He was an imposing figure and stark naked, taking the form of a large man. The only indication of his gender was the masculine features of his muscular body. He had no hair on his head or his body, but instead had smooth, flawless skin that seemed to defy the toll of time – appearing to still be in his prime despite being as ancient as the world itself.
His eyes were a milky white, without pupils and devoid of all expression. Despite this, Octavian always knew when those empty eyes were focused intently on him.
“My lord…” said Octavian, bowing low in respect.
“I have been pleased with your loyalty” came the voice of the Defiant One. It rang through the air, seemingly from everywhere at once, or was it just in his mind? He could never tell. One thing he knew for sure, it left him extremely uneasy, even after the past week. Octavian didn’t think he would ever get used to it.
“Thank you, my lord. I am your humble servant, as always.” he said, still in a bow.
“You may rise” came the voice again. “Tell me, Octavian, what is it that you hope to accomplish?” he asked.
“Only to please you, my lord.” replied Octavian.
“Do not make the mistake of taking me for a fool.” responded the Defiant One, “I know your deepest desires, I have seen them in my mind. You would be wise to speak plainly, or your usefulness might expire sooner than you might think.” he said, threatening Octavian in a calm, collected manner - a manner that left the tyrant king even more uneasy.
“I apologize, my lord. I only meant that your will is my number one priority, but it is as you say…I desire power. The power to seek revenge on those who have humiliated me!” replied Octavian.
“You speak of your former king?” asked the Defiant One.
“Yes…he took me for a fool, and lied to me, keeping my heritage a secret, forcing me to serve the very man who murdered my family. I cannot rest while he lives.” said Octavian, rage rising in his chest.
“You will have your revenge. Tell me, how are the raids coming?” asked the Defiant One calmly.
“I am pleased to say that the Outer Woods are finally under our control. The last of the resistance has been squashed. The Northern Kingdom is now yours, my lord.” said Octavian proudly.
“Yes…it would seem it is. And how do you think we should proceed now?” asked the Mystic, still keenly focused on the man before him.
“I believe we should send our forces up the mountain pass to Ravenfell, my lord. That is where the remaining forces are gathered, barricading themselves within the mountain valley in a futile effort to stand against your indomitable might.” said Octavian, hoping to get approval to begin their expansion South.
“Ahh…but your anger and hatred cloud your vision.” replied the Defiant One.
“My lord?” asked Octavian, not following his logic.
“Your hatred of the king is preventing you from seeing the whole picture. The King of Eldergate and the King of Ravenfell, they are not our only enemies. In fact, they are but a fraction of the forces that stand in our way.” he replied.
“Do you speak of the Elves, my lord?” asked Octavian, trying to follow along.
“Yes…the Elves, and their brethren, the Dwarves. Do not underestimate the Dwarves. They may be a reclusive people, content to mine away their lives in their hidden chambers but make no mistake – they are a formidable foe once incited to action. You would do well to remember this”
“Yes, my lord.” replied Octavian, “What is it that you think we should do, then?” he asked.
“You will order the advance forces to split in two. We will send half to the South to besiege Ravenfell. The other half we will send to the East towards the White City. We will pass by the halls of the Dwarves and leave them be for now. We cannot risk them joining in the fight until the Elves have been handled. Only then will we take the fight to the Dwarves and their Emerald halls.” he said, his eyes and expression still unwavering.
When he sensed that Octavian had understood his task, the Defiant One simply nodded slightly and vanished without a trace. Was he ever really there, or was it simply a projection? Octavian never could tell.
Relieved that he was alone once again, the king shook off the lingering uneasiness and immediately started off towards the stairs.
When he reached the bottom and exited into the main corridor leading to the great entrance hall, he was greeted by the general of the Wolf Guard.
“Your majesty. What news do you bring?” he asked in his snarling tongue, stepping in stride with his King.
“The Defiant One has given us new orders, Targon. We are to split our main force in two, sending one to Ravenfell, and the other across Draco’s Pass to besiege the White City.” he replied, now reaching the main entry hall and stopping before a small company of Wolf Guard who had been waiting for their next assignment.
“And what of the Dwarves? Surely they won’t like us passing through their territory.” replied Targon.
“Our orders are to leave them be, for now. We must not risk pulling them into this just yet. For now, our focus will be on the Elves and the Humans. With them out of our way, we can then consolidate our remaining forces to take out the Dwarves. Targon, I expect you to lead the forces to the East. As for me, I will personally see to it that our Southern neighbors are extinguished once and for all.” said Octavian with a flicker in his eyes.
The company of Wolves bowed to their king before taking off at an incredible pace through the front doors and down the spiral pathway that had been carved into the side of the pillar of rocky earth that the palace now rested upon. They would spread the news to the army of demons and begin their march Eastward, while the remaining forces would prepare for their march south towards the mountain pass.
Octavian couldn’t help but smile. His time had finally come to march on Ravenfell – and he couldn’t be more eager to begin.
Chapter IV
David and Erin finished packing their bags, finally prepared for the long journey ahead, before sitting down at the foot of David’s bed.
