Damian’s voice reverberated through the chamber. Now was the time.
“It was with that notion that I sent a small, but effective, exploratory team into the Uncharted Lands.”
A collective gasp filled the room, followed by a cacophony of chatter. Damian could only imagine what they were thinking: An exploratory team? To the Uncharted Lands? Was this real? Was he serious?
Damian held up a calming yet forceful hand. “Now, now. I’m sure many of you may think me mad, for I know of the rumors associated with the Uncharted Lands. They are as ingrained in our minds as Realmsic culture itself. But I assure you that in regards to the unknown world, I have no fear! General Thane has no fear! And you have already proven to be a Legion of Warriors that fights without fear!
“To those enemies that may reside beyond our border, we will identify them, and we will secretly infiltrate them. From within, we will weaken their defenses. As they crumble, we will send the totality of our forces and crush them! We will then take their resources, seize their weapons and conquer the next enemy, and then the next, and then the next! We will continue as such until all enemies within the Uncharted Lands have been destroyed! We will be the most…”
BAAAAAM!!!
The chamber doors blew open, interrupting the Warlord’s rally. A surge of anger filled Damian’s mind as a young foot soldier ran toward the congregation. One piercing glance from Damian stopped the young man in his tracks. The Warlord, in typical fashion, swallowed his anger and smiled at the soldier.
“May I help you?” Damian asked
The soldier struggled to catch his breath. “M-my apologies, great leader. I meant to intrude, I mean … I meant no intrusion!”
“Yet here we are,” Damian said with a forced smiled. “What is so urgent that you would interrupt a war meeting between myself and the Legion’s highest officers?”
The soldier began trembling.
“Speak!” Damian demanded.
“M-my Lord, I’m so sorry. But a large army has been spotted several miles away, marching in our direction.”
“Really?” General Thane snapped to attention.
Damian took a single step towards the young soldier. “Is that so?” he asked.
“Yes, my Lordship. We think they are coming to attack us.”
Chapter Fifty-Five
Damian gave no reaction to the news of an approaching army. He knew it could only be one person.
“King Maebus,” he said.
Since Maebus’ escape, Damian knew his return was inevitable. But he didn’t think it would be so soon. Damian, admittedly, was caught by surprise.
“Soldier, how far away are the incoming troops?”
“They’ve already penetrated the boundaries of Centre Pointe. Our scouts have them less than two miles away.”
“So be it,” Damian said. With a pivot of his heels, he turned to face his Generals, all of whom—despite their gruff, hardened demeanors—were gazing anxiously at him. “We will continue our conversation at a later date,” Damian said with a smile, almost jokingly. “Officers, take command of your units and ready your arms. Meet the enemy upon the field of battle and crush them once and for all!”
“Aye, sir!” They shouted in unison, immediately springing from their seats and leaping into action. Damian heard General Thane approach from behind.
“Where do you want me?” Thane asked.
“Did you not hear me?” Damian replied without turning around. “On the field of battle. Go!”
“Have mercy on the enemy who encounters me,” Thane said.
“I don’t believe in mercy,” Damian replied. He leaned against the council table, listening as Thane stormed from the Great Hall.
• • • • •
Seku had just arrived at his tent within the main Legionarie encampment when he first received news of the attacking army. All around him, his comrades were frantic. He observed them yelling at one another, barking orders and insults. They clumsily grabbed weapons, while others could barely find all the pieces to their uniforms.
“Is this really happening?” Seku asked himself.
He’d never seen his comrades so disorganized, and he imagined this same frenzy was occurring throughout every one of Damian’s encampments around Centre Pointe. With the recently increased security and patrols, he couldn’t understand how the Legion allowed themselves to be caught by surprise. Perhaps it was due to the initial target only being King Maebus and not the entire Realmsic Army? Or maybe it was due to the secret war meeting called between Damian and his Generals? Usually the soldiers were known to slack off when their Commanders where not around. He figured the war meeting had proved more of a distraction than good…
Distraction! Seku’s neck twitched as a thought hit his mind.
