Rise of the Seven

By K. J. Ester

BOOK-3 of the Demon Siege Trilogy

From its first breath, mankind has been the centerpiece of a war it did not even know existed. For thousands of years, the angels have sworn to protect the humans from the minions of the dark. For thousands of years they have succeeded. Until now. As the tides of the great war turn, the demons surge forward and the angels are left with no choice. They must turn to those they have sworn to protect to help them turn the tide away.

The city of Valayas has fallen and the Uguchi are a threat to the Land of the Three Kings that few have ever imagined. Heroes of the land, young and old, must rise to face them. Armies must unite with their enemy to fight the greater danger. Great warriors will die and new heroes will be born as the darkness threatens to destroy the land.

• Language: English
• Publisher: K. J. Ester
• Release date: Jun 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370313761

K. J. Ester

K.J.Ester resides in Rochester Hills Michigan with his wife, two cats and his dog. His other greatest passions are writing, the Detroit Lions, God and his Granddaughter, who in his words is the sunshine in his dark world. He claims he has never suffered from writers block and never will, for he has more trouble shutting his imagination down long enough to get a decent night's sleep than he has starting it up again.

Book preview

Rise of the Seven

The Demon Siege Trilogy

Book Three

K.J.Ester

Kenneth.J.Ester

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2017

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

This book is dedicated to Laura Vasseur, My sister-in-law, who passed away in June of 2015. She is dearly missed and always will be.

MAP

Due to my inability to figure out how to create a map that shows enough detail, but is still legible when scaled to the size of a book page, I have decided it best to place the map at my Author’s Blog page. You can find the map to Jawiva, the Land of the Three Kings, at…

http://kennethjester.blogspot.com/2013/01/map-to-jawiva.html

Chapter 1

Will he live Papa?

Sumara clasped her hands together as she watch the unconscious man laboring to breathe. He was lying on their long table with a blanket covering his personal area while her father looked him over. If she had not found him he would have died soon enough.

It was her twelfth birthday and she was testing her new saddle, which her father had made in his shop. She was enjoying a beautiful ride with the sun caressing her face and arms when she found him. At first she thought he was dead because of how he was lying perfectly still as he floated in the river. His boot had snagged the branch of an old bush and kept the current from carrying him away.

She climbed down from her horse and tentatively moved to the edge of the river, wanting to get a closer look. She was horrified at the sight. She had never seen a dead body before. She wanted to run home screaming for her Pa, but she was also intrigued by the way he was dressed. His clothes and boots were black as night and along his sleeves and pant legs were the handles of throwing knives. Below the surface, she could see the hilts of two swords sheathed to his back; one extending over each shoulder. His hair was as black as his clothes and he looked as if he had not shaved in a week.

She wondered how much she could get for the dead man’s weapons. Enough to help her father buy the new tools he so dearly needed for his leather working. The swords were, from what little she could see of them, well made. Hiking her skirts up, so as not to let them drag in the water, she stepped into the shallow edge of the river and stopped again. She had not noticed the other bodies before that moment as they blended so well into the shore.

All along the shoreline of the river were men in brown garb; many with horrific injuries. She had never seen men like these before, and certainly never expected to see so many dead men in one place. Fear settled into her belly. What had killed them? Where did they come from? Suddenly all she wanted to do was ride home to her father. He would know what to do. But not without those swords! She admonished herself.

Reaching her hand into the water to take one of the swords, the man she thought was dead, suddenly grabbed her wrist. She started to scream but only a quick yelp came out, then she found herself captivated by the way he stared into her eyes.

His mouth barely moved and the words were hardly more than a whisper, forced through cracked lips. Help me.

That was nearly half a day ago and now her father was finally washing his hands after cleaning the man’s wounds and checking him over. Please say he will live.

Her father turned to her and gave the same look he always had for her. It was a gentle look; one filled with caring for the only thing left to him that he loved. I am sorry Sumara. I just don’t know. His wounds are not the usual. The cuts seemed superficial, not even enough to kill a child. The other wounds were not from any weapon I know of. It was as if something had burned him, but it was not fire. I have never seen the like. So I cannot say if he will die or live.

He will live Papa. She said emphatically. He has so many scars all over his body. He’s been hurt so much before and he still lives. He will live through this too.

Maybe he will, my sweet child. Her father agreed. I hope you are right.

For three days, they watched over the stranger in black. She fed him a simple broth, trying to give his body some healing nutrients. She would sit by him and sing in a soft voice as she hemmed the man’s clothing. The small hole with charred edges near the shoulder was the toughest one to fix. Her father often came from the shop in their barn and checked on him, never seeing any change. She was singing to him when she noticed he was looking at her. It was the first time he had opened his eyes since she had reached for his weapons.

