-last edited on Oct 25, 2017 21:28:19 GMT by RuleJJ
Post by RuleJJ on Oct 25, 2017 21:28:09 GMT
Chapter 283
The Ancients are immortal. We never age, never become infirm or sick. It is a curse in more ways than it is a blessing. The Other know this. They are wise in that regard, far wiser than we. Because we are immortal, we experience emotion differently than mortals. We feel happiness sometimes, fear rarely, anger often. Never love. Until I met Isabel. As far as I am aware, I am the only Ancient who has ever felt love of any kind. And that is why I must do what I am about to do. I said I would explain how I survived, and now I shall. It could be said that we Ancients have the life force of many within us. It is part of what makes us so powerful. It is what made me too powerful to be drained by Zelfern, even with whatever strange power he now wields. But I was weakened, and severely. My power is vastly weakened, but I still have enough for what I am about to do. Step back, please. I am not sure what the effects of this might be.”
Skrag, a little confused, did as he was told.
Shadowwrath leaned down towards Isabel, and touched a gauntleted hand to her face. He took a deep breath through his strange hole of a mouth and then exhaled slowly. A faint purple glow began to surround him, an inch off his skin but the same shape as his body. It shrunk to a single point of light and then sped into Isabel’s chest, surrounding her in an icy blue light. She lifted off the floor a few inches and then descended slowly back down as the light faded. Shadowwrath slumped to the floor and Isabel sat up, blinking in astonishment. “What… what happened? I was in the dark, surrounded by shadows. A hooded man stood before me, and then, then suddenly I felt myself being pulled back and…” She glanced over at Shadowwrath and pressed an ear to his mouth. “He’s not breathing. What’s going on?”
-last edited on Oct 26, 2017 20:28:21 GMT by RuleJJ
Post by RuleJJ on Oct 26, 2017 20:27:36 GMT
Chapter 284
Skrag stepped forward and put a hand on Isabel’s shoulder. “It was Zelfern. He’s a Vampyre- I can explain what that is later- and he came to the City, and he stole the life force from everyone. Everyone except Shadowwrath. He said he’s an Ancient, and… and he gave you his life force. You were smashed, and he brought you back. But it was too much for him, I think. He’s gone.”
“I know about Zelfern being a Vampyre. Shadowwrath recognized it. And I know he was an Ancient, and all that stuff. I just… can’t believe he’s gone.”
Isabel began to weep, and Skrag put an arm around her. “I, um, I know a thing or two about grief. It gets better, eventually, but it’s not easy, and you can’t let it hold you back or control you. For now, though, just mourn. You have the time.”
She shook her head, wiping away her tears. “No, I don’t. Everyone in my city is smashed. The man who did it is still out there. I need to stop him.”
“No, you don’t. You need to stay here and take care of this place. I will take care of Zelfern. I brought some friends with who can help me.” At that moment, Royale stepped into the room. “Speaking of which….”
Royale gestured towards Skrag. “You need to come with me. There’s a man here who I believe you know.”
“Who is it? Has Zelfern returned to gloat?” Skrag clenched his teeth in anger.
“No, he’s not here, but it is someone from your days here. I think you call him Go.”
“Go. Syldar said he was coming. I’ll go talk to him. Isabel-”
She knew what he was going to say and stopped him before he could. “I’m coming with. I’d like to see him too.” The look in her eye told Skrag not to argue.
-last edited on Oct 29, 2017 19:19:21 GMT by RuleJJ
Post by RuleJJ on Oct 29, 2017 19:18:46 GMT
Chapter 285
They found Go locked in a staring match with Palangein, their faces both clenched in anger, the Drake ready to pounce and Go’s hand on the hilt of his sword. Skrag’s hand wandered towards his dagger. “What’s going on here?”
Royale held out an arm, barring the half-breed’s way. “Your friend here is a wanted criminal. Thirteen years ago, Palangein and I were sent to bring him in. Now we’ve finally caught him. It would be best for everyone if you stay back and let us do our job.”
