CHAPTER 18 - ESCAPE
Titus calmly guided his horse around the carnage that spanned the path leading to the huge gate. The Great Gate still stood locked shut and defiantly blocking the route into Tanaria, although it looked a little worse for the last few days. The large red crusher variant of the beasts were repeatedly pounding on the warped and splintered doors that barred their way. They had heard the repetitive thud of their stone clad fists from some distance, long before seeing the mass of creatures. The red glow emanating from their bodies almost gave the impression of a fire flickering at the base of the large structure. Several of the solid oak trunks that made up the gate doors had been shattered, dislodged with their rivets sheared off, giving just enough space for some of the smaller creatures to swarm through and face the blades of the exhausted Tanarian garrison. Behind the affray, more beasts, that had once been civilized beings, milled about uncaring, waiting for their turn to move through the small breach, as arrows and projectiles rained down on them.
The two riders were ignored as they passed the rear edge of the milling possessed ones. Not wishing to linger, they spurred their horses up the incline and away from the scene. A blood-curdling scream nearby reinforced their mounts’ decisions to break into a gallop as the riders decided to make the best use of the last of the light. At sunset, the weather took a noticeable turn for the worse and a quick battering from some huge and painful hailstones did nothing to help Athene’s growing desperation to escape. Their pace dropped with the darkness, only slow progress could now be made. The boredom of the pace only gave Athene more time to consider her immediate future.
‘Who did you say you are handing me over to?’ she asked.
‘Wizards,’ replied Titus abruptly.
‘Can’t you just let me go? …You know you’re not as bad as I first judged you.’
‘I’m afraid not. You’re not a bad girl, but its just business - my word is my bond, besides I am trying to rebuild a reputation in this new world and to do that I need to be seen as both professional and reliable. Plus, of course, this job is cash on delivery and it’s a very generous payment.’
‘What on earth are you trying to build Titus? What do you need the money for? From what I can see you are pretty good at taking whatever you like.’ He smiled back, but the darkness hid his evil expression.
‘Oh, you know the usual things. I’m just trying to earn a little coin and be the best at what I do. Oh yes, and to build a reputation that will instil nightmares into those I hunt.’ She didn’t like his tone much, but had to ask.
‘And who do you hunt next that deserves such terror?’ The smile on his face dropped to a sneer.
‘I have heard rumours of a certain Su-Katii who was instrumental in my punishment and imprisonment inside the Temple for all those years; they say that he still survives inside the rift away from the reach of death. He is retired, yet still clings to his life in old age inside the Temple, surviving the millenniums that threaten to take his life. He knows that I am still young and now free, I want him to taste the fear of his demise when I arrive to drag him out from that rift and take him apart one little piece at a time. I can tell you girl, there are plenty of others who will be getting a visit from me - ancestors of my enemies; I have quite a list.
‘It won’t bring her back you know.’ Athene whispered under her breath but luckily he did not hear her last words. She turned her back on the thick-skinned warrior, watching the bushes slowly pass as they moved further along the rising path that brought a heavy and unwelcome snow fall. Through the growing white haze ahead, two menacing red forms came lumbering out to cross the trail, a smaller yellow flicker of movement behind indicated a further smaller beast was set back.
‘Steady’ whispered Titus. ‘They will just pass us by.’
‘I don’t want to alarm you,’ she said her voice rising in panic. ‘But they have just seen us and are charging towards us.’
‘Damn magicians,’ he cursed, spurring his mount forward in front of Athene then expertly ducking low in his saddle avoiding the large red arm that swung at his head. His blade that had instantly sprung into his hand arced through the air, slashing a long wound in the first beast’s shale-like side, delivering his agile riposte.
‘Let’s ride the hell out of here,’ Titus shouted back over to a now empty saddle. ‘…Oh crap.’
