by Doug Backus
Palto tried desperately to communicate with Deke through telepathy, trying to convince him to back away from Solharn, but Deke did not appear responsive. With a heavy heart Palto came to a decision. There would be no time to save the boy and even if he could, what kind of life would he have. He was Solharn’s now and there was nobody left who had the power to remove that curse. No, Palto knew this boy well enough to know that he would prefer death over a life in which Solharn controlled him. He also knew Deo would never let the boy die, not knowingly. So Palto did not reveal his intention to Deo or Jayden as he made his final descent.
Ω
Solharn could feel the power of the amulet. It was so close he could practically taste it. “I am glad to see you have finally come to your senses, Deke. We will be an unstoppable force. You will have what you have always craved, a life with no worries in which you and only you command. You will finally have the life that you deserve. You possess a special gift Deke and it will grow over time. Now, you depend too much on the Amulet of Rhol as the source of your power. You must learn to nurture your own powers first, without depending on the amulet. Only then will you understand its full potential. Only then will you be able to manipulate its powers. It will make you the most powerful being in all of the five worlds. Isn’t that what you want to be? Isn’t that what you crave?”
“Yes, I can see it now. I had not realized it until this moment but it is all I have ever wanted,” Deke answered.
“Then you will have it, Deke Brolin, but first you must give me the amulet. It is too tempting for you to use and too valuable a tool to leave in anybody else’s hand but mine. When you are ready, when I have taught you all you need to know and understand, then and only then, will I return the amulet to you and then you will realize your full potential, your destiny.”
Deke reached for the chain around his neck and removed it. He did not notice Solharn drooling at the prospect of finally possessing one of the five items that would make him a king, a god amongst the minions that inhabited the five worlds.
Ω
Jayden was puzzled. His father had taught him everything about combat and war. He had spent countless days patiently explaining every technique a Pegapire uses in battle. His father had emphasized how important it was to understand them so that Jayden would be able to fight alongside a Pegapire, as a team, as one, as it was meant to be.
That was why he was confused. Palto was flying far too fast to be able to effect a rescue. His body was poised in such a way that it suggested he was moving in for a kill. His ears were pinned back, his wings were cupped and his muscles were tense. These were all signs of an impending attack but he was not heading for Solharn, he was closing in on Deke.
“Palto, what are you doing?” Jayden asked.
Palto did not answer confirming that Jayden’s memory had not failed him. “Palto, no! This is not the way to end this!” Jayden screamed.
“It is the only way,” Palto answered.
“Only way to what? Jayden, what are you two talking about?” Deo asked.
“Palto, you cannot do this!” Jayden repeated.
“Do what?” Deo yelled in confusion.
“Kill, Deke! He is moving in to kill Deke!”
“What? Kill him! Palto, no! You are making a huge mistake. Listen to me!”
“I did not expect you to agree with my decision Deo. But my decision has been made,” Palto retorted.
Deo was panicking. He was told not to mention Elissa under any circumstances for fear Solharn would find out.
“You do not understand, Palto...it is what was supposed to happen...Elissa…”
Palto would hear nothing of it. “Elissa is but a dream now, Deo. Deke could not save her. This war is over. It is the end.”
He was nearing Deke at a ferocious pace. Deo could not believe that it had come to this after everything they had gone through, everything they had accomplished. It couldn’t end this way.
“Jayden, do something!” Deo begged.
But there was nothing he could do. Palto would not change his mind; it was not in his nature. He was a leader and as such, he would make the decision that he felt best served his people and he would deal with the consequences of that decision later. That’s what made him who he was.
