Chapter Six
Of Ra' zac and Magic
Disclaimer: See Chapter Two
Elmïra drew her sword, and motioned for the initiates to stay together.
Jarren drew a dagger from his belt, and Aragon drew what looked like a solid spike, as well as two daggers.
'Risa.' Said Aragon tersely, and the spike drifted apart into ten separate blades, and began to orbit around him, gently rotating as they did.
Everyone looked at Aragon in confused shock.
Then snapped back to attention as a brown-black carapaced monster, nearly eight feet tall, with a bulging physique, hooked hands, that ended in talons, a savage beak with a lolling purple tongue, and massive, lidless, reflective eyes, black as a demon's soul, charged the three initiates.
'Jierda Ilumë!' Shouted Elmïra, and the flock of blades around Aragon struck the brute, perforating it in dozens of places, and spattering the ground around it with slick, oxidised-copper coloured blood. Another creature, twin to the one that Elmïra had killed, loomed behind the rider, and swept her aside, before she could turn.
Sarah cowered back in terror, and even Jarren, who'd fought pirates in the middle of the Tempest sea west of Alagaësia, stepped backwards.
Aragon stood transfixed in fear as the creature advanced, reaching for him. It towered over Aragon, and although Aragon's mind,-and Thelduin,-screamed for him to run, Aragon couldn't move. He felt lethargic, not even able to muster the will to activate the tele-blades he'd summoned only moments before.
Elmïra had been knocked unconscious by the brute's surprise attack, and it now had the three initiates almost at it's mercy.
The beast paused, and seemed to consider Aragon.
Then, with one taloned hand it lifted him off the ground by the throat, and tightened it's grip.
Aragon saw spiked stars of pain, as the creature tried to crush his neck.
As Aragon's vision became rimmed with black, and had faded to red, Thelduin sprang from his saddle-bags, and buried her fangs in the nape of the creature's thick neck.
Aragon dropped too the ground gasping, then staggered to his feet as Thelduin harassed the creature, keeping it distracted.
'Risa!' Commanded Aragon firmly, and the flock of tele-blades that had fallen too the ground when Elmïra had been knocked out, rose into the air with deadly purpose.
Finally, the creature managed to get a grip around Thelduin, and Aragon gasped in sympathetic pain at the creature's grip.
A irresistible force of desperation built within Aragon, then he shouted in a desperate bid to save his partner: 'Jierda Ilumë!' Repeating the spell Elmïra had used.
The flock of blades shot at the creature, and when they struck, they didn't just perforate the beast, they ripped chunks out of it when they exited, reducing it too a blue-green hunk of goo.
Aragon slumped, exhausted to the ground, and the tele-blades resumed their orbit above him.
'Letta.' Commanded a dazed Elmïra as she walked over.
Aragon looked up at the she-elf with hollow eyes. 'What were those things?' He croaked.
Elmïra didn't answer.
As Aragon finally gave in to unconsciousness, he saw Jarren and Sarah rush to saddle the horses.
When Aragon awoke, it was bright as a summer afternoon, but he could hear the distinctive sound of rain on rock.
Slowly, and groggily, Aragon sat up off the rock where he lay.
When he opened his eyes, the first thing he beheld was a solid field of green, that stretched from above his head to the rocky floor.
Thelduin? Where are we? Aragon mentally called.
We're in a cave, about thirty miles from where those things attacked us, Elmïra thought it would be a wise idea to move on a ways, in case there were anymore. Explained Thelduin, she sounded weary to Aragon, but he couldn't think of why she would be.
Aragon thought for a moment, then realised what the green field was.
'Master?' Asked Aragon hesitantly.
Teclian lazily raised his wing, and Aragon crawled from beside his moss coloured bulk.
A small fire blazed on the cave floor, and a bright, glowing crystal lit the cavern.
Outside the cave,-which was large enough to house the three humans, a large dragon, an elf and four horses, as well as the fire comfortably,-it was raining heavily, and as Aragon listened, thunder roared, and echoed off the mountains, above the distant crashing of the waves.
Elmïra, Jarren and Sarah sat around the fire.
Infernia and Marinæ were asleep beside their riders.
Thelduin was resting on a rock propping her snout on the back of one foreclaw.