Skrag looked at Go. “Is this true?”
“More or less. But they’re neglecting to mention that the crime I committed was saving lives.”
Royale bared his teeth. “You disobeyed direct orders from your superior and smashed three members of the high guard.”
“I was ordered to smash innocents and I refused. They tried to force me, so I smashed them. What kind of crime is that?”
“Treason. You knew what was required when you joined up, Nexius. If you couldn’t handle the job, you shouldn’t have-.”
Suddenly, he felt a cool blade being pressed against his throat. Isabel grabbed the arm that was barring Skrag and lowered it. “Let him go, or I smash you right here, right now. He is my friend, and from the sounds of it he committed no crime that I know.”
Skrag, no longer impeded, stepped forward. “Isabel’s right. There are more important things to consider right now. While we bicker, Zelfern could be taking countless more lives.”
Royale struggled to free himself, but Isabel’s grip was solid. “Nexius must be punished for his crimes. Palangein, smash them.”
Palangein looked at him sternly. “You know I am the leader of this mission, not you, Royale. And these two are right. Nexius may have committed a crime against the emperor, but we would be committing a crime against life itself if we did not help to stop the one who has done this to this city. Nexius’s crimes can be dealt with afterwards.”
Royale sighed. “As always, your wisdom is far greater than mine, friend. Very well, let us help these people. But afterwards, Nexius, you will face your reckoning.”
Nexius, the man who called himself Go, smiled grimly. “So be it.”
-last edited on Oct 30, 2017 22:06:30 GMT by RuleJJ
Post by RuleJJ on Oct 30, 2017 22:06:00 GMT
Chapter 286
As Skirj wandered the grounds of the Towers of Sorcery, looking at the fallen who were still being brought down from the tower, he wondered at what power could possibly have done such a thing. The only one that sprung to mind was the power of the Crown, and that had been destroyed beyond all doubt. The other question was who had done it. What kind of monster would take so many lives for what seemed to be little purpose? Why hadn’t he done the same to any of the other towers? The answer, Skirj was sure, lied with the smashed Syldar. There was a reason the person who had done this had called out Syldar- perhaps the attack was only against him, and the rest was a show of power or a horrifying mistake. If anyone knew the answer, they weren’t sharing. Even as these thoughts scurried through Skirj’s mind, he passed by Jarios, who was cradling something in his arms. The goblin turned to look at it, and then retched at the sight of what had once been Syldar.
Turning a corner, Skirj locked eyes with another familiar face and anger filled his mind. “Wisdom!” he shouted, not caring who heard, “How could your Council sit back and let this happen?”
Wisdom put his hands up as he approached the goblin. “Peace, Skirj. We were as unaware as you. Since the Council lost so many against Morath, we had to scramble to even fill our ranks properly. Without Mystika, we have no proper seer. Believe me, had we known this was going to happen we would have done everything in our power to stop it.”
Skirj sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. It’s just… it makes me sick, what that man, whoever he was, did. And I feel even sicker thinking of what could happen if he uses that power elsewhere. Who could stand in his way?”
Wisdom put a hand on Skirj’s shoulder, meeting the goblin’s gaze. “I don’t know. But I trust that someone can. Someone has to.”
-last edited on Oct 31, 2017 21:56:13 GMT by RuleJJ
Post by RuleJJ on Oct 31, 2017 21:55:55 GMT
Chapter 287
“Land there,” Skrag directed Palangein, pointing towards a flat spot near the riverbank.
Go- or rather Nexius- looked at Skrag worriedly. “Are you sure this is the right place?”
“Pretty sure. I’ve never been here myself, but I know it’s in this area, and this is the only house we’ve seen nearby.”
Skrag, Nexius, Palangein, and Royale- for Isabel, after much persuasion, had finally agreed to stay behind- had been searching for Baj and Elisa’s home for some time. It was only thanks to the Drake’s sharp eyes that they had at last found what Skrag assumed to be it.
