K’ayden smiled as he walked around the village, it was two hours after dawn and the people were going about their daily duties as if they had always lived here. The women weaved baskets from long blades of grass while the children chased each other around the mud huts, and the warriors were preparing for another hunt.

One of the ravens in the tree called out, K’ayden turned with a smile toward two birds sitting on top of the Elm tree, they had appeared after two of the warriors died in battle, and the Khilli saw them as a good omen.

Now both birds called out urgently while flapping their wings and looking out to the plains, K’ayden shivered slightly, turned to glance at his people who had stopped what they were doing, and then ran for the Elm tree. The wind had changed direction, and a familiar foul odour caused K’ayden to wrinkle his nose.

He quickly climbed and his body slumped as he saw a large group of giant spiders heading toward the village, the creatures were two miles away and would arrive soon, he saw that his people had no idea of the danger they were in.

‘Run, the spiders are coming, many more than last time.’ He shouted, waving an arm above his head. The Khilli seemed frozen to the spot and no one moved, K’ayden shouted again and they all ran, the women gathered the children, the warriors grabbed their weapons and formed lines in front of the women and children.

The women and children ran from the village towards Turtha as the warriors began to chant and hold a defensive line to hold the spiders at bay. K’ayden thought of the last time they fought the spiders they lost two warriors, even though they had more warriors, there were so many spiders.

K’ayden and the warriors waited watching the grassland beyond the Elm tree, then everything became quiet, all the birds and other animals went silent.

‘The longer we keep the spiders here, the further away our families will be from danger.’ K’ayden said.

K’ayden froze as long spiked legs probed out of the grass near the Elm tree, then dark shapes slowly pushed their way through the long grass, he heard gasps from his warriors, and turned to see that spiders were coming in from the sides of the village as well.

The tall grass exploded as hundreds of giant spiders attacked.





The mayor of Turtha rode alongside the sergeant who had encountered K’ayden, they led one hundred and fifty soldiers in full battle gear, each with sword and shield. The mayor wanted to talk with the Khilli to understand their side of the story and get to the bottom of what was going on.

A scout came racing over the rise, sending a cloud of dust behind him, he waved a hand above and shouting, he pulled his horse up in front of the column, the horse was lathered in sweat and foaming at the mouth, the scout’s eyes were wide as he fought for breath.

‘Mayor, the Khilli are coming, we have to hurry.’

The mayor looked at the rise expecting the Khilli to appear, ‘Are they coming to attack us?’

The scout shook his head, ‘No, they are in trouble, follow me.’ He said before turning his horse and racing off the way he had come.

The mayor nodded to the sergeant who shouted orders and they raced over the rise, where they saw a group of Khilli women and children hurrying in towards them a mile away, they quickened their pace until they met the group.

The mayor saw that the women and children had been crying, covered in dust and all kept glancing behind with eyes wide with fear.

A woman holding an infant on her hip came up to the mayor’s horse, ‘Please, you must help us, giant spiders have come out of the plains and are attacking our village.’ She turned pointing the way they had come.

The mayor had been a soldier in the king’s army for twenty years, and his soldier instincts never left him. His mean concern was his men, followed by the people of the kingdom, but the Khilli had left the king and were now enemies of the kingdom by decree of the queen.

He knew that the enemies of the kingdom were not to be helped, under the rule of king Zachary, the mayor was very loyal, he would have taken the women and children back to Turtha and let the spider deal with the Khilli warriors.

Before him stood faces of women and children begging for help, a cold sensation spread through his body as he made up his mind and turned to his soldiers, ‘Ready your weapons, we have monsters to kill.’

He raised a fist and raced ahead with his horse and the soldiers followed as the women and children parted for them.

. . .

K’ayden swung his throwing disk in tight arcs around his body with the leather strap attached to his hand, with a quick glance he saw that the other warriors had their knives and disks ready as the creatures closed in.