Teclian folded his wing as Aragon took his place around the fire, aware of Elmïra unreadable gaze upon him.
'What were those creatures mistress?' Asked Aragon in a coarse voice; His throat was burning, but he wouldn't admit it.
There was silence for a long moment. 'I will not speak of such creatures this night, and besides, I'm more concerned with you right now, Aragon-vodhr.' Said Elmïra gently.
'Me? I'm fine, honestly,' croaked Aragon.
Elmïra's mouth flickered the ghost of a smile. 'I healed your throat as much as I dared before, it still needs a little more work though.' She said.
Jarren went to pass Aragon a bowl of stew, but Elmïra waved him aside, and placed a soft hand on Aragon's throat.
'Heíll.' She said quietly, and a cool, soothing feeling washed through Aragon as the abused tissue of his throat healed.
'Thank you, ebrithä.' Said Aragon gratefully.
Jarren handed Aragon the bowl of stew, and Aragon began to sate his hunger.
Elmïra sighed, and examined the once more solid spike that Aragon had used in the fight with the two creatures. 'Aragon, how did you come by these? I have only seen these weapons used by Dragon Riders who spend years studying the arts of magic, and never by anyone who hasn't set foot on Vroengard.'
Aragon looked at the tele-blades in Elmïra's hand and shrugged. 'I got those off a wizard I met in the Green Chestnut once, he gave them to me, along with my knives, and a few basic lessons in telepathy, after I agreed to let him examine this,' Aragon fished out his silver amulet.
'May I?' Asked Elmïra, and took the amulet when Aragon waved her ahead, and went back to eating.
Elmïra peered closely at the amulet, noting the Liduen Kvaedhì symbols engraved on the tiny sword blade, then casting several spells of divining on the amulet.
When she was finished, she sighed, and passed the amulet back to Aragon.
'A complex enigma you are Aragon, that amulet has spells against scrying worked into it, along with a blessing to bring luck to the wearer and protect them from evil, and, interestingly, those enchantments are powered by a tiny diamond inside the pendant, that is positively radiating strength, how did you came to inherit such a trinket?' Asked Elmïra curiously.
Aragon swallowed a mouthful of stew. 'I don't know, I never knew my parents, and the governors of the ward I grew up in never told me, although, I did here one of 'em say that he found me as a baby, outside Tierm's walls one morning when he was out walking, wrapped in an old blanket, with that pendant 'round my neck.' Recounted Aragon.
'Well, how long have you been able to work spells then?' Asked Elmïra calmly.
Aragon ladled himself another bowl of stew. 'I've never been able to work magic, the wizard I got those 'blades off of just told me that the word 'rise', in the ancient language, the 'blades would activate, and the word for 'hit' or 'strike', they'd go after whatever target I was thinking of, or gestured too.' He answered, before starting on his stew again.
'That wasn't what you said back when were staring down that brute-of-a-thing though.' Pointed out Sarah, who seemed to be sulking about something.
'Did you feel anything when you killed that other beast?' Pressed Elmïra sternly.
Aragon paused and thought for a moment. 'Yeah, I did actually, when that thing grabbed Thelduin, I felt a burst of pain in my side, then this sense of desperate energy, like when Dorian tried to kill me.' Said Aragon slowly.
Elmïra nodded and thought in silence for a moment.
Jarren held out his hand to Aragon.
'What?' Asked Aragon curiously.
'You saved our lives back there,' stated Jarren calmly.
'I couldn't very well run away could I?' Replied Aragon modestly, 'what kind of a rider would I be if I did?'
'Still, you've got me as a friend mate, you ever need someone to watch your back, or anything, I'll be there.' Said Jarren seriously.
'Me too,' said Sarah coming over, and holding out her hand.
'Glad to have you as friends, 'cause I'd sure as hell hate to have you as enemies' Said Aragon, grasping forearms just below the elbow with each of them.
Elmïra nodded sharply and looked back up.
'I don't know how you discovered magic so quickly, most initiates discover it by accident during their apprenticeships, but, you must not try and discover more about it, until your teacher,-whoever that person ends up being,-deems you ready to study magic.' Said Elmïra, after gaining Aragon's attention once more.