With the Legion stumbling to arms, perhaps this was the perfect opportunity to make his move. But was this really it? Was he really going to leave? In his mind, he played back all of the events that led to this moment—the lies, the deceptions, the torture.
“Yes!” Seku decided. The time had come to flee. It was now or never.
“I need to get to Igthu!” Seku told himself as he grabbed his belongings. Another thought occurred to him and he stopped. “I need to get to Reeze in the infirmary first, and then I’ll get to Igthu,” he said. Since their last conversation in the mess hall, Reeze was as committed to leaving as Seku was himself. They had created a bond, and he couldn’t abandon him.
Stuffing his clothes and some rations into a carrying sack, Seku bounded from his tent, and ran through the encampment toward the Realmsic Castle. Juking and dodging his frantic comrades as they prepared for battle, Seku blended into the chaos perfectly as he headed down to the infirmary, located in the castle’s lower level next to the dungeon area. Once there, it didn’t take long to find Reeze, who stood guard outside the infirmary.
Reeze seemed surprised to see Seku appearing from around the corner.
“Reeze!” Seku began, still panting from his run.
Reeze held up a palm to halt Seku. “Don’t bother, I know why you’re here,” he responded.
“Oh really?” Seku asked.
Reeze crossed his arms across his thick chest. “I can see the urgency in your eyes.”
Seku stared blankly. “Okay then. Let’s go now.”
“You mean right now?” Reeze exclaimed.
“Of course right now!” Seku snapped. “The Realmsic Army is nearly here, and the troops are frantically preparing to engage. What better now is there?” Seku pointed his head in the direction of the stairs. “Come on, let’s go!”
“Seku, I can’t.” Reeze said flatly.
Seku’s eyes grew wide as he hovered in front of his comrade. “What do you mean, you can’t? Reeze, seriously. Don’t play with me.”
Reeze pumped up his chest as he spoke. “I’m not playin’ with you. It’s like I said. I can’t leave just yet.”
“I don’t understand,” Seku’s neck heated with fury. “Have we not talked about this at length? Have I not declared that we would need to move quickly? Did you not say you wanted to be a part of this!?!”
He grabbed the young soldier by his uniform collar and slammed his back against the infirmary wall.
Reeze chuckled slightly as he reassuringly patted Seku on his arm. “No, no, I ain’t backin’ out of the agreement,” he replied, trying to calm Seku down.
“Then what is it?”
“It’s just … see, I mentioned before that there are others who feel the same as you and me, and when I told them about what we were plannin’ to do, they—”
“You WHAT?” Seku shouted “You told people about our plan?” He banged the soldier’s back into the wall again, nearly knocking the wind from his chest. He then glanced from side to side, making sure they weren’t overheard.
“Ha, ha, ha, relax tough guy,” Reeze chuckled while trying to catch his breath. “This is a good thing I did. Besides, you told people too! What about that kid you’re always talk
in’ ‘bout?”
“You mean Igthu? Of course I told him! I told you he was like my son!” Seku tried to control his rage and restrain his voice to a whisper.
Reeze pushed Seku’s hands from off him. “Well, these other people are just like family to me, and I can’t abandon them.”
Seku was beyond incensed. “You’re walking a thin line, soldier. How many people are we talking about?”
Reeze paused.
“How many!” Seku demanded.
“Only a couple, I swear!”
“Fine!” Seku said. “Get your people and meet me on top of that hill on the east side of the castle. You’ve got thirty minutes. If you’re not there by the time I arrive, I swear to you, you’re on your own! Do you get me?”
“I get you,” Reeze replied.
“No! Do you get me?” Seku pressed his long, narrow finger into the young soldier’s chest armor.
“Yes sir, I get you!” Reeze’s eyes were filled with conviction.
“Then go. Now!” Seku barked as Reeze darted from the infirmary.
