Silas watched the lines of soldiers form as they stood in perfect view of Mudavé, while remaining at a safe distance. Darius commanded the Dunarians, which formed at the center of the giant force. Dink and Emma had pushed their way to the front of the line, more eager to fight than most, it seemed. Silas was sure that Dink would have tried to talk his wife out of fighting, but he knew they both wanted Marenon to be free as much as anyone else.
Soldiers from Farlaweer and Elysium had brought enough horses to create a large line of cavalry to lead the attack. Silas would ride ahead with the first group while the foot soldiers followed close behind. Kaden had reservations about this plan because he didn’t want Silas to lead the charge, but everyone saw the symbolism in it. The soldiers were looking to him for leadership. At some point, however, when the battle finally broke into the city, the plan was for Silas to move away from the fighting and go to the Red Gate. There he knew he would face his ultimate enemy.
Robin commanded the Royal Army that would be attacking the western side of the city. The Erellens, led by Jiaros, would take the eastern side. As he looked around, Silas saw no sign of Daewyn among them, and wondered where the prince could be. Kaden pulled his horse next to Silas.
“Where’s Julian?” he asked. “People are starting to ask questions.”
Silas shook his head. He had no idea where Julian had gone. When they had talked the night before, he had been dressed in his traveling garb and said something about the Sleepers. “He’s trying to help us somehow,” Silas said.
“I hope he knows what he’s doing this time,” Kaden said.
Silas glanced to his left and that’s when he saw Inga approaching. Behind her were Alric, Coffman, and Nalani. Silas jumped off the horse and made his way to her.
“I’m going with you,” she said. “I don’t care what you say. You need me.”
“Inga, I’m sorry about last night. I just don’t want you to get into something you can’t escape.”
“If that’s your fate, then it is mine as well,” she said.
“No. My fate is my own. You and Kaden can come with me to a certain point, but then I go alone.”
“I’m not going with him to the Red Gate,” Kaden told her.
“Why not?” she asked, placing her hands on her hips in frustration.
“Silas is the only one with the power to fight Anithistor. He doesn’t need to worry about protecting us when they meet each other.”
Silas could tell that Inga wasn’t pleased, but there was no more arguing. He was going to tell her how happy he was that she was coming with him, but they were interrupted by a commotion from the Erellen group.
The Erellens soldiers stirred as many tried to peek around each other to get a better look at something. Even from his high perch on a horse, Kaden gave a shrug, having no idea what the soldiers were trying to see. After a moment, Silas saw that there were several people pushing through the crowd, making their way to the front.
The first to emerge from the sea of soldiers was Daewyn who wore a smug, satisfied smile on his face. The next person to appear was not as happy.
The grim-looking Erellen was Lorcan. He wore a large, bloodstained bandage around his head and looked as though his spirit had been crushed. At first, Silas thought he had been in some kind of accident or a fight until it dawned on him what had happened.
Judging by the shocked expressions of the other Erellen soldiers, and the defeated look that painted Lorcan’s face, the mercenary had just undergone the one punishment that stripped him of his identity as an Erellen. Daewyn had cut off the tips of Lorcan’s pointed ears.
When Lorcan had been in prison, he had explained to Silas and the others that this form of punishment was meant to humiliate the offender. It was a mark that told all others that he had broken a serious law. It was a penalty reserved only for the vilest offenders – and now, for Lorcan Zamire.
Inga brought her hand to her mouth when she saw him. He walked slowly to the group where he was met with looks of sympathy and support. Inga, Alric, and Coffman were the first to walk up to him to see if he was all right. Lorcan assured them that he wasn’t in too much pain and that he would survive.
“I’ve had worse injuries,” he tried to laugh.
When Lorcan saw Silas, he pushed passed his mercenary friends and came within a foot of Silas. Silas didn’t know what to expect from the Erellen. Was he angry? Silas couldn’t discern his intentions.
“You love her, don’t you?” Lorcan asked Silas. His voice was too low for the others to hear.
