Rise of Centuria: Fall of Centuria Volume 2 Read online

  A strange feeling swept over him and his tongue started to burn and swell. His eyes began to water. He looked around at the others with blurry vision and their faces became distorted. Two warlocks stood up and approached him. He started to freak out as their faces became disproportionately large in comparison to their bodies and the hands reaching for him. Nobody else reacted, or so Geoffrey thought. They took him by the arms and led him out of the chamber. His legs felt weak and disconnected from his body. Each movement disoriented him all the more. The two warlocks brought him to a room with a large bed and placed him on his back in it. They left the room and the last thing Geoffrey remembered was staring at a spinning ceiling when he heard a lock click.

  Chapter Nine

  In a forest full of strange creatures, Megan had found herself an empty cave. Several days in this alternate world had passed and she quickly learned that being in the open desert in which she landed in after being sucked through the portal was not in her best interest. The sun was mighty hot during the day and the nights became uncomfortably cold on top of the lack of food, drink, foliage, or game in the sandy dunes. Nothing but rock and lots of sand covered the area in which she landed. It was more barren than the Great Plains of Palatovia.

  Scared yet determined, Megan walked for days using the sun and moon to guide her in one direction, although she was unsure if they would actually provide guidance. The world was foreign to her and the days were shorter. She felt that the nights and days went faster, and it especially affected her sleep. After she found the forested area and the open cave she was able to get enough rest to feel revitalized. Up until that point she felt herself going mad from fatigue, hunger, and thirst. She walked deep into the forest to where the canopy provided a thick cover from the bright days. She found running water, thick luscious foliage with edible berries, and many small wild animals near a small cave she called home. She didn’t expect anyone to come rescue her so she didn’t plan to leave signals for another person, yet she did leave markings throughout the forest to help guide her back to her new home. She wandered through the forest keeping her new armor from Chugean on although it was noisy. Megan felt safer keeping it on and only removed it for brief periods of time to bathe. She carried a sword and shield but did not find any need to use them. When the nights became dull she would sit in her cave and sharpen her sword and dagger against the stone.

  Each night she lit a small fire for warmth and light, and the wood she had picked out seemed to have an everlasting burn. She would place two logs on the fire before going to sleep and they would still be burning when she rose for the day. To her, it was magical, and she was very grateful for it. While the fire stayed lit, no animal would come near her cave.

  Thanks to the hunting methods and trap setting her father, Gathar, and her brothers Mort, Vance, and Ptolemy had taught her, she was able to keep an ample supply of food. Her mother had taught her to persevere no matter how difficult or how hopeless the times have become. She remembered the teachings as if they were being said right there, right at that moment: Times will get tough and it will be important to keep your chin up through it all no matter what. Attitude is everything. Keep a positive attitude and good things will happen. Megan thought of her mother’s words over and over again. Each day she reminded herself that, although lonely, it wasn’t so bad.

  The shadows in the forest became longer as nightfall approached, Megan set aside her firewood and closed the makeshift door to her cave. She knew she had about an hour to hunt before the more dangerous creatures started coming. She grabbed the bow she had crafted from the native foliage and set about a path she memorized and marked. Trees with “Xs” sketched into the bark would help her return to the cave in case she ever became disoriented in the forest or she ever had to run off her trail.

  The nocturnal bugs and insects started to sing and chirp. Megan could tell by the sounds of nature that none of the creatures she feared were nearby. She had trained her ears to listen carefully, for hearing was her best sense when the dark arrived. She gauged her trip away from the cave by the length of the shadows on the ground. A tree branch snapped and there was a loud rustling in the green, silky leaves of the nearby exotic foliage. By the sound, Megan could tell it was a large creature lurking about. She could hear heavy breathing and a snort every few seconds, The creature is sniffing me out, she thought. She grabbed her sword and made sure it was readily available in case this creature she could not see pounced on her. Minutes went by and the sound of the creature did not change. It didn’t grow louder or softer. She waited.

  Another sound drove her attention away as she stared off into the thick brush. It was a high-pitched shriek followed by animal-like cackling, a sound she had never heard before. The noise made her heart pound fast and she felt a strange cramping in her left side as she tried to remain quiet and still until she identified what was making the sound. The large creature’s heavy breathing and snorting suddenly became silent. Megan’s eyes widened. She stared into the trees trying to see anything, but there was nothing. Suddenly, there was a rhythmic tapping on the ground and fallen tree branches snapped under the weight of something heading in her direction. By the sounds of it she knew immediately that running was not an option. Gripping the leather bound hilt of her sword tightly and shifting her weight slightly she prepared herself for an attack.

  A black creature leaped from the brush and was at head height to Megan. It growled viciously as it flew toward her, claws ravishing the air, waiting to strike. Megan ducked immediately and swiped her sword at it. Her strike wounded the beast, but it did not slow down. Black blood oozed from the creature’s wound and covered her blade. Shadows all around seemed to be shifting as dusk approached. Megan kept her focus on the creature attacking her. After it landed it jerked around quickly to face her and strike again.

