Chapter 2 – The Wraith-Bane Bear

“Maytoni is a disgraced nation, built on lies. It has no right to exist, not if there is true vindication in the world.”
– From a banner found at the site of the Maytoni Abby Bombing, four years ago, signed by the The Headsman

Two soldiers escorted a cowled figure. One of the soldiers caried a case in his free hand, which he dropped when they reached The Headsman. The same soldier began opening clasps.

The Heretic, the only one accursed enough to use the Maytoni relic. And goodness did it make Aldwin shudder when she was close. She wore a magenta cowl, with golden robes over ruinous armour. Yet the most disconcerting element was the nail piercing which ran through both cheeks, impaling her tongue, to keep her from speaking.

Aldwin watched The Heretic remove a bow, then a quiver. It was a beautiful work of art, with, golden wood, with pulsing silver clouds dancing to an unheard tune. The string glistened silver, pulsating red, the limb tips muddy red. The arrows were fletched with thunder dragon feathers, tied down by the strings of broken musical instruments. Dark spruce wood made up the shafts, taken from a mythical forest were dead trees continued to grow, and noise was incapable of reigning.

The bow was known as the Seer’s Harp. The Headsman had stolen it from an embittered warrior mage who had her own reasons for hating the Maytoni.

“Show them the horror of their so-called gods,” The Headsman ordered.

The Heretic raised the bow. She tilted her waist to aim into the cloudless sky, drew her arm back until the feathers of the arrow reached her ear. Then her fingers slipped slickly from the string.

As the arrow soared over the walls, an unseen force sent a cataclysmic quake through the defences. Dark rock erupted into turbulent clouds, starting at the centre, and spreading outwards. An all-consuming storm reached its wrath along the defences, obliterating stone and metal to rubble and dust.

As the walls collapsed, The Headsman stood, his executioner sword over his shoulder.

“What the Chasm was that?” Maldwyn turned, as thunder caught up with the quake which had just racked the room.

The Summiteers shot to action, pulling on quivers, and taking up bows. They glided by Alejandro to the door.

“Stay here.” Maldwyn was already picking up a short recurve and moving off.

“Are quakes a natural event?” Blair asked, cooly, curiously.

“No,” Maldwyn replied emphatically.

Through the doorway came shouting, and the clatter of purposeful running. There wasn’t a hope that Alejandro was going to sit still. Taking up their bows, Alejandro and Ksenia followed the Summiteers, with Blair. Alejandro couldn’t recall so many corridors but kept pace.

They tore through to the main chamber, past the tall pillars, fountains, and under chandeliers. The archway should have glowed celestial white from opening into Xela’s brilliance. Instead, it was seeping gloominess, the muggy colours of a monsoon over dusk.

Beyond the threshold, Alejandro took in the scene with dumbfounded trepidation. The walls were gone, replaced with a wicked storm cloud of dust and debris with a life of its own. Like a tidal wave the storm cloud washed over and between buildings. Points of conical towers peeked helplessly from the swamp, and within, the shouts and cries of Outriders came.

“Should have stayed in bed,” Ksenia hissed, back handing Alejandro’s shoulder. “What was wrong with sleeping next to me, and then getting breakfast in bed from Blair!?”

“‘Told you so’ would have sufficed,” he replied, not taking his eyes from the dark heart of the storm rushing towards them.

“Can’t be him?” Esther gasped, wide-eyed at the devastation.

“Who else? I don’t know what The Headsman wants, and Gods only know it could be anything. But he gets put down here!” Maldwyn barked.

“Eh, who’s The Headsman?” Ksenia said. “Oh, or why did you invite us into a war zone!?” She approached Maldwyn but was intercepted by Ebrill.

“Ebrill, get the civilians back inside, and stay there,” Maldwyn ordered.

“Hey! I’ve carried out more boarding actions than you’ve shot arrows, Summiteer,” Ksenia hissed.

“She’ll start biting if she gets worked up,” Alejandro added, readying his own bow, the bow found a lifetime ago by another Alejandro, a shadow compared to who he was now.

“I don’t have the time for this. If you want to risk your own lives, fine. But you do as I order.” Maldwyn’s tone was as hard as diamond.

Alejandro nodded firmly. He nocked an arrow, blue and green bared griffin feathers over dragon’s blood-dyed shafts.