Small groups of hunters charged out of the grass and attacked the Khilli warriors, his warriors fought with fury unseen before, the giant spiders had attacked them in their own home, and threatened their families.

Shouts of rage and grunts of pain mixed in with the high-pitched screaming of the creatures and both races fought to the death. The hunters changed their tactics jumping onto the mud huts, then onto groups of warriors, knocking one down before jumping away again.

Three of the giant spiders ran straight for K’ayden, he heard shouts of warning from his warriors, and knew that he would not be facing them alone. He ran forward a few steps spinning his throwing disk at the lead spider, the creature raised its body waving its front legs at the warrior and poison glistened on its dagger-sized fangs.

K’ayden rushed in and took one of the legs with a swing of the disk, the spider hissed raising its body higher, spraying green fluid from the wound. K’ayden took this opportunity to thrust his spear into the spider’s abdomen, green fluid gushed out covering K’ayden and the spear was violently pulled from his grip as the spider convulsed in death spasms.

He turned to see his warriors had killed the other two spiders.

He turned to assess the situation and saw that his warriors were holding the spiders back; several spider’s bodies lay before them and the Khilli numbers were slightly higher than the spiders. He called out for the warriors who were free to help the others hold the line.

In the long grass surrounding the village lay the gladiator spiders who silently watched while communicating with each other, they had been waiting for a moment like this.

The leader of the enemy had shown himself.

It was time for them to join the fight.

The gladiators rushed out of the grass, their front legs spread wide holding sticky nets, calls of alarm and surprise spread amongst the warriors as they became entangled in the nets, the more they struggled, the more entangled they became and could not move.

The tide was quickly turning in favour for the spiders.

K’ayden had seen what these spiders were capable of and was weary when one run towards him holding a net, he ran to it pulling out a throwing knife and throwing it low at the creature, he smiled as the knife entered the spider’s eye, the creature stumbled and rolled on the ground getting caught in its own net.

He did not see the second gladiator as it crept up behind him, K’ayden realised his mistake as the sticky net fell over him. He twisted and both his arms were pinned to his sides, he was hit from behind and the air forced from his body as the spider landed on top of him, he breathed through his mouth as the stench of the creature washed over him.. He turned to see the fangs dripping with poison slowly lowering.

The nearest warriors were fighting for their lives, and none could help him.

K’ayden prepared himself for death.

. . .

Iguchi stood in front of the fallen angels with his daughter by his side, they were in a clearing two miles from Sanctuary they were there to train for the battle with the spiders.

When they last encountered the spiders, the fallen angels made mistakes, and they were saved by the dryads coming from the trees. Some of the angels would have died, and when Iguchi was caught in the net, not all the angels saw it happen. A few should have rushed in to help, while the others made a protective circle.

‘This is my daughter Berenice.’ Iguchi said sweeping his hand to her, ‘my poor defenceless daughter, the swords she wears are only to frighten thieves, she has never learnt how to use them. Ten angels will try to stop her from reaching that Oak tree.’ He said pointing to a tree one hundred yards away with a red ribbon tied to a branch.

Iguchi picked Miles and nine other fallen angels, who quickly made a line in-between Berenice and the Oak tree.

‘You will need your swords and shields to stop this frail woman.’

The fallen angels glanced at Iguchi with questioning expressions, he nodded and the readied themselves. Berenice seemed to shrink as she turned her head from side to side as if searching for an escape.

She turned to Iguchi and spoke in a soft trembling voice, ‘Father, please do not make me do this, I will be hurt.’

Iguchi grunted and pushed his daughter, who lost her footing and stumbled the first few steps, before meekly walking up to the angels, she stopped four feet from them before turning to Iguchi.

He waved to Miles and the other fallen angels, ‘Do not allow her to reach the tree.’

Berenice lifted her head to look at Miles with tears filling her eyes, ‘Can you please allow me to pass?’

Miles was confused, there was something wrong here, but he could not work it out. Since Iguchi’s daughter arrived, she had not shown any fighting skills, and yet something about the way she moved sent alarm bells through him.

