CHAPTER 11: LIAR
The Savage Giant broke through the rubble of the Black Gate and made a swift turn north, ”With me, Mirec.” she called, staring back at the Executioner, her eyes surveying the entirety of Mordor. She saw the Flyer following after them. If it tried to attack she would kill Iver along with whoever was up there. And if the soldiers and Glorfindel did, then she would kill them as well. She’d kill as many people. As many as it took to ensure their safety. Just as she had years ago in Beleriand when they had been commissioned to slaughter village after village in the eastern provinces beyond the Blue Mountains. Just as she had done when she was awoken. Her mind turned back to those memories.
Three Weeks Ago.
—-
”Excellent.” Mairon said to Pyrus as they watched the prototype Karoltai decimate the cities of Khand. ”We’ve accomplished more than we could with mere orcs in the matter of a few days.”
”The Savage Giant,” Mairon indicated to Miriel who was stomping through lines of Khandish warriors in the distance as they stood upon an outcropping rock, surveying the destruction of this horse-nation, ”A general-purpose giant which can do many things. With high endurance and mobility along with the hardening ability and Miriel’s hand-to-hand combat abilities,” she trashed through five lines of men, causing upwards two hundred casualties, ”A truly tremendous destructive ability.”
He turned and nodded his head at the Armoured Giant who was taking heavy fire from mounted bowmen, ”The Armoured Giant, as you can see is particularly good at hardening. If it hardens it’s entire body, it can smash through the gates of Minas Tirith with a single charge. It will be able to absorb any attacks from our enemies. It is well-suited to Berethor who has great stamina.”
A ballista bolt shot out from the walls of Khand’s capital, Sturlurtsa Khand. It pierced the Armoured’s skin and a cry of triumph went up from the siege handlers on the wall before they began to scream as a great snake landed on top of the ballista, destroying it, chomping down on one man and spitting out acid across the remainder of the siege handlers. ”And the Serpent Giant, an assault giant. It’s smaller, but it’s the most agile of the prototypes. With its acid spray and powerful fangs, it’s able to decimate most enemies effectively. It was given to the quick-witted Evenis.” The Serpent cut through the walls, zipping up and down over the battlements as archers fired at it. A line of Khandish mounted bowmen raced past the outer walls, preparing to fire at it. A roaring scream sent the entire line of riders flying into the wall, smashing against it and being pulverized to death.
”The Screaming Giant.” Mairon mused, ”It is unusually larger than the others. With its howling screeches it can be a powerful weapon on the battlefield. The downside is that it’s user, Tytus, is at constant risk of destroying his windpipe accidentally. Which limits its capability between shouts.” Four hundred Variags of Khand charged towards the flank of the Screaming Giant.
BOOOM.
Their bodies exploded as a hailstorm of rocks pelted them to death from the right.
”The Destroyer Giant. Our most formidable weapon. Held by its original user, Osman, it’s pitching skills make it one of the most destructive Giants on the field. Not to mention it’s ability to speak clearly unlike most Giants, which allows it to relay commands to he rest. A perfect tool for decimating enemy armies. With its hardening ability and its powerful arms, it truly is unstoppable.”
The Destroyer stood victorious, laughing as it incinerated nearly half a thousand men with one throw. The few survivors of the attack crawled away, desperately, making for the city. A dozen smaller Giants charged them, killing the survivors.
The Mimic Giant. It’s ability allows it to copy itself into smaller versions which act as semi-intelligent drones. Commandeered by Equas, who I find tediously idiotic, it is fairly usable in the field as support units to route enemies broken by the others.” A regiment of infantry charged the Mimics but halted dead in their tracks as another Giant appeared.
”The Executioner. A fifteen meter like most but with spikes and darker skin, it induces fright into the hearts of its enemies. It’s real ability is that power to create fear. Through this, it can easily pick off opponents. A viable strike giant and support.” The Executioner, with its ugly head, froze the regiment of infantry and allowed it to be crushed underfoot by the Mimics. It then sliced through the retreating lines that had enough courage to fallback, slaughtering them and completely breaking their morale.
Deep inside the city, away from all the fighting, a man with dark hair and a black beard slit his finger with a tearful cry as he transformed. There was a great flash of light.
WHABOOOOOOOOOOM.
Sturlurtsa Khand exploded in a fiery inferno, a titanic giant stood upon the ashes of what were residences, palaces, markets and other buildings. All homes to a race of people that were extinguished beneath its feet.