From the encroaching storm came the first group of shrouded figures; purple armour, swirling with magic, swords and axes bloodied.

“See what we’re dealing with, Kellen,” Maldwyn ordered.

Kellen loosed an arrow at the lead soldier, only thirty yards off. From the armour, manifested in shadow and whisps of ether came the distorted profile of a body, reaching out with exceptional speed to snatch the arrow before it struck the soldier.

“Wraith-armour!” Tara grunted, though a little awe was evident.

“Got something for that.” Esther nocked an arrow with golden eagle feathers, scarred by black jagged patterns. More dark, jagged scars ran down the wooden shaft towards a pile, bruised with rusty blotches. The Summiteer loosed it. Again, it was intercepted by a wraith. Then, from on high came a bolt of lightning, violently striking the arrow in a blue hot explosion. The soldier was sent sprawling back into the dust storm.

“How many of those have you got?” Alejandro asked, impressed.

“Never enough,” Esther replied.

From the storm marched a giant, wrath reverberating from his strides. His armour was fitted with the bones of giants, and the sword he wielded could cleave anyone of them in half by its weight alone.

“It’s him,” Maldwyn said, his voice quivering with rage. “Esther, put him down!”

Esther drew on The Headsman and loosed. The giant’s sword, unnervingly, took the arrow, shattering it in blue sparks.

“Abyssal magic,” Tara stated.

“Got it,” Esther replied, nocking another arrow. She sent the next one at the feet of the giant. The strike halted the formidable gait as he considered the shot. He looked up at the Summiteers, before lightning whipped down. The searing flare of blue attacked everyone’s vision. The giant was pushed back a few feet; the sword greedily consuming the attack leaving The Headsman unharmed.

“Volley fire!” Maldwyn shouted. “Overwhelm their armour!”

The Summiteers began launching arrows at will, as fast as they could manage. The Headsman and his attackers advanced as arrow after arrow were stolen from the air or shattered by his sword. Esther targeted the lead attackers, lightening whipping down at them, sending them sprawling back. However, she didn’t have the speed or the number of arrows necessary to halt the advance and after shooting eight of the arrows, Esther announced she had run out.

Alejandro looked up at the archway to the Fastness proper. Then he looked to the tight entry way, small and insignificant by comparison. He had a thought, and Ksenia was on him before he voiced it.

“Obviously,” she said. There wasn’t any other option.

“Maldwyn, pull back, get inside!” He shouted. Maldwyn only glared at him. However, Alejandro pulled the leather covering from his bow-quiver, the glaring orange bouncing back from the Summiteer’s gaze.

“Gods, Alejandro, they’ve done enough damage here! We can’t add to it! Besides, there are still Outriders in that storm!” Maldwyn replied.

“We use one to collapse the entryway on the attackers, that’s all. It’ll seal the Fastness off.” Even as he spoke, Alejandro was far from comfortable with the plan. These arrows were nature’s wrath, its most unforgiving, condemning aspects from which there was no coming back.

Maldwyn conceded with a bark, “Withdraw into the chamber!”

With fluidity everyone whipped back through the archway. Maldwyn nodded to Alejandro to go before him, and he didn’t bother to argue, deciding to get into a good shooting position as quickly as possible.

At the sides of the chamber, by round pillars, the Summiteers and Aeker took shooting positions. Ksenia pulled Ebrill away to the rear of the chamber to cover, with Blair nobly shielding them both, sword drawn. Alejandro joined them, fixing a phoenix arrow to his bow.

“What’s this?” Ebrill looked fretful.

“A very stupid idea,” Alejandro added. He looked up from the cover of a fountain, watching Maldwyn race off to the left. Alejandro pulled his face wrap up, then looked to the apex of the archway. But something beat him to it.

The whole frontage of the chamber shuddered, a wash of grim, dull light washing over them. Solid rock evaporated into cloud and crumbled into chunks of debris. Then came the thunder, battering their ears. Everyone fell back as the dust storm surged, becoming a landslide around them. More dull, dusky light spilled over Alejandro. Cracks and fissures broke out in the floor, as the surrounding walls collapsed, their strength striped from them, into rubble, feeding the storm. Without realising it, Alejandro had covered Ksenia, who had covered Ebrill, and on top of him, it seemed was Blair. It could have been comical if not for the looming threat.

