Monday Fragment

Monday Fragment

Last month I shared with you part one of this tale on a Thursday as I generally intend. The third Thursday of November is Thanksgiving in the United States so I was not available to post the continuation of this story and I suspect most people who read these bits of fiction were also busy with eating good food and enjoying good company.

I very much hope that if you are the type to celebrate that holiday you were able to share it with those dear to you. Life is too short to surround yourself with those who make you feel unwanted or unloved. If you unfortunately find yourself in such a place I beg of you to wander out into the world and find your people. No matter how many people tell you, you are unwanted or treat you as though you do not deserve love their are those who will see you for who you are and treat you with the kindness you deserve.

That being said let us move on to the story and see the conclusion of Darkness And Ice.

Oh and if you need to catch up you can find Part One Here: https://www.swallaceworks.com/nights-of-winter

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Darkness And Ice: Part Two

Urk tumbled over the creature’s armored back to crash into the frost covered ash like a felled tree. Too massive to quickly change direction the ashsnapper was forced to slow to a halt before turning about for a second charge. Urkjorman planted his hooves into the ash and rose like the crest of a wave and his rage rose with him. Like a volcano bursting from the sea anger spilled over his body until it blanketed his vision in blood.

Despite the heat radiating from the ashsnapper Urk could not see the head of its tail. That had been his mistake before but not this time. As the creature neared Urk swung and his ax collided with the blunt end of the creature’s tail. It had swung at him exactly as it had before as that had worked, but Urk had survived too many battles to fall for the same tactic twice. He reached the beast before it could bring its tail around again and drove his knee into the monster’s face.

The creature pushed forward, trying to bowl Urk over again, but Urk held fast his hooves digging furrows through the snow as the charge slowly ground to a halt. The monster paused, as though confused that anything could stop its press and in that moment Urk struck. His ax came down. Armored plates split from the monster’s back and heat blasted into the air. The monster roared in pain and stabbed a tusk into Urk’s side.

Jagged spikes of pain ripped through Urk as the ashsnapper tried to push him over.

Urk brought his ax down again but it skittered across the monster’s armored hide.

The ashsnapper made him pay for the bad swing by punching its tail into his shoulder.

Urk bit back the pain, wrapped his arms about the creature and heaved skyward.

The ashsnapper pulled back, refusing to let Urk pull it off the ground.

Both knew that if either was on their back again, they would die.

The Ashsnapper ripped its tusk from Urks body sending blood to the ground and lighting through his body.

The minotaur was forced to step back as pain almost paralyzed him and release the monster from his hold.

Urk and the monster circled each other slowly now. No roars of challenge, no bravado just respect and animosity. Something wet and fragile burst beneath Urk’s hoof and he noticed the remains of some desert vermin cooling in the night. Returning his sight to the ashsnapper he realized the roaring heat of its body was diminished. You hunt heat and meat.

Distracted by thought Urk almost did not see the club like tail coming for his face. He pulled back and felt more than heard the wet crack of his shoulder going out of joint. Horror touched him for a moment as his ax slid from fingers numb with pain.

One arm must be good enough.

The ashsnapper pushed forward again and this time Urk allowed himself to be lifted from his hooves to slide onto the monster’s back. This time, however, he did not tumble over it but grasped one of its armored plates. Blood filled his palm as rage filled his muscles and Urk heaved.

Heat like a furnace blasted into the air as Urk lifted the plate. The creature roared in anger and tried to shake Urk loose. Barely holding on Urk reached into the sticky paste beneath the armor and pulled free the wriggling thing imprisoned there. It writhed in Urk’s hand and bit him before he threw it away. Ungrateful vermin.

The monster pitched to the side hard, casting Urk from it’s back but the minotaur swiftly rolled onto his hooves. He could see that the creatures internal heat was much diminished and rapidly fading away. You are not thick against the cold …

The ashsnapper pulled its plates flat.

Nor are you full of heat, thought Urk as the rage fled his body

The creature clawed the ground and set it self to charge.

You steal what belongs to your victims, concluded Urk as the radiance of Judenkair swelled his lungs.

The monster charged.

Urk exhaled, showering the monster with the deepest cold and washing all warmth from its body. The ashsnapper remained frozen in place for a moment longer before its lifeless body collapsed to the ground.

Urk coughed, the blast of arctic cold clawing at his lungs and grinding his throat. He shivered slightly, both from the cold, and exhaustion. With his heart slowing, and the radiance of Judenkai fleeing him, he felt like a whine skin half emptied. Every laceration, fracture, cut and bruise screamed in pain now that the battle lust was gone from him.

Poor for you, beast, that I serve the Lord of Winter.

Urk walked over to the mouth of the cave, set his shoulder to it and pushed until the pain of his soulder popping back into joint radiated through the socket. Then he lumbered to the fallen ax, took it from the frost covered earth and returned to the cave entrance. He took one last look around and allowed exhaustion to pull him from his feet and set his back to wall. A moment or two, please, he prayed.

“Urk!” shouted Al in a voice wrapped in desperation.

Urk was on his feet and charging into the cave before the words had left his mouth. “Al!”

In a few strides he was around the first bend and away from the howling winds, a few more and the temperature began to rise causing the frost coating his fur to fall off in wet clumps. With the next stride he could feel the heat of the fire Al had been tending through the night and with it the scent of fresh blood.

No.

Urkjorman ran faster, shoulders grinding against the walls as he took them faster than he should until he could see the glimmer of a fire. He did not hear the sounds of swords, or the cry of pain though he could smell it in the air. Pain, excitement, fear, all carried from the light. He charged into the chamber, ax held tightly in his hand and a roar of thunder building in his chest.

The soft coo of a newborn child bounced into his ears. Urk stopped and slowly lowered his arm.

Mary looked as though she had been in labor since the sun set, her husband Yosenf looked like his wife had been in labor all night, and both looked relieved and thankful. The stain of blood was on Al’s hands and Mary’s clothes but no one seemed worried about it. Al was looking at the newborn child in the way that told Urk she would make a perfect mother one day.

“Mr. Redmantle,” said Yosenf, with a broad smile and a bow of the head. “Thank you, thank you and Al’rashal for protecting my wife.”

Urk waved the compliment away, “we are honored to do so.”

“Thank you anyway,” insisted Mary. She held the child close to her chest, admiring the beauty and the wonder of it all before looking up at Urk. “Please, come closer, look.”

Terror gripped Urk’s heart. He had never been close to so fragile a thing as a human baby. Carefully he set his ax down, lowered to his knees and crawled closer. “What … what is there name?”

The parents looked to each other, Yosenf smiled and Mary spoke. “Alb’urd. In our tongue it means gift.”

Urkjorman looked at the child and smiled. “Hello little Alb. Blessing be upon you day and night.”

The child cooed and filled everyone with the warmth of a babies’ love.