The Books of Azric: War Volume 3 chapter 7

Here is the next chapter. I'm going to give full warning up front. This is probably the most risque things I've written. It contains adult language and sex...great passionate sex. If these things are not for you this has been your warning. For everyone else...well enjoy.

Chapter 7

Steam rolls off the water. She steps in and the water wraps each foot as she glides to the center of her large bath. She tilts her head back and shrinks into the water. She stands and the water streams off her hair. She wades back to the edge of the tub. Her naked body shimmers in the candle light.

She sits on the step on the side. She rests her head on a rolled up cloth. “Are you ready Casandra?” A voice comes from behind.

“Do your worst,” Casandra replies without budging from her comfort. The woman walks in and drops her dress around her feet. She steps in next to Casandra. She carries a bucket with her. She sets it on the edge of the bath and pulls a soapy rag out.

She presses the rag onto Casandra’s breast. The soap cascades down the sides. The woman scrubs Casandra, dipping the rag in the bucket as she needs. Casandra keeps her eyes closed as her body gets washed. “Sit up please.” The woman helps her up.

“Why must you be so cruel to me Lydia?” Casandra sits up as requested.

“It’s for your own good,” Lydia laughs. “Besides, you like it when I wash your hair.”

“It does feel good,” Casandra smiles as she opens her eyes to look upon the naked body of Lydia. “You know I like it when you let your hair down,” Casandra pulls on the pins holding Lydia’s bun in. Her blonde hair falls just pass her shoulders. “Have a little fun.”

“If you insist,” Lydia giggles. “Close your eyes,” Lydia instructs Casandra.

“Now we’re talking,” Casandra closes her eyes. Lydia picks up the bucket and sets the ladle off to the side as she pours it on Casandra’s head. Water and suds drip from her face. Casandra wipes the soap from her eyes. “Now you’re going to get it.” She splashes her friend with water. Lydia retreats into the tub with a splash of her. Casandra dives under the water.

“Ooowww,” Lydia slaps the water. “No biting,” Casandra comes up out of the water. Most of the soap gone. “Now how am I going to wash your hair?” Lydia splashes her again.

“Like this,” Casandra takes her hands in his. She turns her back to her and kneels. She puts Lydia’s hands on her head. “Normally I’d just rinse the rest out, but tonight is special.”

“Oh?” Lydia massages her scalp. The soap lathers in her hair.

“I need you to lay out the green dress.” Casandra moans a little as her hair comes clean.

“Why the green dress? You only use that when…”

“Exactly, he likes the green dress. He says ‘it highlights your eyes,’” she laughs.

“It’s been a while since you’ve seen him.” She rinses her hands in the warm water. She wades back to the edge and grabs the ladle. She wades back over to Casandra and dips the ladle in the water. Casandra stands up. Her long, brown hair touches reaches her waist.

Lydia pours the water over her head. She pulls her fingers through Casandra’s hair. The water runs over Casandra’s hair and body. “Excuse me,” someone clears their throat. “Am I interrupting?”

“Yes you are,” Casandra keeps her head tilted up as she wraps her hands around her hair. She pulls and more water comes out at the bottom.

“I need to talk to you.”

“I’m sure you do, but I’m in middle of a bath.” She turns to see who came into her private quarters.

“I assure you it’s important.” He keeps his eyes on her. “Are you not going to cover up?” His eyes drift over her wet, naked body.

“Have you never seen a naked woman before?” She walks through the water to the other side. Lydia stands naked behind her. Her hands cover her breasts, his eyes find her still. “Based off your response and your eyes, I’m going to assume you haven’t.”

“I have seen many naked women of all races,” he whines to her.

“Then eyes over hear asshole,” she snaps her fingers. His attention turns to her. Lydia rushes out of the water with several splashes. His eyes stay on locked with Casandra’s. “That’s right. I know you want to ogle her young naked body but you’re scared to.” She smiles.

Lydia runs pass the bed to the curtain behind it. She grabs a robe for herself and one for Casandra. She comes out and sees the two staring at each other. Lydia puts her robe on and hurries over to Casandra. She holds out the robe and Casandra puts her arms through it. Casandra grabs the belt and wraps it a few times and pulls it tight. It closes enough to cover her body but leave her cleavage exposed.

“What business do you have that you feel so damned incline to interrupt my fucking bath?” He looks down briefly at the ground, surrendering any foothold he attained prior to her words.

“I have news from the front.”

“That couldn’t have waited?” She storms onto her balcony. She grabs the hand rail with both hands.

“I know how much you value your baths,” he comes up from behind her. He sets his hand on hers. He smiles to himself when she doesn’t move her hand away. “But I needed to deliver this information at once.”

“What is it?” She turns to him. He takes her hand in his this time and stares in to her eyes.

“The news isn’t good.” He covers their hands with his other.

“I’m a big girl, I can take it.” She smiles. He smiles back at her.

“I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but they broke through.” Her eyes move to the giant sphere behind him.

The dome swirls in brilliant shades of purples, blues, greens and every other color. The colors mix and match, filling her with happiness of seeing her lover and husband tonight.

“We’re regrouping and we’re going to be able to stop them before they reach dome.” His hand drifts up to her shoulder. She stares at the dome.

“I’m glad to hear that. So why was that so important that it couldn’t wait another hour?”

Because,” he slips his hand under her robe and pushes it to the side exposing her right breast. “You and I haven’t…” He takes her breast in his hand and finds the nipple with his mouth. He sucks on it but freezes instantly. He lets her nipple fall out of his mouth and releases his grip on her nipple.

“And we will never.” She lifts up her hand. He stands on his toes and looks down. A blade presses against his man hood.

“You’ll have the others, but not me?” He quivers.

“Yes, because I don’t like you,” she gives her blade just a little twist. He rises up again. She pushes him back through her balcony doors, pass the bath, through the hall, and back out her door.

He falls to the ground and slides backwards. “If you ever touch me again, or come into my private quarters without announcing yourself, I’ll cut off your fucking balls. Do you understand me?” She holds the knife up to him. “You wouldn’t.” He spits at her.

“Don’t test me,” she flicks the blade and it sticks in the floor. It cuts the inseam of his trousers. She spins on her heels and walks away.

“This isn’t the end of this.” He yells out to her. Her hand comes up and she gives a flick of her wrist and the door slams shut. She storms down the hall back to her quarters. She waves her hand and the bath disappears. She unwraps the belt and lets the rest of her body out of the stifling robe.

“Lydia,” she calls. Lydia comes out from behind the curtain holding a green dress. Casandra holds her arms in the air and Lydia tosses the dress over her. It glides down her curves and rests on the floor. “You know the drill. Anything happens you call me out of there.” She looks into the mirror and looks at herself. She shakes her head. Her hair dries and styles itself. She frowns and shakes again, her hair changes style.

“Why do you do that?”

“Use my abilities for my hair? I could use it to never bathe and stay clean but I love the experience of the bath,” she smiles as she looks at her long hair with a little extra curl to it. “Think he’ll like it?”

“As long as he gets to play with it, I’m sure he’ll love your hair no matter what. But that’s not what I was talking about.” Casandra turns around and looks at Lydia.

“Then what were you talking about?”

“Why do you let the elder council touch you like that and then allow them to spread the rumors they bed you?”

“It gives me power over them.” She strolls away.

“How?” Lydia follows her.

“None of them have had me, yet all of them say they have. That swine was the last of them to attempt to bed me. Even though they’ve all failed in their attempts I allow them to spread the rumors because I know they’re not true, but the others do not. They have their doubts but that’s it.” She grabs a few powders from a cabinet and waves her arms for it to disappear and another one to take its place. She grabs a pill and swallows it.

“If they were to be exposed as liars then they would look weak in front of the others.” She waves her hand and the cabinet disappears.

“And you’re the only one that knows the truth.”

“Exactly. They’re powerful enough to stop me if they all got together but if they fear me and want me all the same they will never take me.” Casandra walks away and taps the powders a few times into a bowl in the center of the room.

Smoke rises from the bowl. It drifts to the ceiling of her chambers before it rounds itself off at the top. It fills with a bluish smoke, swirling and drifting at its leisure. “Be extra vigilant, they’re on the prowl tonight.” She blows a kiss to Lydia as she steps into the smoke.

