The Ancients

by Adam-Clay Webb

  Black Eyes

  Book 2: The Ancients

  Adam-Clay Webb

  © 2018 Adam Webb

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof

  may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever

  without the express written permission of the publisher or author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  To those who have followed Lex on his journey through book 1, and to those who dare to follow him farther still, thank you.

  Black Eyes

  Book 2: The Ancients

  Chapter 1: Aftermath

  “The ships are now ready,” the Magmalian Prince said. Clover sighed heavily with dread and excitement. It was strange to the few gathered at the dock, and awkwardly comfortable to the prince that no one was really walking and bowing down to the royal man, or addressing him with the customary nervous formality. The prince was dressed like an average man, maybe even a little below that. Only those who recognized him and approached to beg him for money bothered with the fancy greetings. And he would quickly give them a coin or two and shoo them off, not wanting to attract too much attention.

  People were just frenziedly bustling about. The sky was grimly grey, a mirror atop the world it looked down on sadly. The bay had been full of business and packed day and night round the seasons for nearly a year. People were pushing in and out of Libson, to and from Bruxon, Luthor, Craynor, Dreed and even more distant continents, running from the sad reality of destruction that it seemed no number of decades could reverse. But no matter where people went, the mayhem of the war that marred the earth was there to greet them. Levelled villages and crushed cities defined this new time.

  “It should be quite some time before we all meet again,” Azar said. “Again, I’m sorry for the hassle of having to move on these crude public ships. My allowance is cut down to nothing.” He hissed, looking discomfited.

  “That’s nothing,” Star said, “I’m just grateful I’m finally off to Notherland!” She glanced at Clover with a grin, but somehow Clover didn’t reflect the same exhilaration. Instead, the young witch looked over at the stern-faced Lex. She studied his blue eyes that carried a burdened, tired look. It struck her again how much he had changed since she had first seen him a few years ago, when his eyes were full of wonder and kiddish excitement. She made an inward sigh, wishing the past days would magically return. But she knew she couldn’t fairly expect anyone who had lived through the Black War to have those eyes Lex used to have.

  “Hm. Don’t expect Notherland or any of these continents you’re off to to look any brighter than Libson,” Azar said, sounding somewhat defensive of his homeland. “It’s not Libson that was attacked, but earth. You might even have trouble getting to your destinations, even with the money I’ve given you. But even if you have to kill a man or two to get through some gates, remember how small a price that is. The world might think that it has survived its vilest attack, but we few who know of the terror to come cannot act with ignorance or naïveté.” Azar studied Lex almost as intently as Clover did. He too realized forcefully how different he now was from when they had first met. He was now hardened, and it seemed killing men would no longer steal his sleep from him.

  Kyle stood beside the prince, his face fixed on his sister. Clover finally looked at him, and he glanced away quickly. She had a sunken look on her face, a look even more lifeless than Zen’s countenance, which was often blank, even before the war.

  “Azar! This boat’s off to Notherland in ten minutes ago!” a rough voice belted over all the noise.

  “They’re coming, Jasper!” Azar shouted back.

  “And this boat to Dreed is leaving shortly as well! Hurry it on! You won’t get any closer to Iceland than this in one move!”

  “Very well! Lex, that’s your vessel!” Azar said. Lex nodded sharply.

  “And how long until the vessel to Kundo is ready?” Mike asked restlessly. He was worrying that the stone-hard muscles under his dark flesh was softening a little because of the short peace since the war. He glanced over at Zen as the wind caught her long white hair, making it fly before her pale, dim face. He was a little nervous about travelling with Zen.

  “There are two or three coming in it seems!” Jasper’s reply came. “You all hurry or you might have to sleep in Libson another night!”

  Clover sighed heavily.

  “Well this is it then,” Azar said. “Farewell to my five warriors. Waste not an ounce of time. Be sure that Kyle and I will not be idle. While you are away, I will build links to the world leaders. A time will come when they will need co-operate. Now my warriors, become strong, strong enough that death itself will fear you!” the prince charged. Mike smirked and snickered a bit.

