Remnant Pages Spearhead Page 33

  It wasn’t over. Brunick had once observed a mildly drunk Cid win a bar brawl against a group of thugs singlehandedly without much trouble. Cid closed in fast and Brunick wobbled on his feet as Cid struck without restraint, knuckles cracking on his cheek. Brunick barely registered the blow when another right hook took him on the jaw.

  This isn’t like Cid at all! thought Brunick, considering the warrior he knew, the one that held himself in check his entire military career. This is a Cid that wasn’t holding back.

  Brunick responded, spinning on the spot to take the next hit on his back. In one fluid motion he cast the spear away and as he came to face again he punched angrily at Cid.

  Cid staggered at the heavy blow and Brunick reached in order to overpower his friend. He had been sure it would work, yet Cid’s fighting instinct suffered no deficit as he spun and slipped from Brunick’s grasp. Brunick raised his arms to defend himself but even so Cid’s fist snaked past his and struck him right on the throat.

  Pain took Brunick and then a duo of light-headedness and numbness below the neck detached him from his body. He collapsed, willing his artery to continue carrying blood. He was only barely aware that Cid was going for his spear again.

  Lidayel knew he had to make his play now and casted. Cid dived, rolling as he grabbed the spear. Just as he came back to his feet the sand around him shot up at Lidayel’s behest, a dire wind of magic flurrying the grains around Cid like a tormented dust devil. For moments Cid stood disoriented inside the eye of the wind.

  Lidayel could then only panic as he saw Mindevhier cutting vertically through the spiral of sand. The Hethellean weapon negated the magic, the wind faltering, and Cid charging…

 

  Far off Elmira was watching in horror, the plan failing miserably, Brunick down and bleeding. She saw Olexion abandoning her side, jumping from the ridge and rolling to break his fall, and then ran full tilt with his sword and shield to assist.

  Vanapha could not wait another moment. The choice was weighed and she found it better to wound Cid than have Lidayel killed. She knew Alex would never make the choice so she let loose the arrow on a collision course with a moving target. Lidayel was backing away in fear when he saw Cid go down miraculously with an arrow through his upper left leg. Cid moaned, struggling. Lidayel steeled himself and ran forward to make contact, hand reaching.

  The Colonel though was far from defeated, stopping Lidayel dead in his tracks as he swung Mindevhier threateningly. Lidayel had no choice but to back off once more.

  Cid saw Olexion approaching and his flight instincts took over. Painfully he wrenched himself upright and it took him but three steps to get his leg working again. Inhumanly he ran across the sands, past Brunick and toward the mines. Olexion made no show of stopping the pursuit.

  ‘Come along Summoner!’ he shouted over his shoulder.

  Elmira watched the scene drift away toward the mine entrance. Her nerves were killing her. She herself made way and it was then that one of the Rangers grabbed her by the arm.

  ‘It is dangerous lady, you cannot follow!’ spoke the man harshly.

  Elmira had no time to listen and raked at the man’s face. He yelped in surprise and Elmira broke free to follow. She bounded from the height, falling hard in a roll, imitating Olexion as best she could. Nonetheless she got back up quickly to sprint toward the mine. Never before in her life did she run faster, her causal leggings and shirt allowing her athletic legs every inch of motion they could muster.

  ‘We should follow,’ said Alex morbidly as Vanapha already hurdled herself from the ridge. They ran side by side.

  Brunick got up again, drowsy, but pushed himself so that he wasn’t far behind. At the entrance Brunick realized the Rangers were coming along to help their Captain. He halted to instruct.

  ‘Hold up lads, Cid might try and lose our trail and escape. You bunch wait right here and tackle him if he comes up, all right?’

  The path down was well lit, lanterns hanging brightly, signs of recent excavation laying new suspicions in Olexion’s mind. It was however the least of their problems for now. They should not have been forced to this and not a moment passed where the Ranger did not doubt the wisdom of following Cid here.

  Olexion and Lidayel came into the first great cavern; no sign of him yet.

  He heard shuffling feet and as he turned he could not warn Lidayel soon enough. Cid emerged from the darkness of a tunnel and struck out with the butt of his spear to knock Lidayel on the backside of the head. The Summoner went down instantly. From his back and waist Olexion branded his shield and sword again, with no need to beckon, as Cid approached.

