Hawks of the Sea Read online




  Hawks of the Sea

  Michael Daniels

  Copyright 2014 by sOSharK

  Its given name was the Sea Arena, but everyone called it Sea of Blood. It was set out on the end of a peninsula, a massive rotunda made of stone, with waves crashing against the pillars beneath. The colossal sun was setting over the water behind it. Eleven warriors looked down at the Arena; the Sea Raiders were captured in battle twelve days north; it would be here they would fight to their death. Each warrior, great in physical and inner strength, welcomed the opportunity to end their journey with battle. But, rest first...

  Hawk stood before the king, “You have grown in fame, and power. It is said some would wish to see you free. What would you want?” the King was a small man, wiry and old. Balding on top, he always wore his crown, some said even to bed.

  “To serve you, my King” Hawk knew the King would never free him, and if he answered wrongly he would be killed. He had refused an order passed directly from the king: a crime punishable by death. Instead of execution he had been chosen as underdog, someone to fight until death against greater odds. He was a warrior first and a General second. Enemies would often break ranks at the site of his colors, and many would turn and flee from the sound of his battle cry. So the King decided he would make for good gambling in the games. That was a week ago. After four single combatfights and two underbattles, he was now to fight his last bout before freedom. Blue Waves. Named because of the sea crashing on the side of the Arena, he would be allowed eleven men to lead into a glorious last battle, none of which he would be allowed to know. This made it hard on the King. Who would he find that didn’t know Hawk? Or at the very least not like the bastard. It seemed everyone liked this man, this turncoat, this coward. He had denied his Majesty’s orders and now was facing punishment for it. The King had wanted to push north with his own raids on smaller nations. Along with the riches he wanted women and children brought back to be slaves for the rich. This was something Hawk wasn’t willing to do, even when faced with death. His own sister was taken by Sea Raiders when he was just 8 years old. He hid in a tree off of his village and watched while they took her and his mother. They killed his older brother, who was trying to stop them, along with everyone else in the village. His father along with the rest of the men were off fighting in the north. He was alone with the dead bodies and burning houses for 3 days before a newsman came with letters. Since that time he vowed to defend his nation from all outside enemies.

  No one ever survived as the Underdog, the King’s guards were the most fierce warriors on the Great Sea. There would be hundreds of them, hand-picked by the King himself to fight. Coming in waves would be infantry, cavalry, and archers shooting into the twelve men as they fought the onslaught. Never had anyone survived it, and that wasn’t the purpose. Entertainment and gambling was the reason behind the games.

  The King looked at him for a moment, and Hawk saw the desire to kill him right then and there in that gaze. “You had that chance.” As if to rub it in the King reached down and squeezed his slave’s naked breast. She was a young girl, newly captured as she was still in chains, and her eyes were darting about with fear. Hawk pretended not to notice, and left his look of murder off his face.

  “You will never be free, you see I am King and I decide when and how you die. I choose your death and that of your family as well.”

  Hawk looked hard at the King, “That is right, and I felt that yesterday was just that day.” He said and stepped back. Hawk saw the fear in the King but didn’t move in on it. He knew the King and was already certain of his family’s death. Not one precious soul would be left alive. Hawk closed his eyes and said goodbye to his wife and sons. I will see you soon my family, he promised.

  Catching that Hawk had no intention of attack, the King stepped in closer. “And your time is today for I have found your eleven comrades. Sea Raiders. The same you have been killing for the past year will be fighting beside you. To think they might just as well attack you along with my men. Your name is hated up and down the coast for your strength in battle. Not one kingdom has been successful in raiding our shores. And most have quit in fear of crossing your path. To kill you would be a glorious victory for them. Their countries would love them, and their Gods would welcome them with open arms to forever stand by their side. There would be songs written of them, and they would be forever remembered…” The King paused and looked closely at Hawk. “Aye, today is your end.” And the King left with his slave and guards in tow.

  Hawk watched him go and thought of his family. He pushed the thoughts away. He thought about battle, about death, and about killing. It would be a long day, and he would have to save his energy.

  The eleven warriors sat in a circle, still weary from their travel; last night was the only sleep they had in days. The only survivors of their squadron, they had been pushed back over a cliff one hundred miles inland on the slopes of Great Kull Shan. Falling into the Nooksack the fifteen left immediately began to sink to the bottom. Only eleven were able to get out of their armor in time. Those eleven were forced to drop their swords so as not to sink.

  “Is it true we will be fighting next to Helkion?” asked one of the Sea Raiders. It was Thaddeaus; he was a huge man even for a Sea Raider, and was a foot taller than any of them, with arms made for ironwork. Even while sinking to his death he would not let go of his sword, and Connavar had to pry his fingers off of it. He was a stubborn one, but loyal and a good man to have your back in a fight.

