Legacy of Dreams: Freedom

by Thomas J. L. Green

  He rose and felt a hand on his shoulder.

  Oh…

  “I am sorry, my friend, but I really cannot let you live,” a familiar voice sounded from behind him.

  “Is it worth it? Is whatever you are trying to achieve worth killing your own brothers?”

  “You would have done the same for your daughter.”

  “Yes… I guess I would.”

  “We were made to be slaves of the Red God… but our children don’t have to. They must not be.”

  “You are still a traitor,” Scint’Har’Iinn’Ix remarked.

  “We are born of different dreams, Scint. A slave who dreams of freedom will either lose his dream or stop being a slave.”

  “You just changed your master. You are as much of a slave as the rest of us,” Scint’Har’Iinn’Ix spat.

  “But I chose him myself… anyway, would you happen to know where my spear could be?”

  “No,” Scint chuckled.

  “Tell Neh I am sorry… I would have loved to be by her side. She was my queen… our queen…. we all loved her,” he added.

  “I shall tell her… she will love to hear it,” the intruder confirmed.

  “Please watch over Elizabeth… not having more time with her is my sole regret.”

  “Any word on the ninth?”

  “Remade for the sole purpose of killing you. It’s on the way.”

  “I shall help your daughter… within limits of reason.”

  “Thank you… you truly are the greatest of us, Xy’L.”

  Scint’Har’Iinn’Ix whirled and slashed at the intruder. In an instant, his world shattered into thousands of little fragments.

  His dream ended.

  122

  Miranda

  “Merewen! We need to run! The mountain will collapse soon,” Miranda shouted as soon as she arrived at the docks. Merewen stood among her men, the docks were captured and well-fortified.

  “Where is Nash?” Merewen asked back. Miranda grit her teeth, clenched her fists and she shook her head shortly. Merewen’s face hardened.

  “PACK UP AND GRAB A BOAT, WE LEAVE IN TWO,” Merewen shouted and went to help with the boat. Miranda thanked her in her mind. She was not ready to talk about it.

  “OUCH! Be a bit more careful with that!” Lucas shouted in pain. Miranda went to look and saw him lying on a stretcher. Two soldiers were carrying him to the boat. His left shoulder was a bloody mess, right arm had needles stuck into it and there was a bolt stuck into his lower abdomen.

  “Is that in the bladder?”

  “Yeah,” Lucas confirmed with a painful grin.

  “I hope it hurts,” Miranda smirked.

  “It fucking does.”

  It took less than a minute for all soldiers to get on the boat and start leaving into the bay. Soon after an explosion shook the fortress, they watched the ceilings collapse behind them.

  “Oi oi oi oi oi! Careful with that!” Lucas complained as the soldiers started trying to take him up Elias’ ship. The bay was in full control of the Palai navy.

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Miranda exhaled, picked up protesting Lucas over her shoulder and climbed up the boat.

  “Where is Elias?” she asked the men.

  “Front upper deck,” a man responded.

  “How about you put me down on the stretcher?” Lucas asked Miranda.

  “Stop whining like a little bitch,” Miranda cut him off and carried him to the upper deck.

  “Damn! You look like shit!” Miranda exclaimed as she saw Elias. Elias was wrapped in bandages, lying on a lounger.

  “Look who’s talking,” Elias smirked back. Indeed, Miranda was covered by a mixture of blood and dust. She went to put Lucas on a lounger next to Elias. Lucas groaned in pain as she did.

  “What happened?” Merewen asked when she arrived.

  “I met a fiery woman, barely survived the meeting. I think it was Yen, the blood mage from Red Gates,” Elias answered. Merewen turned red.

  “How the fuck is she still alive?” Lucas exhaled.

  “Huh?” they all turned to him.

  “Met her in Cinderwell, ran a spear through her skull and all major organs.”

  “Well, I chopped her arm off and it reformed back in under a second,” Elias replied.

  “What’s with all these people with bullshit level regeneration popping up? First Luna, then James, now Yen.”

