The Battle of Dira

The Battle of

Dira

By Cambri Jenson

Prologue

The Shaman looked up as a man wearing a dark, hooded cloak stepped into her tent. He wasn’t tall, but no one in their right mind would call him short. His eyes were in shadow beneath his hood, but you could see they were a dull green-grey color. Along the left side of the bit of face you could see, ran an ugly burn scar that the Shaman had heard covered that entire side of his body.

She glared at him and said, curtly, “Racohn, how may I be of service?”

His eyes glinted angrily from under his hood when she used his given name, but he replied, “I need a prophecy.”

“You want to know who will defeat you.” The Shaman growled, narrowing her eyes.

“Yes.”

“No.” The old woman stated.

“I thought you’d be unwilling,” Death whispered, “I’ll get it out of you yet.”

The Shaman trembled as several slimy poisonous-looking snakes slithered through the tent's entrance, but there was no where to run.

A few minutes later, Death walked out of the tent, and said to his apprentice, “Let’s go, we have a Maggly to hunt.”

“Where are we going?” Apprentice asked, following his master.

“To a place very familiar to me,” Death replied, a cruel smile forming on his lips.

“The woods?”

“Yes,” the word seemed to hold until the two of them vanished with a swish of their cloaks.

Chapter One

Ayne

Ayne walked along the well-trodden forest paths of his home. The sweet smell of pine and tree sap strong in the spring air. Animals scurried away from the fourteen-year-old boy as he strode past. Birds chirped happily in the trees and the graceful leaves of the giant aspens dripped droplets of early morning dew. It was peaceful at this time in the morning, and Ayne smiled.

Ayne was on his way to his best friend, Mark’s home. But he knew he probably wouldn’t have to go too far. Mark was expecting him today, and when Mark expected him, he usually played a prank of some sort. That was just the type of person Mark was, slightly shorter than most people, had dark brown hair and eyes, and a contagious grin. And this was why Ayne liked him so much. Ayne just couldn’t keep his melancholy expression while he was around Mark.

Suddenly a rock flew down in front of Ayne’s right foot. Ayne didn’t look up, but he smiled. Just as I thought, he said to himself. He walked on, playing Mark’s game. Another rock came flying down from the treetops, nearly hitting his arm. Ayne turned a corner and dove behind a bush, knowing Mark wouldn’t know where he was. But Ayne also knew that Mark would be able to find him very quickly, so he scrambled up a nearby aspen tree trunk.

He sat quietly and waited. Ayne watched the spot where he’d been walking just seconds before. Ayne grinned again as he saw Mark land roughly on the ground. Mark glanced around cautiously, and that nearly made Ayne laugh, but he held it in. Ayne pulled out his sling and placed a small stone from his pouch inside the pocket of the strip of woven goatskin.

With a flick of his wrist, Ayne hurled the stone directly at Mark’s feet. Mark immediately looked up and stared at Ayne. Recognizing defeat, Ayne jumped down out of the tree, grinning broadly.

“Nice one!” Mark teased, “Did you try to make me notice you?”

“Ha!” Ayne replied.

“What do you want to do today?” Mark asked him.

“I don’t know, I’m kind of out of ideas.” Ayne said.

Mark nodded in agreement, “There’s gotta be something we haven’t tried yet.”

Ayne thought, looking around him for ideas. They’d already had all the different kinds of nut gathering contests they could think of. They’d made, what seemed, all the traps in the forest to catch animals. Nothing else came to mind.

Ayne startled and stepped back as a garden snake past on the ground ahead of them. Then he jumped again as Mark broke the silence.

“That’s it!” Mark shouted.

“What is?” Ayne asked.

“Snakes!” Mark cried.

Ayne was puzzled, “What do snakes have to do with new ideas for catching food?”

“The snakes can catch our food!” Mark said, obviously upset that Ayne wasn’t grasping the concept.

“Eww!” Ayne gave a raspberry, “Why would we want to eat things that poisonous snakes have already sunk their teeth into?”

