Retaliation (William of Archonia Book 2)

by Jarod Meyer

  * * *

  William came to, gasping for air, and bewildered by shock. He felt fingers digging inside him, and a burning sensation. It was dark, and his vision was still blurry. Colors radiated through his field of vision, and blackness flashed in and out. A ringing filled his ears, but after a few moments he was able to shake himself out of it. Everything began to take shape, and standing before him was Luxor, covered in William’s blood.

  The burning sensation continued, but the pain slowly subsided from his wound. William couldn’t move his arms and legs, as he realized that he was sprawled out on a rack in Luxor’s dungeon.

  Finally, the burning stopped, and he felt Luxor’s fingers pressing against new flesh. Relaxation fell over William’s body, and he hung his head.

  “I have healed you. So that you can explain to me clearly how my enemies magically escaped our little ambush, and how you were defeated,” the Basileus said stiffly, pacing back and forth in front of William.

  So far everything had worked perfectly. William just had to put the icing on the cake. He let his mind settle, and organized his thoughts accordingly. Once prepared he let out a snarl, and broke free from the bonds holding him. The metal and wood ruptured in a shower of splinters and metal fragments. Either Luxor underestimated his strength when he ordered someone to make those bonds, or Luxor made them himself, and William broke them with ease. The Basileus jumped back startled.

  “I suggest you start talking!” William spat, walking right up to Luxor and staring him in his face. “Why did one of your so-called loyal assassins decide to stab me in the back!?”

  “I am asking the questions here,” Luxor said, grabbing William, and trying to force him back against the wall.

  William resisted, and with powerful arms striking downward broke Luxor’s grip.

  “Why did you alter the plan? Are you hiding something from me?” Luxor asked, stepping back, and summoned a giant black starburst mace, which appeared through a burst of dark smoke. William slid Gungnir free as soon as it appeared behind him.

  “Because you can’t, or refuse to see one step ahead. You would have had us destroy all that were at that meeting, but then you wouldn’t have known the true strength of your opposition. You think because you torture one man that he will divulge everything to you?” William asked, running at Luxor and striking at him with Gungnir.

  Luxor sidestepped the blow, and countered with another strike. William deftly jumped back, avoiding it. “You are much more powerful than last we met,” Luxor said with an evil grin.

  “You’re damn right,” William growled.

  “Yet you were not strong enough to defeat the traitor I apparently had amongst my ranks,” he said, yelling and striking at William again.

  He quickly parried the blow, and Gungnir’s innate power kicked back against his enemy’s weapon, sending it flying from his hands, but it appeared again in a cloud of black smoke.

  “And where were you!? Your highness,” William said, mockingly. “You think that you can sit it out and place blame on me? I was on an errand for you to gain your confidence. Forgive me for believing you could supply me with adequate assistance,” William bellowed.

  Luxor’s face twisted in rage.

  “Let’s get one thing straight,” William said. “You don’t command me. I sought you out to be an ally, but if I have to I will destroy you.”

  The Basileus, Meredox’s twin, stared at him for a long while, but then his posture relaxed, and his Mace disappeared. Though this was exactly the reaction he had been hoping for William stifled his feelings and kept his game face on.

  I could end it right here. He let his guard down.

  But before he could act a clatter of armor sounded just outside and the room filled with guards. Luxor raised a hand, stopping them.

  “Very well, you have made your point. I apologize about the betrayal,” he said curtly. “Now, what do you propose our plan of attack be?” he said, motioning over to the table which held his records and documents.

  William relaxed, and put his sword away slowly, watching the guards from behind him. He scanned the dank room, searching for Zeus, his Archonian brother, but he was no longer there. He hoped that they hadn’t killed him. There were a few others still being tortured on racks, but William tried to ignore it. He walked over to the table and stood across from the Basileus, who now leaned over his collection of papers.