  “Come, come!” Jasper’s voice insisted. Star rushed up to Azar and hugged him, then she grabbed Kyle, holding him even tighter.

  “Take care of Clover,” he told her that only she would hear. He felt her nod. Clover walked over to her brother nervously. He forced a slight smile.

  “You’ll be alright,” he said. “You finally get the chance to attend magic school.” His smile became less forced. “Don’t make the rest of them look too bad now.” She grabbed on to him suddenly, crying hard. Kyle almost hissed.

  “You must hurry on, girl,” Azar told her. Clover released Kyle and went to Lex. She grabbed him quickly, shaking in his arms.

  “I’ll think about you every day, Lex,” she whispered to him. “Don’t you dare forget me.” She felt his heartbeat hasten.

  “You will be alright.” He said nothing else to her and she released him, feeling Azar touching her shoulder. He wiped the wetness from her face, some of it anyway.

  “And we’re all off!” Azar hurried.

  “Dammit, Azar, the ships are leaving!” Jasper’s voice came again. Lex turned and gripped Mike’s hand.

  “Good luck,” the Icemaker bade Mike.

  “What need have I for such trivial a thing? Strength is all I need!” The muscular boy grabbed him boisterously, almost hurting him. As Lex was released, he went over to the silent girl, who seemed to be lost in thought.

  “Take care, Zen,” he said, and hugged her.

  “Stay alive,” Zen said.

  “Come, Lex!” Azar’s voice demanded. Lex released her. The boy turned and looked at Kyle.

  “Farewell, kid,” the swordsman said, gripping his arm. Lex nodded sharply.

  “The ships are--”

  “We’re coming!” Azar shouted back.

  With the last of the farewells, the five boarded the ships that were fated to take them from the small shape on the map called Libson, and to people and places that would make them what they needed to become. Azar hadn’t the time to stand and watch the ships depart. “We must hurry back,” he told Kyle, “we have much to do in little time.” Kyle nodded sharply, and they returned to their steeds and lost the bay from their sights.

  ***

  A cloud of red mana spread out about the highest room in the Magmalian Tower. King Aragan turned quickly. As the red cloud of magical energy cleared, it revealed one of the king’s most important servants. Kneeling before King Aragan was a hooded sorcerer, well-cloaked in black.

  “It is confirmed, my lord. The five have left the continent,” she reported, her head bowed.

  “Hm.” A smirk arose on the king’s face. “So they are gone, and Azar has lost his sorcery. Then I have no more reason to suspend my plans. Summon to me the high generals. It’s time we attack. This continent will finally belong to the Magmalian Empire! United under me, this land will move toward world domination!”

  ***

  Azar halted his horse suddenly. Kyle stopped in concern. “Azar, what is the--”

  “This feeling…” A cal
culating look was on the prince’s face as he felt a strange sensation. Suddenly, the man vanished in a cloud of purple mana.

  Kyle’s eyes bulged suddenly. Has his sorcery returned?

  ***

  The prince looked around quickly. “What is this?!” he asked, confused. He saw about him a group of men dressed in Herculean uniforms, the attire of the heads of state and highest generals. He quickly recognized the Prime Minister. They were in the now familiar-looking conference room, but everyone was standing around instead of sitting. “Ki!” Azar sounded, still in confusion. The purple mana was just clearing away. Azar steadied his eyes at a man who was just rising, dressed in the fine Herculean white apparel. Azar’s eyes narrowed for a moment in recognition. That old madman? “You?! You… summoned me here?”

  “My young prince, ‘tis good to see you again!” he greeted, sounding far more sober than Azar thought he could.

  So Ki has been making use of him… How the hell did he track me down and summon me here anyway? Azar wondered.

  “Prince Azar!” Ki began, an irate look in his eyes. “You better not even know of this!”

  “Of what do you speak?” Azar asked, trying to regain his composure.

