“Why would you help us?” Captain Fredrick asked directly.
“Because I feel like this will be fun. Because I don’t want the Laqura Empire to gain another advantage. Because it will prove beneficial to me. Because I don’t want to see men killed dishonorably when those idiots over there are too cowardly to risk close combat and choose to eliminate you from distance… Take your pick.”
The confidence in those calm words touched them all in some way. Soon the captain said “We shall accept any aid you are willing to offer so long as the princess is safe. What are you planning?”
“Entertainment.” Cage grinned and rolled over to drop ten feet to the ground where he landed lightly on his feet, where the crunching sound of snow took his sudden weight. He jammed the staff in the ground and said “Squirt, you and your friend stay here while the rest of us go run off those pesky rats.”
“You dare to give me…” Before anyone could react he stood before her, his eyes as hard as flint. He was silent, but she saw he wasn’t to be trifled with. The soldiers gripped their weapons, but they could see if he was going to strike her he could have done so. When her wide eyes looked down, she accepted his command.
“Good, now stay here and shut up, Squirt.” To the others he said “Gather your crystals I sense around us. I’ve already placed enough magic around them to last a full hour of attacks. Stay close to me while we give them a lesson that won’t be forgotten.”
“You want us to leave the princess’s side?” Cody asked heatedly while barely restraining himself. “So you are an enemy! No man would dare leave our charge unprotected. They will get her more easily if we follow you.”
“They would have gotten her regardless.” Bryan’s voice sure carried, Cage noticed from the huge man. “If we are to die… I would at least want to cave in a few skulls.” He admitted while twirling his long handled war hammer. “If he means to get us closer, I’m going. Should we have died, unable to do anything and they still got the princess, my honor would be sullied as a spirit. At least we can do as the princess ordered now, to do something… Captain?”
“I’m in agreement, Bryan.” Fredrick said as he drew both swords. “Cage, you get us close and take care of those mages, we’ll take care of the mercenaries.”
The warlock grinned as the soldiers drew their weapons. “Then let’s give them something to make them piss themselves.”
“I like this guy!” Shorty said with a laugh.
With the handmaiden declaring the magic would last, Cage surrounded the elite soldiers and together they stepped out from behind the rocks.
The three wizards and mercenaries watched in astonishment as seven men came around the protective rocks. In the lead was a man carrying two swords. At his side were two knights carrying a sword and shield. To either side of them were rangers who were excellent marksmen of the bow. Behind the captain was the burly giant with a sword and hammer beside a man with a fighting staff. The lead wizard sneered “So they finally surrender! The fools approach their doom. The princess isn’t near them so we no longer need to restrain ourselves. We can collect our prize afterwards. Come my brothers, we must combine our powers to finally end them.” Magic from three gathered to one point to strengthen its destructive capabilities. When it was filled with all the power they could force, the leader fired the plasma ball strong enough to obliterate them in an instant.
It shot faster than an arrow, but before it reached its destination the two knights with a shield jumped ahead and attempted to block the incoming weapon. The wizards laughed, but stopped when they felt a sharp rise in magic. The plasma ball exploded and bright light blinded everyone. Some cried out, but they didn’t notice a black mist creeping along the ground all around them. There was a loud shattering like glass as the wizards felt their barrier get destroyed. They too cried out before one asked “What happened!? How did those unenlightened do that?!”
“Quick, rebuild the barrier!” the leader said.
Shorty whistled beside Bryan. “Wow, that almost made me piss myself. Glad you came, Cage.”
Cage grinned from right behind Bryan as he shadowed his steps. The giant was the only one large enough to hide behind since he was also tall. Ahead Fredrick called out “Can everyone still see after that?”
Cody said “Yes, Cage’s warning came just in time for all of us to close our eyes and look away. There are still spots, but I can fight well enough.”
“Same here!” Bern said as they continued marching and fired off an arrow. They watched as it sunk into the throat of a man rubbing his eyes. “I’m in range!”
