by Gabe Jones
"My father could have been the emperor?" Morek asked, stunned.
"This cannot be true," Steris said.
"Oh, but it is," Kilgog replied. "Too bad you will be too dead to tell anyone." The Dark Lord flew down in between them and Kilgog. He removed his hood.
"Diroqrax?" asked Morek and Steris at the same time.
"Though I was mocked amongst my peers, cowardly turning into dust before death saved me," he said, "I will soon be a hero throughout the Orc Empire for killing you."
"How did you know we were coming?" Morek asked.
"The Elves told us," Kilgog remarked. "Pay them, and their mouths open wide."
"Those traitors," mumbled Steris.
"It is over," Kilgog said. "No one will remember you. No one will miss you." They held a stare with Kilgog. "Diroqrax, kill them," Kilgog commanded.
A fireball appeared in the Dark Lord's hand. It flew at them, and the world exploded into flames.
Chapter Twenty: The Nesur Crystal
The smoke cleared. As the Orcs tried to see through it, blue light shimmered in their eyes. A shield projected from Morek's sword protected them. The Orcs stood in shock for a moment.
"Get them!" shouted Kilgog.
Dozens of Orcs poured into the room and charged at them. Diroqrax flew and picked up Kilgog. Kilgog grabbed the staff. They flew to the back of the madness. Swords and axes flew at Morek and Steris. They parried with sword blocks and magic. Diroqrax made the situation worse by throwing fire down on them.
One Orc ran at Morek and sliced him across the chest. He hissed with pain and quickly dispatched the Orc with a swift swing to the neck. Steris blasted a sword out of another Orc's hand. It fell to the floor. The Orc grunted and charged at her, landing his fist in her stomach. She doubled over in pain. Steris touched her wand to the Orc’s chest and said a spell. A hole blasted through his chest and he fell over dead.
Dozens upon dozens more Orcs flowed into the sanctuary. Kilgog and Diroqrax watched on with smug grins on their faces. Still, Morek and Steris fought on as each Orc fell over dead. Finally, it stopped. There was silence in the sanctuary. A dark chuckle came to them from Kilgog.
"I must say that your performance exceeded my expectations," Kilgog said. "You killed a couple dozen compared to my millions."
"We will kill you," Steris said. "Just like we killed your army."
"Diroqrax, finish what you started," commanded Kilgog.
"Yes, master," Diroqrax responded. An evil grin spread across his face. A ball of red energy grew in his hand. "So, this is how the noble Morek of Harthwait dies," Diroqrax said. "At my own hand."
Morek sheathed his sword. A ball of blue energy grew in his hand. Steris grabbed Morek's hand, the power expanded.
"We end this how we started it," Steris told him. "Together."
The energy blasted from their hands as Diroqrax fired his red energy. They met in the middle, pressing against each other. Morek dug deep into a power he had never experienced and finally reached his true potential in magic. They began overpowering Diroqrax, pressing harder. Diroqrax lost power, and the blue light blasted a hole through his abdomen. Diroqrax fell over dead. Morek and Steris released hands, panting and exhausted. Kilgog stood in utter shock. They had killed part of his army and his most powerful Dark Lord.
"You... you killed him," Kilgog muttered. He snapped out of his shock and held tight to the staff. Morek unsheathed his sword and began walking toward Kilgog, Steris right behind him. Kilgog pulled a small knife from his belt. Morek swung and knocked the knife out of his hand. He held the tip of his sword against Kilgog's neck.
"Give me the staff," Morek commanded. Kilgog handed him the staff.
"Coward," Steris muttered.
Morek was about to put the sword through his neck, but he stopped himself. The words of Durfur rung in his ears. "Forgiveness," he seemed to whisper to Morek. Morek sheathed his sword and stepped back.
"Emperor Kilgog, you will be tried for your crimes," Morek said. "You are coming with us."
Morek's sword grew brighter than ever as the Guardian lines began to move over it. Ancient words became inscribed in it.
"It says, 'Dawnbreaker,'" Steris said smiling.
Kilgog opened his mouth to shout for guards. Steris blasted a hole through his chest.
"So much for taking him back," Morek said.
"He was about to call for guards. The less opposition on our way out, the better," Steris replied.
"Agreed," Morek responded.
They left the main sanctuary. Morek looked out the door of the temple. Orcs stood at the ready with pikes surrounding the door. Thousands of Orcs stood behind it with swords drawn. Morek pulled the Nesur Crystal off its staff and slipped it into a pouch on his belt.
"What is the plan?" Steris asked.
"Kill the bastards and get back to Harthwait," Morek replied.
"Works for me," Steris said. She pulled her wand out. Morek held his sword at the the ready. They walked out together.
"Can you clear a path?" Morek asked.