Who are you? His voice was no stronger than that first day either.

I’m Sumara. She answered. I found you in the river surrounded by dead men. My father has been trying to fix you up.

He must have been doing a good job. Where are we?

We are in the Low Valley, just south of the Desert Mountains. It is just my Father and I who live here. We—

Say nothing more daughter!

Sumara stiffened at the tone her father used. It was very rare that he spoke to her in such a way. Father, he is awake.

I see that. Please step away from him. Her father kept the tone of authority as he picked up the staff he kept at the door. It is good he is awake, but we do not know him and until I know who he is, he may be dangerous while awake.

No father, he couldn’t be. He—

Do as I say child! It was the first time he had ever yelled at her.

Suddenly, fearful of the stranger who had almost died, Sumara hurried away. If her father was afraid of the man, then he must be very dangerous indeed. From the corner of the room she watched her father approach the man carefully.

Who are you? Her father asked the man. Where do you come from and why were there so many bodies along the river.

The man looked at her father unafraid. Somehow, that made her more afraid of him than how her father was acting. Her father was a large man and she had never seen anyone willing to fight him.

There… It took him a second effort to speak again. There was a war in Valayas. The man finally answered. The Uguchi have risen. You must take your daughter and leave.

Do not try and tell me what I should do mister. I can keep her safe just fine.

You don’t understand. The man said, laboring to get his words out. The Uguchi—Valayas – The city has fallen!

Silence hung in the room as the words set in. Valayas has fallen to the Uguchi. It was not possible, was it? Realizing she wasn’t breathing, Sumara forced herself to take a breath and it came with a small gasp. The sound seemed to snap her father out of his own thoughts.

You must be mistaken. Her father mumbled.

Not mistaken. I was there. The Doveran army was massacred.

Her father studied the man before speaking again. You still haven’t told me who you are.

Joshua Strayland. The man answered. Most just call me Stray.

Stray! Even at their home in this valley, a day’s ride from the nearest town, Sumara had heard of him. The stories said this man killed demons and fought alongside of giants. Every time she went to town with her father, she would search out new stories of this man and his friends who fought in the Demon Wars. Suddenly she understood why her father was so cautious with this man now that he was conscious.

Knowing who he was, Sumara couldn’t contain herself any longer. Why didn’t you kill them? She asked.

Who? Her father asked.

The Uguchi! She answered and quickly turned her attention back to Stray. Why didn’t you kill the Uguchi? You killed demons. How can you be defeated by a few Uguchi?

Stray wet his lips and closed his eyes before answering. I never killed demons child. I killed men who were possessed by those demons. They are two different things. The Uguchi are possessed too and there are far more of them. Looking at her father, Stray continued speaking. Please! They will be coming. Give me my weapons and leave me to live or die, but take your daughter away. You are not safe here.

I will think about it. Her father replied. Sumara, get him some real food while he is awake and able to chew. Turning away, her father walked out and went back to the barn to continue his work.

Sumara went to the shelves and began getting some bread as well as a little meat for Stray. What happened to you?

Me?

You didn’t seem to have many injuries, but you almost died and you are so weak. She explained.

After a moment his weak rasping voice came. I was struck by lightning. The sky was filled with it. It was striking the wall all around me. There was so much lightning. The last sentence was spoken very softly, as if he was speaking to himself.

That was strange, Sumara thought. She had watched a lot of lightning storms. She had always found them interesting, but it always came with one strike at a time, but never several at the same time, and definitely not several in the same place.

Sumara turned to ask him another question and stopped. He had fallen to sleep again. After a moment, she began putting the food away. He would not be eating solids while he slept.

There was a large crash from the barn and Sumara dropped the plate she was holding and ran to the window to look out. In the side of the barn, there was a massive hole. Boards and splinters of wood were broken inward and hanging at awkward angles.

Papa. The words came out in a whisper as she stared with shock. Sumara was just turning away to go run out to her father, when she saw him running from the back of the barn to the house. She ran to the door to meet him.

As he was just slamming the door shut and barring it, she ran to him. Papa, what is wrong? What is it? Fear was gripping her like never before. She had never seen her father look so scared. Not even with Stray awake.

With a wild look in his eyes, her father looked at her and then around the room. Come! He practically growled through his clenched teeth. There was blood on his left shoulder.

Papa, you are hurt!

