Armies of Nine, Book Three of The Adventures of Sarah Coppernick

by SJB Gilmour

  Finally, when she was satisfied that she could extract no more information from the demon, she released it from her thrall.

  ‘I’ll let you go, demon, but only if you promise never to come to this plane again,’ she snarled. ‘Earth is under my protection!’

  ‘I swear!’ The demon promised. ‘I swear! I swear!’

  Sarah didn’t reply. She simply stepped back and allowed the demon free space to escape. It barely managed to create a small portal and had to wriggle through it, but it managed to return to Agoniasis in utter defeat.

  Now a wave of guilt swept over her. Mautallius had sent these demons here to find her. Hundreds had been killed and now she began to have an idea. She took several deep breaths to calm down and then let herself flow back into her human form.

  As miserable and angry as she felt, she also felt a strange kind of calm come over her — a determination that was stronger than anything she’d felt before.

  ‘It’s my fault, Your Majesty. Mautallius sent those things here to kill me,’ Sarah reported to Penethelia with a salute.

  ‘In that case, Lentekhi is at war,’ Penethelia grated.

  ‘Your Majesty, we’ve got a lot of dead soldiers to bury,’ Sally told the queen.

  ‘Not if I have anything to do with it,’ Sarah interrupted. ‘I got them killed. I’ll bring them back.’

  Penethelia reached out and put one gauntleted hand on Sarah’s shoulder. ‘You’re good, but you’re not that good. And you didn’t get anyone killed. Mautallius did. You’ve done enough. Go get some rest.’

  Sarah was livid. That so many had died because of her was intolerable. Through clenched teeth, she said, ‘Permission to disobey you, Ma’am!’

  Before Queen Penethelia could reply, Sarah turned and waved at Angelina. ‘Captain! I’ll need your help.’

  Penethelia chuckled and gave the startled Angelina a wave. ‘Well go on, Troy. You might as well.’

  Angelina hurried to keep up with Sarah. When she was marching by her side towards the rows of dead soldiers, she asked, ‘What are you doing?’

  ‘We,’ Sarah told her through clenched teeth.

  ‘What?’

  ‘You mean we. We’re going to bring these soldiers back. I got them killed, so I’m going to heal them. Then you’re going to take us back to Hades’ Underworld so I can bring them home.’

  Angelina looked at Sarah with shock. ‘Sarah, bringing one or two back is hard enough, even from The Underworld. You’re talking about three hundred and fifty of them. It’s impossible! Hades won’t allow it. He wouldn’t even let Persephone leave, and She’s Demeter’s daughter. These Amazons are just humans. Enchanted maybe, but their souls are still His. Even if He does let them go, you can bet Poseidon and Zeus will object!’

  ‘Leave that to me,’ Sarah told her bluntly. She turned back to her wolf form and let all her rage and the power of Wolfenvald fill her, and turned to the rows of dead Amazons. Her huge rage added to the seemingly endless power of Wolfenvald and welled up within her until once more she seemed all aflame. She focused on the entire mass of corpses and as she did so, they were all bathed in the hot, golden light from her eyes.

  ‘Numbicularus!’ Sarah barked, releasing all her power in one go. The hall shook with another great boom as every single dead Amazon’s wounds were healed completely. They lay there, still bathed in golden light. Instead of exhausting her or making her feel dizzy, which was the usual effect of healing a body, Sarah was so angry, that as soon as she released her power, more flowed into her from Wolfenvald to replace it. Now she focused not on the bodies themselves, but on the light surrounding them.

  ‘Stickum!’ she ordered her own power. Nothing seemed to happen until Sarah blinked and turned back to Angelina. Sarah’s eyes had faded somewhat. They were still glowing bright, but at least people could now look her in the eye without having to squint. The light around the dead Amazons remained where it was.

  ‘Let’s go, Captain,’ Sarah told Angelina gruffly. She shook her mane and her hackles flattened down, but there was still a deep growl to her voice.

  Angelina shrugged. ‘Okay,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘This I gotta see!’

  Hades and Persephone did not look happy. Joining the gods in Elysium were Apollo, Demeter and three more Sarah had never met before, but knew to be Hera, Zeus and Poseidon. Sarah had lost all her fear and stood before these great gods, still glowing with her own anger and power. Despite this, she could not allow herself to be rude.

