A Skeleton's Duty (Death Knight Series Book 4)

by Michael Chatfield

  “Nope. Looked like they were all Drafeng commanders—though, you know, those people they called saints were a little different.” Damien looked at Letanya. “Seems that they had the power of Dena poured into them, called the power of Light, covered up the corrupted power at their core that truly powered them and corrupted their minds.”

  Damien didn’t need to ask anything as he looked into Letanya’s eyes. “Nothing but battery packs for the Drafeng to consume when they enter Dena.”

  “You are the start of the invasion—the Agents of Chaos, the Church of Light, the bandits, the corrupt officials. Not all of the church is bad. There are many people who truly believe in it and the values of the order. Hopefully they will be able to recreate that same order,” Anthony said.

  The rest of the ride was silent as they continued to head north.

  Chapter: Phoenix and the Dragon

  Saintess Letanya walked her horse forward, the priests behind her as the two undead wore their robes and the gnome hid in a sack.

  She didn’t need to say anything as the doors to the city opened ahead of her.

  “Bayham town greets the saintess and Church of Light.” A man came out, bowing his head as if a chicken. She had seen it so many times before, sneering and looking down on these people who stayed back, hiding in their homes instead of charging out to defeat the defilers. None of them were worth a passing glance.

  She had thought that they were in awe of her strength, overpowered by the sight of her and her fellow members of the church.

  Now she could only see the fear in his eyes. She looked to the people lined up. The fear was in their eyes as well as they waved to the church.

  It suddenly felt all very fake. These people she would have thought were devout believers who were cheering them as they entered the gates of the town—they weren’t devout: they were scared into submission.

  They fear what we might do if they don’t keep up this appearance. I would have never had these thoughts before. Is this because of the chaotic power being removed from within me?

  She gritted her teeth, seeing some people pale or put in more effort to give them a hero’s welcome as they advanced into the town.

  They stayed in the lord’s residence. At night, Letanya and the others remained in their rooms with Damien. Anthony had waited with the beasts and the gnome, Tommie.

  ***

  “What’s happening?” one of the elven rangers asked. Several mages were attacking the faint mirage hanging in the air.

  Grand Elder Allynna looked over as it started to fluctuate. “Ready yourselves!” She started to gather power from the forest around her. The Deepwood responded; elves who had been resting or waiting in the trees or on the ground around the gate prepared their weapons. Staffs were gripped tighter and mana streamed in toward the casters. Bows were strung and pulled back.

  The mages working on the gate worked harder. The gate shrunk slightly. It had gone from being wide enough to fit four carriages through side by side to only being able to fit one carriage and it was suspended a few meters off the ground.

  The hazy circle had a spot of black appear in it. Like blood in water, it spread and rapidly reached out to cover the door.

  A whistling noise filled the Deepwood, as if Dena were being drawn into that dark mirror.

  A roar came from the other side as a beast clambered through the door.

  “Is that a chaotic beast?” one of the elves near Allynna asked their partner.

  “First squad!” Arrows and staffs were employed, hitting the chaotic beast and tearing it apart as the mages around the doorway worked quickly.

  Two more beasts pushed through, using the first as a shield. They were killed with arrows and magic. More came through behind them. These spit out a beam of power that made Allynna’s skin crawl. As it struck trees and plants, it would cause them to fade and die.

  Elf mages created barriers to stop the attacks from hitting their fellow casters and rangers.

  The chaotic beasts pushed out like a horde in one direction, making progress. They pushed forward. Some were trying to move to the edges and killed the mages there.

  The door shimmered and shook. Then, with a sound of cracking glass, it shattered and the chaotic beasts that were in the doorway were cut apart by the closing doorway.

  Allynna pulled out her mirror of communication. “Watcher Cecilia, the chaotic beasts have started to come through the doorways.”

  “We have cleared most of them from within the Deepwood. Keep working,” Cecilia said.

