Star Crystal- Part 1

STAR CRYSTAL

prologue

Wind howled through the night. The trees thrashed in the wind and lightning lit the sky. The Ranorks patrolled the tower and more oil was added to the fire beacons. Somewhere in the wood a wolf’s hollow cry came and the Ranorks shivered and started to extend their fifth and sixth limbs and opened their double-sided iron- hard plates of armour from beneath their metal skin. They had sensed danger on the wind. The scent of dead man flesh and numerous other dead scents mingled into one horrible smell that can not be described. They knew the scent from the years of Ragnog the first of the Ranorks. It was the scent of a Garken. One of the kin that had killed their king. They had longed to have revenge and now they could have it. But they knew that it would take many deaths to bring down one Garken. They suddenly came alert as they heard a horrible and repulsive squelch of limbs moving in their sockets. It was the Garken. A ripple of commands came from Chardakur (their leader) and everyone drew blood-sharp blades from their belts. It was upon them. At once, there was blue water spurting everywhere . Blood. The Ranorks howled and Chardakur yelled ,”hold your position and kill the enemy who slaughtered our king!” Then he was engaged with a series of lightning fast blows between him and the Garken. He managed to make a searing cross across the Garken’s chest and he let forth a horrible war cry.

“Faarrrrrraaaaccckkttteeeeerrrrr!!!!!!!”

He was then bashed aside as the Garken headed for the turret which kept the Star Crystal in it.

“Defend the turret!” Roared Chardakur and he threw his sword towards the Garken. His aim was true, the Garken fell and the Ranorks were upon it stabbing and cutting. After a while Chardakur ordered them to stop. He knew Garkens could survive death thrusts but he was not sure that this one was dead. Suddenly the Garken was up and leaped high in the air. The Ranorks cried out and bows and arrows twined in vain. It had got away. They had wounded it extremely badly but it had survived.

Chardakur stood up straight, lifted a huge spear and threw for the second time that night. As he threw, a sparkling white light shot out of the spear and struck the Garken in the back.

“Die and be gone to the land of spirits!” He shouted as the Garken plunged to the rocks below and its death.

Chapter One

Grim news

Chardakur sat up. He felt weak and small. Then his senses returned to him and he found himself in the wounded hole. He got up and saw that there were many other Ranorks around him. Most of them were badly wounded and he grimaced as he felt his own wounds all over his body. He called for help and was soon answered by a little Ranork , running with a jug of Pugrut (water for the Ranorks) and a bottle of foul looking medicine.

“Do you need something, sir?” asked the little Ranork.

“No little child, just some news on what happened.”

“I think that you should come with me” said the little Ranork looking pale (or scared).

“Why”

“Because……….. Um………..because the king wants you.”

“Okay”

“You fought extremely bravely I hear,” said King Rodues,” and you killed it!!”

“Thankyou sir!”

He was sitting in the king’s throne room and it was filled with lights dancing up against the dark shadows. It had been an hour since he had his senses returned to him and he had learned that after he killed the Garken he had fallen unconscious, as he had thrown the spear so hard. 8 of his troops had died, another 50 wounded and his own life barely spared. There was a knock of the door and five troops trooped in. Chardakur recognised them as the soldiers who had jumped onto the Garken and sawed of his arms, plucked out his eyes an stabbed him repeatedly.

“These troops have told me that your sword and spear were thrown at the Garken in order to kill it, so, as a reward for your services, I present this to you!”

The king handed him a small dagger, needle sharp and perfectly balanced for throwing. He gave it an expert twist, flicked it up and threw it so that it struck the door and stayed there, quivering.

“Thankyou sir. I will use this wisely” said Chardakur.

He then said his fare well and started to head towards the gate where he could see how much damage the Garken had caused. As he got there he noticed a figure limping up to the gate. It was wearing light grey and black rags and had cuts all over its legs, arms and neck.

“Who goes there?” shouted Chardakur

“ Just let me in please!” the stranger wailed.” I have been chased by an army of Kruts for the last few days and they are a mere week away!”

“An army!” exclaimed Chardakur.