The sun blinds her as the sand warms the bottom of her feet. A four post bed sits on the beach. Waves crash all around. Thin cotton sheets blow in the wind off each post. Casandra walks in the sand. Her toes dig in with each step.

A muscular, naked back faces her. She walks to the other side of the bed and leans against the post. The naked man sits on the beach staring out at the waves crashing in on the shore. “Hello husband,” she calls out to him. He turns and sees her leaning against the post in his favorite green dress. He smiles and gets up from the sandy beach. He races over to her. “Wait,” she holds her hands out.

“What?” He slides in the sand.

“Turn around, I want to see,” she motions with her hand. He turns around slowly. She laughs and smacks his butt. Sand falls off onto her hand.

“What’s so funny?” He turns around.

“Your butt,” she laughs.

“What about it?” He walks closer to her.

“It’s covered in sand dork,” she brushes her sandy finger on the tip of his nose.

“It’s been too long.” He wraps his arms around her and pulls her in. Their lips meet. He picks her up and she hops, her legs land rest on his hips. He grabs her thighs and presses himself on her. She moans as he slides inside her. He bites her lip as their lips connect again.

She tastes his tongue. “You taste like bacon,” she laughs and moans as he thrusts inside her. Her back arcs away from the bed post. He picks her accepts her body onto his and throws her onto the bed.

“Bacon huh?” He climbs on top of her with a laugh.

“Yeah,” she laughs. “I like bacon so it works.” He stares into her green eyes. They burn with desire, a desire only for him. “Shall we see what I taste like?”

“Of course,” he slides down her. He grabs her ankle and kisses down her leg.

“That tickles,” she laughs.

“I haven’t even tasted you yet and you’re squirming.” He nibbles her inner thigh.

“That’s not what I meant by tasting,” she jumps a little.

“It’s just a sample before the main course.” He looks up at her. “Plus, I love when you’re jumpy.” He nibbles again.

“I’m not jumpy,” she moans. “It’s just anticipation for my sexy beast,” she bites her lower lip as he moves in. She feels his lips drift between her legs. He licks gently, brushing with just the tip of his tongue. He teases her again. His hands drift up her dress, rubbing up her ribs to her breasts. She grabs his arms as he brushes her with his lips again.

He kisses both of her thick thighs again. Her fingers float along his arms and up the side of his head. “Just taste me already,” Casandra pulls him in. She feels his tongue deeper now and she moans. She grinds her hips as he tastes the cream her love. He kisses her and licks as she grinds and swirls. She keeps her hands on his head, not allowing him to stop. She whimpers and moves her hips faster. She pulls on his head, but he doesn’t want to move. He sucks then licks some more. “Fuck me,” Casandra pulls on his head again and he follows. Their lips meet as he slides back in. She tastes why he didn’t want to stop.

He leans up and grabs her ankles again. He thrusts faster and harder. She moans as she grinds harder against him. She pulls her dress off, letting her breasts into the sun. Her legs shake in his hands and her breasts rock with his motion. She grabs his hip with one hand and drives him deeper. Her other hand drifts up the bed and grabs the silk sheets. She pulls her arm down as his seed explodes inside her. She shivers and shakes as she takes several quick breaths.

He takes her hand off his hip and thrusts again with another splash of his seed. He lies on top of her, both of her hands in his. They raise them above their heads, stretching as far as they can. His chest presses against her breasts. Their hearts beat as one. He kisses her slowly. Their passion pushes them into ecstasy.

She lets go of his hands. She glides her fingers to his back, digging into his flesh. He arches his back, driving him deeper inside. She moans, arching her back as she lifts her chin. He kisses her neck as he thrusts some more. She pulls him in, not wanting to let him go again. Sweat rolls down their bodies as they get lost in each other.

*

He lies on his back and she traces the muscles in his abs. “We don’t have much more time.” She keeps her head on his chest. She listens to his heart beat.

“We never have enough time.” He kisses her head.

“That’s what we signed up for.” She looks up at him.

“I know, but I didn’t realize these were more than dreams until a while ago.”

“It’s ok if you-”

“I didn’t,” he clasps her hand in his. “I never wanted to. There wasn’t anyone that compares to you. Even though I didn’t remember you, I still felt you even when you weren’t in my dreams.”

“I have to tell you something.” She squeezes his hand. “You don’t have much time to figure out the domes. I can try and by you more time, but I don’t know how much.”

“We still hold the Realm 4 dome?” He brushes her hair with his fingers. She closes her eyes and takes a few calming breathes.

“We still hold it.”

“And the Elder Council?” His fingers dig into her neck and scalp. She groans as he massages her.

“I’m still in control, but I fear for not much longer.”

“The last one failed?” He reaches his other hand up and rubs her temple.

“Pretty hard too,” she laughs. “Had to throw my knife at him.”

“You didn’t hit him did you?” He looks down at her.

“Remember who taught who when it came to throwing knives.” She pinches him.

“Ouch,” he rubs his belly. Her hand wraps around his member. She feels him stiffen in his hand.

“I think we have time for one more,” she lifts a leg over him and guides him inside her. She leans back and rides him. The sun bears down on her. He seizes her hips and grinds. She rides him but the sun goes out.

“Oh shit,” she climbs off of him. She grabs her dress and throws it back on.

“What is it?”

“Something is happening.” The sun turns back on. “I will see you when I can. I promise.” He grabs her and pulls her in. He kisses her one last time. She embraces him fully as their bodies must part again. They never know when they will see each other again so they part ways like it may be their last time.

“I love you,” she kisses him again. Tears build up in his eyes. He blinks them away. “Cry baby,” she laughs trying to keep the tears from her face. He stays strong for her when she can’t, so she knows she needs to do the same for him.

“I love you too,” he kisses her one more time and gives her a strong hug.

“I need to go.” He lets go of her and she follows her foot prints back. She turns around and looks at him one more time. He blows her a kiss. She catches it and lets it go under her dress.

“Promises, promises,” he calls out.

“I guess you’ll have to wait to see if I keep them,” she teases and takes one last step.

She comes out of the bluish smoke to see Lydia waiting for her with her battle robes.

“What happened?”

“They broke through again.”

“Our troops can stop them.” Casandra tries to wave off Lydia’s fear.

“It’s not that simple.”

“Why not?”

“The Dark Queen is with them,” Lydia holds out the battle robes again.

“Fuck.” 

The Books of Azric: War, Volume 3 Chapter 6

Ok, here we go again. I will only be sharing one more chapter after this one. After that, no more until the book release. I don't know when that is but it's coming. This is the first draft, the rough draft, do not, I repeat do not mention any errors, I know there are probably several. Zip it, ok? Nobody likes the guy that's all There* if I accidentally put "over their" when you're in the zone you're in the zone and don't care about errors. Just get it down and fix it later. Again, warning ahead. If you do not like bad language, sex scenes, or graphic violence, do NOT go any farther but if you do...you're welcome. ENJOY!!!

CHAPTER 6

The purple gas floats just above the tips of the flames of the candles. It twirls and snaps with small pops of lightning.

She stares into the cloud. Her eyes never blinking as she concentrates at the flashing images. She sits up and blinks once. Her large blood shot eyes look around the dim room. The cloud swirls in a circle and disappears with a puff. Kristina raises her hands slightly and the flames grow on the candles around the room. The candles fill the room with a warm glow.

She walks to a velvet puffy chair by the window and sits down in it with a flop. She swings one leg over the arm of the chair. She leans forward and pulls back the black drapes keeping the sun out. The light spills in, but the sun sits just above the tree line. “Oh,” her voice raspy. She clears her throat. “What’s this? How long was I watching for?”

A small figure catches her eye in the distance. Her head follows her eyes. She watches it fly towards her but she loses it as it flies beyond the reach of the failing light. She stands up and walks over to a small, square hole in the floor. She pulls her purple robe up and steps down, her barefoot steps on the rung of a metal ladder. She lowers herself down to the next floor. The small stone room only holds a few wooden crates and a set of stone stairs that hug the wall.

She takes the stairs and the spiral of the stairs tightens as she lowers into her tower. “Down, down, down I go.” She cackles. The stairs unravel as she reaches the half way mark of her walk from the top of her tower.

The stairs end in the center of a small room. On the outer edge of the room holds another set of stairs. She takes them but these one’s lead to a small library.

