Obi: "What's all this then?"
He nearly regretted the question after seeing Boldin’s wide obnoxious grin in return. And as expected, the dwarf triumphantly bragged.
Boldin: "My father ordered me to help you. But he never said I couldn't bring our kingdom’s greatest warriors, and he also didn't say I couldn't bring our finest example of Dwarven ingenuity.-" He said quite proud of himself before continuing, "-Even disassembled, she’s a beauty ain’t she?! Newest design I’m told, with amazing destructive capabilities, and also… very valuable!" As the dwarf looked over the machine, one could almost imagine the prince judging it by its immense weight in golden talents alone.
And with another loud burst of laughter, Boldin pointed out some crates in the back of another cart.
Boldin: "And he also didn't say we couldn't bring his finest rum! HAH!!" The obnoxious prince proudly said, having had the last laugh over his father.
After Boldin had finished saying this, another dwarf came up from behind him. The other dwarf had terribly messy, and overgrown hair, nearly covering his entire face. After noticing him, Boldin felt obliged to introduce his hairy companion.
Boldin: "Oh, I almost forgot! This ere’s my shaggy friend. His name is Sir Scruffa Delqa Stonebound. But let’s face it, that's a mouthful! So we just call him Scruff! You'll not find a better drinking partner, nor a more unreliable fellow in yer’ life!" Boldin laughed after saying this, but Scruff didn't seem to mind the sleight.
Rather, Scruff seemed to give only a slightly worried expression in return, which could only be discerned by his raised eyebrows, since his face was so heavily covered with his loose hair.
Clearly having something on his mind to share, Scruff started mumbling something incoherently to Boldin. Obi couldn’t help but look at the hairy dwarf in confusion, curious if anyone could possibly understand what he was trying to say. Turns out Boldin did. In fact, the prince seemed to be the only one around who could fully understand the incoherent muffled speech coming from Scruff.
The Dwarven prince then replied to the hairy dwarf’s apparent concerns, now worried himself as he said.
Boldin: "Oh bollocks! Yer’ right! We’ve got to get a move on before my father finds out!" The dwarf said in fear.
Surprised by his reaction, but too worried to be bother asking for details, Obi pretended he didn’t hear the prince getting so flustered. And making an excuse for the lot of them to escape a rather unpleasant situation, Boldin spoke with conviction to the group as a whole.
Boldin: "Well come on than! Let's get a move on! If my father knows I took his prototype weapon, and his vintage collection of rum, he won't stand for it! And there may be another thing or two that I didn’t mention, but that’s neither ere’ nor there!" Thinking on it for a bit longer, Boldin panicked before speaking to Obi.
Boldin: "If he finds out, I'd probably be sentenced to aid you alone!-“ He said aghast, and dreading further, “-Ugh, just thinking about it upsets me!" The obnoxious dwarf prince said in complete sincerity, oblivious to how insulting he was, which was the least of Obi’s concerns, as the prospect terrified him even more so.
Looking distant after thinking of this terrible possibility, Obi looked relieved as he came to a certain conclusion before responding wholeheartedly to Boldin.
Obi: "No, wait… I'm positive I'd just leave you here." He said stone faced, before quickly starting to make his way out the massive front doors of the kingdom.
Confused and upset, the Dwarven prince angrily asked the bald human back.
Boldin: "What the blazes is that supposed to mean?!" His voice trailed off after noticing Obi deliberately ignoring him.
As Boldin brought his mount besides Obi, the dwarf then spoke in a loud sarcastic tone.
Boldin: "Oh ho ho… I can tell we're going to become good friends, the best of friends, and have loads of fun together!"
Obi just rolled his eyes after that comment, and did his best to void eye contact. Just outside the kingdom’s doors, the two waited for the other dwarves to catch up before saying to them on their approached.
Obi: "We make our way to the eastern temple of the Order. There’s only one thing that we’ll need, and it's the one thing that we're short on, time… We can’t spend it dawdling around, we have to move quickly!" Boldin just shook his head disapprovingly, still sour at Obi's earlier comment, and now that he’s acting like he was in charge.
