109
Luna
Cold grabbed Luna with an iron grip. A grip of death. The poison was making its way through the body fast and she knew her regeneration has about reached its limit. The men plucked her eyes out and put them next to the other six pairs.
“She really ain’t going down easily,” a man commented.
“That’s why we got the poison. The regeneration is slowing down; she will be out soon,” their captain commented.
“The poison will kill her anyway; can’t we just leave her here to die?” a man contested.
“Nah, we have orders to kill everyone. Everyone is everyone, can’t risk leaving her around,” captain refused.
“Ah well, here’s another eye,” a man plucked out the eye that just regenerated.
“She can’t regenerate both at once now; it will be over soon.”
Luna felt nothing but pain. Darkness covered her world. She tried to faint but couldn’t, the pain from the poison eating her insides was too strong to get over. Too sharp, too persistent… too final. Luna didn’t bother to struggle anymore and just lay there, waiting for the end.
“Eye number sixteen,” a man commented as he plucked out the one that wasn’t even fully regenerated.
I am sorry… Miranda… I won’t be able to meet you again.
You are my only regret.
Luna just lay there in the darkness. She waited for the pain to finally consume her. Every second felt like eternity. Slowly and painfully one of her eyes regenerated. She didn’t bother to open it, she knew it will be plucked out soon. It wasn’t. Luna slowly opened the eye and looked around. Bloody haze clouded her gaze. She saw a white shadow kneeling on the ground nearby.
I am… sorry… you are…. too late.
Luna wanted to speak but just grunted. The white shadow rose up and stood above her.
“R…” Luna couldn’t form a word.
“Save your strength,” Raven cut her off. His voice was cold and hollow. His eyes were red, drenched with tears. Raven put down his bloodied sword and shield. Then he gripped his hands around the shackle on his neck. He gritted his teeth and pulled. The shackle extended and broke.
A few seconds later Raven removed all his shackles. The iron that gripped his skin for over a decade was gone. He put back his armor and softly lifted Luna to put her over his shoulder.
“I am sorry, but this will hurt,” he whispered softly. Then, he can come across the room and leap through the window. Luna watched the glass flying past her. She felt the hot summer air before her breath got taken out by the impact. They landed on a roof. Raven bolted forward.
The roofs were moving quickly behind as Raven ran across them, leaping over streets like they were nothing but cracks in the ground. Luna felt like the God of death himself was carrying her to hell. Soon they landed down at the street. Luna heard surprised shouts. Then shrieks. She watched as blood sprayed over her and men dressed in black armors fell like cut grass behind them. Then Raven slid down and Luna saw them going between two men dressed in red and gold armor. Raven shot up to his feet and passed few more of such men, all shouting in surprise.
“Please heal her,” Raven said coldly and softly placed Luna on the ground. She saw a red and gold robed man standing above her, “I will handle the siege.”
“Of course,” the old man bowed above Luna. The men around looked like they wanted to protest, but Raven’s presence screamed murder to the point that none dared open his mouth.
“Don’t worry, I got this,” Raven whispered to Luna, then stood up straight. He turned around and headed out.
“Please lay still, Miranda will kill me if I don’t get you out of this,” archbishop Nashimaeal remarked as he started examining Luna.
110
Collward
“The gates are holding firm!“ a man shouted as soon as he got close to Edward Collward.
“I can see that. How is the wall buster?”
“Almost ready sir.”
“Good, that’s our last shot,” Collward confirmed grimly. The fire was almost onto them and they had no success trying to get by any of the gates.
CAW, CAW
Large black crow flew to Collward and landed on a branch. Collward made one of the twins leap up and pry the message attached to its leg.
We are fucked. Punch through to the east, then head south by the coast. James
The message was short and succinct. Punching by east meant that the main army of Lucas was west. No doubt he was planning to either catch them after they forced their way through the fire or to press them against the coast to cut off any routes of escape.
I hate to admit it, but I have been outplayed. I have no idea how he hid his army, but neither James nor I didn't catch a whiff of it until it was too late.
*BOOOOOOOOOOM!* echoed through the air. Part of the wall exploded upwards.
Good.
“CHARGE!” Collward shouted and his largest demon charged toward the hole in the wall. It was a massive monster on six legs with a huge horned head. The demon ran through the hole in the wall, tossing aside all stone and rubble. It disappears within the city. His men followed.
Did I just imagine this? Collward pondered as he saw the massive demon fly back from out of the city, taking dozens of soldiers with it before crashing to the ground. It was dead.
That was my second to the last champion!
“KEEP GOING!” Collward commanded. The wave of soldiers hit the entrance to the city. They squeezed into the hole like a current and flowed in. Collward turned back and started organizing the rest of his army to get ready to use the hole in the wall.
Wait… why are they running?
Collward noticed some men from the charging forces splitting from the stream and running away. He motioned his puppet of a winged woman and had it lift him up to fly him closer. Once he got a better angle, he saw a single shade of white blurring in the gap. Single man dressed in white. Corpses of his men were pilling-up behind him and to the sides. Hundreds of them.
Is that… Raven? Wasn’t he supposed to be bound to the arena?