  ***

  Elmira entered the dark and murk of the mine long abandoned. She flew into the passageways, not really knowing where she was going, realizing her fervour might see her lost in this maze.

  There it was! Clashing weapons! Olexion evidently had already caught up. She followed the noise, manoeuvring cautiously despite her haste as the jagged rock floor made for a treacherous footing. There were signs of recent excavation as fresh lanterns became more prominent the closer she moved to the sound. She then came to the central cavern where the tunnels converged, a vaulted ceiling supported by timbers and lit up with dozens of lanterns suspended by pegs and chains.

  In the centre, a spear striking a shield, was Cid and Olexion.

  Elmira approached, her legs feeling weak. They were fighting without restraint, Olexion using his round steel-plated shield to stave off the attacks and Cid himself using his skill with spear alone to keep Olexion from nicking him.

  Elmira had no idea what his initial intentions had been when he decided to follow Cid, but for now she could see an emotionless Olexion struggling frantically with his opponent. If Olexion let up for even a second Cid would kill him, and Elmira now knew that Olexion in turn would do anything if his survival depended on it.

  Of course, he’s a Ranger. Cid’s just a soldier; an expendable.

  Elmira could not allow it. She waited… and then saw it.

  Cid parried Olexion’s sword and kicked hard at his raised shield, driving the Ranger back, Olexion struggling to find his footing as his heel struck rock. This was how Cid created space and with it he could lunge with his spear.

  He never got to it. Elmira flung herself blindly into the fray, her heart pounding as she waited to be skewered, dimly aware that Olexion had stumbled behind her.

  Cid stopped in mid motion, his drive to kill subsiding at the sight of distress on Elmira’s face. A torrent of recognition came through his enclosed mind. For a moment again it seemed as if he was gaining control, the signs favourable

  Then it too subsided. He made a sudden cut, yet Elmira was ready as she leapt backwards. He pursued.

  ‘It’s me Cid, its Elmira!’ she cried, her feet shuffling backwards.

  Cid missed another stab, tearing at her shirt, splitting her skin, but nothing more than that, his accuracy dampened by the battle inside.

  Elmira found herself backed to the chamber wall, her hands touching cold rock. Cid came up and raised his spear to her throat, her tears dripping onto the blade. All it took was for him to straighten his arm and slide the edge cleanly through her neck.

  Elmira could find nothing in his eyes. ‘I love you Cid…’ she pleaded.

  On the ground Olexion could not get there soon enough and he hesitated to approach, unwilling to risk testing Cid’s response. He was just too far away…

  The story sickened his stomach. The soldier who warred to deserve his woman… and ends up killing her. She saved my life and now she will pay with hers.

  It never came. It never happened. Instead Elmira watched as Cid’s eyes gradually locked into hers, not just looking at her vaguely, but rather searching her face, almost at the point of recognition.

  For the third time Cid remained as still as a statue, as though a great internal struggle had left the command of his body to no one.

  Moments passed by painfully, Elmira noticing
Cid’s breathing slowing down, his bearing slightly less threatening and small muscles on his body quivering.

  Elmira raised her hand, gently brushing away the spear from her throat. Cid did nothing still. Almost recklessly she curled her arms around Cid’s neck, her face pressed against his bloody chest.

  There was no recognition, no tender response, neither was there any violence. Just nothing. She sobbed heartbrokenly, clinging onto the shell of the man she once knew.

  Olexion dared not make any sudden move, lest Cid be sent into a death drive again. He studied Cid. Somehow, someway, he had managed to prohibit himself from killing Elmira. He turned to look at Lidayel where he laid face down.

  He didn’t kill the Summoner either! Olexion realized. He’s winning!

  Yet it was no less Elmira that stayed his hand. Olexion could barely believe the courage of this girl and could not fathom how Cid’s love for her could be so immense to override the Priest’s corruption. Olexion had never seen anything like it before, neither had he expected to.

  Alex, Brunick and Vanapha made their way into the chamber, their presence preceded by their footfalls.

  They were equally shocked to see Elmira in a one-sided embrace with Cid, as Cid held his spear loosely in his right hand, looking dully at the cavern wall. They assessed the situation.