As soon as Palangein landed, Skrag hopped down and hurried over to the little house. A chill went down his spine as he saw that the door was ajar. “Baj? Elisa?” No one answered.
Going inside did nothing to allay Skrag’s fears. He had never been here before, of course, but the house did not seem to be in its normal state. A broken chair lay underneath the table and another had been tipped onto its side. The shattered pieces of a crossbow and several other items were scattered across the floor. Worst of all, the door to the other room had been broken down by some heavy object- an axe, perhaps, or a mace. Slowly, a ready hand on his dagger, Skrag walked into the room. If anything, it was even more of a mess than the other room. There were definite signs of struggle- marks in the wall from the same weapon that had broken down the door- and once again the contents of the room were in disarray. What he did not find was any sign of Baj and Elisa, or, for that matter, the attacker.
Before Skrag could get a close look at anything, a voice called from the first room- Nexius. “Skrag, I think I found something.”
Skrag found Nexius and Royale peering over something on the table. Moving around to get a better angle, he saw a piece of paper stuck to the table with a knife. “It’s a map.”
Nexius nodded. “But why would they leave it here?”
A shiver of dread crept down Skrag’s spine. “Because he wants me to find him.”
-last edited on Nov 1, 2017 21:49:10 GMT by RuleJJ
Post by RuleJJ on Nov 1, 2017 21:48:52 GMT
Chapter 288
Legolie had to suppress yet another yawn as Ckoro Egas continued to read the ever-growing list of tasks she had to accomplish that day. Ckoro had taken the place of her chief advisor after the loss of Fingolfin in the battle against the shadows. It wasn’t that he was boring- well, he was, but so was most of the information he delivered-but that he just wasn’t Fingolfin. Despite it having been four years since the loss of her friend, Legolie just couldn’t bring herself to imagine anyone else filling his position adequately. She had only finally chosen Ckoro because of his impressive qualifications and the ever-increasing pressure to replace Fingolfin. Legolie was snapped out of her thoughts as the thin man repeated his question. “When can I expect the letter to be ready?”
“Letter?”
Legolie smiled to herself as she saw Ckoro holding back a sigh. “The letter to the Towers of Sorcery, your majesty.”
“Ah, yes. I will have it prepared this afternoon.” She leaned forward in her throne. “It is not that I do not feel that this is important or that I do not feel a great sadness for their loss, Ckoro, it is just that these matters of state are so boring. You are dismissed.”
“Of course, your majesty.” Ckoro began to scuttle away, timid as ever. “I will send in the next petitioner as I leave.”
Legolie’s groan was cut off as she saw who the petitioner was. “Link! Welcome back! I was not aware you would be returning so soon.” She stepped down from the throne to embrace her old friend.
“Neither did I, but a development has arisen and I thought I would deliver the news in person.” Link managed to wriggle his way out of her arms as he spoke.
“There will be time for that later. Come, let us celebrate your return!”
“With all due respect, your majesty, I don’t believe there will be. The scouts have sighted an army near the northwestern edge of the forest, close to the mountains. They reportedly appeared out of nowhere and march southwest.”
“They appeared out of nowhere, you say? They could be the same that attacked the Towers.” After a moment’s hesitation, she continued. “We will meet this army. Tell the generals that we march for war.”
Link’s smile was almost as wide as Legolie’s as he left the throne room. When he had gone, she returned to her throne and picked up her sword, looking at her reflection in its perfectly polished surface. At last, something interesting.
-last edited on Nov 2, 2017 20:12:21 GMT by RuleJJ
Post by RuleJJ on Nov 2, 2017 20:12:05 GMT
Chapter 289
Finding the army proved much easier than finding Baj and Elisa’s home. The map was well-made and appropriately detailed, and it wasn’t exactly easy to miss hundreds of soldiers marching towards the forest. Skrag hooted in anticipation as Palangein dove towards the army.
