The Chronicles of Onyx Book Two - Fight of a Hero

Chapter Nine

Rok fought alongside Jade and Oldren, staying close, never letting them out of his line of sight. He remained alert, swiftly cutting down the opposing Orcs as they approached, preventing a deadly outcome that would come to pass if he was not watchful of the boy. Protecting him, had now gained his full attention; for he knew for curtain that Onyx was safe, even if out of his care.

She was isolated from the fight and that was all that mattered.

As he fought he briefly caught sight of Dezenym, the once calm and patient individual, displaying the ruthless and bloodthirsty actions of a savage warrior as he slayed the Orcs. His eyes burned intensely, even his silver hair had caught the stray ruby droplets blood produced from a slaughtered Orc. Making him appear barbaric.

Where was this side of him when his daughter was taken and tortured? Rok thought bitterly.

For a moment he looked to be the strongest on the battlefield; with a powerful roar he summoned the Queen. Yet, that being the very moment he became blind to the lurking danger behind him. As Dezenym held her throat in his grasp, Rok became witness as Gollik notched an arrow onto his crossbow. Before he could warn the Alpha, the Orc released it with deadly accuracy. Penetrating Dezenym's spine.

As the necromancer plummeted towards the ground, spears soared, slicing through the air. Queen Demeter appeared to be pleased with herself; with pride resonating within her violet eyes as she commanded another fleet of spears to be catapulted.

It's too late.

The shafts rained down upon the wolves, wounding countless members of the pack. Impelling the slowest ones as they attempted to make their way towards the shelters of the woods. Wolven blood mixed with Orcen on the frozen battlegrounds, the snow, now a vibrant red, glistened in the sunlight as though a sea made of Rubies. Bodies from both opposing sides laid lifelessly in this ocean of blood.

"Jade!" he screamed out, rushing over to the boy.

The young elven warrior fought ahead of him, loosening arrows at the rivals, wounding and crippling the Orcs, ridding them unable to fight on. Yet doing so without a casualty falling by his hand.

As he neared, he saw Jade stumble, a deep gash maimed his leg. The wound pulsed out blood with every slight movement the boy made. His skin became clammy and pale, with his Emerald eyes narrowing as they rolled in the back of their sockets.

"No, you don't!" Rok barked as reached Jade, gripping his arm and tossing the boy onto one of his shoulders.

"Oldren, we need to get him out of here!"

-ooooo-

Oldren, engaged in a brutal clash with an Orc, quickly glanced over his shoulder, his Sea-blue eyes wide with concern. With a swift, practiced motion, he parried the Orc's attack, delivering a fatal blow that split its skull, revealing bone and blood. The Dwarf winced as the pungent, Ruby liquid sprayed across his face.

"Get him outta here, I'll hold this feud off" Oldren shouted back, his voice a gruff growl.

He turned his focus back towards the advancing enemies, his axe a blur of deadly precision. One Orc lunged at him with a spear, however with the ease of a feline Oldren sidestepped. Bringing the blade of his axe down in a swift motion that severed the beast's arm. The Orc howled in agony, even still, Oldren showed no mercy. Quickly he thrusted the Orc's steel into its chest, the Orc perishing by his own weapon.

-ooooo-

Hauling Jade on his shoulder, Rok began to retreat towards the tree line, his pace quick yet precise the sound of battle raged on behind him, nevertheless his mind was focused solely on getting the young warrior to safety.

-ooooo-

Dezenym was surrounded by darkness and agony, yet still he could hear the chaotic world around him. He distinguished the deafening song of war, from the screams, growls, snarls, and the metallic symphony of steel beating against steel. The sound resonated through his ears.

"Wake up!"

Was he dreaming?

The voice was feminine, soft and soothing, much like the feeling of a velvet cloak in the harsh cold of winter.

"Wake up!" The voice called out again, this time more abruptly.

"Raven?" he whimpered.

Through the pain he managed to open his eyes, even if just a slight crack. Above him was the sculpted figure of a woman. Her hair, dark as the midnight sky, framed a face that was hauntingly familiar. For a fleeting moment, he believed he saw his beloved Raven. Her presence, even in this fractured reality, brought a semblance of hope to his tormented mind.

"Raven... is it really you?" he whispered, his voice cracking with desperation.

The woman's eyes, golden and radiant, stared back at him with a burning hunger. Dezenym's heart ached, torn between the illusion of the past and the harsh reality of the present.

"No, Father," the voice corrected gently. "It's me, Onyx."

Dezenym's vision cleared a bit more, and he saw the familiar features of his daughter. Her resemblance to Raven was uncanny, almost eerie. But it was Onyx standing over him, her hands placed over his wound. Pressing on the opening, where the Orcish arrowhead was still buried.

"Onyx?" He repeated after here, struggled to sit up as she pushed him back down.

"Stay still, this is going to hurt"

Before he could be given the chance to brace himself, Onyx's fingers enclosed around the shaft of the bolt. A sharp intake of breath escaped Dezenym's lips as she pulled. The bolt shifted, sending fiery tendrils of pain racing through his body. His vision blurred momentarily as white-hot agony seared through his nerves.

With a final tug, the bolt came free with a sickening squelch, accompanied by a guttural groan from Dezenym. Blood welled up from the wound, staining Onyx's hands crimson as she quickly pressed her palms against the torn flesh.

"Althriya" She whispered soundlessly into the air, as her hand clutched at his wound.

He suddenly felt relief from the searing pain, as magik flowed into him, mending his wounds.

"Onyx, what are you doing?" Dezenym exclaimed as he saw the evergreens sounding them began to wilt, dying as she took the forest's lifeforce.

Finding her eyes he could see it. A change in her. A new darkness in her eyes.

Raising her hands, a sudden surge of power erupted from her. A dense fog began to roll across the battlefield, emanating from Onyx's hands. The fog was thick and dark, swallowing the sounds of battle and muffling the cries of the wounded. Orcs and wolves alike paused, their eyes widening in fear as the fog encased them.

Onyx chanted in an ancient, arcane language, her voice carrying a strange, compelling power. The ground beneath the warriors' feet began to tremble, and a dark energy surged through the air, crackling with raw power. The fog coiled around the Orcs, binding them in place. They struggled, but their movements were sluggish, as if they were moving through thick molasses.

With a final, powerful incantation, Onyx unleashed a devastating spell. Dark tendrils of energy shot out from her, striking down the Orcs. The energy seeped into their bodies, draining their lifeforce, leaving them as nothing more than lifeless husks.

Slowly the fog dissipated, revealing the battlefield littered with the bodies of Orcs. It was as though a fox was let in the henhouse. Leaving the scene a devastating graveyard.

Dezenym watched in fear as Onyx stood among the fallen, her eyes glowing with a new scarlet hue, as the gold left her eyes completely.

"Onyx... what have you done?" he asked, his voice trembling with dread.

"I've done what needed to be done, Father," she replied, her voice cold and resolute. "Now, our enemies will know."

"Know what?" he asked.

"The true meaning of fear"