by C. F. Cooper
“Look,” said Daisy, pointing across the bridge. The gate began to slowly open. The size of it so vast that the metallic creaking sound of its hinges was deafening. “Prepare to fight.”
Much to their surprise no-one emerged from the gate. After a few moments silence a blanket of mist rolled along the ground and made its across the structure towards them.
“Remember who you are,” said Octavia. “Stand firm.”
As the mist reached them and swirled around their feet Gary felt the embarrassment of being a student failure rise in him. “I am a failure,” he said out loud. “And I’m okay with that.” A vision of his parents appeared before him. You’ve disappointed us so much, they said. “I know, and there’s nothing I can do about that.” Professor Wiseman then appeared before him. What’s taking you so long. Have you defeated the Ice King yet? “No, and maybe I won’t succeed.”
The visions subsided and face appeared before him. It was the Ice King. “So, it was Wiseman that sent you?”
Gary shrugged. “I don’t think he intended to send me, it just kind of happened.”
“That man is a fool and you are a fool to listen to him.”
“We are all fools, but at least some of try to do the right thing.”
“You think you are so superior,” sneered the king. If you enter the city, you will perish.”
“Probably, but how boring would it be to come all this way and not even try.”
The king’s face curled up into a knot of disdain and hatred. “I will crush you and your friends and then I will take my rightful place in the land of Uffern. You think you have stopped me? I have all the power I need already. I will be invincible in your world.”
“For someone that has so much power, you talk a lot. You spend a lot of time persuading others to do your fighting for you. Maybe all I need to do is simply walk into your castle. Maybe you are not as powerful as you say.”
The king shook his head and his vision melted into the mist. Gary looked around at his friends, they were all standing still, distant and distracted. They clearly had their own visions, but everyone was okay. They were immune to the king’s enchantments. Sasha wiped a tear from her eye.
“Are you okay,” Gary asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“I’ve done terrible things,” she said. “But I can’t take them back.”
“Look,” said Daisy, pointing to the bridge as the mist retreated towards the castle.
***
In the distance they could hear a low thumping sound. Smallgrass lifted his eyeglass and pointed it back down the mountain at a faint trace of lights snaking its way up the hill. “Re-enforcements. Tomorrow we will have an army. Time is running out for the king and he knows it.”
Gary felt a knot in his stomach. He knew the end was near, whatever that was. Looking up he could see the northern lights begin to sweep across the sky again. They scraped across the tower as they had done the previous night. This time though, they created streaks of white crackling lightening as they did so, like the white water created by the wake of a boat as it travels through the water. The lightening trailed its way through the green waves of the aurora. The aurora dipped lower until more of it was passing over the tower, the lightening intensified and began to shape the green light. The face of the king formed in the sky, green skin with white lightening outlines.
“You think you are all so clever,” said the king. “But you will not pass into the Crystal City. Keep the four lands. Continue to live your petty lives. I have no further use of it. My time here is finished.” The image of the king began to expand until he had shoulders, then arms and an upper body. The king reached up into the sky and grabbed streaks of lightening in each hand.
“Take cover,” shouted Daisy.
Gary stood his ground staring at the king. The king pulled his arm back and threw the lightening like a norse god. The lightning struck the bridge. The king then threw his second lightning bolt, hitting the same point.
“He’s going to destroy the bridge,” Gary shouted to the others. “If we don’t go now, we’ll never get into the city.”
The king reached up and grabbed more lightening, throwing it down. The edge of the bridge where it stuck began to crumble.
“Come on, let’s go.” Gary ran onto the structure.”
Smallgrass looked at Smallgrass, “One last battle?” Smallgrass nodded and they both began to run, followed by the others.
The ground exploded around Gary as he made his away across the bridge. Looking up as he went, he watched for the trajectory of the lightning bolts changing course as he went. Jumping left, then right, coming to a sudden stop and waiting for the lighting to strike the ground in front of him before continuing on his way. Rocks began to fall away into the cavernous ditch below, disappearing out of sight. The gates began to swing shut as the lightning rained onto the ground. The closer Gary got closer to the entrance the narrower the strip of bridge got as the lightning strikes took their toll.
“Pick up the pace,” he shouted back to his companions. “I don’t think it will hold much longer.” Gary made one last lunge and threw himself against the gate which had now closed. He turned and looked back. The bridge was beginning to collapse under the constant barrage. Daisy and Sasha reached Gary first and shouted to their companions to hurry. Octavia scooped up Smallgrass and made the last few steps to safety alongside Hannibal. The bridge was now falling from the far side forward, waving from side to side as it did so, like a piece of rope that had been flicked along the ground. Calico and the other Smallgrass were being chased by the collapsing walkway. Smallgrass was starting to fall behind, his small legs no longer able to keep pace with encroaching nothingness. Calico reached back and grabbed Smallgrass by the scruff of the neck. As he took his next lunging step, he threw Smallgrass in the direction of the gate. Smallgrass flew through the air tumbling as he did so and hit the gate above Gary and then fell to the ground in a heap. As he jumped to his feet, he saw the collapsing bridge catch up with Calico.
