“I think you should keep it.”
“Um, okay.”
Enyo didn’t have any pockets, so she placed the key inside of her cleavage… or she was going to.
“On second thought, maybe I should carry it for now,” Jacob finished. His cheeks had been stained a mild red, and he wasn’t looking in her direction, though his hand was outstretched.
“All right,” Enyo agreed, placing the key in his hand. Jacob’s fingers curled around the key before he placed it in a pouch that was strapped to his left thigh.
“I don’t know about you,” Jacob started, smoothly changing the subject, “but I think we’ve overstayed our welcome.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Enyo said with an emphatic nod.
INTERLUDE III
DARK TIDINGS
She kneeled before the Dark Council, her head bowed low. She didn’t look up, for to gaze upon the faces of those who were feared by the darkness itself was to invite death. While she didn’t fear death, she also didn’t seek it out.
“I have discovered the whereabouts of our runaway princess,” she announced. “Enyo is currently traveling in the company of the hero, Jacob the Destroyer, though I have yet to ascertain the purpose.”
Perhaps it had been a mistake to tell Enyo stories of the hero’s adventures. She remembered the way a 12-year old Enyo’s face would light up when she told her about how the hero had rescued such and such village from monsters, or how he had saved so and so individual from death. Personally, she blamed the girl’s father for putting such outrageous ideas in her head, but there could be no denying that she was also part of the problem.
I suppose this is what I get for wanting to give Enyo a better life.
“This is a troubling situation,” a voice said to her left.
“Indeed,” another added to her right.
“Such an instance has never occurred before,” a person directly in front of her said.
“The hero and the dark lady are supposed to never meet,” said another voice. “That is how it was and always has been. Now that these two have met, all of our carefully crafted plans could be unraveled.”
She said nothing. It was not her place to speak while the Dark Council was holding a conversation. These people were the seven most powerful members of the Dark Clan to have ever been born. Centuries old, they held powers that not even Alucard had wielded.
“I do not think we have anything to worry about,” said a female voice, seductive and deadly.
“Do not be so sure, Lust,” a wizened voice said. “We do not know why the dark lady has sought out the hero, or what her plans are.”
“She probably just wants to get revenge for the hero killing dear old dad,” Lust said.
“All the more reason we should reclaim her,” someone said. “If the hero catches wind of what she plans on doing, he will kill her. The dark lady is powerful, but she is not her father. We cannot afford to let her die.”
She wanted to say that they wouldn’t have to worry about that. The chances that Enyo was planning on—or indeed, even wanted to—kill the hero was slim to none. That girl had been enamored with the hero from the very first story that she had been told. She said nothing, however. It was not her place to speak, and in truth, she wasn’t that fond of the Dark Council. In fact, she had no plans on aiding this group of misbegotten old fools.
“There are other ways to kill the hero aside from combat,” Lust mocked. “You should know that, Pride. Wasn’t your father killed by me despite being stronger?”
“Hold your tongue, Wench!” Pride snarled. “Be silent, lest I rip that vile appendage from your mouth!”
“Oh, my. Threats, is it? Do you really think you can take me on? I’ve grown in power since killing your old man. You wouldn’t stand a chance against me now.”
“Both of you should be silent,” the voice in the middle said again. “Now is not the time for your quarreling. We must decide on what to do now that we know the dark lady’s whereabouts.”
Part of her wished she had never told the Dark Council about where Enyo was. Her wish had been for the Dark Council to never lay their hands on the girl, but she could not go against their wishes. If she did, then she’d never get the chance to save Enyo from whatever fate awaited her.
“It is obvious that we should have someone go and fetch her.”
“But she’s in the presence of the hero. Anyone we send would surely be destroyed.”
“Then do you propose that we go ourselves? Preposterous!”
She listened to the Dark Council members argue, withholding a sigh as she realized that it was unlikely they would come to a decision. None of the Dark Council members had ever gotten along. Every time she made a report, they would bicker, argue, and issue death threats. None of them could agree on anything. However, they were the ruling council of the Dark Clan.
She didn’t understand how that worked.
“It seems we are at an impasse,” Lust said. “Since we cannot agree on what to do, how about each of us selects a champion to carry out the task of recovering the dark lady?”
A murmur spread through the Dark Council, who all seemed agreeable to the idea. One by one, each member seemed to come around to it. She could not see them because her head was still bowed. However, she could imagine the way their heads nodded along with Lust’s suggestion.
“Very well,” the middle voice said again. “Each of us will choose a champion, an avatar, who will do our bidding. They will go forth and reclaim the dark lady.”
“What of the hero?” asked Pride. “Shall we dispose of him?”
There was a moment of silence. She almost smiled at the tension that settled around them. Jacob the Destroyer was an unprecedented hero, a boy who destroyed Alucard at the age of 13. Who knew how strong the child was now, five years after the events had happened.
“There is no need to bother with him,” the middle voice said at last. “He is of no concern. However, should he get in the way, then I see no reason why we can’t kill him. After all, the hero has already served his purpose. His role in this world… has ended.”
The other council members murmured in agreement. She sighed. It looked like the hero was going to be disposed of. She hoped he would prove up to the task of slaying the Dark Council’s champions.
