“Alright, here we are,” said Dathian as he turned to Biix and Ethan, “there’s no turning back now. Whatever happens in there, the most important thing is that we stand together. I don’t know what my father will do, but I hope that neither of you will be affected by it. I will make sure that whatever punishment he deems worthy, that it’s only on me.”
“We’re with you,” said Biix with a smile.
Ethan, still stone-faced and cold, said, “Like you said, we stand together, no matter what.” He had to force the resemblance of a smile.
Dathian turned around towards the Cleft, and just as he prepared to walk towards it, something made him turn back around. As he did, unsure why, Ethan and Biix were no longer behind him. Dathian looked left, then right, but he needn’t search, for he already knew.
He then said out loud, “I should have known you’d be here to stop me.”
As he turned around, and to his suspicion, the White Queen now stood before him. Kalorah said nothing as she looked at the ground with her arms crossed. She is wearing the same nightgown as that night before they crossed the Separation.
“Are you going to just stand there, or are you going to say something?!” said the prince in a raised voice. After a moment of silence, he added as tears began to well in his angered eyes, “Why don’t you just make me say what you want to hear, I mean, you did it before, why not now?!”
Kalorah then said in a soft voice without lifting her head, “You are free to say what you want.”
“Am I?! Cause it didn’t seem like I was before! How could you do that to us?! What did I do to you to make you hate me?!”
Kalorah then looked up, her natural blue eyes glistening, and said, “Because before he died… he asked me to.”
It took a moment for her words to appropriately penetrate him, before his angered tone turned softer, as he replied, “Kale? He asked you to do that?”
“Yes. Before he left to meet the Shade, he asked me to do whatever it took to make sure that you did not march to war. He said you needed to live, above all else.”
“WHY?! Why am I so special?! Why do I get to live, and HE has to die, that our people HAVE to die, that my mom HAS TO DIE?! WHY?!”
Kalorah did not know how much the prince should know, and hesitated in telling him more.
She then said, “For misleading you, then taking away your free will, I am sorry, but for trying to save your life, I am not. You are meant to live, and the reasons why are not for me to say. It was never meant to be me.”
“What does that mean?!” asked Dathian in a frustrated voice. “Why do all Guardians speak in riddles and secrecy? It’s really annoying…”
Kalorah couldn’t help but smile as she said, “My dear prince, you still have much to learn about us Guardians. As time goes on, and battles are won or lost, I will reveal more to you, but now is not the time. Right now, you need to go to your father, for I see now that nothing will stop you from fighting for the ones you love. I have rarely met people with that type of resolve, and passion. Do not worry, for all memory of your treason has been dissolved from their memories. Only you and your friends will know the truth. And, whoever set you free.”
The prince was still angry with the White Queen, but is always surprised by her. Kalorah then gave him a warm and genuine smile as she turned and prepared to leave.
“Wait,” asked the prince. Kalorah turned as he continued, “Why not take our memories too? Why let ‘us’ remember?”
Kalorah then said with regret in her voice, “Because I have already taken your free will… I will not take your memories too.”
Then she was gone. Dathian stared in the direction she disappeared from as Ethan and Biix walked to each side of him.
“That was crazy,” said Biix, “did the same thing happen to you two?!”
Dathian looked at Biix with a puzzled look, and replied, “Did what happen?”
“The White Queen,” said Biix with excitement, “she was here, she talked to only me.”
Forever surprised by the Queen’s range of power, Dathian replied, “She spoke to me too.” He then looked at Ethan with concern, and asked, “What about you?”
“Yes,” said Ethan as tears now freely fell from his face. “She told me that my family did die in the fire, but that they didn’t feel any pain, and that all of them are now in Aya, watching over me.” Ethan then looked at Dathian with red eyes and wet cheeks, “How does she know that? How can she know for sure?”
“I don’t know, but I am learning more and more to not question her,” answered Dathian, noticing that Ethan was finally letting his guard down enough to let someone in. “You know, it hurts now, but talking about it does help. I’m not pressuring you are or anything, but…”
Before Dathian could finish, Ethan suddenly embraced him, as Biix joined in.