Never mind that right now girl! Grabbing her by the arm, he dragged her to a closet door in the far wall and opened it wide. Pulling a tall case out of the closet, he tossed it on a chair and then he pushed her inside. Whatever you do, you don’t open that door! Do you hear me girl? When she didn’t answer right away, he gave her a small, firm shake. Answer me! Do you understand me? You don’t come out! You stay in there and stay silent! She nodded her head and then he pushed her, another step deeper inside. He stood there staring into her eyes and for the first time in her life, she saw tears in his.

Bending to her level, her father grabbed her and pulled her close; squeezing her tight to him. In her ear he whispered. I love you Sumara. Always remember that. I loved you more than anything in this world. Then he pushed her back inside and shut the door.

The closet was pure darkness at first, and then her eyes adjusted enough to see the light coming through some small cracks in the door. Dropping to her knees, she peeked out of the largest crack to watch her father open the case he had set on the chair.

She knew what was in that case. She remembered it from when she was young. She had opened it and looked several times when he was not around. Now she watched him pull the strange looking hatchet and shield out of the case and weigh them in his hands, as if getting used to the feeling of something he had not held in a long time. Then the door smashed inwards, hard enough to rip it off its hinges.

Stooping low to enter through the door was… a monster. Its skin was a deep red and it had tufts of black hair at its shoulders and forearms. Two giant, black horns protruded from its temples like a bull’s would have. The eyes were black and soulless. Flexing its muscular chest, the beast cranked its head into a weird angle as it cracked its neck.

The monster’s voice was deep. Deeper than any man she had ever heard. You cannot run from me human! You cannot kill me with your little axe!

It took a couple of casual steps towards him and then it stopped and looked down at the unconscious Stray. It’s going to kill him. She thought in fear. Save him Papa.

The beast lifted a large hand, its black claws as long as table knives. I could never pass up such an easy kill.

Her father screamed and charged the beast; swinging his hatchet with vicious force. The wide axe like blade buried itself deep into the monster’s ribs and it howled and swung an arm. The monster’s thick fist caught her father in the chest, knocking him backwards to land in a heap in front of the closet she was in. Stay silent girl. He hissed quietly as he strained against the pain in his chest from the blow.

The monster grabbed hold of the axe and yanked it free then tossed it aside. Black blood poured from the wound for a moment then dropped to a slow oozing before stopping completely. Snarling, it walked over and stood above her father and then it grinned. The rows of sharp yellow teeth gave the grin a sinister look that sent a chill down Sumara’s spine.

Her father, laying face first, twisted at the waist and looked up at the monster as he said something to it in a low whisper.

The beast tilted its head as it tried to hear what he said. If you have your last words human, speak them louder. I cannot hear you.

Again, he spoke in a whisper and the creature grew angry. It dipped low to hear what her father was saying.

Drawing his knife from his belt, her father lurched upwards and shoved the blade into the monsters left eye. It let out a painful howl as it pulled the knife free. More of the black blood flowed from the wound and ran down its monstrous face. Then it slammed the same knife down into her father’s forehead and he collapsed. His arms and feet twitched violently but she knew he was already dead. She knew the nerves could cause a body to move for some time after death. It happened often when they lopped the head off a chicken.

She tried to stay silent. She cried into the palm of her hand, trying to smother the sound. The beast must have heard her anyways. Tilting its head, the thing looked at the door to the closet and then that evil grin spread across its monstrous face.

What have we here, another waste of life hiding away? It asked as it took a step towards her hiding place. Grabbing a hold of the closet door, the monster did not bother opening it. Instead, it simply tore the door free from its hinges and tossed it aside. Yes, a little girl. Was that your father I just killed little one? The grin spread into a full smile. Do not fret. You won’t miss him long. You will be joining him very soon! The sound of the monsters laughter was too much for her.

Sumara broke into a cry and then screamed. Her screams changed into fury and she threw items in the closet at the beast, which only made it laugh harder.

Suddenly the laughter cut off and became another howl of pain as the tip of a thin sword exited out from its stomach. The steel disappeared as the blade was pulled free and the beast spun around, swinging its giant clawed hand viciously. Stray stood behind the monster, naked, with a short curved sword in each hand.

Ducking low, the wild swing of the monster swept over Stray’s head and the man brought his other blade up and shoved it into the beast. Sumara watched the tip of his sword extrude from its back and disappear again. Before it could react, Stray spun in a tight circle and slashed both of the blades across the creature’s ribs. Black blood sprayed from the wounds as Stray’s swords found their marks over and over. Every time the beast swung its claws, Stray found a way to avoid them. The man had been too weak to do much more than whisper just a short time ago, but now he fought the beast with a fury.