  “We have ten trillion spawn amassed for our next attack, nearly one for each man, woman, and child in Archonia. Among the horde we have wyrms, demons, and reapers. With Archonia’s armies on alert from my last failed attack,” Luxor said, looking at William in annoyance, “there will be little chance of opening another portal without a viable distraction.”

  “Of course, and this is where I come in. I will return to Archonia, begging for forgiveness, and convince the council that there will be another attack,” he said, grabbing a map of Archonia from the table. Then he picked up a piece of sharpened charcoal from nearby, and began to draw on it. “I will tell them the target is the Obelisk of Brahma at the city of Iona, here,” William said, marking the map. “Meanwhile, you will meet me here in the forest of Astoria. The trees there will shroud us, and give us additional cover from scouts. Once the portal is opened we will target the opposite Obelisk in the city of Ovaria. Once it falls, Archonia will be wide open to attack,” William finished, tossing the piece of charcoal on the table, and handing Luxor the map.

  “I admit I am impressed with your plan, William. It is devious,” he said. “How will you convince them to take you back?”

  “They will have to take me back, or I will never divulge the plan to them.”

  “I see. So, when do you purpose we act out this plan?” he asked.

  “Due to the fact that there will be no possibility for communication between us we will have to set a date. It’ll take time for me to convince the council of this plot,” William replied.

  “Yes, and it will take time to mobilize my forces,” Luxor said.

  “So? What? A month, maybe two?” William suggested.

  “We are in the last days of Kronioch. The final month of the Archonian calendar will begin. Let us plan our little attack on a day they will not forget,” Luxor sneered.

  “And what day is that?” William asked.

  “During the final week of the year there is a celebration, leading up to the first day of the new year. The last day of the year is called skammdegi, which was what the ancient peoples of the ice lands on Earth called the darkest day of the year,” he said.

  William faintly remembered this from his studies. He was still getting used to the Archonian calendar, however, so he nodded, acting like he knew what Luxor was talking about. “I cannot think of a better time to spread darkness?”

  “Precisely. Now you have chosen the spot. Might I suggest that you wait for me, and I will find you on this night? I must wait for darkness, as the spawn are weakened and disoriented by the light of day,” he said.

  William extended his hand, and after an appraising look, Luxor grabbed it, sealing the deal.

  * * *

  The plan was set. The finer details were covered, and before William new it he was in a dark room all alone within the guest quarters of Luxor’s palace. The Basileus begged William to stay and provide him with his finest hospitality in return for his betrayal. William couldn’t have come out any more on top.

  His room was vast, and open aired the ceiling held aloft by stone pillars which glistened in the moonlight of Refuge. An illusion, no doubt. He stood facing a window that ran the length of the wall. Massive curtains gusted in the wind. He wore a light woven black shirt with loose fitted black trousers. The cold wind blew over him, relaxing the fire in his heart.

  The only sound was the faint sobbing of the slave girl chained to William’s bed. She was badly beaten, and William wondered if she was tied to the rebels in any way. Either way, it felt like déjà vu. He’d walked into an eerily similar scene in Vanity’s fo
rtress. It sickened him then, and now.

  William walked over to the slave girl, and gently lifted her head. Long black hair covered half of her face. She had the small mousy features. She recoiled at his touch, but his warmth began to spread over her skin, and she relaxed back into his hand. After a minute or so her wounds were healed. He carefully lifted the chain binding her to the bedpost, and cracked it like it was made from plaster. She looked at him in confusion, but he simply walked back to the window.

  He closed his eyes, wondering if the girl would run. And if she did, if they would catch her. After a few moments the girl still hadn’t moved. He ignored her, and tried to relax, but she eventually got up from the bed, and walked slowly up from behind him.

  “Who are you?” she asked, her voice timid.

  William sighed, but he didn’t have it in him to be rude or intimidating right now.

  “I’m William,” he said.

  “I’m Kimiko,” she responded. William still didn’t move or react.

