Twisted World

Hadad sailed with Jacs, Glem and Desta the next day, all uncaring whether Harri lived or not. Both Joey and Nesta had the medics in a frenzy gathering blood resources and seeing what they could do to reverse the loss. That Harri would be a eunuch for the rest of his life did not matter to them, they wanted to see him LIVE.

Jacs had not laughed but merely smiled as Joey had told her coldly on her departure that if Harri did not survive she had better not return, because she, Joey, would do the equivalent to her.

The ‘dead’ land of the huge island ahead was half covered in glacial like black glass where land and building had melted together in the horrific bombardment over a millennia ago. Parts were even still ‘hot’ but long since ceased smoking. None had survived, the few that had come from over the distance had died within a few cycles and what descendants they had managed to sire had been in the main disfigured and mutated. The few that did survive were some of Hadad’s best berserkers.

Few of the force were on horseback, the main rabble all on foot. Troubles began the second night in the long march. Sparkling clouds had followed their progress so far, wind whistling through dead looking grasses that must still be alive to be even there. Most sprang eerily back tall as the rabble stomped over all. They noted the same strange sparkling areas up ahead that glowed in the black night.

Screams arose from the perimeter as all were finally dozing. A section of guards vanished completely, apart from some torn clothing and clawed armour - and blood leading off into the darkness of petrified forest a good mile away. Fresh guards were posted, fearful enough for their own safety that none would get lazy and sleep again.

A grizzly sight awaited as they entered the forest warily the next day. Skeletons of what were the guards hung high like spitted meat. There was no meat left on them, the remains of clothing beneath the bloodied bones the only hint of who or what they had been. Some began muttering. They were used to dealing OUT this kind of treatment, NOT receiving it. Hadad had merely turned his back and continued on with Jacs at his side. Glem and Desta had roared insults at the rabble, calling them cowards, gutless and spineless. Cowed, the rabble followed, but much subdued.

Fogs drifted in as they progressed through the stark place, all save the leading four looking around nervously as the trees seemed to move in the thickening air. Paranoia mounted as those at the rear panicked when one long trunk slammed to the ground behind them, like the shutting of a dark door on a chamber of terror.

Then the screams began. None could see clearly enough as whisps of the fog surrounded those at the edges and covered them. Bloodied bones fell from the fogs as they dispersed.

Hadad was unimpressed, he was furious. What enemy lurked in fogs and shadows? What enemy would not show themselves? As Glem and Desta threatened to dispatch any who would run themselves, Hadad roared his challenge to the moving fogs.

Cruel spine chilling laughter swirled with the fogs. And Desta turned pale as he in turn felt the small cloud pierce his very being, a strangled scream cut short as his bones rattled to the ground, falling to dust.

Hadad was now, quite reasonably and very late, worried. He tried something he would never normally countenance - diplomacy. Why were they being attacked for no reason? They did not wish ill will to any that lived in this inhospitable place, they only needed to pass through. Their goal was much further on - he did not say ‘Overland’ for the rabble to hear, they were panicked enough now. He could not dare to set foot on the place never mind challenge without the following. Could they not at least discuss their differences? Find some compromise? HELP each other?

The laughter arose again but this time was light and amused. A voice, deep and amused replaced the laughter, bidding the three follow the mist. The rest were to remain where they were. Hadad had barely thought, no way - and the voice assured the rest would remain unharmed, but they must come alone.

The three followed in fascinated awe, even Hadad himself was impressed as they moved into a sparkling area that spread over the black glassy ground. A long tunnel lay in a gulley under the glass. The place was a crystalline cathedral filled with fog, but not fog. Whisps moved independently here and there, life forms.

They were led to a chamber that could be described as a great hall. Hadad looked enviously and thought of how he could remodel Castle Had like this.

An amused chuckle came from a coalescing figure before them. “We cannot be unhappy with a folk that can feel that way of our home at first sight!”

Another figure formed and invited them to sit. Yet another formed, and beckoned to other swirling whisps; these whirled and returned almost instantaneously forming young serving men with food and drink. Jacs saw Hadad and Glem eye the stuff suspiciously, and drew gasps from both as she downed a full goblet of wine in one go, grinning at them as she replaced it, wiping the drips delicately. She looked amused herself. Well, they had been INVITED, had they not? She did not see the sense in the invitation if the idea was to be rid of them. These beings could have done that easily and without inconvenience back with the rabble.

The first figure clapped in delight. “Yes! One who is not what she seems and thinks the truth without trying to hide!”

Jacs was genuinely puzzled. “Not what I seem? You READ thoughts.”

