The Hero of Legend

by Demethius Jackson

  Upon witnessing the flash, the forces of the Realmsic Army began fighting even more furiously, for they too knew what this was. The lightning stretched like a beam across the sky, signaling Kelm’s call for his evacuation.

  But … I can’t leave my men.

  He spun around, surrounded by carnage and the fury of the struggle. They fought valiantly and died readily for their kingdom, for their families, for him. These men were his family. No greater honor would there be other than to perish, here, with these men. Maebus back-stepped from the lightning. He wanted nothing to do with it. He would not leave his men. He could not.

  “Kkkkkkkgggg Mmmmbbbbssss.” The sound was faint and distant. It grew louder…

  “MMMMaaaabbbbuuussss!”

  Maebus shuddered as something grabbed him. He pivoted sharply, squeezing the hot handle of his sword, ready to engage, ready to end it all. The distorted image before him came into focus.

  It was a face … a familiar face … one of his men … Yes!

  It was Captain Derwun, the officer he spoke with earlier this very day. The features of Derwun’s face twisted and contorted as he screamed at the top of his lungs.

  “KING MAEBUS!”

  Maebus snapped out of his battlefield trance. The fog of his mind cleared.

  “Quickly! You have to go,” the Captain urged.

  “But … my … men …” Maebus shouted.

  The beam of lightning grew stronger, and the wind began blowing harder. The Captain shielded his face from the dust that blew into his eyes.

  “My instructions are to remind you that you also must accept the impossible!”

  “I did not instruct you,” Maebus argued.

  “No sir, you didn’t. My instructions came from the Realmsic Advisor.”

  Maebus lifted his head towards the beam, squinting as the dust clinked against his helmet and stung his face. Kelm and Khroy were waiting for him. His heart pounded heavily as he realized the inevitable defeat he feared had now arrived.

  “Sire,” Captain Derwun screamed over the wind and the clashing of steel. “We believe in you. Go! We will continue to fight until we know that you are safe. And, as you’ve ordered, we will disband.”

  From Maebus’ leather belt pocket, he removed the metal object Kelm had given him during their last conversation. The Grand Wizard created it himself and called it an extractor. Maebus extended his arm and pointed the object toward the sky. Nodding his acceptance to the Captain, he pressed a button on the side of the device. Instantly, a vast beam of lightning shot from where he stood into the sky. Within seconds, it connected to the previous beam.

  In midair, the two beams became one, whipping Maebus right off his feet and into the air.

  “Whoooahhh!” he yelled, holding on to the device handle for dear life.

  Peering down at the battle and the thousands of heads beneath him, he soared through the atmosphere. Maebus was terrified. His feet dangled as the beam carried him further. He squeezed his sweaty palms as tightly as he could, praying not to lose his grip. In the distance, upon a steep hill, stood an animal he’d never seen before. It appeared to be a silver panther. Standing beside it was a man. Even from this distance, he knew who it was. The man on the cliff stepped forward, staring at Maebus. Though distance separated them, King Maebus and the Warlord Damian locked gazes for the first time. The figure of Damian grew smaller and smaller as the lightning beam carried Maebus away. Halfway across the castle’s highest command tower, just skimming its peak, Maebus saw the silver panther and several men bound off the hill.

  Undoubtedly, they were coming for him.

  Chapter Ten

  Over the castle’s towers, Maebus plummeted to Earth. His stomach nearly retreated into his chest from the momentum of his free fall. Appearing as specks on the ground, Kelm and Khroy stood stiffly within the Centre Forest below. Kelm clutched the second extractor, whose beam seemed to be pulling Maebus in. As the forest rushed towards him, Maebus closed his eyes against the onslaught to his equilibrium until, finally, his feet touched the ground. Instinctively, Maebus laid upon his back, taking deep slow breaths to quell his nausea. When he could comfortably open his eyes, he sat up and scanned his surroundings. Within seconds, he appeared to have hurtled through the sky at least a mile from the battle.

  “Maebus!” Kelm bellowed running towards him. “Did you see him? Did you see the Warlord?” The Wizard’s features were pinched with anxiety.