Again and again, Stray’s swords drew blood and soon the monster began to slow. Its vicious swings became more haphazard and uncontrolled, as if it swung out of nothing more than desperation. The creature fell to one knee and then after another furious attack from the swords, it dropped to the other knee.

The window in the wall to Sumara’s left suddenly exploded. Wooden splinters and glass shards sprayed across the room as another creature charged in and threw itself at Stray. Before the man had a chance to react, it hit him hard, grabbed him by the throat, and threw him across the room to slam hard into the opposite wall. Stray fell to the floor in a heap and did not move again.

The newest monster got to its feet, its head almost touching the high ceiling of the room. Striding over to Stray, it lifted him by his head. Stray’s body hung limply, not even nerves causing any twitching.

Giving the body a little shake, the creature finally brought Stray close to its snout and sniffed him. Satisfied he was dead, it turned to the other monster with a snarl as it nonchalantly threw Stray’s motionless body against the wall again.

Get up Parixzus! It growled at the downed beast. You should be ashamed, letting a single human take you down like that. If I had not come along, he would have killed you!

Sumara moved ever so slowly, backwards into the darkest corner of the closet. She had no hope of slipping by the two creatures while they were in the room, so she tried to hide and stay as quiet as she could. The newest beast did not know about her and after fighting Stray and almost losing, she was hoping the first beast might forget about her as well.

The monster that had killed Stray grew impatient and kicked the other one in the ribs. You waste my time Parixzus! Then it bound away into the other rooms. Sumara could only assume it searched the home for other humans who were hiding.

Parixzus finally started moving and after a moment, it pushed itself up to its feet. It stood there, staring at Stray’s body with pure hatred etched upon its face. Deep slashes crossed its body in several places and its black blood continued to flow, but as she watched, Sumara saw one of those deeper wounds stop bleeding and close up. It was healing right before her eyes.

Stupid humans! It said with a grating voice. He would have killed you to Shtalikx. If you would not have hit him in surprise, he would have killed you too! I hate those annoying pests! I will be glad when they are all dead!

Just heal up and go! Sumara thought in silence. Just go so I can get away!

As if the beast had heard her thoughts, it slowly turned its head and looked at her hiding in the shadows of the closet, and then it smiled. Now where was I with you little one?

Sumara hardly had a chance to scream before it pounced.

Chapter 2

Ashamel hovered over the fallen city of Valayas, his great white wings spread out from his back. A hand rested on the hilt of his flaming sword as he spoke. Six angels hovered before him. They were volunteers from the angel hierarchy; the ones who loved the human race enough to give a part of themselves up for them.

God loved the human race, but not all of the angels did. Many did nothing more than tolerate the world of man. But God loved them, and for that reason every angel would protect them, but there was no law saying the angels must love them. In fact, Ashamel even knew of some angels who did not like the humans at all, but they loved God and they would do whatever the All Mighty asked of them.

Once, there were even angels who hated mankind. They were jealous of God’s love for the humans, and that jealousy was a large part of why they rebelled against the Almighty and were cast out of Paradise. Those fallen angels, now referred to by the human race as demons, had come in force and possessed the Uguchi tribe. They raised the Uguchi army and moved them in force across the great desert to the walls of Valayas. Those possessed Uguchi warriors now controlled and burned the city of Valayas.

We have witnessed a terrible thing. Ashamel said. The mighty Angels have been dealt an unfathomable loss at the hands of the fallen ones. We have witnessed the beginning of the dark ages for mankind.

A thousand angels hovered in a circle around them. Every last one of them held their flaming swords before them, ready to defend their brethren. Only those within the inner ring of the circle faced inwards. The rest faced out, towards the enemy. Thousands upon thousands of demons watched them from a distance; wondering what it was they were up to. For the time, the sky above the city of Valayas was clear of demons. The only demons near it were those who possessed the Uguchi warriors.

Ashamel moved to face one of the six angels before him. Mosai, my friend and my brother, he said. It is a great thing you do. Ashamel dropped to one knee and kissed the other angel’s hands, then rose up again. Do you have one chosen?

Mosai nodded. I do Ashamel.

Is he of a good heart?

He is Ashamel. He has a heart filled with pain and sorrow. He has seen some horrible things and forced to do some of his own, but he stays strong. He stands strong against evil.

Ashamel nodded and then he moved to the next angel and smiled. Malaris, my friend and my brother, have you chosen?

The ritual continued with Torian, Rayonar and Vartross. Finally, Ashamel moved to Manduur, the last of the volunteers.