'I know the basics, how magic burns up more energy over distance, not to attempt to scry the future, not to try and bring back the dead, know my limits, and all that stuff, why not teach me yourself, and save everyone at Vroengard the time?' Enquired Aragon.
Elmïra sighed, and Teclian answered for her. Because, Aragon the Grey, if you attempt a task you aren't strong enough for, you will die, and you fail to grasp the subtler, and more dangerous aspects of magic, if you cannot comprehend these, then you could make one minor error in a spell, and kill yourself. That is why you must wait until whoever ends up teaching you deems you are ready. Explained Teclian in his rumbling voice, the fact that he stared Aragon directly in the eyes when he said it made Aragon take heed. Teclian's eyes seemed to glow with shifting green fire, they were mesmerising.
Which was the exact reason Teclian had stared at Aragon in the first place.
'I know you made me heed that using hypnotism, master.' Said Aragon shaking his head and rubbing his eyes in a vain attempt to rid himself of the after-image of Teclian's glare.
Teclian chuckled, and the sound was like a pair of mountains grinding against one another. And I know that you knew I was using hypnotism to get the point across. He said with a hint of amusement.
Behave Aragon, Elmïra saved my life after that thing grabbed me. Said Thelduin warningly.
Aragon's gaze shot to Elmïra who was already looking at him. 'I take it that your dragon just informed you that I saved her life.' Elmïra said quietly.
'Yeah, but why did she need saving?' Asked Aragon in concern.
Because when the shade-spawn caught hold of Thelduin, it's grip broke her back. She is lucky to be alive. Explained Teclian seriously.
Aragon's eyes widened in horror. 'Is she alright?' Demanded Aragon.
Thelduin crawled from her rock next too Elmïra, and walked over too Aragon.
I am alright now, dear-soul-friend, I am a little sore, but I am alive; partly because of you, partly because of Elmïra's knowledge of healing. Said Thelduin as she curled up in Aragon's lap.
I'm sorry, I shouldn't have let that thing touch you in the first place, its my fault you got hurt. Said Aragon guiltily and regretfully.
It wasn't your fault. Replied Thelduin gently.
That night, as Aragon laid awake, he listened to the storm outside.
He was trying to sleep, but he couldn't shake visions of hulking, insectoid-humanoid demons, with vicious beaks.
A flash of lightning illuminated the sea-plain below.
Aragon sat up, as the lightning faded, with a silver bladed dagger in hand.
He could've sworn he'd seen other, similar figures scuttling across the plain.
He shivered, and laid back down, but didn't sheath the knife.
As he lay there, he became aware of someone crying, when he sat back up and looked around, he saw someone hunched over the fire, with their arms around their knees, watching the glowing coals of the fire, as he watched, the figure wiped it's eyes, and then sniffled.
Briefly, Aragon wondered why he couldn't make out who it was, then he remembered that Elmïra had cast a ward on the cave entrance to ward off all of evil intent, as well as the creatures of the night, before stowing the light crystal she'd used to illuminate the cave in Teclian's saddlebags.
Another flash of lightning revealed it to be Sarah.
Aragon rolled out of his blankets, leaving Thelduin to sleep, and went and sat by the girl.
'What are you doing up?' Asked Aragon as he sat down.
Sarah looked sideways at Aragon, who noted that her eyes were red from crying.
'You wouldn't understand.' She said in a peculiar tone.
'Try me, I mightn't be the sharpest weapon on the rack, but you'd be surprised.' Said Aragon, poking the coals, and laying a piece of wood on them.
Sarah sighed and faced Aragon. 'When that second demon-thing hit Elmïra and came after us, I froze up, I just tried to hide, I was useless the whole way through.' Said Sarah with self-loathing, and dropped her gaze, ashamed.
Aragon lifted her chin until they were looking at each other. 'Don't be so hard on yourself, you didn't run, and you stood with Jarren and me when that first thing came out of the dark, anyone else would've run, any other girl would've run, but you didn't, and I couldn't do anything either when that second thing grabbed me.'
Sarah looked at the fire again and refused to meet Aragon's gaze. 'If it makes you feel any better, you're the bravest girl I know.' Said Aragon, when Sarah realised he was still looking at her. She smiled, and embraced him warmly.
