Out of Darkness 8


    Smoke billowed out from the shallow trench the enemy mages st had dug across the hillside. The haze made seeing difficult, but cknail peered past it as he observed the enemy. Around him, the goblins were in disarray but most of the hobgoblins were picking themselves off the ground or shooting at the humans that were now pushing their way through the bushes at the edge of the forest. Gob was leading the resistance down below. However, cknail was focused on therge formation of raiders that was staying out in the fields. That was where the enemy mage was, and where Imps magical projectiles were about tond. Even the mostplicated trap could work if you lured the enemy to exactly where you wanted him and then trapped him there.


    The enemy mage had already turned away from the goblins'' position and was issuing orders to the men around her. Another raider raised the rm, and the mage spun around and looked up. Two zing orbs were headed her way, and they left a tail of fire behind them as they fell.


    The mage hurriedly raised her hand up in a defensive gesture. She seemed to recognize that the small fireballs were dangerous. Another st of invisible power burst forth from her amulet, and there was a loud boom as the resulting explosion met the falling balls of fire and knocked them aside. One of the ming crystals was thrown safely off to the side. It hit the ground and exploded without hurting anyone. However, the other fireball was only nudged off-kilter a bit. It spiraled down and fell at the edge of the raiders formation, where it detonated. A zing sphere the size of a small home engulfed over a dozen men, and the force of its birth threw a dozen more raiders aside. Screams of shock and pain filled the air.


    Finally, a sessful test! Imp eximed happily as he smiled broadly and threw his hands up in excitement. Boom! Ive already learned so much. Look at them burn.


    Very nice, cknail replied as the mes reflected in his eyes. But you need to do it again. Most of them are still alive.


    cknail was reallying to like magic. It made everything so much easier, especially blowing people up.


    Yeah, do it again, and hit the mage this time. That bitch has iting, Khita added as she climbed to her feet. She had apparently been unhurt by the mages attack but was feeling resentful.


    Imp and his two assistants immediatelyunched another set of fireballs. Just like thest ones, the new projectiles soared towards the enemy formation. However, before they could hit, they were blocked by another st from the mages hand. Both the fireballs careened harmlessly off to the side. As cknail watched, the mage then turned and pointed the tip of her staff right in cknails direction. The hobgoblins eyes went wide and he tensed up.


    Dodge! cknail yelled as threw himself off to one side.


    He was just in time. mes shot forth from the end of the weapon and sted the hillside again. A wave of excruciating heat washed over cknail and he was sent rolling across the ground by the explosion. The air was knocked out of cknails lungs as he came to a sudden stop and his back mmed into the base of a tree. Pain red through his ribs and spine, and his head hit the ground hard. Dizzily, he blinked and looked around. Burning leaves were falling all around him. The ground was torn and broken. The st had dug a burning trench where he had been standing a few moments ago. Luckily, other than Imp and his assistants there hadnt been many goblins or hobgoblins nearby.


    Everything looked blurry as cknail tried to gather his thoughts. He sat up but didnt try to stand. His entire body hurt far too much for him to try and get up right now, maybe in a minute. He touched the side of his head and his fingers came away wet. He appeared to be bleeding. That wasnt good.


    From what cknail could see, he was alone now. Imp and his aides were missing or incinerated. No more fireballs were being thrown at the raiders, and they were charging into the forest unimpeded. cknail could hear the raiders cheering. The hobgoblins were being pushed back or had been spooked by the mages attack and were already running away. There was chaos as the humans pressed their advantage. In their enthusiasm, their orderly lines broke apart as they reached the trees and separated.


    It seemed like cknails n had failed. Stupid mages. cknail hated magic. It was unfair and impossible to predict. How was a hobgoblin supposed to kill a bunch of humans when they could blow up hillsides with magic fire? This was Imps fault, somehow. He should have been a better mage. Now it seemed like the only thing cknail could do was retreat and try to rebuild. He didnt see any way of turning this disaster around, not while that mage was alive. Maybe he could sneak backter  after he had healed a bit - and try to kill the mage?


    cknail closed his eyes for a second so he could rest them, and his other senses expanded, including his magical ones. They felt stronger than usual. Instantly, cknail could sense the minds of the people around him. They were mostly just tiny glimmers off in the endless dark, but they were there.


    Oh, right. He had Elixir; that would probably make him feel better. cknail opened his eyes and reached down to pull out his vial of Elixir. Without a thought, he downed the entire container in one gulp. For some reason it tasted a little off. Well, it was probably nothing.