  Maebus placed his extractor back into his pocket. “Only from a distance,” he replied. He then extended a hand to Kelm. With a heavy groan, the Wizard pulled Maebus to his feet.

  “Damian’s men won’t be far behind us. We’ll need to hurry if we’re to make it to the passageway,” Kelm said.

  “They’re already en route,” Maebus confirmed. “From the air, I saw them take off.”

  “Then we should take off,” Khroy stated, pulling the reins of three new horses he had brought from the castle stables.

  Kelm handed Maebus a long robe, similar to those he and Khroy were wearing. “We’ll need to travel inconspicuously. Put this on over your armor for now,” he instructed.

  Maebus removed his helmet and quickly slipped on the baggy apparel.

  “Good,” Kelm said, inspecting the outfit. “We should be able to pass as simple travelers now.”

  Khroy gave the reins of two chestnut mares to him and Kelm. Maebus’ steed was nearly twice the size of Nightly, with powerful muscles, fiery eyes, and long muscles. Her sides heaved with deep breaths.

  He swore his horse growled as he tried to greet it. “And these are from the castle?” Maebus asked.

  “These are the fastest horses in the kingdom,” the Commander replied.

  “Being that we are here now, I take it things have gone according to plan?” Maebus asked.

  “Indeed. The council has fled south. I gave them what you asked of me,” Khroy responded.

  “And the Realmsic Crystal, did you secure it?” Maebus’ stomach clenched as he awaited Kelm’s answer.

  “I did!” he replied, proudly patting his chest. “So far, your plan is working. All have been successfully extracted and, once we arrive at the passageway, I will signal for the army to disperse.”

  “How greatly we underestimated this enemy.” Maebus shook his head. “Even with all of our preparation, a strategic retreat was ultimately our only viable option.”

  Neither Khroy nor Kelm responded. Silently, they mounted their horses. The chestnut mare whinnied at the sound of faint rustling in the bushes behind them.

  “What was that?” Kelm asked scanning the tree line.

  “Trouble,” Khroy instantly stated.

  A silver panther leaped towards them like a vicious monster. Withdrawing his weapon, Khroy jumped from his horse. Instinctively, he swiped at the creature with his sword. Maebus and Kelm tried to regain control of their startled horses. The panther dodged Khroy’s blow, scattering dirt into the air as it slid to a stop. The panther’s solid yellow eyes trained upon Khroy. Its razor claws dug into the ground. A thunderous growl rumbled from its muscular throat as it assumed an attack stance with its back arched, baring its sharp teeth.

  “We can take this beast!” Khroy boomed.

  At that moment, a trio of Legionaries emerged from the tall bushes behind the panther. Their eyes were as deadly as the beast’s. With sweaty faces, and hands tightly brandishing blood-stained swords, they targeted Khroy like hawks circling prey.

  Kelm discharged a blast from his hands that knocked one of the Legionaries flat on his back. Khroy swung at another soldier. “Get out of here!” he yelled to Maebus and Kelm. “I’ll hold them off.”

  “We’re not leaving you!” Maebus retorted.

  “I’ll be right behind you.”

  “No!” Maebus shouted, riding over to him.

  “Go!” Khroy smacked the horse’s flank before Maebus could fully dismount. Maebus barely had time to regain his grip as his horse bolted. Maebus whipped wildly from side to
side as the horse accelerated through the woods.

  “Hang on!” he heard Kelm’s voice shouting from behind. A glimpse back is all Maebus could steal without falling off. The silver panther had leapt in pursuit, Kelm trailed further behind, but Khroy could not be seen.

  Galloping through the woods at breakneck speed, Maebus struggled to maintain his balance on the powerful steed. To Khroy’s credit, it was indeed faster than any he’d ever ridden. He heard Kelm frantically whipping the reins of his own horse, trying to catch up. From the corner of Maebus’ eye, he saw Kelm align just slightly to his right.

  “Maebus, hold on!” the Wizard yelled.

  “What do you think I’m doing?”

  “Look out!” Kelm shouted.

  A low-hanging branch appeared in their path like a stationary cudgel. They ducked. Losing his grip, Maebus slipped from the saddle. Gripping the reins with one hand, his feet dangled, scrapping trails of dust from the ground. Maebus kicked frenziedly, trying to get his foot back into the stirrup. Kelm rode up beside him.