  “Our probes planted in your royal tower have sent us worrying news.”

  “Your probes?”

  “It seems your father is planning to launch a massive strike on the entire continent at once.”

  “What?! Such a thing is absurd!”

  “Think of it. You know your father at least half as well as I do. He is about to use the aftermath of the world war to his advantage. Every nation on the continent is severely weakened by the war. He will send his men to destroy and conquer! Such a tactic isn’t even unlike him anyway.”

  “I give my word, I didn’t know of this,” Azar said, his brows knit. He wondered how accurate this information really was.

  “The only two nations that used to stand a chance against the Magmalians were us Herculeans and the Zakatians,” Ki said. “Zakashi Village is in ruins and is practically defenceless, and we have lost a greater fraction of soldiers in the war than Magma Town.”

  “That greedy old man! He would really destroy the little of Libson that is left? Can’t he think of better things to do with the forces he has left?”

  “You are son of the Magmalian King and heir to his throne, yet I summon and tell you these things,” Ki said.

  “Indeed it is strange,” Azar said.

  “It is because you gave me your word at the beginning of the world war.”

  Azar remembered vividly.

  “You must stop your father,” Ki charged the prince, “or I will send my forces to counter his wherever they are! There will be hundreds, even thousands of casualties on both sides! And if I leave his raids unchecked, things will be even much worse! Libson will have no future!”

  “Fret not,” Azar said, “I will deal with this at once.” It slipped his mind for a moment that he couldn’t just spaceshift back to the tower like he used to.

  “Viknor, return the prince,” Ki ordered.

  “My boy, there’s an invisible mark on your left wrist,” the old wizard said, “I put it there the minute you untied my hands and released me from prison.” Azar was dumbfounded. The old wizard snickered a little. “I can use it to summon you at will. If you clench that wrist tightly and call my name, I will hear you. That will be your link to Hercule.”

  Such high level sorcery! I have only read about such nifty techniques, Azar mused.

  “I would have made you my understudy if you were still a wizard,” Viknor said, “though even that can be fixed if the time is present.” He laughed at the expression in the prince’s face.

  “Enough of that!” Ki said impatiently, “Get him back so he can try to sort things out with his madman of a father! It is unlikely that the king will take heed, but this must be done for the record’s sake before we take action. Azar, if this attack persists and even you get in our way, we will crush you along with Magma Town… for the good of Libson.”

  “Do not take the prince lightly, my lord,” Viknor said to Ki, looking at Azar in a strange way, like he knew some secret about him.

  Azar wondered, could he know of my present ability?

  “Hurry it up, Viknor!”

  “Right!” With that, the sorcerer went up to Azar and touched his shoulder. “This is the reverse summoning,” he told him, then, in a flash of purple mana, Azar disappeared.

  ***

  Kyle reached over his shoulder for the handle as he was frightened by another sudden burst of mana, from which his companion appeared. “What happened?!”

  “Let’s move!” Azar said, jumping back on his horse.

  ***

  “So by noon, then, we will have our largest unit surrounding this checkpoint,” the Supreme General continued, making a circle about Zakashi Village with his finger on the large map that took up most of the conference table.

  “But General, why do we need to send so much power to one village? I know the Zakatians were somewhat mighty before, but our sources tell that they have nothing of an army left since Trium’s attack,” King Aragan came in.

  “The legendary Blade is the leader of the village, my lord,” the Supreme General reminded. “Believe me, that is reason enough to send a thousand men.”

  “You really believe one man can stand up to—”

  “Blade isn’t legendary for his silver hair, my king,” the S.G said. “Even in his childhood days, he has been wiping out up to a hundred soldiers at a time singlehandedly.”

  “Hm. Very well then!”

  “My king,” the Under-Supreme General came in, “I still strongly suggest we do not go forward with this whole assault. You are underestimating the other nations by attacking them all at once.”

