“She’s serious,” Mat assured him, “his name is Anticus, and he will be joining us at some point, just not yet.”
While they ate, they told their friends about their journey into the tunnels and the new tunnel that opened up for them. Mat showed them the Shield of Faith, and Persephonie told them about the staff. The only thing she had figured out how to do was to make it glow, but she knew there was much more it was capable of.
They spent the rest of the day preparing for their journey out of the desert and that evening met with Jeremiah and Uriah one more time. Finding the Shield of Faith didn’t change their plans, and they were still determined to set out in the morning. It would take longer for the warriors and coteries of El Fiducia to prepare to leave, but they would start their journey within a month.
The following morning, Jeremiah and Uriah wished them luck as they traveled back to Solandeus. Jeremiah confided in Mat and Persephonie that he went to the tunnels after they spoke and could find no trace of the tunnel to the dragon’s lair. Mat didn’t know why it was sealed off again, but he assured him it was there.
As they rode away, Mat wondered if there was still something Jeremiah was hiding. He didn’t have any reason to mistrust him, but something didn’t seem quite right.
As if reading his thoughts, Anticus spoke to both Mat and Persephonie. You can trust Jeremiah, the dragon told them. Anything he keeps from you is for a good reason.
You sound as if you know more, Persephonie stated.
It is not my place to share his secrets, Anticus admonished, unless they are a danger to you, which they are not. Would you like me to answer some of your questions now?
I thought you’d never ask, Mat said. Let’s start with an easy one. What do you eat?
I’m a hundred foot dragon, Anticus told him, I eat anything I want . . . haaa haaa haaa.
Mat and Persephonie couldn’t help but laugh out loud. The mirth was a good feeling that they had experienced far too infrequently since beginning the quest. They hoped that having a humorous dragon around would help lighten the mood when things looked dark.
For the first day of travel, Mat and Persephonie learned all they could about the golden dragon. Anticus was the only known dragon on the earth. A protector of the world, he was older than any of the people on the planet. At crucial times in history, he would intervene to help good triumph over evil, but then Anticus would spend centuries hidden away until mankind needed him again.
Mat and Persephonie were not surprised to learn Anticus could fly but were astonished that no one had ever ridden him, because riding a dragon seemed like a great way to travel long distances quickly. Anticus didn’t say he wouldn’t let them ride, but the dragon did tell them he didn’t think it was a good idea. They were disappointed to learn that Anticus could not breathe fire, but he was able to exhale large clouds of toxic and flammable gas. If there was an ignition source, it could appear that he breathed fire, but it would be more for show than to do any real damage in a battle.
By the end of the first day of travel, Mat and Persephonie had asked all their questions and had a pretty good idea of who their new friend was. They had a feeling he was much more important than he was letting on, but they couldn’t pinpoint exactly why. Around the campfire that night, they shared what they learned about the dragon and answered questions the best they could.
The journey out of the desert and into the forest was uneventful. They followed the same route out as when they traveled in to El Fiducia and camped at most of the same oases. Once they entered the forest, Brasco began to become visibly agitated, and it became apparent he was worrying about the reunion with his sister and the rest of the bandits. He was committed to the quest to defeat Anton, but he was torn by the loyalty he felt towards his sister as well.
When they finally reached the bandit camp, it turned out Brasco’s worrying was all for naught. Very little had changed in the time they were gone. The bandits continued to operate outside the law with very little attention from any of the governors. When Brasco informed his sister he intended to travel to Solandeus and oppose Anton, there were some objections but nothing serious, and in the end he left with the rest of the group as planned.
As they were leaving, Charity warned Mat to be careful. The situation in Sorgen had worsened in the last month, and they were actively looking for a young man who matched his description. He thanked her for the information and promised to make sure her brother was as well-protected as any of them could be in the coming days.