Mark shook his head, “No, the critters are running from the snakes, we’ll have a net ready to catch them.”

Ayne saw another flaw, “How do we get the snakes to chase the animals?”

Mark thought for a moment, then said, “Sling rocks at them!”

Ayne saw other flaws, but didn’t voice them; they mostly involved fear, and Ayne didn’t want Mark to know he was afraid.

And so they left to find some snakes. They kept their eyes trained to the ground as they walked, slings at the ready. Ayne was still relishing the peace and quiet of the forest, when Mark flung out his arm.

“Shhh.” Mark whispered, too loud, “Look.”

Ayne looked to where Mark pointed. Sure enough, there were about six snakes bathing in the sun, scattered around a small clearing. Mark beckoned for Ayne to follow him away from the clearing. When they were out of sight of the snakes, Anye said,

“Mark, are you crazy? Those things are Rattles!”

“I know!” Mark replied excitedly, “It’ll make them all the more ruthless.”

Ayne shook his head as Mark turned to look for holes that animals might be living in. Ayne and Mark were able to locate eight different holes that might be successful. After they found all the holes in that particular area, they set a large net up at the end of the small passage.

“Alright,” Mark said, “Let’s go find a tree.”

And so they went back to the clearing with the snakes, and looked around for a good tree to perch in. Ayne spotted one that looked promising, with it’s tall trunk and long branches, covered in leaves, perfect for hiding in.

Ayne tapped Mark on the shoulder. When Mark looked around, Ayne pointed to the tree. Mark nodded and began to walk around the edge of the clearing, trying not to disturb the snakes. Ayne followed extremely cautiously; he was not a fan of snakes.

When they reached the tree, Mark grabbed the first branch and pulled himself up. Ayne was about to climb up himself, when he noticed a Rattle Snake slithering continually closer. Ayne froze where he stood. He looked right into the snakes eyes.

“Ayne!” Mark shouted, “Look under your foot!”

Ayne did, and to his dismay, he saw a snake’s nest and, a broken eggshell. He groaned and tried to scramble up the tree, but the mother snake got there first. It was pain beyond imagination. Ayne screamed, but heard nothing, he felt himself falling, and then everything went black.

Chapter Two

Mark

Mark cried out as Ayne fell, he’d heard the terrible scream that came from Ayne’s mouth as the snake bit him. Mark jumped out of the tree, the snakes recoiled and backed away. Mark crouched over Ayne’s twitching body.

“Ayne!” He yelled, grabbing his friend under the armpits and dragged him away from the snakes’ clearing. Worry crept up Mark’s face as he set Ayne gently on the ground. Mark didn’t know what to do, should he stay, should he run? He decided he’d best tell someone. So Mark jumped to his feet and ran toward his family homestead.

Trees flew past him as he ran, jumping over fallen trees and bushes. When he reached his home, he was out of breath but he screamed for help anyway.

“Ma!” He shouted, “Ma! Jume! Come quick!”

“What is it Mark?” His Ma asked.

“Ayne...snakes...hurry!” Mark cried through gasps for air.

Ma’s eyes widened, but she didn’t pause to ask questions, “Jume! Quickly, bring Ayne back here as quick as you can!”

Jume ran from his own house looked around at the scene obviously confused, “What happened?” He asked.

“No time, Mark will tell you on the way. Now hurry!” Ma replied.

Mark turned and ran back the way he had come, with his older brother, Jume following him.

“Mark, what happened?” Jume asked, once Mark had cooled down enough to speak.

“Me and Ayne were trying to catch some more food for this winter, and...It was my idea...We were going to use the snakes to scare the animals into the trap...But before we could do anything, Ayne stepped on an egg. And...and...” Mark couldn’t make the words come.

“Hurry,” Jume said, finally realizing the seriousness of the situation.

They soon reached the spot where Ayne lay, still twitching, on the ground. The bitten leg was turning a vibrant purple color.

“Was it a Rattle?” Jume asked, as he knelt beside Ayne.