  ‘Plan Abraham’s?’ suggested Alex

  ‘Plan Abraham’s!’ agreed Brunick, as the big man already started sneaking up on an oblivious Cid.

  ‘What is a plan Abraham’s?’ asked Vanapha, eager to know her role.

  ‘It merely suggests that each man does what he thinks is the best possible solution to the current problem.’

  ‘That’s not a plan!’ hissed Vanapha.

  ‘It is if it works,’ said Alex, notching an arrow.

  Vanapha was aghast and would have scorned the man if the situation allowed it.

  ‘So what are you going to do?’ said Vanapha in a harsh whisper.

  ‘Give Brunick a moment’s distraction so that he can lock onto Cid, I don’t know how though,’ Alex looked at Lidayel, his figure unmoving at one of the tunnel entrances. He could only imagine what had happened, but saw enough to know he wasn’t hurt too badly. No wounds, maybe just a hard blow to the head.

  ‘We’re going to need Lidayel, can you use your Insight to try and wake him? You know, like go inside his head and shake things up?’ asked Alex.

  ‘I’m on it,’ said Vanapha, creeping along the chamber wall toward Lidayel’s body. None of them wanted to give Cid any reason to go into a frenzy again.

  Olexion merely sat on his haunches, studying the situation carefully, also content to remain motionless as the others appeared to have a plan. He would help if he got the chance, prioritizing getting Elmira out of the way.

  Brunick was halfway toward Cid now and glanced nervously back at Alex. Alex nodded encouragingly even though he did not have any idea of what he was going to do yet. Alex tensed, realizing that within a few steps Cid would detect Brunick and attack again. Somehow Elmira’s touch was keeping him docile, but for how long?

  Should I shoot to miss? No that won’t work…

  Shoot him? It is for his own good… No, these arrows pierce, I’ll end up wounding Elmira.

  Alex’s eyes drifted around the cavern, registering that Vanapha was already attending to Lidayel.

  There!

  The cavern boasted heavy oil lanterns. Alex knew then what he should do. Brunick had slowed his stalking, waiting for whatever Alex had in store. One of these lanterns was suspended by a small chain just five feet above Cid’s head.

  It was hard to judge, yet Alex was sure the Lantern would not fall directly on either Cid or Elmira. Just a distraction.

  Elmira watched with angst over Cid’s shoulder, her heartbeat racing and hoping Cid would not pick up on her arousal. She became rigid as she watched Alex aim at the roof and Brunick closing in on Cid.

  Alex fired, the twang of the bow piercing the cavern silence and the arrow neatly clipping the chain.

  At the last second Elmira slipped from her embrace with Cid and ran to Olexion. The lantern crashed, its oil reserves bursting into a surge of flame. It happened so near where Elmira had stood that her clothes would surely have caught fire.

  Cid himself was almost caught by the blaze, rather his white eyes exploded with pain at the sudden light. Even Brunick had to quash the urge to shield his eyes for an instant as he rushed forward. The moment Cid shielded his eyes was all Brunick ever needed. From behind Brunick’s big arms slipped underneath Cid’s arms and locked his hands behind his neck. Cid screamed violently, dropping Mindevhier, twisting and struggling like a captured animal to escape Brunick’s grasp.

  Brunick though demonstrated his strength as he subdued Cid even with a wounded arm and leg, countering every attempt the man made to escape. Elmira watched with apprehension, yet feeling for the first time that the cause was not lost.

  Vanapha entered Lidayel’s mind. She almost lost consciousness as she encountered one of the strangest mazes of mental activity she had ever touched. Lidayel’s mind was immense, and very dark. Only in one spot did she find the small entity that compromised the Lidayel they knew. She tugged until she could see response.

  ‘Lidayel, wake up!’

  It was a command, not a request.

  Vanapha pulled back as Lidayel regained consciousness. Vanapha helped him sit upright and pointed feverishly at something. Lidayel started seeing coherently again and realized he was staring at Brunick; his lock on Cid had driven the exhausted and wounded Colonel to his knees. In his face Brunick himself looked ready to collapse.

  ‘You have to heal Cid, now!’ shouted Vanapha, unsure whether the Summoner was wholly with them yet.