‘You will not pass.’ Miles said standing his ground.

Berenice moved with such speed that her arms blurred in from of Miles, before he knew it, she held both swords in her hands, the expression of fear faded as she leapt into the air. Her swords pushed Miles’ sword and shield out wide, then she kicked him in his breastplate, Miles flew and the other fallen angels reacted.

But it was too late, Berenice was already in motion.

She spun, kicking an angel to her left, he was sent crashing back into the angels behind him, then she turned with her swords spinning in front of her to face five fallen angels on the other side.

Swords and shields were battered out of the way, fallen angels were thrown through the air, had their legs swept from underneath and knocked to the ground. Within seconds six fallen angels were out of the fight and the remaining four charged toward her.

Berenice, go to the tree.’ Iguchi called.

She shot him a quick sideway glance before sprinting to the tree, the change of the fight confused the angels, they hesitated before giving chase, but they knew it was too late when she touched the tree.

Miles stood holding his chest, wincing every time he breathed, he looked around in disbelief at what just happened.

‘Woe is me; my fallen angels have become lazy.’ Iguchi said shaking his head, ‘A weak woman walks up to them and they fall over themselves in fear, you will need more training.’

Miles shook his head and whispered, ‘If she is a weak woman, then I am the lord of Sanctuary.’

Miles had never been hit so hard in his life, there was a lot more to Iguchi’s daughter, but Iguchi would not say anything to his angels.

. . .

K’ayden watched as the large fangs came closer, he struggled fiercely, but could not move. Then the sound of thunder filled his ears as horses came into the village. A horse knocked the spider off him and K’ayden turned to see soldiers on horses battling the spiders next to his warriors as dust rose from the ground.

The Khilli cheered as the soldiers hacked away at the spiders from horseback, the creatures were surprised by this new development, but quickly recovered and a few leapt through the air taking soldiers from their horses.

The mayor saw this and called out orders and the soldiers quickly moved to fight side by side with the Khilli, K’ayden and other warrior were cut free of the nets and joined the fight. By this time over half the spiders had been killed, both soldiers and Khilli were covered in gore, and the spider still attacked fiercely, some running and others jumping at the humans.

K’ayden called out and led his warriors and a charge forcing the spiders back, then before the spiders could recover the soldiers charged passed their lines cutting through them with their swords and trampled by the horses.

As the tide turned in favour of the humans, eight hunters ran back the way they had come, changing colour as they entered the long grass and K’ayden saw this as the last spider was killed, he called out. The sergeant called orders and ten soldiers rode after them, however, the long grass slowed the horses down, and the spiders leapt in and out of the grass quickly distancing themselves from the soldiers, the sergeant swore and called his men back.

Soldiers and Khilli warriors walked around the village checking each spider making sure it had been killed, then they counted their own loses, a handful of Khilli and soldiers were injured, three Khilli, eight soldiers and five horses were killed in the battle.

K’ayden stood before the three warriors with grief written on his face, ‘These men died protecting our families. ‘K’ayden said before turning to the mayor, ‘and we thank you for coming to our aid.’

The mayor stood twenty feet away near the bodies of his soldiers, his face an emotionless mask, he nodded once to K’ayden. With the danger of the spiders passed the soldiers and Khilli stood in separate groups, they studied each other not knowing what to do.

The kingdom soldiers had always known the Khilli to work for the king until recently and were the best fighters of the land, but now things had taken a dramatic change, the Khilli had left the king’s service to live in Sanctuary which made them the enemy of the queen.

For the Khilli warriors, the kingdom soldiers represented their time as prisoners in the city of Keah, with their women and children held captive to ensure they followed orders.

Now that the greater enemy was gone, tensions between the two groups grew, each person still held their weapons.

The mayor walked towards his men and shouted, ‘Stand down, put your weapons away, the fighting has finished.’

Without a word the soldiers stepped back and sheathed their swords, but they still wearily watched the Khilli. The sergeant came over to the mayor and they stood in-between the two groups, the sergeant whispered to the mayor and pointed to K’ayden.