Letting it go for the time being, Boldin decided to follow shortly behind the bald human’s lead, accompanied by his Dwarven companions.
CHAPTER 52 – INDIFFERENCE
After several days of marching alongside his army, Theo crossed the mountains of the Great Divide. Throughout his venture forward, he continually found himself in unfamiliar lands, all of which, were now under the control of the empire. Rocky and arid, it was a stark contrast to the lush green landscapes he’d become so acquainted to.
Led by Raddington, the army of the West had been traveling over a wide dirt road. The Aelaan forces were at their front, far ahead of their own. Just the thought of this unsteady truce would’ve been something that Theo would’ve never dreamt could ever occur, but as fate would have it, this was his reality.
A few days earlier on their way east, Theo’s army passed by the scorched ruins of Kings Height. At the time, the sight of it gave him a sour taste in his mouth, but that was not the end of the unsavory reminders of what the Aelaans were capable of.
────────
As they continued their arduous walk for days, they now found themselves in former territory of the Toride clan. The only hint of the former civilization in these lands was the desecrated remains of cities, and villages. All that once stood of the Toride clan was now nothing more than ash and dust. Even the remnants of the once great clan’s cities, and villages they passed by were only discernable by their known locations in the world, and the fleeting memory of those who walked by to bear witness to their ruins.
In their travels after coming across this sight, Raddington was visually disheartened when he spoke to Theo.
Raddington: “You may have not been around for all of it, but it was more than thirty years when the Toride clan first requested aid from the nations of the west… Days became months, and months became years, with no answer. There pleas were ignored, even as the Aelaans cut down every last man, woman, and child left of their civilization, but still no aid ever came...”
Stopping for a moment as the thought seemed to churn his stomach, the general continued.
Raddington: “If the West, and the Toride clan had joined forces to fight off the Aelaans, things wouldn’t have gone this far. We would never have found ourselves in the similar situation of losing our own cities, towns, villages, and innocent lives.-” Getting even more upset at the thought, Raddington continued saying, “-Out of fear of the Aelaans, the West did nothing. Thinking they could appease evil, they allowed it time to thrive and grow to a power beyond what they could contain.” Looking at Theo to make sure he had his undivided attention, he continued saying.
Raddington: “From this mistake from the nations of the West, I learned a valuable lesson on the nature of fear… What I learned is; that we should not fear the schemes of those who would seek to do evil, but rather, we should fear is the indifference of good men who stand by, and do nothing.” Listening to the general’s words, Theo found himself unable to respond, especially after seeing the remains of this cities himself.
From atop his horse, Raddington noticed something up ahead, and pointed it out to his champion.
Raddington: "I think I have some dust caught in my eye. Can you make out what that is just ahead?" The old proud general casually lied to get assistance.
After hearing him say this, Theo peered more intently at a group of objects lined up beside the road, which were in between them and the Aelaan army ahead. After catching only a glimpse, Theo’s face grew pale.
Theo: "I'm going up ahead to get a closer look." He said with grav
e concern.
Surprised that his champion seemed so uncharacteristically worried, Raddington just gave him a quick nod in acknowledgement to go on ahead. Theo didn't waste a second, as he bolted on ahead of his army to investigate.
After having run a few hundred yards in front of his forces to see the objects up close, it was to Theo’s dismay that his suspicions of their true nature were confirmed. Waiting for the army behind him to catch up, Theo just knelt down in remorse in the fact that he was helpless to prevent what transpired.
When Raddington and the rest of the West’s army finally caught up to Theo, it was apparent that the sight of the objects unnerved them all.
Disgusted, Raddington ordered the army to stop just short of reaching Theo. Riding his horse up to where Theo was, the general looked up with a mixture of sadness, and burning anger at one of the objects.