There was shouting, figures moving in the fog. Suddenly by his side were Esther, Kellen, Maldwyn, and Tara. Clambering off to his left where Aeker and Fiadh. All looking as if they’d just clawed their way out of their own graves.

“Everyone okay!?” Maldwyn spluttered, hunching down by the remains of the fountain wall. The Summiteers, including Ebrill and Aeker, sounded off. Then Maldwyn looked to Alejandro. “How about you?”

“Not in the slightest!” Ksenia answered.

Maldwyn was about to speak but didn’t get the chance before the attackers were on them, bursting from the dust storm. The Summiteers didn’t hesitate, drawing vicious looking daggers and hatchets, leaping into the fray with their own demon inspired cries.

“Get Ebrill out of here, Aeker!” Maldwyn roared parrying and thrusting against an attacker.

Alejandro drew his flint dagger and rolled in under a downward strike. He came up thrusting. A wraith’s hand, shadows and swirling grey clouds, grasped his left wrist. Even through the scars the cold was almost debilitating. But in desperation, Alejandro followed up with a punch to the soldier’s face plate, then a boot to his – or her, it was impossible to tell – gut, forcing them back. He tried another thrust, but the wraith caught it. The weight of the armoured soldier and the crippling cold of the wraith weakened Alejandro enough to falter him.

Then something stole him from the soldier, lifting Alejandro up by the scruff of his neck like a dog. His face wrap began to constrict, strangling him, as he came face to face with The Headsman. Alejandro kicked out, boots hardly reaching the fortress like armour. He couldn’t even reach the giant with his dagger, held out at arm’s length.

Between the breathlessness of the melee, and the current strangulation, Alejadro’s kicks and stabs faltered, regardless of the burning anger in his heart. His vision was darkening, the visage of The Headsman blending into shadow. He felt his bow snatched from its sheath. With a shake of the wrist, The Headsman broke the bow’s quiver loose. The grasp shifted to hold Alejandro by his throat, with a pressure like nothing Alejandro had felt, the pressure behind his eyes building up as if to burst them from their sockets. Wildly he fought on as he thought of Ksenia.

As the other Summiteers, Blair and Ksenia were about to succumb to a similar fate, a shriek rang out, before being suddenly cut off. It stole the attention of the attackers, and Alejandro was breathing, gasping again before he realised, he was on the ground. Over him, eclipsing the light, the scene and everything else, stood the colossus, looking back into the dust storm.

Another cry rose and fell, and then another. The Headsman stepped aside, and Alejandro watched as a shadow lumbered forward, the storm parting for her. Another solider made to swing at the interloper. The beast caught the blade, wrenching it away. Then it thrust its own severely serrated blade into the attacker’s gut. The wraith wailed in terror, forcing blood from Alejandro’s ears, as it was ripped from the armour on the blade’s withdrawal – along with a tumble of innards.

Alejandro knew exactly what this was.

Another soldier rushed her, and she slammed their axe aside with the savage sword, before dropping the attacker with gut punch. As the blow was withdrawn, she held the squealing wraith, before slamming it to the ground and crushing it under foot.

Any sense of relief was washed away by an icy current.

The Headsman roared, “Move into the Fastness, find the remaining arrows!” The soldiers rushed the corridor, followed by The Headsman, still clutching Alejandro’s bow quiver.

It was agony to rise, as Alejandro’s chest fought to produce enough breath. Ksenia caught him. Blair was slashing back at the few remaining attackers, elegance in each lunge and strike, even if they were intercepted by the wraiths. Their so-called saviour pulled the wraiths from the few soldiers’ armour, crushing them underfoot. Blair then parried between the remaining rearguard, before lunging in for swift killing strikes.

As one final attacker made to swing at Ksenia, Evander Penrose came leaping from the dust storm. Their saviour tore the wraith clear of the armour and the Summiteer followed up with a swift, fast arrow into the neck joint, collapsing them.

“Evey!” Ebrill yelled in disbelief, pulling herself up, dust and grime falling from her robes in torrents. She jumped at Evander, wrapping arms around him tightly, a puff of dust exploding from the impact. She pulled away, but Evey held her close, with what looked like moisture in his hard eyes.

