Trails of the Southern Four (Temple Alliance Origins, Book II)

By J.D Wallington

The very elements have taken a stand against the world and demigods from ages past have arisen to add the world in defeating this new enemy. With the rise of this new threat, four heroes from the southern reaches of the North American Covenant must make their own stand.

They have overcome prejudice, torture, captivity and the loss of everything they know and love; but can they survive the upheaval of the world?

Can they succeed in fighting off the very forces that created the world or are they doomed to fall as the elements strive to reforge the world? The Trials of the Southern Four have begun.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.D Wallington
• Release date: Jun 25, 2013
• ISBN: 9781304160638

J.D Wallington

I am a freelance writer and game developer. I have a love for both science fiction and fantasy and trying to center my books and games on blending the two genre together. I am currently a student at the University of Phoenix for my Associates in Web Design.

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Trials of the Southern Four

Temple Alliance Origins Book II

Published By J. D. Wallington at Smashwords

Copyright 2013 J. D. Wallington

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Year 4802 – Mutant Capital of Darkdaerom

Chapter 1

The Escape…

The days before I escaped were fraught with constant fighting and beatings. The handlers always put us against each other and expected no one to die, but that day someone did. We were trained together when I was first sold into this life, but I never expected I would be the one to face him. He had been ill for a very long time, some kind of new disease that made you weak for almost a year and then your strength increased to proportions beyond the normal capacity.

I had already gone through the weakened stage of the disease and was well on my way to gaining that abnormal strength. I had already beaten three of the best fighters in the arena with my bare hands and had attained a rank of honor among the rest of the fighters. Some had even talked about me being their leader when we could finally be free. I am not a leader simply because I do not wish to fight for anyone except myself.

The fight started like all the others, we walked into the arena one at a time, and the challenger always went out first. I could see then that he was very weak and hardly able to stand and I tried talking to the guard that was standing next to me. All I got for the compassion of my enemy was a beating and told that kind of thinking would get me killed in battle.

I growled, stood back up and walked out to face the man. His name was Veng Traceson and he was to become the first thing I hated about my people. Veng was a very strong warrior before he contracted the crippling disease and many believed that if he recovered he would become far too powerful to contain. So I was told that I am going to face him and ensure that he doesn’t become that powerful. I was tasked with killing this near defenseless man or I would instead be the one to die.

I told Veng that the handlers and warden wanted me to kill him and he agreed with them. He said that he was not worthy of gaining the strength of the old gods and that he was going to die no matter what. He wanted to go out the way he came into the world, fighting with every breath in his body. So I promised him that I would give him the honorable death of a warrior, one that he deserved.

I stepped into the sun lit battle arena and heard the cheers and celebration of a few thousand of my people; they were waiting to see someone die. The thought of being a part of a blood sport truly sickened me but I also understood that for me it was a matter of living and dying. I obey and live out my life as a slave or I go against the masters and die horribly, I decided to fight and obey this one last time. The crowd was cheering and yelling and I could even hear my handler’s voice in the crowd, he may be cruel but he still cheered me on during my fights.

Veng stepped into the arena to the booing of the crowd, even they wanted him dead and I wondered why my people were so viciously cruel to one of the own. I never had time to think on it, the gong rang and we commenced the battle. He nodded to me and then swung with his fist, catching my jaw with a right cross that stunned me but did little damage. His strength was finally returning and I knew that this was going to be a tough but honorable fight.

For the next few minutes we both took swings at each other hitting and dodging each other but nothing hard enough to do a lot of damage. We were going to give this crowd a show and enjoy ourselves at the same time. Veng and I have trained together for close to twelve years and were always competing against one another, so to us this was just another sparring session. Then things changed the gates behind us raised up and guards came rushing out with different weapons.

They placed the weapons on chains hanging from the posts around us and then ran back through the gates as they closed. Veng and I looked at each other and then understood what it was time to do. He ran to a far post and pulled a long hooked spear from the chain and I ran over to a post that carried a strange curved weapon. It was a scythe but instead of the straight handle it was bent at different sections to give the wielder a better grip on the weapon.

Veng charged me with the hooked spear but I parried the strike with my weapon and swung it around to catch him in the shoulder, leaving a small gash. He spun the weapon around and sliced a long gash into my left arm. I nearly dropped the weapon and he took the opportunity to charge me again, but even with my arm hurting, I was able to swat aside his charging blow and slashed his right calf. The blade bit deep and nearly cut the muscle off causing him to drop to a knee and scream in pain.

He stumbled to his feet and dropped his weapon but was still trying to fight. He half stumbled, half crawled to the nearest post and pulled a long sword from the chain. I dropped the scythe and ran to the post closest to me for a hammer that could easily crush a titan’s skull, it was the biggest hammer I had ever seen and knew that I was going to soon learn to use this with deadly accuracy.

