Chapter 19
Darkness at the Gate
The gates of Lasticall were gradually lowering. Azonis stood inside the stone walls, watching helplessly as Rasmere and two others ran for their lives toward the sanctuary of Lasticall. Directly behind them, the dark army was gaining ground in what was left of the forest. A creature resembling a Woggen, but much larger, pummeled its way through the forest, uprooting the innocent trees that stood in its path.
Azonis murmured under his breath, “Hurry, Rasmere.”
As Rasmere and the remaining hunters came closer to Lasticall, a problem arose. The bridge had begun to rise, the gates were closing, and their pursuers were getting ever closer. Rasmere lowered his head and shoulders slightly and began to dash for the almost out of reach bridge. At the edge of the ravine that surrounded the southern border of Lasticall, Rasmere bent his knees and launched himself into the air. He cleared the end of the ascending bridge, landed on the other side, and slid down the steep slope the rising bridge had created.
His companions were not so lucky. One unfortunate Engenium missed the bridge entirely and fell into the bottomless ravine. The other clung to the end of the bridge, dangling over the hungry abyss. As he began to pull himself up, a large black hand engulfed him, squeezing the life from his body.
The Woggen grabbed the bridge with its free hand and pulled it back down, snapping the large chains that were doing their best to draw up the large wooden walkway. The bridge slammed back down, and the Breathless were free to march across.
Rasmere was now only a few feet away from the gate. He was not sure if he would beat the clock on this day. If he did not, he was sure it would be his last. Rasmere used the remainder of his dwindling energy and made a desperate attempt at safety. He slid feet first at the closing gate. As his head slid under the gate, he saw a large fist come crashing down where he had been only moments ago. He stood up inside of the sanctuary of the city, and Azonis rushed over to him.
“What is happening?” Azonis asked.
Rasmere looked at him and calmly said, “The boar is no more, but it seems that we now have more threatening matters at hand.”
"What is that creature?" Azonis asked.
"I do not know," Rasmere replied.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The large creature was now beating away at the gate. Archers atop the wall began to launch arrows at the beast and the countless Breathless.
"How long before it breaks down the gates?" Azonis asked.
"The gate is strong. It is made from opas. The walls on the other hand . . . a few hours," Rasmere replied.
"Help prepare our army. We are at war," Azonis said, listening to the deep thuds coming from the city walls.
Locmire's Quest: Book One A Tales from Calencia Novel Page 37