For Enyo’s sake, if nothing else.
***
Alice had spent much of the day sitting on the dais greeting hall, listening to the nobles as they gave her reports on what was happening in their lands, or made requests of her, or even criticized some of her policies.
Those who criticized received a harsh tongue lashing. They were only upset because the policies that she had set in place kept them from lining their pockets with more wealth. She would not allow them to steal from her people, however. Their kingdom had been founded on justice and equality, and she would be damned if she allowed the corruption that had spread plague her kingdom anymore.
It was nearing noon when Bayard entered the greeting hall with a young knight in tow. Alice vaguely recognized the person. He had dark hair and dark eyes, a chiseled face, and broad shoulders. He walked with confidence, though he seemed a tad agitated. The silver armor of a paladin adorned his frame.
“Your majesty,” Bayard said, bowing. The other paladin bowed as well. “This is Caslain, the paladin who I sent on the mission to locate and bring back Jacob.”
Alice tried not to let Bayard know how much his words affected her. She had been impatiently waiting for any word on whether or not Jacob would be returning. She longed to see him returned to her side.
“And? How was the mission? Has he agreed to return?”
Bayard sent her a reproachful look. Even Listy was staring at her! Alice realized that it was because she’d lost her composure, leaning forward like some giggling lady-in-waiting who was looking for something to gossip about, and so she quickly tried to regain the demeanor befitting a monarch.
“My Queen, I regret to inform you that the mission was not succes
sful,” Caslain informed her in a regretful tone.
Alice couldn’t contain her disappointment. “I-I see.”
“Perhaps you should hear the reason that he failed to find Jacob,” Bayard suggested.
“You are correct. Caslain?”
“The reason I failed is because I ran into the Dark Clan member who’s wanted for stealing an important item from you, Your Majesty.”
Alice would have rubbed her forehead if doing so wouldn’t have been considered un-queenly. Caslain had run into the woman who’d stolen the gate key to the otherworld gate while he was searching for Jacob? Was this just a coincidence?
“It appears that the thief had been initially captured in the same city that the Morin Garrison said Jacob was located in. Someone then helped her break out after she was captured, and then both she and Jacob disappeared,” Bayard continued. “Furthermore, when Caslain tried to apprehend the thief after happening upon her by chance, he and his squadron were attacked by a man wielding a longsword.”
Narrowing her eyes, Alice sent Bayard a piercing look. “What are you trying to say, General?”
“I am saying that the time these two events took place, the thief being broken out of jail and Jacob disappearing from Albany, happened far too closely to be coincidental. I believe that Jacob is the one traveling with the thief.”
Alice felt like someone had shoved a branding iron in her gut. It was a good thing she was sitting, because she lost all the strength in her legs. She couldn’t believe what Bayard was saying.
“There’s no way that could be true!” Caslain, surprisingly, was the one who came to Jacob’s defense. “There is no way a hero like Jacob would ever ally himself with a thief!”
“I am surprised you can say that, having already fought him,” Bayard replied mildly. “Did you not recognize your hero?”
Caslain’s cheeks turned red. “I… it was dark, so I couldn’t see very well. However, I stand by what I said. Jacob is a hero. Even if he left the kingdom, that doesn’t make him any less of a hero, and a hero would never protect a thief like that woman.”
“Caslain makes a good point, General,” Alice said. “And that is a very strong accusation to make. What proof do you have that Jacob is the one traveling with the thief?”
“The mere fact that the one traveling with the thief defeated a paladin is proof enough that he’s no ordinary man.” Bayard spread his hands wide. “However, if you require more proof, then let us look at the facts. We know that Jacob’s last known location was Albany. We also know that the thief was last seen in Albany before she was captured. She was then rescued by some unknown person and disappeared. Several days later, Caslain travels to Albany, finds out that Jacob has disappeared, and then runs into the thief and a man who can fight on par with a paladin in another city. Doesn’t all that seem a little too suspicious to be mere coincidence?”
Looking at it like that, she could see why Bayard suspected Jacob. It really was suspicious. However…
“While your points are good, I would still like to give Jacob the benefit of the doubt,” Alice said.
Bayard nodded. “As would we all. I merely wanted to convey the possibility that Jacob might have been coerced into helping the thief somehow.”
“Your point is noted,” Alice said. “In that case, since we cannot find Jacob, and since we don’t know about the thief’s companion, let us focus on the thief. Caslain, I would like you and your knights to track her down. You said that she and her companion were last seen heading into the Phantasma Forest, so start your search there.”
Caslain brought his left fist up to his chest in a salute. “Yes, Your Majesty. It shall be done.”
As Caslain turned and left the greeting hall, Alice looked up at the ceiling, feeling the exhaustion that came from bearing the crown seeping into her bones.
I wonder what you’re doing right now, Jacob…
CHAPTER 4
A QUEST GONE AWRY
It took two weeks to leave the Phantasma Forest. The problem was several fold; they didn’t have a map, neither of them had spent any amount of time in the forest until then, and they had lost their way after all of the fighting with the toad demons, not to mention the incident with Agatha. In the end, they had simply picked a random direction and traveled in a straight line until they were out.
