“Nice shot,” I said.
“Too high,” he answered. “I was aiming for his chest.
“Up the mountain, now!” Cathy called out.
The squawk had alerted the Evenawks near the back of the army. Seeing a chance for action a whole lot sooner, they abandoned their pursuit of the retreating Balendar army and started towards us. If there was ever a reason that working out was good for your health, this was it. We immediately turned and ran up the mountain path.
The frenzied sounds behind us begged me to look behind, but I wasn’t going to be fooled into it. Not looking back meant I could think that we were only being chased by a couple of Evenawks, not over a hundred. Denial wasn’t going to get us anywhere, but it would buy me a few moments to think of something.
Our first obstacle, however, would be the bridge. We didn’t have time for me to magically create it and cross while everyone followed behind us in single file. I couldn’t waste all my magic on it either. The bridge was make or break for this mission and we needed to at least make it to the other end before engaging any enemies.
“Donkor!” I called out.
“Yeah?” he asked casually, like we weren’t being followed.
“There’s a magical bridge up ahead,” I started. “We don’t have time to play its game. I’ll create the bridge but it is going to require all my concentration so we can get across quickly. You’ll need to pick me up and carry me.”
“Look, if you’re tired then just say so,” Donkor joked.
“Make sure everyone gets across,” I said.
Donkor slowed down as the bridge loomed in the distance. I ran in front of him and reached out, frantically searching for the connection. When I linked with the bridge, I slowed down and started feeding magic into it. Donkor immediately scooped me up and I closed my eyes and tuned out the world around me. There was nothing but me and the bridge. The stream of magic between us was warm and inviting.
I started shaking and opened my eyes. “We’re across,” Donkor said, reintroducing me to the world around me.
I shut down the link and looked over the group. The soldiers with shields were protecting the archers between their shots. I was right to assume that a hundred Evenawks were hunting us. They filled the sky all around us.
“We can’t keep running,” Natalie said. “We’ll lead them right to the capital and then have two armies to deal with.”
“We’ll split up then,” I said. “One group draws their attention here. The other heads to the capital.”
“Dibs on staying here,” Donkor smiled.
“I’m staying with the giant,” Natalie said.
“Let’s be realistic here for a second,” Cathy said. “Bill, pick two soldiers, you are with Kairu and I. The rest, hold this position. We’ll need the bridge to get back down again.”
“Yes, my Lady,” Bill said, heading towards his soldiers.
The spear wielding Evenawks were landing further up the mountain to block our route. The sky archers were still swarming around us. Everyone with a bow was working hard to keep them at bay, but the ground troops were heading our way.
“Should we take out the bridge?” Donkor asked. “If it’s just a magical bridge underneath we don’t need the physical part. We will only be surrounded.”
“Unfortunately, the bridges are one and the same,” I explained. “You won’t be able to destroy it because of the magic attached to it.”
“My sword is good against magic,” Donkor reminded me.
“You destroy the enchantment and we’re stuck up here until the bridge is fixed,” I replied. “We have to protect this bridge.”
“Get ready, you two,” Cathy said, pointing to the oncoming Evenawks. “We need to break this rank so we can slip through.”
The Evenawks were marching in a standard box formation, their spears pointed towards us. On this thin path, their goal was to push us back or run right through us. Donkor, Cathy, Bill and a couple of Davalin soldiers formed a defensive line behind me. I drew my short sword and scales covered the unprotected parts of my body.
My mind raced as I thought of a way to disrupt the line. With Cathy’s speed and Donkor’s strength, we could hold our position easily but it would be meaningless to run straight into the spearheads. I gathered power into my foot, ready to stomp the ground and throw them off balance.
“Wait for my stomp,” I said.
I saw Cathy lower herself, with her shield in front of her. As soon as the first rank was disrupted she would charge. I raised my foot and slammed it into the ground, sending a shockwave across the Spirit Plane and causing the ground to shake under the slow moving Evenawks.
The first few lines stammered in their place and Cathy and Donkor immediately charged. The Davalin soldiers followed into the fight and I took a step back to assess the situation. Donkor was able to use his sword to take down multiple Evenawks and cause a few to be knocked off the side of the cliff. It wouldn’t be the end for those lucky birds but it would buy the group some time.
Cathy’s lightly glowing shield had snapped any spear that was unlucky enough to get in her way. She held her place for a moment but the Evenawks continued to advance. We had successfully disrupted the first couple of lines but the brainwashed hadn’t been rattled enough to cause disarray.
“Step back,” I said, feeling the power rush to my empty hand.
Everyone jumped back to my position and I raised my hand and felt the heat of the stream of fire. I swept the area back and forth a couple of times and heard the panic squawking I’d been waiting for. I stopped and motioned for my friends to resume their attack.
The chaos in the front mixed with the rage in the back made the group unstable on the thin mountain path. Cathy and Donkor were finally forcing them back with the Davalin troops pressing up the gut. They would be alright for the moment and I turned my attention towards our archer group.
There were only a couple of casualties but with our size, one was too many. If an archer went down, a shield guard would take up the bow and continue to fire. I scanned for anyone that was wounded and saw Aaron pressed up against the stone, still firing his bow, with an arrow in his knee. Natalie was close by trying to protect him and I hurried over to help.