“Good, you and Gregory start picking off the stragglers at the sides.” Fredrick said. “We must hurry while they are incapacitated…”
“Wait, they managed to reestablish their barrier.” Cage called out just as Bern’s second arrow hit an invisible shield. “Keep marching confidently. I’m going to take care of this.” Cage laughed and sped around the giant of a man and shot pass the group like a horse in full charge.
The earlier formation was designed to hide Cage’s presence because the wizards knew the numbers of the smaller group and would have put them on guard. The method proved successful for it lured them into firing off a flashy magic that when got too close, was amplified with a brighter burst of light that blinded when it came in contact with a barrier. The diversion of Cody and Luke further made the wizards lower their guard and made it appear as if the metal shields actually blocked the incoming attack.
The warlock wrapped a barrier around himself much like a second skin when he felt magic sensing his approach. The wizards might not be able to see, but they did sense his run straight for them. Two shot fireballs while the third laughed, but stopped when their magic was ineffective and launched a series of attacks.
Then they heard his laugh.
Cage swirled black mist breaking magic around his left fist and punched the new barrier, instantly breaking it and the wizards knew the man coming straight for them was the one who thwarted them. They tried to stop him, but nothing worked. It all came to an end as he created black swords from his fingers and beheaded all three with childlike ease.
“PLAY TIME!!!” Cage shouted while shedding the conjured swords and skin-like barrier. He ran to the nearest man who drew a crossbow, but before he could fire his neck broke at an awkward angle when his target passed.
“Attack!” Fredrick ordered when he recovered from seeing the three who had been pursuing them fall dead. Anger and vengeance fueled their rage as their impotent emotions and loss of a brother could find justice and vengeance. He and his men gave a mighty war cry and charged into the thick of battle now that they had the advantage. The rangers fired as fast and as accurate as possible till their quivers were empty and then came out the daggers for close combat.
The battle lasted no more than a minute and then all were dead, even those few who regained their sight and tried to flee. It was such mayhem that the terrified mercenaries actually attacked each other in blindness fear when friend from foe was impossible to distinguish. Better armor, weapons, training and skill overwhelmed the enemy.
“You boys aren’t half bad.” Cage boasted while wiping his bloody hands in the snow to wash them.
“I should be the one saying that.” Fredrick spoke. “Did you use any magic on the men you killed besides the mages?”
“Not remotely, Fredrick. I at least gave them a chance to kill me.”
“Didn’t do much good!” Shorty laughed.
“CAPTAIN!” Heads turned to Luke. “Two Familiars are missing! We must return to the Princess. She could be…”
“She’s fine. Look!” Cage pointed to the woman and girl with their heads peeking around a boulder.
“Our eyes are not so powerful.” Fredrick stated. “But we will believe you… Cody, Luke, go to the princess and keep them safe. Bryan, Shorty, check the horses and carriage and see if anything can be salvaged. The rest of us will check the dead for any information.” He stopped when he saw Cage st
anding too still with his eyes closed.
Using mind-link with his Familiar, Cage contacted Daku with his thoughts. “All done down here.”
“So I can see.” Daku thought back with some mirth. “Tell me what happened so I may ease our friends’ worry. Did you truly need to intervene?” After listening to his partner’s quick thoughts he said “Indeed it was fortunate we flew this way. The princess cub is too young to Jump and even I can see their steeds and supplies are useless. They would not last three days in such an inhospitable environment.” Daku then thought his solution over the connection.
Opening his eyes Cage noticed the captain staring at him while rummaging through the pockets of the dead with Gregory and Bern. “Company will arrive in a minute, Captain. When finished, gather all you need and nothing more.”
“What?” The man asked with uncertainty. “Explain.”
Merely pointing up, heads looked into the sky and immediately jaw dropped. “By the gods!” someone said. Pink and silver glittered behind the glistening white coat. The three great creatures dove straight down with half tucked wings. And at about a thousand feet the three snapped the wings wide and seemed to stop in the sky, casting large shadows that covered the battle scene. Slowly they circled and reached a clearing. “The white griffin… then that means…” Fredrick said and turned “Then you are…” he received a bright grin before the warlock walked away.
