4th day of the 9th month 580th year of the 8th era

Akuchi stood dressed in a suit of armour unlike any he had seen. Each piece was crafted in a different style. He stood at the bottom of a huge mountain. Dark clouds swirled around the top of the mountain. In his right hand, he carried his falchion. The weight felt comfortable. In his left hand, he carried a shield. It balanced out the weight of his sword easily. Behind him stood four other people. He didn’t recognise them due to their full armour.

Lightning crashed and struck the ground in front of him. A man appeared from out of the lightning. He was covered in a complete matching suit of glowing gold armour. His eyes glowed. He wore his sword on his hilt and his shield on his back.

“You dare defy me,” the bronze warrior intoned.

“We defend the realms of man,” Akuchi heard himself say.

“The realms of men are dying,” the bronze warrior intoned. “You will serve us or die.”

The bronze warrior lifted his left hand. Fire sprouted out of his palm and leapt across the distance between them and struck Akuchi in the chest.

Akuchi fell backwards and landed on his back in the dirt.

***

Akuchi sat up, a coat of sweat on his forehead.

Aife lay asleep next to him.

Akuchi looked around the room and saw that everything was still fine.

A man’s heart is fickle,

Akuchi heard the words resound in his head.

What was that?

true must a man’s heart be

I have heard those words before.

to wield the spirit.

Akuchi got up out of the bed and wandered into the other room. His sword sat in its position against the wall near the door. It sat next to Aife’s glaive.

Honour and glory,

reveal the soul

remain true to your word

and see glory

The words rebounded around his head again. What is happening? Am I hearing things?

Akuchi strode up to his sword and picked it up. He drew the sword from its scabbard enough to reveal the words etched into the blade. One side read:

A man’s heart is fickle,

true must a man’s heart be

to wield the spirit.

Then he flipped it over and read the other side.

Honour and glory,

reveal the soul

remain true to your word

and see glory

Why would those words come to my mind now? Do they have anything to do with the dream that I just had?

“Akuchi, what are you doing?” Aife murmured from the doorway.

Akuchi sheathed the sword and placed it back in its place.

“Just checking something,” Akuchi replied. “Let’s go back to bed.”

Akuchi looked over at Aife leaning against the door frame, her skin smooth and clear under the body paint that was beginning to smudge. Aife’s eyes widened and she giggled then dashed back into the bed chamber.

Akuchi dashed after her and was soon wrapped up in her embrace. Aife squealed in delight as he gave her a huge kiss. Akuchi ran his hands over her body. He kissed her deeper, his tongue searching her mouth met with hers and entwined together, sending a rush through his body.

***

Akuchi and Aife sat around the fire place eating their breakfast, leftovers from last night’s beef stew.

I need you to know this. Akuchi heard in his head. Don’t react and don’t interrupt.

A man’s heart is fickle,

true must a man’s heart be

to wield the spirit.

Honour and glory,

reveal the soul

remain true to your word

and see glory.

What was that?

Akuchi formed the words in his mind.

I know you will have questions, the voice replied. I don’t have much energy, I believe you are the one, and I need you to remember those words.

I am the one? Akuchi formed in his mind again.

Just remember those words. It is important. The voice faded and left.

Why must I remember those words? The voice didn’t return.

Akuchi and Aife continued with their daily tasks. Akuchi kept those words in his mind all day, reciting them to himself over and over.

***

That night Akuchi sat next to the fire while Aife served dinner. He took the bowl and didn’t eat it right away.

“What is the matter, my husband?” Aife asked. “You have been quiet all day.”

“I am hearing voices in my head,” Akuchi admitted.

“Voices in your head,” Aife repeated. “What are they saying?”

“Not much but the same thing over and over again. I am trying to work out what it means.”

“Let me hear it,” Aife offered. “My life has been full of prophecy. Maybe I know something that will help you work it out.”

“It says the words etched into the base of my sword.”

“What could that mean?” wondered Aife.

“I have been trying to work it out myself.”

“The only thing I can offer to your mystery could be the fact that your sword was mentioned in my life’s prophecy because it is an object of power.”

“What was the prophecy?” Akuchi asked.

“A purple maiden born

To my cyclic star

Taken from hearth and home,

Her loins shall only

Be fruitful for him,

Son of royalty and wanderer

Great grief he shall bear,

Nine generations

then the maiden shall rest.”

“That just adds to the mystery,” exclaimed Akuchi. “The voice did mention that I was the one and that I should not forget the words.”

“Prophecies can be strange sometimes,” said Aife.

***

5th day of the 9thmonth 580th year of the 8th era

At first light, the dark elves emerged from the forest. They marched up the path between the sown fields. They marched two abreast, each carrying a long sword on their hip, a spear, and a large square shield. They wore leather jerkins and trousers. Each elf’s face was painted a dark green with white stripes, some having one or two, others had four. The man at the front wore a metal helmet with a plume and had a star over his face, the only difference from his men.

The lead elf broke off and came to stand in front of Aife and Akuchi. He saluted and then removed his helmet.

The rest of the men continued to march past them and formed up in front of the gate.

“Princess.” The commander bowed deep. “I am Force Commander Lui, sent to assist in the defence of this human fort.”

“I welcome you.” Aife bowed slightly. “How many men did my father send?”

“I command the battalion,” replied the force commander. “Three hundred strong.”

A new group of elves appeared from the forest wearing the same dark green paint and leather jerkin and trousers. Instead of sword, shield, and spear they carried composite longbows and several sheaves of arrows each.

“I am amazed that my father was able to outfit such a force so quickly,” commented Aife.

“With the curse broken, our magic is returning,” replied Lui.

“We should inform Oggy that the dark elves are not attacking but are our allies,” Akuchi suggested. “We should have spoken to him before they arrived, but it should be okay.”

“Yes. That would have been appreciated,” Lui agreed.

Aife and Akuchi walked up to the fort. The soldiers created a corridor for Aife, Akuchi and Lui to walk through before closing ranks behind them.

The gate door creaked open and Oghenekaro and Lief stepped out.

“Akuchi,” Oghenekaro said. “I assume there is an explanation for this.”

“They have come to help defend the fort,” Aife piped up.

“Who are they?”

“They are dark elves,” Akuchi said, “like Aife here.”

“We have never had dark elves in the fort before,” blustered Oghenekaro, “how do I know they aren’t coming in to take over the fort?”

“I have a treaty with them,” explained Akuchi.

“You are running short on manpower,” said Aife.

“That is true,” admitted Oghenekaro. “Open the gates!” he hollered.

The large double gates swung open with an audible creak and a shower of dust caused a small cloud to settle over Oghenekaro and Lief.

Lui strode forward and stood in front of Oghenekaro.

“I am Force Commander Lui.” She bowed. “It is a pleasure to work beside you.”

Oghenekaro looked at her and reciprocated her bow. “I look forward to working beside you.”

Lui waved her hand in the air and the soldiers started to march through the gate and formed up in the marshalling ground. Several duelling partners stopped their practice and watched the soldiers form straight tight lines.

Three companies, one archer, and two infantry companies, formed six neat lines on the marshalling grounds. The soldiers of the fort formed a crowd to watch the dark elves.

To be continued…