“I do,” Silas answered.
“I think she loves you too.”
Silas was surprised that this was what Lorcan wanted to talk about. His ears were still bleeding and he was facing the humiliation of his people, but his only concern was for the girl who loved them both.
“The Meshulan deserves to have a woman like Inga,” Lorcan said. “I want you to know that I support it. And she deserves to have you.”
Silas stepped a little closer to Lorcan. “I’ve come to terms with what will happen today. You two have a history. Most importantly, you have a future, which is what I lack with any of you.”
Lorcan looked at him with deep concern. “What are you saying?”
“You know what I’m saying. Destroying the gates will end the war. It will also end the need for a Gatekeeper. It will be the end of me.”
Lorcan’s mouth fell open at Silas’ words and shook his head. “Just like that, huh?”
“Probably.”
Lorcan placed a weak hand on Silas’ shoulder and sighed. “I’m going with you today.”
Silas almost smiled at this, but kept himself from doing so. Lorcan had always been a basket case when he came near Stühocs and Silas wondered how he would handle today’s battle, much less going into the depths of Mudavé.
“I know I’ve let my fear get in my way before, but not today.”
Silas looked away for a moment. He could see the others still looking at the two, no doubt wondering what they were talking about.
“I’ve been stripped of my honor,” Lorcan said, pointing to the bandages. “Give me the chance to fight side-by-side with the Meshulan.”
“You want to fight next to me to save your dignity?” Silas asked.
“No,” Lorcan said. “I want to fight next to you to help you make sure Inga leaves when you need to go alone. You know she isn’t going to listen to you when you tell her to go back.”
“I’ve got Kaden for that.”
“You think she cares what Kaden says?”
“You think she cares what you say?” Silas came back.
“Yes.”
Lorcan was right. Inga would want to follow Silas until the end, no matter the cost. But if she would listen to Lorcan, then it would be one less thing Silas would have to worry about.
“Swear to me you won’t have some kind of meltdown when we get in there,” Silas said.
Lorcan stood straight, and placed his arms at his side. “My duty is to the Meshulan. I swear to you that I will not fail you today.”
Silas smiled. “Thanks for trying to save my life in Timugo.”
Lorcan seemed puzzled by the gesture.
“You’re a good person,” Silas continued. “Your heart is true and you care about Inga. For that, I consider you a friend.”
“I personally think the half-ear thing is a good look for you,” Alric said as he walked up to them. Nalani, Kaden, Coffman, and Inga were close behind. Lorcan smiled at them when they approached.
“Why’d they cut your ears?” Coffman asked.
“I agreed to do it so Daewyn would leave me alone. I’m no longer an outlaw.”
“What’s your plan for battle?” Alric asked him.
Lorcan looked at Inga, then to Silas. “I’m going with them.”
Alric and Coffman raised their eyebrows at this, but said nothing.
“What about you?” Lorcan asked them.
“We’ve got the Sphere to deal with,”
Nalani answered. “We aren’t sure how to destroy it.”
“And the Pyramid has been moved,” Alric said. “It’s almost like they know about the Anwyns coming in through the ground.”
Silas thought for a moment then spoke. “When you first saw the Sphere, you said it had been powered by a medallion right?”
Alric nodded. “Yeah.”
Silas reached inside his cloak and pulled out the orange medallion and the purple medallion, leaving the read and white medallions safely in his pocket.
“If you can get these medallions into the pedestal at the top, I can do the rest.”
“What do you mean?” Nalani asked, as Alric took the medallions into his hands.
Silas shook his head. “If I focus, I can destroy the medallions. The words that created them are the words that can destroy them.”
“You mean, you can just destroy these right now?” Alric asked.
Silas shrugged. “But we want them in the pedestal. They’ll destroy the Sphere, I’m sure.”
“How will you know when the medallions are in place?”
“I can sense them. They’re a part of me somehow, ever since I became the Gatekeeper. When you get them to the pedestal, I’ll be able to see them.”
