Book 4
Siha: Rise of Rakhana
Part II
Bangal'roux belches from the kilns and factory stores, alit with violent fire, blue and seething to consume every inch it can find of life…It crashes around corners, leaking into more halls and city lanes, taking into its inferno the morthwyls running for their dimorphs.
Held for months without any drell attack on its sacred rooms of the female morthwyl nurseries, the factory-city is breached anew by the affront of an enemy jettisoning dark missiles of flowering flame from his fingers.
The approaching menace speaks in ringing tones to the morthwyl, Braith's kylah and king, Cemal standing over the flames of the last dying female morthwyl of the old variant of his kindred. His black body reflects the strengthening blue fire seeking him and stuck to the withering petals at his knees…"Parasite…" The enemy moves higher, step by step up the ashen slopes now turning into a field of blue flames and glowing ash…Shriveled roots of the females stick up through the burning furrows like arms writhing in one last effort to escape…
"…Why does one not burn," as with a lift of his arm, a glut of fiery blue magma consumes the crowd of morthwyl males rushing at the enemy's flank like tide rolling in and taking away sand, and the face of he turns back to the lone kylah at the deathbed of the female, "…You are unique…"
A few feet away, another morthwyl whose body has not been entirely consumed by the flames, which have taken off his legs from the thighs down, watches Cemal stand with black blades being drawn and held out forward, relaxed his grips…The new Supriya who would save their race, bring her seeds to the stars—had done so, as they all shared the bond and knew this…From this last sight of the king, waiting with weapons drawn, halakh gray, body corded with muscle in relaxed wait, this he transmits to their Supriya, and through Cemal, his eyes show her the new enemy…The network reaches outward…
Head atilt, a blue-silver eye, moving in a roll of wonder at this phenomenon, "…These weeds are connected, not by root alone, but something other..."
Cemal leaps over the ashes of the dead female morthwyl—towards his fate in their enmity…He removes a limb, landing with bare feet either side the stump of fire. With a spin and a high hold of his second blade, Cemal sends the other arm of the enemy to the ash…
But the body of fire and flame regenerates both.
"…Something missing…Something that protects…Where do your roots lie, Morthwyl With Two Blades…" The fiery blue body takes another step towards him, Cemal moving warily like a dancer…Witnessed by the morthwyl whose torso is now being consumed by the seeking fires, Cemal cuts the limbs moving to wrap him…
"…Abomination…" Liquid flames pour out his mouth, enveloping Cemal until he cuts a window through, and jumps free onto the slope of unburnt ash…The behemoth follows, playing, taking time with this mouse of his, "…This is his will…"
((: Mistress, :)) Cemal's eyes widen in their red orbs as the blue fires swarm round him and close inward, the second to last morthwyl witnessing the end of the assault on Bangal'roux consumed…
There is one way he can protect her, their Supriya, from being found and harmed. ((: …I love thee, Mistress, and our children… :))
Turning his blades towards himself, he commits his viscera to their sharp points…The blades are keen and merciful, but Cemal's body is steel…He struggles the blades through sinew and skin, breaking out the other side…
His arms fall free as his smooth black head falls forward, body caught from the fall by the flaming hands…
The fires rush out, having found everything…but the line to her destroyed…
And Braith, Jaspin, and Jenner will be safe…for now.