Books line the walls. Bookshelves stand in a circular design in the center of the room. She takes a few steps on the small landing before she gets to the steps. She passes a few more rooms before she steps into the kitchen. A round table stands in the middle of the kitchen. A few cupboards surround it and a window next to the stove.

A raven lands on the window sill. “What do you want?” She drops her robe and shuffles to the window. The raven hops inside and stairs at her with black beady eyes.

“Hoping to talk to you about my problem,” the raven speaks.

“Yes? And what problem would that be?” She giggles as she opens up a cupboard.

“I was hoping for some freedom.” The upper part of the beak turns into a large nose.

“Freedom? He wants freedom, I could give Marns  freedom, oh but Marns has to earn the freedom.” She grabs a cup down from the open cupboard.

“How would you like for me to earn it?” The nasally voice comes from the nose. She giggles and twirls a finger around. A small elven head replaces the ravens.

“Oh? I think Marns knows how to earn his freedom.” She laughs and looks back at the creature in front of her.

The elven raven flaps its wings as it jumps onto the floor. It grows into a tall, slender, naked elf. He walks over and grabs Kristina by her waist. He pushes her onto the table and pulls on the knot holding her robe. It slides off her body and lies on the table. He Crawls on top of her and slides inside. She moans and looks into his eyes. “Is this what you want?” He smiles down at her.

She feels his warm chest pressing against her breasts. He thrusts a few times and she stares up at him without breaking eye contact. She feels his weight lift and his chest softens. Long hair tickles her sides. “Or is it this?” His voice and body now a beautiful elf. Marns slides her fingers into the Kristina and kisses her lips.

“You know what I want?” Kristina moans.

“Tell me and it’s yours,” Marns whispers in her ear.

“I want,” Kristina moans some more as Marns moves her fingers in and out. “I want you to replace my fucking tea you drank,” Kristina flicks her hand and Marns turns back into a raven. “Time for tea, yes it is, time for tea,” Kristina laughs as she waves her hand at Marns who hops away from the flailing hand.

“It’s not fair, you shouldn’t be able to control my shape shifting,” Marns squawks.

“Time for tea,” she reaches for her broom. Marns takes a few hops before it flies out the open window. “Now,” she gets up from the table and closes her robe. “What did I see? What? What? What? That’s the question.” She paces around the table. “I saw her, yes, yes, yes,” She shakes her finger. “I saw her indeed.” She squeals with laughter. “She’s important,” she paces some more. “So is he. Oh, he’s so handsome, but he is nothing.” She cackles going around the table. “Nothing,” her cackles grow louder. “Nothing,” Her cackles end. “Without her,” her head tilts to the left a little.

“The hairy man, oh, oh, oh. It may be.” She licks her lips, looking straight in front of her. She halts in her tracks. “Only one way to find out,” she shrugs her shoulders and wanders around the table.

“What else? What else? There was war, hmmm, a father losing a son, that’s not a good thing.” She shakes her head. “Not a good thing at all. I think,” she taps her chin. “Revenge, will he get it? I don’t know,” she laughs and claps her hands repeatedly.

She stands straight up, her hands fall to the sides. “Not him, oh no, not him. Evil, that’s all he is. Goodbye,” she hangs her head.

“Marns,” her head pops back up. She turns and sees an elven woman sitting on the window sill.

“I didn’t want to disturb you,” she holds a bag of tea leaves. “Tea time, remember.” She climbs off the window sill and crosses the kitchen to the wood stove. She grabs the tea kettle and takes the lid off and looks inside. She sets the kettle on the stove above the fire. She opens the damper. The flames lick the bottom of the hot plate.

“Yes, tea time,” Kristina looks to the ground. “Of course,” she pulls out a chair and sits.

“Did you see anything else?” Marns turns around and locks eyes with Kristina.

“Did I,” Kristina looks out the window at the stars floating in the sky. “Anything? Something? Everything? Nothing?” Her fingers tap out a rhythm. “Death? Life? What did I see,” she closes her eyes and then they snap open again. “Darkness, in a land of color,” Kristina stares at nothing as the life drains from her face. Marns blinks her eyes at Kristina.

“Kristina…” Marns takes a step over and reaches out a hand.

“Is the tea ready,” she looks over at Marns. Her life and color back in her gaze.

“The water still needs to boil,” Marns looks over at the kettle. She turns back around but an empty chair stands before her. “Why I…” Marns shakes her head as she watches the tail of robe disappear up stairs.

Kristina takes the stairs to the second floor of her library. She glides a finger behind her across the dusty spines. “Color,” she laughs. “Not enough color where you’ll be going my dear.” Her finger freezes on a small, black book. She takes a few steps back, not taking her finger away from the hard spine. “What’s this?” She pulls out the book and opens a few pages in. “Hmmm,” her eyes skim the pages. “I haven’t tried this before.” She snaps the book close. A cloud of dust fills the air in front of her face. “Might taste good,” she slides the book back in its place on the shelf.

“Now, where can it be?” She resumes her search. Her finger presses a trail through the dust once again. “I know you’re here.” She laughs and looks up at the ceiling. “Come out, come out wherever you are,” her laugh echoes off the stone walls. “I’m getting closer,” her hand drifts up to the highest shelf her height takes her without the steps. “I can feel it,” she halts. Her fingers wrap around the book and she pulls it out.

She walks over to the small desk up against the wall. She slides the chair out and sits down. She grabs the little candle in the corner of the desk and pulls it towards her. She puts the book on the desk and opens it. She scans the page and turns to the next.

She hums as she goes, not paying attention to anything around her. “You’ll need what I have in here.” She sings softly to herself. She hums the words as she rocks her head back and forth. “But how do I get it to her?” She sings some more. “I don’t know, but I have to.” She cackles a little.

“Kristina?” Marns soft voice comes from the back. Kristina sits up and stares in front of her. “I’ve got your tea.” Her hips sway as she carefully makes her way to Kristina with a hot pot of tea and a cup on a tray. She gently sits it down on the desk. “Is everything ok?” She puts a hand on Kristina’s shoulder.

“Ok?” Kristina looks around. “Ok? Is anything truly ok?”

“Well I don’t know.” Marns lifts her hand off her shoulder, but Kristina places a hand on hers keeping it there.

“Oh,” Kristina smiles up at her. “Is this my tea?”

“It is,” Marns smiles down at her. She gives her shoulder a slight squeeze. “Are you hungry?”

“For knowledge.”

“What kind of knowledge?”

“The kind in this book,” she closes it and shakes it at Marns face. “Knowledge that I must share but don’t know how.”

“Who do you need to share it with?”

“Her,” Kristina stares at the wall. “Him,” her gaze still fixed. “And outside,” tears well up in her eyes. “Oh, the outside, I miss the outside.” She sets the book back on the table and reopens it to the page she needs. Marns pulls her hand out from under hers and pours some tea.

“I’ll be in my room if you need me.” Marns brushes her hair as she walks away. Kristina reads the book, her hand still resting on her shoulder. She reaches out and grabs the tea. She takes a sip. “Hot,” she laughs and blows on the tea. She sips again. “Ah, that’s better.” She goes back to reading, tea cup in hand.

She jumps to her feet. The tea cup crashes to the floor. Her eyes glaze over foggy with a purple cloud. “I must know.” She turns to the stairs and grabs her robe to hike it up. She rushes up the stairs to the little room above her library.

She runs up the tiny spiral staircase all the way to the ladder in the center of the room. She climbs the ladder into the top of the tower. A storm crashes through the open windows. The wind roars through the windows, swirling in the round tower. Papers fly in the air, flames dance, but nothing comes out of place. She shuts the windows and the papers fall where they left from. The flames on the candles still burn.

“Could it be?” She grabs a purple powder out of the bag. She tosses it onto her candles. He puffs in a cloud of smoke. It settles into a storming cloud once again. She stares into it, her eyes never blinking. Her eyes search as lightning pops in the gas cloud. A few bolts strike objects outside of the cloud but leaves the world around her untouched.

