Shadow Cursed Page 6

  The wraithlord managed to move so that it could bow before the darkness. “My lord.”

  “Why have you returned?” asked the Darklord.

  “I was forced to take a host to feed on and could not return to the caves in time. The sun destroyed the host and I had to return here or die.”

  “You’re lying to me.”

  “No Darklord, I could not hide because Theodinis betrayed me and sealed the entrance behind him.”

  “I sent two of you using our combined power to the surface so that you could find a way to free us and you return to me with lies after the gift I gave you.”

  “My lord, I don’t know what you mean.”

  “You fed on a goblin and the hunger made you search for more prey, you brought the wrath of a dwarven patrol on yourself and endangered your mission.”

  “I hungered my lord, you wouldn’t understand the fear and pain I fed on. It drove me mad.”

  “I understand but I cannot forgive.” The Darklord’s claws swept across the creature’s chest and slashed it to ribbons. As he walked away the others moved forward ripping and feeding off the wounded wraithlord with their newly created teeth and claws.

  While the others fed off its substance and memories, the Darklord savoured its fear and pain.

  CHAPTER 14

  Gabriel

  The second attack on Base Two started with the thump of mines going off beyond the fence line, immediately a barrage of mortars and cannon began to pound the area beyond the fence. Wearing night vision goggles Gabriel could see the tactic the enemy were using to approach the fence. The bulk of the goblins huddled around their shamans, while one row of goblins lead the way forward by stamping the ground ahead of them to clear away mines for those behind them. As one goblin went down another would move forward to take its place. The shamans working together had created a wavering shadow barrier above their army to absorb the rain of mortars.

  A group of goblins broke from the cover of the shields as soon as the machine guns began to fire from the turrets. Each one carried a leather sack which burst in a spray of green liquid whenever a sack was pierced by a bullet. Those goblins that made it to the turrets threw the bags into the faces of the gunners, silencing the guns but igniting screams from the men inside.

  Gabriel watched from the tower he had been assigned to as a second wave of bag carriers also armed with torches dumped their loads in and threw the burning torches after them. The ensuing explosions blinded Gabriel through the night vision lenses. He knew that at least three of the twelve turrets had been destroyed. The goblin masses crashed into the fence. Sparks flew as they built a bridge of their own bodies for those behind them to cross.

  When Gabriel’s vision returned he checked the enemies’ positions and immediately ordered the tower evacuated. Without distance to protect the assorted sharpshooters, the tower would be brought down as it had been yesterday. The men raced down the stairs and took up defensive positions until Gabriel arrived.

  The shamans were nowhere to be seen but the goblin warriors were everywhere. Gabriel looked around and had an idea. Leading his men he raced to a truck and climbed into the driver’s seat, ordering the men to take up firing positions on the back.

  Starting the engine took longer than he anticipated but once it was going he steered for the largest mass of goblins and ploughed into them. The mass was so dense that they had no way of dodging the oncoming vehicle and they almost succeeded in stopping the truck by their sheer numbers. The truck rocked from side to side as the ground disappeared beneath goblin bodies. An arm smashed through the window to grab Gabriel but his handgun was ready and the arm disappeared just as quickly.

  On the back of the truck the soldiers fired their automatics to the side and rear until the truck broke through and then changed to single shot to pick off those goblins that were still standing. Several of his men had been killed by spears and several wounded, but not seriously.

  Another wave of goblins was crossing a body bridge as Gabriel turned the truck round. This time he drove straight for the breach, ploughing into the oncoming goblins. When the truck came to a stop the goblins rushed in for the kill only to be met by a burst of fire from the soldiers on the back and several that had jumped off to prevent a flanking manoeuvre.

  Gabriel smashed out what was left of the front window with his rifle and fired into the oncoming goblins. The vehicle’s lights blinded the goblins as they rushed the truck and illuminated them as targets for the soldiers. Two spears flew through the open window in quick succession, one hit the soldier in the passenger seat and the other passed through the rear window hitting a soldier in the leg.

  A goblin jumped onto the bonnet carrying a knife and ripped the rifle out of Gabriel’s hands. It then tried to stab Gabriel but he grabbed the spear shaft next to him and pulled, aiming at the goblin’s head. The soldier screamed from the back as the spear came free and smashed the goblin in the face. Gabriel repeated the blow several times before the goblin slid off the side of the bonnet.

  Gabriel opened his door, grabbed the handgun with his left hand and dragged the spear out with his right. A break in the goblins’ attack allowed him to search for the rifle amongst the bodies but the blinding glare of the headlights prevented him from finding it in the bloody mess. He didn’t see the next wave coming but fired blindly into the night when the other soldiers began to fire.

  The charging goblins ground to a halt as they saw Gabriel silhouetted in the truck’s light with a spear in hand. They broke in seconds as the soldiers mowed them down with their rifles.