  “Yes,” said Connavar. He was the eldest and most experienced of the warriors. Not one of them would challenge his rule. He was a very vicious man when it came to battles or fights, and more often than not even in fights he killed. Their loyalty to their country was so intense there would be no break of ranks. Not even in capture.

  “Well I am going to slay him quick, before the action begins so as my name will be in the Great Halls forever!” claimed Thaddeaus.

  “No you are not” snapped Connavar. “We are going to fight with the so called Hawk and try to survive.” The other warrior looked at him in anger. “Listen to me. Helkion, Hawk has never taken slaves or attacked helpless people. Yes, he is a great warrior, but his exploits come from protecting his home. Why do you hate him so? Because he defends his land against us and wins? He is now an outcast... a Wolfshed. If he is to fight with us, then we will fight with him, and fight to live.”

  The others looked at him for a long time. He was a smart man, and always right when it came to battles and fighting. “Of course, after the win, talk can be made of WHO gets first crack at him” he said with a wink. The warriors all laughed, and the guards looked over at them with contempt.

  Before the laughter could die down, the guards snapped to attention, and an entourage of people came towards the cage. In the center, shackled at the neck, wrists and ankles was Helkion, the Hawk.

  As Hawk stepped up to the cage door, his and Connavar’s eyes locked and Connavar instantly knew he was facing a dangerous man. Connavar had met many dangerous men in his time, and even ended the lives of some. This man was different. There would be no winning against this man. There was a power, radiance, coming off him that made Connavar instantly like, and fear him. He looked at the rest of the warriors with him, seeing the same look upon their faces. This was a man to follow, a leader, and even in chains, he was a powerful presence. Looking at this man sent glimmers of victory and hope cross Connavar’s thoughts. Looking at him, Connavar knew something great was about to happen.

  As soon as Hawk was in the cage and the door closed behind him he walked to Connavar. He had instantly noted Connavar as the leader and the one to address.
br />   “My name is Hawk; you all may know me as Helkion, the Killer. It is true I have taken many lives, but never have I been a killer. Those who died came to me to meet their deaths. It was in battle and I am sure each and every one of them is drinking in the Great Halls with their Gods.” He looked at the warriors, one at a time. “All of us are here to die. Fight with me to live. Your families are far away, and you may never see them or your homes again. Together we may have a chance to win. To live. And if not we will die together. I am not your kin, but I am a warrior, and I would be proud to die alone today, but glad to die with fellow warriors.”

  Connavar stood and put his hand up. “We all will fight with you and may you drink in the halls with all of our fallen comrades.” So moved by Hawk’s words, the eleven warriors swore allegiance to him and gave their word to follow his orders all the way to death with him.

  “There is much to show you and little time” Hawk said and began explaining the way of Waves and defense against the attacks.

  The time went quickly and soon the cage was opened. Guards showed up to lead them to the arena. It was a short trip across a court yard, and down into a tunnel. It was dark underground and it was hard to see with the faint light coming from torches on the wall. Ahead the light was shining through the cracks in a door the size of a house. A low hum vibrated the walls of the tunnel. Guards began turning the pulley as the big door swung outward. The hum became a deafening noise that vibrated the tunnel.

  “Here we go!” shouted Hawk. “Give me everything you’ve got and I will give you my all. We are warriors, and we will fight!” The eleven Sea Raiders began a chant that Hawk could feel in his bones. The power from the voices was so intense, Hawk felt like running out to fight the entire world. It felt like pure energy. Power.

  Stepping out into the arena was nothing new for Hawk, but the Sea Raiders stared in amazement. It was a great field, just over a hundred yards long and fifty wide. At each end were poles on end and one across. From the cross beam hung fallen slaves, and criminals, with Hawks picking at their flesh. The sand was stained below them dark brown and bright red, with the blood from their bodies. Around the huge arena sat thousands of people, and the warriors chant was drowned out by the noise. It was a bright sunny day, the sky above full of hawks circling around waiting for dinner. It was how Hawk had gotten his name. After becoming a slave you were not allowed your family name or your given name, and any titles are taken as well. The crowd chose Helkion’s name after his fourth kill. The hawks fed on the dead sometimes while there was still fighting going on around them. Hawk, he got from his same viciousness.

  Across the field, one hundred of the Kings guard stood ready to kill the twelve standing alone. The crowd was shouting for their deaths. Hawk could feel the hate washing over him. The power of the people was amazing, and again he thought of his wife and kids. He would see them shortly, he knew that. With certainty he knew that this would be his last day on this earth. He looked at the Sea Hawks, and prayed for them. Let them live through this, he thought, let them win.