The yellow beast that had been following in the shadow of the larger red creature had sprung past Titus hurtling towards Athene’s pony, her mount twisted in its panic to get away, throwing Athene from her saddle onto the snow filled ground. Titus rolled his eyes in exasperation and vaulted from his saddle at the creature as it raked its talons across her chest, ripping her clothing but the thick rings of her chain vest below held back the vicious assault. With a thrust his blade pierced the yellow beast’s back as it crouched over her, its sharp tip stopping a fraction away from her face. She gasped in relief as the dead beast slid from his blade and then felt repulsed, she rapidly scrambled from under the beast as its blood begun to drip over her face. A second red beast charged Titus, its eyes glowing with hatred and loathing for the form it now faced, a vague memory of what it had once been enraged it further. Now free for the first time from the magic that had once sustained and controlled it, a new sensation drove it to madness - the need to feed. Both its arms swung down at the little figure that stood before it in the moonlight, but the figure rolled through the snow between it’s astride legs, a silver blade grated into the beast’s groin and with its strength ebbed out it tried to turn but instead stumbled and crashed to the ground. Titus’s Sword Breaker slammed into the large beast’s side, sealing its fate, but the weapon, not really designed to stab so deep, stuck in its foe at an awkward angle and as a result it could not be pulled free in time to meet the other creatures following assault. With a thunderous roar, that ruffled Athene’s hair, it made its last charge. Titus threw himself from its path hamstringing it with his remaining sword. It struggled to raise itself so he hammered his sword through the beast’s throat. With a final gurgle and one last twitch, the mountainside was once again still.
‘I find exercise is the best way to keep warm in the snow Athene.’ The darkness hid his sarcastic and triumphant smile as he retrieved his trapped blade, ripping it free with both hands then cleaned it of the gory remnants of the beast in the snow.
A sickening snap echoed about the hillside as an enormous red fist flew downwards from a thicket behind them, crushing the back of the pony Titus had ridden. Athene’s jaw dropped at the size of this one. It was huge. Splitting the bushes during its advance, it shovelled up the lifeless pony to its mouth and then with its great rocky jaws crunched its head clean off. An agile yellow female came charging in and Titus moved quickly to intercept the newcomer. His boot kicked forwards, sending the yellow beast skidding off the track and tumbling down through the snow covered bank. Still chewing the pony’s head, the huge Rock-Beast lifted the carcass and threw it towards them. Titus pulled Athene to the ground as the body thudded into a large pine tree behind them, sending a large shower of dislodged snow over them. Athene felt her anger raise as the cold snow went down the back of her neck. There was barely enough time to brush themselves down before the beast was upon them. Athene ran for the cover of the trees skidding in the snow, whilst Titus stood up waving his swords about in the air and shouting to attract the beast’s attention. The remaining horse bolted in terror, but with one whistle from its master it obediently halted again in its tracks.
Athene’s eye was attracted by the glint of steel in the moonlight as she spotted Tress’s sabre on the pony’s carcass. She snatched up the blade as Titus engaged the beast in a desperate struggle. In a new display of intelligence, the beast had grabbed a large branch and was swinging it wildly at the evading warrior, the extremities of the branch flaying him in a succession of near misses. With several light scratches on his face from the bush, Titus systematically chopped the branch from the beast’s fist. A huge rocky foot slammed into Titus sending him, winded, through the air and into a snow drift. The towering creature was quickly upon him. Two large hands clamped around his head and lifted him high into the air. His swords flailed the air in panic, struggling to strike the large arms that held him in their vice like grip.
The beast watched its prey dangling with curiosity as if trying to decide which would be the best part to eat first. If it squished its head there would be little left inside to enjoy. Titus began to swing his legs like a pendulum. Just as the beast decided that snapping his neck would keep the flavour in, Titus dropped his sword and with incredible dexterity, caught it between his feet. With the momentum from the swinging motion his feet flew up towards the beasts face plunging the sword deep into its eye. Such a howl had never been heard before as it dropped the man back into the snowdrift and pawed at its blinded eye. Titus was surprised to see the sparkling point of a silver sabre unexpectedly jutting from the beast’s belly. Oddly Athene had felt no resistance as she sliced the blade free through the beast’s side. The men seemed to always exert so much effort during their fighting, but to her it seemed so easy. She had to quickly jump backwards to be clear of the tumbling form. As it looked up at her with cold eyes she hacked off its head with a single chop. It reminded her of when she had to prepare a goose in the kitchen and use the cleaver to take off its head in one clean motion. The move was yet another trick she had picked up along the trail from all of the warrior’s talk; always finish off your opponent as quickly as possible. She was learning a lot on her travels. The yellow beast had now scrabbled back up the hillside and hungrily approached Athene on all fours, she backed away in fear at its sudden approach, her sabre’s tip extended towards the threat. Remembering the early conversation about the sabre she focused on her genuine fear of the moment that made her stomach twitch and her legs wobble. A white pulse radiated from the sword and the beast turned and ran in terror.
