However, the armored giant was quicker. He leapt into the air, far higher than any man could, and with one massive arm, landed a blow across the side of the Farsider’s muzzle. The creature moaned in pain, and before it could recover, the armored giant dealt it another massive blow to the side of its head. The creature reeled and coughed smoke. Then, as it had done before, the soldier’s arm glowed and hummed and shot a mass of light and energy that met the Farsider squarely in its chest. The great beast fell to the ground and slowly dissipated into the air, as if it had never existed at all.
“Retreat!” called General Zehnder without asking the King. “Fall back! Retreat!!”
The other men listened without exception. They turned their horses away from Nefas and let them run as fast as they could. Craven was furious, but retreated with the others nonetheless.
“How dare you!?” roared Craven once they had all returned to camp. He dismounted his horse and circled around General Zehnder with cold daggers in his pale eyes. Zehnder had dismounted his own horse and was throwing his helm, gauntlets and other armor to the ground.
“You are no King!” he shot back at Craven. “You are a madman, made a puppet by a demon.”
“How dare you blaspheme the Holy? How dare you give command when I am the chosen leader?”
“Enough of your madness!” shouted Zehnder, his eyes wide and mouth frothing.
The other men stood around Zehnder and Craven and watched as the two men insulted and slandered each other. They were in shock, unable to believe how events had unfolded. They moved silently, as if they were in a nightmare, confused and afraid.
“You will regret your actions here, General. You have betrayed Chreos, you have betrayed your King and you have betrayed the Holy.”
“Where is he?” Zehnder threw his arms up in the air. “Well? You brought us to Nefas to exact his will. Those creatures joined our company because it was his will. They devoured our army. They attacked maliciously and indiscriminately. So where is he now? You have claimed that all of this is done for him, but here we stand. I see no victory. I see no glory. All that we won was a sickness in our bellies as we watched demons tear apart our brothers.”
“You will regret everything that you have said,” breathed Craven, seething with anger. “You wish for proof. You will have it when you are struck down for your infidelity.” King Bishop Craven walked into his tent and quickly reemerged with a scroll of paper. He unrolled it, revealing the black hand, and then pressed his own to it. “Oh, Holy. Come forth and destroy the nonbelievers, punish the blasphemers, and reward those who have stayed true to you. Come forth and reveal yourself as the true power of light.”
Bishop Craven looked into the air as if expecting something to happen, yet nothing did. He raised his arms as if expecting a rain, yet no change occurred. No voice, no presence, no proof to dispute the claims Matthew Zehnder made.
“Where is your Holy now?” sneered Zehnder. “Or was it all in your head, old man.”
“No, he is real. He has come to me. He has led us on. We are nothing without him. He will lead us to a new, beautiful kingdom.”
“He has led us to a slaughter,” said Zehnder as he pulled an arrow from his quiver. “This ends now. Your madness… it can’t be tolerated.”
Craven fell to the ground silently, an arrow protruding from his chest, and then the men from Chreos prepared for the journey home.
Chapter 23: A Last Laugh
Evercloud flew alongside Riverpaw, gliding through the sky, swift as a bird. Riverpaw disappeared into the clouds and burst through the other side like a child careening through a pile of leaves. Evercloud smiled at his cousin. The danger of their task had not left his mind, but it was difficult to ignore the magic of the moment. Often, Evercloud forgot that, once upon a time, he were a simple boy, living upon a simple mountain, worried what a future of living among bears might bring him. Riverpaw had been his guide in those days, his friend, and close as a brother. The bear could erase all doubt with one shaggy smile. This flight took Evercloud back to those days, innocent as they were. Evercloud longed for days where he could just be a man. He knew they were days he would never see, but he wanted just one more glimpse of the forest from atop the mountain, one more moment of warm air and a summer breeze, one more laugh in a world that was simple. Maybe this flight was that last moment. Maybe this would be his last smile. Evercloud didn’t want to squander it.
“So what exactly are we going to do?” asked Riverpaw. “I’m not exactly sure how to distract the Tyrant. And how long is long enough?”
