“Impeccable timing on your part,” Kyran said as he leapt onto the dragon’s back and sat with legs crossed.
“Kyran, you want to do this?” Catherine asked in confusion.
“We’ll explain on the way,” Arimus said. “But trust us, we have to do this now.”
“Okay,” Catherine groaned, rising to her feet. “Let’s get this over with.”
“Catherine!” Zain cried out as he ran towards them. “What are you doing?”
“It’s hard to explain,” Catherine said wearily, pointing to the dragon. “But we’re headed to Zen-echelon. We’re going to stop Thorn right now…how are the others?”
“Damage hasn’t been too bad throughout the Kingdom, and Tyuin is still alive…but he lost his wife in the castle explosions, and so have I…the stones are gone…”
“Then Thorn must have them,” Catherine replied as she reached into her pocket and then threw Zain the stone of Quietus. “Keep that safe, and begin rebuilding. Have the groups maintain their positions and keep the people calm. You’re in charge until I return.”
“Should we come with you?” asked one of the young Sages. Catherine smiled warmly and then let James help her up onto the dragon’s back.
“I’m sorry,” Catherine said. “But this is our fight. No offense, but we can’t afford to lose you right now. This Kingdom will need its Sages. Protect the others in case Thorn returns. We won’t be long.”
With Catherine and the remaining three seasoned Sages on the dragon’s back, it lifted up into the sky and took off for one last ditch effort towards Thorn’s Kingdom…
* * * * *
“So that’s the gist of it,” James replied as they all sat cross legged on the dragon’s back, flying high above the clouds. “Thorn isn’t nearly as powerful as he makes himself out to be. But that doesn’t make him any less dangerous. He’s smart, and he’ll be figuring out a way to take us down once and for all. Maybe a giant red exploding creature or something.”
“So that’s how you made this dragon,” Catherine said, looking at its skin. “It’s beautiful.”
“It doesn’t have any strength,” James said. “It’s made solely for flying, but I haven’t had the time Thorn’s had either. For years he’s learned to create multiple manifestations at once and infuse them with incredible power. It must be taxing on him and his carrier.”
“If we can get the stones away from him, then it’s all over,” Arimus said. “He’ll be completely powerless. Finding his carrier will be the key.”
“What do you think he’ll do with the stones he took?” Catherine yawned.
“He won’t have time to find carriers for all of them, but this does complicate things. With all the stones being the same, we have to ensure that we retrieve all three from him. He can’t have a single one in his possession or this starts all over again.”
“So this is why he’ll try to eliminate us as soon as possible…we know too much.”
“Exactly. It’s already bad enough that the Kingdoms have united. We’ve saved many lives today through our teamwork, but he can’t let this go on. My bet is that he’ll probably put the stone into a new carrier, someone who still has a lot of life left. He’s been hitting the Kingdoms one after the other. I’m sure whomever he’s using now has got to be close to death.”
“So it’s best to hit him in the transition, and while he’s wounded,” James said. Catherine yawned again and leaned on his shoulder. He was about to ask her if she was comfortable when he heard her snoring.
“Man, she’s tired,” James said as Kyran nodded.
“She’s been using the stone non-stop too,” he said flatly. James frowned at him.
“What does that mean?”
“You know what it means.”
James looked at his fiancée out the corner of his eye and tried not to budge.
“Is there anything we can do?” he asked. Arimus shook his head.
“We can’t dwell on that until this is through…though I can’t begin to fathom how tired she must feel. While she looks as young and vibrant as always, on the inside, everything’s aged, compensating for the power she’s forcing her body to produce. I’m surprised she hasn’t collapsed altogether.”
“I’ll protect her,” James replied quietly as he leaned his head on hers. “She won’t have to use it again.”
No one said another word as the dragon flew on, headed toward Zen-echelon under Kyran’s direction…
Chapter 16 – Full Circle
They wasted no time with stealth. The dragon descended right in front of Thorn’s castle as James woke Catherine up gently. She smiled warmly at seeing his face, and then sighed in frustration once she remembered where they had been headed. Each of them slid off the dragon’s back and it vanished as Kyran immediately went invisible.