After a very brief moment, Dathian pulled back and said, “Maybe we should…”
“Ya, we should probably get going…” interrupted Ethan.
Biix, who was the least embarrassed, said, “What? There’s nothing wrong with a hug.” His saber Red walked up from behind, and as he got on, he continued, “But, there is probably food, HOT food! I’d take that over a hug any day.”
Ethan broke his tears with laughter. Cheyanne and Talliel walked up, and once everyone was mounted, they continued down the hill towards the Cleft as the last rays of sunlight began to fade, leaving the sky pumpkin orange, and the air chilling. On the way down, they all replayed their individual interactions with the Angel.
As we approached the final evening before the Kain and Ela go to war, and prepare to overthrow two treacherous Dragons and their armies of loyal warriors, maybe unspoken things still remain. Standing next to a moonlit waterfall, Ayden told Alandra of his ever-growing love for her, and that he did not plan on feeling the way he does now. She also revealed her growing affection, but that she cannot fully navigate those new feelings until the war is over, and victory is won. He agreed to her terms, and wished her good fortune for the battle to come. She gave him similar sentiments, then said her goodbyes, for she decided to go back to the Mines with Sadja to prepare the forces under the mountain, and reunite with her faithful companion Moonshine. Her and Sadja left shortly after that to reenter the Mines through the secret passage that the voice of Kale told him to find. Once they reached Belroot, the first thing Alandra did was find Moonshine, who was being looked after by Sadja’s new friend and apprentice of sorts, Joseph. She then joined Sadja and Malthius in a meeting to catch them up on everything that has happened, and to strategize on how and who they will select to go to battle the following morning. They would then open the sealed gate, and flank the Drykans from the Mountain’s mouth.
Kalorah held true to her words, and the King had no memory of throwing his own son in a cell. For all he and the others knew, Dathian and his friends were there with them the whole time. Dathian, Ethan, and Biix spent part of the night preparing for the battle by selecting their gear from the Cleft’s royal armory, and sharpening their weapons. Biix has his lance, Ethan has his grandfather’s daggers, but picked out a light one-handed sword in addition, and Dathian has the sword that Glammdreing gave him. They spent the rest of the night in silence around a fire before they all turned in to get the hardest to achieve night’s sleep in their lives.
Kalorah, Glammdreing, Ayden, Nathian, Krendweil, Luthar, King Daane, and Nexia spent hours devising a war strategy, now that they are for sure that the Generals are expecting them. First, they will attempt to negotiate with the Generals to acquire their surrender. If the negotiations fail, then the White Queen will create a storm of fire to lure out the Irondrakes and Firedrakes. Then, Krendweil’s Skyborns will engage in battle in the skies while Nexia and Luthar, as well as the Kain’s Guard, will attempt to enter the city through the main gates. They will begin with level one, and fight their way to the pinnacle where the Generals will most likely be. From there, the Guardians of good will fight the Guardians of evil. Once their strate
gy was concrete, they will also attempt to get some sleep in order to be well rested and strong.
Further south, Ella, Syphra, and the other Runemasters arrived at Brethiel. Ella immediately sought after Savannah, who was left in her charge, but she was nowhere to be found. Syphra ensured her that she was just somewhere else in the capital, and that she would turn up sooner or later. Ella felt too uneased about the Shade, and asked if they could make camp inside the edge of the Great Forest, where it borders the Plains. Syphra also sensed a disturbance around him, and agreed. The Runemasters spent the night taking different watches of the plains in lookout for any signs of the Shade’s arrival. Though they will be outnumbered if the Shade’s army was released on the Great Forrest, they were prepared to save as many lives as they can.