However, Alejandro’s eyes were locked to the other figure standing next to Evander. Smaller in stature, but somehow a titan compared to those around her. Rich brown hues mingled with dull steel tones, woven into a suit of sleek armour. Over the pauldrons were bear skulls, each locked in an eternal snarl. Most of her right arm had been replaced by an enchanted prosthetic, and in its wicked fingers was a tall, blade hewn from bone with the nastiest serrations Alejandro had ever seen.

“Luciana Doran,” Ksenia whispered, awe and dread in her voice in equal measure.

“You!” Luciana snarled, savage intent in the words. This caught Evander’s attention, and he looked to Alejandro then Ksenia with perplexity.

“Why’d you bring them here!?” He cried, leaping between Luciana and Alejandro. Still Alejandro readied his dagger and staggered back.

“Why’d you bring her here!?” Maldwyn shouted back.

“We invited Alejandro here, to help us identify a phoenix species,” Tara answered quickly. “What are you doing here?”

“Not that we’re unhappy your back, brother,” Kellen hooted, clapping Evander on the back.

“I told you I was coming! I sent a message! Saying The Headsman was on his way!” Evander panted; his face woven in confusion.

“We never got any message, Evey,” Maldwyn returned, his face dropping. “Chasm! Those Outrider scum kept it from us, thinking they could take The Headsman, even redeem themselves, I’ll bet!” Groans of derision and curses poured from the Summiteers. How could these military institutions work against each other? Alejandro thought disparagingly. It seemed counterproductive.

“Well, they’re paying for it now,” Ksenia put in.

“So are we,” Aeker added bitterly.

“We’d have never brought you here, if we knew an attack was coming,” Maldwyn looked to Alejandro, sounding apologetic, though the rage had not left his voice.

“We tracked The Headsman into Xela, and figured they had to be coming here. It’s the only valid target.” Evander explained. “Couldn’t think why… Until now.” He cast a knowing look at Alejandro.

Shouting and screaming carried down the corridor into the chamber. The Headsman was meeting resistance, it seemed, or at least was having to carve his way forward.

“He’s after the remaining arrows,” Tara added. “Boss, we need to move, trap him, now he’s inside the Fastness.”

“Oh, you’re going to love this Tara,” Evander added. “He’s using portal magic to exfiltrate.” The Summiteer’s eyes lit up, though behind the awe was enough alarm to show reverence to the power.

“Alright, Evey, welcome back, you’re with me. Alejandro, Ksenia follow us,” Maldwyn ordered. He looked to the imposing being that was Luciana. “And you too if you can control yourself. We’ve enough problems here.”  

Luciana looked to Evander who nodded sympathetically.

“Right, move!”

“The Headsman has something which belonged to Orion. We’ve been trying to get it back. I’ve been sending updates to command, they know what’s going on, but I sent the last message here, out of necessity.” Evander explained as they moved down the corridors of the Fastness.

Bodies of Outriders lay in pools of blood, or in pieces. It was peculiar how the Summiteers could walk by as if they hadn’t noticed them. Alejandro couldn’t help but look, to give the poor man or woman some comfort in death that they weren’t forgotten. Luciana was ahead of him, which was the only measure of comfort at her presence, that she was, at least, in sight. Honestly, he was hoping to never see her again, but felt, deep in his bones that that was a fool’s hope.

“Hmm, we were given word The Headsman had resurfaced, and that you were being put to use, clandestinely, within your clearly unwarranted exile. But nothing more,” Maldwyn replied. “Well, for now, can Luciana tame her blood lust?”

“For now,” Luciana growled, turning back to Alejandro. Ksenia glared back, though the effect was like a badger hissing at a bear.

Maldwyn said, acidly, “When this over, I’m going to see those scum disbanded.” He stepped over another body, this one bisected.

“If there are any of them left,” Fiadh added, coldly. “What’s been stolen from Orion, Evey?”

“We’ve heard of the Celestial Gargoyles, right?” Evander answered.

Alejandro had, and had even went looking for a few long ago, but never found them. They were a myth he had begun to think was in fact just that. “Wait a minute, are you telling me that Orion…” He began, before he was consumed in a deathly shadow.

“Don’t ever say his name!” Luciana was over him, her breath and shadow tombstone cold.

“Hey, Luciana, come on!” Evander was between them again.