Before them was one of many men and women, killed, and strung up. All of them, recently and deliberately placed alongside the road they traveled. The work of a twisted mind. It was none other than Razkaul’s personal way of greeting the Free Peoples’ of the West’s army into his Empire’s so called sacred lands.
With contempt, Raddington spoke in a dismayed voice.
Raddington: "Just to send us a message, they'd go this far?! Was it not enough to have enslaved these poor folk!?!... Monsters!! What kind of deprived soul could be responsible for something like this?!" Looking back towards Raddington, Theo was able to answer with assurance.
Theo: "There's only one person I know of who's capable of this.-“ He inadvertently trailed off before continuing, “-With a man like him being their chosen, we should prepare for the worst." After hearing his opinion on the matter, the general stated firmly back.
Raddington: "I know full well not to trust the Aelaans! And I don't like the idea of working with them anymore than you do, but our situation isn't any worse than what it was just a few days ago. But still...-“ He paused after taking in the sight a little longer, and saying, “-This… This is a sobering reminder of what our hosts are truly capable of."
Having seen this display before them for long enough, Raddington looked back at his men, and ordered of them aloud.
Raddington: "I want these poor souls cut down, and buried properly! If the Aelaans get upset we're slowing them down, then tough shit!! Those bastards will just have to wait!"
His words would find absolutely no disagreement among the entirety of his men, who wholeheartedly followed through on his order.
Keeping true to his word, Raddington kept the Aelaans waiting while they did their work. And after having buried those they encountered on the side of the road, the army of the Free Peoples of the West continued walking for three more days, when they had yet another unexpected encounter.
────────
Just in front of their army, and off to the side of the road in the open plains, was a small band approaching them. It was Obi, accompanied by eleven dwarves riding their strange hairy creatures. As the army continued on their way, they crossed paths with this small band.
Considering it best not to pry, Theo couldn't help but notice that Obi looked completely drained, possibly because the company he had kept for the past few days. Before Theo could say his greetings, the general joked aloud to Obi.
Raddington: "I'm impressed! You brought back eleven more dwarves than I would've expected. Well down sir!" With just as a mischievous grin, Obi replied back.
Obi: "Actually, I only brought back ten with me. That one there doesn't count!" He said while rudely pointing out the Dwarven prince specifically.
That comment really riled up Boldin, who frustratingly exclaimed back.
Boldin: "The lot of you have no respect! No respect! Me and kin here are easily worth hundreds of ye’ scrawny humans! And besides...-" And having his hand atop of his puffed out chest, in an attempt to try and act dignified and important, Boldin stated, "-You are in the presence of Dwarven royalty! You should be showing some proper regard when speaking to me!"
Boldin’s claim didn't seem to impress anyone in particular, as Scruff excitedly mumbled something incoherent but loudly, which made Boldin burst into laughter.
Boldin: "You're right there, buddy! They have no idea!" Strangely enough from Raddington’s point of view, not being able to understand the insult from the hairy dwarf only seemed to make whatever it was sting that much worse.
The general just shrugged before confessing his true feeling on the matter to the dwarves.
Raddington: "Don’t get me wrong, we appreciate your support. Even if there's only eleven of you…-“ He cringed before pulling himself back to say further, “-I was just hoping that Falren would’ve taken this threat more seriously." And finding himself outright grumbling, he then said further.
Raddington: “Just try not to upset the Aelaans if you can. As it is, they're not the most welcoming of people. I’m sure they’re looking for a reason to start a fight." Boldin was slightly annoyed at the general feeling the need to even give him a warning.
The general then ordered his army to continue their march forward. And when Raddington was well ahead of the group, Boldin said to his Dwarven companions.
Boldin: "What's all this then?! This is the welcome we get? And they say Dwarven hospitality is terrible!? Bah!!" And shortly after Boldin said this, Almahiel approached him.
With her entourage of guards behind her, but far enough to alleviate the others from their threatening appearance, the princess then sincerely spoke to the dwarfs.