Arimus and James stood in front of Catherine as they approached the house cautiously. As their feet sloshed in the mud, a breeze rolled past, and although it wasn’t yet close to evening, the sky had gone dark, as if a torrential downpour was coming. The black clouds blocked the sun and created a strange backdrop of sunny blue under pitch black. James unsheathed both eidolons and strutted forward, waiting for an ambush by Thorn, but nothing came.
“Be alert,” Arimus whispered. A drizzle began to fall over them as they reached the castle, examining it for signs of a trap, but it was very quiet. Opening the door and entering, Arimus looked around at the strange décor and James swung his eidolon around. No one said a word until Kyran suddenly came into view before them.
“I take it we’ve arrived early to the party,” Arimus said as Kyran nodded.
“He’s not here,” Kyran said. “Or we’re about to be in big trouble. Either way, let’s proceed with caution. He turn up at any moment.”
“Do you remember anything about where his carrier may be?”
“I did ask him, but naturally he was apprehensive on the subject. She has to be here though. This would be the best place to hide her on the planet.”
“I think I’ve got it,” James said, pointing down. “I can sense…something below. It’s very faint, but it’s definitely a person.”
“Whoever it is, she wasn’t there before,” Kyran commented. “I did a scan myself when I was here last.”
“We don’t have time to find the entrance,” Catherine commented. “Any takers?”
“I’ll do it,” Arimus said. “Stand back.”
Arimus stepped in front of them and pointed at the floor with his windmill eidolon. It snapped out his hand and began drilling a circular hole in the floor on its own that would be big enough for them to go down one by one. It kept digging deeper and deeper it hit a hollow room. The eidolon flew back into Arimus’ arms suddenly and he jumped down without restraint. The others followed suit, but as soon as they hit the floor, they heard Arimus cry out.
“No! No! No! No!” he sobbed as he ran forward. James held up a hand in alarm.
“Arimus, what’s wrong?! Stop! It could be a trap!”
The room was small and dark, only two torches were lit at the far end, casting a dim light on a woman, lying strapped to a dingy, stained bed. Arimus had run over to her and burrowed his face into her shoulder as she slept. Kyran and Catherine stayed back in caution as James approached his friend.
“Arimus? Arimus, what’s the matter?”
“What has he done to you?” Arimus cried, on the brink of hyperventilating. “What has that monster DONE?!” Arimus pounded the side of the bed with his fists as James stepped forward cautiously and inspected the face of the woman. She was thin and obviously malnourished. Her bones were visible under the skin, and her face was weak and pale. Still, there was something very familiar about her.
It was the hair.
The way it curled.
The color…the…he knew this hair.
James turned around and immediately saw the resemblance.
“Catherine!” James shouted. “I think it’s your mother!”
Catherine ran
forward and cried out in grief as soon as she saw the woman’s face. Both she and Arimus wept bitterly as Kyran closed his eyes and tried to maintain a solid composure. James walked over to join him as he left them to their sorrow.
“What a wonderful picture,” a voice muttered behind them. Kyran and James jumped and turned around to see a worn-out Thorn trying to smile. “Now we can be together as a family should.”
“STAY AWAY FROM ASHALYNN!” Arimus roared as he stood to face him. Catherine looked up at her teacher with a confused look on her face.
“Oh, that’s right,” Thorn sighed. “Catherine still doesn’t know. Well, since one way or another, this is all about to end tonight, we might as well tell her, shouldn’t we? Catherine, Arimus is your father.”
Catherine stared at Thorn and then back at Arimus who kept his gaze fixed on the King of Zen-echelon.
“There’s no need for me to lie,” Thorn sighed again. “It’s the truth. Arimus married and impregnated her before I took her as my own.”
“What are you saying?” Catherine said as Thorn smiled.
