Spirit Blood: Genesis of War

Jason sat at his desk eating the grand breakfast that had been specially made to celebrate his inauguration to brigade commander, when a knock came at the door. Jason jumped to his feet when the general walked in.

“I’m sorry, General. I didn’t know it was you, sir,” Jason announced.

Haldrov waved a hand in the air erasing Jason’s concern, “Sit down and eat, Jason. Rank doesn’t matter here?”

Jason sat with a smile on his face diving back into his hearty breakfast.

“Would you like some, sir? There is plenty here,” Jason asked, pointing to his plate and the small kettle on the desk.

Haldrov shook his head, sitting on Jason’s bed near the desk where he was seated.

“No, thank you. Tell me, Jason, who would you like to pin your commander cluster on you, the king or myself?” Haldrov asked jokingly.

With a sly grin, Jason answered, “I think you know the answer to that question.”

Haldrov gave a short chuckle and stood back to his feet, “I thought so, but the king will have to do it formally for the good of the kingdom. I, however, get the honor and privilege to anoint you with your cluster now.”

Jason’s eyes grew with excitement as he stood to his feet to face the general who had a box open with the golden commander’s cluster in it.

“This is a binding ceremony. From here on out you are to be known as Brigade Commander Jason Jendryke of the Talkain military, overseer to all here and given royal right from now to eternity.”

Jason strode over at attention, trying to wipe the grin from his face. He knelt before the general. Upon standing back at attention, he gave his captain crests over and received his commander’s cluster in return. The two men hugged like a father and son.

“I’m very proud of you, my son,” the general stated, placing his hands upon Jason’s shoulders.

In all the years Jason had known the general, he’d never called him son before. They both stood back from one another holding onto each other’s arms.

“Everything I am I give thanks to you and for your beliefs in Shiloh. I thank you for giving this orphan boy a home and life, sir…uh, Father,” Jason said with love and admiration.

Haldrov pulled Jason back to him with tears in his eyes. Both men looked at each other wiping tears from their faces and started to laugh at the spectacle.

Jason sat back down to finish his meal when the alarm went off in the castle. Running towards the door Jason grabbed his long coat and Deadly Wave with the general close behind. Everywhere they looked, soldiers were running around heading for their posts.

As the general ran passed the men they immediately stood at attention forcing him to yell, “As you were! We have a battle to prepare for!”

Jason grabbed one of the soldiers as he ran passed, “I need you to go find Lieutenant Lockefren Brinwood and tell her to meet me over in the east wing. We need to secure the women and children right away!”

At the same time, Haldrov activated his helmet as he shouted orders through his com-link, “Get the families to the shelters and bring in all the food. Seal off the gates once everyone is in and supply me with updates as they happen!”

Soon he was updated with grievous news.

“General, our roaming patrol was ambushed while carrying out orders given earlier by Sergeant Crisp, Sir! The homes outside have been destroyed and the food seized by the enemy! All we could do was seal the gates!”

Lowering his head in defeat he asked, “What of Sergeant Crisp?”

“Sergeant Crisp is dead, Sir,” was the sorrowful reply.

Haldrov’s expression went from sorrow to anger in a mere moment as he deactivated his helmet cursing, “We’ve been set up somehow, but I’ll be lost to Sheol before I let them take my home!”

Looking quickly at Jason, Haldrov told him without words to ‘take care of business.’ Jason nodded as General Haldrov took six men and headed for the stables.

Jason ran down the east corridor to see Lockefren directing all the non-commissioned men, women and children to the hiding shelters with the help of Captain Stephan Thaul.

“Stephan! Lockefren! Are the queen and her children in the shelter yet?” Jason yelled down the corridor.

Stephan turned to face Jason while still directing people to the shelters, “Not to my knowledge, Sir! I haven’t seen them!”

Jason took off down the hallway fighting through the mass of terrified people running here and there. He wondered why the queen wouldn’t have taken immediate sanctuary in the shelters. He picked up his pace as thoughts of their capture and demise flooded his thoughts. Soon he was running down a small set of stairs leading to a narrow dead-end corridor occupied by only one door. Jason checked the door only to find it locked from the inside. Feeling anxious and quite nervous, he stepped back to the wall, and with a mighty front kick, busted the door off its hinges. With sword in hand he rushed into the room ready for a fight only to see Queen Thessa with her children crouching in the back corner armed with a jeweled mace.

Amon lunged forward holding a short sword of his own exclaiming, “Jason! It’s you! I wondered if you had forgotten about us!”

