Deke Brolin Rhol

by Doug Backus

  When Palto walked through the Wall of Solace Solko, Preta and Duffy along with hundreds of Rholians stared at him in silence. Duffy had obviously told everyone within the realm about the passageway and they were eagerly waiting to hear if it actually existed.

  “I have found the way out,” Palto said calmly.

  A loud cheer rang out. “We have Duffy to thank, but I am afraid it is not all good news. It will take hours for you to climb your way out and time will not allow us that luxury. The route that Mary took the others down will not help us either. It only leads to the Swamps of Tiqor.”

  “What are you saying, Palto? We are stuck here? I must leave to find what has become of my family and fight for Rhol,” Duffy said walking toward Palto.

  “I understand Duffy. We will not leave you or anyone else stranded here. You will all get the chance to defend Rhol. Solko, Preta and I will exit through the passageway and engage Phanthus. I hope this will provide a long enough distraction for one of us to return and lead you out of the tunnel to safety.”

  “If you are to engage that monster then I will be coming with you. You cannot deny me the chance to fight alongside of you. It was me, after all, who told you of the tunnel. My family can wait till this battle is over,” Duffy insisted.

  Palto addressed the Rholians, “if you have not prepared yourself to leave already then do so now. When we come back to retrieve you, there will be no time to waste.”

  They began to slowly disperse, all except Duffy who remained poised, refusing to back down.

  “We must speak, Duffy,” Palto calmly said.

  “Very well, Palto, but you will not change my mind.”

  “We can speak of that later. There are more important matters to deal with.”

  “What is it then?” Duffy enquired.

  “It is about the story you told me, Duffy. How you came to be here.”

  “It is the truth, I swear it,” Duffy responded curtly.

  “Even if I had doubted it, I wouldn’t now.”

  “I do not understand, Palto.”

  “You see Duffy. You were obviously dazed when the Cawlaway attacked. You did not see your family, but they were there.”

  Duffy just stared at Palto in silence as he continued. “I believe I found them or at least their remains. Their bones lay scattered over the ground. I am sorry to have to tell you such news.”

  Palto could see Duffy’s knees starting to shake before they buckled beneath him. He knelt upon the ground burying his face in his small hands and wept, then yelled and then wept again.

  After several minutes Duffy rose to his feet. His sorrow had turned to anger.

  “It is his doing, Solharn’s. He and his loathsome followers will pay for all the grief they have caused. Now, more than ever Palto, you cannot deny me the chance to battle beside you against Phanthus.”

  “No, I cannot,” Palto answered. “You may come if you wish, but I can only take you to the opening. The passageway is not big enough for you to ride with me. There are vines strong enough to hold your weight but it will take you several hours to climb.”

  “It will take less than you think, Palto.”

  “Very well, let us summon Preta and Solko. When the next burst of flames dies in the tunnel we will ride.”

  It wasn’t long before they reached the passageway leading to the top of the mountain. Duffy hopped off Palto saying only that he would see them soon. As the three Pegapires disappeared through the passageway, Duffy grabbed his hatchet from the wall and began to climb.

  When Palto emerged from the ground, followed by Preta and Solko, he had not anticipated that Phanthus would be flying directly toward them. He cursed to himself at their timing. Phanthus could not have expected them. He must have been taking a brief flight before returning to his perch. The reason did not matter though, they were now in his line of vision.

  “Preta, flank right, Solko left! Do not try to be heroes, let us draw him away. Our only advantage against Phanthus is that there are three of us and only one of him. Do not communicate vocally. The dragon can hear for miles, and it will not help our strategies if he knows them in advance.”

  Preta and Solko reacted immediately. Palto flew toward the dragon. Only when he saw the first stream of flames spew from Phanthus’s jaws did he react and change direction, flying straight up toward the sky and over the dragon. When the fire dissipated, Preta caught the dragon’s attention by flying in front of him from the east. When Phanthus turned toward her, Solko crossed in front from the opposite direction causing the dragon once more to change his attack.