Aragon hugged her back, comforting her, and reassuring her, and found that his own fears were allayed by the girl's presence.
'Thank you Aragon,' said Sarah softly, and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
They sat there for a while, in quiet companionship, watching the fire, and eventually Sarah laid her head on Aragon's shoulder.
A few moments later, she was asleep.
Aragon gently laid her down, and put a blanket over her, before wearily collapsing beside her.
When Elmïra awoke the next morning, and Teclian raised his wing to allow her to rise, the first thing she saw, was Aragon and Sarah sleeping beside the fire.
Elmïra smiled slightly to herself as she saw the two, and felt a pang of loneliness, despite Teclian laying behind her.
Shaking the dreary thoughts aside, Elmïra roughly threw a few pieces of wood on the coals of the fire, and placed a pot of water on the coals to heat, before waking Aragon and Sarah quietly.
When everyone was awake, they ate and packed quickly, and by the time the sun was about to rise, they were on their way, Teclian flying close by, watchful, but for what only he and Elmïra knew.
Several hours of riding later, filled with talk of the riders, dragons, the races of Alagaësia, Aragon worked up the courage to bring up what had been bothering them all since the night before.
'What were those things that attacked us last night, ebrithä?' He asked curiously.
Elmïra stiffened, and her hand was white-knuckled on her sword hilt. 'The creatures that attacked us last night, were like no other type of creature, fair, foul, or otherwise, that stalks this world,' she said, in a strained tone.
'But what are they?' Persisted Jarren.
'They're creatures that prey on humans like wolves would prey on herds of deer or flocks of sheep, they are called the Ra'zac by the elves, but what they are truly called is a mystery.' Replied Elmïra hesitantly.
Aragon shivered. The very name was evil.
'In all areas where humans are weak, they are strong,' continued Elmïra, 'they're stronger, and faster than humans, they can see clearly on dark or cloudy nights, track a scent like a blood-hound, and their foul breath can cause a debilitating stupor in even the strongest of men, and, they are telepathically undetectable. However, they are mortally afraid of deep water, they can't swim, nor can they use magic, and they prefer not to venture out during the daylight, because bright light pains them, although it won't stop them if they're determined, they're also capable of speech somehow, and when they do hunt close to settlements, they usually clothe themselves in black robes, with deep cowls that hide their features. If they know you hunt them, they will hide in the shadows, where they are strong, and plot to ambush you. Terrifying? Evil? The Ra'zac are both beyond a shadow of a doubt. Demonic? I wouldn't be surprised.'
Aragon gave a shaky chuckle. 'Well, at least they can't use magic.' He said.
Elmïra cast a glance at Aragon. 'The Ra'zac are only the young forms of a more terrifying evil though.' She said seriously.
'Say what?' Asked Jarren sharply.
'The Ra'zac are the spawn of dragon-like creatures called Lethrblaka, when they first hatch, the young, or pupae grow a black exoskeleton that is a grotesque imitation of the human form, although I prefer to consider it as a horrid mockery, either way, it is convincing enough for the Ra'zac to their victims without causing undue alarm. They remain pupae for twenty years while they mature; The two we ran into last night must've been about nineteen and a half, by the size of them. On the first full moon of their twentieth year, they shed their exoskeletons, and spread their wings as adults, ready to hunt all creatures, not only humans. The Ra'zac are narrow-minded but cunning, but the Lethrblaka they turn into, have all the intelligence of a dragon; a cruel, vicious, twisted and evil dragon.' Explained Elmïra with a note of revulsion evident in her voice. 'Also, a few riders who've made it their life's work to hunt these nightmares to extinction believe that it might be possible for the Ra'zac to put off the transformation into Lethrblaka indefinitely, but there's no evidence that could be called reliable.' Added Elmïra to the stunned silence.
They rode hard in silence all day, making it within sight of Narda's walls as the sun began to descend.
Teclian, who'd flown above the group since they started off before dawn, veered away to the north-west, heading to Vroengard ahead of them. Elmïra and her charges, picked up the pace, and reached the gates just as they were closing for the night.
They left their horses in the care of the stables at the city's keep, and made their way to the wharfs, where the Indomitable Spirit was docked.
Not much changed here.
I just tightened up some rather shaky sentences, grammar and the like.
No One-Liners.