“Court is now in session!” The noise silenced the remaining whispers of the crowd. Gladius, Fletcher, and Marin were seated near the front.
Umbra cast a glance at Marin as she looked back with an expression of fear and concern.
“Heretic, you stand accused of necromancy, black sorcery, and trespassing on our lands. How do you plead?” the judge boomed from atop his podium surrounded by his peers.
Umbra gulped, he was definitely guilty of that charge.
It isn’t fair to be charged in court for this sorcery, I haven’t hurt anyone!
“I offer no objection to the charges you have placed on me, but I have not hurt anyone, in fact I have saved one of your citizens from certain death!” Umbra declared back at the judge. A bead of sweat ran down his forehead.
“This is true, your honors!” Marin piped up as she shot up to her feet. The crowd turned to her with condemning looks. “I was about to be eaten alive by a werewolf when this noble man intervened. I wouldn’t be alive today if it wasn’t for his actions.”
“Is this true?” inquired the judge, gazing down at Umbra. Umbra nodded with a fixed gaze of conviction.
The judge turned and huddled with the others around him whispering among them. He turned back to Umbra. “The penalty for practicing the arts of heresy on our lands is execution!” he decreed.
The Executioner-bailiff grinned at Umbra.
The judge continued: “But, in lieu of your actions to save a beloved member of our taskforce—The Golden Sun, you are to be imprisoned until we decide otherwise. Court adjourned” the judge banged his hammer.
“What the hell? I am not a criminal!” Umbra yelled, furious with the verdict.
“That’s ridiculous!” Marin protested as the citizens murmured and the crowded room began to disperse.
“With all due respect, your honors, was I not spared for thievery in this very court and assigned to defend our lands alongside Gladius and Marin?” Fletcher inquired standing firm beside Marin, placing his hand on her shoulder. He was referring to his previous life as a pickpocket.
Umbra desperately looked at the Judge hoping him to revoke the sentence.
“Court will continue tomorrow morning after careful deliberation! This outsider is no son of Myst City as you, Fletcher,” the judge decreed. His peers filed out of the chamber casting glances of suspicion at Umbra and Marin.
Gladius, who had remained seated and indifferent throughout the entire preceding stood up and left the chamber without uttering a word; his mail jingling, and his red cape flowing behind him.
Umbra was bound and led towards the jail block by the smirking bailiff.
“I will set you free Umbra, I just know it,” promised Marin, a tear in her eyes. She mouthed “I’m sorry” as she left the room. Umbra pretended not to notice.
Umbra wasn’t optimistic of his freedom as he was led down a bricked stairway and into a dreary jail block. The light dimmed around him as he descended the stairs.
The room smelled foul as he reached the end jail cell and was shoved into it roughly.
The straw floors and low, bricked ceiling were as confining as any cell could be. The one barred window overlooked the cobbled streets outside. The other cells were empty.
Umbra was left alone as the bailiff strolled off merrily.
I’ll just use some magic! Umbra grinned once the room was clear.
He was about to conjure a spell to escape when he noticed marks etched into the iron bars. Binding spells!
The bars had been enchanted by a very powerful sorcerer he realized as he touched them, feeling the resonating energy.
He hung limply on the cell bars and let out an exasperated sigh, “Great! Just fantastic!” he groaned.
ELEVEN
“This plan is foolproof!” a cloaked old man cackled as he held the reins of a horse-drawn carriage loaded with straw.
The carriage shook as it rattled down the cobbled road toward the Myst City gates.
It had been a whole day since Umbra’s trial and the sun was setting overhead with darkness ominous. The tall pines and looming threat of the werewolf-infested woods meant naught to this traveler; he was the dark force gathering.
“You had better be right!” threatened a tall, beautiful woman in a winding black dress.
She stood amongst a small crowd of similarly dressed people atop the large golden bails. The group was pale as snow and skinny as withered beggars.