He ushered the stranger in, allocated rooms to him and shut the gates. He then told the troops on patrol to arm themselves and make ready for a battle.

Chapter two

Vengeance

“Put your backs into it or you’ll feel the whip, you hog-nosed brats!” shouted Gresh the slave driver of the Kruts. “I’ll cut out your guts and feed them to the crows!”

The slaves groaned in agony and pulled the carriage harder showing their rib cages through their skin. They had been working most of the seven hours moving the huge catapults, so that they were pulled along with the carriage. The slaves shivered and whimpered nervously as Hrackten stepped into the camp ground and hopped into the carriage.

Where is my brother!” he growled to the leader of the Garkens (Hrecktor) who had slain Ragnog.

“He died miserably when trying to get the Star Crystal” he shrugged.

“Who killed him!” Hrackten shouted

“A Ranork called Chardakur it seems!” Hrecktor growled back.

“I want revenge! I will take the Star Crystal for myself and I will never die!!

Chardakur wiped the sweat from his fore head. He had been handing out weapons for the last hour.

“At last we have plenty of weapons and food.” he thought grimly.” I wonder why we have had these attacks lately.

Little did he know that the army of Kruts were actually Garkens in disguise.

“Get on with it or you’ll feel a dirk between your ribs!” growled Gresh.

He was in a good mood, as Hrecktor had promised them that they were going to finally conquer the Ranorks. No one could stand to the might of ten hundred Garkens.

Chapter three

Attack in the night

“Troops, stay on the alert, we may have to defend the tower tonight!”

Chardakur ordered.

It was the ninth hour of the night but he knew that the army of Kruts would not stop for a rest. He lifted his weapons and tossed them expectedly. He had honed his throwing knife and sharpened his sword and spear. He was ready for battle.

“Our finest trackers have reported that the Kruts will come through the east side of the forest, sir!” growled Harko(second in command).”They will be here in the hour.”

“Then ready your weapons and fight for Ragnog!” shouted Chardakur” Do not show mercy. Kill or slaughter all of them!!!”

The direction of the wind suddenly changed and the Ranorks could smell the scent of……..not Kruts, that was for sure. It smelt more like……. Garken. They shifted in their positions nervously.

“I hear them coming” someone shouted.

“Lift the cauldrons!” ordered Chardakur.

Ten huge bubbling cauldrons were lifted into the position where they could be poured over the edge quite easily. Chardakur then had piles of loose rubble and stones pushed to where they were in reach of the slingers. The archers were placed in the second row of soldiers and the slingers in the first. Chardakur and other spear throwers were going to defend the gate. The gate’s iron metal grill fell down with a loud bang.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a huge spear came hurtling out of the air and landed next to Chardakur.

“We’re under attack!” shouted Chardakur, ”Positions!”

Suddenly the castle was empty or empty with Ranorks hiding behind barrels, sacks and any other things that were shield-able. Then the Ranorks suddenly stood up and drew back their arrows in their bows and shot into the night. There were howls of pain, but they were subdued by the loud commands ushered by the Kruts’ commander. The commands were so loud that Chardakur stopped and wondered what he was battling with. But his thoughts were interrupted by a series of spears that landed near the places where the Ranorks were hiding. There then came a brilliantly white flash of light and the enemy, who were scaling the gate, were instantly killed. What is that white light, Chardakur asked himself silently. But his thoughts were washed away by the sight of a … Garken! It was lumbering towards him its eyes alight with fury.

“You killed my brother!” it snarled” Now you will regret it!”

With that, he hurled himself at Chardakur, claws raised for the fatal blow. Chardakur desperately jumped to one side and automatically threw his only weapon. It was a mistake and he knew it. But it served as a distraction and the Garken ,enraged, jumped straight on to it. He howled in pain and fell backwards.

By that time, his troops had reached his side to stand around and stick their weapons in the Garken’s back. Harko stepped forward and roughly hauled Chardakur to his feet. They both (being seasoned warriors) knew that there were more enemy to come and it looked like it wasn’t going to be Kruts.

To Be continued...