Chapter Seven
Dark Invasion
We made our way slowly, but without delay, across Ezon. We skipped Sarran and instead went south through Portanisha and then Orpital. The grandness of the Targon Mountains lay before us. We’d seen them for several days now and yet it seemed that we’d gotten no closer for they still lay off in the distance.
At midday Kuri stopped. He had the girl with him and I pulled up alongside both, curious to know why he had stopped. He was staring at the mountains before us as if in a deep trance and although I wanted to ask what was going on I waited, not wanting to bother him for he seemed to be praying.
Kuri spoke all of a sudden, “We will be in the foothills of the mountains in another two days’ time. The situation here in these mountains is a very grave one.”
He turned from the mountains to look at me and the character of his bearing had me sitting up in the saddle in expectation of something I didn’t think I’d want to hear.
“Benaiah, this is as far as you and I go together. I’ll take the girl on from here, but you will need to go another way.”
I was so startled at his words that for a moment I had the thought that he was trying to play a cruel joke on me, but that wasn’t his way. Instead, cold hard reality stared me in the face. It was the first time that I’d had to face it on my own in years and I wasn’t prepared for it. The words fumbled from my lips in a rush, “What am I to do? I thought I was to be with you?”
“You always will be, in spirit Benaiah, but for now our paths go a different way. Even though we are parted in the lands of the living, what I have taught you goes on with you and so a part of me will always be with you.”
Beyond even thinking of embarrassment before the girl, I felt tears fall down my face unchecked. Why was this happening?
I looked to the mountains ahead, searching for answers. Kuri’s people were in those mountains. Was he getting rid of me because I wasn’t of his blood? No, I knew better than that. But the question of why remained.
“You will see me again Benaiah. When that day will be I do not know, but I’m sure that it will take place.”
Still staring at the mountains I asked, “What about my final lesson? How are you going to teach me diplomacy, if you’re not with me?”
“That’s easy, just do and say what you know I would do and say.”
“What about the dangers of these mountains? You can’t want to face them all by yourself and what of your people? What if they don’t listen to you? What then?” I asked, as I finally turned to look at him again. I felt completely raw and exposed before the world, lost at the idea of going on without him by my side; teaching me the difference between right and wrong and the endless encouragements that he’d given me so generously, not to mention the feeling of self-worth and love that he had imparted to me.
Kuri’s words were kind, but the look in his eyes was firm, “I can take care of myself Benaiah.”
I looked down to the ground. Obviously he could take care of himself, but I had just figured that it would always be me and him slaying monsters together.
Then, in a way that I hadn’t experienced from Kuri since our first days together in the Wastelands, his words emblazed across my mind, “Oh Benaiah, if you could only see what I do of what is to come! Whether together or apart we both strive to please El Elyon. In His name we will both slay our share of monsters. This is not an end, but rather it is the beginning of something that will go on into eternity without end, an eternity where I want to have you right by my side, seeing and partaking in all that has been prepared for those who are faithful to believe.”
I looked up into Kuri’s eyes then, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt just who he was. The clues had been there and I had thought it many times, but now I knew. I knew. I knew and the enormity of knowing almost drove me to fall off my horse to my knees, but Kuri’s hand kept me from doing so.
I stared into his knowing eyes, seeing the wealth of a future that I could only imagine, but falling short in terms of comprehending.
Completely overwhelmed and yet needing to be of service I asked, “What would you have me to do my King?”
“Remain faithful and help those of our shared belief in El Elyon, even as by your faith you open the doors for others to walk through into what has been prepared before the foundations of this world were ever laid. The Ruach of my Father is strong within you. Listen to Him even as you have been faithful to listen to me. He will lead you in the way you should go and He will be your strength in the darkest of hours and your encouragement in the face of all opposition. I send you out armed and ready for the battle. Armed with El Elyon’s Spirit there is nothing that you cannot accomplish, for even as you ask in faith so shall it be done!”
Kuri pulled back over into his saddle and with kind but firm resolve he asked, “Are you ready for the journey?”
I knew all his words were true even as I felt a strength within that was not my own, so even though my human weakness said no I knew that the opposite was true, because I was a man not ruled by my flesh but rather by the spirit of El Elyon living within me and so I wished it forever to be.
I nodded and Kuri spoke, “When the time is right I need you to go and collect my bride and bring her to me. She rejected me of old and yet the prophecies will be fulfilled. Although she has done evil she will yet be flawless in my sight, when she turns from her fallen ways and believes in me, for I am the King!”
