Chapter No. 59 Ultimus

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Mara rode up into position at the center of a line of rebel knights positioned three hundred yards back from the door to the city capital of Terra. The former massively impressive barrier to the outer ward was barely hanging by splinters from a constant bombardment of the trebuchets. Arrows flew back and forth between the rebels archers in front of Mara's regiment and the royalist archers on the ramparts of the walls surrounding Terra. The rebel archers hid behind large wooden shields, but occasionally an arrow took one of them.

Meanwhile, the constant whirling noise of large rocks passing above on a collision course with the door blended with the drum rolls and trumpets that called men to the final assault. For many, this would be their last day.
When the door finally gave way, the archers moved aside to allow Mara and her knights to charge. They rode with their lances down and ready for whatever appeared at the breech in the great wall.

No enemy knights came out to challenge their assault. Mara saw the ominous thing, but she didn't stop her charge. It was too late for that. A large round metal object mounted on an enormous wooden platform stood behind the breech and its large round hole pointed at the charging knights. A man held a torch to its back end, and an instant later a tremendous explosion and smoke erupted from the iron beast. The concussion wave made Chevron rise up and toss Mara to the ground. Slugs of hot lead tore into the rebel knights, blowing a hole of death in the center of their line. Blood spurted out like geysers from grievously wounded horse and human flesh. Heads, legs, and arms were ripped from bodies in one fleeting instant of violence.

Mara had taken glancing blows to her armor, but was unhurt. The same could not be said of her mount. Chevron lay on the ground snorting blood and slithering in pain. The sight of the bloodied animal infuriated her. She stood up and found her crossbow. After mounting one of her pyrotechnic bolts, she ignited it and took aim. The bolt arched through the air like an avenging finger of flame and stuck into a large wooden barrel that sat close to the cannon.

When the pyrotechnic exploded, the secondary explosion of gunpowder blew the cannon into pieces of flaming metal that knocked down men hundreds of yards away from its epicenter. Dozens of enemy archers fell out of the ramparts with their clothing on fire. Flaming men ran out of the gaping hole in the door to the city, only to be put out of their misery by rebel archers.

Mara waved her battle-axe in the air, a signal for the rebel foot soldiers and remaining knights to advance. Two thousand men rushed after her into the conflagration that she had ignited. Enemy knights appeared from the entrance and rode to attack the advancing men on foot. Rebel knights rode in from both flanks to intercept them. The collision of men made a noise that could be heard for miles, and the melee that resulted piled up a barrier in front of the breech in the wall.

Mara ran up and began smashing her battle-axe into as many enemy knights as she could. They felt the fury of a whirling female knight who sliced and diced her way through men and beasts, felling them like trees.

An enemy knight on horseback rode up to her with his six-foot battle sword at ready. She ducked to miss his sword swipe, spun around and hurled her axe into his back, knocking him off his horse. Instead of retrieving it, she resorted to firing at the enemy with her crossbow.

After felling several enemy knights, Mara ran into the breech to enteran inferno. Fires flared everywhere. The dead lay in heaps of grotesque forms. Red blood and black soot covered everything. Dante's Inferno had no comparison to this scene of horrible death and abject destruction.

Along with many rebel foot solders and knights, Mara ran into this hell-on-earth to deliver her wrath. She had both of her swords out, and she made efficacious use of them. Men hell bent on killing her met the edges of her swords, losing their heads and limbs. She split many nearly in half, hurtling them into the air with the force of her blows.

Rebel knights rode into the melee to attack targets of opportunity. Enemy knights came out to challenge them, but they were overwhelmed by a blood lust that could not be abated. Bodies piled up quickly from the onslaught.
Mara fought her way through the main street of Terra, killing every soldier who opposed her. Fires burned everywhere and she began to see bodies of woman and children, many gutted and decapitated, many lying in piles. This was not the kind of victory that she had wanted, but the ferocity of combat prevented her from feeling pity.
After slaying hundreds, she finally made it into the main castle. The dead lay everywhere. Many appeared to have taken their own lives. Mara had trouble understanding why the inhabitants of Terra were so opposed to being conquered. Perhaps these people were so accustomed to the evil abominations of the Empire they had expected terrible consequences. She was witnessing the wages of the Empire's many centuries of sin.