Gasping for air and nursing a sprained neck, Titus ploughed his way out of the snowdrift to find Athene standing over him with a shining sabre in her hand. They both froze in indecision for a moment. She noted that he held a freshly drawn dagger in his left hand.
She weighed up the situation. Was this to be her one chance at escape? If she sent him running in terror how would she survive alone in this harsh terrain? It would not be long before he would return from the swords magic and it would be unlikely that she could cut him down.
‘I thought you said that you were a mighty warrior,’ said Athene. ‘Well, that thing certainly gave you a run for your money. You were lucky I was here to save your arse, I think.’
The tension of the moment defused as he gave a slight laugh.
‘Unfortunately I cannot recall the lesson from the Temple on how to combat a fifteen-foot man-mountain that uses ponies for slingshots, but I’ll add it to my list of things to brush up on. It would seem that the world has changed considerably since I last walked it.’ She looked down at him feeling smug at his humbled position in the snow.
‘Obviously, when a little girl has to save a mighty Su-Katii, I can see there were flaws in your training,’ she said as she rested on the sword, still in indecision.
‘Enough of the sarcasm, Athene, your tongue can be as sharp as that sabre in your hands at times. Now please be sensible, drop the sword and let us get on our way to meet with a roof and some warmth. We are heading to an old lodge that I know of which is not far away. It will serve us well with this weather front coming in. Go and fetch my horse because we are both going to need to share it from here on in.’
With a sigh she dropped the weapon and did as commanded. But a new plan for her freedom was slowly formulating in her mind, she did not like it one bit, but her options were dwindling fast. Swords were not the answer against this man - or were they?
They rode two-up with Athene in front, for another two hours, resentfully huddling together for warmth as the weather further deteriorated. Titus’s arms encircled Athene’s slim waist, moving only to adjust the reigns, or occasionally rubbing at his sore neck and fidget with his rapidly healing leg.
Their journey had taken them higher up into the mountains again and their pace had slowed drastically, as the heavy snow brought with it a total white-out to cut through. As they veered off the path to the left and traversed their way through a thicket a structure suddenly appeared through the whiteness. Relieved at the prospect of warmth and a meal they entered quickly, leading their mount into the dark shelter with them. Titus went about lighting a fire the old fashioned way, with flint and tinder as the wind whistled through the generous gaps in the rotting door. Whilst Titus struck the flint above the tinder repeatedly, Athene made out a well-prepared room stacked with logs, then darkness prevailed until the next strike of the flint when pots and new looking utensils could be seen lining the fireplace. With the third strike, the tinder lit and slowly the fire took hold, its living flames radiated out a flickering light across the room.
‘I have to say Athene, there is nothing like the smell of a true wood fire.’ Titus half-muttered to himself.
‘I believe it would be even better with some rabbit stew cooking on it.’ she added.
She could now see clearly around the room, which was remarkably well-equipped. With clean fire-pots, a knife and even a chopping board it would make her meal that much easier to prepare. This lodge was no chance encounter that they had strayed across, it was prepared and purpose-built. She had heard Henrick’s tales along the trail about how he would have safe houses assigned during a campaign in which his men could visit when raiding an enemy’s lands during the harsh winters. A hessian sack hanging from a rusty spike contained some slightly ageing winter vegetables and potatoes. Perfect, she thought as the cook inside her took over. She could easily have been back on her cook’s wagon again on the trail. Titus tended to his horse as Athene prepared the meal, relishing the increasing warmth of the now blazing fire as she did so.
Soon after they had finished the meal, both quickly took turns to dash outside into the freezing blizzard to relieve natures’ call, a brief but chilling experience. The wooden bed in the corner with a down-filled mattress beckoned her to come to its warm folds but she resisted. Despite feeling the sleep-inducing effects of a full belly from the best-tasting meal that she could remember eating for a long time, she could not sleep yet. Titus, rubbed his equally full stomach, then half-limped, half-waddled over to his horse and pulled free the naked blade of the magic sabre and began a speech, evading eye contact with Athene as he did so.
‘There is something special about this sword.’
He looked down at its faultless craftsmanship for a short time.
‘I almost feel uncomfortable in saying this, but you know that there is no escape outside in that blizzard and I don’t want you slitting my throat whilst we sleep. I also have no desire to tie you up for the night either, a little runt like you would only wriggle free,’ He cleared his throat. … ‘Besides I have no rope.’