  With the sound of a great horn the infantry started towards them. They would attempt to bottle them to the center of the arena so that they would be surrounded, and the Calvary could swipe in from the sides. “Stay back; don’t let them get behind you. Die before they do.” The Sea Raiders were seasoned veterans and under Hawks lead they survived the onslaught and did not give up position. When the Calvary tried to swipe there was only one direction they could attack from, and the infantry would have to move before each attack. On every attempt many of the infantry was cut down trying to back away fast enough to let the Calvary through. And, with only one way to attack from, the Calvary was meeting shields and the sharp ends of swords. The Archers arrows could only be shot directly at the front line as not to hit the crowd in the stands behind the wall. Again the Calvary charged to no avail. More guards and horses fell, and some were trampled by their own men trying to get away. The King gave a signal and again the Calvary charged, this time without letting the infantry retreat, and the chaos that fallowed was hard to see. There was dust, and blood flying everywhere as men were trampled. One horse minus rider made it over the shields of the twelve, but it was immediately cut down. The archers began to fire attempting to hit the twelve while they were fighting, but hit their own men.

  The dead bodies of guards and horses were piling up and Hawk slipped in blood or tripped over a dead body, twice. Every time it felt like the wave would fall over the twelve, Hawk would stand high on the dead bodies and give his war cry. Connavar could see why so many were shaken by it; the feeling it evoked was like to power he had ever felt. Hawks battle cry could be heard above the clashing of metal, the crying of wounded, or the pounding of hooves. The Sea RaidersS would hear his cry and fight with a frenzy pushing the attackers back. Already more than half of the Kings guards were dead and some of the Archers were getting rid of their bows for swords taken from fallen comrades. Hawk was on his third sword and this one was already dull. He would have to wait until after the next wave to grab a different one.

  The attackers swarmed in. It felt like a great weight ready to crush Hawk and his warriors. He climbed on top of a dead horse and leaned back to scream his battle cry. This time the crowd began to chant Hawks cry. Hearing it Hawk and the eleven Sea Raiders hesitated at the change in the crowd, and seeing the hesitation, Manner, one of the Kings archers, let loose an arrow. It struck Hawk in the throat as he was standing above his comrades. He fell into the pile of dead bodies and the Sea Raiders fought with a fury that pushed the Kings guard back again. They pulled Hawks body behind them and got ready for the next wave.

  The crowd began Hawk’s chant again quiet and slow at first. It gradually got faster and louder with a rhythm that warmed the blood. The Sea Raiders began to feel the power, the strength from the crowd chanting. They could feel Hawk’s power in the crowd, his will to win, and their own determination grew. They would win, for Hawk, for the crowd. The Kings guard began to look around them in fear. They could feel it too. The tides were turning, something big was happening. In the crowd’s chant Hawks voice rang out. Feeling the strength fill their bodies from the crowd the Sea Hawks attacked for the first time. Their power and will was so intense, the Kings guard didn’t have a chance to even flee. The eleven warriors charged at the scared guards, and cut them down to the last man. Panting, hanging on to each other they walked back to Hawks body. Thaddeaus reached down with his massive arms and lifted Hawk above his head. The crowd cheered so loud the ground seemed to shake and the 12th man was born.

  The eleven warriors were freed for their bravery in the Arena; they made their way home, and told their story to their people and their children. There were no more attacks from the Sea Raiders, and there are still Hawk fans in their territories.

  Everyone in the Sea Arena felt the power and determination emanating from Hawk that day. When he passed all felt his strength fill their hearts, and his power course through their veins. The 11 warriors heard and felt Hawk in the crowd, new that the people would be their 12th man on the field, and used that power to conquer impossible odds.

  News of the events was spread quickly, and the King was dethroned by his own son weeks later and imprisoned for killing his own wife. Something that had happened years earlier, and the son had witnessed. His son, 13 years age, at the time of imprisoning his father was a great King, and the games and gambling were no more. Instead of battles the arena was used for sports, and nations would come from all over to play against each other. Some were saying Hawk was still alive and freed with the Sea Raiders. Already their stories were being sung by bards, some say, even as far as the other lands. There were many names given to Hawk and the Sea Raiders. Some referred to them as Hawks Sea Raiders, and others called them Hawks of the Sea. In the end, they are known as the Seahawks.

  There were festivals and games to compete in all
in honor of their bravery, and strength. In the games it is always 11, and the crowd is the 12th man. The crowd is Hawk.

  We are the Seahawks.

  Come play in OUR stadium