Chapter Thirty Three:
Engon & Marcellus
I woke with a pounding headache and a dry mouth, groaning as I forced my eyes open. The ground was cold, hard stone with walls made of the same material. There was a small candle lantern lighting the room in the centre, while a flight of stone stairs on the other side of the room led to a wooden door.
I sat up slowly, surprised I wasn’t chained or tied up.
Where am I?
I’d just managed to stand when the door opened and Amergin walked in, grinning as he carried some soup and bread.
‘You must be hungry; you’ve been asleep for a week.’
‘What?’ I screeched, almost falling over. ‘What the hell did you do to me? And where is this?’
‘I used the poison in me to teach you a lesson.’ He shrugged, bending down and setting the food on the floor. Before I realised it I’d sat down and was devouring it. ‘For denying me my revenge.’ He looked up at me, grinning again, making me pause in inhaling the soup. ‘But then I heard a voice, and realised you really were special.’
‘A voice?’ I asked cautiously, not sure I wanted to know.
‘Her voice. She spoke to me, saying she chose you, and to help you. If I help the creator of the realms I’m sure she will heal me.’ He said, nodding to himself.
I’m not so sure. I thought, Considering what she wants to happen to her.
‘…So where are we?’ I prompted, purposely ignoring his optimistic look.
‘My house, of course.’ He said proudly. ‘Well, the basement anyway; I rent it from the old woman in exchange for doing housework.’
I took a deep breath, trying to be patient.
‘And where is this house? What town?’
‘Engon, of course.’ Amergin said, looking at me like I was stupid. ‘I brought you back with me in the cart.’
Firo, did you really talk to this guy?
No one can hear me but you, little one. She replied faintly.
I finished the bread, trying to smile at Amergin, but feeling sick.
This guy is…
‘Well, thank you.’ I said, standing again. ‘If I can borrow your cart I’ll be on my way.’
‘Oh no. No, no, no.’ Amergin giggled, shaking his head. ‘I have to come too! You’re going to Tempit, to meet her, right? I’ll take you there.’
I stared at him, trying to weigh up my options. Amergin didn’t look very strong, but he had overpowered Dagan, and knocked me unconscious for a week with his blood. If I refused…
But if I said yes who knew what would happen. Even if he wasn’t crazy I wouldn’t have trusted him. He’d been furious with me before, and who knew when his imaginary Firo voice would say something he didn’t like, making him turn on me.
‘Sure.’ I said, matching his crazy grin with my own.
First I need to get out of here.
Amergin began clapping his hands and jumping up and down, laughing. I gave him a weak laugh before heading up the stairs.
I opened the door and yelped in surprise, seeing an old woman waiting. Her hair, eyes and skin were all yellow, while her dress was a dull brown. She glared at me, examining me closely.
‘So it’s alive.’ She scoffed, turning and walking away. ‘You better go present it, Amergin.’
‘Yes.’ He muttered absently, grabbing my wrist and leading me out of the house. ‘He must be presented.’
I didn’t like the sound of that.
As soon as we left the house we were swept up in a crowd. Like the old woman, they were yellow, matching the blazing sun that rivalled my hometown’s heat. Their gaze flickered to me, suspicious. When they saw Amergin was dragging me in the same direction they nodded in approval and carried on walking.
‘Um, where are we going?’ I asked, realising we were heading further into the town.
‘To present you to the Mighty Hammer.’ Amergin smiled.
I just shook my head, giving up.
Engon’s structure was similar to Firo’s, but Amergin and I seemed to be the only outsiders. We passed a street of shops, but they were inside buildings rather than stalls, and they were all being closed as the owners joined the crowd.
The street opened up into a large square at the centre of town, where already hundreds of people were gathered around a large wooden platform built several feet off the ground. The centre of it had a hole and stairs installed, which a large man was climbing up. The crowd became hushed as soon as they saw him.
He was an earth immortal, large and muscular like Ignatius, and wearing the usual sewn leaves outfit. His visible veins seemed to bulge closer to his skin than the others and were an assortment of colours. His hair was a short light brown and his smile had a feral look deeper than Ulmar’s.
In his right hand he carried a large wooden hammer, plain looking except for its size.
‘It is time for the great hammer to hear your confessions!’ He roared, holding it up in the air.
I couldn’t stop my instinctive reaction to slap my face with my hand, shaking my head.
Confess to a hammer?
Amergin had to elbow me in the stomach before my giggling got too loud. I saw him rub his elbow and grimace immediately after.
‘Do not anger The Hammer.’ He tutted, looking up at the sky. I followed his gaze, seeing the sun disappear and white specks begin to fall.
W-what?
All around us the people’s complexion was changing from yellow to blue, their eyes and hair changing too.
I lifted a hand and jerked in amazement when a white speck landed there, melting.
‘What is this?’ I whispered in awe.
Amergin frowned at me.
‘It’s snow. You’ve never seen snow before?’