  “Yes, Watcher.” Allynna made to put the mirror away.

  “Stay safe, Allynna,” Cecilia said.

  Allynna looked at her mother and smiled. “I’ll do my best, Mother.” She might be hundreds of years old, but she was still her mother’s daughter.

  ***

  Anthony walked through Bayham. People lowered their heads to him in passing as he wore the robes of the Church of Light. He reached a square. Most of the people were asleep or made sure not to stare at the knight of the Church of Light.

  So much fear. Anthony felt the weight on his shoulders. It was supposed to have been years left to prepare for the Drafeng to appear.

  Instead, there were already doors appearing across Dena.

  It feels like everything is spiraling out of control already.

  Anthony drew his sword and leaned against a pillar in the middle of the abandoned marketplace. Remainders of letters and advertisements rippled in the wind.

  Anthony pushed his sword into the ground, using his body and Church of Light cloak to hide what he was doing. He directed power through his sword.

  Light appeared around his sword as the stone started to change and transform.

  The light dimmed and there were lines and runes carved into the ground. Anthony removed his sword and sheathed it.

  He didn’t see the purple light that started to fill the enchantments. He had barely made it to the end of the square when the enchantment activated.

  A fire burst out, covering the square in a purple glow.

  Anthony increased his pace before he heard a voice.

  “The distortions that you see are actually doorways to another place, another planet that is hostile to Dena. To destroy the doorways, you will need to pull apart the spell creating it or land enough physical attacks on the doorway to break it. Be aware—these doorways have started opening, allowing chaotic beasts and Drafeng into Dena! The chaotic beasts…”

  Anthony watched the flames as Watcher Cecilia stood there, telling people about the doorways, about the Drafeng.

  “Pull everyone inside the cities and towns. The Drafeng now wander our lands. Destroy the doorways that you can. It is the only way we can slow down this invasion.”

  Anthony was running; he didn’t hear the last of her words. His eyes turned green as he used Bruce’s strength. He reached the place where the others were staying. He ignored the others as he made it to the noble’s house.

  Anthony opened the door into the house. “Damien!”

  The house woke up and the Church of Light members gathered together.

  Damien jumped down the stairs, slamming into the floor. He rolled over with his war hammer in hand.

  Tommie pushed up his sack, revealing him in a woolly jacket to stave off the spring night’s chill.

  “The doorways are opening. We need to accelerate,” Anthony said.

  “Well, if you’re okay with revealing our presence—dragon?” Damien asked.

  Tommie shuddered but nodded.

  “What about them?” Damien pointed to the Church of Light people.

  Anthony turned his eyes onto them. “They will only be allowed to speak the truth. They will not be able to attack anyone, only to defend themselves if someone seeks to enact violence against them. You will all stay here, doing your best to train the military or be trained yourself. When there is a call for people to join hands and fight the Drafeng, you will come. You will fight beside all of the races; you will lea
rn how to heal and care for others. You will wear the Church of Light robes so that everyone knows who you are. You will care and look after people of Dena, no matter their species. You will fight beside other races.”

  The Church of Light members looked on with horror as their bonds glowed as their new sentences were agreed to and more terms were added by the judges.

  “Let’s go.” Anthony headed out of the residence and the other two followed him.

  Tommie reached out and put his hands into the wooden boxes.

  Anthony summoned Dave and Penelope.

  Penelope stretched, making Damien drop his hammer at her beauty, his jaw half coming off.

  “What took you so long, Anthony?” Penelope complained. Seeing Damien, she winked and gave him a wave.

  Tommie’s boxes fell away as the different sections locked together. Gears connected to one another and the different systems came online. Clamps locked into place and screws tightened while bolts were secured.

  “Needed more mana—we have some work to do.”

  “You know how she doesn’t stop complaining.” Dave pointed a thumb at Penelope.

