Denise stood up and leaned on the table, “He’s gonna need to save you too.”
Falcon looked to Eikard for his approval before starting a fight but Denise did not wait. She flicked her wrist knocking Falcon’s seat out from under him. Katrin tried to catch him but instead fell on top of him. Denise hopped over the table. Falcon held onto Katrin and used a burst of magic to send them sliding across the floor. Denise pressed her advantage throwing another wave of energy at him. Falcon shoved Katrin aside just before Denise’s blast knocked him off the tower.
Denise walked over to watch him fall, “Pretty tough.”
Falcon flew back onto the tower right into Denise. They both rolled across the floor, but Denise was the first to recover. She hopped to her feet and sent an entire wall of force at Falcon. Eikard tried to run between them, but Katrin got there first. Falcon threw up a wall of energy, but Denise’s attack still hit Katrin off the edge of the tower.
“Run!” shouted Eikard.
Without thinking Falcon threw another burst of force knocking Denise and Eikard back and shooting him off the tower. Falcon spun and shot himself toward the ground faster.
Chapter 23
Inner Demons
“Dammit Greko! I should have you hung for this!” shouted Dominick as he knocked Greko to the dirt.
Rocious bent down and offered a hand. Greko jerked his hand up to cover his face, “You’re sure it was Falcon?”
Greko stopped covering his face and took his hand, “Positive. Hard to forget him after that show you put on in the courtyard.”
“Which direction?” asked Rocious as he helped Greko to his feet.
Greko fixed his armor and stood at attention again, “He took the horses back to Dominion, but the tracks lead west.”
Dominick grabbed the collar of Greko’s breastplate, “Fifty horses?! You expect me to believe he simply walked off with fifty horses?!”
“Some of my men helped. I assumed he was acting under your authority,” said Greko.
Rocious started walking west, straight through a group of legionnaires drawn by Dominick’s outburst. When they noticed Rocious they cleared a path immediately, Rocious never missed a step.
Dominick ran after him bumping into a few of the legionnaires as they filled the gap, “Frederick.”
Rocious kept walking.
“Frederick, I want him back as much as you, but we have more than Falcon to worry about,” said Dominick.
“No, you want his journal,” said Rocious.
“He’s like a son—”
Rocious launched himself at Dominick catching him by the throat.
Rocious held Dominick’s head still, forcing him to look directly into his eyes. Dominick’s neck began to sizzle where Rocious touched him, “Don’t feed me your bullshit.”
“Eikard,” groaned Dominick but the sound was cut off as Rocious squeezed.
Rocious lifted Dominick off the ground by his neck, “Eikard can have the journal for all I care. Either help me with Falcon or get out of the way!”
Dominick’s face turned red and his lips became blue as Rocious choked him, then he nodded. Rocious let go of his neck. Dominick caught himself on his knees coughing.
Rocious kicked Dominick’s foot, “Pick yourself up.”
Dominick stood up and scanned the stunned faces until he spotted Greko, “General, I’m giving you command of the ninth. Make sure the tenth is in position around Keld before you approach Fort Reed.”
“Yes, Sire,” said Greko, then he snapped a salute and started barking orders.
The stunned legionaries broke apart and Dominick turned to Rocious, “What’s the plan?”
“Get to Falcon before Connelly. You handle Eikard,” said Rocious.
“How am I supposed to do that?” asked Dominick.
Rocious looked down at Dominick’s waist, “Taking Drake’s sword was your idea, not mine.”
“Are you sure about this?” asked Falcon.
Eikard took Falcon’s shoulder, “Scipio and Werval are more than capable of getting them safely to Fort Reed. But that will be worth nothing if we can’t get them safely behind the walls of the city.”
Falcon looked down, “I wasn’t there for them back in Dominion. And now I abandon them with an army on their heels.”
Eikard flicked Falcon’s forehead, “You don’t need to hold someone’s hand to lead them. You are clearing the path.”
Right or wrong he did not have time to question his decisions, only to learn from the mistakes. Thus far he had been reacting to things as they happened, thinking only a few moments ahead. Werval said he could not be so impulsive if he hoped to lead his people.
