From Distant Shores Collection Part 2 by K.R. Gomlok (ebook reader browser txt) 📕

across the plain, a sound that echoed from the mountaintops, rolling down in small fragments like a sprinkling before a rain storm. ?They come,? she murmured to her companions.
?Let them come,? Bemaldar muttered as he approached them, ?The sooner they face us the better.?
Ikiaghn looked unsettled at the old Berserker, ?Patience, we?ll do no good rushing into this. You appointed me leader and so I shall lead you.?
Bemaldar sighed, his weathered face softening for a moment, ?Yes, I know. I?m anxious to kill these slime though, they have enslaved many of my people.?
?We all have a reason to stand against the Zalians,? Ikiaghn said, turning his gaze to the distant mountains. ?Yet some of us more than others.?
Joria turned, staring straight at Valormin, ?So then why are you here, drifter??
?Drifter?? Valormin mumbled back, still lost in his own thoughts.
?Sorry,? Joria apologized, ?I forgot your name. Things have been so rushed that I never really committed it to memory.?
Valormin looked at her blankly, ?I thought Elves remembered everything.?
?Valormin!? Nafilas exclaimed, caught off guard by the offhand insult, ?What?s gotten into you??
?No,? Joria interjected before Nafilas could further inquire, ?I take the fault. There are kinder ways to phrase things. Besides, this is no time to fight amongst ourselves, there is a battle near at hand.?
Leaving the conflict alone for the moment, Nafilas turned her attention to her imminent task: a battle of light and darkness.
Ikiaghn drew his sword, facing the now visible advancing Zalian army. It was at least two thousand strong, overwhelming compared to the four hundred warriors who stood behind him. Raising his sword, he shouted to his troops, ?Gonhiem?at Yetan! Rally to me! Now is the time to show your valor, for all that you hold dear to your hearts, go forth, free peoples of the shores!?
Joria gave Nafilas a quick glance, ?Remember Cioellen and Lisean,? She whispered, ?Separate in combat??
?Together at heart. May Kithur guide our swords. ? Nafilas replied. There would be no escape this time; the Zalians were no longer interested in prisoners.
Nafilas fit an arrow into her bow. It was a swan-feathered arrow, given to her by Xölwin. Remembering her old friend, she drew the bowstring back and readied herself for the command.
She felt a hand on her shoulder; she almost mistook it for Xölwin?s as he had often practiced with her. ?What will happen if it ends here?? it was Valormin, his voice quavered a little, ?What if we die? What?s the point of it all??
She drew a deep breath, steadying herself. ? The point is that we have done all we can and that we have played our part in this battle. No one will say we stepped down. We all need something to hope for Valormin. There is still a chance we may win. We must hold out until the end because the world will be without hope or goodness if we forsake our posts. I promise you this though, Valormin Korlon, I will protect you till my last breath.?
?Then let us fight the good fight together,? He said. ?After all, I wouldn?t be so afraid to die. Not with you beside me.? He gave her a quick, unsteady smile before looking back to the waves of Zalians who were very near now. He released his sword from his scabbard?
The battle commenced with deadly results. The Zalians had no archers among them, but their dark hordes surged past the rain of arrows that met them and into the ranks of swordsmen.
After the first few seconds, Nafilas became separated from Valormin, who had joined the fray and protected his ground with the ferocity of a true warrior. ?Don?t worry, Nafilas!? he shouted back, tension obvious in his voice. ?They shall not come any nearer!?
Things went from bad to worse as the surging hordes of adversaries overran the ranks of the defenders. Nafilas tightened her grip on her bow, firing arrow after arrow into the writhing mass of darkness that stood beyond Valormin who still faithfully held his ground in front of her. There were so many?
?Nafilas!? Valormin cried as he threw himself against the never-ending tide, ?I can?t hold them back much longer! We need to retreat!?
?No! We need to hold here! Be strong Valormin!?
Yet even as she said this, a Zalian berserker caught him in a sweeping blow with a war hammer. Nafilas watched horrified as Valormin careened through the air and landed on his back behind her. He bounced like a rag doll thrown by an angry child against the grassy field. He looked into her eyes as blood started to trickle down his face, which was frozen in shock. His stare did not accuse her, it did not demand retribution for ordering him to his doom; it simply asked: Have I failed you yet, Nafilas?
Nafilas was vaguely aware that Joria was now at Valormin?s side, dragging him back off the battlefield. But all she could think about was the utter despair she had seen in Valormin?s gaze as he had stared back at her. She had failed him. She let loose a terrible cry of hopelessness and yanked her swords from their sheaths. If only she had more power, she could have saved him. She could have saved Cioellen and Lisean; she could have stopped this battle before it had gone so far. If only she had the power? She reached into her depths. Dark shadows swirled around her, enticing her to draw from their strength?
?So Ginrial, we meet again,? Two ember eyes met her; She felt a dry, hot breath on her neck.
She gasped, ?I?m so sorry Valormin??
She plunged into the shadow?