“It’s not as much about distracting him as it is about figuring out his plan and doing what we can to prevent it,” said Evercloud. “There’s no way of knowing how long the Earth may need to argue with the Skyfather. We may have to do what we can now, escape, and then continue again, after we’ve had rest. We may be doing this, on-and-off, for weeks.”
Riverpaw’s eyes grew wide. “How can we possibly do that, Evercloud?”
“Simple,” said Evercloud. “We’re going to play Johnball with him.”
“You’re a fool,” laughed Riverpaw.
“No, really. Do you remember the tactic we would use in Johnball when we had taken a lead in our match.”
“Well, sure,” said Riverpaw. “Keep the ball away from the other team as long as you can. You stop trying to score, and instead focus on letting as much time go by without taking any big chances. But you’ve lost me on how that applies to this situation.”
“The Tyrant has some sort of plan. We can’t forget that. He’s doing something. We need to find out what he’s doing, and then keep him from doing that as long as we can. Just like in Johnball, the other team needs the ball to be able to score. We take away the thing he needs to complete his plan. We make him have to concentrate on us.”
“I think we’re going to need something a little bit more detailed,” said a doubtful Riverpaw. “We don’t even know where the Tyrant is right now.”
“We’ll track him.”
“What, like a rabbit. This isn’t Gray Mountain, Evercloud. We’re not back in the forest.”
“No, but the principles are the same. We’ll go to the last place we know the Tyrant was and look for clues as to where he may have gone.”
“But the last place we know the Tyrant has been is…”
“Gray Mountain… whatever is left of it.”
“You were determined to spoil my mood, weren’t you?” asked Riverpaw.
“I’m sorry, old friend. But we have to do it.”
“All right,” grumbled a newly solemn Riverpaw. “Let’s get this over with.”
And with that, the cousins continued to streak across the sky.
• • •
Hiding amid the choked and dying trees that once surrounded Gray Mountain, Evercloud and Riverpaw watched the Tyrant hover over the crater like a spider, looking down from its web. Down at the bottom of the crater, a thousand men of metal beat their way down into the earth with a repetitive and sickening thrum.
“What are they doing?” whispered Riverpaw.
“It seems as if he’s having them dig down into the earth, but I’m not sure why?”
Evercloud and Riverpaw looked at each other for some time, unsure of how to proceed. Leaning close against the trees for cover, their clothes and fur were chalky from destroyed rock. The scene was depressing and it took all of themselves to pull away from the sadness of memory and press forward with their goal.
“We capture one of the men and fly away with it,” uttered Evercloud after some time.
“What if he doesn’t chase?”
“He will… If he doesn’t, we come back and take another. He’ll have to care at some point. Once he takes the bait, we play the game for as long as we can. When we grow tired, we retreat and come back at a later time. It’s obvious that the Tyrant is trying to complete something here; the longer we can stall it, the better. I know it’s not the best plan in the world, but it might buy us a good amoun
t of time.”
“Okay,” nodded Riverpaw, inhaling and exhaling a deep breath. “Do you want to go first, or should I?”
“I will,” said Evercloud. “Remember, just like Johnball. When he gets close to me, hit him hard and we’ll switch.”
“I remember the game, Evercloud,” said Riverpaw. “Don’t forget it was me who taught you that tactic. Just be careful.”
Evercloud nodded and in a flash, took to the sky. Before the Tyrant saw him approaching the crater, Evercloud had swooped down and plucked one of the metal men from the ground and flew away with him, back over the forest. To Evercloud’s joy and terror, the Tyrant took the bait immediately and proceeded to chase him. Riverpaw waited for both of them to fly back over his head, and then he took to the sky in stealth pursuit.
The Tyrant was massive and the image of him chasing Evercloud across the sky gave Riverpaw a shiver across his spine. The metal man hung limply in Evercloud’s grasp, just like a sack of potatoes, as he zigged and zagged across the blue and white sky of Ephanlarea. Riverpaw couldn’t hear what the Tyrant was shouting, but it was clear that his booming voice was berating and cursing Evercloud. Soon, the Tyrant began to cast bolts of energy. They screamed past the man, narrowly missing him as he dodged in the sky like an insect in a rainstorm. Riverpaw could see that all of the dodging, paired with the weight of the metal man, was tiring Evercloud more quickly than they had hoped for. Riverpaw knew it was time to make his move.