As Palto soared in for the kill, a blinding flash of light suddenly exploded in front of them. Palto was forced to change his course. The power of the blast knocked Deo backward. If not for his feet catching Jayden’s legs, he would have toppled off the back of the mighty Pegapire. Jayden had managed to hold on. He was searching the skies trying to determine the source of the light that had suddenly pierced through the darkness. He looked past the place he had last seen Solharn and Deke. His eyes followed the ridgeline of the great mountain that formed the backdrop of their battleground. He was sure he saw something or someone standing there. He cupped his hand above his eyes trying to shade the light that was so desperately trying to blind him and confirmed what he had seen. There, high on the ridge stood a cloaked figure that remained motionless, poised against the rage of the winds that threatened this world. The same cloaked figure that he had seen before was once again revealing itself to him. This time however, the figure did not gaze upon him. It gazed down upon what was the final battle of Rhol, the battle that would determine the fate of everyone.
Ω
Delca was in extreme pain, but she would live. Duffy had spotted Mary from the air, and was desperately trying to protect her from the objects which the wind hurtled through the air toward them. He cringed as he watched a tree soar through the air just over their heads and come crashing down behind their place of refuge. Solko flew down to them immediately.
They all tried desperately to move Delca but her body was far too weak and broken. A simple touch of her skin caused her to scream in pain.
“She cannot be moved. We will be alright Duffy. Help the others! Help Deke! I am not sure that he controls his actions anymore,” Mary said desperately.
Duffy just smiled at her. “We will not leave you here to die like this,” he said driving the Cortuc into the ground and creating a half dome shield around them. He could not have timed it better as a huge boulder broke away from the mountain and toppled over the shield.
Delca felt the effects of the shield immediately. Without the wind and the rain she felt warm again, and her trembling body relaxed. Slowly her pain relented enough for her exhausted body to rest.
“Thank you Duffy, Solko. I am indebted,” Mary said.
“Nonsense,” Solko said looking down upon her. “Everyone has a role on this day and ours is here with...”
“Oh, god!” Mary whispered under her breath.
Solko could see that her expression had abruptly transformed from one of relief to one of panic. He turned to see what caused the unexpected change. He saw Issa, distressed and badly injured. She was trying frantically to slow her decent as Kaelyn fought to hold on to her. He watched in dismay as her body struck the ground with such force that it seemed unlikely that either would survive.
“Duffy, drop the shield! I have to help them!” Solko begged.
The shield vanished allowing Solko to escape its confines. He quickly leapt from the ground and took flight.
“Solko, look out!” Duffy yelled, but the wind whistling around Solko’s ears prevented him from heeding the warning. He didn’t see it coming, and was crushed instantly by a jagged boulder that fell from above.
“Duffy...I am so sorry…,” Mary sadly said.
Duffy could not grieve at that moment. His anger toward Solharn had taken over his emotions. There was a long distance separating him from the cause of his anguish, but Solharn was not so far away that Duffy couldn’t see him. The more he stared at the Dark Angel, the more his anger grew. This was Solharn’s doing, all of it. He had wiped out Duffy’s entire family and brought pain and misery to all who lived on Rhol. He had practically destroyed it. It seemed to Duffy that even Deke, who was now standing in front of him, had succumbed to
Solharn’s evil and now Solharn had taken Solko, his friend. He had to have his revenge, his reckoning with this evil. He looked at Mary and then at Delca whom she was comforting.
Mary looked into his eyes and inquisitively called his name. The sound of her voice resonated through him. If he left them they would die, but if he didn’t he would never have another chance to avenge Rhol.
He would not have to make the decision he was lamenting over, for a sudden explosion of blinding light burst across the terrain and continued over the mountain top taming the dark skies. The light gave him hope, if only just for a moment. For in those fleeting seconds he had caught a glimpse of what would be their redemption.
Ω
Phanthus managed to gain control once again but the injury slowed his speed drastically. The Balane had still not given up their pursuit and were almost upon him.
“Oisin, I am heading for the ground. I want you to get off. I will deal with the Balane,” Phanthus yelled.
“You mean you will die at the hands of the Balane. No! I will not leave you Phanthus!” Oisin screamed back.
“You are stubborn, Oisin. I owe you my life and now I am paying you back. We cannot win, Oisin. I will not fight these creatures. There is no point in both of us dying.”
