Honour Rae
patreon
20. A Rip In The Sky
🕑 Added 2022-07-14 00:07:36 +0000 UTCWith a scream of braying donkeys, the cart clutched forward so hard that Arthur nearly lost his seat anyway. Red grabbed him by the collar and hauled him back into place.
Every other animal hooked to a cart was rushing blindly forward. Meanwhile, the birds in the trees all shrieked as if the world was ending.
The cart bounced over stones and ruts in the road with enough force to put his teeth on edge. It would be a miracle if they didn’t break a wheel.
Red kept a tight hold on the reins, trying to guide them as much as they would allow.
Turning, Arthur looked back toward the direction of the eruption. He could only catch flashes of it down in the valley, visible through thick brush and trees. Loose, gray soil was pushing itself out of the fissure.
As more and more built up, the new sprouting from the top to replace the old, a steeply-sided cone formed. It was just as Arthur had always imagined a volcano to look like. That might be why people called it a scourge-eruption.
But dirt wasn’t the only thing coming from the top of the cone.
From this distance, the tumbling balls could be easily mistaken for clods of dirt, or boulders. However, as they rolled out they uncurled — sprouted legs and took in the air of this upper world with whistling shrieks.
Some unfurled wings instead of legs and took to the air.
Scourglings.
They seemed to be in a variety of different shapes and sizes. From creatures so small he could only figure out what it was by the fact it was moving to larger, plodding forms the size of one of the cart-oxen.
Wherever they touched the ground, the vegetation wilted back.
Scourglings were the opposite of life. Given enough time their presence killed every patch of land they touched down to the nutrients in the soil that allowed roots to take hold.
The cart jolted again. Arthur looked ahead to see they were rounding a bend. This would take them to the other side of the ridge, putting it between themselves and the valley.
Would it be far enough to get away from the scourge?
He glanced at Red. The man was serious and grim-faced, but he didn’t look frightened. Arthur decided that was a hopeful sign.
“Hold on,” Red advised again.
They had reached around the top of the ridge. In the next second, every cart practically careened down the slope.
Shouts came from ahead as the men applied handbrakes to the carts. They drew back on the reins to try to pull the panicked animals under some control. Gradually, it started to work.
Now that they were separated by vegetation and the land, the scourgling’s terrible whistling shrieks became quieter. But not gone completely. Straight up through the trees, Arthur caught flashes of flying scourglings flapping by on leathery wings. They were like twisted, halfway versions between dragons and vultures. Long-necked with cruel, sharp pointed heads and four grasping limbs tipped with claws.
The road widened at the bottom of the hill as the land turned into a natural meadow, clear of trees.
Second was finally able to pull his animals to a stop. Though, judging by their heaving sides, it was more due to exhaustion than skill. Red’s donkeys were not doing much better.
Once the carts were stopped and the handbrakes applied, every man jumped down to check on the animals and carts.
Arthur headed for Bella who was trembling from head to hoof. Her eyes were wide and rolling. Arthur did his best to soothe her, reaching for the power of his Animal Husbandry skill.
She and the rest of the donkey's slowly calmed.
Suddenly there was an almighty ripping sound like two giant hands had taken a piece of the sky and ripped it apart.
Arthur started in surprise and looked up.
There, hanging hundreds of feet up, hung a ragged black line in the sky. With stomach-dropping fear, he thought that the scourglings must have done this. He had no idea that they could ruin the blue sky along with the land.
Then something came out of the line. It was a dragon colored so deep green that it would have looked black except for the iridescent flashes when the sunlight caught its scales.
The dragon crawled out of the tear as if it were struggling from a narrow crack in a rock wall. Then its wings caught air and it flapped to the side.
Another dragon a similar shade if a bit lighter quickly followed the first but took position on the opposite side of the tear.
As one, the dragons took hold of the rip in the sky as if it were a physical thing and pulled it apart. It widened to a black hole. The dragons flapped in place, holding it open.
Through this newly enlarged rip poured out more dragons. A handful at first in all sizes to three times the length of the monstrous red to the size of Bella the donkey. Then a dozen, and then more and more. A rainbow of colors shading from snowy white to spring green, flamboyant pink, deep blue, and purple — most of them a glittering combination of the two, with occasional three-colored triads.