Unfortunately, they had been traveling north, which was the opposite direction that they needed to travel. Instead of ending up in Polavo, which would have been their next destination, or even Altsu, they found themselves in Deterion.
Deterion was a mining town. Built around the base of a mountain, all the structures were of a sturdier design than most. Made from steel and brick, there were no wooden structures to be found there. Since the mountain was actually an active volcano, the buildings had all been built specifically to withstand heat.
He and Enyo walked into the town, glancing around at the large buildings that towered over them. Numerous walkways could be seen beneath their feet. Much of the city was located underground. Paths branched out to reach doorways, and there were spiraling ramps that led deeper into the city.
The people walking around were a mixed lot. Lizafals and Alicants seemed to make up most of the population. They were bipeds, but they didn’t look human. Lizafals possessed leather skin, had a reptilian muzzle, no ears, and a long tail jutting from their clothing. Alicants were furry. There were several different races of Alicant, which left small variations in appearance. Some looked like foxes, while others resembled cats, dogs, and rabbits. One thing about them remained the same. Their entire bodies were covered in fur, they had large ears, and tails protruding from their pants.
Enyo stared in awe at the place. Her eyes were like those of a child as she twisted her neck around, as if doing so would let her see more. Jacob chuckled, causing her to look his way.
“What is it?”
“I’m guessing you’ve never been here before?”
“No, I haven’t. This is my first time seeing such a place.”
Jacob had expected as much. “Deterion is known for two things: it’s mining operations and its blacksmithing. Many of the residents go deep into the mountain and mine rare gems and metal. I hear this place has a lot ore deposits because the volcano is still active. And, since they have such a large amount of ore readily available, blacksmiths have traveled from all over to set up shop.”
Watching the way Enyo’s face shifted was amusing. The first thing she did was gaze at him with an impressed look, then her face scrunched up as if she was confused, and then her eyes widened as she realized something.
“Are we going to buy a new set of daggers?” she asked.
Jacob shrugged. “I figured you could use another pair since you destroyed your old ones, and since we’re already here…”
“Thank you!”
Durandal groaned. “We only got here, and I can already tell this trip is going to suck.”
Enyo blinked. “What’s wrong with Durandal?”
“Nothing,” Jacob said. “Just ignore the sword.”
“Oh, yes. Just ignore me. I don’t have any positive input to add. No sirey.”
“He seems awfully angry.”
“Durandal is a very belligerent sword. You know that.”
“True.”
The key to getting a good pair of weapons was to find a good blacksmith. Fortunately, some of the best blacksmiths in Terrasole resided in Deterion. Even more fortunately, Jacob happened to know a good blacksmith who could help them out.
The shop was called Dolton’s, and while the name was uninspiring, the weapons produced by Dolton, the owner, were top notch.
Sweat accumulated on Jacob’s head the moment he entered the shop. The forge must have been burning in the back, which meant Dolton was working on something. His and Enyo’s footsteps thudded against the wooden floor. While Enyo glanced around, surveying the store as a whole, he studied the many different weapons that were lined up along the walls. Swords. Axes. Polearms.
He even saw a naginata. However, it didn’t look like there were any daggers.
Loud stomping made him and Enyo snapped their heads toward the doorway behind the counter, which swung open seconds later. Enyo gasped as a dark-skinned mountain of muscle entered the room. With sweat clinging to his shirtless frame, revealing his thick chest and broad shoulders, he was less of a man and more of a monster.
Despite towering over them both, the man offered them a friendly smile.
“Welcome to Dolton’s,” he spoke with a thick northern accent. “What can I interest you… eh? Hm?” The man narrowed his eyes when they landed on Jacob.
“It’s been awhile, Dolton.” Jacob raised a hand in greeting.
“Well, I’ll be! Ha! Jacob! It’s been ages since you’ve come into my shop! You haven’t come since you got that blasted talking sword of yours.”
“That blasted talking sword is still here,” Durandal growled.
“So you are,” Dolton grunted. “You know my policy, Jacob. You and I can do business, but the talking sword needs to leave.”
“What am I going to do? Walk out on my own two legs? News flash! I don’t have legs!” Durandal paused as Jacob unstrapped the sheath from around his back. “H-hey, Partner? You’re not actually going to listen to this guy, are you?”
“Sorry,” Jacob said in a completely unapologetic tone. “But Enyo needs daggers, so you’ve gotta go.”
“What?! You mean that you’re abandoning me for the girl!”
“Only temporarily.”
“Whatever happened to bros before hoes?!”
“I have no idea what that means, but I’m sure you’ll be fine for a few hours.”
“This is blasphemy! What kind of partner are you?!”
“The best kind.”
Despite Durandal’s protests, Jacob stabbed the sword into the ground outside of the shop, where it remained, its muffled complaints barely heard behind the closed door. Clapping his hands, Jacob walked further in. He stopped at the giggles coming from Enyo.
“You two really do have an interesting relationship,” Enyo said when he raised an eyebrow.
Journey of a Betrayed Hero- Volume 1 Page 13