The fight against the soldiers was an endless slog. For the most part, the soldiers seemed content to ignore the four of them until they were in immediate danger- no doubt following whatever orders they were under. As Skrag fought, he kept his eye open for Zelfern. If he could only find the Vampyre, he could put a stop to this. But there was no sign of him, and he continued to battle the soldiers.
Skrag fell to his knees, clutching his side, as a soldier attacked him from behind. A dagger was not a particularly effective weapon in this type of combat, and it hadn’t been too long before the half-breed had found himself surrounded. He was saved by a huge, blue shape- Palangein. Nexius and Royale slid down from the Drake’s back. As the latter tied a strip of his shirt around Skrag’s side as a makeshift bandage, the former spoke, “We think we’ve spotted Zelfern. He’s up on a ridge on the mountain overlooking the army. You need to go get to him before it’s too late.”
Skrag nodded, reaching up a hand for Nexius to pull him to his feet. “How can I get up there?”
“Palangein will take you. We’ll handle the soldiers here.”
As Palangein rose up into the air, Skrag looked down and saw a strangely familiar man in robes of black and white moving towards his friends. Squinting, he looked closer and realized where he had seen the man before. It was the same sorcerer who Hoid’s gathered group had fought in the Falcon Kingdom’s castle. “We have to go back! That man’s a sorcerer. He’ll smash them.”
Palangein’s tone was even as he replied. “They can handle themselves until I return. Worry not, Skrag.”
Skrag found himself unable to do anything but worry as they drew closer to the ridge where Zelfern waited.”
-last edited on Nov 4, 2017 18:21:41 GMT by RuleJJ
Post by RuleJJ on Nov 4, 2017 18:21:32 GMT
Chapter 290
Jayden Crow watched the proceedings from inside a copse of trees, Caisara at his side. They had been heading south in search of work when the army dressed in white appeared out of nowhere. They had scrambled to hide, lest the soldiers take an interest in them. Now, a contingent of Iron Wolves marched to meet the white-clothed army in what Jayden expected would be an interesting fight. As he watched the two armies march, he thought back to the events that had brought him and Caisara here in the first place.
It had all started four years earlier, when they had been hired by that man Hithrol Jiwovz and his friends to help steal the Whiteblade from the giants. Dwalin had been smashed on that job when things went crazy, and worse, they had gotten nothing of value out of it, not even the payment they had been promised on completion. The Baron had fired Cottor and Neren because of that, and had almost ordered them smashed. The next job had gone south too, because the Baron refused to find anyone to replace the three they had lost. And then the hook-handed man arrived. He hired them to hunt down a man called Malik, who he said was dangerous. But when they found him, he was just a scared, helpless man. They left him alone, but told the hook-handed man they had done it. Somehow, he found out they had lied, and sent them back with one of his friends, a quiet man named Rathael who had watched with a smile as they did it. Things only got worse after that. The Baron- apparently for no reason, though Jayden suspected the influence of the hook-handed man- seemed to have gone as mad as the Dragonsblood man who had hired Jayden once to smash a dragon brood mother and steal her eggs. Jayden, Caisara, and Scarlette were sent off on increasingly pointless or impossible jobs until they had finally had enough. Jayden left with Caisara to find other employment, and they had eventually wound up here, at this battle.
-last edited on Nov 6, 2017 21:30:42 GMT by RuleJJ
Post by RuleJJ on Nov 6, 2017 21:30:25 GMT
Chapter 291
Zelfern was not alone on the ridge. By his side was a mountain of a man whose dark mess of beard and hair obscured most of his face, and at the man’s feet lay the bound, unconscious forms of Baj and Elisa. The half-Vampyre stood there with a twisted grin as he watched Skrag quickly dismount and draw his dagger. “I was wondering when you’d show up. I started worrying that you had deviated from my predictions. But now I see my worrying was without cause.”
Skrag gripped the dagger tighter and clenched his teeth, trying to block out the pain still present in his side. “Let them go. Your quarrel is with me.”