“What do I need to do?” asked Falcon.
Eikard mounted his horse, “I’ll explain on the way,” and took off riding down the road.
Falcon looked back at Scipio and Werval as they lead almost five hundred Lancers to intercept Greko and escort his people to Fort Reed. Then he turned to Keld where Eikard’s people prepared to defend their homes. Finally, he looked ahead to Reed. Eikard had almost disappeared over the crest of the first hill. With a burst of energy Falcon caught up to Eikard and kept pace with his charger.
“Get your head in the game?” asked Eikard.
“Yeah, thank you for your guidance,” answered Falcon.
“Better late than never I suppose,” said Eikard.
“So how do I get past the barrier?” asked Falcon.
“There’s no getting past it, you have to bring it down,” said Eikard.
“Can’t your armor get past it?” asked Falcon.
“No. My armor has some ability to dispel and store magic but this is too much. I would make it maybe ten steps past the gate. You have to bring it down.”
“Okay, how do I do that?” asked Falcon.
“Simple. You ask your dad to stop feeding it,” said Eikard.
Falcon stopped. Eikard pulled the reins on his mount and spun to look back at Falcon, “What? It’s that easy? I could have done that ten fucking years ago!”
“I said it was simple not easy. And your dad would not have listened ten years ago. He will now… I think,” said Eikard.
“I’ll make him,” said Falcon as he launched himself down the road.
Rocious saw the walls of Fort Reed forming in the distance and stopped. He let the cool breeze ease his tension leaving behind a sense of tranquility, the scent of trees and grass wash away the acidic smell of burning from his explosions. As the ringing in his ears faded it was replaced with the chirping of birds and tinkling of running water.
As he embraced the serenity of this place he drew in magic for miles. The untapped land was so rich with it that it was hard to pull away, but then Dominick caught up and smashed it all to pieces, “What are you waiting for? We’re almost there.”
Rocious stifled his irritation and claimed his serene reward, “The sword’s almost drained.”
“Seems fine to me,” said Dominick.
“Shut up and fill it,” said Rocious.
“How?” asked Dominick.
“Get pissed off, shit your pants, fall in love, I don’t care,” said Rocious.
Dominick rested his hand on the sword’s pommel, “How is getting pissed off or scared supposed to help?”
Rocious scanned the area trying to remember the terrain from the last time he was here, “You need to feel something, something intense. Memories work well, or use the environment.”
Dominick looked around and sniffed the air, “This place smells like shit.”
Rocious closed his eyes and focused on listening to the magic around him. Instantly he heard the sharp sound emanating from Falcon, and right past him the chaotic drum-like banging from Fort Reed. Once he blocked out that banging something struck him. There was a vicious sound coming from Drake’s sword, like a growling lion.
Falcon sat inches away from the barrier around Fort Reed focusing on the currents of magic coursing through the city, trying to locate the source.
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Falcon rolled onto his back, planted his hands and flung himself into a backwards somersault, “Someone’s here.”
Eikard pushed himself away from the front and walked over to stand next to Falcon, “I will handle it. You need to keep searching.”
“It’s like searching for a grain of salt in a bowl of noodles. I keep getting lost,” said Falcon.
Eikard walked over to the barrier and pushed his hand through. The runes on his glove came to life and magic flowed into his armor, working its way up his arm and across his chest until his entire body was covered in glowing runes. When he pulled his arm out of the barrier the runes let out a flash of light and winked out.
Eikard drew his saber and came back to Falcon’s side, “Keep searching; you’re the only one who can bring that barrier down.”
Falcon turned back toward the gate to find Connelly standing right in front of him, “Master Connelly, what are you doing here?”
“Looking for you,” said Connelly.
Falcon stepped backwards, “Why?”
Connelly looked at Eikard for a moment then tilted his head to look at Falcon, “I honestly didn’t want to do this, but it’s the only way.”
“Master Lockland?” said Falcon confused.
Eikard stepped in front of Falcon.
Connelly rolled his right wrist and a small dagger appeared in his hand, “You know you are the first person Frederick has loved in almost thirty years,” he said to Falcon.