Amon’s voice was filled with relief and excitement while his mother’s arm went limp in a sigh of relief to see a dear friend and not an enemy of the dark.

Still in a rush, but much more relaxed now, Jason asked Thessa, “Why didn’t you go to the shelters, Thessa?”

As he spoke he grabbed Amon and TaeAnne gently pushing them out the door.

“The shelters are unsafe, Jason. I cannot take my children there…not this time,” Thessa said with desperation in her voice.

“What do you mean they aren’t safe this time?”

She only shook her head and pulled out a pair of backpacks belonging to the children.

“There’s no time to tell you now, Jason,” she cried out.

Giving the children their belongings, Jason said to Thessa with haste in his voice, “You’d better tell me something, Thessa or I’m taking you and them to the shelters NOW.”

She gave Jason a sorrowful look and sighed heavily.

Frantic, she tried to tell him as quickly as possible, “They know our kingdom inside and out. I’ve seen them since we’ve been back in Talkain. That is truly all I can say to you.”

Thessa fell to her knees with a look of horror and determination on her face. He slowly went to her aid in helping her back to her feet when Thessa waved his effort away.

Pleading with him she begged, “Please go, Jason. If you ever truly loved me as you once said you did, let me stay here and die. I wish to no longer have to bear the horrible memories Kalagin has given me.”

Thessa began to weep bitterly, dropping her face into her hands.

Jason again began to go to her answering her pleas, “If I did love you as I once said, then why would I leave you like this?”

As he started to kneel down beside her, Thessa rose up quickly from off her knees waving a dagger she had hidden under her dress. She cut Jason’s shirt and scratched his abdomen wildly flailing the dagger. Thessa’s tears were streaming down her face with the dagger held out defensively in front of her.

“LEAVE,” she yelled at him, “LEAVE NOW!”

In shock Jason could only watch with wondering concern as she turned the blade in a reverse position facing her and fell back down to her knees. Lockefren barged in the door in time to witness the now awkward situation.

“Is everything okay, Commander?” Lockefren asked with slow yearning.

Jason turned to look at Lockefren as he spoke very calmly, “Everything is fine. Take the children and go to the stables and wait for me there. If I haven’t arrived in five minutes I want you to leave immediately for Roogs Port City.”

Lockefren nodded in speechless wonder hustling the shocked children off into the hallway hurrying them to the stables. Jason turned his attention back to Thessa to plead with her one last time.

“Thessa, whatever has happened between you and Kalagin doesn’t matter. There is nothing we cannot work through and make right. No matter what it is, with faith and love we can make it.”

Thessa smiled at the thought as she shook her head in disagreement.

“I wish so much that it were true. That anything could be worked through.” Thessa threw her head back looking at the ceiling while still clutching the knife tightly in her hand. “I used to believe as you do, but I can’t anymore.” She looked at Jason with eyes filled with love and sorrow as she said, “Jason, I love you. Tell my kids I love them and I will miss you all.”

Sensing what she was about to do, Jason rushed at her to stop her, but was too late. Thessa had plunged the dagger quickly into her neck sending her abruptly to the ground.

Jason ran to her picking up her head screaming, “Why, Thessa, Why! What did that monster do to you?!”

Only the sound of the blaring alarms brought him back out of his despair. He remembered then the two lives he could still save. Gently he laid Thessa’s head back to the floor and placed a tender and loving kiss goodbye on her lips before running desperately out the door for the stables.

General Haldrov took a band of six hundred Calvary men and over a thousand infantry soldiers out into the battle area just outside the gates to face the impending enemy. After only a few moments of being engulfed in the battle, the general realized he was outmatched. The ambush had found everyone, including himself, unprepared and at the mercy of their attackers. Lowering his pride, having never backed out of a head-on battle, Haldrov yelled out his orders for ‘all units to fall back’. Relief fell upon his soldiers as the mass began running towards the gates carrying or dragging along as many wounded or dead men they could muster. Haldrov, however, never moved from his position. Now, as his army found a temporary safety from within the gate, Haldrov sat on his horse facing hordes of the newly reformed Dread Army.

Haldrov roared his orders for his men without ever taking his gaze from upon his enemy, “Raise the gates and defend all inside. May Shiloh protect you, and if not, I will see you all in the land of peace.”

The gates noisily began to seal muffling the voices of the men yelling out after the general. Haldrov glanced back long enough to salute his men for their undying loyalty and valor on the field. They called out to their general trying with all their might to talk him out of his obvious plan. Bearing them no mind, Haldrov faced his enemy again as they barreled down towards him. With a sneer on his lip and anger in his heart, Haldrov let out a battle cry charging the oncoming wave of creatures. His strange tactic surprised his foes giving Haldrov a small advantage and helped him to slash at several of the dark soldiers. The enemy continued to drop left and right as Léon sat closely by watching the impressive stamina of the aging general.