Valormin came to in the arms of Joria; her warm Elven hands were tending a wound on his forehead. ?Joria?? He croaked, his throat was parched from the heat of battle. Was the battle over? No, it couldn?t be, he could still hear it raging on. ?Where is Nafilas??
?Thank the lord of the heavens! You?re alive!? Joria exclaimed, ?I thought I?d lost you! After you bumped your head on that rock I thought you?d??
?Where is Nafilas?? He repeated, jumping to his feet. Immediately, he was forced back down to a kneeling position by a heavy welt left on his side. Grunting in pain, her eased his way back up to a stand.
?Easy,? Joria soothed, ?The last time I saw Nafilas she was still holding her own on the battle front. We needn?t worry about her yet. She is an able warrior.?
Despite Joria?s words, Valormin was very much worried for Nafilas. ?By your side,? he said quietly, starting back towards the battlefield, ?That?s where I need to be.?
He needed to help her, if he had any courage in him at all he could not abandon her. ?No giving up,? He muttered, drawing his sword.
?Valormin, stop!? Joria called after him, ?You are in no condition to rejoin them!?
He stopped and looked back at her, ?Not on my own.?

* * *

?Over here!? Valormin called to Joria, desperation taking total dominance in his voice, ?We last saw her over here! Where can she be? Nafilas!?
The battle still raged on, all around him Valormin could see the ravaging horror of war as humans destroyed humans in a struggle for survival.
Behind him, Joria was locked in combat with three Zalians. ?Either she has left or she is dead,? She shouted back to him, ?That position is overrun.?
Valormin?s breath was ragged, not only was the welt on his side slowing him down but he now was beginning to taste despair, the terrible, awful, despair that he would never see Nafilas again. He had only met her a few days ago but still he felt inseparably connected to her. And now he wondered if he would ever talk to her again, ever here her laugh to lighten the mood, just to have her there to reprimand him would have been more than enough. How could he live without her? To this question, he knew no answer.
?Valormin! We need to fall back!? Joria yelled at him, she was now fighting five Zalians at once. ?We cannot hold this position! Fall back to the camp! Valormin!?
But he was no longer listening. Drawing his sword for what might have been the last time, he took a deep breath, ?Separate in combat, together at heart. I will avenge your death, Nafilas of the Elves.?
?No!? Joria cried, breaking through the ranks, ?Valormin! Come back to the light! Come back! Please!?
Valormin Snarled at her, what did she know? He had lost her, she was gone forever. His promise was broken, his friends were dying, and he had nothing left to lose! Yet something inside him begged him to stop.
He whirled about, spinning his blade through countless Zalian swordsmen; none would match his ferocity. His rampage continued on through their ranks with undiminished power. He let loose a roar of challenge, ? All ye who have slain my friend, come now and slay me if you can!?
He laughed, feral with the rush of combat, the feeling of instant gratification. This only lasted for a minute or two, however, before he ran into Joria.
?Stop, Valormin Korlon,? She ordered, forcing his blade back with a blow of equal energy. ?You have strayed to the enemies ways. You are no better than them!?
?I am infinitely better!? He spat back at her. But his skin had started to go pale and the voice inside him was getting stronger.
She blocked his continuous barrage of swipes, ?How? Look at yourself! You are acting like a beast!?
?No!? He countered, spinning with wide sweeps that still cut through Zalians and allowed him to keep Joria on her feet. ?I am acting for Nafilas! I am acting to avenge the death of a noble person! How can you despise that? Answer me, O? wise Elf!?
No!

The voice cut through his thoughts. Suddenly he recognized it; it was Nafilas. He stumbled in his stance and dropped his guard.
Without further hesitation, Joria ducked under his sword, tripped him with a sweeping kick, and forced her blade to his neck. ?Do not fool yourself! You are not honoring her memory! Nafilas died to save you! She fell in hopes that you might live on in the light! Can?t you understand that? She never