‘No.’ I said, looking up at the sky and smiling. ‘It’s beautiful.’
Amergin shrugged, turning his gaze back to the platform.
‘It is through The Hammer’s power you’ve been given your camouflage protection against Engon’s ever-changing weather. I, Marcellus, holder of The Hammer, will hear your confessions, so The Hammer will maintain the power it needs to keep you alive. Now,’ He gazed out at the crowd, a cold smile on his face. ‘Who will be the first to confess?’
The crowd was silent, but several people began to push their way to the front and line up near the stairs. At the front was a young girl, no older than fourteen, who climbed up when Marcellus beckoned to her.
‘Come, young lady. I sense you are in pain.’
The girl stepped forward. Marcellus plonked the hammer onto the platform, still holding its handle. With a permissive nod from Marcellus the girl reached out and took hold of a lower section of the handle. Immediately her quivering voice boomed across the square as she spoke.
‘Oh Mighty Hammer, two days ago I became a woman, but it pains me greatly during the blazing noon hour. Please give me the strength to carry on through it.’
I could feel my face heat up and I ducked my head to look away. How could she discuss that in front of everyone?
What is wrong with this town?
Marcellus didn’t look impressed with this confession, but nodded anyway.
‘The Hammer has heard you and next month will give you the strength to pull through with dignity. Who is next?’
The girl ducked her head and ran down the stairs, a man in his twenties replacing her. He was trembling as he placed a hand on the hammer’s handle.
‘O Mighty Hammer, I have a great sin to confess.’
Marcellus grinned at this, making me shiver.
‘Go on.’ he commanded.
‘For the last few days rumours have been spreading in the town. They talk of rebellion against the King, and…I’m afraid some have expressed positive views of this. They want the King to die.’
Marcellus’ grin widened and he lifted the hammer, forcing the man to let go and stumble back.
‘This is a great crime indeed! And one the whole town is guilty of. You must repent!’
The man ran down the stairs as Marcellus raised the hammer higher, over his head, and slammed it down onto the platform.
The impact was deafening, the shockwave almost visible. All around me the people grabbed their heads and cried out in pain, dropping to their knees. Even Amergin clutched at his head, screaming.
I looked back at the platform, seeing Marcellus staring right at me, frowning in anger.
‘What sort of creature are you? And why aren’t you affected by my hammer?’
‘Um,’ I said, trying to back away but unable to manoeuvre around the people.
He was gazing at me with narrowed eyes, as if peering into my very soul.
‘So…’ he said, face growing darker as the sky responded. ‘You’re her new replacement. I will not allow it!’
The dark clouds pelted down frozen snow, making the people around me wince and start to turn white. They began staggering away, which gave Marcellus the chance to jump off the platform and head towards me.
‘I will not let Ignatius get his way!’
Wait, what?
But I didn’t have time to wonder. Before I could try to run he was close enough to aim his hammer at me, forcing me to dodge. Any people still in range of the shockwave fell back to the ground, crying in pain.
‘You’ll kill them!’ I protested, dodging another blow.
‘So?’ he sneered. ‘This hammer is fuelled by their pain, and its magic is what formed this town. They will gladly die for me; you should follow their example.’
He changed his blow to a sideways sweep, catching me off guard and hitting its mark. I was sent flying across the square.
Even with my body that hurt.
I groaned, trying to climb back to my feet, but finding Marcellus already there, bringing his hammer down again. It hit me hard on the back and I cried out in pain.
If I’d been anyone else I would have been squashed flat, but not even my bones were damaged. It still hurt more than I liked.
Marcellus was growling at me, confusion fueling his anger.
‘Why aren’t you dead yet? Die already!’
I rolled clumsily out of the way for his next attack, using the shockwave to help jump to my feet. I winced as I straightened my back, feeling like an old man.
‘Stop this.’ I hissed, feeling the now familiar movement in my throat. ‘I’m warning you.’
‘How dare you!’ Marcellus growled. For a moment I saw a hint of fear in his eyes, which made his anger blaze more fiercely. ‘I won’t let you outrank me!’
He lifted his hammer to swing again, and I opened my mouth.
Instead of a fireball, a steady stream of fire poured from my mouth, hitting Marcellus and spreading. After a few seconds I coughed and the flames stopped. In that time the flames travelled up Marcellus, reaching the hammer. By the time the five seconds ended Marcellus was screaming in agony, badly burnt all over, while the hammer had turned black.
Other screams began to fill the town, making me turn in surprise. All around the people were turning black, clutching at their skin in agony.
‘What-?’ I began, stumbling back in horror.
‘Quick.’ Amergin hissed, suddenly appearing and grabbing my wrist, dragging me away in a forced run. ‘We have to leave before he recovers.’
I looked around at the screaming people as we ran, feeling sick.
I finally managed to hurt an immortal, and look what became of it.
If Amergin hadn’t been leading, I don’t think I could have continued. Not even for Annie.
Scribbled Thoughts 