  “I do not!” She stomped her foot as the heat around them increased. She moved her hands from her hips, crossing her arms. “I am just bringing up my concerns! And possible issues!”

  Tommie stood up, now nearly two times Anthony’s height. There were still signs of battle on his armor. Smoke hissed out of his armor as the last connections were made.

  “You know how uncomfortable that is?” Dave complained, pointing at Tommie.

  “You know how terrifying it is riding you?” Tommie rebutted.

  “Just grow wings! Damien isn’t that scared!”

  “Well, I can’t die from a fall—annoying for the bones a bit, though,” Damien said.

  “Penelope, you take Damien to the smaller towns and villages. Damien, you use Guardian’s Judgement to clean them up. It won’t be thorough, but Guardian Flames will reach them in time. Then organize them to defend and attack the doorways—get them to create a binding contract with you.”

  Penelope transformed in a haze of red light, growing into her proud phoenix form. Dave increased in length, wrapping over himself within the small courtyard, his eyes as big as Anthony’s helmet.

  “I will go on Dave. I will drop down into the large cities and use my sword to leave Guardian Flame enchantments. Solomon!”

  A fog seeped from Anthony’s body and a pale man wearing a butler’s outfit appeared.

  “Master.” Solomon’s voice was deep. His face seemed rigid but there was mischief and mayhem in his eyes.

  “Have one of your doppelgangers with Damien, another with me. You and Bruce.” Green light lit up Bruce’s familiar tattoo; he seemed to grow from the ground. He wore his robes and held a thick staff marked from constant battles.

  “Solomon, move across the land; find the bandits and the criminals. Bruce, assist Tommie.” Anthony turned his eyes to the Gnominator. “You will need to incapacitate them. Use Guardian’s Judgement—send them to the villages and the cities with the Guardian Flames. They will train up with others to create United Army units, trained up by the Guardian judges.”

  Tommie nodded and then looked to Bruce. The two of them shared a look.

  “Let’s go.” Anthony jumped up. He landed on Dave’s back as he uncoiled. Dave grabbed Tommie and Bruce with his talons. Solomon dispersed into fog. A faint haze attached to Damien, Anthony, and Tommie’s shoulders; the rest of him spread out over the land, heading to the north.

  Penelope tilted her wing. Damien put his war hammer on his back and climbed up. With a screech that woke everyone in the village, she flapped her wings. Dust flew and flames appeared around her body, creating a fiery comet that appeared in the heavens.

  Dave let out a roar that shook the foundations of the village. He took off into the skies, Anthony riding atop as Tommie yelled underneath. They headed slightly west while Penelope and Dave went slightly east.

  ***

  “Group of bandits holed up in a small encampment in the hills.” Solomon’s voice whispered in Tommie’s ears.

  Dave got lower to the ground, shooting over the trees.

  Bruce expanded and looked to Tommie. “Feels good to put these old bones to work.” Bruce’s eyes shone.

  “See you in the north!” Anthony said from above.

  Damien cut into the wind, slowing their speed as he released Tommie and Bruce. They dropped, hitting the ground and rolling.

  Tommie rose up and shook the dirt off him, making sure everything worked.

  There was a golden flash followed by a boom as Dave and Anthony took off, heading for the nearest city.

  Tommie looked at Bruce, his blades swinging out of his arms and back in.

  “Let’s do this.” Solomon guided them forward.

  They reached camp, which was a series of tents that had been erected in the forest next to a small natural stream.

  Tommie didn’t care about being quiet; they needed speed. He ran into the camp. People yelled in alarm, not expecting a metal monster to appear in the middle of their camp.

  Tommie pulled on the Guardian power within his body. His eyes turned purple and a hammer appeared in his Gnominator’s hand.

  He smacked it down and a small courtroom appeared. Chains flew out from the courtroom, latching onto the people around. Bruce ran around outside, using his staff to stun and throw people back into the range of the courtroom.

  The strike happened too quickly for the bandits to realize what was going on.