“That looks uncomfortable,” I joked.
“Leave the house, they said. It will be fun, they said,” he smiled.
I crouched down to examine the knee. The arrow hit the knee cap dead on and went through to the other side. I could fix it with my magic but I wasn’t skilled enough to make it 100%. The knee would be sore and difficult until it healed up naturally.
I dropped the sword and removed my sheath, handing it up to Aaron. “Bite down on this.”
He took it and put it in his mouth without question. I transferred some magic into his leg to make it cold and numb the feeling. Grabbing the arrow head, I snapped it off and Aaron groaned. I snapped off the fletching and slowly pulled the arrow through the wound. Aaron screamed and I repeatedly muttered an apology the entire time. When the arrow shaft was removed, I began healing the knee. Aaron sighed in relief when I finished.
I took the sheath from his mouth and picked up my sword. “Thanks,” he said.
“Stay off it for the rest of the fight,” I replied, turning to Natalie. “Are you doing alright?”
“Yeah, but even if I wasn’t, I’m not letting you patch me up, ‘Doc’,” she joked.
A sky archer was lining up for a shot at Aaron and I sent an Ice Bolt towards him. “Don’t let him be a hero,” I said to Natalie about Aaron.
“I’ll shoot him myself if he tries,” Natalie replied.
I headed for the Davalin soldiers, firing Fireballs or Ice Bolts at any Evenawk in the way. One of the archers took an arrow to the shoulder and I caught her as she stumbled back. The armour had prevented the arrow from going deep into her skin and I pulled it out and healed her. She returned to fighting and I scanned the sky for some targets.
The sky archers were still scattered around
us, firing at will. I found myself trying to protect myself more than trying to fight back. I had already used a lot of my magic strength and I didn’t want to waste the rest here. I needed to rejoin Cathy and head for the capital.
I ran away from the archers, trusting them to hold out for a while longer. Cathy’s group had pushed the ground forces back to the point that they were almost up the mountain. The extra space in between became a hot zone for additional spear wielding Evenawks to land.
As a couple started their transformation into humanoid mode, I launched a Lightning Bolt that jumped from one to the other. While they danced, I ran past them and rejoined Donkor.
“You need to head back,” I said to him. “They are starting to land troops to flank the archers.”
“On it,” he smiled. “See you when get back!”
He bounded off towards the bridge looking like he was on his way to a picnic. I turned back to the ground troops and readied my short sword. We were just at the point where the path entered the forested plateau. I joined the group and helped defeat the remaining ground troops.
“So nice of you to join us, Kairu,” Bill said, breathing heavily.
“Quickly, into the forest before more show up,” I said. “They’ll realise their ground troops have been defeated soon.”
We ran the remaining distance into the cover of the trees and nearly collapsed onto the ground from exhaustion. We needed to keep moving, but at the same time regain some energy. It was unfortunate we didn’t have those berries from Szwen. I’m sure they would have helped out greatly for this mission.
Our pace was slow at first but picked up as we regained our breath. Every once in a while, an Evenawk would fly overhead looking for us and we were forced to hide within the trees until the patrol passed. I could feel my magical strength returning slowly too and I hoped I would be strong enough when it became time to face Desroche.
When we reached the edge of the forest where the charred ground welcomed us, it wasno longer a matter of whether we were ready or not. It was time to face the music.
The gates of Scert’chak were left wide open.
We were being invited.
Chapter 33
“Looks like they’re waiting for us, my Lady,” Bill stated.
“Would it be too much to hope that they also brought us dinner and a bath?” Cathy asked rhetorically.
“Sir,” the male soldier said to Bill. “There appears to be something by the gate.”
Bill leaned forward and squinted and I couldn’t help my curiosity either as I began to search for what the guard had pointed out. Along the wall, there was something that was different but I couldn’t make it out. It looked like the Evenawks had put up some extra defences or something. No matter what I did though, I couldn’t make out any details.
“Can you make it out, my Lady?” Bill asked.
Curious, I turned to Cathy. She had a tense look on her face that suggested she knew exactly what had been put on the walls. “No, I can’t make it out,” she lied. “It doesn’t look dangerous though. We should continue ahead.”
She stepped out onto the charred ground and the Davalin soldiers followed without hesitation. I scanned the area with my mind quickly before chasing after them to catch up. The open gate was definitely a ploy to get into our heads. The biggest question is: how did Desroche know we were coming?
As we approached the gate, the objects on the wall revealed themselves to be of a disturbing nature. The brainwashed Evenawks or Mages had taken the bodies of the previous group of Davalin guards and hung them along the wall as a way to scare off anyone who dares approach. I was not expecting this level of barbarism and looked to the group for their reactions.
Out of everyone, Cathy’s face remained neutral. It was definitely not the worst thing she had ever seen in her life, but it was still shocking to see Desroche stoop to this level. But I guess once you enslave an entire race there’s really no point in pretending to have any ethics or morals. The more I thought about it, the sillier I felt being shocked.
“Look what he did to Ser Wilson,” Bill said, pointing out the knight like it was going to make the whole scene more enjoyable.