    The familiar cleansing burn of Elixir surged throughout cknails body and he pulled himself to his feet. New strength was already building within him. Suddenly, cknail felt his mental sense expand again. The glimmers of fear all around him grew brighter and came into focus. He could feel both the minds of the humans and of the hobgoblins. They were very different. At the current moment, most the hobgoblins were more afraid than the humans, but at the same time they were capable of less depth in their fear.


    Ha, stupid humans, cknail mumbled to himself.


    Just as cknail was about to try and help the remaining hobgoblins organize their retreat, a sudden sensation burst into his mind. Cold terror stabbed its way through his skull and he gasped from the unexpected pain. Ugh, what was this? cknail couldnt figure out the source the pain. He stumbled as he tried to clear his mind. Wait, was the source outside of himself? cknail reached out and sensed a mind that was zing with terror. It was human and nearby.


    Steadying himself, cknail scanned the forest for signs of the source. It didnt feel that far away. Suddenly, he noticed a sh of red among the underbrush. For a second he didnt recognize it, but then he did. It was Khitas hair. The redhead was lying on the ground. The enemy mages st must have thrown her there. As cknail watched, she shivered and moved ever so slightly. Until this moment, he hadpletely forgotten that she had joined his war party and been near the st. He usually tuned her out.


    Grimacing in pain, cknail walked over to her. He didnt have much time. There were raiders searching the bush nearby. They were moving carefully but they would reach him in seconds. Khita turned and looked his way as he shuffled over.


    Hey, stupid. Stop being afraid, now! cknail told her. His brain still felt like it was freezing over. It was ufortable and obviously Khitas fault.


    It doesnt work that way, Khitaughed ruefully. I cant walk. My knee is all busted up and so is my arm. I cant even get up. Im going to die here.


    cknail stared down at her. He didnt know what to say to that. Goodbye, maybe?


    You need to leave me, cknail. Just promise me you will survive and get bloody vengeance for me, Khita told him as she groaned in pain. I want these fuckers to bleed.


    Youre terrified of dying, cknail pointed out. He could feel it. Why was she pretending she wasnt?


    So what! Just get out of here, Khita hissed at him.


    I cant leave you, cknail replied angrily. This headache was seriously slowing him down. Trying to run with it would be risky. Also, leaving her to die felt wrong. She was a part of his tribe, sort of.


    Go! Everyone leaves everyone eventually. Were all alone in the end. Even the bonds of family, gangs, and bands are justforting lies, Khita shot back as she clenched a fist angrily. I only joined Herads band and then your tribe because I wanted to go out with a bang. At least I seeded at that. Damn this bloody world! Im happy to leave it behind.


    This is one of those annoying rants about your brother, isnt it? cknail replied. Khita tended go on about his death when she got emotional.


    I thought you never paid attention to that! the redhead hissed as she red at cknail.


    I dont, but I have good hearing, and you never shut up about it.


    Leave already, you ungrateful bastard!


    Fine, stay here, cknail replied angrily as he turned to stomp away. It was insulting that she wanted to sacrifice herself for him, as if it gave her value. It was such a dumb human thing to do. In fact, another human had done it for him before, Saeter


    cknail hissed as new emotions warred within him. This headache was infuriating. The connection to Khita was much worse than the pain. He took a deep breath and tried to stifle Khitas fear. His power reached out and pressed down on her mind, but her inner turmoil didnt seize. cknails cold headache continued, so instead he tried something different. Instead of fighting the feeling, he embraced it. cknail immediately regretted this decision. He went stiff as terror such as he had never known tore through his mind. It hurt worse than being punched in the brain. Worse of all, it felt permanent, like he was being scarred. Was this what Khita was feeling? Was this what humans felt? It sucked. No wonder they were such weaklings.


    New sensations wed at cknails thoughts. He wanted it to stop! What was he doing? Stupid magic. He staggered again as he tried to reorient himself. Suddenly, he remembered something. There were raiders approaching. He felt them. Two of them had spotted him and were marching through the bushes toward him. cknails eyes narrowed. They were the problem. They wanted to take what was his. As annoying as she was, Khita was his. cknail growled, and the deep menacing sound echoed out into the forest. He red his Elixir and the magic washed away his confusion. Suddenly everything was so clear. He had purpose and power.


    Wait, somethings off about his hob, one of the raiders stuttered. He was a big man but he suddenly looked nervous and unsure of himself.


    The other raider hesitated and looked at hispanion. He must have sensed that something was wrong as well.