Once alone, Seku leaned against the wall and cupped his face in both his palms. “What am I getting myself into?” he sighed. The answer however, would have to wait, for he needed to find Igthu. Fortunately, he knew exactly where he’d be—doing evening patrols in the dungeon. A soldier’s duty was his duty, injured or not.
“Good thing I’m already down here,” Seku said before pulling himself together and walking off.
Chapter Fifty-Six
All of the Legionarie sentries snapped to attention as Damian stepped onto the command tower balcony. He straightened his back and raised his head high, making sure that his countenance exuded nothing but confidence. His war armor gleamed as his long silver hair blew in the cold, sweeping breeze. Above him hovered thick, dark cumulonimbus clouds that stretched ominously across the sky, as though reaching into the heavens. Damian breathed deeply through his mouth. The air tasted like war. He leaned over the balcony and peered into the distance. The tower’s vantage point provided a dramatic panoramic of the landscape. From here, he’d be able to see the battle’s entire progression and command it accordingly.
“My Lord,” a voice said from behind.
“And you are?” Damian asked, turning to face him.
“My Lordship, I am the officer responsible for this tower. I bring you the latest news.”
“Report,” Damian ordered.
“The enemy forces were scouted less than two miles away, but they appear to be half-stepping and moving at an unusually slow pace.”
Interesting, Damian thought. “And what of our Legion?” he asked the tower officer.
“Our infantry is already assembled at all eight encampments. They are awaiting your orders.”
The soldier stood at attention as Damian turned from him to lean against the balcony. After staring out into the distance for a few moments, Damian came to a decision. He pivoted to face the tower officer once again. “Send our troop forward,” he ordered. “Swallow the Realmsic Army whole!”
“Your will be done,” the Commander saluted. He stood next to a ram horn attached to the side of the tower. But instead of blowing through it, he reached into his armor belt and removed a mobile device. Since General Thane’s return, Damian had implemented the devices into the Legion by distributing them to all ranking officers. He listened as the tower officer spoke into it, giving commands. A few minutes later, the ground beneath the tower began to tremble.
As the vibration broadened into a full-scale tremor, Damian, the tower officer, and the other Legionarie sentries with them dropped to their knees. The soldiers held on tightly to whatever they could as the tower swayed back and forth. Damian gripped the stone banister attached to balcony, peering over its side. Below him, an ocean of soldiers charged into battle. By the thousands, their footfalls shook the ground. Damian rose to his feet, again feeling pleased with himself. Perhaps this battle would be over in time for lunch. Damian wondered what the mess hall was serving—hopefully not mystery meat. He didn’t understand how anyone could eat that.
Damian suddenly felt his senses tingle. He paused, shifting his gaze to the horizon. The sky darkened, and the sweeping breeze ceased. Something was happening.
RMRMRMRMRMRM, the sky above him began to tremble like the ground—but the source of the disturbance remained concealed beyond the heavy, gray clouds.
“What’s going on?” the tower officer asked a comrade.
Damian ignored their conversation, for he already knew. Concentrating his full attention towards the clouds, he watched as their saturated bottoms began glowing amber-red and the light intensified. It was if the Realmsic sun was burning through the morning mist.
“Take cover!” someone below screamed. At that moment, the storm clouds departed, revealing an ocean of flames directly above them. The intense heat immediately beaded Damian’s forehead with sweat. Stretching the length of the horizon, the flames poured from the sky like lava and splashed onto the ground before them in a molten tidal wave. No one had time to react. Instantly, an entire Legionarie brigade had been erased from the battlefield.
Damian wiped the sweat from his forehead. He was almost impressed, but before he could finish his thought, the skies opened yet again, and a second ocean of fire pounded the ground.