  The Pegapires were trained in every form of warfare, and this was simply a distraction tactic meant to confuse the enemy. This technique caused the enemy to change focus several times, making any attack they had planned less effective. It was all they could do for now. They knew they would stand no chance of defeating Phanthus without help. Their strategy was simple. They would try to slowly move the dragon away from the mountain range to allow a safe escape for the Rholians that remained in the Realm.

  Palto turned to come at Phanthus from above. When he looked down he could not believe his eyes. It was Jayden riding on the back of the dragon. Perhaps this was why the dragon had left his perch. Jayden had somehow attacked the dragon from above and now clung to his back. It also meant that the rest of the army was on its way. Palto had a renewed hope.

  “Preta, Jayden is fighting the dragon while he clings to its back. He will not be able to hold on forever. We must help him. I will swing in front of Phanthus and distract him. You fly from behind and try to retrieve Jayden.”

  “Just say the word Palto. I am in position.”

  “Now!” Palto yelled.

  Palto flew close to the dragon’s snout, missing it by mere feet, and began flying downward. Phanthus fell for Palto’s trick and followed, allowing Preta to move up from behind without Phanthus detecting her.

  She could see Jayden stand in anticipation of the rescue. She slowed herself as she neared him but then she became confused. Jayden was removing his sword from its sheath and was swinging it in her direction. Preta moved quickly to avoid the blade, but was not fast enough. It cut into her front leg and sliced through her wing.

  “Nooo,” Solko screamed while watching his sister fall helplessly to the ground.

  “What is it Solko?” Palto asked.

  “Jayden, he fights with Phanthus, not against him. When Preta neared him he swung his sword at her. She is wounded or worse I fear.”

  “That cannot be! Are you sure it was Jayden, and not Phanthus himself that caused your sister to fall?”

  “I saw it with my own eyes. I must go check on her Palto.”

  “Do not land Solko or Phanthus will have both your lives. The best we can do for now is to keep his attention drawn away from her in the event he wants to finish her off. Do not attract attention to her.”

  “As you say, Palto, but I will have Jayden’s head,” Solko yelled while diving toward Phanthus.

  “No, Solko. Do not engage them.”

  “I am sorry Palto, but Jayden must die for his treachery,” Solko screamed as he veered toward the dragon.

  “Solko, listen to me…,” but it was too late. Solko had only revenge on his mind and flew as fast as he could toward Jayden. Palto quickly positioned himself between the two.

  “Solko, do not make me fight one of my own. Now back away.”

  Solko did not slow down and continued to fly toward Palto. “Get out of the way, Palto.”

  Palto would not allow Solko to attack Jayden. Something was not right. He had seconds to think as Solko drew closer. It would be his sister that snapped him out of his tirade.

  “Solko, look below. Your sister lives! She is moving across the top of the mountain.”

  Solko looked to see his sister limping across the grass with her wing hanging abnormally by her side. Phanthus had seen her too, and moved in to finish her off.

  “Quickly, Solko! We must distract him so she can get to
safety.”

  Solko immediately flew to the front of the dragon and past. Palto did the same from the opposite direction. It did not even faze the dragon this time. He continued to fly toward Preta.

  The pair tried several other maneuvers, all with little or no effect. There was nothing they could do. The dragon was too powerful for them to bring down. He was being guided by Jayden who could clearly see the advantage in removing one of the three of them. Preta would soon be nothing more than ashes blowing in the wind.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “Did you see Jayden?” Oisin yelled to Orulla, the Pegapire that had just saved his life.

  “I grabbed you when I saw the chance. Jayden was beneath you. That was the last I saw of him. I am sorry, I could only grab one of you.”

  Oisin’s heart sank. There was still hope that another Pegapire might have swooped in to save him. Either way Jayden would want him to deliver the message of Solharn’s return to the rest of the camp. But first he had to warn them of the soldiers that Solharn now controlled.

  “How far are we from our camps?” Oisin yelled through the wind.

