Embers in the Dust

“You can’t do this!”

“You and the rest of my traitorous council are exactly why it must be done!”

There was an intensity that filled the space between them. In the sand, near the newly founded town of Calimshan, Kas stood ten paces beyond the amassed army that had grown. Not just guards and soldiers, but the people of the town who came to do what was right. They carried whatever weapons they had, some even just bringing pans and knives from their kitchens. On that one side, over two-hundred people stood, waiting for the signal to attack, to run, or to cry out into the cloudless night.

On the other side stood one creature of absolute, vile hatred. Though Kas had been part of the Undying’s council, he saw the wrong being done and casted away his oaths, becoming a creature of darkness in the hope of vanquishing the shadows he created that grew beyond the light. The Undying King’s body was twisted, disfigured, and withered to hardly anything. His skin had turned gray, the hair had fallen from his body at some time, and the kind and gentle man that he claimed to be was no more. Instead, a necromantic horror floated just above the water that came in waves from the Sea of Falling Stars.

It wasn’t his disfigurement or the fact that he had killed hundreds before that scared them. It wasn’t his intelligence, how he convinced everyone that he was good and holy for so long. It wasn’t even his plans, which could kill thousands more. He floated there calmly, one hand behind his back, the other pointing out to Kas, calling him a traitor. They weren’t scared of what they knew he had done.

It was the fact that he was alone, against an overwhelming number of people, and he knew he’d still win. That’s what scared them, because he was right.

The first mistake of many was that they had decided to help an unwinnable battle. Their second was letting scared, undisciplined people fight. A crossbow released its tension, sending a bolt through the calm sky. Whether by accident, fear, or faulty equipment, it did not matter. The first shot caused many. People ran forward, assuming the fight to have begun, and while Kas and his few faithful guards tried to halt them, it was too late.

The Undying King smiled wide, one of his eyes flashing brightly as he raised both hands up, then out to his sides. In a gust of power, the wind followed his command and knocked away the various weaponry and ammunition that came his way. He turned his gaze back to Kas, speaking through the crowd in a way that caused it to be amplified over the entire beach, so as to ensure every single person could hear it.

“You did this, Kas! You and the rest of the scum that couldn’t fathom the true power I hold. I am the Undying King, and I shall make them all turn against you, as you have me!”

His hands swung down, a green cloud appearing from his fingertips as it crashed to the sand and filled the space between the mob of people. It took seconds, but the coughing and gagging sounds were enough explanation for the magic he casted. Kas and his few guards watched as each citizen fell to their knees, coughing and trying to escape the cloud of gas that stopped them from being able to breathe. In less than a minute, the gas made it through their bodies, causing them all to collapse and die.

As each body fell, a shadow came from their body, which floated back up to his body, wrapped around him, then became consumed by his hands, like the funnel of a tornado taking it all in. Once the shadows became part of his essence, he lifted his hands again. The corpses around him rose, one by one, now belonging to his undead army.

“You see, Kas? There is no one that can stop me anymore! I am as strong as the Gods themselves! I will take this power, destroy all that they created, and start new with my own dominion. I will kill the Gods. I will kill those that did not believe my ability. But first… I will kill you.”

His body vanished from the shoreline, then reappeared in front of Kas. With a wave of his finger, Kas’ sword was knocked away from his hands, and he was thrown back twenty feet. Around him, his guards ran forward to attack. Each one dying a sickening, horrendous death. They would get close enough to attack, only to rise into the air, bones shattering inside their bodies, twisting in various ways, only to be dropped into the sand, where they screamed in anguish.

The Undying King walked forward slowly, as Kas brought himself back to his feet. Bringing his hands together, Kas let loose spell after spell, which was casually deflected by the flick of the hand. Rolling out of the way of a spell that was countered back at him, Kas grabbed his sword from the ground and brought it up to his old friend’s neck.

“We were brothers once.” Kas spoke, his voice shaking in fear and sadness.

“Were we ever brothers? Or were you always just behind me, living in my shadow, believing yourself to be like me?”

“Vecna… It doesn’t have to come to this.”

“It does. I’m sorry that you could never understand what I am trying to do.”

With a single movement of his raised finger, Kas’ neck twisted around. With a sickening crunch, his body fell, his sword still in his outstretched hand. Taking a moment to close his eyes, and maybe even say a prayer over his body, Vecna turned to the only guard that had not run forward and attacked him, the only one that did not die. Carefully, slowly, he crept forward, then knelt down to the man on the ground, who was too afraid to move or speak.

“One of you should live, to tell of what happened today. I killed these people, but only when provoked, you see? I am not killing you. Like a gracious and merciful god, I will allow you to run. Run away until your body aches, your feet bleed from the blisters, and you almost die of dehydration. Then, you will find the next town over and tell them of my deeds. You will tell them of the Undying King, or go mad trying.”

Green light shone through the guard’s eyes, as the spell took hold. He stood, unable to control his body, and backed away. He wasn’t sure when his body would turn away from the Undying King’s face, but he knew that he was no longer in control of his body, and would not be until the task he had been commanded to do was finished.

A glimmer of hope and horror, as the guard could see someone stand. The Undying King was not watching, as Kas head swung around, correcting itself, then grabbed his sword. He was unsure how he managed to live, but his wounds were completely healed. Taking the sword, he thrusted it into the back of his enemy, then whispered something that the guard could not see.

A flash of light surrounded the both of them, and then they were gone. The guard was unsure of what had happened, but knew it must be told. His legs knowing the command, he turned towards Westford and walked North.