Collward stared in amazement how the stream of his men charged into the missing part of the wall. They charged. They died.
I don’t have anyone to fight him other than myself.
I can’t spend my strength on him, not when Lucas is out for the finishing blow.
“How’s the tunnel, still stuck?” Collward shouted at one of the nearby officers.
“Full capacity sir, not seeing any results though,” the man confirmed.
Hole in the wall is blocked, gates are holding firm, the secret tunnel must have been caught and all men who entered just die after exiting.
We are not getting into the city.
Into the flames then!
111
Lucas
“Smells like burned demons,” Lucas evaluated with a grin. He was at the head of the army, together with Merewen and Elias. Elias and Merewen were light blue, trying to hide the backlash. Starting the fire at all these places at once drained Merewen greatly. Elias was borderline exhausted as well, for he spent past hours by adjusting the winds so the flame forms a circle and heads toward the city. What was left was to wait for the fire to die down and hunt down Collward. Alternatively, hunt down Collward straight after he tries to punch through the flame. There was a slight risk of Illysaeas falling to the siege, but with the archbishop and large chunk of their army present, it was unlikely. Only secret entrance to the city was the escape tunnel under the city hall and he had lord Ricochieu block it months ago.
“Update! Enemy main force is heading east straight into the flames,” Miranda appeared and reported.
“Oh, come the fuck on, that’s the least convenient direction,” Lucas complained.
“Anyway. Elias, back to the fleet. Merewen, take the army, swing south by the flames then go after him. Miranda, jump to Illysaeas and get Nash and his men ready for pursuit. I am going to make sure he doesn’t get to go south by the coast
,” Lucas gave out the orders. This was an eventuality he was prepared for. Like every other. After all, he did plant his main army here in the Illysaeas forest a month before the tournament even started. Now, after seven months of waiting, it would be more than lame to let Collward escape.
Everyone confirmed. Merewen started organizing the men, Elias head off on his horse and Miranda disappeared. Lucas focused and disappeared as well.
Time to play my best card… myself!
Lucas missed the village center by a few meters and landed on someone’s garden. It was a bit awkward but hell, it was one of the longest teleports he had ever done. He quickly got back on the road and headed off to the local Palai barracks.
Right, need my cloak for this.
Lucas pulled out his amulet to hang in front of his chest. It has been a long time since he wore his cloak. The great general’s cloak. Massive blood red cloak decorated by golden pauldrons and rubies. Lots of large rubies. Lucas teleported it into his hand from his dream pocket and put it over his shoulders.
“General!” the men at the gates of the Palai barracks went stiff as he appeared from behind a corner.
“Sound the alarm and gather all men. Seniors, recruits, militia, everyone,” Lucas ordered.
“Yes, general,” the men confirmed. One ran to the barracks, the other to the sound the alarm. Lucas made his way to the barracks and sat down on the table in the main hall.
“Greeting, captain,” Lucas greeted the drowsy man who half-fell from the stairs as he was rushing to make his way down.
“General…” he breathed in amazement.
“Skip the formalities. Once they get up, gather all your men. Prepare every Palai themed cloth, flag or banner. Get every shield with our symbol, every anti-horse mobile fortification you can and every war machine. We are going to have a little battle tomorrow before noon. Have your men informed and get a bit of sleep,” Lucas explained.
“Yes, general!” the man confirmed.
This is what I love about leading an army… it doesn’t talk back.
“I am gonna get us more men,” Lucas smirked and headed out toward the city center. The men stared in amazement as he passed by them.
The village was slowly waking up to the alarm and the main square. Lucas went to it as well, then leaped up to the roof of a house to sit by its side, looking down at the square.
“I apologize for the rude awakening,” Lucas shouted as he stood up. Who wasn’t staring at him already just started.
“I am Lucius Artorius Castus, the great general of armies of Palai,” the voice of Lucas thundered across the village. Lucas let it sink in for a second before he continued his speech.
“There are remnants of a slaver army heading toward this village. They come from Illysaeas and will head south at the old tree crossroads. I don’t like the idea of this place being plundered, so I want to make them head north instead. For that, I need volunteers. Anyone and everyone who can run from here to the Old Tree Crossroads is welcome. You will get cloth and shields to look like Palai soldiers, but still, try to dress up in as much red as you can. Have no worries; you are not there to fight, just to stand around and look like soldiers. In case they turn toward us, you run and I stayed behind with my men to hold them off for as long as we can. They are expected to arrive at the crossroads by noon, so you will be home for afternoon snack. Oh and it’s not for free. I offer twenty-five gold per person, collectible after we succeed later that evening,” Lucas finished his speech.
The villagers looked at each other in confusion and started murmuring wildly.
“We’ve got an old catapult in the barn; do we get a bonus if we bring it?” a farmer cut through the tense atmosphere.
“Yea. Hundred gold bonuses for every war machine-looking-thing you guys can bring. The meeting is two hours after dawn at the Palai church. Bring a snack,” Lucas confirmed. He enjoyed the murmuring crowd as he headed back to the barracks. When he got back, the local Palai soldiers and militia were mostly gathered around. Everyone was staring at him. Lucas went to the door of the barracks.
