The Sword and the Shadows_The First Chronicle

by Patrick Kriener

  "This bed isn't really comfortable," she stated as she felt her hand across it.

  "Tell me about it," he replied. "And yet, you get the luxury room."

  Helen smiled. "That was nice of Dalkreen."

  "Indeed."

  Helen nodded. She then looked off into the distance. After a moment's silence, she spoke. "Listen, tomorrow may be our last day alive. Zoran doesn't know he's leading his army into a trap."

  "What are you talking about?" asked Berek.

  "Well I just fear that the Ancients' numbers will far outweigh the Shadows’ numbers."

  "Well, even so," replied Berek. "I have Dawnfrost. I can stop Seraph."

  Helen sighed. "I understand."

  Berek also sighed as he came close to Helen. He bent down on one knee and took her hand. "Don't you trust me?"

  Helen smiled. "I do."

  Berek also smiled as he then stood up and sat on the bed next to her. He gazed upon her beauty. From the moment he met her, she was beautiful to him. Her green eyes stared back at him with pleasure.

  Suddenly, Berek had an intense feeling. He could not explain it. All he knew was he wanted Helen more than anything. Berek leaned in close to her. She didn't hesitate and soon both of their lips were connected. Berek put a hand to her cheek as he kissed her more. They kissed more intensely and fell on the bed.

  Helen shuddered under Berek as he pressed his lips first to her own then to her neckline. She grabbed the sides of his torso and then gripped his tunic, pulling it above his head. Berek threw it off of his neck and ripped her dress open. When he realized what he had done, he looked at her stupidly. Her reaction then was gripping the back of his head and kissing him fiercely.

  Soon, after helping each other with their clothes, they lay naked on top of each other. Berek pulled her waist close to his own and Helen felt a brief flash of pain followed by sensations of undeniable pleasure. Berek kissed her breasts as she moaned aloud. She rocked back and forth on top of him and this went on for an eternity, but it was still too short. Finally, they reached their climax together as their voices filled the dark room, surrounded by shadows.

  So the lovers were joined and so they were doomed.

  Chapter Forty-Four: The Plan for Invasion

  T he night was kind to some. Berek awoke, energetic and strong the next morning; he looked to Helen. She opened her eyes seeing the man of her dreams.

  "Good morning, love." Berek, saying this, stroked her cheek as he then kissed her passionately.

  "Good morning, my handsome Berek." Helen was even more beautiful in Berek's eyes. Her voice was like the wonderful sound of fresh morning dew falling onto the meadow. This sign of love seemed unbearable, but Berek kept strong. She was the one, a woman he would love and cherish forever.

  A sudden knock was heard upon the room's door, as a voice said, "Berek, we will now set out strategies in the conference room."

  "Yes, good morning there, Yuri! It is an early time, but I will be there shortly." Berek got up. He recognized the voice to be Yuri.

  Yuri heard Berek's voice loud and clear though the door, saying, "We will be waiting then. See you there!" Yuri walked off in the distance, hearing commotion from the inside room before he knocked.

  "We must go to the battle plans; the attack is not far away." Berek was missing the previous hours of love.

  "I understand, we must do what we promise,” replied Helen. “You do know we are doing the Blood Shadows a favor?"

  "Really? Why? We are finishing off their main nemesis, the Ancients."

  Helen made a sudden laugh and then spoke. "We have a strong, brave warrior on our side. That is you, Berek son of Hector." Berek felt this as music to his ears. They hugged for a last time and had a long kiss before exiting.

  Yuri was sitting on a wooden bench in the middle corridor. The conference room was just inside. Tablitha was with him.

  "I... want to thank you, Tablitha. I could've died with my friends out in the wilderness if it wasn't for you." She sat closer to Yuri.

  "You should thank Dalkreen. He was going wild when he heard you were missing. He loves you like a son; you shouldn't ever walk out on guidance such as him."

  "I won't. I promise." Yuri felt nervous, for he missed Tablitha. He could not take his eyes off her smooth and perfect skin.

  "Is something wrong, Yuri?"

  "No... Nothing is the matter!" Yuri looked away, clenching his eyes, and sweating in large amounts.

