Hopefully this is a treat for you all and I humbly submit a preview of what's to come in Hero's V.  The premise is still under thought/construction so if any of you have any ideas, please feel free to email me.  So far, the story line:  "Someone" has called forth a sub-priest of Imhotep named Marook-kye to engage the Medjai still recovering from the past battle in Hero's IV.  Marook's powers are close to Imhotep's but will never surpass our Immy; instead his power is forever controlled and dominated by an amulet.   The scenes below take place after Marook-kye has been resurrected and of course, he has to attack his ancient and most hated foe, the Medjai.  And what better way to cripple the Medjai than to go after its most promising commander, Ardeth Bay? 

On this snippet I am putting a disclaimer since I am borrowing heavily from Lord of the Rings.  I will readily admit my Wraiths are close to what appears in The Fellowship of the Ring and I am using a garbled language of Elf and Arabic.  That is of my own making and I mean no disrespect to the faithful fans of LOTR and J.R.R. Tolkien.  No infringement intended against Tolkien and New Line Cinema.  All other characters are mine all mine. 

This turned out to be one heck of a snippet…..lol

~*~

As the sun sank down into the horizon, and darkness fell, the wind picked up near an ancient temple of the worshippers of the High Priest. Its followers almost gone, the temple was close to ruin thanks to the ever vigilant efforts of the Medjai.  As the wind howled sounding like a wounded animal, the ground near the base of the temple began to shift and move. Small mounds of sand rolled and heaved, trying to spew forth something vile and unholy as the winds increased in strength and ferocity.

An inhuman cry suddenly pierced the air and a pit opened up, a yawning chasm in which the black armored head of a horse suddenly emerged.  Its sharp front hooves cut through the remaining constraints of its tomb and it surged forward. The animals body bucked once and cleared its sandy grave, a dark rider clinging to the saddle with unnatural ease.  The horse leaped out into the open sand beyond the temple and skidded to a halt, steam blowing from its nose, its eyes red like the fires of hell. The cloaked rider shook the sand from its robes and reached down, making sure its sword was firmly sheathed, its dagger still in its boot.

Mornâ rokkô rikib had escaped its sepulcher and had heard the call of its master. It raised its featureless face to the East and kicked its horse into a gallop.

Rider and beast surged forward and galloped across the sand dunes, only one destination in mind, focused on one goal. It would not rest, it would not sleep nor feel pain. It was fed by supernatural hatred, ancient enchantment, spells and evil...a Wraith summoned by Marook-kye and it heeded only one call, one desire.

To kill.

~*~

Darkness.

'itm Dilim.

Mori.

The brilliance of the sun now gone, the night sky was filled with stars and billowing puffs of clouds which sometimes obscured the glare of the full moon. The wind whistled over the sands, moaning like a lost soul.  It swirled up small piles of the granules then released them to scatter in the wind, as if a child's hand were tossing them.

The Wraith crested the top of one dune and pulled its lathered beast to a stop. The horse nodded its mighty head up and down, spittle flying from its mouth, its anxious mood imitating its rider.  It stomped the ground and hooves that dripped sweat and supernatural liquid sprayed black dots across the once pristine and virgin sand. The animal shifted its weight, waiting for the signal to ride.


The Wraith paused, listening intently for the call of its master to roll up from the village below.  The dark hooded face was as deep and as infinite as any black hole or tomb...featureless and cold. It stared down at the Medjai settlement and hissed into the wind, "Ana hae ndangwetha e instanZar fa intu amr..."*

~*~

Marook-kye shifted in his hiding place and felts his servant's presence, the overwhelming desire to kill, its sword sharp and ready to do his bidding as it waited. He heard the whispered confirmation float to him on the breeze.

"Weha ta amr, ya ortur..."** the Wraith had sighed.

Marook-kye answered with all the hatred and insanity that filled his being. "Ija! Ija! Ija la me, ana mornâ rokkô rikib ana amr ...nunoa!"***

 
With the last word, Marook-kye's arms fell down to his sides as his call echoed throughout the night.  He saw the warriors grouped in the middle of the settlement square spin around in surprise to find the enemy finally in their midst.  Ardeth shouted his battle cry and drew his scimitar in one fluid motion, the sound echoing through the air as his fellow warriors took up the call to arms. 

 
"Come, let us play..." Marook-kye crooned as he looked down and saw the first warrior approach him with scimitar raised.  With one fist he swatted the black robed body away and waded into battle, his sole purpose to find Bay and destroy him.

Ardeth ran at the priest from the side, his scimitar flashing around his body in an arc meant to decapitate but instead, his blow was easily deflected.  Ardeth's eyes widened in alarm with he heard his family's name hissed from the creatures black lips. Suddenly he was on the defensive as it strode towards him, eyes glowing with the unholy fire of evil. It flicked off the attacking Medjai as if they were nothing, its gaze never leaving Ardeth's face. 

"Have at me then demon…." Ardeth muttered and stood his ground. He brought up his weapon as the creature's hand reached for his throat.

~*~

The sound of wood groaning caught the attention of everyone inside the building and an eerie hush fell over them all. Eyes darted to the front door and back door, widening in amazement when the wood started to swell, convulse, expand and contract...each swell mightier than the last. The doors started to breath as if a living thing, each convulsion stretching the fibers thin and ready to break.

The doors breathed faster, shuddered and shook the hinges off the sides, the doorknobs rattled out of the wood work. Something was coming in and with one final gigantic implosion they blew outwards....leaving a gaping hole where the darkness could slither in.

Screams of terror rippled through the night as the women scattered for cover, trying to reach each other in an attempt to keep the other safe. Warriors chosen to guard the women moved them into a corner while Jameel and Makin prepared to meet the enemies advance.   Bodies poised and tense with anticipation, the only sounds in the room now were the muffled sounds crying and prayers.  Jameel turned to comfort one woman but stopped when they all heard it.

Heavy footsteps.

Slow.

Measured.

Each one sounding unnaturally loud in the silence that suddenly filled the room. A Wraith at each door slowly glided in, ducked their hooded heads under the doorway, their long swords already unsheathed and held in front of them. 

The Wraith in the front of the room passed over the frightened women, emitting a shrieked command that made everyone cover their ears from the pain. The rider at the back of the room slowly advanced on the people hiding in one corner, its sword down and ready to draw blood, its black claw-like hand reaching ….

~*~

 Translation:

  *I have answered and wait for your command

**I wait, my master

   ***Come! Come! Come to me, my black horse riders...now!