“He’s coming,” she moves around the table. “He won’t be alone but…” she trails off. “He doesn’t know who’s with him,” her eyes never leave the purple swirl of gas and lightning. “He’ll find out one way or another, he’ll find out. Yes, yes, yes. He’ll find out and then…” her foot stops in mid air. “He can take me.” She laughs and claps her hands as she dances. “He can take me, he can take me,” she sings at the top of her lungs. “He can take me where I need to go. This is good news. Yes it is, yes, yes, yes.” She claps with each beat.

She tilts her head and leans in. Lightning lights up her eyes as it strikes her nose. “They’re not alone.” Her eyes dance in a swirl of purple. “I could help them?” The gas fills her lungs as she breathes in. “I don’t know, can I?” She breathes in some more. She stands erect, the cloud blows away.

She exhales and more of the purple smoke comes out of her nostrils. “I can do that. He’ll come take me. Yes, yes, yes. He will come and take me.” The purple haze leaves her eyes.

“Marns?” She calls as she turns around. She lifts her robe and runs to the ladder. “Marns, he’s coming. He’s coming.” She hooks her feet around the outer edge of the ladder and slides down to the next floor. “Marns, he’s coming to take me. To take me, can you believe it?” She runs down the stairs. Her left hand holds her robe, her right keeps her balance on the wall. “Marns, he’s coming. I get to go deliver my message. I get to, me, me, me.” She laughs as she hits the bottom of the narrow stone stairs.

“We have to wait and I need to help.” She heads down the next set of stairs. “Marns, Marns,” she runs pass several floors of her library when Marns meets her on the stairs.

“What is it?” Marns embraces her arms.

“He’s coming to take me.”

“Who’s coming to take you?” Marns tries to pull her off the stairs onto the flat floor but Kristina stays in place.

“He is,” Kristina cackles. She breaks Marns’ hold and runs down the stairs. “I need to get ready,” she stops between floors and turns back to Marns. “I can help. Don’t you see? I can help. I just need some things from…”

“From?” Marns takes a few steps down the steps when Kristina collapses. “Kristina,” Marns rushes to her side. Marns shifts and scoops her up in his arms.

“I’m okay,” she wraps her arms around his neck. She nestles into his shoulder. He pulls her in closer. Her head snaps up and she pushes herself out of his grasp. Her feet land on the stone floor of the kitchen. “Oh…” her hands fall to her side. “You pour soul. Pour, pour soul.”

“What is it?” Marns asks.

“Nobody deserves this fate. He cannot endure much more before he breaks. And break he will. You pour, pour sole. She will live on with you in her heart be she no longer is yours.” Tears well up in her eyes and she crumbles to the floor.

She wraps her arms around her knees and rocks back and forth. “He will get what’s coming to him. Don’t you fret. He will get what’s coming. Yes, yes, yes.” She laughs as she rocks.

“Kristina?” Marns kneels beside her.

“Oh Marns, you changed again.”

“Is this better?” Her voice soft again.

“No, no, no. I liked when you shifted to what you know I need.” Kristina watches the soft curves of Marns face chisel into a strong jaw line. “That’s better. Now, can I get my tea please?”

“Yes,” Marns stands up. “Will you be here when I get back?” Marns looks down at her. Kristina looks up at him.

“I will be here, right here.” She stands up. “Or, maybe…” she looks around. “Maybe I’ll be over here.” She wanders to the other side of the table. “Or…” she looks around some more. Her finger rests on her chin.

“Are you going to stay in this room?” Marns rephrases his question. Kristina looks over at him but her eyes still wander the room.

“What? I’m sorry, did you say something?” Marns snaps his fingers. Her eyes dart to meet his.

“Are you going to stay in this room until I get back?”

“Yes, in this room.” Kristina looks around some more. Marns heads up the stairs. He goes to the desk on the second floor of the library. He looks around for the tea cup, but he doesn’t see it on the desk. He looks around and still doesn’t see it. He lets out a heavy breath before he gets on his knees to look under the desk. He searches all around while still on his hands and knees looking for her favorite tea cup.

He turns the corner to find a pair of bare feet standing in front of him. He follows the legs up to find Kristina standing naked in front of him. Her robe left somewhere on a floor below. Her finger wraps around the handle of the cup as it dangles loosely from her grasp. “Is this what you’re looking for?” She swings it back and forth.

“Yes it is, but why-” Kristina wraps her arms around his neck and locks her lips on his. “Finish what you started.” She whispers in his ear. He grabs her hips in his hands and lifts her up. She wraps her legs around his waist and her spins towards the desk. He takes his steps as she reaches her hands down his trousers.

“No need for that,” he smiles. His trousers disappear and she properly feels him. He presses her onto the desk. She wipes her arm and the tea tray crashes to the ground. Hot tea splashes on his legs but it doesn’t faze him. Her legs unlock and her arm stretches out as he enters her. One hand digs into his back while the other keeps a firm grip on her tea cup.

The Books of Azric: War, Volume 3, Chapter 4

Warning, my writing contains things that may not sit well with others. Things like sex, the f bomb, and graphic violence. If you do not like reading any of these things, please do not continue on. If you do and you don't like any of those, well it's your own fault. You have been warned. If you enjoy those things well, you're welcome.

The following contains spoilers for the Books of Azric Series. This is Chapter 4 of Books of Azric: War, Volume 3. This is unedited and is the rough draft. Do not wine, complain, or comment on any errors in the writing. If you do, we will all know the kind of person you are and you will be judged. That is all. Enjoy the ride.

Lord Roderick and Blade ride their steam carriage over Branch Mountain Pass. Blade turns back again to see the smoke coming from Yungston. “Think they made it?”

“For Azric’s sake, I hope they did.” Lord Roderick turns around to see the smoke as well. “Right now, we do not have the luxury to worry about them. We need to hurry to my alchemists lab.” He turns his attention back to the road.

“Why the rush?”

“I tipped my hat to my Master that I may no longer be needed.” His gaze faces forward.

“What?” Blade spins back around to face him. His eyes fixed on the road. “How?”

“I believe he only kept me alive so long is he does not know where or what my alchemist was working on and now I fear Kenna’s life is in danger as well as my own.”

“If you’re no longer needed then I won’t be either?”

“I am afraid not my dear. You are only alive because of me. The Master never liked you, but for what it is worth, you have always kept my interest.” His eyes flash over to her as he attempts a smile. She looks at him briefly before returning her gaze to the front.

“So how does our Master know where, Kenna is it?” She waits for Lord Roderick to nod in agreement. “Where Kenna is?”

“I said that I had to go see her after I met with Colt…” He trails off.

“So?”

“He sent his necromancers to follow us to Yungston to kill Colt. Because of that, I knew that at least three that have been following since we left Yungston.”

“Then why are we going there?”

“Because I need what she has.” His hands jostle on the t-handle of the steam carriage as they drive through some slush. The wind picks up blowing their hoods off.

“And what’s that?” Blade yells to get her voice over the wind. She helps Lord Roderick pull his hood back on.

“I do not know but she said it would be worth anything.”

“Great, we’re walking into a trap.”

“Do not fret my dear.”

“Why not?”

“I never get trapped. I always set them.” He looks over at her with a smile.

“So explain them?” She points in front of them. He follows her finger and slams on damper down and pulls on the break. They grind to a halt.

“Nothing to worry about. This is not a trap.”

“Your men?”

“No, but a trap implies we do not have a way out.” He turns back with another smile on his face. “There is only four of them.”

“We kill them.” She smiles.

“Not before we find out what they want.” He reaches out and places his hand on the back of her head. He pulls her in close. Their lips meet softly at first but Blade lets him in. Their kiss changes to one of passion.

“Hey,” one of the men calls out. Three men and a dwarf stand in front of Roderick and Blade. “Are you going to get a room or surrender?”

“Surrender?” Lord Roderick breaks the kiss. “Is that what you want?”

“We want your head for what you did to Lord Fireston.” The dwarf says this time.

“Well,” Blade smiles. “We know what they want.” She hops to the ground as Lord Roderick climbs down from the steam carriage.

“I was hoping it would not come to this gentlemen, I really did, but you are leaving me no choice.” He holds a hand out for Blade. “After you my darling.”

“With pleasure.” Blade storms through the slushy mud over to them. Her cloak flaps in the breeze exposing her two blades attached to her hips. The three men draw their swords and the dwarf his axe. “I’m glad you decided to make this interesting, but I’ll make it fair and only kill you with your own weapons.” She unbuckles her belt and her knives fall in the mud.

