“Impressive.” The carriage stopped at a field of lavender colored flowers. Just beyond it, lay the remains of a forest, blackened trees coated in ash. Thin layers of dark green leaves could still be found in fitful patches at the top.

 

“It must have been a Shadebringer.” General Halding grinned with glee as he spoke. What a wonderful opportunity. The Count would hunt down this creature, that was a surety. Who else could hope to kill it? And, of course, as his second in command, he would be right at his side. Perhaps in battle, the Count would be mortally wounded, and he would be forced to finish off the creature. Yes, what a tragedy that would be. Naturally, he would have to consume part of the Shadebringer and take over the Count’s position as well.

 

“Do you agree, Petalman?”

 

The petal creature was kneeling in the field of flowers with its orange palm on the ground.

 

It spoke in clear crystal waves. “Perhaps. We have never felt a Shadebringer’s connection to the land before, only the Count’s. This creature’s connection felt..similar to his.”

 

“There is no question then. None but a Shadebringer could have scorched this forest so thoroughly.”

 

The light was beginning to fade and the day turn to a cold evening. The sooner they left, the sooner he could enjoy a cascade of never-ending drinks by the hearth of the tavern.

 

‘“Come, Petalman. We must report to the Count immed-

 

With the fine tuned senses of a hunter, and one experienced in the dealings of death, General Halding flung his body to the ground.

 

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.

 

Three arrows swished through the air over his head and struck the wooden carriage. The horses snorted and whined with terror, raring to gallop away.

 

“KEEP THOSE HORSES STILL BOY!” He did not know the boy’s name. In this land, names were of little value. You never knew their holders for long.

 

“YES GENERAL HaLDiNG!” The boy’s voice cracked with fear as he strained to keep the horses from fleeing.

 

Halding hastily crawled over the ground to the side of the carriage not facing the forest.

 

“WHY DID YOU NOT TELL ME THEY WERE HERE PETALMAN?!” He shouted in outrage.

 

The petal creature sat peacefully in the field of flowers. Another three arrows flew from the forest. Each arrow hit their mark, piercing through the petal creature's chest. In moments, orange petaled flowers grew into the arrow shaped holes until no holes remained.

 

“We thought you were aware, General.”

 

His first act as Count would be to incinerate every Petalman between Solun and the Ash Mountains. For now, he had three archers to kill.

 

He climbed into the carriage and threw the boy out onto the dirt. If he was lucky, they would waste their arrows firing at the runt.

 

“GENERAL HALDING PLEASE!”

The boy scurried onto his feet to get back in, but the horses were already charging away toward the forest.

 

Halding whipped the horses forward faster. The carriage was a few heartbeats from the black treeline, yet he still had not seen his enemies.

 

A red light sparkled high above in the trees. There’s one of them. Two more lights appeared next to the first. As the carriage drew closer, the lights radiated brighter and Halding saw them for what they were. Growing orbs of Flame.

 

Shit.

 

At the edge of the treeline, he vaulted out of the carriage into the safety of the forest.

 

The carriage exploded from the impact of the huge flame orbs, and splinters of wood flung from the wreckage stabbed into his back.

 

“AGH!” Halding cursed under his breath. Besides being forced to work with the Petalman, paying a white robe for restoration was his least favorite activity.

 

He peeked around the trunk he hid behind and spotted three Niven warriors perched on high branches, perhaps 100 or so steps from him. They were shaping flame orbs again.

 

Rapidly he formed the necessary weapons for this occasion, a thick ice shield, and a jagged chained ice whip.

 

He held the shield up above his head and sprinted out from cover, straight into the line of fire of the Niven. Just as they hurled their great burning orbs, flames from under his boots blasted him into the air, breaking through the forest's spindly canopy, and above the thin layers of leaves that still remained.

 

The Niven readied their bows in expectation, waiting for Halding to crash back down through the trees.

 

Silence pervaded. Light sounds, like the chirping of insects, the creaking of branches, or the swinging of an ice chain, sounded deafening.

 

Clink

 

“Jelani?!”

 

One of the warriors turned quickly to look at her sister. A bloodied icicle spike jutted through her forehead. The icicle was attached to the end of a chain of ice extending from the treetops above them. The chain wrenched upward through the warrior's head and disappeared back into the canopy.

The two remaining warriors leaped from their perches to the same branch of another tree. Their mouths opened and closed as if they were speaking, but no sound could be heard. Dozens of flame orbs the size of pine cones formed in the air next to them. They continuously fired them upward at the location where the chain had come from. The orbs shattered the brush and branches above them, rending a hole for the light of the setting sun to drift through. The human was not there.

 

Clink

 

Both of the warriors ducked and turned around to fire at the chain. Their flame orbs cut through the ice chain, but not before it had sliced through the branch they stood upon.

 

As they fell through the air, General Halding came bursting down from the treetops and collided with one of the warriors into the forest floor.

 

Dazed, Halding rose from the mess of broken limbs and blood under him. His ice shield was now slathered crimson.

 

The last warrior managed to stand and draw her long blade from the black tree bark sheath on her side.

 

10 steps between the two, they faced each other, and Halding began to speak.

 

“You know, I have never been with a Niven girl before. You are all quite beautiful with the golden hair, and I am sure you girls are absolutely feral in bed, but…you are just so…stoic.”

 

The warrior charged at him, thrusting the point of her sword at his head. Halding whipped the ice shield forward and the blade penetrated through it, only a breath away from his face. In an expertly practiced motion, he yanked down on the stuck blade, breaking it in half, and then swung the shield forward into the warrior’s chest, knocking her to the ground.

 

“This is what I meant. At the least, give a battle cry before you try to puncture my head. We are enemies, but we can still speak as we kill each other. Well, as I kill you.”

 

The Niven attempted to stand but Halding smashed the brunt of the shield into her chest again. He sat down in the dirt next to her.

 

“Tell me, what does that old woman do to you girls? So young, and already trying to kill a human you have never met. I must speak with her, to understand how she controls you so effectively.”

 

The warrior breathed raggedly. In a low voice she spoke to the sky.

 

“Arbia…he lies. Giza…leads us…no longer. Please...accept me...into your arms…with this truth.”

 

“So, Giza no longer leads you? How interesting. Let me tell you a little secret before I send you to your god."

 

Halding leaned forward and whispered into the warrior’s ear.

 

“What you girls have done today, will mean the death of all of your sisters. The death of every Niven in the Black Forest. We will burn your home until nothing remains but bones and ash.”

 

“Oh, but perhaps you can take solace in this. I will make sure a few warriors survive, to be brought to the brothel.” His yellow teeth glinted as he grinned from ear to ear.

 

The warrior frantically struggled to rise.

 

Halding lifted his shield up and slammed it down on her neck, severing her head from her body.

 

Before leaving the forest, he took the sword and sheath from the first Niven he had killed. It would be the new centerpiece for his collection.