He drove the sabre deep into the thick oak floor with both hands, half its blade sank into the floor, close to the bottom of the bed. Pushing all of his weight onto its hilt he was satisfied that it was lodged solidly. He shortly followed this action with his own variety of weapons.
‘It will take more than a woman’s hand to pull these free in a hurry and I must warn you, I am an incredibly light sleeper, I would easily feel you move from the bed – I’m afraid we will be sharing it, so please put any ideas from your mind. Now go to bed. I will seek nothing but warmth in there from you tonight.’
She awkwardly tried to removed her steel vest, Titus was about to lend a hand but decided it was much more interesting watching her struggle with it over her head. Eventually red-faced and with a pout she freed herself and following with the outer garments she slipped into the cold bed and replied.
’Relax Titus; I didn’t save you earlier so that I could slit your throat whilst you sleep. Besides I think that I am starting to enjoy our …how do you say, little exchanges?’
‘Hmm, now I really am worried,’ he replied as he also eased out of his armour and pulled away the padded under-garments and slipped into the far side of the bed.
‘Damn,’ said Titus, flinching from the cold and trying to deflate any tension, ‘I was hoping you would have had it warmed up a little by now.’
Exhaustion came over her like a wave as she stared at the mesmerising dance of the flames across the room. Her head jerked upwards as she struggled to stay awake.
‘Bad dream or are you just a fidget?’ Titus asked.
‘As I said, the slightest of movements will wake me.’
‘I suppose they taught you that in the temple as well, did they?’ she replied curtly.
She knew that the opportunity for her freedom had finally raised its twisted head and she had to act out her plan now, for what she saw as the one and only chance of her release depended on. She focused herself on the task ahead for a second then wriggled deep down the bed into the covers.
‘Hey,’ Titus protested as some of the covering furs were dragged from him, he quickly tugged some back. Athene’s foot edged out of the bottom of the bed, her toes stretching out to touch the cold hilt of the embedded sabre. Focusing her mind she deliberately drifted back to some of her more wild and passionate nights of times long gone by, she felt the sabre warm to the touch of her foot. Her nervous fingers slowly drifted over her thighs and slid between her legs helping to finding the exact emotion she sought. After only the slightest of movements she could not help but release a deep sigh. Titus stirred as the sabre’s magical glow filled the room with the same power displayed earlier, only now as she had intended, instead of fear Athene’s lustful thoughts were projected into the room.
His lips met hers with an unexpected intensity which forced her to gasp for breath and she almost fought him off with the surprise at such a strong reaction from the sword’s magic. A hand replaced hers between her thighs, while his other hand impatiently tore open her undergarments. Her already hard nipples were almost painful as they were further exposed to the cold air but were soon warmed by his ravaging tongue. Quickly tearing off his shirt Titus paused over her for a second taking in the exquisite view, his Su-Katii tattoos now burned like fire on his skin with a red magic that helped illuminated the room. She pulled him back down to her beckoning lips, his tattoos faded back down to an unnatural shade as their malevolent powers were neutralised by her touch. He breathed the unexpected words from his hot lips into hers repeatedly like a man delirious, ‘I must have you, I must have you.’
There was no turning back now; Athene’s plan to use the sword’s power to win over the warrior’s heart and her freedom was now in full effect. As Titus expertly brought one exquisite sensation after another to her trembling body, she found herself shamefully excited in her deeds and was now repeating his words back as she craved more of his continued touch. With the magic in the room driving Titus’s desires, their lovemaking was wild and energetic, Titus flipped Athene over to enable him to drive his needs deeper inside her and with every stroke his rhythm grew more frantic, sending her spiralling up toward certain orgasm. The pony whinnied softly, disturbed by the inhuman noises they were making. Panting with pleasure, Athene lifted her head from the covers; glancing up through her ruffled hair she faced her shameful, but now uncaring, reflection in the glowing blade. Her eyes lost focus, hiding her shame as she felt his rippling muscles tense with his quickening pace. All doubts of her actions were extinguished as her climax broke her concentration. Exhausted and sated she glanced back at the sword with a sly and satisfied grin, for it had permitted her plan for freedom. Suddenly, as his hand reached for hers she realised exultantly that she no longer needed the sword’s powers, for she had awoken something new deep within. Athene’s heart told her that he was now hers and she pulled him in close and began to dream of her freedom.