Lord Roderick pulls a silk cloth from his pocket. He grabs the belt out of the filth and wipes them clean. He drapes them over his arm and fixes his attention at the fight about to break out in front of him.

“Should of kept them on honey, you might of stood a chance.” One of the men attacks her with an overhead strike. She catches his wrist and sword with both of her hands. She kicks him between the legs. His fingers fall limp. She pulls his sword free of his hand and slams the tip in the side of his head. The blade explodes out the other side. She lets him fall limp and steps over him.

The other three stand in front of her with the dwarf in the center. The dwarf charges her with his axe held high. She kicks him in the face with the heel of her boot. The dwarf falls into the mud. She ducks under a slashing blade from her left and plants her knee on the dwarf’s throat.

She catches a glimpse of a knife in the attacker’s boot. She pulls the blade from his boot. The other human stabs down at her. She blocks the attack as she stabs him in the leg with her newly procured knife. He drops his sword as he cries out in pain. She catches the falling sword. She pulls the knife from the human’s leg and slashes the other’s throat. Blood shoots from his throat while she stabs the man with his own sword. She pushes him over. Both fall dead. The dwarf reaches for his axe. Blade stabs down with the knife and catches the dwarf in the hand. She buries it deep in the ground. She reaches down and grabs his axe.

“Call your bitch off of me.” The dwarf cries out. He tries to pull the blade from his hand but she buried it to deep. “I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”

“Blade?” Lord Roderick calmly asks.

“You said I got to kill all of them.” She stares down at the head of the axe.

“Well,” Lord Roderick leans down to meet the eyes of the dwarf. “I tried, but I did tell her she can kill all of you. Sorry.” He shrugs his shoulders.

“Wait-” he holds his hand up to block the axe but Blade swings it too hard. The edge smashes through his arm and severs his head. She lets go of the shaft. She looks up at Lord Roderick and spots her knives in his arms.

“You cleaned off my knives.” She steps over the dead bodies. “Thank you,” she kisses Lord Roderick’s cheek as she takes them from him. She lifts her cloak to buckle them back on.

“If only we had time.” Lord Roderick admires her body in the form fitting leather leggings and tunic.

“Maybe when we get to Kenna’s,” Blade bats her eyes at him.

“All the more reason to make haste,” He holds his arm out to escort her back to the steam carriage. He helps her back into her seat.

“I’m more than capable of getting in myself.” Blade accepts his help.

“It is not a matter of ability, it is a matter of respect and shall I say it.” He squeezes her hand as he smiles at her. “Love.”

“Love?” She blushes a little. “I thought this was just about fun.”

“What’s not fun about love?”

*

Kenna grabs a pot from the cupboard and returns to her table. She stands in the kitchen of her little cottage in Delville. A table stands in the center with multiple pots on it. The lids riddle the top of the tiny table. She takes the lid off the current one in her hand. She sits it on the table top and crosses to the pot in the fire pit.

She dips her hand in the bowl and pulls it out. She sprinkles a black powder into the cauldron cooking over the fire. She wipes her hand on her skirt and turns back to the table. She sits the pot on the table. She looks around the room and spots her backpack by the door. She smiles as she walks to the door. She grabs her bag and throws it over her shoulder as she steps outside.

Kenna shades her eyes with her hand. She smiles looking into the clear blue sky. Delville sits close enough to the Waters, a salty breeze fills the air. She takes a deep breath and heads north on the road that splits Delville.

The dust blows around when she gets out of town. Small hills surround Delville with flat lands all the way around the hills, with a few smaller hills scattered throughout the flat lands. Her travels take her to one of the smaller cluster of mountains.

She climbs to the top of the hill only to meet a sentry when she gets there. “Where are you going?” He holds out his spear off to his side, enough to block her path.

“Come on Chester. You know where I’m going.” She laughs.

“Not today,” he holds firm.

“Everyone knows I have free rein, no matter what.” A smile spreads across her face.

“I’m sorry Kenna, but the mayor is sick.” His hand trembles on the spear as he tries to hold his pose.

“So?”

“He doesn’t want to be disturbed while he’s sleeping.”

“So he put you in charge of informing him?” She pushes pass his spear. It smacks him softly in the face.

“But-”

“Are you going to stop me?” She walks off without waiting for a reply. She walks down the road to her favorite testing site. She walks pass several suitable spots to test her latest creation but only one will do for what she plans for the day.

She reaches her hill before the sun makes it to midday. She walks off the road and around the other side of the hill. Birds tweet in a few trees nearby. She smiles at them. “You should fly along my dears.” She calls out to the birds. She steps inside a small cave at the base of the hill.

It angles downward. She disappears in the darkness. Moments later she reappears without her backpack. She moves a little faster but not running. She walks under the tree with the birds and shakes the tree as she goes by. The birds fly off. “You’ll thank me later.” She keeps her pace. She hides behind a dip in the ground. She giggles as she raises her head so she can see.

*

“You’re telling me you’ve never met your alchemist?”

“That is exactly what I am telling you my dear.”
“Then how do you employ her?”

“We have a mutual acquaintance.”

“So how will we know where to find her?”

“I was assured I would be able to find her as soon as I got to Delville.” They come out of the trees and onto a grassy plain. “See that big cluster of hills over there?” He points into the distance. Blade follows with her eyes.

“Yes.”

“Inside them is Delville. They use the natural barrier of the hills as walls.”

“It doesn’t offer much from protection.”

“Not from an army but it works against bandit raids.”

The explosion erupts in front of them. Dirt and stones rain down. Lord Roderick slams the break handle forward. He throws himself over Blade and covers them with his cape. Rocks pummel his arm but he doesn’t wince in pain. “What the fuck was that?” Blade yells over the chaos around them.

“I think we found Kenna,” Lord Roderick laughs. He sits up and surveys the area around him. Only dust remains in the air. Lord Roderick sees someone dancing through the thick dust. His ears still ring but the laughter breaks through. He pulls on the hand break and eases the steam carriage forward. She twirls around with her arms spread wide while keeping her face from them.

“It didn’t take as much as I thought.” They hear the woman laugh. “How remarkable,” she turns at the sound of the approaching steam engine. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think it would be…” she trails off. “Oh, why hello there.” She smiles at the two new comers. “Haven’t seen you here before. I’m Kenna.” She waives at them.

“I am Lord Roderick and this lovely woman is Sheriff Blade.” Lord Roderick introduces them to his alchemist. He looks down at her from the driver’s seat. She stars back at him through thick goggles. Her eyes blink at him together, but separately. Her face plastered with dirt. Chunks of mud cling to the long strands of her hair. 

“Lord Roderick, you’re just in time to witness my creation.” Her smile grows larger.

“What creation?”

“What you saw. Wasn’t it amazing?” She turns to look again.

“Wasn’t there a-”

“Hill there?” She interrupts Blade. “Yes there ‘was’ a hill there.”

“What happened to it?” Lord Roderick keeps his eyes where the hill used to be, a deep crater now in its place.

“I blew it up.”

“You blew it up?” Lord Roderick gets down from the steam carriage. He wipes the dirt off his clothes but never takes his eyes off the crater. “With what?” He reaches his hand up to help Blade down but she jumps instead. Lord Roderick keeps his hand in the air not realizing she already got down on her own.

“My creation,” she smiles at him. “By the way, she’s standing next to you,” he looks at his hand in the air and shakes his head. He looks to his other side and finds Blade standing next to him.

“What is this creation?” He walks forward with his mouth wide open. Blade passes him and pushes his mouth shut.

“I’m sure she’ll tell us when she’s ready.” She kneels next to the crater. She puts her hand in dirt and mud.

“I will, but only back at my lab.”

“Of course,” Lord Roderick shakes his head as he climbs back on the steam carriage. “Would you like a ride?”

“How long?”

“It should only take a few minutes from here.”

“No, how long before they get here?”

“I do not know. They could already be here.”

“Then yes, I’ll have a ride.” She climbs up on the seat behind him. “Sheriff Blade. Are you coming?”

­­­­Blade stands up. She claps her hands together. Dirt and dust fly in the air. She turns and jogs back to the steam carriage. She jumps up on the seat next to Kenna. “Let’s go,” she looks at the pit one more time.