“There is no point in trying to make it to the ground either, Phanthus. They are already upon us.”
Phanthus swerved quickly to the side and turned in midair, all the while creating a circle of fire around them. The Balane swerved up and around the flames in an attempt to avoid them.
“Now, we are heading for the ground Oisin. Do not argue with me.”
Oisin might have tried to argue, but he would not have the time as a wave of light encompassed them. He watched the Balane as they too reacted to the light. They seemed confused as to why they were flying. Their eyes once again returned to the familiar and soothing blue color. They once more seemed to be what he had always known them as, peaceful. Bewildered, they turned away from Oisin and Phanthus and flew back toward the Blackpool.
“Phanthus, they have retreated. The light, it has affected them somehow. Where is it coming from?”
Phanthus did not know, but the light had revealed something else to him. A stranger was standing high on a ridge of Mount Sibileo. The stranger wore a cloak that disguised their face and body making him wary of their intent. He maneuvered himself so that the mountain would hide them as he approached. He glided silently in from behind the shadowy figure, and landed a good distance back so as to allow himself time to react should he have to.
Oisin remained poised on the back of Phanthus. He too had now seen what had captured Phanthus’ curiosity.
The cloak was the only movement that they could discern as it waved aimlessly at them in the wind. The individual it hid remained motionless, abnormally so. Phanthus walked forward, continuing to measure the distance that he would need to effectively mount an attack if it was required. As the distance closed between them, he became far less cautious. Something was drawing him in. He felt a connection of some sort. Before he realized it, mere feet separated them. Still the figure had not moved.
“I am thankful that you recognized your true spirit, Phanthus. It could not have been easy considering what the fear and ignorance of others did to your heritage, to your family.”
Phanthus was astonished. There was no mistaking that voice, the voice that was so pure, so calming and angelic. It was the voice that had spoken to his very soul the night Solharn had taken her away. It was the voice of Queen Elissa. Oisin remained silent while Phanthus spoke. He could not believe who stood before his eyes.
“Queen Elissa? How? How, did you come to be here? How did you escape?” inquired Phanthus.
She still had not turned, or moved as she stared out over Rhol.
“I am sure both of us have stories to tell of a time when darkness consumed us and how we came to escape it, Phanthus. But those tales would take far too long to detail and in the end they would not matter. What really matters is how we use our newfound freedom to release those souls that still remain trapped within themselves, fighting for an opportunity to escape what will eventually consume them.”
“What can I do, Queen Elissa? Just say the word,” Phanthus responded.
“Fly away.”
“But why your Majesty? We can help! We want to help!” Phanthus begged.
“You will, Phanthus. You and Oisin both will. You are one now. You are Dragon Warriors.”
“Your Majesty?” Oisin asked inquisitively.
“You were brought back to life by the tear of a dragon Oisin. A dragon can only use one tear in their lifetime to save someone and when that happens, it bonds them for life. It is a bond that can never be broken, not even in death,” explained Elissa.
Oisin looked at Phanthus. “You did not tell me, Phanthus, that you sacrificed something so cherished to save me. Why?”
“It was not important Oisin. You were alive and that was all that mattered to me. I did not want to burden you with having to make a choice between Orulla and me.”
“I chose to ride with you Phanthus, and I still do, wherever that journey may take us.”
“Then heed my words Phanthus, Oisin. You will fly to the people of Kilto, to their sanctuary. Even if all else is lost, they must be protected. They will be the last survivors of Solharn’s fight for Rhol. They are also the most spiritual. Only they will be able to guide the lost souls who search for their salvation if I am gone. Protect them to your dying breath, protect them as your ancestors protected them and I will be forever grateful to you.”
“Our ancestors?” Oisin inquired.