  “This horse is too fast,” Maebus yelled to Kelm.

  Holding up his hand, which glowed with a luminous green light, Kelm stirred the air.

  “Up!” Kelm commanded. An invisible force pushed Maebus upright. Immediately, Maebus gripped the reins with both hands.

  “Thanks!” he said.

  Glancing behind, Maebus spotted the panther gaining momentum. Its vigorous limbs propelled the beast like an archer’s arrow. Even as they increased their speed, the silver panther nipped dangerously at their heels.

  In one bounding stride, it pounced to a high branch.

  “Kelm, he’s going up!” Maebus warned.

  “I see him.”

  Just as the panther sprang forward, Kelm produced a flash that stunned the beast. Temporarily blinded, it smacked into the trunk of a large tree.

  “He’s down!” Kelm rejoiced.

  “Not quite,” Maebus called out. Looking back, his head violently jerked from the steed’s booming strides. But through his blurred vision of trees, he saw the beast hastily recover and resume pursuit.

  Kelm fired several more blasts, but the panther appeared ever more agile and streaked around each shot. Bounding forward, it sprang past Kelm.

  “He’s on your tail!” Kelm bellowed. His voice was tight with anxiety.

  “I lost him! Where did he go?” Maebus darted his gaze from one side to the other, discovering the beast only a few feet from his horse.

  “I see him!”

  Reaching under his robe, Maebus pulled the extractor from his leather belt pocket. Holding the reins as tightly as he could with one hand, he aimed the device and fired a stream of lightning. His hand hurt from the force of the projectile, which shot inches past the panther and struck a towering tree.

  “Kelm, look out!” Maebus shouted, still looking back.

  With the trunk severely damaged by the extractor blast, it began falling towards them. Kelm nestled down into the neck of his horse, galloping faster. At full speed, he overtook the silver panther. An enormous shadow loomed over their heads. Impact was imminent.

  “This will be close!” Kelm yelled, drawing out the final word like a wail.

  “Hurry!” Maebus called.

  The towering tree thudded into the panther as it hit the ground, producing a colossal storm of branches and leaves. Maebus and Kelm narrowly escaped the tree’s impact.

  Maebus shot a look over his shoulder as the animal clawed its way from the tangle of branches. But it was too late. They were too far from its taloned reach. Breathing a sigh of relief, Maebus glanced to Kelm as they sped from the grove, trying to get as far away from the panther as possible.

  A half hour later, they were but a short distance away from the secured passage that would take them to the mountainous Northern Lands. But once there, they hoped to stay secluded in order to reassess the war and re-strategize.

  The array of trees thickened as Maebus and Kelm rode deeper into the Centre Forest. Unsure of who they might encounter, they stayed clear of the main path. Maebus pulled back on the reins to slow his horse. Kelm slowed also, when he noticed that Maebus was farther behind him.

  “Are you okay?” Kelm asked.

  “I just need a drink of water.” Maebus replied, reaching for a canteen that was tied to his saddle. He felt the first cool sip awaken his body as if from sleep. Continuing to drink, he observed his surroundings. The sounds of battle could no longer be heard, and the breeze that refreshed his face smelled only of pine and contained no aroma of burnt flesh or smoke. He leaned slightly over his saddle to share his canteen with Kelm. The Wizard took a long, thirsty sip.

  Wiping his mouth, Kelm asked, “So what’s the next part of your plan?” He passed the canteen back to Maebus.

  “I’m working on it,” Maebus smiled.

  Riding along the overgrown verge of woods, they continually inspected their surroundings, half-anticipating another ambush. But none came.

  “I think we’re in the clear now,” Kelm said.

  Maebus scanned the oak and pine trees near them. Although unfamiliar with their current location, he agreed that for now, they were safe.

  “Are you going to send the signal?” Maebus asked.

  “Yes, right now. We’re about an hour from the passage and the Realmsic Army need fight no longer than they have to.”

  The Wizard stopped his horse and pulled the extractor from his pocket.