“I’ve altered my appearance many times over the years,” Thorn chuckled. “So I can only imagine why you can’t recognize me now. I’ve chosen the name Thorn, but before that, I was known as Cornelius Herald, the King of Allay.”
“Impossible…” she said as Thorn nodded.
“How do you think I knew the Sages were so close to figuring out my secrets? A young Sage by the name of Arthur…yes, that was his name if I recall - he was the one that had been working on the project. He was the one to tell me the whole story about the stones. I couldn’t have that, so I sent the Quietus to take care of the Sages, and of course, allow me to escape.”
“What is she doing here?” Arimus growled. “You’ve been using her as a carrier, haven’t you?”
“Not as much as you think,” Thorn laughed. “My last one died while I was on the way here, which is why you arrived before me. But no worries, I’ve had one of my soldiers place the stone inside her and then one of my dragons took me back as quick as possible so that we can all celebrate her promotion. She has just been given the honor of being my next carrier!”
The group refused to move as Thorn smiled.
“Ah, yes. There it is. Let it sink in. You see, I have others waiting for my use, all of them bound to me in a procedure I had developed decades ago. A way to form the bond with multiple partners without their consent and will.”
“You’re sick,” Catherine said as Thorn smiled again.
“But smart. See, I was saving Ashalynn for a special purpose. One that is now being fulfilled. Sure, you can attack me, but now I have a fresh victim that I’m just itching to suck dry. If you even think of moving towards me, you’ll be killing her at the same time.”
“So what do you want?” Catherine huffed.
“I thought you would never ask. Let’s see…well, since the four of you know so much about the stones and how they operate, I can’t let you live. So how about this? I kill you all, and in exchange, Ashalynn lives?”
“I don’t understand,” Catherine said. “You were my father…she was your wife…how can you be so cold?”
“Don’t take it personal. It’s just business. And if it makes you feel any better, you still have a father that’s loved you all along. It’s just he’ll be dead soon.”
Kyran took a step forward and Thorn held up a hand, glowing with the power coming from Ashalynn.
“I wouldn’t do that,” Thorn warned. “Unless you want her dead.”
“Something’s up,” James said suddenly, staring at Thorn. “With your story…”
“James, please,” Arimus said. “Don’t provoke him. We can figure a way out of this.”
“I think I already have,” James said, looking at Thorn up and down. “From the very beginning he’s been a fraud, and I think he’s playing with us still. When he mentioned that his last carrier died on the way here…he said that the soldier took the stone from his last carrier and placed it in Ashalynn.”
“Yeah, so?” Arimus asked.
“There is no one here but him once he loses his carrier, not even his manifestations. That means there were no soldiers here to transfer the stone.”
“I get it,” Kyran said, advancing toward Thorn.
“Stay back,” Thorn shouted, but Kyran kept going.
“There is no stone within Ashalynn right now,” James said with a smile. “Even when he said he figured out a way to make a bond with multiple partners sounds like a lie. I don’t think he has a bond with anyone right now. He’s just an ancient man who’s had a lot of knowledge and time on his own. Think about it. I manifested a dragon without using a stone’s power or a carrier. He’s just had time to train longer and build up his strength. That’s why he’s so exhausted…even now.”
“Bravo, James,” Thorn clapped, and then he leapt up the hole and started running out the castle. Kyran, Arimus and James followed while Catherine focused the power of the stone to heal her mother.
“Don’t let him escape!” James shouted as the three of them chased Thorn down.
“That goes without saying,” Kyran said. Arimus sped past them and used a gust of wind to knock Thorn off his feet.
“Some King,” Arimus spat as he flipped Thorn over and punched him hard in the face. Thorn cackled and caught the next fist.
“Just because I’m not using a stone, doesn’t mean I’m a pushover.” Thorn threw Arimus to the side and dodged James’ and Kyran’s attempt as his head with their eidolons. Kyran gained his balance first and went to tackle the King, but Thorn pivoted and called for an eidolon of his own. A jagged silver colored sword. As Kyran was in mid-air, Thorn ducked under him and slammed the eidolon through his stomach. The King laughed in delight as he threw Kyran off his blade and waited for Arimus and James to attack.
