Synopsis
From the ravaged planet early man ceased to evolve but in its place new and intelligent mammalian species advanced that were confined during their evolution, to a small island. With its higher intellect the Arbætian race, herbivorous and kindly creatures, thwarted their enemies in the greatest of wars. Both the grotesquely mutated Gwaals and the Attosians vowed revenge but their self destructive carnivorous appetites inhibited their development and aided their self destruction. Whilst the Gwaals remained isolated in the western lands and devoid of any real intellect the Attosians were forced to flee into the cold and inhospitable mountains of the northern territory and guarded by the vigilance of an isolated Arbætian clan.
For centuries the intellectual Arbætians unwilling to totally destroy any society, no matter how evil, confined the Attosians to the domain they detested. Whilst the Attosians fed off their hatred destroying nature and almost themselves the Arbætians enjoyed the fruits of their enterprises and created a society that benefited from trade, and industrial manifestations slowly progressed although their fun-loving spirit is slow to react to any change.
The Arbætian society desires above all to live in peace but is forced into war. They have a capacity to entertain with humour, creativity and love but evil gradually attempts to usurp goodness and dominate the lands that they inhabit. Their foe s heinous intent is finally negated by the intervention of forces that can impart the truth of their wickedness but not before the pace of conflict has decimated both societies.
Sample
Chapter 1
Hundria had made an elementary mistake and he was solely to blame. It could cost him his life he surmised as he completed his task and demolished what he had to. He could have been away from here he thought, with his troops, until he’d remembered the intelligence that he’d inadvertently forgotten to destroy which remained intact, visible and simple to understand for anyone even with a small degree of common sense. It would have given his foe invaluable assistance for the forthcoming battles. They had been fighting for a month and it would continue for many more as the hunters pursued his society to its final defensive position.
He could hear the first of his enemy’s troops beginning to arrive and they were rampaging through the great hall. Still, he thought their minds would be occupied on demolition; they were like that totally concerned with destruction rather than logical thought. He couldn’t afford to wait too long. When their commanders restored order they would sweep through the building in a more organised manner. He slipped out of a rear arched doorway into the open compound surrounded by the large rock walls of the bastion. He glanced furtively towards the battlements. There weren’t many of his adversaries occupying the inner court yard yet but they were already demonstrating their stupidity as they vilified their enemy and rejoiced at their victory. Enjoy it while you can; it’s not over yet Hundria thought. He closed his eyes for a moment and could hear the spirits of his culture when they had filled the commune with their wondrous vivacity and laughter.
The day was dark, dreary almost, and the clouds were filled with rain as they scurried across the sky. It suited the mood that Hundria was in, sombre and troubled. He’d forecast that his society would have to retreat, he’d reasoned that long before, although in his heart he’d hoped that it wouldn’t have come to it and they could have defeated their enemy where he was standing. He could see some of his foe had reached the ramparts of the fort and were gleefully kicking out at the device that had brought him so much time. His own troops had been instructed to close the steam vents before they evacuated the building and abandoned their duties that for so long they had vigilantly performed and he could see that the boiler was still alight. It was a device that was beyond their understanding and its like wouldn’t be seen again for centuries. They laughed at its ugliness although Hundria considered that the machine had more beauty than his enemy who were taunting it. One of them touched its side and yelled with pain as the heat burnt his fur. Steam seemed to be pouring from every orifice and he laughed inwardly when the contraption suddenly blew with an enormous destructive force and part of the battlement was demolished along with those who were close to. He watched as the remains lifted into the air to come crashing down annihilating more of his enemy. He chuckled some more when he heard other, similar devices down the line, behaving in an identical manner but deep down he was sick of the death and horrors that he’d witnessed it was alien to him and his culture although he’d expected it. The losses on both sides had been enormous but his troops had fought hard and with guile and he knew that his enemy’s dead were far in excess than that of his own clan but then they could afford that their available forces far exceeded those that he controlled.
The drums continued to beat, it was a sound that he’d come to dread as he observed them attempting to understand the apparatus that would open the north gate. The drawbridge had already been lowered and now they’d reasoned the mechanism for lifting the portcullis a child of three could have accomplished it in half the time he thought. It was time to go as the drum beat got louder and louder and they began to pour in over the bridge. He looked round desperately as they ran amok killing anything that got in their path with large wooden clubs, their inept swords long ago abandoned. Their hatred and venom took over guarantying no prisoners and their blood lust was vented on their neighbour. He looked on pitying their leaders who had done so much to attempt to control and change their attitudes but the wickedness had been unleashed as he and his friends had forecast that it would. A lone horse was hewn down and they leapt on it ripping flesh from its sides and gorging on the exposed innards. He heard a whinny of fear and turned to spot his own horse hugging the wall in fear. If he was shaking the animal was even worse and he gradually sidled up to the mare and calmed it. There was a sudden cry of triumph and he realised that he’d been seen. It was surprising to him that they hadn’t done so before. With one leap he was on the mare’s back and for once he’d accomplished it without falling off he dug his heals into its girth. The horse didn’t need any urging and it galloped down a slipway into the compound and then bounded through a gateway onto the southern drawbridge.
They were at the front of his garrison, milling about and unsure of what they should do. The deep cry of hatred filled his ears and they rushed forward to face him, claws extended and maws agape exhibiting their razor sharp teeth - saliva dribbled down onto their hide clothing. The mare was frightened; he could feel her tremors as she galloped over the wooden boards that were screening the moat beneath but she didn’t waver as Hundria continued to fill her with words of comfort. She was not only saving her life but trying to save the one who cared for her. They rushed headlong into the enemy ranks and Hundria kicked and hacked them out of his path. He had drawn his bronze sword and a number had already succumbed to its sharpened blade. He listened to their nefarious and hysterical screams as they urged each other to kill, kill in their guttural language. He was almost through when a spear was thrust into the mare’s side. She faltered but then much to his relief picked up speed and charged out into the open. They hadn’t realised the prize that had been within their grasp but if he was honest with himself he would rather have been slaughtered by the hideous mob that he just engaged than captured and turned over to their leader. Then his death would have come slowly under prolonged and mutilating torture...