“You are the King! Where will I find her?”
“In the country of Vella to the far north there is a temple over which she presides as high priestess, but I tell you now that she is a witch and has fallen away after every abominable practice of the fallen ones and to them she is chained. Do not go for her now, as it is not yet time, but when it is time, go without fear for I will be with you as a strong defense against all that oppose you!”
“I will do it, even as you give me strength,” I solemnly pledged.
“I know you will Benaiah. I know you will.” Without another word Kuri turned and rode on towards the mountains.
The girl, I’m not sure how much she understood, but she had the look of one who had stumbled onto deep truth. I prayed that she realized the full truth of whom it was that she rode with. Turning slightly she waved back at me and I waved at her in return.
I watched them a little while longer and then I turned my horse northward. Kuri was about El Elyon’s business and so even must I be.
*****
I rode northward out of Orpital and into the Kingdomer Nation of Thyana. Thyana was a grassland country. Long drifting moors capped off with the bronzed heads of mature grasses.
Here and there the bright colors of late blooming wildflowers were intermixed with the dry grass. It was a beautiful country. Wide open with more room to grow.
As beautiful as it was it did not call out to me to make it my home, but rather like a pretty picture it was something to be enjoyed in the moment before moving on. My home, if I ever had one, would be somewhere in the higher elevations where all four seasons of the year were arrayed to their most extreme glory.
Another thing that came to me, as I looked at the endless miles of grass before me, was the lack of trees. I liked trees.
Something else that began to stand out to me was the towering column of black smoke rising up from the prairie in the distance. I was reasonably sure that it wasn’t a grass fire, as it seemed too localized. Although as dry as the grass was it might turn into one.
That possibility suggested I go around the smoke in order to avoid being caught and taken down by a fast-moving prairie fire. Despite that sound logic, I found myself still headed for the columns of black smoke on the horizon before me.
A sense of danger and a thirst for adventure spurred me on. I couldn’t help but think that I was a fool though. Fool or not, I wanted to see the cause of the smoke and meet my future head on.
An hour later I spurred the old mare up another rise in the terrain close to where the smoke originated. I was getting close now and I could tell that the smoke was coming from several fires and not just one.
I rode on and as I cleared the last rise that barred my view I came to an abrupt halt. The source of the fires were wagons. The kind of wagons that farmers used to convey their goods to market.
There were 10 or more of about 30 wagons set ablaze upon the prairie and it was as I had feared. Small prairie fires were starting up around the blazing wagons.
The instinct to leave was strong, but the bodies lying about on the plain called out to me. I pulled my sword free of its saddle scabbard and held it down along the side of my mount as I slowly eased the mare towards the scene of carnage openly spilled out onto the grass of the prairie.
The wagon train looked to have been caught in an ambush of some kind. That was mildly surprising, as how did one ambush in such an open country as this?
I drew closer until I was alongside one of the burning wagons. The smoke burned my eyes and shortened my breath, but I ignored both as I was too taken in by the horror of what lay around me.
Men, women, and children of all ages lay strewn about in the grass. They all bore the marks of having been viciously mauled. What beast could be responsible for such a scene of chaos as this?
Many of the dead lay with eyes still open, staring at the sky with such a look of horror on their faces that it must surely have been the imprint of the fear they had been made to feel in their last moments of life. What animal possessed the ability of invoking such horror as this?
My stomach churned at the sight of a child almost mauled in half. My grip tightened repeatedly on my sword as I slowly made my way down the long line of wagons stretched out on the plain.
These people hadn’t stood a chance against whatever had set upon them. It didn’t look like they had even made an attempt at self-defense. What could so overwhelm people as to not even fight?
The hair lifted on the back of my neck as my mind ran wild with possibilities. I had slain monsters for over a year, but those bulky counterparts didn’t match this scene of horror. Saber Cats were something to be defended against by even the weakest of individuals and yet these people had fled in abject terror.
The carnage about me had the imprint of evil all over it. I drew the mare to a halt as she began to balk. She had no love for the sights and burning smoke of the scene from the pits of Sheol and I didn’t blame her.
I heard a moan and my head whipped in the direction of the cries. I wanted to know the story of this place and at least bring myself some closure as to the horror that I had seen. I dismounted and hurried over, sword in hand, towards a small hummock of raised grass nearby.
There, on the sheltering side of the small rise, lay a man who was near death. He was awash with blood and I could barely fathom what willpower the man had managed to exert to even survive to this point.