  “A half an hour. They are organizing themselves for an attack as we speak.”

  Oisin began to panic. They would not make it to their camps in time. Suddenly he had an idea. “Orulla, can you get a message to them using your telepathy?” Oisin asked.

  “I must be able to see them to communicate in that manner, Oisin. Do not worry, we will be there shortly. If Jayden is there, you will find him.”

  “That is not my concern right now Orulla. The Nightstalkers, have they returned to the camps?”

  “Yes. What was left of them.”

  “They are not as they seem. They are controlled by Solharn. He has returned and leads their armies now. The Nightstalkers have to be held at bay or we will suffer great losses.”

  Orulla looked back at Oisin with concern in her eyes. “But we have no way of telling them that. Are you sure? They seemed harmless when they returned, almost as if they lost their lust for life.”

  “They have and when Solharn demands it, they will attack. They no longer are in control of their own actions.”

  Orulla picked up her speed and communicated this information to the other Pegapires that flew beside them, about twenty in all.

  It seemed like the minutes had turned to hours by the time Orulla spoke again. “We are close, Oisin.”

  Now Oisin could see the camp nestled into a high ridge on one of the mountains. When he looked down it was mass confusion. Lealians were fighting amongst themselves, and the Pegapires were hesitant to engage in the fight.

  “You must hypnotize them Orulla,” Oisin said.

  “That is dangerous Oisin. Only Palto can reverse the effects of that and he has yet to return.”

  “I know,” said Oisin “but we have no other choice at this point. Look, the Pegapires are no longer sitting back; they are engaging the Nightstalkers.”

  “Quickly Orulla, let them know ahead. It looks as if the Pegapires have been told to engage. They are attacking and will likely slaughter them all without understanding their affliction. Kaelyn must understand what has happened so she can judge it accordingly. Better they be hypnotized than slaughtered.”

  “Very well,” Orulla said.

  Ω

  Kaelyn was screaming at the Lealians. She did not understand what was happening. She had left momentarily with Issa to scout around the camp and returned to this, her own people fighting each other. The Pegapires had flown to safety obviously confused themselves, and unable to decide what to do.

  “What are you doing?” she yelled as she approached the back lines with her sword drawn.

  “The Nightstalkers, Kaelyn! They just got up and attacked us without warning. We have been using defensive tactics on them, but we cannot keep it up. We have lost five Lealians already!”

  “What?” Kaelyn shouted.

  She did not understand. Had she failed them as a leader? Why were the Nightstalkers suddenly fighting against their own people! What had happened in the enemy camps? She knew one thing, she had to make a decision and make it fast, and with a heavy heart, she did.

  “Issa, Lealians. We can afford no more losses! Switch your tactics and engage them! I do not know why the Nightstalkers have changed their allegiance, but we can afford no more deaths at their hands.”

  Kaelyn wept as her sword sliced into one of the Nightstalkers causing him to fall lifelessly to the ground. She watched two others being ripped apart by Pegapires before Issa got to her with the message of Solharn’s treachery.

  Immediately Kaelyn yelled to the Lealians. “Defense! Return to defensive tactics!”

  There was no hesitation. It made the Lealians sick to think they could be responsible for the death of another.

  “Issa please let the Pegapi…….”

  “They have already been instructed,” Issa said watching the Pegapires swoop in leaving in their wake one Lealian after another standing there as if frozen in time. In just over an hour the Nightstalkers all stood there, silent.

  Kaelyn looked at them with tears welling up in her eyes. They were slowly losing this battle. Solharn had returned and she was now at a loss for what to do.

  “Palto can restore them Kaelyn. It was the only way to contain the Nightstalkers without killing them. You made the right decision,” Issa reassured her.

  “Yes, but where is Palto? Where are Oisin and Jayden?”

  “I am right here Kaelyn.”

  Kaelyn turned to see Oisin standing behind her. “Oisin, you live! You are here. Where did you come from?”

