A Warrior's Path Read online

  Komeris looked around angrily. A few feet away stood his opponent, unsheathing a thick longsword triumphantly. The captain glared at him and walked with purpose in his direction. His confidence in the situation faltered, however, as four more men ran up beside the killer of his horse, all of them intent on the captain's advance.

  Reniu and Pei-Shi had been shadowing the captain as best they could throughout the battle. It was a difficult task, given the constant flow of enemies and the fact that Komeris rode a horse. But he had fought beside them many years ago, and they were not about to leave their brother in arms to face destiny alone. They beat their way across the field at a frantic pace when they saw Komeris's horse hit the ground. Panting, but ready to fight, the two veterans came up alongside the captain just as his enemies decided to press their advantage.

  The five longsword-bearing soldiers of the western army lunged at the three friends, still of the belief that the odds were in their favor. Two of them slashed at their original target, Captain Komeris. A second sword flashed into the captain's free hand as he drew it from his side and defeated both attacks with a swift, glancing strike on each blade. Another opponent on his left stumbled as one of Pei-Shi's delicate weapons raked across the side of his head below his helm, practically taking his ear.

  The female warrior worked her first blade in alternating rhythms, easily keeping the challenger directly in front of her busy as her other sword reached for the enemy in her peripheral vision. She dodged right as the angry opponent she had just struck came at her. With swords flashing she met the two soldiers' attacks with gusto. When they simultaneously lunged at her with extended blades, she swiped the longswords outward and leapt between them, slashing their shoulders as she passed.

  The enemy on Pei-Shi's left doubled over as another blade slid along his waist, leaving a gaping hole in his armor and a nasty wound in his side. The strike had come from Reniu, who seemed now to be focusing only on the fifth challenger, much to the injured soldier's surprise. He went to exact retribution on the big man, but another strike bounced off the hide scales covering his other side, reminding him that Pei-Shi had not forgotten him.

  Reniu glanced to the side to see how successful his sneak attack had been. His attention was quickly redirected as a heavy longsword dented his breastplate and poked into his pectoral muscle. With a scowl and a snapping slash he stopped his foe's strike before it could go any deeper. The weapons clanged as the snarling soldier’s strike was turned away. The enemy pressed ahead again, looking for another opening. He couldn’t find one, and as Reniu worked a sword in one hand to beat off the attacks, his other sword flicked out and stung one of Pei-Shi’s opponents again.

  The soldier on Pei-Shi’s right growled in frustration and turned his attention to the big man who kept hitting him. He delivered a deft slash across the back of the man’s right shoulder and grinned wickedly as he noticed the strap on the Reniu’s breastplate snap off. His grin left quickly as Pei-Shi’s blade slid through the scales in his armor and into his belly. He leapt back quickly, barely saving his own life with the dodge, but he was badly wounded.

  Komeris worked his blades furiously to fend off his two attackers. They were quite skilled, and it was only Komeris’s faith in the abilities of his comrades that allowed him to keep his focus. That focus was almost lost when he noticed in his peripheral vision that more enemy soldiers were fast approaching to help finish off the companions. The captain swiped at the man on his left, whose parried weapon was sailing wide. The foe stumbled backward in shock, holding his neck as blood bubbled through his fingers and soaked his armor. Komeris had no time to celebrate the victory as he fought off the soldier on his right and another ran up to take the fallen man’s place.

  The press was becoming more difficult. Reniu now fought two enemies as his breastplate hung off only one shoulder. It was a hindrance, but he dared not pause to rip it off. To do so would bring his two foes upon him, and death would surely follow. With a scowl of frustration the large soldier noticed another enemy squeezing in to fight Pei-Shi. Her blades were a blur, and if any one of them could handle three at a time, it was her. But with more soldiers charging up to help, things were about to get out of hand quickly.