Mark nodded, also kneeling. Mark watched carefully as Jume immediately set to work. Jume tore off the leather belt around his waist, and used a knife that was tucked into his belt to cut the strip of leather in half. Jume tied one half of the belt above the bite, and the other strip below it. When he was finished he propped Ayne against a tree trunk, then turned to Mark.

“Go find me a rock big enough to prop his leg on, and a stick so I can splint his leg.”

Mark hurried off, walking to a spot he knew lots of rocks were. When he reached the place, he found a rock about a foot tall. (Truthfully Mark had know idea how big a foot was.) Next, Mark found a stick as long as his lower leg. Ayne was only a little taller than Mark, so the stick would work perfectly. Mark heaved the large stone into his arms, and grabbed the stick then set off, quickly back to Ayne and Jume.

“Good your back,” Jume said, “That rock is perfect!” He relieved Mark of the stone and placed it under Ayne’s unbitten leg.

“Why did you put it under that leg?” Mark asked.

Jume answered, “He’s in shock, we have to keep the blood pumping to his head, but we don’t want to spread the poison from the bite. Can I have the stick now?”

Mark handed it to him, and Jume gave him another order, “Go home and fetch the cart, we need to transport him somehow.”

Mark ran off. He ran as fast as he could, he didn’t want Ayne to have to wait any longer before he received professional treatment. Finally he reached his homestead.

Ma looked up from her washing and asked him, “Where’s your brother and Ayne?”

“Jume told me...to get the cart...” Mark gasped, out of breath again.

His Ma nodded and Mark ran over to the gate where they kept the only horse they had. He ran in and grabbed the horse’s bridle. When he had pulled the family horse, Chew Chew, through the gate, his Ma was waiting for him with the cart. Together, they quickly attached the cart onto Chew Chew. Mark climbed in and set off toward Ayne and Jume.

When he reached the spot, Mark saw that Jume had successfully splinted Ayne’s injured leg, and also that Ayne’s eyes were open.

“Ayne! You’re awake!” Mark said.

“Yes he’s awake, but he’s in a lot of pain, let’s get him to Ma quickly.” Jume replied.

Mark nodded, and climbed out of the cart. He helped Jume get Ayne comfortable in the cart.

“We’re going to have to pull it. We don’t want to make it to bumpy. But someone should sit up there with him.” Jume said.

“I will. You can pull the cart.” Mark volunteered, then climbed back into the cart.

Ayne had his eyes scrunched up in pain, and his hands were clenched into fists as if he were trying not to cry out. Trying to comfort his friend, Mark put a hand on Ayne’s shoulder. Ayne looked at him and reached up to clutch at Mark’s arm. Ayne’s grip was painful.

“Are you okay?” Mark asked.

Ayne groaned in reply. Mark took that as a, ‘no’. Mark slid his hand off Ayne’s shoulder and clutched his friend’s hand instead. They rode like that all the way back to Mark’s family homestead.

When they reached the homestead, Ma ran forward and waited impatiently for Jume to unload Ayne from the cart.

“This way, I prepared a mat for him to rest on.” She led them into the small home that Mark, his parents, his brother and his two younger sisters slept in.

Inside, there was a low mat in the front room of the two-roomed hut. Jume carefully set Ayne upon it, but that didn’t stop Ayne from crying out.

“Careful,” came Ma’s urgent call, “We don’t want to move him too much, or the poison will spread.”

“I know, I know.” Jume said.

Mark was still attached to Ayne by his hand, so he knelt by the mat. Mark could see that Ayne’s leg had begun to turn blue and his face was contorted with pain. So he said, “The ride here did him no good.”

Jume came over to look and agreed with Mark, “Your right.” Then an unusual expression came over his face, “You don’t think someone could use their Power to help?” He looked at his mother.

She considered for a moment, then said, “I don’t think I could help, changing temperature isn’t going to do anything. Mark could only obscure the pain, but that won’t help either...”

“I think I can help.” Jume said.

“How?” Ma began, then understanding crossed her expression, “Oh, I see. Well get on with it.”