Then a second rip in the sky tore itself open. Another pair of iridescent green dragons widened it and more dragons poured in.
Red came to stand by Arthur.
“Those would be the hives,” he said in satisfaction.
Arthur closed his mouth with a snap. His jaw had been hanging open.
Sure enough, the first of the dragons set upon the flying scourglings. One red and orange dived down with claws that lengthened to the size and shape of curved swords. It easily sliced a scourgling out of the air. The remaining body fell back in chunks.
The sword-claw dragon folded its wings and dived down to match the falling remains. As it did, it half rolled on its side. The rider, who was securely strapped on, reached out and grabbed the scourgling’s torso, ripping something glowing from it before tossing it away.
The sword-claw dragon righted itself and flew on.
“What was that?” Arthur asked. “Did he take a card from the scourgling?”
Red ignored the question. “I think we should be safe enough here. We have some distance from the eruption, and the hives will be on the hunt for most of them.”
Ashamed that he had been staring and not working, Arthur glanced toward the rest of the caravan. The men were still scrambling around, but they weren’t busy battening everything down. Some were grabbing for cudgels or long daggers. They wore grim, anticipatory looks on their faces.
One man brought two clenched fists together. When he pulled them apart, his arms up to his elbows were covered in glittering purple lines of magic shaped like gauntlets. Within a few seconds, the lines had crawled up each arm, building an outline of armor around his torso up to his neck. Lastly, the man put a rough, leather helmet on his head.
He must have a card power that armored his arms and chest… though it looked a little silly with his legs unprotected.
Second came striding up to Red. He held a dark wood spear Arthur had never seen before.
“You staying behind, Red?”
“Yes, and if you had any sense, you would too. I tell you every time it’s not worth it, and every time you don't listen and come back less a man or two.”
Second shrugged. “We all take our chances. I come back richer while you miss out.”
Red scowled and shook his head. “I suppose you’re taking your team?”
“Not all of them. Axel lost everything but his trap card on a bad hand of poker the other night. He doesn’t have anything worth fighting with. That leaves me down a man, so I’m taking the Piss-Ant.”
Arthur went from being shocked that anyone would bet a card on poker to just flat-out shocked. “Me?”
Red growled, half standing from his seat. “That’s scourge-shit. He’s just a boy.”
“He’s old enough to hold a knife and watch our backs. Besides,” Second smiled over at Arthur. It wasn’t a nice smile. “He owes me one.”
Red swung around on Arthur, a question in his expression. When Arthur only stared back with wide, guilty eyes he grimaced and looked at Second. “He’s too young,” he repeated. “He doesn’t have a card to protect himself.”
“Maybe he’ll get one today. What do you say, kid?”
He'd just called him kid. Not Piss-Ant.
Arthur knew this was Second’s way of buttering him up, but he still felt marginally warmer towards the man.
“He doesn’t need a damn magic card,” Red snapped.
Arthur looked from one man to the other. Red was supposed to be the leader of the caravan, but Second was nearly two feet taller than him and twice as wide. And he had just walked up and demanded Arthur, Red’s apprentice, like it was expected.
Red might talk tough and he might own the business on paper, but Second was the one with the power. He had the cards to back up any threat.
“What do you need me to do?” Arthur asked carefully.
Red’s expression sagged as if he had already lost the fight.
Judging by his widening smile, Second thought so too.
“Like I said, I need an extra pair of eyes to watch our back as we go back there.” He pointed a thumb towards the direction they’d come from. Towards the hive. “Scourglings drop card shards, and dragons… well, they have a nasty habit of dropping out of the sky, too. That means there’s cards to be had. You want in?”
“Of course he doesn’t,” Red grumbled, but it was half-hearted.
Arthur took in a breath. He needed a second card. He would be a fool not to take this chance.
“Second’s right. I owe him,” he said stoutly then looked at Second. “If I go with you, we’re square?”
“Yeah, kid. We’d be even.”
Red tried one final time. “Whatever this is about, whatever you owe him, it can wait. It’s not worth your life.”
“I want to go,” Arthur said and hated the look of betrayal that seemed to sag Red’s face.