  “You are the one who saved the others, aren’t you,” she said.

  “Be careful what you say. I will maintain my cover at any cost,” he responded softly.

  “I will not say anything,” she said, meekly.

  There was more silence, and William began to get annoyed. “What?” he asked, turning back to face her.

  “I…I was just wondering if….if you could take me with you?” she asked.

  William sighed again, and walked over to a table where a small orb of light glowed. He projected a piece of paper, then a pencil. He left a note.

  DON’T LOOK FOR THE GIRL.

  SHE PISSED ME OFF.

  HER BODY IS IN THE GREAT ABYSS.

  William finished writing.

  “Now they won’t look for you. We leave before dawn. I suggest you get some rest,” he said, walking back to his window. The girl seemed to have taken the hint, and though William could feel her joy, she didn’t disturb him again.

  He woke her just as he said a few hours before dawn, when the sky was at its darkest. His armor appeared over his skin, and her eyes went wide as he hefted her up on to his back. She must have known how to fly if she made it to this city, but he didn’t want her to slow him down.

  They took off flying low to avoid prying eyes. He told her to act as dead as possible on his back so there would be no questions asked about his note. She agreed. It wasn’t until they passed the threshold of the city that she showed any sign of life. William could tell when they had exited the city because the illusionary sky sparkling with stars overhead turned into endless clouds of black. Even the coldness became worse again. They were once again in hell.

  William’s heart was high. He would be returning home soon to the warm embrace of Archonia. He couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his face. Against all odds he had done it. He fought his way through the depths of the underworld. He saved many lives along the way. The only thing left to do was spring his trap, and Achilles’s help, end the threat once and for all.

  The flight to Tamara’s old village didn’t take long. He got to know Kimiko a little. Apparently in her previous life she was into drugs, and fell in with a terrible crowd. The watcher guardians had no time for her when she perished along with the street gang she belonged to. William found it astounding how many souls were overlooked. He’d figured that every being like him in Dichonia was a fallen Archonian, but he realized many were simply Archonian’s that never had a chance.

  He flew in high above the village. He wanted to make sure that he hadn’t been followed. He also wanted to scout it to make sure that nothing was waiting for him. He looked down onto the village from the cover of the black smoky clouds. It became clear that nobody was following him, so he even reached out with his energy to see if he could feel any invisible forces. There were none. He landed in a wooded area south of the village and asked Kimiko to scout out the village. Luxor could have already set a trap.

  She returned a short while later, stating that the others were waiting for him. He followed her quickly through the twisted underbrush, and when he came out of the tree line he sized up the scene. It was awkward. There were two groups. The guards from Jahannam where sitting around a fire, looking weary from their travel. Tamara, Shou, and Leopoldo came out of Tamara’s hut, apparently drawn out by the commotion.

  Leopoldo immediately shouted, “William,” and ran over to embrace him.

  Shou and Tamara followed. They each held a smile for him. After all, he was their ticket out of Dichonia. William embraced each of them, before motioning towards the group of rebels.

  “How are they?” he asked.

  “We don’t know. They showed up here yesterday evening, and startled us. Naturally we assumed that they came from Jahannam to kill us for assisting you. It nearly came to blows, but that one told us who sent them,” she said, pointing to Georgia, who was now walking over to join them. She stopped a few feet away.

  “William,” she said, simply.

  He walked over. Once he was clear of the other three she jumped forward and wrapped him in a hug.

  “I was worried that they hadn’t fallen for your ruse,” she said, managing a smile. Then she backed away as Tamara came and wrapped her arm through William’s. Is she trying to mark her territory?

  “Calm down, you two. We are all friends here,” he said, shaking his arm free and walking over to the rest of the rebels, who watched their exchange from the fire.

  They all rose, and took out their weapons. They clearly still didn’t trust William, so their reaction wasn’t surprising.

  “How is Haraldr?” he asked, calmly. Georgia walked up beside him.