  Somewhere very close by, a horse neighed loudly and the stamp of hooves could be heard above the cacophony of clanging. A white shape blurred by behind the companions’ enemies. One of Reniu’s opponents fell. Then one of Pei-Shi’s followed. The white stallion that had ridden by reared up and General Etrusin leapt out of the saddle and to the ground. He cried out in triumph and jumped in beside Komeris and the other veterans and began taking on enemies of his own.

  The four friends, fighting side by side again as they had for years, put up a wall of blinding metal as their swordwork wove together. Now, though they clearly outnumbered the senior officers of the empire, these soldiers from the Dark City no longer felt like they had the advantage. One by one they fell or had to pull back because their wounds became too grave to fight. Soon Etrusin, Komeris, Pei-Shi, and Reniu were standing among a circle of enemy corpses.

  When the last man dropped, Komeris looked to his allies and grinned. “They were foolish to attack,” he said to them over the sounds of similar battles all around them. “They counted four warriors instead of eight swords!”

  Their momentary mirth was forgotten as yet another set of fresh enemies emerged from different parts of the general fray, oblivious to the copious bodies of their fallen allies. The friends faced them with looks of frightening determination. They were ready to bestow their harsh lessons on any foe foolish enough to challenge them today.

  * * *

  A group of Fiu-Het backed away from their victims as the fiery tail swiped through their vicinity again. They were eager to claim their vengeance upon Orbein's men, but they were wary of the unusual ghostly flame that occasionally lashed out at them. Though they did laugh in nervous glee whenever a soldier of Niele'itio was consumed by the fire.

  One of these shapeshifters took a particular interest in this fire spirit. He looked to some of his nearby kin and gargled out a few words punctuated by a hiss. They all nodded in agreement, and the message was relayed to a few others. Within seconds, several Fiu-Het took to the sky in search of the suspected source of the apparition.

  * * *

  The fighting was getting louder. Denlin gripped his staff anxiously as he tried to peer over the line of defense put up by his kin and the Shionen. He could tell from the sound that the battle was edging closer. Soldiers from the other side were beginning to push their way through. It wouldn't be long now before he was part of the fray...or so he hoped.

  O'eintsu tapped on his shoulder and pointed at the sky in front of them. Shapeshifters, about twenty of them, were gliding over the battlefield, swooping left and right, but generally heading in their direction. They seemed to be searching.

  Suddenly, they scattered as elven arrows flew at them from below. None of the arrows seemed to hit the mark, but it was difficult to tell with these creatures. Still, the shapeshifters climbed a bit higher to get out of range.

  Denlin and O'eintsu watched as the winged figures hovered high above for a few moments. Their shapes grew very quickly as they went into a sudden dive. Apparently, they had found what they were seeking.

  O'eintsu threw a chiun straight up at a shapeshifter that was almost upon them. It hit the target. The creature practically reversed direction in mid air as it flapped instinctively, trying to flee the pain. It recovered quickly and went straight for its attacker, who appeared to have disappeared. The black-clad Lihou soldier seemingly materialized from behind an ally and leapt with a flying kick at the shapeshifter.

  Somewhere nearby, Su-Ni watched the circling shapeshifters dive. She had found herself in the middle ranks with no one that she knew. Her thigh was bandaged tightly, and her wound was bothering her a little, but she would still be able to fight. She had been looking around desperately for anyone she could recognize. For some reason, the ab
sence of a familiar face caused her confidence to waver. She figured Denlin and O'eintsu were in the thick of things. During the charge she had lost sight of Urietsin and the priests.

  She was about to curse herself for this when she saw the shapeshifters. The logical connection in her mind was instantaneous. They had flown past the main fighting and had zeroed in on something. It could only be one thing. She began to run in their direction.

  The ring of soldiers, and anyone else who was close, sprung into action as twenty shapeshifters landed in their midst. Denlin cried cheerfully and swung his staff around his body. With footwork that was almost like a dance he stepped into range of a few of the creatures. His staff twirled in front of him, then he passed it from one hand to the other behind his back. His other hand twisted it over his head, then thrust it suddenly at an opponent.