Veng charged again with his longsword poised to strike but as he was running a wild feeling came over me. I gripped the handle of the hammer and spun around a few times before I let go of the weapon and watched it sail into Veng torso. The impact alone made the crowd look away and the carnage the weapon caused even made some of them scream in horror. The impact of the weapon crushed every bone in Veng’s mid-section and shoved shards of his breastplate through his back, severing his spinal cord.

He was dead before he hit the ground and I knew that the master’s would be happy that I held up to my end of the bargain. I walked over to Veng’s now lifeless body, picked him up, carried him over to the gates, and laid him down before the guards. I walked back into the center of the area and looked around at the cheering happy crowd.

How can this be my people, how can they enjoy such death? I walked over to a spear that was still hanging from the chain and pulled it down. With tears streaming down my face and rage burning within me I walked back to the center of the arena I once again scanned the crowd and found the private viewing area of the masters. I took a few steps back and hefted the spear up near my shoulder, I started running toward the seats and when I came within throwing ranged I threw the spear straight into viewing area. The spear slammed into the wall right beside my master and he stood up rage and shocked across his face.

Who do you think you are slave? I should have you beheaded for that but I will let this great crowd of my people decide your fate.

I looked him in the eyes, Neither you nor this crowd will ever decide my fate, after this massacre that you’ve forced me to commit I will not fight again. No amount of torture, beating or starvation will force me to fight for you again either, my service and slavery to you or anyone else ends here this moment.

Calming myself down and regaining control of my raging emotions, I picked up another spear that was scattered by one of the guards and hefted it to my shoulder. Without a running start or straining I threw the spear, aiming for my former master’s chest. The spear hit its mark and pierced right through his chest, slamming him into the far wall and pinning him to it. The crowd screamed and ran in horror, guards appeared everywhere and looked very intent on bringing me a less that honorable death. I was weaponless and had no body armor; these guards carried longswords and tall black shields, the Ebony Guard was the personal protector of the wardens, masters, and handlers in the arena. I guess I must have really pissed them off because it didn’t take long before one of the charge me with sword poised to strike.

A guard to my right came at my blind spot and expected to overpower me, I grabbed his sword arm and snapped the wrist as I flipped him over my shoulder, both disarming him and gaining a weapon for myself. As he lay there squirming and writhing from the pain of his broken wrist, I shoved the sword through his skull. The next two guards charged me, I parried the first attacker and the grabbed the shield of the other guard and ripped it from his arm, breaking his arm and pulling the shoulder out of socket in the process.

He dropped to the ground holding his arm and howling in pain but I knew it wouldn’t be long and he would be able to fight again. The other attacker slashed at me again but instead his sword just bounced off the shield, but I realized he wasn’t trying to hit me. Instead of trying to kill me they were trying to capture me again and let the handlers and warden deal out their own punishment, I was not about to let that happen. I dove forward with my sword aimed at the guard’s throat; he was surprised by the sudden attack and wasn’t able to deflect the blow in time. My blade slid into his throat and the point came out the back of his neck, he gasped and spurted blood and then was silent.

The other guards, seeing two of the comrade’s dead and one currently incapacitated, forgot their orders and rushed me at once. They were intent on my death, but before they could reach me a group of seven other gladiators came rushing out of the gates toward them. They all ran past me and straight into the line of surprised guards; five more of them died from the surprise.

One of the gladiators rushed over to me, Now is your chance, Elhindra, escape we have the guards covered out here and inside the arena. You’ve sparked the uprising and every gladiator here is fighting for you, many of the guards have already fallen.

I looked at him a moment, Thank you friend, I will make haste and get out of this hell hole. As soon as your men have defeated these guards flee from here all of you, find your freedom and live your life by your own rules. With that said I picked up the shield, slung it onto my back and attached a scabbard from one of the guards to my belt. I ran out of the arena and dodged battle after battle until I made out the large iron doors of the arena and into the dull gray landscape that was the Grey Mists.

My name is Elhindra Strong-arm, I am twenty-five years old and that was just the beginning of my story. My escape and the events that followed it did not turn out like I had hoped. Again when I escaped and got out of sight of the patrolling guards, my emotions got the best of me and I broke down. I mourned both the loss of Veng and the coming consequences of my recent actions. I had a serious choice to make, I could either turn myself in, join my people in death or I could run and be permanently exiled from my own world. First I needed to find a safe place to live and rest before I could decide what I should do.

I slowly got to my feet, watching the guards and people mill around me and tried my best to blend in with the crowd moving outside the city walls. On my way out of the Arena, I took a long green robe with a hood to wear so I could try to disguise my large stature.