When they arrived in Sorgen, Charity’s concern proved to be well founded. On their first journey through the area, the city had been under martial rule. The citizenry was generally oppressed, but the living conditions appeared to be tolerable for most. The environment less than two months later was openly hostile.
The soldiers walking the street bullied their way around and didn’t hesitate to administer corporal punishment to anyone unfortunate enough to get in their way. The general population of Sorgen was actively contentious with the soldiers, and it appeared that the only the swords and clubs of the ever-present soldiers kept them from open revolt.
When they carefully made their way to the docks, they found them almost completely empty; no trade moved in or out. There were a few fishing vessels unloading the daily catch, but nothing that offered much chance for passage back to Solandeus. The soldiers that patrolled the docks were less belligerent, but they appeared to collect bribes from every ship before it was allowed to unloaded cargo.
The warehouse district was in even worse shape. The building in which they had hidden their horses had burned to the ground as had most of the warehouses around it. The only positive was that there didn’t appear to be any soldiers patrolling the area, probably because there wasn’t much left to patrol. An abandoned building that still had a roof and was large enough to hold their horses and gear had to make do.
Once they were settled into the relative safety of the near-collapsed building, the group gathered together to try to figure out how to get back to Solandeus. With a sea voyage looking unlikely, the only other option was to travel the same route the supply caravans took into Solandeus. If they were going to take that route, they needed more information than they currently possessed so Michael snuck out into the city after the sun set to see if any of his contacts still remained.
Considering the current hostile state of Sorgen, Mat decided to check on Jimmy, the boy who helped them escape the first time they passed through the city. Using the Druid skills they learned from Jeremiah, Mat and Persephonie moved through the city undetected. When there were two soldiers, they simply directed their attention away making them all but invisible. Wherever there were more than two soldiers, they simply waited until they left or found another way.
The inn that Jimmy’s father ran was almost deserted when they arrived. Less than a dozen patrons sat at tables, and they showed no interest in anything other than the mug or plate in front of them. Mat approached the innkeeper while Persephonie sat at a table in the corner with her hood covering her face.
“How has business been lately,” Mat asked the innkeeper quietly.
“Terrible,” the man said without looking up.
“Do you run this all by yourself, or do you have family to help?” Mat asked.
Something about the question made the man look up at Mat. “What are you doing here again?” he asked Mat tensely. “If they see you here, I’m finished.”
“I will be gone as soon as I can,” Mat answered. “I didn’t get a chance to thank you and your son for your hospitality last time we were here, and I wanted to make amends.”
“Too late for that,” he said woodenly. “They took Jimmy from me. Said he stole from a soldier, and threw him in the dungeon. I haven’t seen him in three weeks. Could be worse, I guess, they could have hung him on the gallows.”
Something inside of Mat snapped. He could no longer ignore the suffering of innocent people. It didn’t matter if the people were in the Northe
rn Kingdom or Solandeus. They all suffered because of Anton, and it was time to stop it.
“I will get your son back,” Mat said simply. “I’m going to get everyone back.”
Persephonie felt the power of Mat’s emotions and was by his side instantly. “What’s wrong?” she asked with genuine concern looking between Mat and the innkeeper.
“Anton is what’s wrong, and it’s time to do something about it,” Mat answered, then turned back to the innkeeper. “Where’s the dungeon?”
“At the castle, but even if you get him out, they will just come after us,” he answered fearfully. “As long as there are soldiers here, things will only get worse.”
“Then it’s time to get rid of the soldiers,” Mat said and turned for the door.
The innkeeper grabbed Mat’s arm as he turned to leave. “Thank you,” he said simply. “I will pray you are successful.”
Mat nodded to the innkeeper with a grim smile then walked into the street with Persephonie at his side. “Can you send word to the Druid sisters to meet us at the castle?” Mat asked Persephonie.
She was silent for a few seconds before speaking. “I told Anna and Bethany we were storming the castle,” Persephonie answered. “Bethany seemed to panic, but I think Anna understood.”