  “Jayden and I were caught in a fight with Solharn’s camp while making our way here. Orulla was able to pull me to safety just in time. I had her get a message to Issa about the Nightstalkers.”

  “But how did you know?”

  “It is a long story, but basically I knew through Jayden.”

  “Jayden is with you? Where is he Oisin?” Kaelyn asked excitedly. She suddenly felt a weight being lifted from her.

  Oisin looked toward Orulla whom he had sent to see if Jayden had somehow made it back to the camp. Orulla just shook her head telling him that he had not.

  “He was lost in battle.”

  Hearing this, Kaelyn turned and slowly walked away, dragging her sword behind her. Oisin followed.

  “Kaelyn!” he shouted. “He was my leader too, and more importantly he was my friend. He once said that you might be the one to replace him should he die. Well, that time has come! Do not walk away defeated.”

  “We need him, Oisin. I am not a leader.”

  “Jayden thought you were and that is good enough for me.”

  “But not for me,” Kaelyn responded.

  “Then for who, Kaelyn? You have been leading our people since you left Jayden in the tunnel. We have not lost yet!” Oisin yelled.

  “I cannot make life and death decisions any longer Oisin. It is not in me!” Kaelyn said loudly.

  “There cannot be life without death, Kaelyn and it is not you who decides either. You are a leader. These people follow you because they want to, because they want to fight for their world. It is they who choose the path of their life and they already know that death will eventually come no matter what path they take. They are simply looking for you to guide them down the best one.”

  “He is right, Kaelyn. We must lead like we have been doing. Palto chose us to be together for a reason. He knew we were capable of succeeding even if we had to do so without him and Jayden,” Issa said.

  Kaelyn knew they were right. She could not come this far just to abandon the cause because of her insecurities.

  “Enough!” Oisin shouted. “Solharn’s armies move toward us as I speak and there is much you need to know before you decide on what strategy we will take.”

  Oisin’s outburst brought everybody back to the reality they currently faced. The three walked to the edge of the cliff, out of earshot of anyone else. Oisin told them everything he knew
about Solace, the death of Kiran, Solharn’s camp, about Deke, Deo and Mary and about Palto and Phanthus. He saved the knowledge that there was a traitor amongst them for last, and knew instantly it was neither Issa nor Kaelyn. The anger on their faces told him all he needed to know.

  The remaining Nightstalkers had finally found their way back to the camps. Kaelyn was elated to see that they were safe. Toltad was happy to see her as well but had mixed feelings when he found his men, the unfortunate warriors that had not escaped Solharn’s camp, were mere statues under a Pegapire’s trance. Kaelyn explained to him the circumstances behind her order, but he did not want to believe that his men would ever turn against their own. After a lengthy standoff between the two, Oisin intervened and became the voice of reason. He explained to Toltad what Jayden had seen.

  Toltad insisted that the hypnotized warriors be treated with the utmost respect, and that they be safeguarded at all times. However, there was no need for him to insist, Kaelyn had already made these arrangements. Two Pegapires and two Lealians would stay with them at all times.

  Toltad was a little embarrassed when he realized that Kaelyn now led the Lealians. He was unaware that Jayden had not escaped Solharn’s armies. He apologized for his tone with her but there was no need. Kaelyn understood his loyalty toward his men.

  “Warriors of Rhol, Lealians and Pegapires alike, we are going to move on Solace. Phanthus holds our people captive inside the Sacred Realm by blockading the entrance and breathing fire down the tunnel. Phanthus is perhaps our most fearsome enemy aside from Solharn. This will not be an easy battle but it is one we must win if our quest is to be successful. Join together and gather as many weapons as you can carry. We fight Phanthus today, and if it goes as I expect, Solharn will meet our blades and arrows tomorrow.”

  Oisin was pleased to see that Kaelyn had her confidence back. She had just ignited the entire brigade with a twenty second speech while sitting poised on top of Issa. Although he could not hear Issa, he had no doubt that she, too, was driving home the importance of this battle to the Pegapires.