CHAPTER 1
"How deserted lies the city, once so full of people. Howlike a widow is she, who once was great among the nations.She who was queen among the provinces has now become aslave."
-Lamentations 1:1
The air felt different in Lach Highland that night. Too coldfor summer, with a heavy dry wind that blew up from the south. Not acloud in the sky remained to break the perfect chaos of the stars as theygleamed around the moon. Everything looked sharp in the blue light.The way was clear for miles as if the sun had risen. The night creaturessensed strangeness in the hour and shrieked their warnings to a deafworld.
The only city in the land, the fortress of Great Hall, sat in darknessunder the shadow of a hill. Most slept fitfully through the odd weatherexcept the guards on the wall tops and Cirrus, the young Lord of LachHighland. He sat alone in his courtroom, surrounded by walls coveredin tapestries and the trails of his own thoughts. His head was bowed, hisshoulders bent, and his pale hands clasped each other until the knucklesturned white. A scowl twisted his mouth in a deep frown as his emptystare fixed on a knotted sword at his feet. His eyes ran over the rustedblade: the enemy's taunt against him.
He tried to purge it from his mind and bury the sight behind hiseyelids, but the weapon was imprinted in his memory. He could hear thelaughter behind it, mocking him, reminding him that he had failed.
Cirrus straightened. He wanted to get rid of the sights. He wantedno more memories of that horrible day. He wanted freedom from theinvisible hand that closed around his chest to break his ribs and stop hisheart.
In a blurred movement he snatched the sword and hurled it acrossthe room. It thudded against an oak door and clanged to the floor. Hestood on the dais, jaw clenched, veins rising. He wanted to scream, butheld back. He wanted to cry, but pride would not let him. A block oflead sank in his chest.
The fury passed. Cirrus tried to sit, missed his chair, and hit hisknees on the ground. He grasped his head in pain and rocked against thevoices inside him.
"Get out," he kept whispering, "Get out. Get out."
The door opened. He heard it but refused to look.
"Cirrus?" Mira, his wife, stood quietly behind the entrance. Herblack hair fell around her shoulders in distressed knots. Darkness rimmedher tired eyes, the result of the sleepless nights they'd suffered. She closedthe door and went to him, "Are you all right?"
"He's gone," Cirrus felt his voice crack and he angrily wiped the tearsfrom his eyes. Mira said nothing. She lowered her head. Her hair fellaway and revealed the sharp ears of her race. A lake woman. Cirrus tookone look at her face and regretted ever meeting her. If he'd not draggedher from her home, she would not have to endure this. He was thereason she suffered.
He stumbled to his feet, "We'll go out again tomorrow. We'll try tofind the trail. Maybe we can track them."
She didn't respond but he saw the doubt in her face. She had nowillpower to say what was on her mind. He started to feel the rage again,"We'll find him."
She still said nothing. Her silence was worse than if she had spoken.It made him mad, "Say something!"
Mira's eyes were pleading, "You know it too."
Cirrus did know it, but he refused to accept it, "I won't leave Airanin the hands of those monsters!"
"If we wait for your brother-"
"Hang my brother!" he roared, "It takes him weeks for his court todecide anything!"
"He won't hesitate-"
"He follows rules, Mira! He won't come!" The guilt, the rage, andthe helpless anxiety took their toll. He swung at the wall, took the skinoff his knuckles, punched it again, and wilted. He slid and sat on thefloor, burying his face in his hands and holding back the screams.
Mira's voice shivered for control, "Airan is safe. I know the Emperorwill watch over him. I trust everything will be all right."
Cirrus was too emotionally spent to either accept or reject her words.He just let the feelings pass and tried to keep breathing. He had to keepbreathing. The blood from his raw knuckles touched his cheek. Hewiped it away in disgust.
A heavy knock sounded on the door. Cirrus regained his feet,"Enter!"