  “We talked about this. William is our friend,” she said, chastising them. “We don’t know who or what he is. For all we know he will betray anybody as it suits him,” one of man said defiantly.

  “It’s true. I have played my part well, the part of a traitor, of a liar and a murderer. I have gone against everything that I stand for. So that you and all of the souls in Archonia may have a chance at a lasting peace again,” William said sadly. “I don’t expect your forgiveness, but I have done my best. I hope that someday I will at least earn your gratitude,” he said, then turned to Georgia. “I’m ready to go home.”

  There was weariness in him that all the meditation in the world couldn’t fix. He hoped that the warm light of Archonia could dispel some of it, and perhaps lift some of the burden from his heart.

  “We leave in one hour. Tell those that wish to us that they must come quietly, and do as I say, or they aren’t welcome,” he explained, before walking to a stone and sitting down.

  William wondered if his friends would recognize him. Or, had he changed so much that he would appear a stranger, and be stopped at the Dichonian barrier, like every other fiend. He would soon find out. Georgia spoke with her soldiers, and after a moment a couple came walking over to William.

  “We wanted to thank you for what you have done for us. We were wondering if you could use your healing to help our wounded,” one of the men asked politely.

  William nodded, dragging himself up from the stone. He walked over to them, his legs and feet heavy and burdened, and knelt down. Haraldr was stable, but he was still unable to move much. He nodded, throwing William a smile as what looked to be his lover squeezed his hand.

  By the end of the hour William healed most of the wounds. He learned that their group was attacked while fleeing, and lost a few more. It turned out that one of their soldiers had combusted his body into a massive explosion of energy, allowing the others to safely escape. It was the ultimate sacrifice. One William both appreciated and mourned.

  The rebels thanked him for his aid, many shaking his hand, and as promised, he took off into the sky. William carried Tamara on his back. Shou and Leo each found a ride as well. He led the group through the silent winds of Dichonia. Occasionally there encountered a stray group of tera-spawn, and either destroyed the beasts, or avoided them altogether. None of that m
attered to William, whose attention was fixed on the horizon. When they caught sight of the great wall something changed inside him.

  Tamara spoke up as the wall loomed above them. “We made contact with Achilles while you were away. He is expecting us at any time. One of his agents waits for us amongst the guards at the gate,” she said.

  “I’m not expecting a warm welcome home. I want you to stay with the rest of the group at a safe distance,” he replied.

  The great gate, like the wall itself, was colossal. William landed a couple of miles away, to afford them some cushion if the guards became hostile. His boots had barely hit the ground when they heard a deep ringing sound.

  The warning beacon of Archonia.

  Had the guards seen them as a threat? William motioned for the others to stay. They shot him concerned looks, and whispered animatedly to on another.

  They think I am going to leave them behind.

  “I won’t abandon you,” he said, reassuringly, then turned and ran forward.

  William spotted the Archonian guard assembling on the top of the wall, hundreds of feet above. Their armor gleaming, and bows at the ready to deal devastation to any attacking force. The wind of Dichonia whistled along the wide expanse around him, the cold nipping at his face, but it all stopped in an instant. Silence and warmth replace it. It felt like stepping into a dream. He basked in Archonia’s glory, and vowed to never take it for granted again.

  His moment of peace was interrupted by the twang of an energy bolt in the form of an arrow. It exploded off of his armor, forcing him to take a step back, but did not pierce. He held up his forearm and light radiated from it forming a shield of energy. Then he continued his march. Another bolt shot forth, but ricocheted away.

  Once he got within shouting distance Gungnir turned back into a blade, and he stuck it into the dirt. No more arrows rained down, instead a battalion sized group of sentinels floated down from the wall above. They landed at safe distance, forming ranks,, the leader placing his sword in the dirt as well. This was the Archonian sign of peace in combat. He hoped this was enough of a sign that he meant them no ill will.