“I am gonna go catch some sleep; the captain knows what to do. The meeting is one hour after dawn. If I am not around by then, send someone to the roof to wake me up,” Lucas ordered the gathered men in a strong and steady voice.
“How can you go to sleep now?” a recruit blurted, then caught his mouth with his own hands.
“Practice, hope you never get it,” Lucas smirked before disappearing in the barracks.
112
Miranda
“What the hell happened?” Miranda asked as she got down from the dream jump. Nashimaeal was sweating, using his magic to the fullest. Bound to the table laid Luna. Her eyes were white with a hint of black and she had foam at her mouth. Her whole body was trembling.
“Raven brought her, asked me to heal her. I have repaired what I could, soon it will be up to her,” Nashimaeal evaluated.
“What are you talking about, Nash? Her regeneration is out, her veins are torn apart and the poison made it all the way to the eyes. You can’t fix that; nobody can. Even if she doesn’t die by herself, the backlash will tear her to pieces. We can’t help her,” Miranda breathed and tears shot up into her eyes.
“I am sorry,” the archbishop answered and stopped using his spells.
“Untie her,” Miranda commanded a side priest. The man did.
“I will be back in twenty, get your men ready. We are moving out,” Miranda commanded. The archbishop bowed and left.
Miranda took out her amulet and weighted it in her hand. Never forget who you are! E was carved into its backside.
I haven’t forgotten, Elaine, I will never forget.
Miranda went to Luna and softly picked her up into her arms. She carried her into the barracks, all the way to the top floor. That’s where Miranda’s room was. She went on to carry Luna to the bathroom. There, she carefully removed her bloodstained clothes. Luna’s body was a total mess of scars, dried blood and bodily fluids. Luna apparently soiled herself at some point. Miranda took her on her lap and went on to use a sponge to clean her. Softly and carefully, she cleaned all of Luna’s body. Miranda gently dried her. Luna was still shaking uncontrollably. Miranda went on to carry Luna to the bed. She put her down among the furs and softly tucked her in. She pushed the bed to the middle of the room, so it was straight under the roof window.
“I know you are still in there, Luna, so listen to me. In three to five hours, you backlash will hit. By then, you are supposed to die. You are not going to. It’s gonna hurt, you won’t be able to move, speak or eat, but you will hang in there. You will survive the night, then the day and then so on until I get back. I will get back and help you with the rest of the way, I promise. Just… please don’t die on me. I have never seen a miracle happen, but I am over a century and a quarter old so it’s about damn time I did,” Miranda whispered, her eyes burning with tears.
She softly kissed Luna on the forehead.
Nash has already prayed to Palai, but that’s not going to help.
I have my own God to pray to.
Miranda dropped down on her knees before the head of the bed. She drew a dagger, cut into her arm and used the bloodied dagger to carve a symbol into the bed. Blank oval for a face with four horns. The symbol of the Faceless Goddess.
“HEAR ME, FACELESS MOTHER!
HEAR ME, GODDESS OF DREAMS!
HEAR AND ANSWER YOUR DAUGHTER’S CALL!
I have served you for over a century. I never asked for a thing. I never questioned your teaching. I never disobeyed.
Now I ask you. Not for myself, for her. Help her, please.
I will do anything in return.
Just please save her.
I beg of you.
I have worn your symbol for my whole life.
Prove me it wasn’t in vain.
For our paths bind us all.”
113
Raven
“RAVEN! RAVEN! RAVEN! RAVEN! RAVEN!”
The chant echoed through the town as Raven stood on top of a huge pile of corpses. The hole slaver armies made into the walls of Illysaeas was almost completely sealed by massive piles of corpses. Corpses of men and demons alike. Not a single being passed Raven. Hundreds tried, none made it. Raven was bloodied to the point of being barely able to see or move. Behind him stood a cheering crowd, in front of him was a raging inferno. The slaver armies were gone. Consumed by the flames. Raven sheathed his sword, put the shield on his back and turned around. There was a cheering crowd. People were filling the streets, windows and roofs. Despite the shooting pain, he went down the pile of corpses and headed toward the Palai barracks. People made a path for him without him needing to say or do anything. The crowd kept cheering his name.
The Palai soldiers were forming into a cavalry unit, getting ready to head out. The well-dressed old priest was at the head of the unit. Raven went to the barracks.
“Small brown haired girl I brought, do you know where she is?” he asked one of the soldiers who were staying behind.
“No, sir,” the man refused.
“Luna will be fine,” a woman with red hair, captivating green eyes, and large gold decorated cloak answered from the door as she was just leaving the barracks. Raven sighed with relief.
“Archbishop put together what he could; now she is in the hands of the gods. She also needs to rest,” the woman revealed.
“So, it is that bad,” Raven frowned sadly.
“Yeah, but she will be fine.”
“I am sorry I didn’t make it to her in time,” Raven apologized.
“That goes for both of us. Get some rest; you look like a walking corpse. Luna will be fine.”
Raven could see how worried she is, but there was some sense of surety in her voice that gave his mind peace.
“Thank you, Miranda,” Raven smiled sadly.
Legacy of Dreams: Freedom Page 52