Almahiel: "My apologies, prince Boldin. Do not mind Auric, he has a lot weighing on his mind at the moment. On behalf of everyone here, I sincerely welcome you, along with your kin to our company. I know your aid will be most valuable." The stout prince proudly acknowledged the praise with a cocky grin.
After calming down the short tempered dwarf, the princess pointed out the cart with the disassembled weapon, as she said.
Almahiel: "I see you’ve brought something of great worth with you." Boldin looked to his prized weapon, and back to the elf suspiciously.
Fully expecting that she wanted to request something of him, Boldin now looked at the princess with a hint of annoyance. To which, Almahiel looked directly back into Boldin’s eyes, as she confidently said to him.
Almahiel: "Before we are done here, I'm sure you will have earned your father’s respect…-“ Seeing the confusion on his face, the princess continued, ‘-Even if you took his wine, and his newly crafted weapon of war with you." The princess uncharacteristically teased.
But the elf seemed to know far too much for the dwarves comfort, as they all looked speechlessly back at her. All of them were stunned for a moment, as they cautiously watched the elven princess leave them to continue on with her business. And after seeing Almahiel had left, the Dwarven prince spoke to his fellow kin.
Boldin: "How did she?! Who could of?!-" And he was surprised even further after finding out what happened, as he said, "-Ugh! So it’s true… That's unsettling. Well boys, it looks like elves really can use this so called magic after all.” And giving it a seconds thought, looking rather nervous, Boldin glanced back at his companions.
Boldin: "Try to keep any dirty thoughts to yerselves boys. We don't want any elves to be using their magic to find something they could use against ya." And with that comment, all the dwarves went wide eyed after considering his warning.
And after seeing the ridiculous display from the dwarves, Theo forced himself to hold back a laugh. Not long after their unusual encounter, the dwarves settled into their group before continuing on with their journey ahead.
CHAPTER 53 – UNYIELDING
In one of the more desolate region of the Ehya, Ira traveled alone. He was on a solitary march heading towards the Far East.
The influence of the Darkness had visibly taking its toll on him. The appearance of Ira’s eyes had changed, now unnaturally blackened with only a small spark of light remaining at its center. Even the unnatural change paled in c
omparison to his newly acquired haggard appearance of a broken man.
One thing was left to sate the void of his innermost desires, his thirst for vengeance had not yet been quenched. With this last chance at respite fueling him on, Ira had all but been consumed by his inner rage.
Like a shadow never leaving his side, the Darkness hovered over him. Unknowing to Ira’s notice, it lingered beside him. With its sinister grin, the fiend continued whispering into his ears, egging on his grief, hatred, and desire for bloodshed.
With a cold lifeless demeanor, Ira continued his long walk forward, as he despairingly spoke to himself.
Ira: "How much do I have to suffer before the end?...” And as if to distract himself, he continued saying in anger.
Ira: “The Aelaans started this, but I'm going to be the one to finish it! I set out to claim power to put an end to them, and I'll be damned if I don’t see it through! I’ll have my vengeance! If not for them, I would've never lost my family! I would've never left my homeland, and…" He paused for a moment in silent grief.
The anguishing thoughts raced through his mind, lingering, as if to keep a firm grip on Ira to keep him in despair.
Ira: “How many have died because of them?...” The Darkness held back its laughter after hearing the young man’s cries of torments, as it leaned in further to offer more poisonous thoughts to consider.
Ira: "It's because of them I'm alone… It's because of the Aelaans that I’ve lost everything!" After Ira had said these words, the Darkness behind him let out a painful groan as it started to dissipate into thin air.
Taking notice, Ira looked back to see that a hand, illuminated in a white light, had pierced through the foul entity’s bodily form. The light shined through the darkness, and the darkness could not overcome it. After making its way through the shadowy fiend, what was left of the Beast of legend was momentarily gone, before the illuminated hand rested itself gently onto Ira's shoulder.
The Shadow of Death Page 40