Jume set to work, though he appeared to be doing nothing but moving his hands back and forth, Mark knew that his brother was using his power to move all the spreading venom to one spot. Jume’s Power was amazing, in Mark’s opinion, what he would give to be able to control any liquid. All Mark could do was change someone’s mind, and that had many alterations that made it complicated and nearly useless. But everyone kept telling Mark that his Power was one of the most powerful. Mark didn’t think so.

Pretty soon, Mark could see the difference. Ayne looked astonished, but the color was coming back to his face. Mark noticed that his knee and foot looked less purple, and all the swelling and coloring was centered between the two halfs of Jume’s belt.

“Good job, Jume.” Mark whispered.

Jume breathed, “It was hard. I don’t think I could get rid of the poison, I would be afraid of  pulling out more than poison.”

Mark shuddered.

“Jume you need to fetch an Officer, maybe Leanna will come.” Ma spoke up, “Tell her what happened, and that I think it’s time.”

Jume nodded, stood up, and left the house.

Chapter Three

Ayne

That was the last thing Ayne saw before he fell asleep. The next thing he knew, he was staring up into a pair of startled, bright, green eyes. Ayne thought they were kind of beautiful. His eyes widened as he stared at the beauty before him.

“Hello Ayne,” said the girl, “my name is Leanna.”

“Hello,” Ayne croaked, still staring at Leanna’s elbow-length caramel colored hair, high cheek bones, kind smile, and those stunning green eyes; she was about his age, and wealthy looking. Ayne usually detested wealthy people, but it was hard to hold that against her. It was a while before Ayne realized she had said something.

“What?” He asked.

“I said that I’ve come to talk to you about something very important and very secret,” Leanna repeated.

“Oh,” Ayne said, relieved she hadn’t noticed his staring, “what’s that?”

Leanna hesitated, “I...I can’t tell you without being sure of something first”

Ayne furrowed his brow in confusion. What did she mean. But before he had time to consider what she had said, she was speaking again.

“Ayne, I need you to look at the pot on the stove over there.” Leanna pointed.

Ayne looked at it, wondering why in the world she wanted him to.

“Good,” she said, “Now try to move it with your mind.”

“Wha-” He started, but she interrupted.

“Just do it.”

He concentrated on the cooking pot again, focussing on moving the pot. This is nonsense, he thought.

“Try to move it onto the table there.” Leanna told him.

Ayne shut his eyes for a moment because he was still tired. When he opened them again, he tried a new technique. He imagined the pot on the table, not moving there. He looked at the pot again, willing it to appear on the table. To his astonishment, it was lifted up, as if by an invisible hand, and floated over to the table. It landed with a quiet thud on the wood.

Ayne stared at the pot in amazement, “What...” he began, “What in the name of pine sap...?”

Leanna smiled at him, “Congratulations Ayne, you’re a Maggly.”

“A what?” Ayne asked, growing even more confused, yet still astonished at what had happened.

“A Maggly,” Leanna repeated, “You have a Special Ability. Most commonly, it is known as a Power. Your Power is the Ability to control the nonliving.”

Ayne furrowed his brow.

Leanna must have noticed his confusion, for she said, “Here, let me show you.”

She didn’t do anything, and he was about to ask, when a voice entered his mind. It was her voice, Leanna’s voice, but it came from inside his head.

“My Power is to talk to people through their thoughts.” She told him.

Ayne’s eyes widened, “What in the world is going on here?”

“Ayne,” Leanna said aloud, “I know this is all very sudden. I had better start at the beginning.” She took a deep breath, “The Maggly world is a secret community. Every Maggly has a Special Ability, or Power. Magglys are loyal to Queen Sarania, she is the only human being who is not a Maggly, that knows of our existence.

“Magglys have many different powers, but each Maggly can only carry one Power. None of us has the capability nor capacity for it, except one. We call him Death. No one really knows his given name. We call him Death because that’s what it means when you meet him. I don’t recall hearing that anyone survived when in combat with him.