Speeding like a boulder down a mountain, Riverpaw barreled into the Tyrant with the full force of the Evermight to aide him. The Tyrant never saw Riverpaw coming, as he was intently focused on Evercloud, and took the hit, full in the back. He reeled in the air, giving a grunt of pain, and tumbled a hundred yards through the sky. Without waiting for him to recover, Evercloud and Riverpaw disappeared down into the trees of the forest and quickly switched possession of the metal man.
As the Tyrant recovered, looking around for the culprit that assaulted him, he saw Riverpaw rise out of the forest canopy. The Tyrant growled and resumed the chase, trailing Riverpaw by at least fifty yards while the furry bear laughed. The plan was working; they were distracting him perfectly. Riverpaw thought he and Evercloud might be able to keep this game up for hours. A thought crossed into Riverpaw’s mind that the Tyrant would eventually have to tire and there might be the possibility of trapping him. Riverpaw flew onward, increasing his speed as the excitement of victory filled his mind. The possibilities of how he and Evercloud might detain the Tyrant began to dance in his brain and then, without realizing, Riverpaw gave away his advantage.
So distracted with the temptation of victory, Riverpaw had stopped paying attention to where he was flying and had travelled well beyond the boundaries of the forest. He was now out over the plains of Ephanlarea, and in distancing himself from the forest, had brought Evercloud out of cover.
“No!!” yelled Riverpaw and dropped the metal man, but it was too late.
The Tyrant had seen Evercloud on the ground below and had grown wise to the play. The Tyrant now ignored Riverpaw and his prize, in order to pursue the still tired Evercloud, intent to equal the score. Riverpaw flew as quickly as he could to Evercloud’s aide, but he was too far away to get there in time. Taken slightly by surprise and still tired from his flight, Evercloud was taken by the Great Tyrant as if he were a child’s toy. Riverpaw roared as he saw the Tyrant’s electric-tendril fingers clasp around Evercloud. The man moaned in pain and the bear raced onward.
However, the Tyrant now knew the game they played and was ready for the bear as he hurtled toward him. With his other arm, the Tyrant swung at Riverpaw like a strike of lightning. He cracked the bear along his side and sent him sprawling to the ground in a heap. The Great Tyrant cackled and turned back to Evercloud with a sneer as the man writhed in his grasp.
“You can’t stop me. I thought I had taught you that lesson when I destroyed your home and your family. I suppose I was the fool for thinking you might be a quick study.”
The Tyrant squeezed the man and tears streamed from Evercloud’s eyes as he dangled in the monster’s grasp. The Great Tyrant then raised his other hand and held it just above Evercloud’s head. The heat of the being’s fingers burned Evercloud’s face as if he were standing too close to a fire. The Tyrant then uttered a word and Evercloud felt something within him moving. It was as if he were going to be sick. His body convulsed and before he knew it, four orbs came forth from his throat, up and out of his mouth, hovering in the air below the Tyrant’s outstretched hands.
“So,” began the Tyrant, “the Ancients still attempt to thwart my plans. Even in death they are fools.” The Tyrant then grabbed the four orbs and brought them to his own monstrous mouth. In one quick motion, he swallowed them all and absorbed their power. The Great Tyrant smiled and brought his head closer to Evercloud. “Thank Densa for the gifts. Let him know I’m almost ready for him.” The Tyrant cackled and threw Evercloud down onto the ground. The man grunted in pain. “There’s a war brewing, Evercloud. It’s just about ripe. It’s a war that will tear these feeble humans apart. I’m going to go check on it now, to see if it’s ready. When it is, I’ll come for Densa. I want him to watch it unfold. I want him to watch all the stupid creatures he created tear each other apart in front of his eyes. Maybe I’ll let you watch as well.”
“What are you doing in the crater?” choked Evercloud as he lied upon the ground, rubbing his neck.