Her stare was fixed forward, completely unaffected by the rickety road or gathering wind.
“Lydia! Are you sure we won’t get caught by the guards? Sure we are hungry for blood and haven’t eaten in several nights, but this isn’t a good idea,” warned a slim young man named Vlad. He had a looming presence about him. He was wrapped in a flowing black robe and his pale skin stood out in the emerging moonlight.
Lydia was easily the strongest of the whole group, and the entire clan was fiercely loyal to her.
“Lydia, now you have been our leader a long time now,” Vlad began. “We are vampires, we know not fear. We hunger and thirst. But, even more importantly we are family, isn’t that right everyone?” he exclaimed casting an affectionate glance at her.
The other vampires cheered when the gate emerged in sight, licking their lips with anticipation.
This small group of survivors was the remnants of the Dark Claw, the most notorious of vampire clans. Since the Golden Sun had begun guarding the lands further around Myst City, prey was harder find. Many of their brethren had died at the hands of the taskforce, even more of starvation.
“You had best hide, we’re nearing the gates. If the guards see you before we are inside we are finished!” The old man warned in a hissing voice, reptilian in nature.
This man had unexpectedly appeared and struck a deal with Lydia, promising to escort her clan into the city for ‘his own reasons’.
Vlad had convinced her to take up the offer since the clan was in such bad sorts and he was desperate to recoup their losses to rebuild the clan. They were planning a feeding frenzy and to turn the stronger citizens into vampires.
“My appreciation, Cassius, your talents serve us well.” Lydia complemented as the vampires slid into the hay stacks to hide.
The guards were clad in steel armor and standing at attention by the gate house. They nodded politely and opened the gates without hesitation as the hay wagon came close. Cassius cast a mischievous glance as they passed.
Lydia had a bad feeling about tonight; she could almost sense disaster would strike in Myst City.
“Gladius, it isn’t right to keep Umbra locked in that terrible cell. He saved me,” Marin pleaded. Fletcher nodded in agreement.
She had protested since they left the courtroom. Finally, Gladius assembled them in the Golden Sun chambers to discuss the matter in private.
“She’s right boss. Marin owes her life to that boy, heretic or not,” Fletcher implored stepping out of the shadow.
The members of The Golden Sun were standing in the center of a circular marble chamber. The moonlight poured in through the open windows, the doors to the chamber were locked to conceal their discussion from the city guards.
A large Sun banner hung on a tapestry, illuminated by the open window. The tapestry displayed the great deeds of the Golden Sun’s ancestors.
Their taskforce had always been small and dated back beyond memory. There were even legends that they fought against Zuul herself.
Gladius stared longingly out the window to the street. He spun around to look sternly at is comrades. “The King’s court holds authority over us; the King himself will be at the next tribunal. The final decision will be his!” he ordered.
His mail jingled under his sword’s sheath and crimson cape. He hadn’t removed his armor since the battle and was still spatte
red with werewolf blood. His gauntlets were crimson from the blood spilled.
“We have bigger problems currently. There are rumors that the Dark Claw vampire clan has been sighted nearby. Our guards are few and since the battles with the demon lord Greed’s armies we lack defense.” He growled, referring to the failing northern campaign.
Gladius stared out the window down onto the snoozing twilight town below.
The demon lord Greed had been at constant war with them since he had conquered the former capital city to the north and settled there, he hadn’t pressed forward for six years until recently.
The Capital had been raised in a single night by Greed’s armies, the citizenry massacred, and the land destroyed. Since then Greed set his sights on Myst City.
“We could hire some of the citizens as militia,” Fletcher suggested.
Gladius shook his head. “Nobody will fight against vampires, I’m afraid if these rumors are true we’re in serious trouble,” Gladius replied mournfully.
“I have an idea!” perked up Marin with a beaming smile.
TWELVE
“Squeak!” a rat scurried past Umbra’s foot as he stood in the damp, straw-covered floor of the jail cell. He kicked a stone and it darted out of sight.
