David Bishop and the Legend of the Orb

by T. C. Crawford

  As the companions continued to trudge through the tall dry grass, David stopped to wipe the sweat that was dripping into his eyes. He looked over to check on Orin and Rex, both of which were struggling with the heat as well, dripping with sweat from head to toe. It was only then that he realized their fatal error.

  The sweat was slowly running off the mud!

  David could begin to see streaks of clear skin on both Orin and Rex, and he assumed the same had been happening to him. Wide eyed with fear, he looked up as the same conclusion seemed to come to his two friends simultaneously.

  Almost in answer to their newly realized fears, the air rang with a terrifying howl in the distance not far behind them. It was answered by a series of howls as the beasts quickly sniffed the scent of intruders in the high grass around them.

  Their cries seemed to echo off the mountains in the distance and came rebounding from every direction. They knew their luck had run out.

  The companions quickly abandoned their effort to sneak past the enemy and jumped to their feet, springing through the shoulder high grass as fast as they could towards the foothills of the mountains.

  David could hear the beasts trampling through the dry grass behind them in the distance. He could feel their thundering paws pounding through the soil like a stampeding herd of buffalo. His heart was racing, and his breath was short, but he knew he had to keep running.

  He looked to his left and saw that Orin had jumped on Rex’s back so he didn’t fall behind, and much to David’s amazement, Rex was still moving ahead of him despite the extra baggage. He doubled up his efforts to keep up.

  The foothills were quickly coming into view up ahead, but so were the sounds of the beasts to their right and their left, crashing through the grass beside them. They were moving in on them quickly from the sides, while some started angling ahead as if to cut them off just short of their escape. David’s desperation grew to a wild fear for his life, they had to do something.

  He could hear the growling beasts closing in from every direction but could see that they were almost to the hills where they could better fight them off and hopefully escape.

  In a flash, three of the beasts suddenly appeared in the brush on each side, their snarling faces and yellow eyes intently focused on their prey while keeping pace with them as they dashed for their lives.

  One of the beasts to the right leapt out towards Rex, apparently viewing him as the easier target with Orin on his back, but Rex quickly grabbed a throwing axe off his hip and swung it with all his might toward the beast, impaling it’s head mid-air and knocking it to the ground. It crumpled under its own weight and fell behind in a heap, plowing through the grass as it slid to a stop, dead.

  Another beast from the left decided to attack, jumping out in front of David, attempting to cut off his escape. David swung his sword at the beast’s legs, tripping him up and slicing deeply into its flesh, but that only seemed to enrage him, and he quickly caught back up with the others in full pursuit.

  Enraged, the beasts all jumped into a concerted attack to try and overwhelm the group with sheer force and numbers.

  David screamed and instinctively lunged forward towards the edge of the grass. He landed on his back with his hands up in an effort to protect himself.

  Blinding white light pierced the air around them and covered them all with a blast of such intensity that they flew backwards out of the grassy field and onto the rocky hills behind them.

  Stunned and temporarily blinded from the light, the companions staggered to their feet and began scrambling for their weapons which had been knocked from their hands. They knew they had little time before the beasts were back on them and they would be in for the fight of their lives.

  As their eyes began to adjust, they each blinked, struggling to open their eyes while wondering why the attack hadn’t yet begun. David imagined the beasts were circling around them, preparing to pounce and, panic stricken, he began wildly swinging his weapon around, hoping to get a hold of any of the beasts now certainly closing in around them.

  As the world returned to his vision, he finally let himself relax…there wasn’t a single beast in sight. David, Rex, and Orin slowly began to walk up the hill they had been thrown over, creeping back towards the grass in search of the threat that they feared still lingered close by.

  Rex was the first to reach the top.

  “David…you’ve got to see this” he said.

  David slowly walked over to his side to see what his friend had meant. He reached the top of the hill and before him was a wide clearing in the field that had previously been covered in thick, high grass.

  Instead, what stood before him was an expanse of blackened earth that cleared a perfect circle in the field. Scattered around in the clearing lay dozens of still burning carcasses…not a single beast remained alive.

  “What happened?” whispered David.

  “It must have been the orb” said Orin, awestruck. “It must have responded to your need in an intense act of self-preservation.”

  “You saved us, lad” said Rex, putting his hand gently on David’s shoulders. “Those beasts had us outnumbered…we would’ve had a real problem fighting them off.”

  David sat down and put his head in his hands. He couldn’t believe that he had done this, but the orb had somehow saved his life and the life of his friends.

  He felt a wave nausea pass through him. The power that he possessed terrified him. He now knew what was at stake if he didn’t learn to control the orb. He could have killed his friends along with those beasts. Fortunately, they had been ahead of him or they would have been caught in the blast and would have been left as nothing more than charred remains.

  “Don’t worry, David, we will work on getting control over your powers with time and practice.” said Orin, guessing what David was thinking, “But you must be patient and not be so hard on yourself. You did a good thing, my boy, and you should be proud.” He smiled, patting David on the back.