  “You got this?” Tommie asked the court.

  “It will be a busy night for you,” the dwarf said.

  “At least I was able to nap ahead of time,” Tommie said.

  A few had a sliver of a smile on their faces.

  “Go. We will take care of this here,” the elemental said.

  Tommie nodded as he checked the compass inside the Gnominator and then started running off toward the north.

  “There is a caravan under attack—turn to your right,” Solomon said.

  Tommie and Bruce plowed through the forests, across the roads, moving faster than the beasts that lived in those places.

  Purple light appeared across the roads, plains, and forests as Tommie and Bruce followed Solomon’s guidance, purging the wildlands between the different safeholds.

  ***

  Dave disappeared and Anthony dropped from the sky. He slammed into the ground, creating a crater. People screamed out, running away, or looking over from their different rooms.

  The dust dissipated, showing Anthony with his sword in the ground. Purple flames appeared within his body and dove into the enchantment, speeding up its activation. A purple fire appeared at his feet and he jumped up into the sky. A courtroom appeared as the guards reached the square.

  Chains reached out and a barrier formed around the city, closing all inside.

  Golden wings appeared on Anthony’s back. He sped off toward the next target. Then he dove toward the ground, leaving a crater and a Guardian Flame behind before he shot off again.

  Purple flames appeared in cities, in camps and villages, as people talked of a golden knight with wings.

  ***

  The city guard looked up at the line of fire shooting across the skies.

  “Is that some kind of comet?” one of the guards asked.

  “Shouldn’t be—it’s too big,” an older guard said.

  “Is, is it getting bigger?” the first guard asked.

  “It—” The older guard narrowed his eyes at the fiery object and then they widened.

  As he was just about to yell out a warning, the fiery object banked to the side and something slammed into the middle of the small village.

  A purple courtroom appeared in the middle of the village.

  “Is that a bird?” The first guard was still focused on the fiery object that circled the village.

  The older guard turned to see. The second, younger guard grabbed him a
nd brought him to the ground.

  “Down!”

  He was about to yell at the younger guard when he felt the rush of air overhead.

  They got up, seeing a knight being carried away in the phoenix’s claws.

  The older guard got to his feet and a chain wrapped around him. He let out a yell as he was dragged from the wall. He appeared with a number of guards in front of the court.

  “All right, we don’t have much time for this, so, what crimes are you guilty of, and what criminal activity do you know of, or you think you know about?” a human made from purple light asked.

  “I once stole a pie from Miss Hodgkins up the road. It was smelling so good and I didn’t need it, but I was a young boy,” the older guard started to say. All of the guards spoke at once, the court quickly filled with noise.

  Chapter: Movements Unknown

  “What do you mean we’ve lost contact with the cities to the south? Have the camps been overrun?” General Fysher demanded from the man in front of him.

  “The camps are still there and manned, but the forces are saying that they are no longer capable of fighting the enemy. A number of them have been seen talking to the enemy and there are groups that are training in the middle of the line. We don’t know why,” the man said, subconsciously cringing.

  Fysher fought to regain control. The Church of Light had led their armies away, in the middle of the day yesterday, clear to all of the army and to the beast kin on the other side of the line. Morale was lower than ever and he could feel the beast kin were preparing. He didn’t know what for and he didn’t have any solid evidence, but if he were them, he would be preparing to attack his weakened and defenseless opponent.

  “What do we know?” Fysher asked.

  “There were some lights in the air last night. People said that something dropped out of the sky and then disappeared. Happened in different towns, villages, and cities. Afterward, we lost contact with a lot of them. There have been reports of odd happenings.”

  A new messenger ran up. “We have reports of some of the places having purple fires in close to the middle of their cities. Said that a man dropped out of the sky, stabbed the ground and then wings appeared on his back and he flew away.” The messenger read directly from the small scroll that had been attached to a familiar, panting between words.