I knelt down beside him and his eyes flared wide in alarm. Sucking in a deep and painful sounding breath he grabbed hold of me and rasped out in a whisper, as if in fear of being overheard, “Run you fool!”
“What happened here?” I asked in return.
“Happened? All Sheol broke loose is what happened! They’re not still here are they? You need to get away now before they get you!” he finished with renewed urgency.
“Who is they? Who gets me?” I asked, but just then there was a husky, somewhat off key, roar that I identified as belonging to a lion.
The man’s face twisted into a caricature of extreme fear as he whispered out brokenly, “You’re too late! They're back, the Lion Men of Itarga!”
“Lion Men?” I whispered back hoarsely in alarm, but the man was dead, his face frozen over with a mask of fear.
Trembling slightly, I lifted my head up over the small rise to take in the long stretched out line of idle wagons. I saw nothing but the buzzards that had started to congregate overhead in large numbers.
Then I saw it! My heart froze over within me at the sight of a creature that could only have been designed by the fallen Malachim of Sheol.
What was before me was the body structure of a large powerfully built man. He was moving about between the bodies, stopping occasionally to tear into one before moving on. The resemblance to that of a man stopped at the upper chest area where humanity blended into the head of a lion. I had heard rumors of these creatures as a child, but it was said that they were all dead a long time ago. However, the opposite reality was right here before me.
How was a hybrid being of this sort even possible?
My eyes took in more motion further on down the line of wagons and I saw more of the Lion Men headed this way. Fear mobilized me and I backed away from the knoll top and circled back around for my horse.
The way it looked, these Lion Men were working their way back down the line of their savagery, looking for victims that they had missed the first time. I would be discovered instantly as these creatures no doubt possessed some of the instinctual abilities of the big cats that had been bred into them.
My foot was on the stirrup of my horse’s saddle, when a scream belonging to a woman rang out in a tone that expressed extreme terror. Unable to stop myself from looking I turned and saw the body of the shrieking woman thrown from a wagon to the ground by one of the Lion Men, who burst out in a language that I couldn’t comprehend, but which sounded too dark and animalistic for the surrounding air to bear.
The sounds of words, understood or not, coming from the mouth of a lion set upon the proportions of a man was beyond unsettling. Unsettling or not, the fate of the woman cried out to me.
The other Lion Man on the ground was even now tearing at the clothing of the woman as she twisted about on the ground in a desperate attempt to be free. Her terror was so great that I couldn’t leave. I just couldn’t.
I forsook my attempt at a stealthy retreat and ran towards the unnatural aberration of a man now bent on corrupting the defenseless woman with an unholy seed of demonic manifestation. I was beyond scared, but I was who Kuri had taught me to be. To have left the woman would have been cowardice, and yet to attempt to save her surely must be suicidal on my part.
I rammed my sword blade clear through the back of the creature’s neck and on a choked roar of agony the creature ceased from ravaging the helpless woman who lay bloody and half bare beneath him and turned on me as I withdrew the sword.
The Lion Man fell over on his side still staring up at me with a look of such loathing hatred that I felt my blood chill. His eyes were decidedly not human just as little else about him was.
To my horror I realized that, though it had been but seconds since I had killed this one, there had also been a second one to deal with, which I had forgotten in my rush to the woman’s aid. I wheeled around only to see the second individual pounce from the wagon with teeth bared.
I tried to bring my sword up but it was too late and I was driven into the ground by the weight of the Lion Man. I rolled off to the side and scrambled up to my feet only to be sent reeling backward through the air and slammed into the side of the wagon.
Blood ran down my chest beneath my torn shirt. How had I been wounded?
My eyes took in the hands of the creature across from me and saw that the fingers of the creature had the talons of its feline heritage. Everything I knew or thought I had known of the world was being redefined in this moment.
I’d lost my sword and I watched as, with talons spread and jaws open, he came at me on two legs with a roar of rage that sounded darker than the night.
The wagon behind me was ablaze with flame. Blindly I reached up and grabbed hold of the awning cover of the wagon and pulled. Flames kissed my skin as the burning canvas tore free of the wagon. I slung it toward the charging Lion Man and miraculously I saw it envelop him like a flaming curtain.
He shrieked and tore at his burning prison, but that wasn’t what my ears picked up on. I turned to peer over the side of the wagon to behold a baby squalling in abject fear as the heat of the flames started to get close to it.