The last one to reach her destination, was the Angel Teeca the Just, or more appropriately named, Teeca the Cursed. She stood at the edge of the Black Forest, with the far-off backdrop of Kuul’Drathor within her sights. Her black tattoos smoldered as she prepared to enter the Realm of Shadow. She has the essence of a shade inside her soul, so she will undoubtedly enter the Realm of Shadow. What she sees once she is inside cannot be said, but one thing remains clear. In order to reach Archimus at the pinnacle of the Black City, she will have to successfully navigate through the Realm, and remain whole on the other side. Only then will she have the strength and power to destroy Archimus, and with him, every tortured soul he released from the depths of hell.
CHAPTER 16
THE RECLAIMING
The sun seemed to rise ever so slowly this fateful morning. The autumn sky may be cloudy, but a few struggling rays of morning sun still manage to stream through. There is no sound to accompany the faint rising sun, and birds that usually welcome the morning with a sweet lullaby are silent. There is no wind this day, as if time has stopped altogether. To the southeast of the claimed city is a wall that encircles the outskirts of the capital. Further south of that wall, is a small, but slightly elevated, hillside. Further south of that serves as the head of the Fertile Valley, and just a few miles from that is the Cleft. A silky white figure starts to ascend over the crest of the hill, and as it stops, she reveals herself to be the White Queen. She stops as solitary white strands of hair gently wave in the little to no breeze. What little sunlight there is glistens off her tall silver crown. Her gleaming plate breastplate also shimmers as the pure silk draping of her dress sporadically escape the confines of her sculpted armor, and gently quivers behind her. The White Queen has a solemn, yet stoic gaze painted on her flawless face as she takes her staff, and raises it into the air. She holds the elevated staff steady as she closes her eyes in concentration. Nothing happens at first, and all in the world remains normal and unchanged. Then, as the staff begins to pulsate in unequivocal power, the clouds above her start to grow in substance, and change in color. As they strengthen with unnatural intensity, a red haze starts to spread amongst the formation like paint splatter on a canvas. They continue to grow until the sky is completely blanketed, and as they start to slowly swirl inward, they increase in speed. This hurricane of red rests directly above the captured capital of Kain. Small explosions of white and red ignite from within, sending thunderous sounds crackling throughout the lands. The entire sky has now transformed into an electric storm of fire and lightning. Kalorah then opens her eyes, which are now replaced with blazing white fire. Her staff continues to quiver with immense power as the storm only intensifies. Now… she waits for a sign from the Dragonkin as the sky continues to erupt in electrifying power.
At the pinnacle of Menethiel, the undead King stands behind the railing outside his new Throne Room. He gazes upon the conjured storm above, then looks to the outskirts of the city, searching for the creator of this magic. Though faint and far away, Lorkath can see the familiar outline of the White Queen, yet he only sees her, and no one else.
Calthrog walks up from behind with Bargokk, and says, “Do you think she knows?”
Lorkath stares off into the distance as he replies, “If she did, she wouldn’t be here. The Kain will never be more important than her own people. No, she does not yet know that her precious forest will soon be nothing than burnt bark and black ash. Her people will be no more than servants to our cause. Nevertheless, she is still an obstacle. Send a messenger to speak with the White Queen and uncover her demands. In return, we shall unveil ours.”
Calthrog and Bargokk nod as they walk back into the Throne Room to muster a messenger. Lorkath continues to stare into the distance. He has yet to meet the White Queen, but Calthrog has, and he remembers the day of their ‘meeting’ over five hundred years ago.
He then speaks into the wind, “You will fail today, my Queen. I will deliver you the dark Lord myself, and you will serve as a terrible Wight of unspeakable power, a Shade Queen, for you know not what truly drives your heart.”
Lorkath’s eyes turned black and hollow as a thick smoke starts to encase his body semi-decayed body. He then holds his smoke-laced arm outward as a shiny tar starts to cover it. It travels down his arm, and into his outstretched hand. It then goes further, and starts to form something long and sharp. Once the transformation is complete, he now holds a much darker version of the Peacekeeper.
“Come now to die, only so you may live as you truly were born to!”
As he stares into the distance, a solitary drake flies south carrying a messenger from Calthrog.