Umbra stomped around the cell impatiently as the moon rose outside. The moonlight illuminated the cell as he sat down on the simple wooden bed, his head in his hands.
He heard footsteps approaching and expected to see the fat jail guard with rotten teeth, who had been taunting him. The blue-robed figure that emerged was a pleasant surprise.
“Marin?” Umbra stood up, a look of surprise on his face as he walked over to the front of the cell.
With a shy smile Marin reached the cell. She was carrying the keys!
They jingled on her belt as she stood in front of Umbra. Only the bars separated them. Umbra’s eyes caught hers as she turned the keys and swung the door open.
“But I thought…” Umbra began. Marin stopped him with a kiss.
Umbra was shocked by this, but he had wondered what it would be like for years. Closing his eyes he lost himself.
When the realization of why Marin had arrived set in she jerked back.
“What’s wrong?” Umbra inquired.
“I came here to ask for your help,” Marin began.
By now the streets were in chaos as citizens ran hysterically in all directions. Marin and Umbra emerged from the jail block to the outside street. The street lamps flickered as the people fled. The streams of blood outlined the cobble bricks and noises of terror and pain echoed all around.
Umbra had no idea what was going as Marin tugged his hand and ran towards the town square.
Women and children all around were screaming. Pale corpses lay against walls and in alleys as Umbra and Marin ran down the darkened streets.
At last they reached the town square, a huge stone building, where a mayor’s citadel sat. In front was a well-trimmed lawn. Several town guards stood there, their matching steel armor and pikes glistened in the moonlight. Their faces covered under helmets made them seem inanimate as Umbra and Marin arrived. Gladius was walking past the lines issuing orders.
“Your enemy will be all around. They will attack without mercy. Do not spare them, remove their heads or stake them and above all: DO NOT show mercy,” Gladius dictated as he drew his long-sword and donned his helmet.
Marin and Umbra walked up to Fletcher. He was crouched, checking his arrow-heads behind the formation. He looked up.
“What took you two so long?” he inquired. “Gladius seems to be fired up. He didn’t notice you were absent yet, so don’t say anything to him.” Fletcher stood up, threw his quiver over his shoulder and adjusted his hat, the plume swayed in the wind.
“I hope you’re ready Umbra, this will get messy” he warned as he walked towards the front of the lines to stand beside Gladius, ready to march.
“Marin, where are you?” Gladius called. Marin stuck up her hand and walked Umbra to the front of the line, their cloaks flapped behind them as the wind picked up.
The soldiers turned to gawk at Umbra as he walked past them. They whispered amongst each other.
“Did you bring the heretic?” Gladius inquired as Marin emerged from the crowd. Umbra stood cross-armed glaring at Gladius, his anger apparent.
“Gladius! Umbra is offering to help us. We owe him our respect at the very least!” Marin snapped as she grabbed a small vial from her pocket.
Gladius turned stubbornly and faced the troops.
She threw the vial against the ground. It smashed and water vapor rose. When it had dissipated Marin was holding her long wooden quarterstaff. It was lined with glowing runes and tipped with a blue gem.
One of the nearby guards reluctantly gave Umbra a steel pike then returned to formation.
“Move out, troops! Stay in at least groups of two! These vampires aren’t to be underestimated!” Gladius ordered.
“Vampires?” Umbra’s jaw dropped. Marin reassured him, clasping his hand.
“We can do this, you’ll get a pardon, and you can go free” she assured him.
The troops dispersed in all directions, their armor clanking as they ran. Within moments the town square was empty. The sounds of conflict were heard in the nearby alleys and streets. Only Marin and Umbra remained.
“Where to?” queried Umbra, testing the weight of the pike.
“Follow me!” she called back as she ran towards the marketplace.