Manduur, my friend and my brother, I know who you have chosen. It saddens my heart that so few believed in what you were doing, but it fills my heart with joy that you succeeded. You found light where most angels could only see darkness. You found a small seed of good and nurtured it into a fountain.

Moving back from the other angels, a tear ran down his cheek as he gestured around them. A thousand angels it took to keep us protected here. Never before has it taken a thousand angels to fend off the fallen. Look out past them to the hordes of dark spirits. They lick their lips in anticipation. They want nothing more than to destroy what you love; what God loves!

Then he gestured to the land below. Towards the armies that were coming in the distance. Never before have we been so weak, and the souls of evil so strong. The fate of mankind rests in our hands. It rests in the choices we have made. The strength from prayer has dwindled and we have become weak for it. Today we raise the seven chosen. Today we give mankind what has been put away for thousands of years. Go to your chosen and prepare them. Protect them. Strengthen them. Today is the day we turn the tides of war.

#

Marshal Cleves rested on one knee behind the yellow bush filled with curled thorns, studying the scene in front of him. He did not know the names of bushes and flowers and he didn’t care. It hid him well and grew among the trees to allow him and his men to look around without being seen. That was all that was important to him. What he could see did not make him happy.

The giant gates to his home city, Valayas, stood open. The great entrance stood unguarded and there was not a single living person along the entire length of the fifty-foot wall of stone. That wall spread out to either side for as far as the eye could see before it was swallowed up by the darkness. That darkness worried him as much as the Uguchi did.

He raised his eyes to the darkening sky and shivered. The clouds were low and thick, nearly making the mid-day hour seem like dusk. Lightning flashed now and then, somewhere in the depths of the heavy clouds, but he never saw more than a dim flashing of light. All of his senses told him it should be storming, but not a lick of rain fell. There was no sunlight and no rain, and it was the same for as far as the eye could see.

The wind carried a pungent odor with it. The scent of death mixed with the smoke that emanated from the buildings that had burned down. The sight of the smoke caused him to turn his eyes away from the city, to the trails he could see reaching to the clouds in the distance. In every direction that he looked, he could see more smoke emanating from the fires burning below it. It was a strange sight, to look into the dark distance and see columns of smoke far away illuminated by the burning towns. The Uguchi had already spread out and had begun burning farms and villages. He had seen thousands leave the city the next morning after the fall of Valayas. Tens of thousands, and he knew there were many more still inside the walls.

He must have really pissed the Uguchi off, Captain.

Cleves sent an irritable glance at the young man who had spoken. Selmas Harveston was a mere recruit on his first day of wall duty when word reached them of the Uguchi rising. In only a day of war, the Uguchi took the city, and Selmas had become Cleves’ most trustworthy soldier. They had saved each other’s lives more than once in the last thirty-six hours. Still, the words irritated him beyond anything, for they forced Cleves to look at the one thing he tried not to see.

Hanging from one of the Iron Gates was the body of Levicus Kane, the leader of the Warrior Priests and hero of the Demon War of Mazwar. The Uguchi had thrust a thick spear through his mid-section and propped it in the gate to keep his body from falling. The others who had died in the battle were left where they fell. The Uguchi showed no intentions of moving any of them. Yet the body of the Priest was placed for all to see.

Maybe. Cleves finally responded. Might just be a message to others, that if the legendary Levicus Kane could not defeat them, nobody would. Or maybe he was placed there as a trophy. I don’t know.

Selmas took a deep breath and grimaced from the taste of the wind. There were so many bodies littering the city, the stench clung to the breeze, leaving a bad taste in the mouth. We can’t leave the body there Sir! He deserves a decent burial. A Battle Priest’s burial! I hear they gave the priests who died in battle a burial of fire.

He’s right Captain. One of the men behind them said. They burned their comrades in a funeral pyre, and etched the names of the fallen into their backs with ink. We can’t leave him there like that. Besides, I think God has given us a sign to take him down.

Cleves turned his head to the speaker for no other reason than simple curiosity. He recognized the soldier but did not know him by name yet. He had served somewhere else before the Uguchi attacked. Why do you think that?

The fellow nodded towards the city. Look through the open gates, into the streets. The dead are left where they died for the crows to feast upon. Every carrion feeder within twenty leagues has come to Valayas to feed on the dead, but nothing touches Brother Kane.

Captain Cleves looked at the crows and buzzards, tearing flesh from the corpses inside the city. The soldier was right. Nothing came close to the priest. Then he looked closer at the body of Levicus Kane and saw even more. There was no sign of the flesh rotting, or even bloating. Could he be alive? The idea was preposterous! His forearm was snapped and bent