“Ignore them,” Cathy said coldly. “They are only trying to get into our head and make us lose our resolve. We press forward.”
“Yes, my Lady,” Bill said, turning to his soldiers. “Rob, Gina, avert your eyes. We’ll come back for them afterwards.”
“Y-yes, Captain,” Rob said while Gina remained quiet.
On the other side of the gate, a small band of Evenawks stood waiting for us. In the centre was a smug looking Mage with greased back hair and icy blue eyes that stared through me in hatred despite the cheesy grin plastered to his face.
“The Great Desroche extends to you an offer of friendship,” the Mage called out.
We stopped in front of the Mage’s group and I studied the Mage before returning the cheesy smile and stepping forward. “Does he now?” I asked, amused.
“Your ability to get to the front gate of Willow’s Trap shows your strength,” the Mage continued with his boring, pre-written script.
“It’s Scert’chak,” I said casually, counting out the Evenawks around him. There were four on each side. A fight would be tricky but doable.
The Mage scowled. “We refuse to call it by its Evenawk name. Now the Great Desroche wishes to speak with you himself. If you agree to drop this silly cause of yours and join us, he will make you a general in his army and you will have your own province to govern after the war has been won.”
I was standing almost directly in front of him now when I stopped. He didn’t even flinch, just continued to stare me down. “My own province, you say,” I said intrigued.
“Yes,” the Mage replied bitterly.
“That sounds like a really good deal,” I said, extending my left hand towards the Mage. The Mage looked shocked for a second before smiling. He seized my hand to shake it and I pulled him close to me, driving my sword into his stomach. “Too bad I have to decline.”
I withdrew my sword, turned to the group of Evenawks on my left and released a stream of fire at them, sweeping the area. The Evenawks were quickly engulfed in the flames and shrieked in terror. The group behind me squawked in rage as my group rushed in to engage them.
The Mage was still barely alive and was trying to summon a spell, but I stabbed him in the chest to put him out of his misery. My group easily finished with the remaining Evenawks and I surveyed the area around us.
Desroche would have a plan B in place should the recruitment drive fail. We were going to have to fight our way to the city hall, but I couldn’t imagine him having too many Mages or Evenawks left. Most would be stationed close to him.
“That was so hot,” Cathy whispered into my ear before backing up.
“Your magic and cunning never cease to amaze me,” Bill said, but Cathy’s smile distracted me.
I looked away from her and refocused. “We have to be careful. He’ll have a plan B if this didn’t work. It’s going to be one of those classic ‘hack and slash’ our way across the city times. Only defend yourself though. There are a lot of innocent women and children up there that don’t realise what they are doing.”
The Davalin soldiers nodded glumly. They had no doubt heard about the attack on Thurlborn Peak from the surviving soldiers. Speed was going to be both our best offense and defence. I hoped the soldiers still had some energy left over.
Over the ramp and into the city, I was pleased to see that nothing had changed. There were no signs of damage or modifications and the Evenawks could easily pick up where they had left off. A few citizens wandered the streets, conducting whatever business they had planned. At the sight of us, they stopped and stared.
“Time to run,” I said.
As we ran, the citizens made a loud ruckus and threw whatever they had on them at us. Berries, pots, pans, clothes, sticks, rocks, a wooden sculpture of a duck, everything seemed to be fair game and was used without me
rcy. The soldiers were able to use their shields to deflect the attack and only I was ‘lucky’ enough to take a papaya upside the head, leaving me sticky from its juices.
When the city hall was visible, I scooped up a couple of the sticks that were thrown at us and entered the minds of the pursuing citizens. It was easy to plant my spell in their minds and I turned and threw the sticks towards them. The sticks turned into three metre long snakes with sharp teeth and a taste for bird. The citizens scattered, squawking in fear and we crossed the remaining distance to our destination.
Three Evenawks stood outside and slowly retreated as we approached. One let out a disaproving squawk before they all entered the city hall, confirming my suspicion that Desroche waited for us inside. We slowly walked up to the door, trying to regain our breath and I tried to remove the bits of papaya from my hair.
Cathy went first and opened the door. We followed her in and were met by Desroche and twelve spear wielding Evenawks, the last of Desroche’s guard. I would have loved to instantly send a Fireball or something Desroche’s way, but he had strategically placed himself in the back. The Fireball would still take down a decent number of Evenawks so I crossed my arms behind my back and slowly built up my power.
“Welcome,” Desroche said pleasantly. “I knew it was only a matter of time before we met face to face again. You can only kill off my minions for so long.”
“How many more Mage’s have you tricked?” I asked.
“Tricked?” he asked amused. “They volunteered. In the Tower’s void there is no place for magic users anymore. Non-magic users have made their feelings towards us very clear. The Mages you have killed simply wanted to be free.”
“By enslaving the world?” I asked.
“By bringing order,” Desroche corrected, continuing his pleasant tone. “Give people a choice and they will waste it pursuing selfish means. Take away their choice and give them a purpose and they will be happy. I am only bringing them happiness.”
The Vacant Throne: The Legend Of Kairu Vol 3 Page 26