  She bowed her head to them and wagged her tail. ‘Most Holy Lords and Ladies,’ she addressed them formally. ‘Out on the banks of The Styx are three hundred and fifty Amazons, waiting to pay the boatman Charon to bring them here.’

  Hades nodded. ‘They will pay their fare and be accepted as every Amazon before them,’ He told Sarah.

  ‘I’m sorry, Lord Hades,’ Sarah replied. ‘But I need them back.’

  As she finished saying that, Wolfenvald whispered a hurried warning in her mind. ‘Wolfenvald can lend you some power, Golden Mane, but not all. That Underworld is not the domain of Folk of Were.’

  Sarah grimaced for a moment, but even knowing that Wolfenvald would not be able to help her there as much as it could elsewhere was not going to stop her. Once more, her stubborn streak was showing itself. She glared at Hades in the way all wolves can that said she would never back down.

  Hades looked at Persephone for a long moment. Finally, the great god shrugged. ‘Okay,’ He said. ‘They’ll end up here anyway. I don’t mind waiting.’

  Persephone nodded too, but said nothing. Apollo and Demeter beamed at Hades and Persephone.

  ‘What?’ Zeus demanded.

  ‘No!’ yelled Hera and Poseidon together.

  Now Sarah decided not to be quite so formal. She turned to the gods whom she had never met before. ‘I got them killed. I want them back. Like it or not, they’re coming with me.’

  ‘Impudence!’ Zeus shrieked. He appeared to be an old man with a querulous voice. He waved one shaking old hand at Sarah. ‘Who are you, Titan, to demand such of Gods?’

  ‘I am Sarah Kopernik, Golden Mane,’ Sarah told Him flatly. ‘Look at me, Zeus. You can see who I am. I am The One of Gold. When The One of Silver and I join our forces, we are going to destroy Conundrum Gate and prevent the world above us from being flooded with demons and devils. We’re going to kill Mautallius and send his soul back to a hell far worse than even the Tartarus beneath us.’

  Zeus gaped at Sarah and sputtered indignantly. Then He squinted craftily. ‘Your forest world has no jurisdiction here. You haven’t the power to back up your demand!’ He shook His head. ‘Your parents were more diplomatic.’

  Sarah flared. ‘My parents didn’t have the same job to do that I have.’ She could feel that there was indeed some limit on the power she could normally draw from Wolfenvald, but also that her own power was plenty strong enough, especially since she was feeling as driven as she was right at that moment. She felt her eyes begin to glow. Brighter and brighter they glowed until even Zeus Himself had to look away.

  Hera whirled on Angelina. ‘And you, Marked One? You would dare assist this brazen insult to our dominance?’

  Sarah let her eyes dim back to normal, then calmly went and stood between Hera and Angelina, who was now being held protectively by Apollo. She looked up and down at Hera. The goddess wore a white robe and flowers in Her hair, but there was nothing pleasant about Her mood.

  ‘You know what I’m doing and why.’ Sarah nodded respectfully at Hera, Poseidon and Zeus in turn. ‘If You don’t like it, take it out on me. Angelina brought me here at my insistence. I gave her no choice. I’m taking those Amazons and then I’m going to save the world that You and the other gods are supposed to be protecting. I can do it with Your permission or without it, but You’ll find it healthier not to fight me.’ She didn’t bother being polite now.

  The response was instant. Poseidon, Zeus and Hera each threw curses at Sarah. The entire Underworld shook a
s if rocked by a massive earthquake. It was then that Sarah realised just how strong she truly was without Wolfenvald’s seemingly unlimited supply of power. She deflected the curses as though they were little more than mere gusts of wind against her golden coat. The curses bounced off her glowing mane harmlessly. Now Sarah allowed herself to be more forceful.

  She faced Poseidon, the strongest of the three gods. ‘Care to try that again?’ she growled. ‘I didn’t come here to fight, but I will if I have to.’

  Poseidon was furious. He pointed His trident at Sarah. ‘I may not be able to touch you, Golden Mane, but your friends are not so invulnerable!’ He threatened.