  “We kicked the hornet’s nest, they all swarmed out now… at least Luna is on our team,” Merewen smirked.

  “Luna’s dead,” Miranda breathed as she sat down by the railing of the ship.

  “I am sorry… I know she meant a lot to you,” Elias breathed and others joined him in condolences.

  “So… what happened to Nash?” Merewen turned to Miranda.

  “I fucked up. We got the treasury, set up defenses. I couldn’t handle waiting and left off to go beat it out on the slaver soldiers. I went back when the explosion sounded, but all I found was corpses and almost dead Nash. He sent me ahead to warn you… I am sorry… I disobeyed orders and he lost his life as a consequence. I will accept any punishment and will hand over my resignation by tomorrow,” Miranda explained, calming her voice down as much as she could. Merewen and Elias were staring at her like they wanted to murder her. Lucas looked like someone just ripped the soul out of him.

  “Bring wine,” Lucas shouted and the soldiers went to get one, “I killed Edward Collward, who was indeed Scint’Har’Iinn’Ix, the Puppet Master. That’s one demonic prince down, seven more to go. With that, their army is gone and most of their leaders and assets destroyed or under our control, slavery will be wiped out from most major cities as of today and not come back. At least not on our watch. The operation has been a success, well-done everyone,” Lucas evaluated.

  “That’s it? No comment on anything? You should trial me, have me executed or expelled or at the very least demoted for fuck’s sake!” Miranda shouted.

  “Why the fuck would I do that? I don’t give a shit about your resignation or need for repentance. Nash is fucking dead, the army is dead exhausted, the navy has half of their fucking boats messed up and we are poorer than a monkey whore until we get into that treasury. Why the goddamn hell would I trial the best head of special-forces I have had in almost a century? You fucked up. We all do sometimes, what the fucking shit you wanna do about it? We lost at Cinderwell because Merewen thought James is a random pushover. Elias is bedridden because he thought it’s a good idea to have a one on one aerial battle instead of bombarding her with the fleet. Nashimaeal is dead because he thought it’s smart to go inside this crumbling pile of uselessness they call fortress and because you can’t get over what happened to Luna. Oh and I missed that secret tunnel in Illysaeas arena, so I guess this one’s actually on me. We all screw up from time to time. We are human after all. So, woman the fuck up and live with it!” Lucas exclaimed.

  “Worst motivational speech ever,” Merewen chuckled.

  “You say that every goddamn time. I am the boss; I get to talk. You old hag shut the fuck up and listen, I am not done yet,” Lucas shut off Merewen. Merewen snickered and smiled wildly.

  “OI! A BARREL? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? Get the whoremonger’s fucking wine collection… and some spirits! CHOP! CHOP! CHOP!” Lucas shouted down the soldiers who were bringing a wine barrel.

  “Anyway. Before I drink myself unconscious over losing the best friend I ever had… ELIAS! Get your fleet to Xona, patch it up and get ready to clean up the eastern coast. I’ve had enough of pirates disrupting our whale hunting. Wipe them out, all of them, to the last. I don’t care how many cities you put ablaze to do that, but I want them fucking gone,” Lucas started again.

  “Yes, general,” Elias smiled and bowed lightly.

  “Oh, cut the fucking formal crap off. I am tired of this shit. MEREWEN! Regroup the army, retake Cinderwell and go kill everything that’s not us from the north of there. Our next goals are Kayleane and Ebilezerhar, then Kerrulnar, so prep it u
p.”

  “Got a way through the barrier?” Merewen asked back.

  “Not yet, but I will before you are done.”

  “MIRANDA! After I wipe my ass with your resignation by tomorrow morning, you head to Xona to tell the high priest council they are senile old farts and I ain’t promoting any of them. Find me a new archbishop. I need someone young, with the correct world philosophy and someone who is combat fucking proficient. That means he can put up a fight with you and not roll over to die when you kick him or her in the face,” Lucas continued.

  “Thank you,” Miranda whispered, barely holding back her tears.