“STOP!” Léon’s voice rang out like thunder halting everyone in his place.

His army slowly fell back as Léon, seated upon his horse, sauntered in a bit closer to Haldrov.

Haldrov almost chuckled as he asked with arrogance, “And just who are you my silvery haired beauty queen?”

Irritated, but not moved, Léon answered, “My name is Léon Tinsmith and I am First Knight and head of my order. Much like you, I too am a general.”

Haldrov deactivated his mask so he could stare into the piercing eyes of Léon with his own.

“You may be a general, but I can assure you,” Haldrov said with growing intensity, “you are nothing like me!”

Léon nodded in respect at the experienced soldier before him and then remarked, “This will not be a contest of wit, General, and so I suppose we should dispense with the pleasantries.”

Haldrov nodded and reactivated his helmet simultaneously raising his sword. Léon put on a helmet resembling a terrifying demonic face. Haldrov was disgusted as he watched Léon’s helmet literally shrink and suck in to engulf his head formfitting it to his face. As Léon drew his wicked looking curved sword from its sheath, Haldrov noticed the runes that decorated the amethyst platinum blade like fire. It was obvious he was up against a powerful foe and that this may even be his final battle. His only strategic advantage this time was that he had nothing to lose.

The two men charged one another, their blades clashing. Their fight went on for several minutes with neither man being able to seize the right moment. Enough of this fooling around. His skill will take me if I don’t overrun him, Léon thought to himself as he parried another precision shot from Haldrov. Léon’s skill was unmatched, yet Haldrov’s strikes were so fast and precise it was almost impossible for him to see them coming. Léon parried yet another swift move by Haldrov countering it with a kick to his chest knocking the large man off of his horse. Celebrating his quick thinking, Léon smiled at the sight of the general on the ground, however, as quickly as Haldrov fell he was back up in ready position once again. He grabbed Léon by the sword arm and belt hoisting him off his horse and unto the ground. Before Léon stood back to his feet, Haldrov rushed to pick up his own fallen sword and stepped back ready for Léon to attack.

Letting out a yell of anger, Léon skillfully did a kip-up to his feet and, with unnatural speed, swung his sword in an arched attack across the general’s midsection. Haldrov was quick enough to jump back from the shot, but the majority of the impact still sliced across his stomach. Instinct took over as Haldrov grabbed his wound letting out a slight groan of intense pain never once lowering his sword from its ready position. Fear began to creep over his heart as he watched Léon twirling his now ignited sword. The blade was a blaze of purple flame and the runes glowed a crimson hue. Once before, Haldrov had witnessed Deadly Wave take on the same appearance when the priest who had given him Jason revealed to him how to use the sword.

As his fear began to overtake him, Haldrov suddenly remembered the wise words Jason had spoken in the cavern to him; I will never fear someone’s weapon. It takes skill, not a well-edged blade, to defeat a trained enemy. Looking up from the spot he had been staring at on the ground, he was vaguely aware of Jason and three other riders in the far distance fleeing into the forest. The fire of his spirit was renewed knowing Jason was safe, away from this carnage. Without thought, Haldrov bore his eyes into Léon ready for this fight to finally cease.

“Come now. That can’t be the best you have boy,” Haldrov mocked to his opponent.

Léon respected that this old man didn’t fear him, yet he was also ready for the fight to end. It’s time to quit playing games, Léon thought as he bowed one last time at his opponent. Haldrov came at him with an overhead slash striking down at the head of Léon, but Léon spun to the opposite side of Haldrov’s sword thrusting his blade deep into the old man’s chest.

Quickly Haldrov used the last amount of his strength as he turned to make one last attack on Léon, successfully cutting him down his back. The strike was enough to push Léon forward hitting the ground. Thinking Haldrov may still have some attack in him, Léon hastily turned to face him only to witness the dying man fall to his knees. Getting up and dusting himself off, Léon slowly walked over to Haldrov bowing to him in respect. The general only grunted at him knowing his inevitable fate. In one move, Léon swiftly removed his blade from within Haldrov’s chest and swung it down decapitating his head and searing the wound shut simultaneously. Mounting his horse, Léon signaled for the continued charge upon the castle ready for the infuriated attacks that were to come from the enraged men who had witnessed the fall of their beloved Grand General Eric Haldrov.

***

Jason ran to the stables where Lockefren, Amon and TaeAnne were preparing to depart.