Zelfern laughed coldly, then sneered. “My quarrel is with all of those who caused me pain. And that includes everyone from the Arena. You are not so special as to be the only target of my rage. Not even close.”
Skrag began looking for an opportunity to strike. His best chance was to take them when they weren’t ready and get Baj and Elisa to safety. “Why are you doing this?”
Zelfern noticed his flickering gaze. “Don’t think you can outsmart me. You are injured, and you are weak. My friend here will crush you if you make a move. I’d like to talk a little before I smash you, but that is optional.”
Skrag asked again, dismayed that Zelfern could tell what he was thinking but forcing himself not to show it. “Why are you doing this?”
“I will humor you. As I said, I would like to talk. I’m doing this because you hurt me. All of you. You took my home, and my happiness, and you crushed it. You all deserve to be smashed.”
“The Arena? You’re doing all of this because we ended the Arena? That place was made by monsters so they could watch others suffer. We saved lives, and we freed slaves. And what of the countless innocents in the Tower and in the City? You smashed them, too, and they did nothing to you!”
-last edited on Nov 7, 2017 21:47:01 GMT by RuleJJ
Post by RuleJJ on Nov 7, 2017 21:46:46 GMT
Chapter 292
Zelfern spat. “You are truly a fool. There is no such thing as an innocent man. We are all guilty, of some crime or another. We all need to be cleansed. But that is not my concern, anyway. If I have the opportunity, perhaps, but it is secondary. Make no mistake. This is about revenge. Had they not harbored those who hurt me, they would still live.”
“You’re sick.”
“No, on the contrary, I feel better than ever. I am finally doing what I was meant to do. And when you, and the rest of the gladiators, and those pale-skinned cowards are gone, I will be free to do whatever I wish.” There was a feverish glint in Zelfern’s eye, and his smile reminded Skrag of that of a madman.
“So that’s why you came here. The Vampyres. You’re going to smash them. You blame them for the loss of your parents, so you’re going to smash them.”
Zelfern’s face twisted in rage. “How do you know that?”
“A woman named Zariana. She’s with the Riders now. She told me all about you.” The pain in Skrag’s side had dulled now to a numb ache, and he was finally able to relax just slightly.
“Then I will smash her next. But that is a thought for later.” He turned to his companion. “If you would be so kind….” The bearded man picked up Baj by the neck and held him up.
“No!” shouted Skrag, preparing himself to fight. “Why do you follow his twisted words? This man has done nothing to you!”
The bearded man laughed, and then said, in a horribly familiar voice, “He has done nothing to me? He destroyed me.”
“Garfell? But Re’zar smashed you.” Skrag tried to wrap his mind around how it could be possible, but he found himself unable to fathom it.
-last edited on Nov 9, 2017 20:56:50 GMT by RuleJJ
Post by RuleJJ on Nov 9, 2017 20:54:37 GMT
Chapter 293
“Not quite,” laughed Zelfern. “He crawled his way out of the tunnels, and I found him barely alive. Through my studies, I have learned much about my abilities that my people had long forgotten. It is not only into ourselves that we can transfer the life force of the things around us, but into others as well. I saved his life, and in return he follows me now. Of course, he didn’t exactly have to be persuaded to help me smash you and your friends.”
Skrag’s heart was pounding. He knew he had to do something to stall, but what? A thought came to him. “How did you do it? How did you smash all those people instantly? You said you learned about your powers, but surely that is not normal.”
Zelfern smiled. “It is quite simple really. Your friend Septimus Merlinsson helped me. Not intentionally, of course, but the fact remains. He created an item, you see, one that would give him immortality and incredible power.” Zelfern reached into his pocket and produced a small red gem- the same one that had been set into Septimus’s mask. “It was not easy to find his remains, but I did it.”
Skrag’s mind was racing as he once again tried to process such a shocking revelation. “Septimus… smashed?”
“Indeed. It appears he bit off more than he could chew. Someone should have told him not to play god.”