The mayor nodded and walked to K’ayden, ‘My men saw you outside of Turtha yesterday.’

The Khilli warriors began to talk and move to K’ayden, but he waved them away.

‘It is strange to see the Khilli people in these parts after many years, and after the stories of the battles at Sanctuary, you told my soldiers of large creatures and that is why you could not come to talk with me.’

K’ayden’s eyes scanned the ground looking at the bodies of slain spiders before turning back to the mayor.

‘The lord of Sanctuary has come to me using magic, and told me of the danger these spiders hold for everyone in the kingdom, I wanted to hear the story from you, this is why I came here. Imagine my surprise when we saw the Khilli women and children begging for our help.’

K’ayden and the rest of the warriors stiffened at the mention of their families, the mayor noticed this and turned to the way they had come, ‘Your families are heading towards Turtha and were well when we left them.’

‘They may still be in danger, some of the spiders may have moved past us.’

K’ayden turned and shouted in Khilli and twenty warriors raced off toward Turtha.

‘Where are they going?’ The mayor asked.

‘Our women and children may be in danger.’

The mayor looked back down the road, ‘They are a few miles down the road, horses will get there faster.’

The mayor spoke to the sergeant who shouted orders and twenty soldiers dismounted from their horses and brought them to the Khilli, K’ayden stood still not knowing what to do.

The mayor smiled, ‘Take the horses, you will reach your families faster.’

K’ayden shook his head as the memories of his people being tricked came flooding back to him, but the kingdom soldiers had come to their rescue.

The mayor saw the Khilli’s internal conflict, ‘Twenty of my soldiers will come with you to help your families.’

K’ayden knew that time was wasting and gave the order for his warriors to go on horseback with the soldiers, when the forty had left the mayor turned to him, ‘After what we have seen, I don’t think it would be wise for your people to stay out in the plains for now, your people can stay in Turtha.’

A wave of anger washed over K’ayden, ‘My people will not be tricked by the kingdom soldiers again.’

The Khilli warriors fanned out behind K’ayden, and the kingdom soldier readied their weapons as tensions rose again.

The mayor turned, ‘Put your weapons away, the next man who holds a weapon without my saying will watch while I eat his heart.’

As the weapons were sheathed the mayor smiled at K’ayden, ‘The lord of Sanctuary told some of your story, how your women and children were kept prisoner, I want to hear it from you.’

K’ayden stood silently studying the mayor, the man seemed genuine in what he was saying and was interested in the Khilli. K’ayden told the mayor of the Khilli’s people history before the king came to them offering gifts, to when they were tricked, separated, and forced into service, from that day the warriors were forced to do what was asked or their families would suffer.

Then K’ayden spoke of meeting the lord of Sanctuary in the dungeon who showed the heart of a true warrior, he repaid the debt to the Khilli by freeing them. As K’ayden spoke the mayor saw the pain and anguish on the faces of the warriors as they relived this dark part of their lives.

The mayor knew that everything he was being told was the truth and the sadness from the warriors was contagious, he truly felt for these warriors and could not understand how he had not seen the signs before. He had been fiercely loyal to king Zachary for so many years, know the story about the Khilli would have changed the way he viewed the king.

When K’ayden had finished the mayor sighed and shook his head, ‘Please come to Turtha as equals, your people may come and go as you please, but first talk with the lord of Sanctuary in my quarters.’

‘Tell me why we should trust you.’ K’ayden said.

The mayor told him of Ramulas coming with warning of the giant spiders, and sending a message to Keah for help, the queen replying that help will not come and that he should Kill the lord of Sanctuary. The lord of Sanctuary saying that they all needed to work together was their only chance against the creatures.

K’ayden stepped back and quickly spoke with his warriors before coming back to the mayor, ‘We will come after burying our dead.’

The mayor smiled with relief and called for his men to ready the horses; they were returning home.