“Yes, your ancestors, the Dragon Warriors of Rhol. It is your heritage. It was what made you what you are now. The Dragon Warriors were guardians of the Kilto long ago, in ancient times. Each dragon had a warrior who rode with them before ignorance turned their fate around, before hate nearly brought them to extinction, but ignorance fortunately failed. It forgot about you Phanthus, and you, Oisin. You come from a bloodline of warriors who died along with their dragons. That is why you never knew your parents or your relatives. It was forbidden to speak of. Both of your bloodlines are joined again. Now, you must go and fulfill your destinies, the destinies of your people.”
“And you, Elissa?” Phanthus asked.
This time she turned and looked at them. “I will fulfill mine,” she answered, evaporating before their eyes.
Chapter Forty-One
Deke could still hear Elissa’s serene voice guiding him, trying to ensure that his mind did not fall victim to the dark magic, the enticements, and the promises Solharn preached. She had told him that it would be the most difficult temptation he would ever face. She warned him that he would struggle with the decision whether to join Solharn or stay true to himself. She reassured him that she would be with him and that he would hear her voice guiding him, but she had also warned him that there would be times when he would not listen to her, that he would try desperately to drown her out. She cautioned him that, as the distance closed between him and the Dark Angel, the temptation of relenting to the darkness would become far stronger.
Deke held the amulet in his hand. He knew what he was supposed to do, what Elissa had told him to do, but was it fair? Was it fair to deny him a life of power, a place in history? That life was within his reach. It lay at his fingertips at this very moment. He could become more powerful than Solharn. He could rule the worlds. What harm would there be in that? He was a good person. He would not be too hard on his subordinates. Everyone would be satisfied with the life they led. They would worship him and if they didn’t, then and only then, would he release his wrath upon them.
Elissa’s voice was becoming much fainter now, a distant whisper in the back of his mind. Deke held the amulet in his hand and he felt the power surging through his body as Solharn wrapped his long slender fingers under the chain. They were connected. The feeling was overwhelming and revitalizing. It was unlike anything he had ever felt befor
e, a feeling that he had always yearned for. He could still just make out Elissa’s voice. How dare she interrupt this moment with her trivial blabber.
“Concentrate, Deke. Do not forget what we spoke of. Do not forget the purpose of your journey. Do not forget why you made this your journey. Your fate lies with the light, not the darkness,” Elissa’s voice rang out.
What was she talking about? He remembered everything she had told him. He considered her warnings but it was his choice to make and his alone.
Elissa could read Deke’s thoughts. “You have not remembered everything Deke. You are right that the choice is yours but you cannot make that choice until you have weighed it against all the choices you have already made.”
She was desperate now, Deke thought. It made no sense. What choices was she referring to and what did it matter. He could barely hear her now and it wouldn’t be long before she was gone. Then he could concentrate once again on his new life, his new path.
Elissa’s voice became broken and faint. “The path Deke, the reason...you...path…Mary...” and then her voice was gone.
Deke laughed. ‘What path?” he said aloud.
Solharn looked at him strangely thinking, once again, that Deke was speaking to him. “The path? The path is through me Deke. Remember what I told you. You have much to learn, but with my mentoring you would become everything that you have dreamed of. You must give me the amulet and then you can start to walk the path you seek, the path to power, the easy path.”
That sounded very familiar to Deke, the easy path. Where had he heard that before? Elissa had mentioned a path...or a journey...or was it a reason for his journey? He was so confused. Why did Solharn’s words bother him so much? What else had Elissa said?, he asked himself, scouring his mind for answers. Mary, she had mentioned a person named Mary. She was his friend. Now he remembered. A lost friend, but he had found her. Yes! He had found her and that was the reason he started this journey. That was what Elissa was referring to. He had tried to run away from her memory. He had taken the easy path. That was it! He had already walked an easy path, and that path led to a life of misery and loneliness. It was the next path that he had taken, the harder path, which had led him to his friend. That was the path that had brought him redemption. He did not want to take the easy path. He did not want anything to do with it, nor did he want anything to do with Solharn.