Eikard pointed his saber at Connelly, “Take care of the barrier, Falcon, I’ll handle him.”
The cold determination on Connelly’s face froze Falcon in place. Eikard was not scared and caught the dagger with a flick of his saber, but the attack was a feint, allowing Connelly to slip through the shadows and stab Falcon right in the chest.
As he stabbed Falcon, Connelly slipped through the shadows again, this time pulling Falcon with him and reappearing at the very edge of the barrier, “I’ll have to thank Lockland for showing off your healing ability.”
Rocious watched the grass burn for a moment and fizzle out then flicked more sparks, “Hurry up.”
Dominick let out a long breath but kept his eyes shut, “All your nagging does is annoy me.”
“Good, maybe you’ll feel something for a change,” said Rocious.
“Just give me a moment of silence,” said Dominick.
Before Dominick finished speaking Rocious cut him off with an explosion launching himself over the next hill; when he felt Falcon’s fear his body reacted without conscious thought. Eikard or no, he had to be there now. Once he was over the hill, he launched himself straight for the front gate.
“CONNELLY!!!” shouted Rocious as he threw an explosion into the cloud of shadows surrounding the gate.
When the smoke and shadows cleared it was not Connelly standing there, instead it was Cato Eikard, “Where is my boy?” barked Rocious.
Eikard waved away the smoke and dust, “He’s using you.”
As the smoke cleared Rocious saw a body on the ground outside the gate, “What did you do!?”
Eikard called on his armor and dashed at Rocious, straight through the wall of flames, but when he reached the other side Rocious was not there. Rocious looped a rope of flame around Eikard’s neck and yanked him to the ground. Eikard reached for his dagger but Rocious shifted and kicked it away from them and the city.
Eikard drew on his armor for speed and kicked Rocious in the face then used the kick to spring himself to his feet, “Stop, this wasn’t—” Eikard threw his hands up to block the wave of flames Rocious spit at him.
When the flames cleared Eikard’s armor was glowing red and his hair was singed, “I’m not your enemy,” he said sagging.
“I am,” said Connelly.
Rocious looked back toward the front gate and saw Connelly standing over Falcon’s body twirling a knife in his hands that matched the one stuck in Falcon’s chest.
Rocious turned away from Eikard and raised his hand toward Connelly, “Arrogant bastard.”
Connelly sucked in a breath and huffed it out his nose, “Not this time.”
Rocious snarled and rushed Connelly using an explosion to add speed. Connelly disappeared in a cloud of shadowy smoke leaving Rocious standing over Falcon’s limp body.
As soon as his ears stopped ringing Dominick shook the dirt from Rocious’s explosion out of his hair and ran after him. He crested the hill just in time to see Eikard kick Rocious in the face. On his way down the hill Dominick drew Altor and felt the sword suck in a gulp of magic.
“Now you’re with me? It’s about damn time,” said Dominick to himself.
When Dominick saw Rocious shift his attention to Fort Reed’s gate, fear gripped him and Altor sent a rush of magic into his body. Dominick used that magic to give him speed and rushed in for the kill.
Eikard reacted as if Dominick was moving in slow motion, stepping around his lunge and striking Dominick in the face with the butt of his saber. With the last of his speed Dominick twisted away and brought up his guard.
Eikard brought his sword up to his face then slashed down and to his right, “Decided to fight your own battle? It’s about time.”
“Yeah, I decided today was a good day to kill you,” agreed Dominick.
“Don’t fool yourself, you’ve been trying to kill me for twenty years,” said Eikard.
As he finished speaking Eikard drew on his armor and charged inhumanly fast. Dominick swept Altor in front of his body to deflect Eikard’s lunge and countered with a slash at his neck. Eikard flicked his wrist and elbow catching Dominick’s counter attack on his saber and following up with a defensive slash as he bounced backwards.
The exchange happen in a flash and both men bounced back. Dominick looked down at his breastplate, barely a scratch. Eikard glanced at his shoulder; some of the runes were no longer glowing, “Nice sword.”
Dominick raised Altor into a high guard, “Nice armor.”
Eikard’s slight grin shifted into a blank mask of concentration, “Only as powerful as the one who wields them,” mumbled Eikard.