Skrag smiled grimly. “And what about you? Is it not the act of a god to take so many lives in a single instant?”
“You understand nothing. Merlinsson tried to negotiate with the Keeper of Souls, as if they stood on the same level. I send the Keeper tribute, but I do not pretend we are equals. Yes, I think he shall look most favorably upon me when all is said and done.”
Skrag didn’t even try to understand what the half-Vampyre meant.
-last edited on Nov 10, 2017 20:17:38 GMT by RuleJJ
Post by RuleJJ on Nov 10, 2017 20:17:23 GMT
Chapter 294
Legolie paced back and forth impatiently as she waited for Link and the other scouts to return. She had wanted to join them on their expedition, but on this she had been firmly overruled. At least there hadn’t been too much protest against her march to war. It seemed she was not the only one growing bored sitting at home. And the journey had also gone well. They had reached their destination in good time, and in good cheer. If that was any indication of things to come, the coming battle would be a swift victory. A horn sounded in the distance and Legolie spurred on her horse, Homefinder. The scouts had returned.
“Their numbers are larger than previously expected,” said Link, reporting the results of the trip to Legolie. “But we will not be fighting them alone. The Iron Wolves have mustered a force and currently are engaged against them.”
Legolie nodded. “That is good. Not only does it seem to confirm that this army is one for us to fight, but we also should stand a considerable chance of victory with these allies at our side, even if they are stronger than we hoped.”
“There is one more thing, I’m afraid.” Link’s usual enthusiasm was dimmed somewhat. “They have a sorcerer with them, a powerful one, it appears. He will pose a significant obstacle.”
Legolie was not deterred. “I will consult with the generals to compose a battle plan. Stand by in case your input is required.”
“Yes, my queen.” Legolie rolled her eyes at the feigned servility.
As she led the charge into battle, Legolie felt the familiar thrill coursing through her veins. It would not last long, she knew, not long after the true face of war- the pain, the fallen friends, the utter, devastating destruction- reared its head, but for now it did not matter. Such reflections were to be dealt with afterwards, when a victor- if there truly was one- emerged. The first enemies fell as the two armies met in a storm of steel, and a shriek of war leapt from Legolie’s mouth. Yes, there would be time for those thoughts later.
-last edited on Nov 11, 2017 23:07:40 GMT by RuleJJ
Post by RuleJJ on Nov 11, 2017 23:07:20 GMT
Chapter 295
“If you have no more to say, Skrag, I think it is time we get on with this. My time is not unlimited.” Zelfern looked down at the red gemstone in his hand. “Well, I suppose it is. But yours is not. I wouldn’t want to take up more of it than required.” The half-Vampyre grinned maliciously as Garfell raised up Baj’s unconscious form once again.
Skrag shook with rage, preparing himself to leap at the enormous man. “We will beat you, Zelfern. I don’t know how, but we will.”
Zelfern laughed. “We? Who is this ‘we’ you speak of? Those meddlers who call themselves the Iron Wolves and the army of the elves are here, yes, fighting against my army. But even if they win, Skrag, and that may very well happen, they cannot stand against me, not while I have Merlinsson’s stone. And I have no plans to give that up any time soon. So to whom then do you refer? Not the friends you came here with, surely, for they are gone. Orrolc has done his job quite well.”
“No!” Skrag turned around, searching the seething mass below for Go, Royale, and Palangein. But, while he saw no sign of the former two in the chaos, the huge, sinuous form of the Drake was unmistakable, sprawled in the grass, lifeless.
Tears welled up in Skrag’s eye, but he forced them down as he watched the sorcerer who had smashed his friends tear through a group of Iron Wolves. From behind, Zelfern spoke. “Do it.”
Skrag spun back, too late to do anything but watch as Garfell tossed the pale form of Baj to the ground. The bearded man smiled, sickeningly happy at what he had just done. Then his eye widened and he let loose a grunt of surprise as he, too, fell to the ground, smashed.