“Death is the only one who has ever gained more than one power, and no one really knows how he did it. He is followed around by a man named Lucas, but we all call him Apprentice, because that is what he is. He is Death’s Apprentice. He also wields multiple powers.”

Ayne had a question, “Why are you telling me this now?”

“It is our code of secrecy that no one (except for the current ruler) can know of the Magglys until they become a Maggly themselves. Usually, you make the transformation after a serious injury. Like with me, I was pushed off a tower, then I was taught the ways of the Magglys. You just had a very serious snake bite, that triggered your own powers.”

Ayne said, “I think I’m beginning to understand, but it’s still so sudden. The thing that’s really bothering me is, why me?”

She shrugged, “We don’t really know the why’s and how’s. But we do know what is; that we are Magglys, and we have Powers, and we’re supposed to use them for good. Do you have any more questions.”

Ayne replied, “One, how bad is...Death?”

“Bad,” her eyes grew wide, “He wants power, and he’s determined to get it. He’ll do anything. Some say that he’s even been to see a Shaman about who will defeat him. If that’s true, it’s not good for us.”

“Why not?”

“Because, if he finds his rival, he’ll surely kill him, then no one can defeat him.” Leanna answered, her voice grave.

Ayne’s eyes widened with the realization, then he asked, “One more thing. When Mark’s ma told Jume to fetch you, she said, ‘Fetch an Officer.’ What does that mean?”

“And now we get to politics,” she smiled, “The Maggly world is led, at the moment, by a series of counsel members. They let us know when there is a problem, and they pick who goes on missions and stuff like that. There are four different classes in our society. Officers, Secrets, Spies, and Fighters.

“Officers are in charge of gathering information and recruiting Magglys. Secrets, well they get their own personal assignments and no one else really knows what they’re supposed to do. As for Spies, their job is pretty self explanatory. And of course, Fighters. Fighters just fight, use their Powers to protect, defend, attack, and anything else they need to do.”

“What am I?” Ayne wondered.

Leanna answered, “I don’t know. As soon as you can walk by yourself, we are going to take a trip to see the Counsel. They will tell you what your class is.”

Ayne nodded. But he just couldn’t believe what Leanna was trying to tell him. How could he be a Maggly. He wasn’t sure if they were real even.

“But what about moving the pot, and when Jume prevented the poison from spreading? What about me, talking to you right now?” Said Leanna’s voice in his head.

He looked up at her, she smiled. He smiled back, he was beginning to think he might be ready for this change. He couldn’t wait to tell his ma.

“Ayne, you can’t tell anyone about this. Not even your mother.” Leanna said, seeming to read his mind.

“Why not?” Ayne furrowed his brow.

“Because, its part of our code of secrecy. No one can know except the current ruler.”

Ayne nodded, “It’s going to be hard to keep it a secret.”

“I know,” she said, “but there is someone you can talk to about it.”

“Mark.” Ayne said.

“Yes, but I was going to say your sister and her husband." Leanna added.

"What," Ayne asked, "They're magglys too?"

Leanna replied, "Of course, a lot of people you know are." She let the information set in, then went on, "Anymore questions?"

"I think I'm going to have a heart attack." Ayne said, "Are you sure I'm not dreaming?"

"Yes," Leanna said, "Believe me I had the same doubts that you do."

"Alright, I think this makes sense." Ayne processed, "Just-I'm trying to believe you-it just doesn't seem logical."

She smile, "I know, just try to believe."

"Alright."

"I'll be back in a few days to take you to meet the Counselors." Leanna stood and left the hut.

Ayne's mind burned with curiosity. He wanted to know everything there was to know about Magglys before he believed. And yet, he wanted to believe it was true so bad it hurt.

Chapter Four

Leanna

Leanna walked along the path to her friend Mark's home. Today Ayne would go to meet with the Council. Leanna would go with Ayne. She was excited for him, already she was beginning to like Ayne a lot. Leanna loved the forest. It was so beautiful and silent, unlike the hustle and bustle of the city of Sarania. Leanna had lived in the city her whole life, and hadn’t liked it in all that time. In the city, Leanna was expected to be proper, prompt, and perfect. But in the forest, Leanna felt free.

