on the crates. Moments later a blue cylinder shot skyward from the center of the park. He knew that Lyra had invoked her spell of protection. Without delay, the old mage cast his arms upward. The fog that smothered the city instantly dissipated from the park and the nearest buildings, although the rest of Meliban remained enshrouded. Lyra’s blue column shone brightly and cast an eerie swath of blue light over the surrounding buildings. Shouts immediately came from windows surrounding the park.

The first to arrive were Motangan soldiers from the administration building. Officers shouted commands and horns blew. Soldiers began gathering from all quarters of the city, but not as many responded as should have. All around the perimeter of the city, red-clad bodies littered the ground, and the Sakovan warriors moved inward towards the park, silently killing soldiers as they exited the buildings. Within minutes of the first alarm, black-cloaked mages swarmed towards the park. A group of a hundred black-cloaks gathered around Veritago as the mage leader stared at the young woman inside the blue tube. The mages were but a black dot upon a sea of red as the park filled with Motangans.

“What do you make of it?” one of the mages asked of the leader.

“Undoubtedly magic,” reasoned Veritago, “but I have never seen anything like it. It bothers me that she calls attention to herself. Is she friend or foe?”

It was at that time the Star of Sakova chose to speak. “Motangans,” Lyra said calmly, her voice magically amplified throughout the city, “I am Lyra, the Star of Sakova. I have come to Meliban to demand that you lay down your weapons and disavow this invasion of Fakara. The armies of the Island of Darkness are defeated. Lay down your weapons, and you will be allowed to live. Defy me, and you will die.”

For a long moment the park remained silent. Suddenly one of the mages threw a fireball at Lyra. The fiery projectile sailed into the blue cylinder and disappeared.

“Kill her!” shouted Veritago. “Charge!”

The Motangan soldiers did not hesitate. With swords drawn, a ring of soldiers raced forth to be the first to pierce the body of the Star of Sakova. Lyra closed her eyes as the murderous mob surrounded her. Screams filled the air as hundreds of soldiers struck the blue shield. Arms disintegrated and legs disappeared, but the mob continued inward, pushed onward by those behind. Whole bodies disappeared into the blue cylinder, and tears welled up in Lyra’s eyes.

It took several minutes for Veritago to realize that something was wrong. Screams ripped through the air and died much too suddenly to be natural. He shouted for the soldiers to stop, but it was hard to be heard over the screaming. Another several minutes passed before the soldiers managed to back away from Lyra. The wounded surrounded the Star, rolling on the ground and screaming in agony. Veritago marched forward, the soldiers parting to let the black-cloak through. The other mages followed cautiously. Veritago surveyed the carnage and then his eyes landed on the Star of Sakova. He stared at her in disgust as he saw her crying.

“Your shield cannot protect you forever,” sneered Veritago as he looked for magical defects in the column. “Drop your protection, and I will promise you a swift death.”

Lyra wiped her eyes and glared and the mage. She spoke calmly once again, but her words were not directed at the mage. Instead she spoke to the soldiers who stared at her uncomprehendingly. By this time, thousands of Motangan soldiers had crowded into the park, and there was barely room to move.

“Do not let these black-cloaks destroy your lives,” Lyra said. “Lay down your weapons and leave the city. You will not be harmed. I implore you not to fight me.”

Veritago snarled and backed away from Lyra. “Ready arrows,” he shouted to the soldiers before turning to the mages. “We will weaken her spell of protection. Let the arrows weaken the tube and then strike with everything you have.”

The black-cloaks nodded enthusiastically as the Motangan soldiers began shooting thousands of arrows at Lyra. The arrows disappeared as they struck the blue shield, but the archers kept up a constant stream of arrows.

“There will be no surrender,” Lyra said, sorrow evident in her voice.

The Motangans had no reaction to the words of the Star of Sakova. They continued to fire at her as the black-cloaks focused their attention on the blue shield to watch for any sign of its weakening. The Sakovans however did react to her words. The Sakovan mages crept out of their hiding places and took up positions surrounding the park. Suddenly a hundred light blades whirled into the thick mob of Motangans, and bodies were sliced into pieces.

Temiker watched as wave after wave of light blades sliced through the crowd. He shook his head sadly, but he kept his eyes on the group of black-cloaked mages. It took several minutes for the attack to register with the black-cloaks, so intent were they on destroying the blue shield. When they finally did notice, it was because the light blades were ripping through their ranks. Veritago turned and tried to marshal his mages to defend against the Sakovans. Temiker did not give him a chance. From the concealment of his illusion, Temiker cast a light blade of his own. The bright projectile spun into the group of mages. Other Sakovan mages had also seen the attempt to use magic against them and had also targeted the knot of black cloaks. Veritago and his minions ceased to exist.