  “Aye, real proud” agreed Rex. “Come on, kid.” he said, helping David up. “We’ve got to get going before any more of those beasts come looking for trouble.”

  The three companions moved further up the ever-increasing path to get clear of any beasts that may have had a mind to follow them into the foothills.

  After a long climb they finally came to a rocky ledge. The large rock jutted out from the side of the mountain and had a recess beneath that would provide them ample shelter for the night. They decided this was a good place to stop and started to set up camp for the remainder of the night.

  Orin started on the fire while David set up the bed rolls and Rex worked on some defensive barriers to set around the place to ward off any threats in the night. He moved several nearby boulders to line the entryway in order to make the opening narrower and block the light of the fire. He knew if there was an attack, it would serve them well to minimize any areas where intruders could get in so they could pick them off one at a time.

  When the tasks were finished, they sat down to enjoy some of the left over jerky while they roasted a few chunks of what looked like potatoes that had been growing in the surrounding area. Rex said they were a common food for his people and mentioned that since they were growing near here that they couldn’t be too far from home.

  The roasted potatoes were surprisingly delicious and filling, and once they were done eating, they sat around discussing what was to come next.

  “I can’t wait to show you my home. It’s been so long. I’m thinking that some of my folks will be happy to see me again, but some of them won’t be so thrilled I’d say.” said Rex, rubbing his hands in front of the fire.

  He mentioned that it had been a few years since he was last home. After his wife had died suddenly from a severe sickness, he left Ravenfell to find a new home, one that didn’t carry a painful reminder of the life of joy and love that he could have had. He eventually wound up in West Post.

  “West Post was the only place that was rowdy enou
gh to take me in. They liked having me around to keep folk from causing too much trouble in the pub. I got free drinks for taking care of the mess that came through now and again. It seemed a good enough place for me, so I stayed.” he explained. “But it’s nothing like back home” he finished, a distant look in his eyes, reminiscing of days long passed.

  “Rex…why did you say some of your people wouldn’t be happy to see you?” asked David.

  “Well…it’s complicated you see…some things are just better in the past I suppose.” he replied, apparently unwilling to tell the tale.

  David left it alone and decided to change the subject, so he asked another question instead, “Do you think your people will be willing to help us take back the kingdom?”

  “Honestly? I’m not so sure they will, but we’ve got to try, don’t we? If anyone can help, it will be them. They’re a tough lot, the bunch of them…hardheaded, but tough. If we can convince them to come along, we might just have a shot at this after all” he said.

  “Well, I suppose we will figure that out soon enough” chimed in Orin. “David, about earlier…how did you unleash your power back in the field?” he asked hesitantly.

  “I don’t know…I don’t remember doing anything. I was scared. I knew we had to get away, but I thought we were done for. Then all of a sudden that light just appeared. It’s like the orb felt my fear, my need…like it was protecting me from the danger.”

  “Hmm…that is interesting, but it makes sense” replied Orin. “The orb is the consolidated power and consciousness of the Mystics, after-all, and it is extremely powerful. It would make sense that when the orb felt your fear and desperation, it would react to protect its host... you. After all, it chose you for a purpose. It would only follow, that the orb would need to keep you alive and well to fulfill that purpose.” he ended.

  “Yeah…I think so too” David whispered, unsure of it himself.

  No one felt much like talking afterwards and, each seemingly lost in their own thoughts and fears, the companions remained silent until finally drifting off to sleep one by one. The next day held yet another adventure and they all knew they had better be prepared for it.

  Chapter XV

  Erin awoke to the sound of creaking wheels and horse hooves clicking steadily on the ground as they trotted along the road through the forest. She heard the gruff voices of soldiers outside the window of her moving prison cell but couldn’t make out what they were saying. The cell smelled like old sweat and damp wood that has been sitting far too long without a good wash. She felt at least grateful there was a layer of dry hay between herself and the reeking floor.

  She wondered how long she had been out.

  Scattered rays of sunlight beamed through the canopy and through her window from time to time, so she knew it must be daytime. She remembered the Captain telling the soldiers to bring her back to Eldergate, so she at least knew where she was going, and the irony of it all was that it just happened to be where she was originally headed anyway.

  If only I could find a way out before getting locked in the dungeon, she thought to herself.

  She had heard horror stories about that place from some locals who had been set free after being held for a couple of weeks. Apparently, they had been wrongfully accused and subsequently set free, something that almost never happens, and that is the only way someone gets out. No one has ever escaped the dungeons.

  According to their statements, the dungeons were darker than night with very little windows to let in any natural light and air, and hardly any torches to boot.

  They were fed mostly scraps from the kitchens, but it was barely enough to feed the dozens of captives held prisoner at any given time. They said the place left a thick kind of despair on you, one that felt like death itself was moving in around you. Eventually you get to the point that the escape of death was almost welcome, some even pleading for it openly, screaming for the guards to take them to the noose or kill them on the spot. She remembered the nightmares she used to have as a child after she heard those stories, they would leave her waking up screaming in the middle of the night, covered in sweat. Her mother would always tell her the same thing while softly caressing her face, “Hush child, it was only a dream. You’re safe here. You’ve got your Momma with you.”