The door swung open. Foru Longstor, steward of the Hall, shovedpast it. He looked frightened. Sweat plastered the thick hair on his head.He took a breathless gulp to steady himself, "Cirrus ... come quickly.Outside. You have to hear."
"What's wrong?" Mira was already halfway to the door.
Foru shook his head, "We don't know."
Cirrus grabbed his sword from behind his chair and strapped itaround his waist, "Show us."
They hurried through the fortress of Great Hall to the outercourtyard. Foru took them up the stairs to the top of the inner wall andstopped, facing the city and the world beyond it. The numbing chillcaught them by surprise. Cirrus and Mira shivered beside the nervoussteward, straining their ears for a sound.
Nothing.
Cirrus shot a glare at his friend, "I don't hear anything."
Foru wiped his face, "Exactly, sir. Not a sound. There were all kindsof night noises moments ago. Now they've stopped. Something's outthere."
Mira tilted her head to the sky. Her eyes widened in horror. A massof clouds rolled from the south and covered the heavens. The windrushed by. A blade of fear shot up her spine, "Cirrus ..."
A desolate wail lifted its voice from beyond the city limits. Theyfroze and stared out at the forests even as darkness took over the world.Shrill howls joined the initial voice. Clear and ringing. They were close.
Cirrus shook his head in disbelief, "Roth Mordans. They're back."
Foru burst into the fortress barracks, "Battle stations! We're underattack! Cover the perimeter and get the people inside the Hall! Move!"
The men scrambled to pull on their armor and grab their weapons.Archers darted to the ramparts, too excited to remember formations. Thestables thundered with the shrieks and stamping hooves of the cavalryhorses. The gates of the Hall's inner wall opened and soldiers poured outto guide the villagers.
Cirrus' mind turned as the rest of the world moved in a blur. Hewatched the frightened faces of the women, children, and elders asthey ran to the Hall for protection. He spoke quietly to his wife, "GetFairlight and the villagers to the tunnels."
Mira ran back to the fortress, shouting out, "With me! Hurry to thecaverns!"
Cirrus watched the people rush by. Their mouths were open inpanicked cries, but the sound did not register in his ears. He only heardthe jeers of the enemy outside his city.
Sharven Medilius, his cavalry captain, appeared at his side, "The lastof the villagers are coming, Lord Cirrus."
Cirrus drew his sword, "Bar the gates behind them. Use anythingyou can to support the entrance. We can't let those devils through."
Sharven called an order to his men and they scattered for supplies.The last of the citizens passed into the fortress and the gates slammedshut behind them.
Cirrus shouted to the battlements, "Commander Rorus, the enemycannot pass this wall!"
The commander saluted and pulled his archers in tight formationaround the ramparts.
Foru returned to Cirrus, "Any more orders, sir?"
The lord of Lach Highland shook his head, "Nothing."
His eyes grew distant and he looked up at the clouds boilingoverhead. A sad smile breached his mouth, "We're not coming out ofthis. Not alive."
* * *
The men grew uneasy as they waited. The shift of armor and nervouscoughing became the only noise that filled the emptiness within thefortress. Cirrus sat on a charger beside Sharven, the two leaders watchingthe gate. The horses tossed their heads and tapped their feet on thepavement. Smoke rose from their heated bodies.
They listened to the gut-wrenching howls from the throats of theenemy outside. Soldiers whispered prayers for strength. Their slick handsclung to their weapons for comfort.
Rorus, the commander of the archers, leapt down the stairs of thegatehouse and stopped before Cirrus, "Sir, the enemy is past the citylimits. They're setting the place on fire."
As if on cue, there was an explosion and a red glow erupted in thesky. Croaking cheers followed the noise in excited bloodlust.
Cirrus's frown twisted, "How far up are they?"
A crackling roar made them all jump and the horses reared in fear. Aflaming stone soared overhead and cracked against the Hall, settling atits top. The wooden beams burst into flame.
"Fire!" cried a dozen voices.
"Stop!" Cirrus shouted before they moved, "It's a distraction! Stay atyour posts!"