“Sir… were we just saved by the Cage?” Shorty asked as he and Bryan sprinted over to also gawk.
“Has to be.” Bryan rumbled while stroking his beard. “No wonder he seemed so at ease. He is as the rumors say. What a stroke of luck he was nearby… But what are two dragons doing here?”
“Doesn’t matter right now. If a dragon is here then we got the best reinforcements there is.” Fredrick said as he dropped to his knees in relief. “They wouldn’t associate with one who is evil… What did you find, Men?”
Shorty answered while splitting his quarterstaff in half and putting them in their sheathe behind his shoulders. “Just some clothes. They burned the food and killed the horses so no hope in having the lady or princess heal them. They destroyed our supplies as they followed us to the outcrop, Sir… And you?”
“A bit of gold, silver and a promissory note to be welcome into the empire’s army upon competition of the princess’s capture. They have a few days rations and pitiful weapons… But I think our savior has a solution to our dire situation.” Fredrick stood and sheathed his swords and walked away. His men followed.
Daku’s head turned as the group of humans approached. “Are any of you injured?”
“Thanks to Cage, we are all well… Might I ask, what you are planning?” Fredrick said as he stopped and bowed respectfully.
“Too much danger is present.” The griffin said. “While you all attacked the enemy, two Familiars attacked the females, but Cage’s protection held them off till he killed their masters. You may tell your story after we leave. If the cub is indeed a princess I will fly you straight to Emroc Castle. We will reach it in two days time at the latest. Your protection is guaranteed under our presence. As a king, I must see to it that the direct descendant of another king’s offspring is returned safely. Gather your belongings for we’ll fly immediately.”
“You would do this?” Daku closed his eyes slowly and nodded to the captain. “Then we will greatly accept, Daku… Yes, your name is well known. We’ve been in Twilight for many months.” He admitted when he saw the large griffins surprised expression. “Men, check your weapons and retrieve the princess. We leave immediately.”
The soldiers rushed off to do just that.
The silver female dragon said “Cage Two-legs, it was a reckless choice to upset our schedule.” Then her fearsome expression softened. “But I’m glad you intervened. Many more spirits would have been released from their bodies had you not done so. Often in history has this attempt been made in a two-legs’ kingdom and leaders resort to more deaths to retrieve one. Act, we could not, but you saved more lives than you culled.”
“Halt.” Ulon said to the two females approaching when he noticed something. “Surrender your sticks and gem to my care!”
“And just why should I, Dragon?” the princess said defensively.
Ulon put his head on the snow and glared at the hatchling. “No permission did I give to have you raise your tone, Hatchling. Protection you have now, but I do not allow that magic near the white king or his two-legs.” He extended a large hand, palm upturned. “All magical items will be protected by me. We shall not depart till all is in my possession.”
“Men, give your crystals to… Ulon.” Cage supplied the name to Fredrick when he didn’t know. Each man half jogged over to put their protective crystal on the scaly palm of the pink dragon. Then they backed away quickly.
“Princess, we have no alternative.” The handmaiden said as she walked forward and placed her most valued object in the dragon’s palm. The staff rolled to gather with the issued crystals.
“I will not! I’m a princess of Emroc and will not be treated in this mann…” the girl looked to her side when she felt a pinch and followed the arm up to see Cage had snuck around without anyone noticing. “You dar…”
Her eyes rolled up and she collapsed. The handmaiden balked as the soldiers shouted, but as Cage caught her and threw her over a shoulder while kicking the little staff into Ulon’s palm the pink dragon said “Be not alarmed. No harm came to the insolent hatchling. Cage Two-legs merely put her to sleep by pressing a point which makes one of your kind sleep. I believe it is a pressure point?”
“Yep.” Cage said and watched as Ulon looked to the others with magic before determining “You six must stay still, I sense foreign magic in your paw coverings.” He closed his fist and when opening them it revealed Ulon made the supplies vanish, likely using a space altered pocket just like what Cage uses. The dragon shot flames from his nostrils and instantly melted the snow. “Walk in the water. My magic will obscure the foreign till the degradation ends in sixteen rotations.”