Being a woman, and a large, built woman at that, I would probably stick out like a sore thumb if I tried to escape in my normal garb. I also took a belt with pouches and a scabbard for a longsword, a small pack and whatever dry rations I could find. I managed to disarm one of the guards protecting the outer gates and take the nicely built longsword that he was issued. I couldn’t bring myself to kill the guard because he was just doing what he was told, so I knocked him unconscious and just took his weapon.

Once I was outside the city walls and headed for open land, I asked a caravan driver if he could take me north to the nearest large city.

Well lady, we are heading to the city of Mist Point, it lies just inside the border between the Mists and the Armester Colony. There are also a few smaller towns and villages along the way that may be useful to ya. He looked me over for a minute as if trying to size up my form.

I nodded, How much is the fare, friend?

Nah no fare needed, travel is free rather by foot or wagon; all I’ll ask is that you help us protect the caravan. There have been many raids on the trade road these days. Rumor has it that a large group of our people is stealing the supplies and wagons for a major assault on the Terrans Armester Colony. They’ve defected from the government and are calling themselves the Mutant Collective. Evidently they have also gathered a few groups of Raiken defectors, a small group of banished Dwar, an entire Terran city and the Klantiir city of Tempora is a known refuge for these renegades. He trailed off about troubles with supply shortage and loss of money. He also told me that I should call him Jeg from now on; he said it would make my traveling with him less suspicious.

I hopped onto the side of the caravan and drew back the cloak to expose the sword at my side, to show the others in the caravan I was along to help but I wasn’t to be taken lightly. Most of the caravan consisted of drivers and a few guards but they were all men and it seemed they hadn’t seen a woman of my build and form in a very long time. I felt uncomfortable but knew that if I showed them that I was it would mean that I was weak. Among these hardened guards and caravan drivers I knew that weakness could be the difference between life and death.

I settled in for the long ride and hoped that I would able to get away from the cursed city and then once I arrived in Mist Point I planned to look for honest work until I saved up enough to buy gear and a horse. I had heard from some of the Wardens and Arena guards that a new city was being built far to the west.

The ride to Mist Point was fraught with many dangers and conflicts; the worst of all was when a group of Wardens stopped the caravan. They ordered everyone to step away from the caravan and started checking every wagon, looking for anyone that may be hiding. I thought then and there that I was caught and headed back to the arena.

It was hard for me to control the emotions welling up inside of me and I also broke down and started crying right there. The pressure of trying to keep myself hidden and staying in disguise was almost too much for me to handle. One of the wardens approached me and began to question me.

Have you ever been to Darkdaerom? What was your business there? Did you see anyone leaving the arena? Have you had contact with any slaves or fighters from the arena?

He kept pressing his question more and more and just as I was ready to break down and throttle him with my bare hands Jeg approached us.

She is my adopted daughter, I brought her with me to show her more of our world and to try and get her a good profession in our capital. Unfortunately, with the recent raids on the trade roads I decided to head back to Mist Point before the raiding got worse.

The warden looked at him and then back at me for a moment, I could think of a really good profession for such a pretty young woman. He winked at me and laughed at Jeg. I could see the meaning in his eyes and it took every ounce of my control to keep from gutting him where he stood.

I looked at him and calmly told him, I’m sorry sir but I don’t think you would receive that kind of treatment from me, even if I was in the business of giving out pleasure. You are far too short for me and I am not talking about your height. I smiled at him and turn away from him.

All he could do was stand there and fume, his face etched with the anger and embarrassment he couldn’t release. Our society was one of cruelty and militaristic rule but when it came to raising a hand against a woman, well let’s just say that domestic abuse has never been a problem in our society. Women are treated with respect and to strike one in pointless anger and without reasonable cause is punished by castration.

I climbed aboard the wagon and waited for the warden’s to leave. The warden gave me a lasting glare and then reined his bulltreac into a full gallop to catch up with the others in his company. The caravan once again started its way toward the distance city of Mist Point.

Three days later we arrived in Mist Point to another armed guard of warden’s checking through everything in pursuit of a slave fighter that escaped the arena. Once again a warden interrogated me and he asked me the exact same questions as the last one. Jeg again came to my rescue and told him the same story as before. Luckily the warden didn’t make any snide remarks and just ordered us into the city.

We were also told that if anyone was looking for any kind of work that a large group of workers was headed to the southwest to help with the construction of the city of Kardona. They also mentioned that some of our people have been seen leaving to the north and heading into the Armester Colony. He said that they were fleeing from the recent uprising of the Mutant Collective, a group of people looking to restart the wars of the past.

From what additional information I