As one Angel prepares to fight, another prepares to die, for deep in her heart, Teeca begins to understand that her battle with Archimus will claim not only his life, but hers with it. After Teeca entered the Black Forest, she was transported to the Realm of Shadow just as she predicted. While she navigated through the maze of indescribable nightmares, she met someone she did not expect. This mystery being gave her a memory. In this memory, she saw Archimus as he once was, long before he was transformed into the Lord of the Shades. She saw the care in his eyes, and the love in his heart, and she knew… if she was going to have any chance of defeating him, she must show him what he used to be, only then will she have the chance to vanquish the evil from his twisted heart. Once she learned what she could from the Realm of Shadow, she then lifted her clawed hand and destroyed it. The illusions around her vanished, and revealed her true surroundings. Before her stood a large black gate, and beyond it, the ruined city of Kuul’Drathor… the Black City.
Under the mountain, in the city of Belroot, Malthius and the Claugg’s leader, Malchian, inspected the several hundred selected to leave the Mines and fight in the battle. The Kain soldiers have lost a lot of weight and strength in the past thirty days, but they have not lost their resolve and willingness to fight. Kalorah gave instruction to wait an hour after hearing the first sounds of thunder before they opened the gates. Alandra and Sadja, however, did not want to wait that long, for they both were eager to enter battle. Back in her quarters, Sadja spit shined his armor as Alandra tended to Moonshine. Joseph was also there, for he grew quite fond of the giant eagle during the short period he watched over her.
Noticing that he was watching her, Alandra then said to Joseph, “I have to say young man, I have never seen her so clean. How did you get her to let you wash her feathers?”
Slightly nervous that the Keeper of the Bow was talking to him, he shyly replied, “It was nothing, my Lady, really.”
She smiled as she walked closer to him, and said, “No, you clearly did something, for she doesn’t let anyone near her normally, unless she feels comfortable around them. What did you do?”
“Well,” replied the teen, “it’s stupid, but I sang to her.”
His words warmed her heart, and she said, “I used to sing to her when she was just a wounded chick, that’s why she likes you so much. I have to say, when Sadja told me he left her in the hands of a stranger, I was more than just hesitant, I was furious, but now that I have met you, I understand why he chose you. Thank you, Joseph.”
“It… it was nothing,” replied the teen as he blushed.
“I should go now, I have to get ready for the…”
“For the nothing,” interrupted Sadja. “There is no way I am letting you step one foot from this city until the battle is won, that I won’t say another word on it.”
Joseph rolled his eyes at the increasingly protective Keeper, as Alandra whispered in his ear, “Don’t worry, that means he likes you.”
The teen smiled as he left to ‘not prepare.’
Moments later, a sickly man approaches Alandra.
Alandra notices him, stares for a second, before saying with surprise, “Christian, I almost didn’t recognize you!”
“Sorry to bother you, my Lady,” said Christian in a weak voice, “I know you’re preparing for the battle, so I will be brief.”
“Christian, you look terrible, you should be resting,” said the Keeper with concern, “whatever you need to ask me can wait.”
“NO!” demanded the former treasurer. “Forgive me, I don’t mean to raise my voice, but I must insist. My health isn’t so great right now, and I don’t know if it will get better, so I must ask. Have you seen my daughter Savannah? Do you know if she is alright? I’ve asked everyone, and no one seems to know anything.”
Alandra smiled with empathy as she walked close, and put her hand on his shoulder, as she said, “Yes, she is fine. Last I heard, she was in the Ela’s capital, which is heavily protected by the Angel’s magic. She will be just fine.”
Tears instantly filled Christian’s eyes as the weight of the world was lifted off his shoulders.
“Thank you, so much,” cried Christian as he tried to compose himself, “you don’t know how much that means to know that…”
The treasurer became silent as the ground beneath him began to shake. Alandra and Sadja felt it too. The walls around them shook, causing Moonshine to screech. After a moment, the ground settled, and the walls became still again.
There was a brief silence, followed by Sadja saying, “What in the hell was that?!”
The Reclaiming: The Keepers Saga: Volume Two Page 32