“Jump,” shouted Gary. Calico leapt through the air and Gary reached out for him. He grabbed his hand as the ground below dissolved. Octavia stretched her arm out and grabbed onto Calico’s shoulder. They pulled him up from the abyss that waited, onto a narrow ledge, all that remained of the once impressive structure.
“What now?” asked Daisy looking at her companions. They were standing in front of the closed gate. The only access to the City now destroyed behind them and the large gate closed in front of them.
Smallgrass got down on all fours and began to dig. After a few sweeping motions he hit solid rock. “Well, it was worth a try.” He stood up. “Anyone got any other ideas?” he said as he banged his fist on the solid gate. A small hatch suddenly opened at eye level with him and a face started out. Smallgrass looked up at Gary and frowned.
“Yes, can I help you,” said the face behind the gate.
“I demand an audience with the Ice King as the arbiter of all disputes.”
“I’m not sure he’s seeing anyone at the moment.”
“Everyone in the four lands has the right to an audience if demanded, do they not?”
“Well, technically yes, but it’s a slightly unusual situation at the moment. What with him trying to conquer the four lands etc. etc.”
“Has he rescinded his duty as ultimate arbiter?”
“Not as far as I’m aware, but I’m not sure what kind of reception you would get.”
“Let us worry about that. As gatekeeper it is your duty to let us pass unless the king has explicitly forbidden you to do so.”
“Alright then, but you’ll need to be quiet.” The hatch closed and they heard the sound of sliding metal. A small section of the gate opened. It had been flush with the rest of the structure and not visible to them when closed. “Quickly,” said the gatekeeper. “Before I see sense.”
They stepped through the door and looked around. It was eerily quiet and there was no sign of any other life. The ramparts looked abandoned. Looking
up at the sky, the Ice King had gone. They were standing in a large square with roads leading in three directions. One to each side following the wall and one straight ahead to the centre of the city and the large looming tower. Gary looked at the gatekeeper. He was a short slight man with grey hair and deep furrowed brow.
“I’m not sure I should be doing this. He won’t be happy.” The gatekeeper shivered and a couple of long donkey-like ears emerged from his head. He stroked them and tried to push them back. “Oh dear. This is making me very nervous. I don’t like this one little bit.”
“Where is he?” asked Gary.
The gatekeeper shrugged his shoulders. “Probably the tower. He spends most of his time there when the sky river runs over the city.”
“Where is everyone else?” asked Sasha.
“There’s not many people left. They mostly became doomwalkers and left to join the war. It is just a few servants and guards left behind to look after the king. He’s not very sociable. A bit of an introvert truth be told. Scary but an introvert.”
“Why did you stay?”
“It’s a pretty easy job. Strange hours at times but I’m comfortable with it. I know what I’m doing. It comes with a house too, so there is that. If you go straight ahead, you’ll find the tower. If you see some guards, you’ll know he’s in the tower.”
“Can you take us there?” asked Gary.
“Well, I would but then the gate would be unattended.”
“There’s not going to be anyone coming to the gate,” said Smallgrass. “The bridge is gone. There’s no reason to guard the gate.”
“But all the same, it is my job.”
“Okay, one of us will look after the gate for you. Will that work?
The gatekeeper thought for a second or two, pushing away at his ears that refused to go back down. “Oh, I don’t know.”
“Two of us will stay,” said Gary.
“Well, alright then but let’s be quick. I don’t want to be away for too long.”
Gary nodded to Smallgrass and Smallgrass. “You two stay and look after the gate.”
“No way,” they both said in unison.
“I’m not asking you. I’m telling you.”
“No.”
“Smallgrass, listen to him for once,” said Octavia.
The Smallgrasses reluctantly nodded. Gary stepped next to them and leaned down to whisper. “Once we’re out of sight, open the gates and come after us. I don’t know if anyone can get across but at least the gates will be open.” He stood up and then said loudly for the gatekeeper’s benefit. “Do I make myself clear. Never question my orders again.”
“Yes sir,” said Smallgrass and Smallgrass.
“Now, to the tower.”
The gatekeeper marched straight ahead following the centre path between large buildings at the edge of the square. “Keep a few paces back,” Gary whispered to his companions. “If there are any guards ahead let them see the gatekeeper first. It will give us a few seconds advantage.” They silently nodded their understanding. As they walked through the empty streets, they noticed abandoned barrels just like the ones that had been used in the conversion ceremony.
“There it is,” the gate keeper said as they entered another much larger square. In the centre was the large tower that dominated the city’s skyline. Just like the rest of the city this square was deserted. “No guards though. I don’t think he can be there.”
“Let’s check it out,” said Gary. They walked the tower. Looking up from near the base, it was impossible to see the top of the structure. It was an impressive sight.
“I should really be getting back to work,” said the gatekeeper. “Oh….oh dear” he said looking around. From every building surrounding the tower, soldiers suddenly emerged. They marched in unison, using short steps, hitting the ground with their feet like a marching band. A drumbeat getting closer. “This isn’t good. It’s not good at all. I told you he wouldn’t be pleased to see haw you.” Gary looked at the gatekeeper. As well as donkey ears he now had a tail swatting him and his nose and mouth had grown into a long face. “He haw would be he haw happy to see you and I’m going to be in big he haw trouble too.”