  ‘They don’t call me Golden Protector for nothing, Ocean God,’ Sarah snarled. She padded right up to Him until she was only a few centimetres from Him, and changed form. She calmly reached out and took Poseidon’s trident and folded it up as if it were nothing more than a paper-clip. She tossed it aside and grabbed Him by the shoulder and squeezed very hard. There was a loud crunch as Poseidon’s collarbone snapped.

  ‘If You, Poseidon,’ Sarah said in a deathly quiet tone, ‘or anyone else dares give anyone in my pack so much as a sniffle,’ she crunched His shoulder again, snapping more bones, ‘I’ll make this feel like a massage!’

  Poseidon cried out and sank to His knees before her. Sarah let Him go and waved at His shattered shoulder. It healed itself with a series of loud pops and creaks. Poseidon bowed His head in submission.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Sarah said genuinely. ‘I really didn’t want to hurt or offend You… Any of You.’

  Hades walked up to her, smiling. ‘Come then, Sarah Kopernik. Let us gather these souls you seek!’ He passed Poseidon who was straightening out His trident and clapped Him on His newly healed shoulder. ‘I told you not to fight her, you stubborn old salt!’

  Sarah, Hades, Apollo and Angelina suddenly appeared at the banks of The Styx where the shady figures were gathered, waiting for Charon to return from his last voyage across the river. The Amazon ghosts looked up with awe and disbelief.

  ‘I’m not going to lie to you,’ Sarah called out to them all. ‘This is probably going to hurt, but you’re all coming back with me!’

  The ghosts, unable to talk, simply stared at her with hope in their eyes.

  ‘How are you going to do this, Sarah?’ Angelina asked. ‘I can’t take that many back.’

  ‘And we. Golden Mane, can only help you so far,’ Wolfenvald warned. ‘This may be too much, even for you.’

  ‘Then I’ll die doing it,’ Sarah grated to herself. She turned to Angelina. ‘We’ll need a portal, Captain. The biggest one you can make. I want it to lead directly to where their bodies are at Lentekhi.’

  Angelina nodded, her eyes wide. She stepped aside and began reciting the commands to create the largest portal she had ever attempted to create. Apollo put His hand on her shoulder to help her with the massive task.

  ‘And even I have my limits, Golden Mane,’ Hades told Sarah. He grinned slyly and crooked one finger to her. She followed Him away to the banks of The Styx, well away from Apollo and Angelina. His expression told her quite clearly He had understood what Wolfenvald had just told her.

  ‘In this, my domain, death is mine to control. Should you indeed expire in this valiant act, I would send The Marked One with your body back to your world, and my bride Persephone shall escort your soul immediately after. But to do so, I would need an accord with your own world. This would not be the normal way such things are done.’

  That alright with you? Sarah demanded of Wolfenvald silently. If this kills me, mitts off my soul. Let Hades bring me back, okay?

  ‘It will be as you ask, Golden Mane,’ Wolfenvald replied. ‘But remember the consequences. Saving the lives of those by the death of a werewolf can only have one result.’

  They’ll be Silver Shrouds?

  Wolfenvald did not answer, and Sarah wasn’t in the mood to waste any more time. She turned to Hades. The god was smiling at her, His eyes alight with excitement.

  ‘You must succeed, Golden Mane!’ He insisted. ‘You must! I have seen what Herpethia and Loki would unleash upon Earth. It must not happen! It would surely be the death of us all.’ He sighed. ‘And ever after, Earth will depend upon your protection.’

  ‘Ever after? But this is just one battle, Lord Hades. I thought after this, it would all be over.’

  Hades’ eyes were haunted when He answered. ‘Nay, gentle Golden Mane,’ He told her sadly. ‘You are The Golden Protector. Your task will last for ages. Herpethia is but one of many who would bring darkness to this plane. You can bring order to the universe and make it strong enough to last when you have gone.’

  Sarah gulped. This was not exactly the kind of thing a thirteen-year old girl ever wanted to hear. The idea of living for thousands of years still frightened the living daylights out of her. The notion that she would spend much of it fighting evil was enough to make her tremble.

  Hades put one hand on her shoulder comfortingly. ‘Fear not, Golden Mane, my brothers Zeus and Poseidon, even though you have bested Him, will forever be available to aid you if you have a need. I promise.’