“I was getting ready to leave you,” said Lockefren with hesitancy in her voice.

Her honey blonde ponytail streamed out from under her T-helmet like a fountain of thick gold as she continued to prepare the horses.

Jason regarded her with a forced smile, “Good, that means you’re ready to get moving.”

Keeping her questions to herself for the time being, Lockefren only nodded at her obviously troubled friend. Jason quickly mounted his already saddled and shoed horse without checking for provisions, which was entirely unlike him.

“Sir, don’t we need supplies before we go?” Lockefren asked beginning to worry for her friend.

Jason glanced behind him to see a lone bedroll and empty saddlebags.

“We don’t have time for those worries. I’ll make due with what I have.” Moving his horse in front of the group he mumbled urgently, “Now, let’s get out of here before the castle is taken.”

The small group rode off quickly towards the secret rear exit only known by the queen and her most trusted constituents. Jason lead the way as the anxious group rounded the first corner into a large opening shaped by the overgrowth of bushes and blooming rose blossoms to resemble a long dark tunnel. Only small beams of light shown through the mass of foliage, yet it was enough to see their way through. Jason had fortunately been through this tunnel several times in years passed during his long friendship with Thessa. Thus, lack of light was not his worry, however, the possibility of his enemy finding their way to this secret exit caused him to keep a quickened pace and a sharp eye. Room was scarce and the children would be in danger of both the enemy and frightened stampeding horses if they were to be ambushed. He knew his best hope was to make it to Whistle Wood Forest before the enemy realized they were gone.

Jason’s heart raced as if in battle. He could feel a power of great evil all around him. While in the presence of Léon, he’d felt exactly the same as he did now. He ran his finger down the deep scar that ran across his right eye remembering the battle that had left him with it. Everyone quickened their pace hearing the sound of hooves clattering against the hard rock path below them. Confined in this tunnel it wasn’t possible to tell whether it was their horses making the noise or if there were horses coming from behind them.

Amon and TaeAnne were relieved to see what looked like a clearing about twenty feet before them. The ride through the tunnel had not taken long, but the feeling of an endless nightmare was overwhelming to them both. Reaching the end of the tunnel, the four companions were blinded as light flooded the clearing.

“Hurry and ride fast for the forest! This clearing can be seen from the castle!” Jason shouted to his party just fifty feet from the edge of the forest.

Suddenly Jason could feel the evil sensation seem to increase as if growing around him like smoke. He stopped and looked around as the others rode hard for the forest. In the far distance, down a small hill, Jason could clearly see the battle ground swarming with the creatures of the Dread Army. In the midst he could plainly see Léon standing to his feet and his dear mentor, Haldrov, falling to his knees with a sword plunged into his chest. Sadly, and in shock, Jason witnessed the last moment of his foster father’s life as Léon’s deathblow came down upon him. Rage and immeasurable hate welled up within Jason as a tear ran from his eye. Watching Léon remount his steed and order the further attack of the castle only fueled the fire burning within his soul. With only thoughts of revenge circling his mind, Jason began to race for the battlefield when a memory of one of his last moments with Haldrov unexpectedly flooded his mind. He was suddenly back in the dismal cavern packing the contents of the room into the chest and talking with the general.

“The sword was apparently named before I was born by the very man who showed me this place and told me what you were. The man’s name was Bazirin. An odd name, I thought, until I found out just how old the man was. He was over 300 years of age and looked only a couple of years older than I am now.

He told me about the existence of actual descendents of the Xythanian ancients. He said they were each a pure spirit of certain powerful Xythanians who fought and died during the Great War many centuries ago. In his case, he claimed he was the direct descendent of a man named Isaac, the head of the Guardian Order. Then he revealed to me that you were one of these descendents as well. I didn’t believe him at first, but he spoke with such knowledge and authority, I couldn’t help but listen. Apparently, you are destined to protect the wielder of the Burning Spirit or the vessels of the Shining Spirit who had come so long ago. Throughout your life you will be tested in many ways and you will suffer from much loss. I believe your first test to have been your fight with Léon. It was a test of failure in your abilities alone and just how well you took this failure. Fortunately, you passed. Other than that, I only know that after you pass the tests brought down upon you, you will be found by a man who will teach you to unlock your potential power and find your destiny.”

These words echoed in his thoughts reminding him he had a destiny far greater than simple revenge. Pulling on the reigns, Jason ordered his horse back towards the forest to fulfill his destiny and protect the two children he held so dear to his heart.

I will not let your life and death be in vain my dear father and my sweet beloved Thessa.

***