Behind him stood Elisa, free of her bindings and holding a small, sharp kitchen knife. “He’ll never hurt anyone ever again.”
-last edited on Nov 12, 2017 21:57:58 GMT by RuleJJ
Post by RuleJJ on Nov 12, 2017 21:57:43 GMT
Chapter 296
As the battle raged between the strange army and the elves and Iron Wolves, Jayden Crow found himself unable to look away. There was something captivating about the whole grisly spectacle that had grabbed his attention and refused to let it go. As the watched, the white-clothed soldiers slowly found themselves pinned between their two opponents, but their seeming determination enabled them to keep fighting, and they slowly began to lose less ground with each advance until the battle was practically at a standstill.
A blur of movement in the middle of the battle drew Jayden’s attention away from the main fighting. An unfamiliar blue, wingless serpent-creature was flying in a tight circle above one area, periodically diving low and then returning to the sky. Curious, Jayden climbed to a higher spot to get a better view. The area the creature was circling was clear of combatants for the most part, but at its center stood a man robed in black and white. His hands glowed red as he flung magical orbs at the creature, which evaded each in turn. The duel dragged on for several minutes, neither party gaining the upper hand, until a shape fell from the creature’s back- a rider, hidden by clothes that were the same shade of blue as his mounts’. The creature dove to catch him, and at that moment a bolt of red lightning struck it in the chest, sending it plummeting towards the earth. The triumphant sorcerer began blasting away at the elves and Iron Wolves. With a wave of his hand, a score of purple-clad soldiers were incinerated by a burst of fire. Jayden turned to talk to Caisara, but she was not by his side, where she had been just moments before. “Caisara? Where’d you go?” There was no response, of course. Jayden hopped down from his perch and began looking for his friend.
He found her at the edge of the trees, bow in hand. “What are you doing?”
She responded with a series of complicated hand gestures. “We can’t join the battle. We’d be smashed!”
More gestures and a look that told Jayden she wouldn’t be stopped. “Fine. I’ll go with you. But let’s stick to the edges, okay?” She was gone before he even finished.
-last edited on Nov 13, 2017 22:39:55 GMT by RuleJJ
Post by RuleJJ on Nov 13, 2017 22:39:44 GMT
Chapter 297
Homefinder bucked as a bolt of red light tore through three elven soldiers to Legolie’s left. She managed to regain control of the horse, but it was a close thing. Many others had already lost their steeds, unseated when the animals panicked at the magical attacks. Many more had lost their lives. Legolie knew that if they were to win this battle, they had to take care of this sorcerer. She called to Link, and he rode up alongside her. “My queen?”
“Take some men and distract the sorcerer. I’m going to finish this.”
Link looked at her appraisingly for a moment and then nodded. “Right away.”
Several agonizing minutes passed as Legolie waited for Link’s signal. With each of them, she was sure, another dozen of her soldiers fell. At last, the horn sounded. Sword raised, Legolie spurred on Homefinder and charged straight towards the sorcerer. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Link and half a dozen others doing the same thing from the opposite side. A handful of white-clothed soldiers stood in her path, and she took them down. The way was clear. She was just feet from her target when Link’s eyes met hers over the sorcerer’s shoulder. And then her friend was gone, in an explosion that left a ringing in Legolie’s ears. Homefinder bucked again, and this time she couldn’t bring him back under her control. Before she could even react, Legolie was in the air, and then she was on the ground, sporting what would soon be a fresh set of bruises all along her back. Hazily, the elven queen tried to stand up, but her limbs felt heavy and would not respond. Through the smoke and wreckage, a figure walked up to her- the sorcerer. A thin face with sunken eyes and a thin beard peered out from the hood of his black-and-white robes. Legolie could only stare up at him. “You…”
“Me. And this time, there is no Septimus Merlinsson to defend you and the rest of your pathetic friends.” The sorcerer raised his hand, red energy building up around it. “Say hello to that fool of a witch for me.”