She made it into the Royal quarters, but there were no royals. She moved down a corridor replete with fine tapestries and brass sconces. Hearing nothing, she decided to try a door, easily kicking it in.

A terrified young woman holding a crossbow stared fearfully at her. Mara raised her visor and stared back at her.

"You are Tara, Estard's cousin."

The woman's face transformed from fear to confusion and she lowered the crossbow. "Are you Mara?"

"Yes. Estard is my friend."

"Is she still alive?"

Mara lowered her eyes. "I know not. She took an arrow in battle. It was a grievous wound."

Tara held a hand to her forehead. "I'm sorry. I loved her as a sister."

"As did I."

The sound of fighting grew louder.

"This place is dangerous," Mara said. "We must leave here."

"What about the others?" Tara asked, her eyes showing deep concern.

"Others?"

"Lord Grimsley kept many female prisoners in this wing. Dame Listo and I did our best to defend them, but we are weak from lack of food."

"They are in grave danger," Mara said, rushing to the door. "If the fighting moves into this corridor, they will be slain."

"What can we do?" Tara asked, rushing to Mara's side.

"You stay here. I will block entry into this corridor."

Mara had little time to consider her plan. A rebel knight broke in at the entrance and she had to rush to oppose him.

"Stand down, bitch," he growled at her. "These prisoners must die."

Mara moved up with her two swords close to her body. The enemy knight swung his battle sword down and she countered with a double slash to his sword arm. The sword and arm fell, clanking to the stone floor, its owner shrieking in pain.

Several rebel knights broke in and found Mara standing over the dying knight. One of them caught sight of Tara.

"These royals are enemies. They must be put to the sword."

Mara held her swords at ready. "Not unless you intend to fight me. These are women prisoners of the Empire, and I will kill anyone who attempts to harm them."

"You protection of royals is an act of sedition," a knight said. "You cannot defend your position."

When the rebel knight moved toward her, Mara slashed his head off. The other two knights tried to attack her from her flanks, but she easily killed both with sword thrusts.

"Idiots!" she yelled at their dead bodies. "Must I kill every man if peace is to prevail?"

Morton arrived and was faced with a furious Mara. "Mara! It is I. What is happening here?"

"I have found these female prisoners. I will not allow them to be slain."

Morton sighed. "Yes. The blood lust has gone too far. We have unleashed a wave of death that will be difficult to stem."

Mara pointed her right sword at the corridor entrance. "I will leave that task to you and Paladin. Keep your men from entering this corridor or they will suffer the wrath of my swords."

"Just calm down, Mara. I'll do my best to help you."

She lowered her swords. "I welcome any help."

"Good," he said before he ran off.

Paladin rode up to the breech in the wall just as Morton was about to exit it.
"What's happening in the castle?"

Morton spat. "Mara found some female prisoners in there. She's killing anyone fool enough to oppose her."

Paladin dismounted. "What is it with her and other females? She acts as if she's the protector of all womankind."

"I don't know about that, but she doesn't care what side she's on. When she becomes obsessed with something, there's no dealing with her."

"Yes," Paladin said. "She definitely has the ability to resist any force. Stopping her would require the death of so many it would be insane. We'll just have to placate her before we can establish peace and the rule of law."

"All she wants is to protect these woman. I don't see that as being unreasonable."

Paladin mounted his horse. "This killing has gone on long enough. We must end it before it consumes us." He looked at Morton with dismay showing in his eyes. "Perhaps the god that is using Mara as an avatar is testing us. We must find a way to stem this insanity on our own or this god will destroy us."

"I don't know about any god," Morton said, lowering his eyes. "But it is quite obvious that Mara cannot die."

Paladin shook his head. "Only a fool would attempt to take her life."

"Many fools have already tried."

Paladin saluted him with his sword. "Do whatever is necessary to stop this insanity."

He saluted back. "Yes, my lord."

But, it will not be easy.