He faced the fortress gates, "Archers, take aim; fire!"
Rorus whistled and the arrows flew.
* * *
Mira led the people to the lower levels of the Hall with controlledspeed. She searched for the statue that marked the underground tunnels.Her fingers brushed along the cold stone, feeling their way through thedim passages. The shadowed figure of an angelic Sherubim appearedbefore them in the dark. She almost sprinted to it. She pushed the statueand slid it along the floor. A part of the wall moved with it and a gapinghole opened into the earth. Mira motioned the people inside, "Stay closetogether! Hurry!"
The frightened faces of her people passed. Terrified eyes searched thedarkness for a source of hope. Many of them looked to the Sherubim asif it would come to life and protect them.
Mira reached out and pulled Foru's wife out of the crowd, "Guidethem through the tunnels, Yael. Wait for me at the cavern."
The young woman's terrified eyes glanced at Mira, "Where are yougoing?"
"Fairlight!" Mira shouted as she sprinted back down the hall.
Arrows shot from both sides. Screams knifed the air. Chaos eruptedaround the fortress walls. A thundering boom echoed over the sounds ofbattle as a great force was flung against the gates. The impact rolled likethunder as the battering ram twisted metal and cracked wood.
Sharven lifted his sword, "Ready horses!"
The cavalry men behind him lifted their weapons and roareddefiantly. The shrill screams of the enemy matched their pitch.
A mind-blowing snap silenced it all as the gates gave way. Cirrus lostall sense of the battle. He could only hear the thudding of his frightenedheart. The soldiers moved slowly. So slowly. Splinters of wood and shardsof metal floated past. Sharven's cry rang in his head, "For the Emperorand the Coming Kingdom! Charge!"
The world snapped back to life. The horses of Great Hall boltedacross the courtyard. A wall of stamping beasts charged the exposedgates. Wild manes tossed in the wind, heads bobbed and eyes blazed forthe fight.
They faltered. The enemy had their match. Wulves. Scores ofcreatures the size of stallions crashed through the gate and rammedthrough the wall of horses. The fight became a confusion of hooves,claws, teeth and fur.
Rorus split his archers in two groups, trying to cover the outsidewalls and the inner courtyard. Other invaders joined the wulves.Dark, skulking creatures with jagged armor and demonic faces. RothMordans from the south. They leapt into the fray, howling battle criesand swinging blades. Swords flashed and cut into flesh. Arrows whistledinto targets. Fists thudded against armor and cracked bones. Every chestthrobbed with the heat of the fight.
Foru drove his blade into a creature, yanking back as his enemy fellto the earth. A gasp rushed from the steward's lungs as his sword camefree. A movement caught his eye. He saw a shadow scale up the fortresswalls. It stopped at one of the windows and drew a knife. He bolted intothe fortress. He didn't think, he just ran.
The hallway crackled with tongues of fire. The roof groaned,threatening to fall. The beams looked ready to drop. Mira hated herselffor not coming here first. She hadn't thought the danger was this close.A million better plans flashed through her mind as she ran for herdaughter's room and a hundred regrets thundered in her chest. She foundthe door and tried it. Locked.
"Why?" Mira screamed. She never locked this door. She wildlysearched the walls and grabbed a candle holder. She pounded the knobwith it, the clang of metal ringing through her skin. Tears poured out ofher eyes as again and again she attacked the door.
Fracturing wood announced her victory. The lock broke free.She shoved the door open and burst inside. Fairlight's crib was by thewindow. The fire had not reached her room. Trembling, Mira wrappedthe infant in a thick blanket to protect her.
"I'm so sorry, little one," she gasped, "I'm so sorry."
A croaking shriek blasted in her ears. She felt spit hit the back of herneck. Spinning around, she dealt the thing a kick to the stomach. Thescaly face stared at her in shock. Its eyes clouded over. Its face froze in apicture of agony and it fell to the floor in a heap. A knife tumbled fromits hand. The sharp edge of a sword showed itself, running through itsback and appearing from its chest.