  “I am heading east, alone and I am going on a fucking rampage. I will turn the inland between Illysaeas and Alexandria into a graveyard. Gonna keep the demon death count rolling to distract the princes from us being messed up. The last thing we need is an organized counterattack. Finally, archbishop Nashimaeal shall be proclaimed a martyr and a saint. All three of you use it to get us recruits. Get everyone who can hold a weapon because, in about two years, we are going on a Holy War to avenge him.”

  “That’s the last thing he would want,” Merewen remarked.

  “I know, but we can’t tell our followers that demons killed the beloved archbishop and we are doing nothing about it, can we? We need to show strength, else faith in us crumbles,” Lucas retorted, “now get me a healer so I can pour myself a mug! AND WHERE THE HELL IS THE WINE?”

  “You got poisoned needles stuck into your shoulder, I don’t think you should drink else you compromise the antidote,” Merewen remarked poisonously.

  “Nice try, Mereween, but we both know I am completely immune to poisons, so I don’t need any antidote.”

  “Then you don’t need the wine, because last time I checked you needed to suppress this very immunity to be able to get drunk,” Merewen countered viciously.

  “To Nashimaeal!” Elias raised a cup. That ended the argument.

  “To Nashimaeal.”

  123

  Lucas

  “Thought you would be dead drunk by now,” Merewen turned toward Lucas as he just snuck in through the small circular window of her cabin. She was just sitting in a bath.

  “Don’t feel like it,” Lucas crashed into her bed.

  “The bed’s taken.”

  “Tough luck.”

  SSSSSSSSSSSSSS echoed through the room as a burst of heat turned all water in Merewen’s bath into steam. The steam completely filled the cabin.

  “You ain’t that ugly.”

  “You really want to get hurt tonight, don’t you?” Merewen whispered as she stood above him. He could only see her as a frame in the steam.

  “I don’t care.”

  Merewen softly lay down on him and entangled her limbs with his.

  “I am sorry… I won’t be much fun tonight. Not in the mood.”

  “It’s alright,” Merewen smiled.

  “I wish I could have done more,” Lucas breathed.

  “We all do. But we are an army. We make our strategy to win… not to protect individuals.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Why did you come here tonight?” Merewen pried.

  “You know why.”

  “I want to hear it.”

  “I didn’t want to be alone.”

  “That’s not how it sounded when you were giving out orders earlier.”

  This is why one doesn’t fuck with his subordinates.

  “What do you mean?” Lucas played cluelessly.

  “You sent me west while you head east… if you were planning to end things, I would understand it. Yet we are naked in bed and you are touching me in a way that suggests you want to continue instead,” Merewen evaluated.

  “You know I can’t change the strategy over personal feelings.”

  “You have feelings? I would have never guessed,” Merewen chuckled. Lucas caught her lip with his and went on to poke her tongue in a follow-up.

  “So… how do you imagine this will go?” she asked once the kiss ended.

  “We stick to the strategy and see how things turn out… until you find someone appropriate.”

  “Appropriate? How do you judge that?”

  “I am your boss, have a wife that I love and children I love just as much. I also have half of the world, the God of demons and the entire Void trying to kill me. I am not a good partner… really not.”

  “Well… add a mistress to the list. Mistress that’s gonna be really bitchy if you don’t find a way to see her ever so often. You see your wife once per year; I will accept nothing less.”

  “I sure know how to make my life easy.”

  “You do. Also, it’s about time you cut your hair… the semi-girly image really doesn’t suit you. Anyway, now start undressing. I feel your dick raging against the pants so don’t bother pretending you aren’t in the mood.”

  “I am now.”

  124

  Iowen

  “Ouuuchchchchch,” Iowen groaned as she turned around on her bed. Everything was hurting. The worst part was that it weren’t the wounds she got. Those were fine, minor cuts and stabs as her armor really did the job it was supposed to. It was the pulled muscles that hurt with every move.

  “I am sorry to interrupt, but we need to pack up,” Tal’Sec entered the room.

  “Whaaat?” Erik turned on his bed to look at him.