  “This is the only way!” the king said, “If we concentrate all our forces on one province, surely it will be ours, but then what if Hercule gets wind of this? They will send their whole army to attack ours, and the losses will be great! If we strike all points at once, in a single day, we will have conquered all of Libson! Then, having captured and made the men of these provinces into our soldiers, taking their wives and children hostage, we will finally have the power to crush Hercule!”

  All heads turned as the door was blasted open.

  The king stood straight at once. “Azar!”

  “Father, what are you thinking?! Are you really planning to attack all of Libson in one sweep?”

  “How did you get news of this?!” he blasted.

  Azar thought for a moment. “I’ve had my ears against the walls.”

  “Anyway, I know you will try to talk me out of it, but don’t waste your breath.”

  “Father, can’t you see that this mayhem is the perfect opportunity for us to have the other nations in our debt?! Instead of plotting to destroy the villages and towns, if we help to rebuild them, they might—”

  “Are you insane, boy?! This is our chance to rise and become even greater than Magma Land ever was!”

  “You are ignorant as usual, father!” Azar blasted in annoyance. “I have told you that the world will soon face another massive attack! Now is no time to create trivial wars!”

  “Trivial wars?! Boy! Get out of my sight! I will conquer Libson by tomorrow’s night, and you have no way of getting in my way that your helpers are gone!”

  “Father, I will not allow such madness!”

  “Not allow?! Boy, you best not push me to have you thrown in prison!”

  Azar glared at his father. He felt the sudden urge to power up and kill everyone in the room at once. “I beg you father… reconsider,” the prince said in a different tone.

  “You will hear of the greatness of Magma Land from a cold cell, Azar! Guards, get him out of my sight!” At once, two soldiers who were standing at the door grabbed on to the prince, or made some kind of attempt at least. The young nobleman flashed his hands out toward them. Black currents sped from his palms and struck the guards
, flinging them viciously against the walls. Their bodies jerked vilely as what seemed like two black bolts of lightning stole all life from them. The men fell dead, their swords still uncased. The Magmalian higher-ups stood quickly in fright.

  Dammit, Azar thought, panting and slouching slightly. Since the war, I can’t make a simple spark without feeling exhausted. “I should kill you all where you stand!” Azar threatened, trying to hide his weakened state.

  “Generals, kill him!” the king blasted, his dream of conquering Libson flashing before him. Azar’s eyes widened.

  Finally! The Supreme General thought, rushing toward him, pulling his sword hastily. Azar pulled his blades from their cases behind his back. Marco’s blade clashed against another which was not of Azar. “What?! Stand down, soldier!” the Supreme General blasted, pushing against Marco’s blade. The other high generals were quite hesitant to attack, thinking the king might later have them beheaded for killing his only son.

  “What is this?! Treason?!” the king blasted at the shaking Marco, the man who had faithfully served him as Under-Supreme General for a number of years. Azar made a fast step and grabbed the wrist of the highest general, kicking him off powerfully. “Kill them both!” the king commanded.

  “Viknor!” Azar called, grabbing his wrist. Almost before the name was fully uttered, there was a sudden burst of purple, and the attackers stepped back in caution. As the mist cleared, two men were revealed to have appeared, the leader of Hercule himself and his new right hand, quite probably the most powerful wizard in Libson.

  “What is this?! You have joined forces with our sworn enemy, Azar?!” the king blasted in ire. There was a stern look on the prince’s face. “Ki, do you really think your army is in any form to challenge mine? Do you think it wise to provoke a war between us?!”

  “I know your numbers are a multiple of mine, but I, a defender of Libson, will not watch as you destroy whatever is left of it.”

  “So you think turning my own son against me will give you the power to stop us?!” King Aragan nearly laughed. The king grabbed his wrist tightly. “Zedra!” he summoned. A red cloud of mana appeared, and out of it appeared an elderly witch dressed fully in black, kneeling in front of the king, facing the Herculeans and the prince of Magma Town. She stood slowly. Azar hissed, recognizing her. This witch had helped him to subdue some of Trium’s power and get it to Lex during the Black War.