“Oh,” brightened the Tyrant. “You mean my latest masterpiece? Well, you see, after you and Densa watch the humans destroyed, I’ll be ready for another presentation. Densa will have the opportunity to watch me become the most powerful being in existence. Both of you will watch as I destroy everything that you have ever known.” The Tyrant turned and began to walk away with long strides. “It is perfect that the two of you found each other, you are so pitiful.”
The Tyrant raced away, quickly moving beyond the horizon. Minutes passed, but soon Riverpaw had again found Evercloud, lying upon the ground.
“Are you all right?” asked Riverpaw frantically. “Evercloud, I’m sorry, I–”
“He stole the Ancients’ powers, Riverpaw. He took them.”
“No,” uttered Riverpaw. “What about–?”
“He left the Everflame. I don’t think he knew I had it.”
“Thank the stars,” said the bear.
“Riverpaw,” began Evercloud again. “We have to find Densa. He was right. We don’t have enough time to wait for Earth. The Great Tyrant will destroy all.”
Chapter 24: Upon The Breaker’s Crest
“I have been quick with my anger and much slower with my wit,” Count Allahnder mumbled as he stood next to his oldest son. Tiber looked down at his father in confusion. “I said–”
“I know what you said,” interrupted Tiber. The man smiled. “I have lived with your mumbling for many years. I’m just surprised. That’s all.”
The two men looked out from the shoreline of their beloved land of Felaqua. They stood side by side as they stared at the sea, like sentinels on watch. The sun was setting and Felaqua’s army was poised to set sail for Ephanlarea in the morning. Count Allahnder had called his son to his side, Tiber knew not why. Allahnder shuffled uncomfortably, as if he had never spoken to his son before.
“I can admit when I am wrong, Tiber. I…”
“I know, Father. You were too quick to judge the Ephanlarean. It’s not something you should be too harsh upon yourself for. It is easy to fear what is different. I am guilty of the same transgression.”
“I wasn’t talking about the Ephanlarean, Tiber. I was talking about you. I have judged you, far before I should have. I am also guilty of judging you for the wrong attributes.”
“Father, I–”
“No, Tiber, please let me say this… You are my rightful successor. I never should have taken that from you because of your… difference. It makes you no less capable to lead Felaqua. It makes you no less capable of a son. It only reveal
ed my own weakness as a father. For that, I am sorry.”
Tiber stood, staring at the sea, unable to react to what his father said. He wanted to sob like a child, but he clenched his jaw tight and his torso tighter to prevent himself from heaving a sob.
“I have taught you, too well, to be guarded, my son.” Count Allahnder turned and stood, facing Tiber as he continued to talk. “We are alone. You do not need to act so aloof. I do not expect you to forgive me, but you will destroy all of my resolve if you lock me out with silence. Please, Tiber.”
“I understand your decision, Father,” said Tiber, doing what he could to ignore his father’s gaze. “I will serve you well and make you proud.”
“Damn you, Tiber. I am trying to apologize to you…”
Tiber looked now at his father’s eyes and saw that they watered. All Tiber’s strength left him, and though he stood a good foot taller, he felt like a child in front of his father. Tiber’s lip trembled just slightly and he embraced his father with strong arms.
“I am sorry, for my difference.”
“Do not be, my son. It is a part of you. You who are strong, you who are intelligent, you who are good of heart. You are my greatest prize, Tiber. You will lead these ships to Ephanlarea tomorrow. You will stand as Commander of the fleet, and you will lead our land to a most overdue alliance. I love you, Tiber.”
“I love you, Father. I will not let you down.”
“You never have. I am sorry I let you down.”
• • •
The sun rose bright and strong over the bay at the Port of Sanctum. Ten thousand Felaquan soldiers banged their swords against their iron shields, and the drums beat in preparation for the rowing of fifty warships. Tiber Allahnder, Commander of the fleet, successor to the Count of Felaqua, stood upon the prow of the largest ship, The Breaker’s Crest. The ocean breeze blew through his long, dark hair. He inhaled the salty air and felt strong and free for the first time in his life. Ben Floyd stood next to him, laden in new clothes, shaven for the first time in weeks. They looked cavalier and regal, the two men. Tiber smiled at Ben and raised his sword. When it dropped back to his side the rowing would begin and fifty ships would set a course for destiny.
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