She walked into the clearing of Mark’s family homestead. Mark was sitting outside with his family. They appeared  to be preparing for something. Mark’s mother, Linna, was sewing a large quilt. Mark and Jume were packing dried meat into large barrels, while Mark’s sisters were stuffing bags with flour.

Mark saw her as she walked closer. She smiled at him in a friendly way.

“Hello, Leanna!” Mark called, waving.

“Hello, what are you doing?” Leanna asked before she could stop herself.

Mark walked over, “Winter’s almost here. We need to have enough food during those months.”

“Ah,” Leanna nodded, then glanced at Mark’s family she noticed someone was missing, “Where’s your father?”

“Hunting,” Mark said, “we need more jerky.”

Leanna nodded, “Are you ready to go?”

“Yeah, hang on.” He turned back toward the house, “Ma, we’re leaving!”

“Alright, you two stick together,” Glinna called, “and you can all come over for dinner, let Ayne know, will you?”

“Alright,” Mark said, turning to follow Leanna again.

They trekked down the forest paths, covered in red, orange, yellow, and brown leaves that crackled underfoot. The trees overhead were a wonderful sight to behold. Their colorful hues dancing in the breeze, they’re trunks bent in a way that reminded Leanna of soldiers standing at attention

They walked together, side by side, Mark saying things that Leanna laughed at. That was just how Mark was, he could get you to laugh even if your mother had just died. Leanna like that about him, how it was easy to smile when he was around.

They reached Ayne's home by mid day. He too was helping his family prepare for the coming frost. The twins were packing flour into bins. Ayne and his sister's husband, Jackson were chopping and stacking wood beside the small cottage.

Treesha, Ayne's older sister, was preparing round patties and packing them into large boxes, and Glen, Ayne’s mother was milking a goat inside a fenced-off area of the homestead.

Treesha looked up from her work as she heard them approach. Her eyes widened as they fell on Leanna. Leanna smiled and nodded. Treesha patted her hands on her tunic and called to Aayne,

“Ayne, someone here for ya.”

Aayne looked around. When he saw them he grinned, set his homemade ax against the house and limped toward them. His leg was looking much better since the last time Leanna had seen him.

“Hi!” Ayne said, he looked at Leanna, “It’s time?”

“Yes, I made you an appointment for today and...”

Suddenly they were interrupted by Treesha exclaiming, “Ayne, you should introduce Leanna to Ma. You know she can’t find out...” She was looking pointedly at her mother who was making her way over to the group to investigate.

Ayne’s mother was tall and thin, but she was sturdy. She had strong looking arms and held herself proudly, so you knew who was in charge at the homestead. She had mousy brown hair pulled to the back of her neck, held back by a forest green bandanna. She raised her eyebrows at her children, inquiring as to why they had stopped their work.

“Ma,” Ayne said cautiously, “This is Leanna.” He looked at Leanna, non verbally telling her to continue.

“I’m from the city,” she said glumly, (she wasn’t proud of it) “My father is a physician of sorts, and he has agreed to take a closer look at the healing process of Ayne’s snake bite. I’m here to escort him to the city.”

Glen’s eyes narrowed, as if she knew Leanna was lying. She looked at her son, “Alright, but no longer than an hour or so, I need your help still. Do you have a cart or something?” She asked Leanna.

“Oh yes, Ma’am. We won’t be any longer than an hour.” Leanna assured her.

So the three of them walked away to where Leanna had supposedly parked her horses. Once they were out of sight of the homestead, Leanna asked Ayne how his leg was.

“Oh it’s fine, I feel loads better, I was even chopping wood!” Ayne smiled, confidently.

“That’s-” Leanna stopped. She’d spotted something over Ayne’s shoulder. Something large as a man, and covered in a black cloth. But when she looked again, it was gone.