  The firm but flexible weapon became a blur around him. It bounced off the face of the shapeshifter in front of him, and he guided its ricocheting momentum under one arm with both hands, half twisting his torso to smack a challenger who came up behind him. He continued to turn his body, lunging ahead and coming down with an overhead strike to a third shapeshifter. He straightened up and let the staff continue swinging down and under to poke a fourth.

  These four shapeshifters were angry.

  They descended upon him furiously, whipping out many reaching limbs that shot from various parts of their bodies. Denlin whipped the staff around himself, rotating it at the center and switching it from one side to the other, spinning on his feet to turn them all away. He was doing quite well until one of the shapeshifters reached along the ground and wrapped around his ankles.

  * * *

  “Focus...focus...focus...” a smaller voice whispered to Urietsin. It repeated that single word over and over again until he began to wonder if he was chanting it himself. He understood the wisdom in this word. He could sense the shapeshifters, especially the ones who were so close to him now, but he needed to focus on the bulk of enemies that threatened the army.

  This logic kept him listening to that soft voice, but he was enticed by the possibility of laying waste to those who had killed his master. It was a subtle debate inside him that he had, thus far, kept mostly under control. Suddenly, his focus was shattered as Denlin's form came barreling into him.

  The two warriors rolled to a stop. Urietsin jumped up quickly. Denlin did not. The Swift One knelt by him. He could tell that the young man was in considerable pain. He looked down and noticed an odd red glow coming from the injured soldier's side. It took him a moment to realize that he was actually seeing the injury itself, as it was beneath the skin. It pulsed red from heat as blood rushed to it in a blossoming bruise. Four of his ribs were cracked cleanly through. The young man moved his lips at Urietsin, but the Swift One could not hear him over the fighting. He held up the staff that he was still clutching. Urietsin took it as the warrior lost consciousness.

  Urietsin rose and turned. Before him twenty shapeshifters wreaked havoc. Two priests lay motionless on the ground while the rest hid behind soldiers and prayed for divine intervention. Denlin was not the only warrior down either. The Swift One looked down at the staff and saw the strong wooden fibers that made it up. He even saw the small particles that composed the fibers. He saw the energy within waiting to be released.

  He ran ahead, looking for an opponent. There were plenty to choose from.

  * * *

  Su-Ni navigated through the crowd of soldiers that stood awaiting an opportunity to join the fray. When she took in the scene, she could see why some of them were a bit hesitant. All of the twenty shapeshifters were still standing, but a few of the defenders had fallen. She saw Denlin laying a few feet from the fight. She swallowed back the sudden sense of panic that rose in her throat. There were many more warriors who were in need of immediate assistance before they found themselves in situations not so dissimilar from Denlin's.

  She turned her attention back to the fighting. Catching sight of Urietsin, she gasped. He seemed to be almost glowing with some inner light. He swung a staff that she assumed was Denlin's. The way he moved was unnatural.

  Urietsin swatted defensively with the bottom of his staff at the shapeshifter in front of him, flipping aside a dripping appendage. He flung out his open hand toward the creature. To the amazement of anyone who was looking on, the creature flew back as if it had been struck, though the Swift One's hand was too far away to have made contact.

  Pressing his advantage, Urietsin shot forward, staff leading. His weapon snapped downward in an overhead swing that connected with a loud crack on top of the creature's head. He took another half step forward, swinging the staff back up to hit the slimy beast with the other end. Urietsin's rear hand, supporting the butt of the staff, went under his leading arm, which flung the staff straight out to the side and sent the creature spinning head over heels sideways.

  Suddenly, Su-Ni shouted, “Urietsin, behind you!” She was too late, though, as a tentacle wound its way around the Swift One. The young woman ran into the chaos. As she pushed forward, sword leading, she found the way blocked.