  Gabriel holstered the handgun after changing the magazine and found his rifle after a second search. When he went behind the truck to check on the wounded he was surprised to see the looks on their faces. He couldn’t tell if it was awe or fear but he snapped them out of it with orders. “Check your weapons, collect magazines from the dead and make sure every rifle is loaded. Anyone who can’t fight is to reload rifles as they run out. I want flares at a radius of ten yards on the other side of the fence until they run out.” Gabriel singled two men out. “You two guard the flank, I don’t want this breach reopened. Priority targets are the goblins carrying those acid and incendiary bags - I don’t need to tell you why. Save your grenades for the shamans. Get to work, I need to check the rest of the fence. Henderson, you’re in charge until I get back.”

  The men followed his orders with more zest than he had seen in his life. Seeing the situation under control he ran towards the second breach in the fence.

  As he drew closer to the gunfire he was surprised by a goblin attacking him with a machete. Gabriel managed to lift the spear to defend himself and the blade slammed into it with such force that he fell over backwards.

  By the time he was back on his feet he had lost both the rifle and the spear. Grabbing for the handgun too late he had to scramble backwards to avoid another slash from the blade. The gun fired in his hand as the blade caught it with a sharp blow sending it flying away. Gabriel fell hard on his back knocking the wind from his lungs. As the goblin raised the machete for the final blow Gabriel kicked the goblin hard in the groin. The goblin’s face screwed up in pain and the machete fell from its fingers flat onto Gabriel’s chest. Gabriel used it to stab the goblin and then rolled clear of the toppling body.

  He slashed it again across the back of the neck to make sure it was dead, then grabbed his rifle and carried on running.

  The second breach had been held by soldiers throwing grenades into the packed masses of goblins and using short rifle bursts to take out survivors. But a second body bridge was being created further along forcing the commanding officer to divide his troops and decrease the effectiveness of their defence.

  Looking around Gabriel spotted a fuel truck driving away from the fighting. Waving the driver to a stop he got into the passenger side and asked, “Can you operate the pump on this thing?”

  “Yes sir but I need to get it away from the fighting before they try to burn it sir,” the bi
g man replied starting the truck moving again.

  “Not anymore - if they breach the fence here we won’t be able to hold them back from the civilian area and they’ll be slaughtered. We have to stop them and this truck is the only thing that can do it. I need your help, soldier.”

  “Yes sir! I’m damned if those bastards are going to get near my Isabella,” he said as he swung the wheel around causing the truck to do a hundred and eighty degree turn. Gabriel’s stomach lurched. “Where do we need to go sir?” asked the driver.

  Gabriel pointed and said, “There by the trench, we’ll fill it up and light it. If luck is with us, we’ll be able to seal both this breach and the one they’re trying to open.”

  The man nodded and drove straight for it, swerving at the last moment to bring the truck to a stop. Gabriel covered the driver as he moved the pipe into the trench and began pumping the fuel in.

  “What’s your name soldier?” asked Gabriel while he waited by the truck.

  The big man sat down and brought out a cigarette, lighting it he answered, “Jack Manning sir, what’s yours?”

  Looking nervously at the cigarette Gabriel answered, “Gabriel.”

  The man nodded. “The hero of Gate Two.”

  “Pardon?”

  “That’s what my bunk mates call you. They saw you fighting alone at the breach yesterday holding back the enemy and using that stick of theirs against them.”

  “I didn’t actually use it, I threatened to use it and it almost killed me.”

  “Either way the men saw what you did and it inspired them when another wave of goblins came. They didn’t give an inch the rest of the night. Be thankful you’re a hero and not a martyr.”

  “I suppose, but I only did what was necessary to protect the base.”

  “Well that’s the last of the fuel. I suggest we run.” Jack unclipped a thermal grenade from his shirt, pulled the pin and threw it towards the trench.

  Gabriel ran after Jack and managed to reach cover as a wall of fire erupted along the trench. The heat could be felt ten yards away as the fire reached for the sky. Goblins caught in the blaze immediately turned to torches and died soundlessly as the air was burnt out of their lungs. Those goblins foolish enough to try and jump through the fire landed flat on their faces flailing around until they burnt to death. The fire never reached the new breach which finally opened but the men guarding the second breach rushed over and cut the goblins down before they could reach the surviving defenders.

  “Do you think you could give me a ride Jack?” asked Gabriel.

  “Sure - what do you want to burn next?” asked Jack hauling himself into the driver’s seat.

  “There’s another breach at turret twelve. I need to see if they have it under control.

  “Yes sir, hop aboard.”

  The fighting at turret twelve was fierce but when the trench was overrun an improvised barricade broke the attack before the goblins could move further into the camp. The men in the trench died to a man and more died defending the barricade but the goblin dead covered the entire area from the trench to the barricade two to three deep.

  When the goblins finally retreated at dawn’s light, the men had no more explosives, grenades, or even stun grenades. Ammunition had run out in the last hour and only the arrival of ammunition crates driven in by Jack kept the men from breaking. Gabriel led counter charges when the ammunition was low to hold the breach with enemy weapons until the guns could be reloaded. Whenever Gabriel attacked at least one goblin ran in terror and he wasn’t surprised that he had fewer wounds than anybody else.