“We HEAR thoughts, that is slightly different from reading. And yes, you know not what you are, nor what you were. You will solve the puzzle in time. Come, we ‘hear’ your names in your thoughts, but give them please.”

Jacs smiled, shaking her head in pure bewilderment. These beings had disarmed her as surely as fighting her. She introduced Hadad and Glem with full titles.

The figures bowed with respect at the introduction of ‘My Lord Hadad’ and nodded heads for General Glem.

“We thank you for your candour, Jacs of Growers. My Lord, General, please to meet the Leaders of Lost Land. I am Deneb, First: my Second, Ophi: and my Third, Betay.” Each bowed heads as they were named.

“And Jacs is also correct about the invitation. We were impressed, Lord Hadad, at the control and hard thinking required to change tack in the heat of the moment. Had you not, you and your ‘rabble’ would be no more.”

Hadad gave a shrewd look. “And if you, hear thoughts, how do we negotiate if you already know it as we think it?!”

The three laughed shrilly. “TRUTH is best negotiation, Lord Hadad,” Ophi spoke, “we will be honest with you in return. Deneb?” He looked at the First, who nodded for him to continue.

“When truth be known, we attacked much out of panic at the sight of such an army approaching us. It may seem unbelievable, but there are slightly less than fifty of us left. There are no womenfolk. We die.”

Betay sighed. “It is true. We attacked of fear ourselves. And there is one larger truth you must be told …”

“Indeed, Betay, Ophi. Please, understand, we attacked as we did ‘hearing’ the thoughts of things that had gone before.” Deneb looked sad and pleading at the same time. “We also STARVE. We require, fresh meats. What we took in attack has already fed more than a third of our people, though not quite half.”

Glem nearly spat but thought better of it suddenly. “Surely, we cannot FEED all of you?”

“General,” Ophi spoke, “It is only a variation of what you yourselves have done in your travels. We SAW this clearly without need of hearing.”

Jacs spoke in the ensuing silence. “Compromise was talked of. How often NEED you feed?”

Deneb smiled at the understanding question. “We NEED feed only once a cycle as you name it. We would more if animal meats were available.” His face became serious again. “Higher meats, from the more intelligent species such as yourself and those with you, satisfy longer.”

“Even the RABBLE?!” Hadad’s attempt at humour was accepted.

“Even the rabble, Lord Hadad. Come, we understand one another. Now you must reveal your intentions.”

“Of course, Deneb, First. You understand why I would not voice this in front of my less than perfect army? Of course you do. Was my intent not clear in my thoughts then? Possibly not, but clear enough now. I intend to make a blow against that fetid hulk that calls itself Overlord. Oh I know I have not the strength or else to overthrow the Beast. I carry out a long held blood feud, all the way back through the black millennia. I would at the least wound more than a stinging insect.”

The TRUTH of the statement hid them all hard.

“Compromise then.” Deneb smiled grimly. “Though a hard one. FEED us, Hadad, with animal or rabble. We would join you without your need fearing our presence. Overlord is the reason these few are here, what was once the greatest civilisation Twisted World had known. We would then gladly help wound deeply.”

Ophi clapped his hands in agreement. “The last dying few will have given all they can to redress the balance before they fade forever.”

Jacs felt excitement rise. The ‘goal’ was not far short of what she had dreamt up in her dark hours. But a mystery remained. “Deneb, if I may ask? How are your people here? In this dead land?”

Betay answered. “That was once a mystery to us, also. Until we dug through the final layer of solidified glass far below. We live above the greatest scientific discoveries this world had made, and ever will. The few lone survivors, knowing they had days to live, set the hibernation pods of the greater civilisation to hundreds of cycles hence. Those of the pods that survived, our ancestors, emerged a changed people with the residual radiations around bathing them for those cycles.”

Deneb nodded. “You should know the last also. Our ancestors needed meats long before the labs produced clones of animals. Half the pods that did not awake proved enough to keep those awoken alive long enough.”

The three had nothing to say to this. They all felt the terrible NEED.

“Glem,” Hadad spoke decisively, “return to the rabble in the morning, gather a few you know well enough. Count what animal meat we can reasonably part with.” He looked at the three eyeing him without expression. “If the animals prove not enough, look for the worst offenders. You know the difference. We will FEED these people, one way or the other.”

Jacs grinned. “And you have NO women folk?!” Their eyes could not hide the deepest feelings of lust that arose as she slowly peeled off the dusty shirt, the great snake glistening as she moved.

She at the least would have more than a pleasurable time!