“Calm down,” said Gary. “You’ll be fine. Looks like he is in the tower. Come on let’s go.” Gary began to walk faster towards the tower door when it opened, and a group of guards emerged holding swords.
“What are we going to he haw do?” said the gatekeeper.
“Well there less of them,” said Sasha pointing at the guards emerging from the tower,” than there is of them.” She pointed back into the square. “So, we go that way.” Without waiting for the others, Sasha pulled her sword from her belt and ran towards the tower. Throwing out her left hand to the side, long sharp claws emerged.
“Agreed,” said Daisy, rabbit ears popping out of her head and her legs growing more muscular with every step she took as she accelerated towards the waiting guards.
“Stay close,” said Gary to the gatekeeper.
“He haw sure will.”
Calico and Octavia’s husband turned to face the square as the others rushed the tower guards. Sasha leaped into the air kicking a guard in the face and slashing another to the side with her claws. As she landed, she plunged her sword deep into the chest of a third guard. Daisy did a cartwheel in the direction of another two guards kicking them with a spring like action that leveraged the full force of her muscular thighs. Gary ran towards the door pulling the gatekeeper with him, passing the guards as they were distracted with the others.
“Check inside,” he shouted to the gatekeeper, as turned and ran back. He pulled out his sword and attacked the guards from behind. Octavia swung her fists back and forward knocking down guards two and three at a time. Blood splattered across Gary’s face as he slashed and thrust. Looking past the immediate battle he could see the troops continue their step by step advance towards the tower. There was no way they would be able to fight off all those solders. There were just too many on them. “Any more inside?” he shouted to the gatekeeper.
“I don’t he haw think so.”
“Let’s finish this off,” Gary shouted. He then screamed at the top of his lungs and swung his sword over his head and back in front of him, swatting aside guard after guards as he stepped forward. Soon there were none left to strike down. Sasha pulled her claws from the last opponent as Daisy kicked another so hard, they flew towards the oncoming soldiers. All around them lay bodies smashed and battered. Gary wiped the blood from his face. “Let’s go,” he motioned to the tower door. They ran inside as the troops continued their slow almost sleepwalking march towards them.
As the last of them entered the tower, the gatekeeper pushed at the door to close it. “Oh my, it’s very he haw heavy.”
Gary put his shoulder to the door and pushed with the gatekeeper. Once it was closed, he inspected the surroundings. There were multiple bolts on the inside of the door which he quickly shut. “That should keep them at bay for a while. “Now let’s find the king and put this to end once and for all.” They gazed around the inside of the tower. It was hollow with a spiral staircase following the contour of the wall. In the centre was what looked like an iron pillar stretching upwards out of site and disappearing downwards into the darkness below. “Looks like it’s quite a climb, let’s go.” Gary began to step up the stairs, keeping close to the wall to avoid the fall.
“Where are you going?” said the gatekeeper.
Gary pointed up.
“Oh, but the king won’t be there. There’s nothing there, he’s this way,” he pointed downwards.
“Down?” said Sasha.
“Of course,” said Daisy. “The river of life”
The gatekeeper pointed to the iron pillar. “The sky river and the river of life. It he haw, it he haw…”
“Breathe deeply,” said Daisy. “Just breathe.”
The gatekeeper put his hand on his chest and counted. “One two he three. Four five haw six. Seven eight nine ten.”
>
“That’s better. Keep breathing.”
“Too much excitement,” he said. “Need to get back to the gate. The pillar connects the sky river and the river of life. It conducts energy between them every time the river passes over the tower.’
“Okay, so down we go,” said Gary. “Stay close.”
The companions began to walk down the spiral staircase hugging the wall to avoid the drop. Gary peered over the edge from time to time looking for the bottom to come into sight. It seemed as if it never would. “How far down does this go?” he asked out loud.
“I would guess it’s at the same depth as the river in Warrensgate, but…”
“We’re on top of a mountain,” said Sasha.
“So, still a way to go.”
“Yep.”
Above them they could hear the faint banging on the door. The guards were clearly trying to break in.
“It’s only a matter of time before they make it through.”
“No matter,” boomed Octavia’s husband. “We can hold them off on the stairs if need be.”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
“Not much further now,” said the gatekeeper, as they reached the bottom of the staircase.
A passageway led them out the tower and through a series of increasingly large caverns. As they emerged into the final cavern it reminded Gary of the cave in Warrensgate. It was larger though, much larger. They had clearly walked through a circular set of caverns during the last part of their journey. The pillar emerged from the roof of the cavern and continued down straight into the water.
“No sign of the King,” said Octavia. “Where is he?” she directed her question at the gatekeeper in a menacing manner. He took a few steps away from her, his ears popping up.
“Look, look at the lights. He must be near,”
Lights sparkled round the walls of the cave but unlike in Warrensgate the paintings showed scenes from Gary’s world, and not ancient scenes. A tank rolled across a desert firing shells as it did so. A warplane dropped bombs. The scene was of the worst parts of Gary’s world.
“This is why the Ice King thinks the four lands are in danger from my world.”