  Lidayel nodded, knowing what was at stake. He rose bravely, his feet barely aligning correctly. Olexion stood closer, walking by Lidayel’s side. They stopped in front of the kneeling Cid. Olexion kept his hand on his blade, ready for anything.

  Steeling himself Lidayel reached out and touched Cid’s forehead. He screamed and a gush of bloody foam seeped from the corners of his mouth. Lidayel worked his magicks, tentatively forcing himself into Cid’s mind almost like Vanapha did with him just moments ago.

  It wasn’t difficult to discover the corruption; it was everywhere, like a mirror image of the Colonel in a great struggle with the real Cid. It told of what Lidayel had explained; the procedure could prove fatal to the victim, as the taint proved almost inseparable from Cid’s faculties. There was hope however; he was a fresh victim, and what’s more he was fighting his way through the madness because of Elmira’s presence.

  In any case Lidayel struggled with the corruption as it rooted itself deeply, its obstinacy weakening the Summoner.

  Olexion realized that Lidayel was losing and beckoned Elmira. Lidayel drew his hand back, breathing heavily as rounded sweat drops trickled down his face. Unhesitant she walked up and then slowly she continued to sit down on her legs, her knees almost touching Cid’s. She reached out to caress his face.

  Again he seemed to calm, his resistance against Brunick withering and his head coming to rest as though he cherished Elmira’s touch.

  ‘I’m here Cid, I’ve come for you. I’ve waited for you. We meet each other in the middle, right Cid? Come on, I need you…’

  Olexion watched intently.

  ‘Now Lidayel, give it everything you got!’ said Olexion as Cid came to an impasse. Elmira drew back again as Lidayel slammed his palm across Cid’s forehead. Cid made indications of struggling again but this time Lidayel’s onslaught rendered the corruption helpless, accepting as much help from the Colonel’s intact mind as he could.

  The rest looked on muted as Lidayel’s face was the only indication of what was happening. Finally Lidayel let go, a look of clear relief evident as Cid’s head slumped. Brunick laid him down gently.

  Olexion hunched and lifted Cid’s eyelid, the hazel of his iris returned.

  ‘It’s don
e,’ panted Lidayel, ‘he is healed,’ he continued, the Summoner looking ready to faint again.

  Elmira wanted to sit by Cid’s side but Olexion interrupted her.

  ‘Let’s first get out of here, if someone else catches us in here then we’ll be sitting ducks. We are clearly not the only ones who know of this place.’

  Brunick flung Cid over his shoulder like he was a sleeping child and the party made a slow ascension to the surface. Lidayel brought the rear and the Summoner did not speak as a growing horror was returning to his thoughts, estranged memories catching up with reality.

  Chapter 43

  Lights on the Mountain

  Brunick found some well-deserved peace nurturing the fire in the pit behind Oldeloft. He was patched up and healed, much thanks to Lidayel, his muscles tender and sore. All the while he read from his booklet, finding solace in his brethren’s teachings. He knew it was far from over, that Lanston was still in danger, but somehow with Cid back it all seemed alright.

  Brunick was not a man who doubted himself, but years fighting next to Cid had made him understand that the Colonel gave him much needed direction, a voice of reason in battle that Brunick valued as much as his own instincts.

  It wasn’t just him either. Brunick knew whatever chance Lanston could hope to have would come from Cid. Both himself and Alex were good loyal soldiers, but even if they did had the means to warn Lanston they simply did not possess the acumen to guide them to survival.

  No, Cid was needed, and Brunick was, as he knew Elmira would be, selfishly grateful that their best friend was alive and well above all else. Brunick quashed then the urge to check up on the man, knowing he was sleeping and that Elmira was at his side - and would be until he woke up.

  ‘Mind if I sit?’ asked Vanapha, coming from nowhere.

  ‘’Course not’ said Brunick, shifting his weight and putting his book aside, ‘what does your stars say, are things making a turn for the better?’

  Vanapha smiled. ‘The heavens has changed much this last month, it’s been awhile since I’ve seen so many moons surface at one time. You might not see it right now, but soon Loikana will appear as well. To answer your question I cannot glean favour or hardship from the moons, only the onset; the truth of change is revealed in the heavens, the truth of outcome is decided by man.