  In one leap off its powerful hind legs it was able to reach Megan’s position once again. She raised her shield and gave the creature no other option but to ram its head into it forcefully. The blow caused her to take one step back, but she did not allow the beast to throw her off balance. The creature was dazed by the strike and fell on its side. When it made contact with the ground, it struggled to get up. Megan knew it was the time to attack. She cursed the forest and cut the black creature down. Her blow was quick and precise leaving the creature no time to even whimper. She stood over it looking around the darkening forest and decided it was time to get back to her cave. She grabbed the body and dragged it back to the cave. It was much heavier than it appeared, but Megan figured it would make for a delicious meal compared to the small game and greens she had been surviving on for the last few days.

  Back at the cave she started her nightly fire a short distance away, roasting the black creature. The aroma was surprisingly pleasing and her mouth watered. She turned the meat to help even out the heat and waited anxiously to start feasting. She grabbed a couple of berries and ate them slowly to control the urge to eat the meat raw.

  After the meat was cooked to her liking she peeled off a small piece and gave it a try. The meat was not tough and hard like expected. It was soft and juicy. She gave it a few minutes to make sure it was safe to eat before trying any more. Night had arrived, but the fire kept her warm and the area around her lit up. Lightning flashed and a crash of thunder followed. Megan could feel the wind picking up and a storm moving in. She quickly finished cooking the meat, charring the ends, and stored it safely in the pouches she had weaved out of thickerbush, a very flexible plant that could make waterproof containers if woven correctly. Rain started to drizzle and Megan decided to move her fire closer to the cave where there was cover. She piled up some firewood and kindling, and then used a small torch to transfer the burning fire from one pit to the next. She designed a flap of cloth that kept the smoke from filling the cave so it could be directed out toward the woods.

  The wind picked up and shook the branches of the thick trees. Megan shivered feeling the approaching storm. Large cold rain drops started to
fall through the canopy and onto the small campsite. She felt lucky that she had moved her fire under the shelter of the cave. A wolf howled and it echoed in the cave. Megan was actually comforted by the familiar sound from home. The steady tapping of the rain, the wind blowing, and the other sounds of nature relaxed her. Megan felt her eyes getting heavy and soon she was asleep.

  A loud popping sound woke Megan up. The fire had been burning slowly all night and the last log popped as the flames struggled to stay alive. Megan rubbed her eyes to see that the sun was already rising. She cursed the short night and wished for little longer to sleep. When she went outside the cave she saw tree branches snapped off the thick trees and laying on the ground. She wondered how she slept through the storm. Had she really been that tired?

  Megan picked up a few branches before she realized that two eyes were staring at her. She faced the being and it did not even flinch. It just stood there, still as a tree, silent as a lagarto, unafraid of her presence. She reached for her sword and realized it was left in the cave. Without weapon, without shield, a terrible sense of dread washed over her. She gripped the stick in her hand firmly, for it was the only defense she had besides running. Her legs still felt heavy from the short but deep slumber. The being was taller than the average man, had very broad shoulders, a head too small in comparison to its body, and had a chest covered in thick, dark hair. Megan had heard about giants before but had never actually seen one. The creatures of this new world fit the stories she believed to be myths or fairy tales very well. Trying not to let the shock of disbelief be obvious, she spoke to the giant, “Are you safe?”

  The giant nodded and said, “I am,” while closing one of its large fists and bringing it to his chest. “They call me Riese.” Then he pointed a thick finger at her.

  Megan recognized the gesture as an invitation to introduce herself. She stuttered, “I am Megan Ippantekina. I am a human. You, you are a giant?”

  “Yes,” Riese said in a deep, barely audible voice. He looked around as if he already lost interest in the conversation. Megan realized he was not being rude but had sensed something that drew his attention away.

  The leaves and broken branches started moving across the ground, not as they would with a strong wind but as if something was pulling them toward it. Megan felt nauseous. She felt the same when she was pulled into the purple vortex at the Great Plains. The giant grunted as several branches swiped his face when they flew by. He ran over to Megan, grabbed her, and wrapped his other arm around a tree. The campsite was quickly cleared by the pulling force that grew stronger. Megan’s makeshift door on the cave snapped off and flew through the air. It smacked a couple of trees and then splintered. Megan shrieked.

  The giant held her firmly, but gently. He was trying to keep her from getting pulled away by the purple vortex spinning in the woods. Although he had only just met her, his gut told him to help her and he, being one to follow his own instincts, did. The purple vortex stopped pulling branches and debris inward, reversed direction and started pushing things away. Megan knew what to expect next and she did not like it. She told the giant to run. The vortex grew in size and demons started entering the forest getting flung out like pebbles from a slingshot.

  Riese clobbered a few of them with his bare fist, knocking them unconscious with his brute strength and did as directed by Megan while still holding her tightly. Bodies pelted his back and the vortex kept growing in size forcing demons through. Megan knew that she was not going to be able to return anytime soon so she told Riese to stop at the cave to retrieve her sword. They did make the stop and he hurried her along without hesitation. Megan was not used to taking orders from a giant and stumbled over her own feet. He had a deep, raspy voice that reminded her much of her father, Gathar. She missed him but knew now was not the time to think about her family back on Palatovia.