David wrapped his arms around Erin and pulled her backwards, falling into the soft blankets and cushioned mattress. In that moment, they both cherished the coziness and warmth of the bed – knowing it would be the last time they would enjoy such luxury for a long time. The journey through the wilderness was never a comfortable experience, and they would be heading through unfamiliar and possibly hostile territory. It was going to be a long, hard road ahead of them.
As Erin nestled into the crook of David’s arm and lay her head on his chest, she took comfort knowing they would be together through the coming journey. She was confident that no matter what they faced they would be able to overcome it together.
David kissed the top of her head and squeezed her tightly. It was moments like this that he cherished the most. He wished they could just live normal lives together, enjoying each other’s company, not worrying about the rest of the world, but he knew that was a fantasy at best. They would never enjoy that kind of peace, not while the Defiant One was still roaming their land, not while his army of demons were still mercilessly killing every living thing they encountered on their march to domination.
He sat up, rubbing his temples. He had been having these horrible headaches ever since his battle with General Krauss. Sometimes they were barely noticeable, while other times it throbbed so painfully that it prevented him from carrying on even simple conversations. Eventually the pain subsided, and he stretched and prepared to get up, knowing that Tyrius and the others were waiting on them.
David gave Erin one last long, passionate kiss before he stood up and helped her to her feet. Then they grabbed their belongings and headed out the door to meet with the others.
They made their way out of the castle and down the road through the bustling mountain city before starting towards the far end of the valley where the Southern Tunnel entrance lay.
Throughout the city the townspeople were busy at work, preparing in any way they coul
d for the coming days. The streets were bustling with activity as carts and wagons full of supplies were pulled by mules towards the castle, stockpiling everything ranging from blankets and clothes, to food and equipment. They had been instructed to help gather as much as they could while they had the chance, knowing that any day now they would be under siege by the hideous creatures that had overrun the Northern Kingdom and caused so many of the refugees that now occupied their houses to flee from their homes in the Outer Woods.
Those who had fled were extremely grateful for the hospitality of the people of Ravenfell. Despite their differences, they had been kind and welcoming – many finding over the past week that they were related and rekindling past familial ties, others quickly developing friendships that would last the ages – if they were so lucky to survive these trying times. The one thing that bound them together most of all and had contributed most to their fast acceptance of one another was the common threat they faced from the Defiant One and his armies. They each knew that their best chance of survival was to work together towards their mutual goals.
As David and Erin walked beyond the city limits and through the valley, they took in the surrounding beauty, knowing it may be the last time they see the valley in such splendor.
The sky was mostly overcast, with a few patches of blue peeking through occasionally as the wind gently moved the cloud cover over their heads, but it only seemed to enhance the natural beauty of the valley. When the sun broke through those openings in the clouds, brilliant shafts of light would pour through, highlighting random patches of rolling hills far below and enhancing the vibrant colors of the changing seasons.
In addition to the visual cues, David could also feel the season shifting towards the cooler fall weather, each passing day growing shorter than the one before and bringing in a cooler northern breeze. The leaves had just recently started to drop their bright vibrant green, being replaced with a slight tinge of orange and brown near the edges indicating the shift in seasons was upon them. On the peaks of the surrounding mountains, snow seemed to be encroaching lower with each passing day, warning of the coming winter that would be upon them in only a few short weeks.
When they finally reached the area before the tunnel, they could see that the clearing operation had been successful.
It had taken Reingard and a crew of roughly twenty men only a few short hours to clear the fallen debris from the entrance into the tunnel, leaving the wide opening into the mountain once again accessible. It was roughly fifteen feet across and twenty or so feet high and was supported by large wooden beams in a rectangular cut, making what resembled a large doorway into the mountain.
Its depths were blacker than night, giving the tunnel a foreboding appearance that nearly made David second guess his chosen route out of the valley. The mountain pass, although hazardous in its own ways and potentially soon to be crawling with demons and undead mages, seemed to look like a much more reasonable approach.
Holzer had been able to sort through the old maps in the record hall and found a map of the tunnel passages along with what was once the Southern Kingdom before he met back up with Tyrius and made his way to the tunnel with his and Reingard’s packs. He was standing by Reingard and the others, plotting what David assumed would be their route through the Southern Tunnel and out into the lands beyond.
When David and Erin approached the others, they each prepared to say their goodbyes.
General Ryan seemed to be the most uneasy of the bunch, hesitant to let Erin go off on her own without his watchful eye. He was confident in her ability to take care of herself, but only he and the King knew of her importance to the survival of the Northern Kingdom, and his fear of what might happen to her was beginning to overshadow his duty to his men.
The King put his hand on the General’s shoulder and squeezed reassuringly, telling him it was okay and to let her go. With this gesture, the General finally seemed to relax.
He looked to David before speaking, “You make sure you keep a close eye on her, you hear? I know you two have become close, but don’t you forget that I’ve spent my whole adult life watching her grow into the woman she is, and you would do well to make sure she comes back unharmed. You understand?” he said, glaring at David like a father would before letting a young man take his daughter off on a date.