I reached over the side of the wagon and lifted the baby out. One glance told me enough to see that the baby’s mother was dead and that her tormentor was about to be free of his fiery diversion. Looking farther down the line of wagons I saw that the scuffle had attracted the attention of even more of the Lion Men. Upwards of 20 of the hideous creatures were bounding towards me on all fours.
I turned and ran for my horse as if I was once more being chased by a monster in the valley of the Holy Mountains. The mare had stayed where I had left her and that alone had to be an act of El Elyon, because I could clearly see the crazed looked in her eyes as she saw what was chasing after me.
I vaulted upwards into the saddle, my mind awash with the panicked need to get away. I urged the mare around with my knees and she lurched forward into a hard gallop.
I prayed I wasn’t killing the young life held fast in my left arm from the hardness of the ride. How did one even hold a baby?
I looked behind and despaired. Lion Men chased after us on all fours with the speed of their feline counterparts.
Who had wrought such evil? Despite the fear and panic of the moment I felt extreme anger take hold over me. I turned forward and as I came abreast of the last wagon, which was burning, I thrust the reins of the horse between my teeth and, reaching out with my right hand, I tore free one of the wooden side struts that formed the support for the awning cover.
Half of the shaft of wood in my hand was ablaze with fire and leaning low over the side of the horse I touched it to the dry grass which took flame; but it wasn’t going to be enough!
“El Elyon, I need help!”
A wind of unexpected force blasted past me and left me blinking in its wake. I heard the roar of flames crackle to life behind me like a gust of wind blowing through a narrow corridor. I glanced behind only to behold a wall of fire as wide as the horizon departing quickly behind me in the shape of an outward V.
There was no sign of my pursuers, but I did not slow the mare down. El Elyon had saved us. He’d answered my call for help just as Kuri had said that He would.
I looked down and met the silent stare of the baby in my arms. A little hand, stained with blood from the open gashes on my chest, rose to squeeze playfully at my lips. Despite everything I felt myself smiling. How was such innocence as this baby’s stare possible after all I had just seen and experienced?
I turned from the baby's playful fingers at my lips to look up towards Shamayim. “Now what?” I asked.
Instead of an answer falling from the skies above I instead felt an indwelling voice say within me, “The way lies before you.”
Feeling shaken by the response I continued to ease the mare forward at an easier pace. I really hadn’t had my question answered, but questioning further seemed wrong.
As I rode the enormity of my situation became more and more heavy to bear. I didn’t know where I was. I didn’t really know where I was headed other than north. And I didn’t have a clue as to what to do to care for a baby.
The baby had started to cry and feeling distraught at the noise I whispered, “Creator help me!”
“Trust and patience. I will keep you.”
*****
Hours went by during which I looked back many times, but there were no signs of pursuit. The baby was crying incessantly now and it was destroying what little calm I’d been able to instill in myself during the past two hours.
It was getting dark when I topped another rise and saw more smoke, but this time the source was from a chimney. A tidy looking homestead lay in a cul-de-sac of the prairie. Studying it closely I felt peace upon seeing the orderliness of its upkeep.
By the time I reached the buildings heavy shadows had fallen over the land and the air had turned chill. The baby needed care and the old mare was on the verge of collapse.
I wasn’t doing too well either, but I could have gone on. In fact I could ride for days on end if it meant never encountering creatures such as the Lion Men ever again. Somehow the world was a dirtier and more decrepit place for knowing that they existed.
I walked the old mare through the barnyard and up to the house. I stopped and waited as I sensed my arrival had not gone unnoticed. It was hard waiting because the baby only continued to wail piteously, its voice hoarse with its need for milk.
A man separated away from the dark shadows at the barn and came closer. He had a large bow in his hand and I watched as he tucked an arrow into his belt. He was a capable looking sort and I had no doubt as to how proficient he might be at putting an arrow where he wanted it.
A tall boy stepped away from the corner of the house toting a wicked looking pitchfork. As aware of danger as these people were I couldn’t help but wonder how they hoped to stand up to a pack of lion hybrids.
The man came to a stop beside the house and laid his bow against the wall. “You best be getting down off that horse lad. Yuh look about done in.”
As if on cue with the man’s words the door of the house opened letting out a golden array of color into the gloom of the barnyard. Two women hustled out in a rustle of skirts. I instantly trusted both of them and handed the squalling child down to them.
They took the baby and instantly it seemed that there was order to the night. The baby still screamed, but I knew it would be all right and I felt relief wash over me.