  She felt the deep pain of her mother’s loss, wishing now more than ever that she were here to comfort her and reassure her that this was all just a nightmare that she would soon be waking from.

  Erin wondered now what fate she would have if she ended up in those dungeons too. She wondered how long she would be able to last before begging for death to take her.

  She felt the wagon suddenly come to a stop and heard the soldiers calling out to someone up ahead.

  They began shouting and suddenly the distinct ring of steel being drawn rang through the air. She heard the roar of what sounded like a group of men at full charge. It sounded like they were coming from every direction, from the woods to her left and to her right. Something slammed fiercely into the side of the wagon, knocking her onto her side and against the opposite wall. She scrambled to look out the window and see what was going on, but she couldn’t see anything from her angle.

  A scream filled the air and the sickening thud of arrows landing into soft flesh ended the battle cry with a choking gurgle. Quickly following was a muffled grunt, then an unnatural shriek of pain, accompanied by what sounded like a bucket of water being poured onto the open ground.

  The screams of battle abruptly ended. Her heart was pounding so loud she could barely hear herself think.

  Who could possibly be attacking the Royal Guard? She wondered to herself. She didn’t know of any enemies of the Kingdom and from what she heard in West Post, no one seemed to second-guess the General’s sudden rise to the throne, but embraced it as the truth, never questioning its validity.

  Suddenly the sound of keys rattling rang by the door of her prison, snapping her out of her thoughts and back to her awareness of the real danger she was in.

  She scrambled backward to the far side by the cell, away from the door, foolishly hoping the extra distance would protect her from whatever horrors were coming. When the door finally swung open, it flooded her dark cabin with a blinding light forcing her to shield her eyes. She briefly saw the outline of what looked to be a man before he stepped forward and blocked the opening. She felt her heart stop.

  “Erin? Is that you?” a familiar voice asked in surprise.

  “Who’s there?” she asked, frightened, not fully recognizing who it was.

  The man stepped forward into the wagon to allow the light to fill the space around them. When her eyes finally adjusted, her heart leapt for joy. She recognized the man that now stood before her.

  He was tall and built like a horse with broad shoulders and strong arms. He was older with speckles of gray littering his short dark hair, but the smile that now stretched across his face was as boyish as always.

  “Oh Ryan, I can’t believe it’s you!” she cried, running into his arms.

  Ryan had been in the Royal Guard ever since she could remember and had always been a loyal friend to Tyrius and the King. He had reached the rank of Captain faster than any other officer, or so she had heard.

  He was a fierce warrior in combat but had a compassionate side of him that could melt the heart of just about anyone. When they were attacked by soldiers outside of Eldergate, Erin had feared the worst. She feared he had been captured or killed, but she knew he would never have betrayed the King.

  “It’s good to see you again, kid. I thought you were dead. I looked all over for you, but the kingdom was sprawling with loyalists to General Krauss and the battles were becoming fiercer with each moment we searched.

  “We had to escape or risk getting captured and losing our chance of ever taking back the kingdom. It took a lot to leave that city without you, especially with the state of the place. It was pure chaos.” he finished.

  “I understand, Ryan. I’m just so thankful
you’re alright. You couldn’t have come at a better time.” she said, still smiling.

  When he led her out of the wagon and her eyes fully adjusted to the onslaught of light, Erin looked around at the group of men that stood near Captain Ryan.

  “These men are loyal to King Eldergate, the one and only true ruler of the Northern Kingdom. When we heard the King was taken prisoner, we tried to fight our way to General Krauss and rescue the King, but his team of elite soldiers were already blocking the way to the King’s chambers. We tried to fight them off, but there were too many. We just barely made it out of the castle alive.

  “That’s when we went to find you and any family members we could, but you were nowhere to be found. We decided to leave the kingdom and regroup with anyone still loyal to the true king. These men are all that’s left of my squad, but we have more soldiers back at the camp and others keep wandering in each day. I think we may have a chance to take back the kingdom and restore order, but it’s going to take a lot of work and it’s going to cost us heavily I fear.” He trailed off, thinking about the difficult times ahead.

  “Well, whatever it takes, I’m with you” she said. “The Elders went to the palace as soon as they felt something was wrong, but I don’t know what came of them. And Tyrius last went to the palace to speak with the King just a few days ago. I’m afraid he’s been captured or worse. We have to save him before it’s too late.”

  “The Elders went to see the King? We didn’t see them at the palace, maybe they were able to escape with Tyrius before it was too late, but from the reports we have it seems the King is being held in the lower dungeons. General Krauss doesn’t seem to be taking any chances with him.” Captain Ryan replied.

  He started pacing back and forth troubled by the turn of events. When he came back, he stopped and looked more determined as if he had finally made up his mind on an important decision.

  “We have to get back to camp before any more soldiers come through and see the empty wagon and dead lying around. They will be wondering what happened here and start looking for answers. We better get going.”