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Chapter 33: Don't Play With A Necromancer

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Ahrman empire capital city of Parigrah

It had been some time since an enemy had breached the walls of the Ahrman capital. But, by all accounts, it really wasn’t a breach. There weren't any enemies marching from a land beyond the Ahrman borders and laying siege to the massive wall.

All of Parigrah's problems came from above as a dreadful cloud sat over the capital city, dropping a new foe with the beat of a heart. Towering over their opponents, the red-eyed warrior skeletons had only one goal; kill the living.

“Stand your ground, men!” brigadier general Grant commanded. If the battle was won by bravery alone, the Ahrman troops would have been victorious by now. Against an enemy that didn't bleed nor breathe, being valorous was a quick way to die.

Grant ducked behind his heather shield, blocking an enemy’s attack. Pushing back with it barely phased the warrior skeleton, neither did a direct hit from his blade.

Seeking to turn the tides, Sisten shared the fire of his Rebirth with his allies. With their swords aflame, the soldiers gained some ground, but enemy forces multiplied as fast as they were cut down.

Viciously agile, the warrior skeletons knocked their opponents over the wall like toys. Those that didn’t die instantly would do so soon, under the sharp talons of shadow creatures. The dead Arhman troops didn't stay that way for long.

“Tasha’s here somewhere,” Sisten observed as deceased troops wobbled to their feet.

With her Rebirth of Necro, raising the recently dead was Tasha's specialty. But the returned soldiers weren’t behaving as they normally would under the command of her necromancer rune. They chased down their living counterparts and after overpowering them, the returned dead ripped them apart with their teeth.

It happened more times than Sisten was comfortable watching. The dead were feeding on the living and spreading a plaque of more rising dead. Sisten had seen enough. He rained fire on the living dead that roasted them to the bone. But to his disappointment, the same bones staggered to their feet and continued spreading Hell.

Don’t make me have to burn you alive, Tasha!

Several enemies descended on the brigadier general at once. A timely raise of his shield brought him a few more moments. Flailing his flaming weapon in the warrior skeleton’s faces slowed their aggression. Their hesitation gave Grant enough time to solidify his footing.

The warrior skeletons continued their advance, but Grant moved quickly and slew the lead one. With his shield raised against another, Grant cut the third one down. As it disintegrated in the air, another swooped in for a kill, only to receive a face full of fire instead.

“Pull your men back!” Sisten ordered Grant, his hands ablaze. If Alba controlled Tasha wanted to up her game, he was ready to do the same.

Bright yellow flames twisted tightly, reaching into the cloud. They rotated around the battlegrounds, chasing the enemy and igniting everything in their path. During their dangerous dance columns of fire met and swirled into one massive cyclone. Homes and businesses were consumed by the firestorm’s destructive force.

“Stop it, Sisten!” shouted Grant, his shield raised to block the growing heat. “You’ll destroy the entire city!”

Without warning a sharp piece of bone impaled Sisten in the shoulder. Another drove deep into his other shoulder. A third one aimed higher but was deflected by Grant’s shield.

Tasha stepped out of the shadows, her feminine features accented by armor made of bone. The self-conscious young woman Sisten knew would never expose so much skin. Her long hair flowed freely over skin that even the dark of night couldn’t conceal. And on the center of her forehead, a runic symbol of necromancy glowed brightly.

Daggers carved out of skeletons revolved around her, following her every step.

“So, it is true!” Grant exclaimed. “What madness has swayed you, Tasha?!”

“Grant, get out of here!” Sisten said, yanking one of the bones out of his shoulder.

With a flick of her fingers, Tasha sent the daggers flying toward the men. Most were easily deflected by Grant’s shield while others took less direct paths. Several skirted around the brigadier general and took aim on his back. They impaled Sisten instead as he threw himself in their path.

He recently learned that the fire of his Rebirth could heal all of his wounds. Why and how were questions Sisten didn’t seek answers to. As long as it continued to happen, he was content with sustaining injuries, no matter how painful.

“There’s no shame in retreating, Grant!” Sisten urged, igniting his chest. “Get the Hell out of here while you can! You’re no use to the queen if you’re dead!”

“But the capital..!”

“Is a lost cause! Now go while my fire still covers your blade!”

Hesitating at first, Grant eventually turned back on his heels. First Haggard, now the capital? Could the end of the Ahrman Empire truly be near?

He lit his arms ablaze and sent fire Tasha’s way. Her bone armor covered her completely before the fire made contact. Unfazed by Sisten’s attack, Tasha’s boot was in his face faster than he could blink. Another spin kick sent him flying over the wall.

Following him down, Tasha rammed her boots in his chest, ensuring his fall to the ground. She held him down as a bone dagger formed in her hands. As the daggers advanced toward his skull, Sisten grabbed Tasha’s wrists.

“Last chance, Tasha,” Sisten said, searching her eyes for a hint of the person he knew. But there was no inkling of her; just emptiness wrapped in a sinister aura. “Snap out of it!”

For someone who made it her mission to avoid toning her muscles, Tasha was a force to be reckoned with. What kind of influence could Alba have? A Rebirth, perhaps? There was one known to other’s thoughts, but her actions were beyond simple mind control.

Whatever the case, Sisten needed to get the upper hand. He covered his body with flames. Even though his fire had no effect on her bone armor, Sisten's flames continued to intensify. And if Tasha didn't back off soon, she'd be cooked alive like a hard-boiled egg. Part of him hoped it wouldn’t come to that, but the longer her attack persisted the more he was beginning not to care.

Despite the heat, Tasha persisted. More and more bones appeared by her side. Bending and curving in unnatural ways, the bones crisscrossed around Sisten’s fiery body.

"I'll make you regret this, Tasha!" Sisten said before his face was completely covered.

"Fsko Mcnec gn alca. Melol'n aknm Vlxos tsh." Tasha spoke. Without hesitation, she plunged her daggers into Sisten’s cocoon.

Standing over him, Tasha watched as Sisten’s raging firestorm exhausted into nothing more than a gust of hot air. She removed her daggers, allowing his blood to flow from his body.

The bone coffin would be sufficient enough to keep air out of his lungs. She turned and walked back into the shadows as sinister fiends gathered around the bone cocoon. One tasted as much blood as it could before another shoved it aside.

Those that weren’t fighting over him eagerly awaited for the moment when Tasha’s bones would relinquish their hold on the royal guard.