But Alejandro’s ire was smarting now. “Those animals were the promise of nature’s beauty and diversity! You had no right to go after them!”

“Quiet, everyone!” Maldwyn barked, a sharp tone contrasting with his soft face. “What’s so important about these gargoyles?”

“Orion and I hunted them,” Luciana sneered, her tone searing into Alejandro. “He knew about an ancient seal, holding something truly abhorrent.”

“Are you sure he wasn’t speaking about the Flint Castle,” Ksenia snapped. Luciana made to move, but Evander’s hand on her arm stayed her.

“To release the seal, the hearts – the blood held in them – are needed. Orion and I had slain all but one.”

“That explains why The Headsman wants the phoenix arrows,” Tara murmured almost to herself. “Their heat will be the only power capable of breaking into the hearts.”

“He’s hardly going to shoot the arrows at the hearts?” Alejandro braced himself on the wall of the corridor. “Gods and Nature, Luciana, what was Orion doing bringing those hearts altogether?”

“We held onto these hearts as long as you did your arrows, it seems!” Luciana bit back.

“First off, of course he won’t Alejandro. That would be silly. No. He’ll find a way to take the heat from the flights, channel it for greater precision… At least, that’s what I’d do,” Tara interrupted. “Next: Luciana. What’s behind the seal?”

“I don’t know. Orion wouldn’t say. He was protecting me from such unnatural knowledge.”

Ksenia made to remark, but Alejandro spoke up. “All your master did was consolidate the promise of a threat. If those animals had been left to the wild, this seal would have been harder to break.”

“It isn’t broken yet,” Evander jumped in. “The Headsman needs the last gargoyle, and apparently there’s nothing on its location.”

“And you think The Headsman doesn’t have a lead?” Blair added, looking thoughtful.

“Let’s assume he does know, and that’s his next move,” Maldwyn said, firmly.

The group moved into a larger chamber, pillars running along the sides, more decorative fountains running down the centre. Leering out from the top tiers of the pillars were sculptures of gargoyles, looking realistic enough to chill Alejandro. He had in the past encountered a few sub-species, and seen first had their savage, brutal, territorial nature.

Chandeliers glowed overhead, magical sources weaving light around what looked like candle sticks. They brought a mid-day’s light to the room. Which was why they Alejandro suddenly felt caught out.

A vicious crack rang out and Blair went down. Alejandro grabbed Ksenia and pulled her down to the cover of a fountain basin. In his periphery he saw Evander and Luci move to the cover of a pillar on the left, and Maldwyn and Tara to the cover of a pillar on the right.

Blair was down, rolling to his side. Sticky black fluid stained his good vest. That would probably be what he was most annoyed about. Alejandro reached out to pull him in. Another crack forced him to whip back as Blair’s wrist exploded. The vampire barked, rolling onto his back, his hand dangling from his wrist by a strip of pale flesh.

“Alejandro, I appreciate the urgency to help, but if you could refrain, I’d be grateful,” Blair spoke, panting and obviously trying to hold back the agony.

The chamber ran on for fifty yards, Alejandro recalled. He wanted to peek over the lip of the fountain, but knew he’d lose the top of his head.

“Flintlock, I can smell the powder,” Luciana was saying to Evander.

“Luciana Doran!” A voice roared from the other end of the chamber. The gravatas behind it left nobody wondering who it was. “I assume your new hunting partner is the same little Summiteer who tried to sabotage my heist in Wetsven.”

“Don’t think your portal magic will save you!” Maldwyn shouted back. “Surrender and face a dignified death!”

“Dignified! What does a death squad know about dignity in death? After how you bated and executed those Rags? Or hunted down the Mundhonnel bandit clan leaders?”

“Evil people face a bitter end!”

“How prophetic, Maytoni, even if it is hypocritical.”

“What’s he waiting for?” Maldwyn whispered to Tara.

“Summoning the portal takes a moment. We have to take him now,” she replied, leaning timidly out to take a peek, likely hoping to see the portal magic in action.

“Bring them out!” The Headsman barked. Alejandro risked a look, as did Ksenia. Evander was leaning out the near side of the pillar, but Alejandro had lost sight of Luciana.

“Evey!” It was Ebrill, a soldier holding her by the scruff of her neck, an elegant straight blade against her throat.