  The demons saw them and started letting out battle cries to each other. They carried dangerous weapons from pole-arms to daggers to swords and axes banging them loudly against each other to startle the giant and Megan all the more. The giant was accustomed to the trickery, taunting, and brutality of the demons and was not deterred. Megan felt jealous of the giant for his lack of fear of the demons pursuing them. Alone, she thought, the giant could defeat them all by himself. He was powerful, quick, and brave. He made a sharp turn and lifted Megan off the ground pulling her in a new direction. “Come!” he said.

  With his knowledge of the forest and incredible speed they were able to further the distance between them and the demons. They no longer felt the blowing force from the vortex. The world around them was becoming calmer except for the few demons still in pursuit. The demons no longer clanked their weapons but made harsh noises to each other in demon tongue. Megan stopped the giant, “We can take them.”

  In a deep questioning voice, Riese replied, “What?”

  “We can take them,” she repeated. “Their numbers have thinned. With your strength and my sword I think we can overcome them.”

  “It is not about whether we can win in a battle.” He started walking. “There is no reason to fight them, and I don’t want to give the demon horde a reason to keep chasing us either.” Megan was quite impressed with the giant’s insight and choice of words. He is right, she thought and they continued on their way keeping an eye over their shoulder.

  Not too much later, the demons’ voices became faint and they stopped pursuing Megan and the giant. Riese looked at Megan, “We are safe now.”

  “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “Keeping me safe.”

  “You looked useful. Besides, humans don’t appear in these lands often. If anything, you could be a tasty treat for later.” He said his last few words with a smile of his large crooked teeth. Megan noticed that the giant’s teeth were flat like hers, not the sharp, dagger-like chompers she heard about in tales that were meant for tearing apart meat and flesh.

  Riese squatted and dug his hand into the dirt he stood on. It was a bare patch of dry soil in the dense forest floor. Megan didn’t think much of it. His hand penetrated the soil as if it were fresh powdered snow. He went in elbow deep and grasped something. Megan could see the muscles in his arms tightening as he pulled up. The ground started to move in one large section. Riese was pulling up a door that led to something underground. He swung the door and it creaked as the dirt slid off. Too much was happening at once and Megan started to feel overwhelmed. She felt knots in her stomach. The feelings worsened when she looked down into the hole. There were scattered bones piled up high with cracked skulls. She wanted to vomit. Her nerve was weakening from the lack of sleep and she knew it. The giant unthreateningly told her to go in first. She looked at him and tried her best not to show her fear, but he sensed it.

  “The bones are just there to discourage intruders. This is my home. We will be safe in here.” He gestured for her to go in once again. This time she entered his domain without hesitation. He lit a torch that spread fire down an underground corridor before closing the door to the outside. Megan was careful not to touch the bones for she was superstitious and believed touching them would disturb their owners’ souls, leaving her with a distraught spirit following her around. Megan followed the flames down the rock corridor which led to a large chamber, so large that even a giant would feel comfortable. Riese had chairs suitable for a human in his chamber. He offered Megan a seat and she was slightly hesitant still to accept, but eventually did. Riese used the flames from the corridor to light a stack of logs in a large fireplace, and then he returned the torch to its rightful place on the wall. The flames flickered and the logs popped. He sat quietly close to her. She started to feel relaxed and her eyes became heavy once again. Her tiredness had struck her with full force and she fell asleep.

  * * *

  Lord Emalf looked around at his prison. Gleeful thoughts filled his mind and he grinned from ear to ear across his skull-like face. Several wizards were close by guarding his prison and did not react to his cons
tant thrashing and staring. They remained still like statues. Frozen in time and space, their bodies looked surreal. Emalf wondered what he could do to them when he escaped.

  He was not alone with the wizard guards anymore either. A creature with no arms, broad shoulders, and muscles tearing through his skin stood in a prison of light blue chains to his right. Emalf reached into the creature’s thoughts, Are you ready to get out of here?

  Yes, it responded.

  Good. Now your chains have a weakness to them. I can bring them down, but only for a short while. First, the chains will stop glowing. Then they will fall to the ground. At that time, I need you to take out the wizards over there.

  Yes.

  We will escape tonight when I have regained my strength. Be ready.

  The hours ticked by and Emalf contemplated his plan over and over. He wanted it to go smoothly. The creature sat quietly in its prison cell surrounded by the blue chains. Emalf spoke to it again through the connection he had made earlier. You! Creature! I am almost strong enough to set you free. Are you ready to do what I asked earlier?

  Yes.

  The chains stopped glowing and fell to the ground just like Emalf had promised. The wizard guards finally moved from their posts and began casting spells to resecure the creature, but they were not fast enough. The armless creature was on top of them before they could finish their spells, crushing one with his feet while ripping apart another with his teeth. The other two guards were kicked against the cold, hard stone wall and knocked unconscious. Emalf watched with pleasure. The seal that held him captive started to weaken, and he had mustered enough strength to set himself free with the creature’s help. Emalf was delighted and he let loose a reign of terror as the two of them escaped the magical prison.