”The God of Destruction,” Mairon intoned, ”The Leviathan. Only rivaled by the Behemoth Giant, which we sadly have yet to acquire. It’s ability is risky and the Shifter themselves is quite questionable. When the time comes, he will be replaced by a far more skilled applicant.”
“Indeed, these Karoltai are quite impressive. They seem more capable than those idiots I was tasked to extract from the island. Of course, the training and indoctrination from childhood played an influential role in this. But Morgoth’s decision is questionable...” Pyrus spoke, “To entrust the mission of retaking the Eight Karoltai to a couple of children...I think it’s sheer madness.”
”Is that so?” Mairon asked, smiling as he watched them tear down the remaining civilian and military personnel as they fled the burning, smoking ruins of the city from the Leviathan Giant, ”Just a moment ago, did you not witness those children crush an entire country?”
A day ago.
“The fence shall act as a perimeter to lock in the Shifters and cut off their entourages. From there the Field Team, under Miriel’s command, as instructed by Mairon, will engage the enemy. The Armoured and Serpent shall block in the valley and guarantee no survivors manage to escape. Meanwhile, the Savage shall capture the Warrior, which is a primary goal considering its destructive potential.”
“The Screaming, Mimic and Executioner Giants shall be deployed along the mountain in order to enclose the Shifters. Under Osman, the Destroyer will lead them in the assault on the Shifters. Should the Behemoth transform, the drakes and dragons shall be dispatched to intercept. Should the Flying retreat, they shall also capture it. The Leviathan will be used to decimate their entourage in one swift blow. Remember, the goal is to take them alive. If one of the Shifters dies, finding who received that power will be near impossible during the battle. Additionally, if you see a chance to capture one, then take it. The lives of the Prototypes should not be a priority in any way. If any is in danger, leave them. We only need the Seven who are against us.”
”Are we understood?” Mairon asked them. All his brothers and sisters had gathered together, from the spirits to the garrison to the drakes and dragons. They’d all met for the plan. They nodded. He could see the many faces. Azura, Roulat, Lem, Aiwendil, Saenes, Élnim. Pyrus who was standing with him delivering the speech.
—-
They were all dead now. Every last one of them. Because of Tulkas.
Mairon awoke, his eyes opening to the sight of a torchlight. He was on a bed. Linen cloth spread beneath him. Looking around there were a few others in the beds. The infirmary?
Next to his bedside sat a woman with dark red hair and a welcoming smile as he awoke.
“Hello, Master, how are you feeling?” She asked. He recognized her voice. Miriel. It was his favorite-no. Not Miriel. Her sister. Originally Aranel was a failure in his eyes. A complete waste of resources. She had been experimented on as a trial runner to Morgoth’s Warrior and received no ability. He only kept her around as motivation and insurance for her sisters. Miriel, one of the successful early prototypes and Laurelos, a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one. Miriel of course inherited the power of the Savage, being its first wielder. Laurelos on the other hand gained no Giant power. Instead she was gifted with something far more practical to small-scale warfare. Laurelos had the gift of telekinesis. She had died before fully mastering it when Aranel bashed her skull in with a rock. That day he had lost a gifted student and nearly killed the older sister, yet, kept her for one reason or another. Perhaps to keep Miriel in check. Perhaps to understand what exactly had led to her to murder her own sibling.
Only afterwards did it become apparent what Aranel possessed. It could not have been more shockingly sweet to learn that her ability was exactly what he wanted. Yet, the expense was too high. After displaying its talents in the field, she had snapped. Slaughtered a dozen of his other students. Stronger students. And finally did it make sense. Aranel’s ability. It might just eliminate the necessity for the other prototypes and the eight...
She sat there, waiting for him, her hands in her lap. She was the only one there for him. Not Melkor. Not Miriel. Not his prototypes.
————-
The sun set in the distance as the Savage and Executioner Giants headed north, disappearing in the darkness.
The column of riders went south, someone calling up to Iver and the others, “Follow us back to Gondor.”
Marco’s leg had been cauterized, the wound sealed by Thoruk’s powers, yet internal bleeding continued. He would die soon.
Daugo and Arandil had been eventually found, half-starved and wild in the forest by a collection of Ithilien Rangers and the Gondorian Cavalry Regiment that had taken the injured out of the valley. They were quickly led back to the road and saw the approaching other half.
The column below the Flying Giant came to a halt as they entered the woodlands. There were other riders down there. Commotion. Something was happening. A shout. A scream. Swearing and curses. What was happening down there?
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