  When the attacks finally stopped Gabriel passed out behind the barricade with Jack watching over him while he slept.

  CHAPTER 15

  Emperor Valorus

  Emperor Valorus sat on the throne with the High Priestess and Supreme Magi at his sides overlooking the audience hall which extended three stories into the air in an interwoven mesh of branches of light and dark wood. Light flooded the room from parallel rows of stained glass windows that stood taller than two elves and wider than arms reach. Each glass window represented scenes from their history from the construction of the Old Palace to the construction of the Emperors Palace.

  Dressed in silk the three wore white, black and multicoloured. White for the priesthood, black for the mages guild and multicoloured representing the different estates managed by the lords and ladies of the Riverlands.

  Before them stood the four elves chosen for the diplomatic mission to the humans.

  Tagier held himself erect, his movement’s spare but showing great strength for an elf. At his sides were the twin blades given to him by his swordmaster trainer when he had completed his studies. They were said to be the best ever crafted, lighter than an equivalent wooden training sword they were nevertheless deadly sharp and bore unique blue dwarven runes. He carried a bow across his chest but by all accounts he hardly used it, relying mainly on his skill with the blades to fight goblins.

  Amelia was a stark contradiction to Tagier. Her eyes darted to and fro and she appeared ready to bolt at any moment. She was relatively young for an elf, thought the Emperor. If she were not a novice, he would have considered approaching her to become his fourth wife. But the laws forbade marriage between the royal bloodline and a priestesses just as the mages were forbidden from marrying the royal line. When she saw the Emperor’s eyes on her she took an involuntary step back.

  The Emperor moved his gaze to the next person in line. Laisarus, an outcast by choice and it showed. He was the same age as Amelia and the resemblance was uncanny down to his movements as he constantly looked around furtively as if expecting attack at any moment. The Emperor had heard his distress was caused by something called claustrophobia but having only left the palace for short periods of time he could not understand the concept. Laisarus appeared almost a match in strength to Tagier but was nothing like the career soldier. He dressed in rough hides that appeared to be sewn together in small patches creating the appearance of a tree blowing in the wind when he moved. While Tagier wore the formal uniform of an elven officer, sporting silver medals pinned in patterns on the left breast as was the military custom, Laisarus carried only one visible weapon in the Emperor’s presence, a knife in a sheath on his right leg. On his back he carried a small pack two and a half foot long, triangular in shape with a quiver sewn along its longest edge. Several small sacks were tied to the front of his belt and made in the same patchwork mix of colours as the rest of his clothing.

  Next to Laisarus stood the mage he had chosen. Carthus wore the general black robe of a mage, with silver thread running along the hems to indicate he was a battle mage. In his hand he held a staff of smooth white wood. Each mage crafted their own staff from the nexus tree before they were accepted into the battle mage order and allowed to train in battle magic. It was rumoured that it took on average five years to do this and that Carthus had done it in three.

  Carthus radiated power like a beacon making the Emperor frown, had he made a mistake in choosing this one he wondered. Every shaman would likely sense the mage from miles away. Seeing the Emperor’s frown the mage suddenly went dead to every sense the Emperor had but sight, even with the power of the nexus tree he could not detect the battle mage. The sensation was disturbing but the Emperor was relieved that Carthus had the power if it was needed and the control necessary to hide it.

  The battle mage was older than Tagier but mages could live longer than the normal lifespan of a hundred and fifty. This mage was different from many of the others in that he didn’t desire a position of power in the mages’ Guild. He had devoted himself to becoming a battlemage to defend the Riverlands from the goblin hordes and had proved his worth many times, using his power to the point where it almost consumed him to destroy attacks that would have breached the barrier.

  The Emperor had plans for Carthus, he had already begun to recruit the elf when he had first heard of him. Carthus would be far more loyal to him than any of the other infighting i
diots. If the mission was a success the Emperor planned to help him rise in the Guild to the position of Supreme Magi and replace his treacherous brother Sceleo.

  With the help of the High Priestess and the power of the mages behind him he could reform the elven nation and pull it out of the stagnation that was crippling it. Every year saw the goblin hordes attack in greater numbers. It was only a matter of time before the barrier was breached and the Riverlands overrun with their foul armies. The warriors guarding the barrier were well disciplined and had generations of tactics, training and fighting on the barrier but little preparation for hand to hand or sword fighting, whereas the goblin clans constantly fought amongst each other.

  The construction of the Barrier had been started by his father when the goblins had finally been pushed back across the Crimson River. This was before the shamans had risen in the goblin ranks and the elves had been aided by the ferocious dwarven warriors. When the barrier had been completed the elves had discovered the power of the bow but slowly lost most of their skill with swords. Tagier was a throwback to before the Barrier when elves fought hand to hand against the goblins using speed and poisoned weapons to take down the giant creatures. The practice of poison had almost disappeared as a skilled bowman could kill a goblin with one shot and the unskilled used more effective explosive headed arrows.