I started to dismount only to half slide off the horse. I gripped onto the saddle horn, but two strong hands were already ushering me the rest of the way to the ground.
“Easy lad,” came the voice of the farmer and I let go of the saddle. I hadn’t realized that I was so tired.
The process of walking felt strange, but I resolutely headed toward the golden light still coming from the open doorway. I stepped inside and blinked as my eyes adjusted to the brighter light in the house.
I felt myself blush at the sight of one of the women breast-feeding the baby. I almost turned to leave the room, but the farmer pushed me from behind further into the house.
The second woman, who I took to be the farmer’s wife, came forward and touched my chest and pulled the shreds of my shirt apart. I watched her face cringe and then she was leading me over to a chair and pushing on my shoulders to make me sit down.
I didn’t like the way my legs collapsed under me at the slight insistence of her hands. I’d thought I was stronger than this.
Numbly I felt myself stripped of my upper clothes and then the woman was washing at my chest with a warm rag. Her hands were shaking. Not really wanting to look, I did anyway and in turn was shaken by what I saw.
Were those jaded gouges across my chest for real?
They had to be and yet I had not thought my injuries were so extensive. I had been so intent on just escaping. I could’ve died!
Feeling a little more aware, I sat up a little and gripped the sides of the chair as I began to feel the pain I had been numb to in the past few hours. In one spot I could see the white of my ribs showing. The sight of that made me queasy and I had to look away quickly.
The old farmer’s face was grim as he asked, “How far from here?”
“A little better than two hours hard ride. I don’t think I was followed, but I can’t be sure of it.”
He nodded and headed for the door, followed by the tall boy. The boy looked a lot like the nursing woman and I surmised it must be her son. The older woman noticed my gaze on the younger woman and said, “A survivor.”
My eyes rose to the woman before me and she went on, “The Lion Men are coming more often. They are venturing further into the Kingdom of Thyana than ever before. They killed her husband and younger children about two days ago. They lived on a farm 2 miles from here. Such a nice young family they were and now…… it’s just her and the boy.” As she finished her voice cracked with emotion.
My hand closed over her fingers and her eyes met mine and with my mind full of the imagery of the massacred caravan I said, “You’re not safe here!”
Her lips quivered as she said, “I know.”
She reclaimed her hand and picking up a needle and thread she said, “I’m sorry, but this is going to hurt.”
I nodded and gritted my teeth as she started to pull the torn flesh back together.
I stared at the woman nursing the baby that I’d saved from the burning wagon. Somehow the sight of the two of them helped to take my mind off the pain.
Endless tears flowed down the woman’s cheeks as she held the baby to her. So much grief and sorrow. It hurt to see the look of loss on her face as she endlessly stroked the baby’s head while she cooed softly to it.
I could see her reliving over and over the experience that had taken her own family from her. Then I saw her give a watery smile and I looked down to see the baby cooing back up at her as its hunger was finally abated. Of all of us right now, the baby looked the most content.
It knew nothing of the world or the danger that we were all in. All it knew was the comfort of the warm milk in its belly and the loving attentions that were being given to it in endless supply. In an instant I found myself envying the blissful ignorance of the baby.
For me the world was opening up to be a place of heartbreak and sorrow. I felt anger course through me at the knowledge that this innocent baby would someday know for itself the fears and pestilences of the times that we lived in. It wasn’t right. It would never be right!
“Where do you come from?”
Blinking, I gazed back up to the older woman before me and answered, “The Kingdom of Smirnaz.”
“My you’ve traveled far! What has brought you to Thyana?”
The woman was trying to distract me, which I found mildly annoying at the moment, but I let her as it was only polite, “I’m not sure why. I just found my way here.”
“Well, I know why you’re here.”
Surprised I looked at the woman, “You do?”
She nodded and said, “Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because El Elyon sent you to us.”
I stared at her for a moment then looked over at the baby, once again hungry for more milk. I conceded that it was apparent that I had been of some good, but did that constitute my presence here as being divinely inspired?
The baby had all but fallen asleep and I watched where its little blood stained fingers lay against the woman’s throat. My blood. I found the nursing mother looking at me only to see her mouth out quietly, “Thank you!”
I nodded, happy in the knowledge that I had been instrumental in bringing some measure of comfort to this grieving mother. I was being tugged to my feet and several steps later was pushed down onto a warm mat by the fire. My eyes closed as if drugged and I drifted off into a dreamless sleep. I was too tired to even wonder as to what tomorrow would bring.