“Some idiots have to learn for themselves,” he said. “No card is worth your life.”
“I’ll be careful.”
Red turned away. “Do what you want. I can't stop you if you truly want to go.”
The dismissal hurt.
“Red—“ Arthur started.
Second cut in. “We don’t have time for this. Come on.”
He turned and walked away.
Arthur hesitated, pained, but then followed after Second.
As he did, he made sure his Gambler class was still equipped. It granted him three points of luck and he had the feeling he was going to need all of them today.
Comments
Honour Rae
Linking the chapters isn't a bad idea. I think I'll do that starting with the next chapter. As for the dragons reminding you of Dragonriders of Pern ... shifty eyes... there might be some inspiration. The scourgling eruptions are are no where near as regular as Threadfall, and... well, you'll see. Anyway, I shall take that compliment!
Connor
The dragons remind me quite a lot of the Dragonriders of Pern series—which is a good thing, imo, and you're not being overly derivative or anything—it's purely a compliment when I say that. Looking forward to seeing more of them.
Connor
Also, it's a small hassle, but you may want to consider linking to the next/previous chapter for readers on Patreon.
Connor
Copy edits! If you don't want these, then just let me know. > She and the rest of the donkey's slowly calmed. "donkey's" -> "donkeys" > It widened to a black hole. Not sure this is worth changing, but note that while you seem to want to convey that the portal widens out from a thin or almond-shaped tear into a circular shape, due to a coincidence of phrasing, it carries connotations of black holes from outer space. (3D, pulls things inwards, technically invisible though nobody actually imagines them like that, etc.) > A handful at first in all sizes to three times the length of the monstrous red to the size of Bella the donkey. I'm guessing that the first "to" in this sentence is meant to be "from", if this is meant to establish a range. If it isn't, then this sentence might need more tweaking than that. > A rainbow of colors shading from snowy white to spring green, flamboyant pink, deep blue, and purple — most of them a glittering combination of the two "of the two" refers back to exactly two items that have been mentioned prior, no more, no less, but more than two colours were mentioned. Compare: - "An apple and an orange sat on the table. Of the two, I preferred the orange." (this works) - "An apple, an orange, and a banana sat on the table. Of the two, I preferred the orange." (which two are "the" two?) > And he had just walked up and demanded Arthur, Red’s apprentice, like it was expected. Like what is expected? (The demand? Or acquiescence?) > watch our back as we go back there Minor, but first instance of "back" could be swapped for "backs". May also want to reword to avoid repetition of "back" so close to the first instance. > It granted him three points of luck and he had the feeling Consider a comma after "luck", if not trying for a deliberate effect by leaving it out.
Honour Rae
Oh boy, all I can say to this theory is that I can't wait to show you what I have in store. Needless to say there will be a... confrontation with Second.
Honour Rae
Eh, I never mind people getting inspired by my stuff!
Julien Fellegara
Guy. Not your job. At this point write your own story ... 😶
Pebble
"Red might talk tough and he might own the business on paper, but Second was the one with the power." What's this? Foreshadowing? Do I smell some delicious mutiny and betrayal slowly cooking in the pot? This time Arthur's circumstances made him choose Second, over Red but I can imagine he won't get over the guilt he feels so easily, and the next time he'll surely stand with Red. I just hope this doesn't put a wall between them. Or maybe it will, then one day Second will decide he has had enough of Red and his constant criticism and he will finally choose to off Red, Arthur will try to stand up to Second but he will of course fail. He'll watch Second kill Red, then see the last look Red gives him, for the first time since the incident in this chapter without that wall between them. Then when Second turns to Arthur and offers to be his master now (all Sith like), to make him stronger unlike Red who always tried to hold him back, Arthur will refuse, swear vengeance on Second, then run away, using his card's skills to escape. A couple years later, Arthur will hear of Second's death to scourglings or something and will then have to live on with his desire for revenge unfulfilled, not having crossed paths with Second even once since the incident. All that aside, I do wonder what card Arthur will gain now. I'm guessing they won't let him keep anything actually worthwhile, but Second might let Arthur keep a trap card (or whatever they're called), since they're generally considered useless without other cards of the same deck.