“Excuse me,” Lord Roderick reaches his hand between Kenna’s legs.

“Excuse you?” Kenna smacks him in the back of the head.

“The lever,” Lord Roderick holds both of his hands out.

“Oh,” Kenna turns her attention back to the road. “Well say that next time.” She puts her hands in her lap. She pulls up a little, exposing the lever under her dress.

“Yeah, say that next time or she’ll get you good again.” Blade laughs.

“I will,” he rolls his eyes. He grabs the lever and pushes it. The steam carriage rolls to life. He grabs the t-bar with both hands as the wheels bounce down the dirt road.

Within moments they reach the hill surrounding Delville. The road smoothes out as the steam carriage climbs. “Halt,” the guard holds out his hand palm out.

“It’s going to take a little longer than that.” Lord Roderick applies the brake. “The lever,” he nods to Kenna. She pulls on it and the steam carriage crawls to a halt. “What is the meaning of this?” Lord Roderick spins in his chair. “We have important business at hand.” His steely gaze fixes on the young guard.

“Well,” the guard looks away, his spear shaking in his hands.

“Come on, out with it.” Lord Roderick’s voice booms.

“The Mayor wants to see her.” He points a shaky finger at Kenna.

“Point that thing someplace else.” Kenna laughs. “Why does the old flea bag want to see me for?”

“You woke him up with that, that…that stunt.” He raises his voice.

“Watch what tone you take with me Chester, or I’ll knock you a good one.” She holds up her fist.
“I’m sorry,” he looks down at the ground, his toes digging into the dirt. “I’m just following orders.”

“Where is he?”

“He’s in his mansion.”

“Good. Lord Roderick will you take a left when you get into town?”

“But that takes you the long way around?” Chester shouts.

“And away from the Mayor’s mansion.” She reaches down between her legs and pushes the lever forward. “Lord Roderick, if you will,” she points at the brake.

“Of course,” Lord Roderick smiles. He releases the brake and the steam carriage races down the hill into town. The wheels bounce on the road. They gain more speed as the hill gets steeper.

“Roderick?” Blade yells. She looks over at Lord Roderick. He looks over at her and smiles. Her shoulders sag just a little and she turns back to face the road.

“Lever,” Lord Roderick reaches between Kenna’s legs again. He pulls it back some. The steam carriage slows just a little. Lord Roderick pushes a pedal with his left foot. Blade hears hinges release behind them. They lurch on impact.

“What the fuck was that?” Blade leans forward to look pass Kenna.

“My own,” he smiles at Kenna. “Creation,” he lets out a booming laugh as he turns the t-bar to the left. He looks back at the road and slams the brake lever forward. They slide to a halt. Lord Roderick holds out his arm. Kenna leans just a little but nothing else.

“No need for safety with me.” Kenna giggles.

“Get out of our way.” He calls down to the men standing in front of him.

“Bill.”

“Who’s Bill?” Blade looks at Kenna.

“The Mayor.”

“Mayor Doomazbul?” Lord Roderick questions.

“That’s the one, good old Mayor Dumbass Bill.”

“You know that’s not my name.” Lord Roderick watches a short little man come out of an ally way. His white hair cut short around his bald scalp.

“Well, you’re a dumbass so…” She mumbles to herself.

“What was that?” Mayor Doomazbul asks.

“You’re the Mayor.” She speaks up.

“That’s right,” he straightens his back a little. He wears faded red silk clothing and a black cloth cloak. “I’m the mayor and you tried to outsmart me and failed.” His pushes his wire glasses up his nose. His thin lip smile stretches across his face.

“Wrong,” his smile fades. “Move please,” Kenna looks over at Blade.

“Of course,” Blade stands up on her seat.

“Thank you,” Kenna hops down. The dust on the road puffs around her feet. She lifts her skirt out of the dusty road and storms over to the little mayor. “I went this way because I knew you’d be watching for me. I knew that you would have your guards posted any direction I tried to take to my home.” Her magnified eyes blink at him.

“Then why come this way?” He steps back. His lip quivers.

“It rained two days ago.” She looks down at his leather boots. Dried and not so dried mud sticks to his boots and leggings.

“Disgusting,” he lifts one of his feet. “I should have you-”

“Silence Bill,” Kenna pushes her finger in his face. She looks up in the air. A few birds fly overhead. She looks back at Blade and Lord Roderick. “They’ll be here in a few days.” She hustles back to the steam carriage. Blade helps her onto the seat next to her. “It’s time to leave now. Run them over if you have to.” She sits down and folds her dress into her lap.

“Very well,” Lord Roderick stretches his arm out for the accelerator lever.

“Not so fast,” Blade grabs his wrist. Lord Roderick looks at her. She reaches her hand between his legs. “I prefer to handle my own shafts. She squeezes him and pulls on the lever. They roll forward.

“What are you doing?” The mayor runs to catch up to them. His men jump out of the way.

“I have only a few days to get ready. Goodbye Bill.”

“It’s Doomazbull,” he yells into the dust as they speed off. Kenna lifts her arm in the air. Her middle finger extended.

The Books of Azric: War, Volume 3 Chapter 1

Here is the first rough draft of Chapter 1 in the next volume of The Books of Azric. Remember the fifth and sixth words of the first sentence I just wrote before this one. ROUGH DRAFT! I don't want anyone talking about any errors or anything like that. If you do, well everyone will know you're a meany head and nobody will talk to you anymore. Probably not true but remember, I don't have to share this with you until the whole book is finished. Here it is, Chapter 1

His heartbeat intensifies with the pounding on the gate. The wood from the gate splinters and his heart calms. Arrows fly from above down into the portal courtyard. “Get the ladders.” One of Bricker’s guards yells. Bricker watches orcs climb to the top of the walls.

“Get ready,” Bricker sets his feet. The gate bursts open and the Liz-Orc Army floods through the dismantled gate. “Charge,” Bricker points his sword and races into battle. His men follow him with eager anticipation for the slaughter to come.

Orcs grab the portal guards on the top of the wall and throw them off. They hit the ground with cries of pain. Swords clash together as the portal guards and the Liz-Orc Army collide in the main courtyard of Portal Town.

General Kadlik comes through the portal with Narl behind him. “Let’s do this shall we?” Kadlik hisses. Narl only gives him a nod. He pulls out his large battle axe with a large ball on the top he uses for smashing his opponents. The sleek design makes it lighter than normal, giving him speed and the smashing ability of his strength. He whips it around his head a time or two before rushing off into battle. Narl smashes into a group of portal guards and a few lizrac.

“Die scum,” Narl brings his axe over his head into the head of one of the guards. His head splits in half. Blood and brains splatters on the other guards and himself driving his rage even more.

He catches a sword coming down at him with the piece of metal wrapped around the haft of his battle axe. He slams the heavy blunt ball into the man’s face, sending him off his feet into a bloody pile on the ground. “Kill something already,” he yells at the lizrac, including General Kadlik, who still stands in front of the portal.

Kadlik watches Narl race off to another group of guards. He slaughters that group as well. “There’s no art in what he does,” Kadlik walks away from the portal. He gets to the busted gate and looks around as the battle unfolds in front of him. He sees the outnumbered portal guards holding their ground against his overwhelming force. Even now, more of his army dashes out of the portals.

He sees Bricker and some young looking male next to him. He walks towards them without hurry. A guard races up to him but Kadlik catches him by the throat. He squeezes until he hears the distinct sound of bone breaking and feels the struggling portal guard fall limp in his hand. He tosses him to the side. The guard slams to the ground motionless.

Kadlik turns his attention back to the commanding officer. Bricker stands with his back to the main gates. He catches a slashing fist of an attacking lizrac and takes it off at the elbow. The attacking lizrac howls in pain as he grabs his bloody stump.

Harkins comes in and finishes it off before he can grab another weapon. Bricker and Harkins work well together for never fighting with each other before. They move as one, letting their blades dance and sing in the music that can only be called combat.

“Stand your ground,” Captain Bricker calls to his men. “Form a line. Don’t let any of them behind you.” His men take action and form a line two men deep. Shields in the front and spears in the back, both armed with swords, ready for close quarters.

The battle axes and war hammers of the orcs crash into the shields. The lizrac attempt to jump over the line but get caught by the spears in the air, most of them die before they hit the ground. The force of the attack pushes the portal guards back against the walls.