“I understand, General. But honestly, if anything, she’ll be the one protecting me. I’m no match for her skills with a bow or blade, and from what I’ve seen, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who is!” said David, half-joking and clearly uncomfortable at the sudden intensity of the General’s gaze directed at him. He understood the close relationship that General Ryan had with Erin, and noticed it was much like a father to his daughter, and he had felt that intense gaze over the past week more than he would have liked.
“Oh, stop it, you two!” said Erin scolding the two. “Ryan, you know I can take care of myself! And David, you’ve gotten much better with a sword since our first encounter outside of Eldergate. I am confident you will continue to improve, and will no doubt become a formidable opponent to anyone who stands in your way, orb or not!” she said, smiling.
She wrapped her arms tight around General Ryan, squeezing him and kissing his cheek goodbye.
Orin and Rex took turns saying farewell to David and Erin, and the King wished them all a successful journey before reminding them what was at stake should they fail.
“Trust in the Creator God, He will lead you all to safety and success! Just don’t take too long to find it!” he added jokingly, to which they all chuckled nervously. It may have been a joke, but it had a very serious undertone – he was right, if they took too long, there may not be a world left to fight for.
Holzer and Reingard promised Rex they would behave and keep a close eye on David and Erin before they turned and headed into the tunnel entrance, leading the party into the depths of the mountain.
When the last of them disappeared around a bend and out of sight, Rex and the others made their way back to the Castle to discuss the preparations for the defense of the valley.
Rex, Orin, the two Generals, and King Eldergate along with the officers of both armies all took a seat around a large circular table within the war room before spreading a map of the valley out across its surface and beginning their planning.
Rex, having intimate knowledge of the surrounding lands and the defensiveness of the valley, was the first to speak.
“Gentlemen, we find ourselves in a dire situation today and are left with the defensive planning of what will likely become the final stand of men. I cannot say we will make it out of this alive, but I know one thing for sure – we will give these demons one hell of a fight!” he pounded his fist on the table to drive the point home, eliciting a few hearty shouts of agreement throughout the chambers before continuing.
“One of the reasons our forefathers chose this valley for their new home is because of its defensive position within the ring of mountains. The mountains are high and unforgiving, should anyone try to enter the valley through any means other than the narrow pass from the North, or the Southern Tunnel to the South. Knowing this, they built this great city in the valley, depending on its isolation and security to protect our people for generations to come. We will use this to our advantage.
“I propose we build a series of fortifications here, here, and here, behind the mountain pass and before it, along with lookout towers on the northern side to provide ample warning in the event of a pending attack. This will give us foresight on when they are coming and prevent us from being caught off guard.”
Everyone around the table nodded in agreement, seeing the logic in the barbarian King’s plans.
“We have a vast amount of stone and wood from the valley and from fallen debris that we can use to build several walls leading up the mountain pass on both sides. This will hopefully slow the enemy march once they reach the top of the pass, and the narrow walkway through the mountain will force the enemy, although vast in numbe
rs, to bottleneck and therefore reduce the overall number we must fight at one time.”
General Ryan chimed in.
“This is where we must hold them, for if we let them through the passageway into the valley, they will be able to spread out their numbers and we will quickly be overrun. Should this happen, Rex, how long do you suppose we could hold them off within the castle walls?” he asked.
“I’m not sure...it depends on how many of them are left, and how many of us are left at that time too.” he said somberly.
Everyone in the room knew that if it came to that, their time would be short-lived at best. The castle was well fortified, but it could only do so much against an army of demons and black mages. Knowing this, they were all the more determined to make sure they held the enemy at the entrance to the valley.
“Orin, what protection will you be able to provide for us against their mages? You proved to be quite a valuable asset during the battle of Eldergate.” said General Ryan.
Orin had been standing and pacing back and forth around the room, deep in thought while listening to the strategies being presented.
“Hm? Oh yes…well, I can tell you this much. When the Mystic Wars broke out long ago, there were many more of my kind around to help battle the endless waves of demons and black mages. And even with our numbers, we dwindled away until I was all that was left. The forces we will be up against, they will be ruthless, cunning, and powerful. The mages are humans, or once were before they sold their souls to the Defiant One in exchange for their powers. Now, they are but a shell of what they once were – though no less formidable.
“I will focus my efforts on the mages like you say and do whatever I can to help with the barriers before the enemy arrives. That is all I can do… it is all any of us can do.” he said, slowly looking around the room.
Rex nodded in agreement before replying.
“In the meantime, I will instruct my men not tasked on the fortifications to begin preparing for a long siege. We will need an abundance of supplies and food stored away for the men, women, and children. We have already started to increase production as much as possible and the townsfolk have been preparing all produce for long-term storage. Once the siege begins, we won’t be able to focus on our farms or livestock – the food will need to be harvested and prepared or risk being soured.” said Rex.
David Bishop and the Mystic of Creation Page 3