Alric shrugged. “Whatever you say. You’re the boss.”
After that, they all stood in silence, knowing that this could be the last time any of them would see each other again. There were no tears, no goodbyes – just a few smiles and nods to show that it was time, and that each of them was ready to take the fight to Mudavé.
Using a scope, Kaden could see that the Stühocs had set up a line of gray, angry soldiers. Behind them was a sea of Soldiers of the Dead.
“First, they’ll weaken our front lines by bringing in soldiers that can actually fight,” Kaden declared. “Then they will release the mindless savages.”
Silas looked to his left and noticed a nervous army. Though all of them were skilled fighters, the thought that this would be the biggest battle of their lives was not lost on any of them.
As Inga and Lorcan got onto their own horses and rode next to Kaden, Silas steered his to the front of the waiting army. He focused his magic into amplifying his voice, but stopped himself abruptly. For a brief moment, the sight overcame him. So many people were there ready to die because of him.
“Today is your day,” Silas addressed the entire army. “All of you have longed for the day that the Stühocs would be out of our lives. Today is that day. Some of you fear what is to come, but to you I say, today is your day! Take Marenon back from the Stühocs and claim it for yourselves. My grandfather predicted that this day would come. It was the plan from the beginning. You are soldiers of The Reckoning. The Stühocs don’t belong here! Today is not their day! Today is your day!”
The soldiers exploded in cheers for the Meshulan. He looked back at Inga, Lorcan, then Kaden. Kaden nodded his approval, and Silas turned his horse toward Mudavé. He gritted his teeth in determination, and with a sharp kick, his stallion charged forward as thousands followed close behind him.
The Stühocs immediately responded, hoping to break the Humans and Erellens down with a full-speed attack. Most of them didn’t know that Silas was riding straight for their center, however. He held up a palm in front of him and instantly a bright ball of light appeared all around him, bowling over dozens of Stühocs at a time.
Silas was an unstoppable force, electrocuting and incinerating Stühocs left and right. The other soldiers quickly caught up with him, hitting the Stühocs with an undeniable strength.
To his right, Silas could see bursts of light from Inga and even Lorcan who had somehow found the strength to fight the dreaded Stühocs head on.
The fighting was still too far for The Reckoning soldiers to force their way in through the gates. There were still hordes of Soldiers of the Dead and Nestorians to fight through before that would even become a possibility.
Robin and the Royal Army were the first to break through the Stühocs’ front line, but that meant they were also the first to be attacked by the Soldiers of the Dead.
Darius and the Dunarian Order, along with Silas, Inga, Lorcan, and Kaden broke through next, followed by the Erellens. The next time any of them would fight another Stühoc would be when they broke through the city gate. Silas hoped by then, the Stühocs would be so overwhelmed with Anwyn soldiers that the fight would be easier.
The Soldiers of the Dead were wild-eyed and vicious. A familiar feeling came over Silas as he remembered when he had to take down the undead in Jekyll Rock. The fact that these people were once simple Humans with lives and a reason to live did not escape him, but it also didn’t keep him from shooting a stream of fire through an entire group of them, burning their flesh to the bone.
Cutting through the Soldiers of the Dead was not too difficult, though some that opposed them were caught in the wake of biting jaws and clawing nails. The lines of Nestorians were not far behind as the Humans and Erellens drew nearer to the city walls.
Silas yanked on his horses’ reigns and moved closer to his friends. Inga and Lorcan seemed flawless in their magic as they blasted Nestorians and undead soldiers into the air. Kaden sliced and cut so quickly it seemed he didn’t even have to concentrate.
“We’ve got to break down the city gate!” Silas yelled to them. “I need you to follow me.”
Each of them nodded in affirmation and Silas jumped from his horse to the ground. A Nestorian instantly charged him with a spear, but Silas held up his left hand and called the spear to it, while he conjured a fireball in his right hand and sent it sailing for the Nestorian’s mask, igniting it in flames. Silas then turned the spear toward the ground and stabbed the head into the dirt at his feet.