“Push back,” Bricker commands. On cue, his men push back against the attack of the Liz-Orc Army. They push them back towards the busted gate that used to enclose the portal to Realm 5. “Keep it up,” Bricker calls as his men bash them with shields again, driving them back at spear point.

“Berserkers,” General Kadlik yells from some place beyond Captain Bricker’s field of vision. Bricker looks around to try and find the berserkers he calls forth. It takes his attention away from the battle he conducts long enough for Narl to launch a counter attack and flank the left side of his line with the full force of the Liz-Orc Army.

The sound of metal on metal catches his attention. He turns his attention to the left side and sees a large orc coming at him with a large, sleek looking battle axe. He readies his sword and body to accept a massive swing from the weapon.

“Die,” ­­­Narl yells as he brings his weapon down. Bricker deflects the attack letting the axe fall harmlessly to the ground to his left. He balls up his hand and strikes the giant orc in the face as hard as his human body allows.

Narl takes a step from the force of the punch. The right hook catches him off guard. Bricker keeps on the offensive and slashes at him again but the orc moves faster than he anticipates.

“It’s time for Narl to crush you,” Narl yells.

“Is that the name of the magnificent weapon you wield?”

“Don’t be stupid, I am Narl,” he takes a moment to pound his chest with his fist.

“Good, I was hoping you didn’t name such a wonderful work of craftsmanship a stupid name like, Narl.” Bricker attacks with a quick swipe from his sword. Narl dodges the attack but gets met with just as fast of a left hook to the face. Again, Narl takes a few steps back, not expecting such strength from a human.

“You’re strong for a human.”

“You’re fast for an orc.” Narl laughs at this, giving Bricker a chuckle as well before he strikes again. “But not fast enough,” Bricker attacks with blinding speed. He attacks with a left thrust of his sword, and then brings down a hard slash. Narl expects another punch. At the last moment he catches Bricker’s sword with the head of his battle axe but gives up his footing. Bricker steps behind him giving him a shove with his sword and his body.

Narl falls to the ground hard. He looks up and dodges a stab that sticks in the ground. Narl rolls back over and breaks Bricker’s blade. Bricker rolls away from the attack still hanging on to his shattered sword.

“Not so funny now, huh?” Narl swings with his battle axe. Bricker rolls away again, this time he comes up on his knees. He throws the stump of his sword and it sinks into Narl’s left leg. Narl growls in pain. He pulls the sword from his leg. He throws it back at Bricker who dodges it. Narl charges him and knocks him to the ground. “Get up you swine.”

“Swine? Who are you calling a swine, Pig Face?”

“Pig Face? Pig Face? I’m going to crush your fucking throat.” Narl reaches a massive paw of a hand down and wraps his hand around his throat. He picks Bricker up off the ground with ease. He holds him out and up away from his body. A bright shimmering blade flashes in front of his face. Bricker falls to the ground, gasping for air as he pulls the hand away from his throat.

Narl looks to his right, where the attack came from, and sees a young man standing next to him. Their eyes lock, “hands off,” the man tells him with a smile.

Narl looks down at his amputated arm lying on the ground in front of him. He looks back to the young man and grabs him with his left arm. He brings him in to his face. “That hurt,” he yells. He spins once and throws the man over the line.

“No,” Bricker yells.

“What’s the matter with you?”

“I never liked you,” Bricker jumps off the ground and flips over Narl’s head. He catches the throat of Narl and pulls him down with him as he lands on one knee. The back of Narl’s neck lands on Bricker’s shoulder, snapping the big orc’s neck.

Bricker stands up from the ground, letting the lifeless body of the dead orc fall to the ground. Bricker looks around just as the first berserker hits the line.

His men fly through the air with a burst from a beast unfamiliar to him. “Oh Fu-” Bricker looks at the size of it. In his time as a fighter, he fought every race and beast he could find in Azric but never against a beast of such magnitude. A massive lizracian berserker stands before him. Instead of some of the human traits the lizrac have, this monstrosity of a lizrac seems more lizard like. But this lizrac makes an orc look small. Its massive arm looks almost twice the size of Bricker’s head.

Bricker looks around for a weapon and Narl’s battle axe catches his eye just in front of him. He rushes to it and grabs the axe. He lifts it, expecting it to be heavy but it feels no heavier than any other battle axe or even a spear he used in the past. He spins it a few times to get a feel for it.

The berserker sees him and charges. Bricker slides under a swinging arm. He whips the axe around his head and catches the berserker in the knee, taking the lower half of its leg off. It falls to the ground. He stands up and this time he charges it. It moves out of the way as he brings down his new battle axe. It turns and stands on its only leg and uses its tail for balance. It swats at him again and he jumps back but quickly counters. He chops down at the arm and takes it off just above the elbow. The loss of the limb throws the berserker off balance. It spins, pointing its back to Bricker. He takes two steps before he jumps. He lands on the tail of the beast and jumps again. He brings the battle axe down as hard as he can. The extra weight of the ball at the end gives it a force he would be able to muster on his own. He splits the skull open but the blade cuts down through its chest cavity, each half falling either direction until the weight of them causes the rest of the berserker to falls. He pulls the axe from the corpse of the lizrac. He looks at the weapon again and smiles. “You were lethal in the hands of Narl, but you will sing in mine.”

Bricker stands up and scans the battlefield looking for Harkins. He sees General Kadlik instead. “Shit, I need to find him before he does.” Bricker rushes pass his men. “Keep the line at all costs.”

He finds Harkins soon after he enters the wrong side of the fight. He dodges several attacks before he unleashes the fury of his newly acquired battle axe. Each one of his blows connects with some body part of an orc or a lizrac, sometimes both.

The ball on the top crushes skulls, while the blade slices through flesh and bone with ease. He clears a path before him. Blood flies every which way as dead bodies fall in the wake of his battle axe.

“Stop,” General Kadlik’s voice booms with a sickening hiss. Everyone freezes at the sound of the voice. Bricker stays ready and looks around at the orcs and lizracs. They clear a path for Bricker; General Kadlik kneels at the end of it, Harkins’ throat in his claws. “Captain Bricker is it?”

“Let him go,” Bricker demands.

“Why?” General Kadlik smiles.

“Look, let him go and we’ll give you Portal Town. Let the rest of live and we will leave through those gates.” He points to the gates leaving Portal Town.

“Interesting offer.” Kadlik taps his teeth with a claw. “How about this? I’ll let you and the rest of your men leave and I still get to kill this one.” Kadlik laughs as he squeezes Harkins’ throat.

“Stop,” Captain Bricker yells again.

“Or what?”

“I’ll kill you,” Bricker growls.  

“I’d like to see you try.” Kadlik tightens his grip even more.

“No,” Bricker yells.

“Too late,” General Kadlik reaches down with his other hand and pulls with all his strength. Harkins screams in pain as Kadlik rips his head from his shoulders, slowly. The blood shoots from his throat as his throat tears open.

Bricker charges but several arms pull him back. “Retreat,” Sergeant Ariks yells. Ariks and several other guards drag him back through the opening in the Liz-Orc Army.

“Let them go,” Kadlik laughs, holding a Harkins’ head by the hair. Blood drips from the jagged skin of his neck.

“I’ll kill you, you fuck.” Bricker screams while his men drag him out of Portal Town. General Kadlik laughs at the flailing man. His guards pull him out. He kicks and pulls against his men. “You’re dead. You hear that?” I’m going to fucking kill you,” spittle comes from his mouth. The gates shut behind him.

“Get to the trees,” Ariks yells. They drag him all the way into the trees. His men split up to either side of the main road to attack any reinforcements there could be. “Build fires and send some men hunting. We’ll need food.” Sergeant Ariks orders.

“We need to take back Portal Town,” Captain Bricker yells at him.

“No sir, we need to let our men rest. We need to regroup and think about our attack.” Ariks gets in his face. “Be smart about this. Don’t run in there thinking you’re going to kill all of them by yourself.”

“But I-” Bricker slumps to the ground. “They died because of me.” Ariks storms over to him. He grabs Captain Bricker by his tunic and lifts him to meet his face.

“Get a hold of yourself,” he slaps him. “These men need you to lead them.” He lets him go. Bricker looks at him with anger in his eyes.