“I guess we’ll find out when we get there,” Mat said as he turned towards the castle.
Mat strode towards the castle with a purpose he knew was just. The Helmet of Salvation and Shield of Faith were in the warehouse, but he wore the rest of the armor, and the Sword of Spirit glowed with an inner fire fed by his righteous cause. Persephonie walked by his side with an equal sense of purpose. She carried the Staff of Power and was ready to test it in battle.
As the castle came into view, the first opposition appeared at the end of the street: a patrol of five men. In the dim light they couldn’t clearly see Mat and Persephonie. If they had seen the intensity in their eyes or the deadly intent of their strides, they might have fled, but it was hidden from them by the night. Unaware of the deadly mistake they were making, the city watch strode forward with weapons drawn. The leader of the group, a bald muscular man, walked a few steps ahead with two men on each side.
Mat stepped forward with the Sword of Spirit in one hand intent on delivering justice. Persephonie was a step behind, mentally linked with Mat so they could act as an extension of each other. As they reached the group, Persephonie used Druid invisibility on the lead man diverting his attention away from Mat so he could slip past him unseen. In a split second Mat was on the man directly behind the leader. The second man was unprepared for the lightning fast strike. He fell back with a gaping hole in his torso left by the Sword of Spirit.
As the man on the outside turned his attention to Mat, Persephonie stepped forward swinging the Staff of Power low and sweeping him off his feet. As he landed on his back driving the wind from him, she spun the staff around and brought it down on his head with both hands, knocking him unconscious.
After finishing off the man behind the leader, Mat turned quickly back towards the lead man who was just realizing Mat was now behind him. Because of his bond with Persephonie, he knew the man on the outside was down and didn’t need to worry about protecting his back. The lead man was quick to recover and swung his huge sword wildly at Mat’s head. He easily ducked under the blow, stepped forward with his sword extended, and ran the man through.
Mat pulled his sword free and swung back around to face the two remaining soldiers. At the same instant, Persephonie sent out a wave of Druid fear that was amplified by the Staff of Power. The two remaining soldiers stood frozen in place, shaking in fear. Unable to kill helpless men, Mat stepped in quickly and disarmed them.
The skirmish was over almost as fast as it started, but there was no turning back now. There was no choice now except to liberate Sorgen. They were officially bringing the war to Anton on his home ground. As the rest of his friends and the coterie from El Fiducia arrived, it was almost enough to make Mat smile, but there was still much to be done.
Hundreds of miles to the northwest, the desert exploded into the sky showering sand down hundreds of feet away. A massive creature, carried on golden wings, burst into the night sky. For the first time in centuries, the Great Golden Dragon flew to the aid of a righteous warrior fighting evil.
I am on my way, Anticus sent to Mat.
The war has begun, Mat replied. Tonight, the citizens of Sorgen will be liberated from Anton’s tyranny.
As Mat turned towards the castle, Michael grabbed him by the arm. Before Michael could speak, their eyes met and the look exchanged conveyed more than words ever could. After months of training and preparation, Mat was ready to lead. He had made his decision and the only thing that remained was to follow through. With a nod, Michael accepted Mat’s complete leadership and followed him into battle.
With his friends and companions at his back and the Great Golden Dragon on the way, Mat led the charge against the castle. The men they already disposed of were apparently on duty at the main gate, because it stood wide open, and they passed through the wall into the courtyard unchallenged. To their right a score of soldiers emerged from the barracks and charged the group intent on driving them out of the courtyard so they could lower the portcullis.
The coterie from El Fiducia rushed to intercept the soldiers charging them. Linked together through the Druid Anna, the group was perfectly in tune with one another. While Anna didn’t possess the raw power that Persephonie did using the Staff of Power, she had years more training and had mastered techniques Persephonie had not. As the charging soldiers neared, she pulled moisture out of the air and deposited it in a slick sheen on the stones in front of them. As they tried to slow for a controlled attack, their feet slid out from underneath them causing several to fall, and the rest crashed into each other as they tried to keep from falling.