  “I received a message from chieftain Alog. Since all wyverns of Redwall are dead, so we are going on a warpath. I will stay behind to handle the match and catch up with you all later,” Tal’Sec announced.

  “What is the deal offer?” Battista asked.

  “Zero pay, you handle your own expenses,” Tal’Sec replied.

  “What if we are not interested?” Robert inquired.

  “Finders keepers,” Tal’Sec smirked and left.

  “OH HELL YEAH!” Erik shouted and leaped up to his feet. All the Albertti brothers did and started packing frantically.

  “What the fuck did just happen?” Iowen breathed.

  “We are going to war to become rich. Really, really rich,” Alfons answered her.

  “Huuh? Didn’t he just say we get no pay?”

  “It’s finders keepers. That means anything we find is ours. We will likely be doing scouting and sabotages, which means we are the closest to the city treasury when the actual attack on the city starts,” Battista explained.

  “Last time we got into a finders keepers war, we bought out a brothel for half a year afterward," Alfons grinned.

  “You pigs… why would I want to come?” Iowen jabbed.

  “Because you have nothing better to do,” Erik responded.

  “I hate you all,” Iowen got up and started packing.

  Meh, I don’t even have time to say goodbye to Luna or Raven. I have no idea where to find them either. Ah well… such is life.

  We shall surely meet again.

  125

  Raven

  Raven got ready and headed for the arena. It was time for the final match of the tournament. He didn’t want to fight the team of Ghalkel, but that never really mattered. Not to him. Cheers of the crowd were shaking the entire complex.

  “RAVEN! RAVEN! RAVEN!”

  Raven entered the arena. The arena was oversold at least three times. Prince Stallington sat on his throne. He was beaming. The door at the other side of the arena opened and Tal’Sec walked into the arena. Alone. His armor was bloodied up and his body was wrapped in bandages.

  Coming in alone to save his team from my blade. Impressive.

  Raven closed his eyes and focused. The announcer introduced them both, visibly surprised by only one man coming for team Ghalkel. Raven gripped his spear. It was long and heavy. He only had one target.

  5!

  4!

  3!

  2!

  1!

  FIGHT!

  Raven stepped forward and launched his spear. It boomed as it split through the air. The crowd went silent. Prince Stallington sat upon his throne. Raven�
�s spear was piercing through his heart.

  “Please confirm my fulfillment of act 5791C.498Z!” Raven shouted.

  The crowd started murmuring in confusion. Tal’Sec stood still and observed. A well-dressed man talked to the guards around prince Stallington, then went on to examine the prince himself.

  “I confirm it. From this moment, all properties of Mr. Stallington belong to you and you shall henceforth bear his title of prince, prince Raven,” the man shouted.

  Raven sighed in relief.

  “Referee! Announce change of the final match format to ring instead of deathmatch," Raven turned to the referee.

  “Your highness,” the man bowed and announced the change.

  Raven turned to Tal’Sec and pierced him with a stare.

  You came here alone to save the lives of your teammates. To save them from me.

  For that… you don’t have to die here today.

  Tal’Sec bowed and stepped outside the ring.

  “Sir... you can’t access this area,” a guard said, fear dripping from his words.

  “Are you sure?” Raven asked softly. Raven had black robes, cloak and hood over his armor.

  “I… I am sorry your highness. I didn’t recognize you,” the man stepped aside and opened the door. Raven went in. Samantha’s body lay on a table. It was cleaned and arranged. There was a coffin ready nearby. Raven softly put her into it and covered her with a blanket from shoulders down.

  I am sorry, Sam. I know you wouldn’t want this, but they have the right to know.

  Raven picked up the coffin over his shoulder and headed out. Raven went through the city to the house Luna told him about before.

  It was a smaller house with a nicely kept garden at the side of Illysaeas. It was close to the arena and latched onto the wall. Raven could see shapes of a larger group of people having lunch at a table. Raven pushed the black hood deeper into his face, opened the garden gate and went into the short path that leads to the main door of the house. He went in front of the door. Put the coffin on the side and knocked. After a short while, a man in mid-forties opened.