Steris launched fireballs at the front line. They were blown away, knocked back a few lines behind them. The Orcs screamed and ran toward them. Morek and Steris charged into combat. Slowly, very slowly, they cut down each line of Orcs. Just as they cut down another group, more would come at them. They began moving in behind them as well.
Sweat poured down their faces. Their bodies ached. Both longed for a reprieve. Morek's swings became slower and messier. Steris began losing power. The Orcs circumscribed them, and they became overpowered. They tripped over each other and fell to the ground. Morek kept swinging, back pressed against the ground. Steris kept putting holes through the Orcs, barely keeping herself up.
Morek stabbed his sword through an Orc, and it fell over dead. His sword was stuck in it. Another Orc ran at him, about to bear down on him with an axe. Something flew through the air, and the Orc collapsed in front of him. An arrow stuck out of his back. Morek picked himself up and helped up Steris. They looked toward the front of the city.
An Orc horn blew. The Orcs moving toward Morek and Steris now turned back toward the front of the city. An explosion blasted through Uzdrag. Orcs flew into the air. A Dark Lord landed on the ground in front of them.
"You killed him," a female voice said. "You killed my brother, Diroqrax."
"Gekely?" Steris asked. "Is that you?"
"Borious was mine, Steris," Gekely said. "I left, because there was nothing left for me. Now my brother is dead, and you will be too."
Steris knocked her back, and Morek brought his sword down on her.
"That was easy," Morek said. "We need to help whoever is fighting the Orcs."
They ran toward the fight. The sheer number of Orcs threatened the organized army attacking. Morek and Steris attacked from behind. By the time the odds came 20 to one, the Orcs surrendered. A man on a white stallion rode toward them.
"Borious!" Steris shouted. Emperor Borious got off of his horse and ran to Steris. They embraced.
"I knew you might need some help," Borious said. "We broke through the front lines days ago. I guess we got here just in time."
"Kilgog is dead, Borious," Steris told him. "We finally won."
Borious stared at her in shock. He smiled a huge smile, embraced her, and pulled her into a kiss. Somebody else rode toward them, riding Juniper.
"Cherise?" Morek asked. "Cherise!" She came to a stop in front of him and dismounted Juniper.
"You are alive," she said. "Oh Morek, you are okay." They embraced, and she planted her lips on his.
"Cherise," Morek said. "We did it. We won."
Chapter Twenty-One: Homeward Bound
Voriontu grew even more beautiful in the rays of sunrise. Morek had bathed, was dressed in new clothes, and felt well rested. His room in the castle provided him a perfectly beautiful view of the city. Construction had already begun to repair the walls. A warm, summer breeze blew through the room.
It had been a week s
ince the fall of the Orc Empire. The South had been liberated, Orcs had been arrested or killed, humans had been set free, and the land fell under the control of The Empire and Emperor Borious. Finally, things calmed down. Morek had been in conflict so long, he really did not know what to do with himself. He was safe at last.
Borious had been allowed to keep the Nesur Crystal until Morek left to study it. Morek could return home and heal his father, but the stone would have to be returned to the emperor afterwards.
Morek left his room and descended the stairs to the great hall. Steris joined him on the stairwell. She was clean and clothed in a beautiful gown. Scars and bruises still coated both of their bodies, but otherwise they were fine.
They entered the room. Borious sat at the head of the table, his advisors and military officials surrounding him. They all stood and bowed to Morek and Steris. The two returned a bow and took their seats at the table. A great feast was set before them. They were served the finest wine. Borious stood before the table.
"Before they are presented to the public, I would like to toast to them personally," Borious said. "Morek and Steris, you did something our finest military officials never would have dreamed of. You saved my kingdom time and time again. Thank you. To our Guardians!"
"To our Guardians!" they all shouted, putting their wine in the air.
They all drank. After breakfast, they went down into the commons of the city. A stage had been prepared. A crowd of humans, Dwarfs, and Elves were gathered before it. Morek had received notice that the Elves had not sold their location to the Orcs. The Orcs forced them to tell, even to the extent of killing the Elf emperor. Azetlor rose to power over the empire. Now, Borious, Azetlor, and the Dwarf emperor, Brustoir, stood on the stage together. Morek and Steris walked onto the stage and pulled Azetlor aside.
"I heard about Siirist," Azetlor told them.
"We are so sorry," Morek said. "He should not have died as he did."
"Morek, it was Siirist's time. I sent him. It is not your fault," Azetlor replied. "I consider you both friends. May your lives prosper."
Borious walked to the front of the stage and held up his hand. The crowd began to quiet. "People of Voriontu, Dwarfs, Elves, thank you for gathering here in my beautiful city today. As all of you know, the abomination that was the Orc Empire has been eliminated," Borious told them. The crowd cheered. "I want to personally apologize to all lost from all three of our empires. I would like to give you a small token for the sacrifices of two specifically: Durfur Ironbrow of Nerngarohm and Siirist Ianmoria, son of Emperor Azetlor."