Foru pulled the weapon from the creature's body and grabbed Mira'sarm, "The enemy's broken through! Get out of here!"
Breaking glass drowned him out. The steward yanked Mira andher daughter to the floor. A flaming arrow shot through the glass ofthe bedroom window and buried its head in the wall. Flames licked thecurtains and they burst aglow.
Foru pulled Mira to her feet and hurried her out of the room.
Something ripped his hand from her arm. The crushing weight of aroof beam hit him in the head. He fell on all fours, dazed. Mira jumpedback, "Foru!"
Fairlight's wails rang in terror.
Foru worked out of the beams and stumbled to his feet. He fellagainst a table. He could feel the wound in his head.
A wall of fire and wood stood between him and his lord's family. Hetried to focus on them through dazed eyes, "Get out of here."
Mira held Fairlight close and she stared at him through the hotflames.
"Get out!"
She turned and ran. Foru gathered himself together and staggeredthe opposite way.
* * *
The gates shuddered again. The walls cracked under tremendouspressure. Huge stones fell from their place. An enormous head appearedthrough the gap, large and lizard-like, baring its mouthful of razor teeth.
"Tierrano!" voices screamed.
No one had seen it come. Soldiers ran from the sight. The beastshoved through the gateway, wriggling through the opening.
Commander Rorus pulled back his bow and fired. The dart struckthe tierrano in the throat. It roared in pain and reared back on twopowerful hind legs. Its long tail lashed out, catching wulves and soldiersby surprise. Rorus shot again, hitting it above the eye. It went into a madrampage.
A hot breath hit Rorus on the back of his neck. He swept out anarrow and spun, stabbing the enemy in its mouth and shoving it over thebattlements. Gravity took over. He found his knife and caught a RothMordan in the arm. One push sent it sailing over the edge. He loadedhis bow and struck a third invader.
A blurred shadow. He saw a battle-axe flash toward him. He jumpedback, dodged the first swing, leapt over the second, but failed to clear thethird.
The axe cut his side. A blast of pain ripped through his body. Hefelt his mind go cold. He lashed out with his blade and somehow themonster fell. He sank to the ground, clutching his wound.
One of his archers caught him, "Commander!"
Rorus gasped in agony, fighting the pain, "Dear God, deliver us."
A clawed hand wrenched away the archer. Something picked Rorusup. He struck out, but the blow had no strength. A Roth Mordan threwhim over its shoulder and he yelled at the shock of ragged metal againsthis ribs. Others grabbed him, howling with laughter. They carried him tothe edge of the wall and prepared him for the thirty-foot plunge. He feltthe air receive him. His limbs thrashed out, catching anything in range.
Three came with him.
* * *
Cirrus was growing tired. It hurt to lift his sword. His movementswere sluggish and weak. On every side, he saw his friends fall. His mindwondered if his wife was safe. Did she reach the tunnels in time? Howcould the Emperor ever forgive him?
A Roth Mordan charged at him. He flinched. His sword went outinstinctively. Somehow he caught the creature with the blade. Cirrusshifted under the new weight and struggled to get his weapon free.
Someone grabbed him from behind. He had no power to fight back.All strength had left him.
It felt strange, being stabbed. He'd been injured before, but not thisway. Never before had it hurt so much. The world blurred. He collapsedto the ground on his knees, fighting for life, wanting to breathe, unableto hold on.
"Emperor," he whispered, "forgive me."
The enemy screamed in victory.
* * *
The tunnel door lay shattered in a thousand pieces on the ground.The Sherubim rested in three parts among the debris. The head wasnowhere in sight. An empty howl of air passed over the blackness of thetunnel entrance.
Mira's feet skid to a halt. Her mouth dropped open. Her fingersclutched her squirming daughter. Fairlight's terrified cries echoedfrom the walls at every side, trailed by a void of haunting quiet. Mira'sexhaustion kept her from comforting the child in her arms.
"Your son squalled too."