THIRTEEN
“Vlad! You were right, this city is teeming with fresh meat!” a vampire chuckled, watching ominously from the rooftops as a crowd of people fled. “They’re like filthy rats!”
The other vampires had already left to hunt.
Out of the corner of his cold, dead eyes the grim specter saw two familiar heroes quickly approaching. Gladius and Fletcher quickly spotted the sinister creature perched above.
“Time to look scarce,” the vampire whispered. Fletcher launched a quick volley. Three wooden arrows whistled and pierced his heart. He toppled over the edge of the roof and fell onto the street with a crunch.
Gladius plunged his sword into the vampire’s to deal the final strike; the force of the blow severed his head.
“That’s one more down,” cheered Fletcher as he grabbed another arrow from his quiver and aimed it up at the remaining two other vampires sneaking by from a nearby roof. The vampires fled with a hiss before Fletcher could get a shot off.
Gladius wiped his sword off with his tunic and continued down the moonlit alley Fletcher racing closely behind him.
“You thought you could defeat us? You’re a fool!” a vampire hissed menacingly with a toothy grin, he walked towards a fallen guard propped up against a wall. His bloodied wound spewed as he gasped drawing his last breath.
Another vampire stood nearby, her arms crossed with a look of anticipation as he leant over the bloodied guard.
All of a sudden a small dagger soared through the air, burying itself into the male vampire’s spine; he howled in pain and fell to his knees. The dagger crackled with energy. The Golden Sun were well-equipped with augmented weapons.
“Lydia! Help me!” the vampire pleaded as he hit the floor struggling to remove the serrated dagger.
Gladius sprinted towards them as the male vampire sat up; the dazed fiend could only look on in horror as his end quickly drew closer.
“Vale! Look out!” cried Lydia as Gladius swung his sword. The vampire’s head flew clear off. Blood sprayed over the cobble street. Lydia’s face darkened, her face tensed with immense anger.
Realizing she was at odds at this time, she leapt into the air and over the wall with supernatural agility. Her cloak flowed behind her like a flickering shadow. Fletcher’s arrows sailed towards her, missing their ta
rget.
“She’s a swift one,” Fletcher grunted, donning a frown.
What gives? I never miss!
“Well, all the more reason to strike her down,” Gladius affirmed. He kicked the limp body of the decapitated vampire. “We are done here, lets move on!” he ordered. The two of them continued sprinting down the alley towards the wailing screams.
A bolt of hot water flew at a vampire’s face scalding his eyes knocking him backwards. Marin’s sapphire-tipped staff hummed as it recharged.
Umbra rushed the vampire with his pike and buried it in his shoulder. The vampire stood up, totally undaunted. Umbra pulled out the spear and jumped back to Marin.
“Any ideas?” Marin whispered standing at Umbra’s side.
“My pike needs a little juice, but I lost my blood vial in the woods!” Umbra whispered in a hushed voice.
The vampire, now fully recovered lunged at him with a hissing noise, his face scrunched up to reveal his fangs, a glistening white. The vampire was salivating like a feral beast.
Marin dodged to the left and Umbra speared him in the chest, stopping him in mid-air.
Only small grains of dust fled the wound, this vampire had not fed in a long time.
The vampire grabbed the staff of the pike between his hands and snapped it off, landing perfectly on his feet. His black cape settled behind him. He pulled out the pike-head with ease, tossing it to the floor. His face blazed with anger as he glared at the two sorcerers with his silvery eyes.
Umbra and Marin looked at each other nervously as the pike-head rattled on the cobbled street. The vampire pounced at Umbra once again, hissing wildly, eager for blood.
“Noooo!” Marin wailed out as the vampire flew through the air.
The scar on Umbra’s hand illuminated once more like it had done in the woods. The broken pike quickly reshaped into a steel scythe crackling with a black aura.
Umbra quickly dodged to the side and as the vampire passed he swung down and cleanly decapitated him like an executioner.
The Contracted Soul Page 6