He gave each emperor a small, green stone. "They are receiving Ingoia Diamonds, only mined within my empire and very precious," Borious explained. "There are two though that I must highly congratulate on their accomplishments. Morek, Steris, come up here."
The people clapped as Morek and Steris stood on either side of Borious.
"I would like to introduce to you Morek Alden of Harthwait and Steris Marth of Umard Woods," Borious said. "These two singlehandedly killed Emperor Kilgog, killed two Dark Lords, and killed thousands of Orcs. They had no backup, just themselves. Steris, I would like to grant you the position of Imperial Grand Advisor and commander of the new Guardian Training Academy on Aria Island."
"I accept," Steris replied. The crowd cheered.
"Wonderful!" exclaimed Borious. "I would also like to grant you one more position."
"Which is what?" Steris asked.
"Would you like to be my wife and empress of The Empire?" Borious asked.
"Well, why would I say no to you?" Steris asked.
Borious pulled her into an embrace and kissed her. The crowd cheered. They released.
"Thank you Steris Marth for your service to this empire," Borious said. "Finally, Morek Alden, I would like to grant you two things. First, the Nesur Crystal to heal your father. Secondly, if you will kneel." Borious gave him the crystal. Morek kneeled before the emperor. Borious held Morek sword and touched it to both shoulders.
"Sir Morek Alden of Harthwait, I, Emperor Borious, head of the Empire and the Order of the Guardians, using the sword, Dawnbreaker, officially knight you Lord Morek, Guardian of The Empire," he said. "You may stand."
Borious handed him his sword, and he sheathed it. The crowd cheered and clapped. Borious got on one knee and bowed to them. The crowd silenced and followed in suit. The emperors did the same. Morek was a Guardian, a true Guardian.
The event came to a close. The groups dispersed. Morek and Steris walked to the stables. Cherise groomed Juniper.
"How did it go?" she asked.
"Wonderful," Morek said. "I believe it is about time to go home."
"I will miss you, my sweet Morek.”
"I will not, because you are coming with me."
"Really?"
"Of course. My father has to approve of our marriage."
Cherise gasped and smiled, pulling him into a kiss. They pulled apart. "To Harthwait my dear," Morek said.
Morek and Cherise mounted Juniper. Steris followed behind them on their return trip to Harthwait. A few days later, they emerged out of the forest to the fields of the small town of Harthwait. No longer was the town smoldering ruins. Repairs were coming along well. People stopped and stared at Morek as he maneuvered through the town. He turned onto the road to their farm. Grains blew in the wind. They stopped at the stables.
"Simun! Simun!" Morek yelled. Simun came around the corner to greet them. "You survived," Morek said.
"That demon did not come this far out," Simun replied. "I am so glad you survived."
Morek gave Juniper's reigns to Simun. "I will miss you girl," Morek whispered, stroking her mane.
Steris gave her horse up to Simun as well. They walked down to the house. The year's crops had already begun growing. Morek pushed open the door of the small, two-story house he had spent so much time in. It fell so small compared to the world outside. Morek laid his bags by the door and hung his cloak. He turned right and opened his father's room.
His father laid in the same position he had been in when they left Harthwait so long ago. Casaris sat in the corner in a chair reading. He looked up slowly from the book to Morek.
"Who are you?" Casaris asked.
"Morek," he replied.
Casaris dropped his book. "Liar," Casaris responded. "My brother died. He is never coming back."
Morek kneeled in front of Casaris. "Look at my eyes, Casaris," Morek said. "I am your brother."
Casaris looked him dead in the eyes. Tears began flowing from his eyes. "Morek." He fell into Morek's embrace, crying tears of joy. They separated, both wiping tears from their eyes.
"I brought the stone to heal father," Morek told him. Casaris nodded.
Morek pulled the Nesur Crystal from his pocket and placed it on his father's body. It glowed blue, and the light moved into his body and through his veins. His father gasped for air.
"Father!" Morek exclaimed. "You are alive!" Morek and Casaris cried over their father.
"Help," Morek heard. He wiped his eyes. "Who said 'help?'" he asked.
Nobody said anything. He heard it again. He looked at the crystal. Morek took it from his father's chest and placed it to his ear. His heard the call for help louder than ever now. Morek placed the stone on his father's dresser, unsheathed his sword, and hit the stone with the hilt, as it was crushed to pieces. Light shined so bright, they could not see. Something emerged from the light and broke through the ceiling.
A giant being of metal and light stood high in the sky. He raised a hand to the sky as a circle of black emerged above them in the middle of the day. A blue aurora grew around Morek, Steris, and Cherise, and they began to rise into the air. The being slipped into the portal. Morek, Steris, and Cherise followed behind, pulled into inky blackness.
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