“An air strike!” yelled a soldier behind Damian. But the assault wasn’t the typical Realmsic tactic that Damian was expecting—precision strikes using individual fireballs. No, this was a crimson flood designed to inflict unimaginable levels of destruction, he reasoned. That explained the Realmsic Army’s unusually slow pace. They were avoiding the barrage! Damian pounded a fist on the tower’s banister, raising a sparkle of grit. Only Kelm could be responsible for such damage. He knew the Wizard was personally commanding the Crucifers. But despite the carnage below and the unrelenting screams, Damian remained confident. He enjoyed a challenge and admired Maebus’ newfound ruthlessness. Despite the setback, Damian maintained one clear advantage, and that was his sheer numbers.
Damian stretched his body over the command tower balcony as far as he could and screamed a single order to his men, “Push forward!”
The Legion selflessly abided, running full speed into the flames. Their will was to obey. They charged blindly into death without fear, without any regard for themselves.
• • • • •
On the opposite side of Centre Pointe, approaching the castle, Maebus watched the Crucifer assault. Never in his life had he seen such a coordinated display of magical power. Kelm held nothing back. With Leoden by his side, they rode upon horses at the head of the Realmsic Army.
Maebus noticed that Leoden remained apprehensively silent beneath the ceiling of flames. As fire draped the entire atmosphere, it revealed not one speck of heaven above their heads. The immense heat from the waves of fire was overwhelming, despite the day’s chill. Sweat soaked through Maebus’ armor as he stared awestruck by the barrage. In fact, part of him could scarce believe that he was responsible for such devastation. But like the Warlord, this time, Maebus would show no mercy.
Due to the uncertainty of this battle, Fable and the council had remained behind at the cottage. Therefore, if Maebus’ efforts failed today, at least they might still escape with their lives. However, General Normandy and a small band of troops had been sent ahead of the invasion to scout the area and report upon the Realmsic Army’s arrival. Maebus watched as Normandy appeared within the distance riding toward them. He most likely was returning from his position several thousand yards out where he viewed the impact of the air strike. Maebus kept a close eye on Normandy during the entire time it took him to approach. He repeatedly scanned behind Normandy, making sure the General wasn’t being followed, or wasn’t in immediate danger.
Pulling the reins of his horse, Normandy slowed at their position, and began trotting beside them. “King Maebus, Leoden of Cyperus,” he saluted them both. Normandy’s feet nearly dragged on the ground as he rode beside them.<
br />
“What have you, General?” Maebus asked.
“King, the inferno is powerful but, unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be making an impact. The Warlord’s numbers are just too great.”
“Damn!” Maebus cursed. He slammed his fist hard into his palm. The initial wave had not gone as he had hoped. Now he worried that perhaps he had misjudged Damian’s power yet again.
“Maebus,” Normandy said less formally, “The Legion is coming and, even with Kelm commanding the Crucifers, I don’t think the War Wizards can maintain this fire barrage for much longer. Right now, the flames are the only thing holding the Legion back, but they’re going to break through at any minute. How would you like the Realmsic Army to proceed?”
It took but a few seconds for Maebus to think it over. “Kelm is tasked with sending ten oceans of fire. He has two more rounds left. In the meantime, we will continue with our half-step march until the Legion reaches that outermost hill,” he pointed to a nearby dale which created a natural bottleneck of the area. “At that time, our men will engage,” he continued.
“Aye, sir!” Normandy saluted.
Maebus returned the salute. “How do you feel, General?” he asked.
Normandy’s gaze hardened. “I don’t feel,” he replied, which made Maebus chuckle.
“And what about you? Are you ready for this?” Maebus asked Leoden. He could see no sign of fear on the young warrior’s face. Leoden shook his head no.
“You can never be ready for something like this,” the young man replied. “You simply have to trust your instincts, rely on your skill, and pray that you have the First Wizard’s favor.”
Maebus smiled. “Indeed, young warrior. Indeed.”
Overhead, another round of fire soared.
“There’s the castle!” Maebus said, pointing to their highest peaks as they came into view. Once again, Maebus had returned home, and Damian’s Legion was the only thing standing in his way.
The Hero of Legend Page 29