“Ebrill! Let her go!” Evander roared in a tone which could have shaken the foundations of the Fastness.

“Give ‘em Chasm!” Aeker shouted as he was pushed out. “Don’t let them use us as leverage!” Purple and blue bruising marred the upper right side of his face, sticky blood glistening down the left side, and he was leaning on one leg more than the other.

“They’re coming with us! If you interfere further, we will execute them… Slowly,” The Headsman shouted.

“Do one, you gangly scumbag. Your sword will make me many great arrow piles. You’re a wannabe! Other giants must laugh at you, I mean real giants! You’re just a twat on stilts!” Evander cried wildly.

Alejandro looked carefully at the group; The Headsman was prominent, in the centre, obviously using his stature and presence to its full potential. On his right was Ebrill, held by a soldier, and Aeker, held by another. On his left more soldiers, one holding a flintlock, braced and ready. Behind them a mage…

Maldwyn nocked an arrow; he patted Tara on the shoulder and nodded to his bow. She nocked an arrow. Then he looked across to Evander, gestured to his bow. However, Evander had already nocked an arrow.

Then, he looked to Alejandro and Ksenia. Ksenia gestured to her own bow, and Alejandro nodded. He wasn’t overly sure of the plan but readied himself.

“That armour will go into making many chamber pots!” Evander continued to bawl. “Let them go. I surrender myself in their place.”

“A mangey kangaroo in place of these raptors, I think not. You’re expendable, Pastorals are the soul of Maytoni!” The Headsman returned.

It was then Tara whipped around and sent an arrow high into the chandelier nearest The Headsman. The arrow stole the surrounding light, sucking it greedily into a void. As this happened, however, about its epicentre the combined, consolidated light seared and blazed blindingly. At that moment arrows were loosed. Alejandro managed to fight through the vivid burning and sent his arrow into the figure with the flintlock, as did Ksenia. The wraith, half-blinded, snatched one arrow, missing Ksenia’s which clattered off the flintlock and punched into the upper right of his chest. Ebrill and Aeker ducked, though the sword-wielder was taken off his feet by the Pastoral. Four other soldiers fell as arrows made it past wraiths struggling against the burst of light. As the void collapsed, and the light balanced out, Luciana was on The Headsman, inside his vast reach with that horrific sword of hers.

Alejandro tore forward, Ksenia breaking out to see to Blair. Next to him Maldwyn and Tara charged, daggers drawn. But the gunner managed a shot forcing the trio to the ground. The shot was high, but not far from Maldwyn’s temple.

The Headsman brought himself around to shield the mage, his sword held down as he desperately parried Luciana’s feral attacks. Even the abyssal magic, like the wraiths embedded in their armour, was terrified of the dominator bear it seemed, The Headsman’s sword not seeking out the incoming attacks. Behind them came the blaze of hot purple and searing silver, and a void opened of total pitch darkness. The edges of the portal crackled, with errant blue sparks launching off to the sides. The shape shifted from circular to oval to squared, over and over as it tried to remain open. Evander swept in, intercepted by the swordsman and they began a rapid series of thrusts, parries, and feints. Ebrill was pulling Aeker out of harm’s way.

Alejandro rose, nocked an arrow. Luciana was brawling with The Headsman making a killing shot impossible. For a wickedly burning moment he considered killing her to get her out of the way. Then she pulled back, The Headsman taking the time to recover and gain some distance. The mage was in the open now. He loosed the arrow at them instead. The mage violently arched backwards, arms flung wide, exploding with hot purple energy, before collapsing.

Clearly seeing the mage fall, The Headsman went on the offensive, bowling Luciana out of the way. “Move!” He roared to the remains of his forces, leaping into the void. The portal was shifting more erratically, the energy surrounding it furious, exploding and spitting flares.

The swordsman head butted Evander, sending him reeling before moving into grab a hold of the gunner, dragging him through the portal alongside their fleeing comrades.

“To the Chasm with it!” Maldwyn roared. “We follow them! Come on!”

Alejandro wasn’t sure he was addressing him, and hesitated as he looked back to Ksenia wrapping up Blair’s wrist. Evander and Luciana stole his attention then as they leapt through the portal. Yet his decision was made for him, as before Maldwyn and Tara even reached the portal, it collapsed, leaving a bare onyx wall in its place.