That moment of confusion was all that the coterie needed. They stepped forward slashing and stabbing through the middle of the disorganized mess created by the slipping soldiers. The battle was over quickly, and within minutes the courtyard was quiet again. The coterie secured the courtyard and closed the portcullis to prevent soldiers on watch in the city from joining the fight in the castle.
With complete faith that Anna and her coterie would secure the courtyard, the rest of the group charged into the castle. Once inside, Mat and Persephonie found the stairs to the dungeon and went to free Jimmy and anyone else wrongly imprisoned. Michael, Arajin, Banji, Brasco, and Bethany moved room by room through the castle, subduing any resistance and ultimately capturing Anton’s governor.
They found very little resistance inside the castle and within an hour, they were assembled again in the courtyard. Mat and Persephonie had freed Jimmy and dozens of other prisoners who were grateful to be back outside. There were also a dozen new captives including the governor and his son whom Mat recognized as the man he saw abusing the innkeeper’s staff on their first trip through Sorgen.
With the castle secure, the next phase of liberating Sorgen was subduing the rest of Anton’s soldiers that were still in the city. The coup had taken place so quickly that many of them were probably still unaware that the castle had even been attacked. Rounding up the rest of the soldiers presented a dilemma because they didn’t want to leave the castle unprotected, but they needed as many people as possible in the city to confront the soldiers.
An earsplitting shriek drew their attention to the sky. They watched in awe, and fear, as a huge gold dragon flew into view. Even Mat and Persephonie were astonished at the size of the creature now that it was freed from the underground chamber. As he landed in the courtyard with his wings spread wide, Anticus let out a roar that shook the stones of the keep and dropped most people in the courtyard to the ground covering their heads in fear.
“Don’t worry, my friends,” Mat shouted to get everyone’s attention. “This is Anticus, the Great Golden Dragon. He is on our side.”
“It looks like you didn’t need me af
ter all,” Anticus boomed.
“This was only part of the job,” Mat said. “We still must liberate the rest of the town, but need someone to guard the castle. Can you help us with that?”
“Of course,” Anticus replied, then asked with a wink that the prisoners couldn’t see, “do I get to eat any of the prisoners?”
Several of the prisoners including the Governor suddenly fainted. “Only if they don’t do what they’re supposed to,” Mat answered with a laugh.
With Anticus guarding the prisoners and the castle, Mat’s force marched into the city. As word of the attack on the castle spread, the citizens of Sorgen joined the fight. Unfortunately, they were ill-equipped to fight trained soldiers, and many citizens were killed before they could be rescued.
By daybreak, the city was fully under the control of Mat and the rest of his group. Jimmy was happily re-united with his father and the rest of the prisoners rescued from the dungeon were returning to their homes. Word was sent to Charity and the bandit camp that they were free to return to Sorgen and help in establishing a new government.
In one night, Mat had liberated the first city from Anton’s cruelty. It wasn’t a city he expected to liberate, but he knew it was the right thing to do. He knew it wouldn’t be long before the rest of Northern Kingdom, and Anton himself, knew Sorgen was again free. With his friends, the skilled coterie, and Persephonie at his side, he was ready for whatever came their way. The giant golden dragon frequently seen flying over Sorgen wouldn’t hurt either.
As Mat considered his first major victory, the biggest question on his mind was, “Where do we go next?”
Epilogue
Mitchum sat near the fire studying the young man on the other side as they ate. He called him Richard, but he knew that wasn’t his real name. He also didn’t know why he was even involved with him. Mitchum had spent the last 25 years living alone in the mountains trying to avoid the outside world. When he came across the young man, his first inclination was to leave him there to die. However, despite the fact that he avoided other people at all costs, he couldn’t just let him die.
Armor of God (Salvation of Solandeus Book 2) Page 14