  “My greatest invention yet,” he chuckled. “It runs on root magic.”

  Maebus raised an eyebrow.

  “Perhaps you missed that class?” Kelm continued. “It’s a powerful type of energy that attracts anything similar to its own type. As with all magic, it exists naturally within the Realm, and these devices allow the root magic to be … configured, to only attach to an identical source. That way, two or more devices can be paired.”

  “And the force is surprisingly powerful, enough to lift a body of my size, even dressed in full battle armament,” Maebus added.

  “Right. However, if you adjust this knob…” Kelm thumbed the device, struggling to keep his horse steady in one place, “…you can overcharge the energy to a stable but explosive level.”

  Pointing the device skyward, he pressed a button. Instantly, a short, quick burst of lightning sprang forward. Together, he and Maebus watched the lightning disappear into the clouds.

  “The troops will know what to do when they see it,” he said.

  Maebus nodded. “Lets get going, I’ll follow you.”

  After one more hour of trekking through the woods, Kelm and Maebus arrived at an empty field in the middle of the Centre Forest.

  “We’re here,” Kelm said.

  “We’re where?” Maebus asked, looking for an entrance of some sort.

  “The passageway,” Kelm responded.

  With a wave of his hand, the ground opened before them, revealing a hidden underground tunnel.

  “Amazing!” Maebus exclaimed.

  “Didn’t you know?”

  “No. I’ve always heard there were no roads leading to the Northern Lands, except for this secret passageway, but I’d never actually seen it before. I assumed it was a well hidden path in the forest…”

  “Well, technically, it is a well hidden path in the forest,” Kelm added. “Its description has always been purposely deceptive. Only a few Realmsic officials know it to be a tunnel.”

  “And how do you know about it?” Maebus asked.

  “After I became Realmsic Advisor, my mom told me.”

  As Kelm entered, Maebus hesitated.

  “What’s the matter?” Kelm asked.

  Maebus’ eyes lowered. “Kelm, we need to wait for Commander Khroy.”

  Kelm bit his lip. “Maebus…” he began, but was quickly interrupted.

  “He said he’d be right behind us. He was only buying us time to escape.”

  “Okay. We can wait. But we can only afford a moment.”

  They waited in sile
nce. For what seemed like an eternity, they remained at the entrance. But nobody came.

  Kelm put a comforting hand upon Maebus’ shoulder. “Brother,” he said softly. “We must go.”

  Tears burned behind Maebus’ eyes as he remembered a poem from his youth:

  From what we’ve endured, many hold the belief,

  that power can sometimes be found within grief.

  Even within the most desperate of times,

  faith can help break the most tightest of binds!

  Somberly, Maebus grabbed his water canteen and their small bag of food from his horse’s saddle. He and Kelm then released the steeds into the wilderness, and entered the passageway. Behind them, the entrance sealed itself like a tomb.

  Chapter Eleven

  A feeling of pure elation surged through Damian as he paraded across the land bridge and through the main gates of the Realmsic Castle. The smoke-filled, hazy sky shone above him like a painting commemorating his victory. Once through the entrance, Damian stood triumphantly within the grand foyer.

  He scanned his new domain. The décor was everything he imagined it would be. Stained, abraded stone columns aligned the length of the rectangular room. Sparkling crystal chandeliers hung from the towering ceiling. The velvet curtains draping its four corners were hundreds of years old. Massive paintings of former Realmsic Kings and Queens were arranged upon the walls like memorials. The long carpet runner beneath his feet was the color of blood. Stretching the length of the grand foyer, it appeared to connect the entrances of other corridors. Being the first conqueror to ever set foot within this structure was a dream come true. Damian took it all in, savoring his victory as he walked forward. His men began filing in through the entrance.

  “Find whoever remains of the staff,” Damian ordered. His men snapped into action.

  He explored the hollow main corridor alone, admiring architecture that detailed two millennia of history. Hand-chiseled royal symbols had been carved into every inch of its high ceiling. Upon the walls beneath it, paintings of historic battles stretched seamlessly along both sides. Damian glided his hand smoothly across a painting’s surface as if physically connecting to the past. A sudden scream broke his concentration. The castle’s staff had already been found.