“Post sentries all around us. Also send a few men to gather water. We’ll rest for the night and then tomorrow we build the trebuchets.”

“Incoming,” a sentry overlooking Portal Town yells. They look through the trees.

“I can’t believe it,” Ariks rushes closer to the trees. “They’re throwing the dead over the walls with catapults. They brought catapults from Realm 5.”

“We wait a little longer for the sun to set and then we retrieve our men then.” Bricker walks up behind Ariks. “Rest for now. It’s going to be a long night.”

“What’s the range?” Ariks asks.

“It looks like two hundred meters from the wall,” the sentry reports. Bricker looks up at the sky.

“Less than hour before we move,” Bricker walks away.

“After we get them?”

“We need to find out who all died.” Bricker sits down on a log by a fire. “And then bury them.”

“You heard the Captain. Get some rest we move again soon.” They hear a scream coming from the other side of the wall.

“We left wounded,” Bricker rushes to the trees. Several more bodies fry over the walls, then the screams come. They land in the same area as the dead bodies, silencing the screams of their fellow guards. Dust flies as they land. The echoing laughter of the Liz-Orc Army fills their ears.

“Did they all die?”

“Help me,” they hear this time.

“Ones alive,” Bricker pushes pass Ariks, but Ariks pulls him back.

“I think they’re baiting us sir.”

“Then it worked because I won’t leave a wounded man out there.”

“But sir?”

“You heard me. Even if I have to go by myself, I won’t let them suffer on their own.”

“You won’t be.” One of his guards steps up. “I’ll go.”

“So will I,” another says.

“Me too.”

“Well Sergeant Ariks?”

“I can’t let you have all the fun now can I?”

“Good,” Bricker walks back to the log and takes off his sword belt and removes his cloak. “If we’re going, we’re going fast and light. We need to get in there and get out.” He walks back over to the group of men. “We find the bodies but we also need eyes in the sky.”

“And a diversion.”

“What did you have in mind Sergeant?”

“Archers at the gate with flaming arrows. If we can start the gate on fire they’ll have to focus on putting that out.”

“You take some archers and keep them off of us.”

“Wait for the first arrow to fly and they won’t even know you’re there.”

“See you back here.” They clasp forearms and head off in different directions. Captain Bricker watches Sergeant Ariks grab a few archers and a torch before heading toward the gate. “Get ready. We move in silence.”

The sun sets in the distance giving a faint glow to the field in front of them. Portal Town fades in the distance a clouds move in front of the setting sun. “We should go now sir.”

“We wait for the arrows and no sooner.”

“Sir,” the guard gets back in line. Bricker keeps his eyes on Ariks. The torch moves closer to the gate.

“Attackers,” the voice comes from above the gate in Portal Town. Bricker sees the torch move left and right to light the arrows. More flame comes from the darkness and then into the night sky. The arrows land just short of the gate.

“Let’s go,” Bricker signals his men to follow. They quietly make their way to the wounded soldiers.

“Help me,” the cries get louder as they get closer.

“Keep calling,” Captain Bricker whispers.

“They’re going for the wounded,” Bricker hears.

“Eyes to the sky.”

“Incoming,” one of his spotters yells. Several stones fly over the walls.

“Watch where they go,” he calls out. “Try and get the wounded out of the way.” The first stone hits and misses everyone. “Move,” Bricker yells to a group on his right. The stone smashes into the first man, crushing his skull. The stone then bounces and hits another man in the chest. Both lie dead in the cold night air. The rest of the stones miss the rest of his men, alive or wounded.

Bricker looks over at Ariks and sees the fire arrows flying at the gate. The army inside tries to hit them with arrows of their own, but they only posses short bows. “It’s actually a lousy design considering we used to defend it.”

“What’s that Sergeant?” A bowman asks as he launches another arrow at the gate.

“Well, we have a wooden gate but it’s inside a gate house with no way of pouring water on it.” Sergeant Ariks laughs as the gate opens. “Alright boys, here they come. Fall back.”

“What about Captain Bricker?”

“He’s going to need to run, just like us. We didn’t plan for an assault like this. Now move,” he orders.

“They’re running,” a big orc yells with laughter in his voice. “Like little cowards.” The arrow slams into his skull.

“I’m not a coward,” one of the bowmen says. “I’ll take you all on.” He loads another arrow and shoots it. He connects with another orc.

“No,” Ariks yells as he looks back. He digs his heels in the ground and turns back. The other bowmen with him turn and shoot. “Stupid boy, get back here.”

“I’ll hold them back.”

“Not alone you won’t.” Ariks stands next to him with his battle axe. “Don’t look at me like that. You’re right; we give them as much time as possible. So let’s kill every last one of these fuckers, what do you say?”

“I say let’s do it.” He launches arrows faster and faster with each pull.

“Come on,” Ariks yells holding his battle axe.

“Brace yourself boys, it’s a dwarfling,” a lizrac yells. The lizrac jumps in the air for an aerial attack. He some down ready to strike the dwarf but a shield slams into right before he strikes. Guards with shields stand at the ready in a line in front of Ariks. The Liz-Orc Army slams into them. Spears come from above slamming into the orcs and lizrac.

“Fire,” Ariks looks behind him but doesn’t see anything, but instead, hears the whistle of arrows flying by his head. The first line of attackers crumbles to the ground, but more follow them. They meet the same fate as the others.

“Shoot at the back of them,” Ariks yells. The arrows fly over his head this time and into the back rows of the army pouring out of the gate. They shoot again and again, effectively cutting off reinforcements.

“Turn the catapults,” Ariks hears a relay of calls coming from a lizrac.

“Damn it,” Ariks looks towards Bricker. “What’s taking so long over there?” The sun fell before the gates opened so he can no longer see the rescue party.

His attention returns back to his own battle as the Liz-Orc Army pushes back on the shields protecting him. The army remains stronger than his band of guards. His men give a little ground so they won’t get overrun if one of them falls. The Liz-Orc army advances from the castle once again, giving them even more of a push and the numbers to out flank them.

“Incoming,” a guard in the back yells. Ariks looks up but he doesn’t have to move. The Liz-Orc Army pushed them out of range of the catapults. The stones slam into the Liz-Orc Army with bone shattering force. The sound of death fills the night as another set of stones comes crashing down. The army runs back toward Portal Town.

“Fall back,” Ariks yells. “And fire some arrows at them. The more we take out now, the less we have to fight later.” He hears the whistling of the arrows overhead. Most of them find their marks but several still hit the ground.”I just hope he made it back without losing anymore men.” Ariks tells himself as he looks over in the darkened field, hoping to see something.

“Get get more fires going, and boil some water.” He hears from the trees.

“Hurry up,” he calls to his men. “We have wounded to take care of.” He rushes into the trees to help.

He comes into the light of the fires hoping to see Bricker. He looks around but doesn’t see him anywhere. “Have you seen Captain Bricker?” He grabs the arm of a passing guard.

“Last I saw him, he was over there,” he points farther into the trees. Ariks hustles pass the wounded and on to the next group of fires. He still doesn’t see Bricker anywhere. He keeps looking and asking but everyone continues to point deeper in the forest.

Sergeant Ariks comes to the last fire before total darkness. Only one man sits in front of the fire. Ariks steps into the light but Captain Bricker stares into the fire. The flames dance in front of his face but he still doesn’t blink.

“Captain,” Ariks steps closer. “Is everything alright?”

“I couldn’t find him. I looked everywhere and I couldn’t find him.” Bricker stares into the fire.

“Find who sir?”

“Harkins. I looked at every dead body out there and I couldn’t find him at all. They still have him behind those walls.”

“I’m sorry sir, I don’t understand,” Ariks sits down on a stump across the fire from Bricker. “Why would they do that?”

“General Kadlik is trying to get into my head.”

“By keeping a boy you were training?”

“It’s more than that. It’s hard to explain about Harkins.” Bricker says without any emotion in his voice.

“Why?”

“You’ll think I’m crazy.”

“It’s just me and you here sir. There’s nothing you will say that will change my opinion of you.”

“There’s stuff you won’t understand.”

“Who was Harkins to you sir?” Ariks looks at Captain Bricker over the fire. Bricker looks up for the first time with tears rolling down his face.

“He was my son