  A shapeshifter leapt in front of her. It grinned grotesquely and waved. She noticed its hand was a lighter pink than the rest of its skin. She only had a split second to wish she had killed the thing yesterday when she had the chance. It flung its arms and a few other spontaneous limbs at her.

  She hacked profusely, successfully injuring the creature a bit, but it would not underestimate her this time. One tentacle got through her defenses and twisted around the wrist of her weapon hand. It pulled her sword aside and wrapped her in slippery tendrils of flesh. The tentacles tightened in opposite directions, making her feel like she was being squeezed to death and torn apart at the same time.

  Reacting only on instinct, Su-Ni flicked her wrist around and slid her sword under the tentacle that restrained that hand. The shapeshifter, distracted by the glee in trying to wring the life from her body, did not react in time and lost the appendage. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the young woman swept her sword across and severed the rest of the slippery limbs around her. She stepped forward to take revenge upon the now frightened creature but almost immediately leapt back. The beast’s mouth opened and a horrified screech poured out. Smoke slowly curled above its head. Its face began to take on a yellowish tinge that got continuously brighter. His head burst into flames, and a tiny white light flew out of the conflagration. The Fiu-Het toppled to the ground.

  Behind him stood Urietsin. If he saw Su-Ni standing there agape, he made no indication. Instead, he turned to the next closest shapeshifter and extended his hand. His eyes were like fire. The same small white light came out of his hand and embedded itself into the creature's chest. It combusted almost instantly.

  One of the other Fiu-Het noticed this strange phenomenon and expanded the pockets under his chin in a cry. All of the shapeshifters turned away from their opponents. With inhuman speed they converged on Urietsin. They threw themselves at him, stretching their bodies out to envelope him completely.

  Within the prison of wet, constricting muscle, Urietsin could feel the movement of the shapeshifters around him. They tried to maneuver their daggers into his body, but he turned them away with a thought. For a moment, he looked on in fascination as he saw the secret behind the Fiu-Het's magical abilities, then the voice in his head spoke.

  “Destroy them,” it said much more loudly than anything else he had heard thus far.

  With barely any mental effort, Urietsin supplied the particles that composed the shapeshifters with an enormous burst of energy. The particles quivered for a moment, then the ones exposed to the air outside began to react. The shell of shapeshifters that were trying to squeeze the breath of life from the Swift One's body dissolved in a haze of white flame. Like a phoenix, Urietsin emerged transformed.

  “Destroy them all,” the voice urged.

  * * *

  Laernus dove aside as the king threw the grass that he had just ripped from
the ground at him. He had seen Orbein do this a second earlier with his gift of sight, but the information given to him by the magic was not very helpful. The king's spell honed in on him, and twisting vines sprouted from the air and wrapped around him. He tried to cut at them with his sword, but he only got hopelessly tangled.

  Orbein laughed confidently, though the success of the spell was a great relief to him. He had not expected the seer to recover so well from his difficult start. Nor had he expected him to be such a skilled swordsman. Perhaps it had not been such a wise idea to send him to train in Vethisir's army. The king pressed the back of his weapon hand against the wound in his left arm. It stung a bit, and blood still oozed from it, but it was not serious. He approached the seer slowly, flicking the tip of his thin sword in front of him as he stepped. When he passed by the wizard's discarded tunic, he kicked it aside with a sneer.

  “Let me ask you, Laernus,” he said disdainfully, “is the fact that I will be dead in a few moments any consolation to you?”

  The seer grimaced. “You wouldn't really care if it was,” he spat.

  “Ah, yes. Perhaps. But I am glad that my last deed will be to kill you,” Orbein said. His face came within inches Laernus. Suddenly, he reached out and put his arm around the seer's neck, pressing the point of his sword against his opponent's chin. He turned to Agucho, gripping Laernus tightly. “Now, I propose a deal,” he said, trying to sound cool and confident. “Let me go and I will spare the wizard.”