    Its just a savage, he replied. It was supposed to have been a reassuringment but the man just sounded uncertain.


    Both the raiders had their weapons drawn and were keeping an eye on cknail, but that didnt save them. The furiously invigorated hobgoblin lunged forward with startling speed and attacked with all the power of his rage. He didnt bother with drawing his sword. He ducked under the mans weapon and then reached up to tear his throat out with his ws. There was a crunching noise and blood sprayed from the wound, but cknail was already turning to face the other man. With a panicked yelp, the raider swung at cknail, but the hobgoblin sidestepped the blow and jumped on his opponent. They fell together and cknailnded on top of the mans chest. There were screams as cknails ws started ripping into flesh, and then silence when cknail pushed the mans iling hands away and took a bite out of the side of his exposed neck. The hobgoblin spat bits of flesh away and then looked around for more raiders. The taste of blood filled his mouth and it dribbled down his chin.


    Ice and fire churned within cknails body. The Elixir burned through his blood as cold waves of alien terror washed over him. He couldnt stand still. The pain was a minor thing now. He barely felt it. It had been numbed by the energy within him, and that wanted out. cknail screamed in rage. The chilling predatory sound echoed through the forest as he was propelled by momentum forward through the bushes. He had failed to save Saeter and Herad. Werrick had taken them. cknail would never see or learn from them ever again, but he wasnt going to lose anyone else, not even a useless person like Khita. All of Werricks men had to die. He could think of nothing else.


    Three more swordsmen rushed forward to attack cknail from behind, but he sensed theming. He jumped away from the raiders and drew his own de. As one of the men lunged and shed at him, cknail twisted out of the way and sliced the mans hand. He yelped and dropped his weapon. The second raiders de zoomed toward cknails chest. He stepped into the blow and blocked it with his own sword. There was a metallic crack as the des met. A quick shove then knocked the man off bnce, and cknail stabbed him in the gut. The third enemy backed off and was quickly reinforced by two other men who had noticed all the activity.


    cknail eyed his opponents as they watched him in turn. They were prey and the world was his trap. cknail grinned as he took a moment to reach out with his power and mp down on some of the minds he felt. There was a rustling from the bushes off to one side, and then three arrows zipped out and shot towards the raiders. Two of the whirring projectiles hit. One mmed into a raiders arm and the other sank into a mans chest.


    Ah, shit, the raider who had been shot in the arm cursed as he dropped his weapon and cradled his injury.


    There were still some hobgoblins hanging back to see what unfolded. Themotion cknail was causing was drawing them to him even as it caught the attention of the raiders as well. They had only needed a little encouragement in order to get over their caution and join the fray. Suppress one instinct and another would rise to take its ce, bloodlust.


    As the raider with the arrow in his chest toppled over backward, cknail attacked. He charged in and swung at the uninjured raider. The man grunted and raised his de to block the blow, but cknail was already spinning away. The hobgoblin lunged sideways and stabbed the raider with the injured arm. His de cut into the man''s side and bit deep beforeing free.


    You bloody bastard! thest raider cursed as he backed away from cknail.


    The enraged hobgoblin met his gaze and growled. The raider quickly took another step back, and that was when an arrow pierced his thigh. As the man stumbled, cknail lunged forward and sliced his throat open. There was a thud as the body hit the ground, and cknail looked over his shoulder to see three hobgoblins with bows standing next to a tree. cknail grunted, turned away from them, and pressed on. Killing these grunts wasnt good enough. He needed to eliminate the real threat, the mage. Only then would he be safe and satiated. Only then would the pain end.


    The edge of the foresty just ahead, and cknail could sense what was beyond it. He picked up speed. As he ran, he gathered his power. The burning magic of the elixir continued to boil his blood as icy rage seeped into his bones. Behind him, terror reigned. The hobgoblins that had been in retreat were now counter attacking the disorganized and stunned humans. Arrows flew and green figures leapt out of bushes upon men driven mad by fear. cknails power was spread all throughout the trees and it pressed down upon the minds on his enemies, but it wasnt enough. Raw alien emotion rushed through cknail, subsuming everything but his uncontroble drive tosh out at his enemies, the people that hurt him, the people he feared.


    There was a whipping noise and an explosion of leaves as cknail burst out the bushes and into the clearing. Like a lightning bolt, he smashed into the force of raiders that were waiting there. He let loose a scream of rage and pushed out as much magic as he could. The power distorted the air around him. It rolled forth like an unrelenting wave of steam and enveloped everyone nearby. With it came terror and horror.