A giant crack formed in the ground, traveling at lightning speed until it reached the city gate, splitting it in the middle. With deeper concentration, Silas called fire to fill in the crevice, setting an entire line of Nestorians, and ultimately the city gate on fire.
He fell to the ground as he felt the sudden loss of energy. He knew he was using too much of his magic and that he needed to conserve the rest for his confrontation with Anithistor. But this was battle. People were dying. He could not just stand idly by.
He slammed his fist against the ground and forced himself to his feet and charged forward as hundreds of soldiers followed him closely behind. The Nestorians’ line broke with the sudden surge, and now the Humans and Erellens had to face the onslaught of arrows flying from atop the city wall. Silas placed a large green shield over himself and anyone that stood within twenty feet of him.
Kaden grabbed his arm and spoke loudly so Silas could hear him.
“You’ve got to save your strength! I know you can’t do this forever. You must save your magic to face Anithistor.”
“I’ve got to get everyone into the city,” Silas yelled back. He turned from Kaden and with a rush he sent the green shield crashing into the fiery city gate, crumbling its remains into tiny pieces of wood, rock, and dust.
Soldiers all around Silas charged in blindly and that’s when the explosions came. The first one knocked Silas and the others off their feet. The second, third and fourth took out only a few of the Stühocs who had been waiting for the attack. When Silas looked up from the ground he could see hundreds of the green Anwyns fighting their way out of the newly formed craters in the ground.
Apparently the Stühocs had been ready for such an attack because they instantly surrounded the craters and all the arrows were directed at the Anwyns, but this allowed for more of the Humans and Erellens to get through.
Silas pulled himself off the ground and stumbled through the broken gate. What he saw made him freeze. The Stühocs must have reserved the rest of their troops inside of the city, for there seemed to be more now that there had been at the battle of Jekyll Rock.
Looking around at The Reckoning Soldiers, Silas wasn’t sure they had the manpower to overtake the Stühocs. He glanced to the east and could see the Pyrami
d looming in the distance, thankful that it had been moved for the time being. Once the Stühocs were satisfied that there wouldn’t be any more surprise attacks, they would start moving the Pyramid closer and the Sphere would unleash its fury on the opposing army. That’s why Alric and his crew needed to get to it quickly.
He looked in every direction until he spotted them, fighting the overpowering number of Stühocs and Nestorians that surrounded them. Silas sprinted in their direction until he came near. He stretched out his arms, yelled for his friends to drop to the ground, and unleashed rivers of ice in every direction until their enemies formed a wall of frozen sculptures around them. Coffman took the liberty of smashing one of them into tiny glass-like pieces with his foot.
“I really need to think about learning more of this magic stuff,” Alric said as he looked at Silas.
“The four of you need to get to the Pyramid,” Silas told them.
Just then, another explosion sounded behind them. When they looked, they could see another group of Anwyns emerge from the underground tunnels, this time led by His Excellency who carried a mighty sword that gleamed in the morning sunlight as he moved. When the sword changed into a giant battle-ax, it confirmed that the Anwyn carried the staff of Uriah. Silas felt a twinge of jealousy and regret that he was no longer using the famed staff, but he knew it was in the hands of the true owner.
As he turned away, he could feel his hands begin to shake. He didn’t know why at first, but he finally came to the conclusion that he had overexerted his magical energy. Since the destruction of the Blue and Green Gates, he had not been able to maintain his strength. He cursed himself silently for having used so much of his magic in the battle already. But the soldiers had needed it. Yet none of it mattered if Silas didn’t have the power to defeat Anithistor.
He closed his hands into fists and tried to gather his strength. When he opened his eyes he looked up at the Pyramid again. This time he noticed something different.
Apparently the Stühocs were satisfied that there were no more secret Anwyn entrances that could potentially bring down the Pyramid with one of their large explosions, because the structure began to roll slowly toward them.
The Marenon Chronicles Collection Page 75