“Better do as he says.” Fredrick walked into the hot water, but as he stepped out the boots were dry. The others also walked willingly.
“We may depart when you are ready, Old One.” Ulon said when all his demands were met.
“Climb into my hand.” Daku said and Cage first laid the girl down and leapt up. He helped the woman while the two rangers did as well. Daku then placed them on his back and gathered the remaining.
“How did you do that?” Shorty asked Cage when he checked the princess. “One moment you were next to me and the next I see the little lady collapse. Can you teach me that trick? How long will she be out?”
“Hold your horses.” Cage laughed while regarding the deceptively deadly man. “You are clearly the life of this bunch…” Cage held out his hand to say “Don’t freak out. I’m going to stick you to Daku so you won’t need to worry about falling.” There came a few grunts, but none was in discomfort, even the princess who was resting her head on the woman’s lap. “Good to go!”
Poli jumped skywards moments before Daku. When the flight evened out with Ulon beside them Cage said “Release!” and everyone was freed. Fredrick and the other soldiers crawled closer to sit with Shorty, but the warlock also realized it was a protective strategic location. He answered Shorty’s questions about what he did and finished by saying “Depends how tired she was. She’ll wake in a few hours if she isn’t woken by other means. It is harmless and I’ll not listen to a silver spooned brat the whole trip.”
“Too bad we didn’t know this trick before. We could have had a much more quiet trip.” Shorty said and got a good chuckle.
“Captain, can we use it on Shorty too? Then it would really be quiet.” Brian remarked and it roused a heartier laugh, even from Daku.
“You boys, better get some rest for now.” Cage said. “I’ll need to inform my women I’ll be coming home a little later than planned.”
“Women? As in more than one?”
Shorty grinned.
“I have two lovers… besides, I’m chief of the Utala.”
“That tribe full of beautiful women? Now I’m really impressed.” Bryan laughed. “Now let’s see…” he reached over and made Shorty yelp for a moment before grinning. “Ha! It WORKS!” the men laughed as Shorty fell back, out cold.
Chapter 5
Creating a barrier behind himself to prevent the deadly soldiers from getting too close with his back to them, which also prevented sound, while also maintaining the wind parting spell surrounding them he conjured a sight mirror of his own. While doing this he thought back to the recent fight and noticed how well they made a unit. They were all deadly with their chosen weapons and their skills complimented each other perfectly, limiting their individual weaknesses. Their most powerful fighter was clearly Bryan with his sword and hammer. The rangers Bern and Gregory were suited to pick off stragglers and pierce weaknesses. Cody and Luke were excellent defensive fighters by how effectively they used their shields. The captain was an all-around warrior capable of going wherever he was needed and able to direct movements of his men while hacking away at anyone who came within reach of his dual sword skills. Shorty though was not to be underestimated as he was quick as a mid-range fighter, clearly the deadliest too.
Earlier when he proposed how to march out, he learned the group was accustomed to such maneuvers and used it before. In that fight Cage knew none could be underestimated. He might have turned his back as a precaution, but he also clearly saw that these soldiers might loathe the princess’s annoying personality, they had immense honor. Not once did even one suggest surrendering or giving the squirt over to their attackers. They were dedicated individuals who did their duty and it impressed him more than their combat effectiveness.
A wavy image appeared and he spoke the security word and immediately the image snapped clear and it put another grin on his lips. He found Brooke and Meeka sitting together naked beside a group of other naked women laughing while carving on bone with sharp tools. He felt his blood heat at their sculpted perfection and how well matched they were and how madly in love they are by how close they sat and shared private smiles. They were in the communal room of the Elder’s tree and the central hearth was hot enough to strip their clothes off and be free. He also noticed in the room where his surrogate daughter, Rena, sat with three other girls while scraping fresh tallow off cowhide. He then spent a minute enjoying the atmosphere and listened to the joyful sounds of laughter. Eventually he had to get started and applied another spell which sent his voice directly into the room. “Glad to see everyone is having a good time!”
Ascension of the Warlock (Book 4 of the Death Incarnate Saga) Page 14