Before the words reached Dominick’s ears Eikard rushed in, the tip of his blade thrusting for Dominick’s throat. Dominick shifted Altor just in time to deflect Eikard’s attack. A split second later Altor sent a surge of magic up Dominick’s arm forcing him to lunge for Eikard’s chest. Both men were caught off guard by the masterful counter attack, but with his speed Eikard jumped back unscathed.
As Dominick recovered from the sword taking control of his body, Eikard dashed sideways leaving a trail of dust in his wake. Dominick spun his head trying to follow Eikard’s movement, but with Eikard’s ever-increasing speed it was impossible. Once again Altor sent a surge of magic up Dominick’s arm and intercepted Eikard’s blade in a shower of sparks.
This time Dominick simply cleared his mind, and let Altor take control of the fight. Eikard stumbled back as his attack was deflected. Using his speed he sent a series of piercing lunges at Dominick but each one was deflected effortlessly. With each failed attack Eikard stumbled backwards, getting closer and closer to the walls of Fort Reed. In an effort to avoid being cornered Eikard drew on his armor for a massive jolt of speed. As if reacting to his fear Altor slashed at his throat to block off his escape.
Eikard threw up his saber to defend. Altor shattered the simple steel blade but landed only a glancing blow off of Eikard’s shoulder.
“Die already!” panted Dominick as he seized control of Altor and slammed the pommel into Eikard’s face.
Eikard’s head snapped back but his hands caught Dominick’s wrist and pulled him off balance “You first.”
The two men locked hate-filled eyes as they struggled for the upper hand. Dominick drew power from the sword but Eikard matched his strength with the power of his ancestors’ armor. Suddenly Dominick reversed his effort and stepped back just enough to pull Eikard off balance. He followed it up with a head-butt and a bone shattering blow from Altor’s pommel to th
e side of his head. Eikard dropped to the dirt leaving a splatter of blood across Dominick’s breastplate. Eikard started to push himself up, but the glowing runes on his armor winked out and he flopped onto his back.
“You and Reed couldn’t just fall in line like everyone else,” said Dominick.
Eikard lifted his hand but Dominick slapped it away with the flat of Altor’s blade, “After Katrin? What did you expect?” he asked Dominick.
Dominick stepped on Eikard’s chest and placed the tip of Altor’s blade on his neck, “I do regret that, but your father gave me his blessing.”
Eikard pushed his head off the ground cutting his neck on the tip of Altor, “That doesn’t make it okay.”
Dominick shrugged and lifted his blade for a final thrust, “Still, I wanted you to know.”
Eikard closed his eyes. Dominick reversed his grip and slammed Altor downward. Eikard’s eyes shot open, his armor flared to life and a thunderous gust of wind blasted Dominick clean over the walls of Fort Reed.
Rocious looked down at Falcon’s pale face and the entire world seemed to fade into the background. He dropped to his knees and grabbed the dagger in Falcon’s chest. He pulled the blade from his chest and reopened the wound but the magic in his body had already started to close the wound again. But his physical body was already a lifeless shell. Magic might fix his damaged heart but it could not make it beat again.
A cloud of shadowy despair formed around Rocious, feeding the devil living in his own soul. He had kept that beast contained for almost thirty years. All that time it had stayed happily locked away in its drunken little cage; content to stay buried beneath the layers of intimidation, veiled aggression, and insincere self-regard that he used to lock it away. But now that beast had a purpose. In an instant it broke free of its shackles and took hold of Frederick Lockland, transforming him. Revenge consumed his mind and corrupted his soul turning him into pure ferocity.
Ferocious was reborn.
His mouth twisted into a cruel smile as Connelly surrounded him with a cloud of shadows, but he closed his eyes and kept his malicious intent in check, waiting for the last shred of light to be blocked out. When he heard the sound of Connelly’s murderous joy drawing near, Ferocious opened his eyes and poured magic into a thousand tiny embers all around him. Each one a miniature inferno, hot enough to liquefy anything it touched. He sent those embers in every direction smashing his prison of shadows like a hatchling breaking out of its shell.
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