  At His touch, Sarah felt a wave of relief wash over her. ‘Alright,’ she said, feeling much better. ‘Let’s get this over with.’ She smiled at Him. ‘Thanks for your help, Holy Hades,’ she said simply.

  Hades held out a sword and a shield He hadn’t been holding before. ‘Before you go, take these. You are the One of Gold. There is gold in your blood and in time, you will be able to command it just as The Nightsmith does silver. Such power deserves suitable weapons. This gold will never bend or break. The sword’s edge will never dull and nothing will ever penetrate the shield.’

  Sarah took the weapons and looked at them in awe. The moment she touched them, they tingled as though they were alive. She could feel them not only with her skin and hands, but with her entire body. It was as though they were quite literally part of her.

  The shield was emblazoned with a wolf’s head crest, and the scabbard for the sword was also detailed with a wolf motif. Perhaps most amazing of all, was that the weapons seemed to weigh nothing in her hands. She looked at Hades questioningly.

  ‘To others, they will weigh as much normal gold arms would,’ He told her. His gentle tone told her He was slightly amused at her lack of understanding. ‘They are part of you, Golden Mane. Here, in my Underground, your body is mine to do with as I please. Your arms and legs weigh little when you move them, do they not? So too do these weapons I return to you from your own blood.’

  Startled, Sarah looked down at herself. She did seem a little thinner in the waist. ‘I didn’t feel a thing!’ she marvelled. An idea came to her. She needed to get that uncomfortable amulet off from around her neck and back into a brace. She concentrated on her wrist, using advice from Wolfenvald. The gold within her obeyed and formed a gleaming brace about her wrist. She opened the brace to see the small cavity where a coin could be hidden.

  Hades held out His hand. The amulet disappeared from around her neck and appeared in His palm. He gently placed it into the brace cavity and closed and fastened the gold device about Sarah’s wrist.

  ‘You’d best be at your task now, Golden Mane. Fare well.’

  ‘Wait!’ Persephone called out to her. The beautiful bride of Hades reached out and touched Sarah’s close-cropped hair. Her scalp tingled for a moment and then Sarah felt the weight of her hair return. A heartbeat later and her long blonde mane was shiny and trussed into a tight Amazon braid. ‘Some weapons are more subtle than those forged from metal,’ She told Sarah with a smile. ‘Your beauty will one day be every bit as devastating as your sword!’

  Sarah couldn’t help herself. Without really caring if it was the done thing or not, she embraced Persephone and then Hades, kissing both their cheeks soundly. She then readied herself with her new weapons and shield and marched back to Angelina and Apollo. Angelina was looking at Sarah with a worried look.

  ‘Trust me, Captain,�
� Sarah said, grinning. The light she had kept surrounding the corpses of the Amazons back at Lentekhi was still part of her. She could feel the light and every one of the Amazons it surrounded. She turned to the gathered ghosts and sent out another wave of glowing golden light at them.

  Hades whispered His spell to release them in a voice so low that not even Sarah could hear it, and blew a kiss at the golden cloud around the Amazons’ souls.

  Concentrating very hard, Sarah commanded the light surrounding the ghosts, ‘Sequollo Moi!’ the Magaeic spell for “follow me!”

  It was hard — harder than anything she had ever done before. The souls were immensely heavy and sluggish. At her command, instead of following her the way Sarah expected, the souls simply swayed a little as though they were being blown by a light breeze.

  ‘Sequollo Moi!’ Sarah commanded again, throwing more and more power into the command. This time, the souls began to drift towards her, but very slowly.

  Sarah shut her eyes for a moment and drew in every iota of power she could muster. Her skin began to glow, as did her hair and her eyes, even through her eyelids. Her clothes burned away yet again and she was left holding only the shield and sword Hades had given her.

  She opened her eyes, not noticing that even Hades had stepped back from her fiery form in awe. ‘Sequollo Moi!’ she bellowed at the souls. They blurred into movement and, assembled in military formation, began to march her way. Still focusing on the dead warriors’ souls, Sarah waved at them to go through the portal Angelina was holding open in readiness for them.

  Chapter Nineteen