“Come on, Sages,” Thorn goaded them. “You’re the last two standing in my way.”
Arimus roared and ran forward with his windmill eidolon swinging in all directions. Thorn met him head on as Arimus picked up his speed and strength little by little, transforming his armor into his Sage robes. James took a breath and transformed as well, unleashing both his eidolons and donning his robe as well. Joining in the fight, the two Sages fought against Thorn with all their might, but he was swatting them away like they were children. Finally, Thorn had enough, roundhouse kicking Arimus into the mud. As he recovered, James engaged the King one-on one but Thorn laughed at the attempt, sheathing his eidolon and switching to just his fists.
He dodged both of James’ eidolons easily, ducking and weaving, punching James over and over like a boxer, hitting his ribs over and over in the same spot. James’ body finally staggered and Thorn called on his eidolon again, sending James flying back with a swipe across the chest.
James clutched the large wound tight, trying to keep pressure on it as Thorn paced in front of the three of them, groaning and nursing their inflictions.
“Oh is this it?” Thorn laughed. “You made it this far? And you’re going to just roll over and die NOW? Do you have any idea what I’m going to do to you? None of you will die yet, but you will be broken before you do. Kyran…oh Kyran, I’m going to call Chloe forth and force her to carry out my biding. I’m going to make you watch as I taint her soul, and then I’ll send her down to Oblivion just because I can.”
Kyran growled and leapt to his feet despite the blow to his stomach. Thorn just sliced him across the legs and he stumbled face down into the mud.
“Arimus, I’m going to do the same with Ashalynn. The exact same thing. You may laugh at me and my tricks, but you can’t deny that my manifestations are still real. That they still kill, and hurt and maim, and of course, my greatest creation of all. My wonderful ether, capturing the souls of all those that die beneath it. It took decades to perfect it. Decades of sitting in my house, adding to it, strengthening it. After performing that feat, I feel like I can do anything! Maybe I’ll learn how to make manifestations of he
r, Arimus. It would be the next step after spiders and golems, wouldn’t it? Copies of your loved ones? I can make her just like before. Have her kiss you, spend time with you, make love to you, and then kill her right in front of your eyes. And then for the next ten years, we can do it over and over again. How does that sound?”
Arimus stood to his feet and glared at Thorn as he continued talking.
“And James, well, yours is even easier. I’ll just kill Catherine right in front of you. Literally rip the stone right from her heart. Then I’ll put it back in and heal her. Over and over, the same nightmare relived as she begs to be put out of her misery! Hmmm? Is that real enough for you? Or AM I BLUFFING?!”
“Are you done?” James grunted as the wound on his chest healed completely. “You have to remember. Your mind games don’t work on us anymore. See, my eyes, my ears, all of my senses may be fooled, but my eidolon isn’t.”
James stretched his eidolon right at Thorn.
“It tells me that you exerted too much energy. That knocking us into the mud was an exaggerated display of power to get in our heads - to make us sloppy. It says you’re on the brink of collapse and that you’re in need of a good rest. It says that you should just die…like old people are supposed to do.”
“All you’re doing is talking too!” Thorn screamed. “What are you actually going to do about it? Huh? You’re no closer to victory than you were a minute ago.”
“Yes we are,” James replied. “See, I’ve been getting ready for your demise the whole time you were spouting off at the mouth, but you’re so exhausted, so frantic, so desperate to convince us of your everlasting power that you weren’t even listening to the eidolon in your hand, screaming at you to beware.”
“What are you…you…” Thorn stopped as he finally began to listen. He shot up his head with wide eyes as James stood confidently before him.
“Are you ready, Arimus?” James asked as he placed his hands in the pockets of his sage robe.
“Been ready,” he muttered, standing next to the young Sage.
Hail to the Queen (Sage Trilogy, Book 3) Page 27