  "I wonder where your friend, Berek, is." Tablitha finally got up and walked to the end of the hall. "And Helen; she appears to be still asleep, maybe." Tablitha turned back to Yuri, and he sure did not leave his eyes off her. "I will see you in there."

  "Yes, you will." She left and was out of his focus. The angel left his world; he then concentrated on finding Berek.

  "Here... we are here!" Berek and Helen jogged down the hallway. Aleazar and Roark made a sudden entrance out of the briefing room. "Well it is about time, Dwa’iin."

  "Shut your gob, elf." Helen pushed Aleazar back as she entered the room with Berek. Aleazar would dare not get close to Helen again.

  All entered. Zoran was seen at the front of the room with Dalkreen. Many captains and leaders of Blood Shadows squads were seated at the edges of the room, along the walls. Five rows of long benches were placed near the center of the room for the heroes of the campaign.

  "Gentlemen... ladies, welcome." Zoran looked around the room; he presented Dalkreen, saying, "This is my assistant, Dalkreen as you all know. He will give our current battle plans.” Zoran touched his face all over, making sure his mask was tight and covering his whole face. As he sat down, Dalkreen walked up to an extended map of Alundiel.

  Berek and his assistants sat close. Helen stayed the most near him. Tablitha was next to Yuri, but he cared not of this.

  Dalkreen grabbed the map with his long fingers and opened up the scroll. He took a nail and hammered it with his muscular hands onto the front wall of the room. A wooden board was perfectly placed to plaster the map on, so all may see it.

  "These are the plans: we set out to attack the Ancients at Wyndal. We will set out a preemptive strike. This enables us to have the advantage on the lower front." Zoran got up and stood next to Dalkreen, interrupting his speech.

  "We will use underground tunnels to travel there. This way, we will have proper supplies for all troops and limited resistance during the travel. This only makes it more pleasurable for my men and you." Zoran then gave the floor to Dalkreen.

  "As Zoran just stated, we will set up formation of troops. Pikes in the front will march. This will take out the cavalry, and so archers will be behind. The pike-men will also be sword-men; they will carry swords to the side." Dalkreen picked up a blade that lay upon the table. "Finished with the finest steel, these blades will easily cut through weak metals and tree logs in a few swings. Pikes are sharpened to perfection, and brandished with bronze and iron. The arrows of the archers will be metal-piercing; this gives us the advantage to tear through armor and metal caravans that carry enemy supplies."

  Berek stood up, for he needed more information of the surprise attack. "How will we be undetected?"

  "We have set up long routes to make sure our path is met. We have a tunnel exit right behind the city. Therefore, we can set off from there and bombard with archers, taking out the infantry from the inside."

  "So this is meant for a safe, surprise attack. What if they get their ‘surprise’ on us first?” Yuri joined in on the questioning.

  "Then we use what we are planned for: total manpower. We have the resources to let every single man and soldier in the cavern carry a blade."

  After that was said, Berek and Yuri were more satisfied. Dalkreen allowed Zoran up. Dalkreen sat as Zoran closed with a last message: "Remember, there is only one objective for you all. Go in, take out the Ancients and retrieve the book. Even if Seraph himself contains this book, you will take it from his dead hands. We will not be put to shame by these dark creatures who
suppress our will for peace in Alundiel." Zoran walked closer to Yuri and Berek, as the others watched this.

  "I always will trust in you two. You have a purpose, and that purpose is to claim victory for the higher calling. For Berek, son of Hector will bring vengeance upon the Ancients, so the Shieldvanes’ death will not be in vain... therefore, you will rise upon an Empire that will lead to our majestic wonders. Yuri, son of Baldric, you contain a power no Blood Shadows member yields, and that is the arm and heart of steel. Go now and fight for freedom and tyranny to be loose from our lands." All of the Blood captains clapped and shouted in a glorious tone. Zoran finished, as he left the room, leaving the invasion in the hands of the two heroes.

  Roark, Aleazar, Helen, and Tablitha left the room. They all prepared for battle.

  "We better suit up then." Yuri held his hand out for Berek. "It is nice to have a real warrior on our side, which has the power to lead a nation."

  "Thank you; we could have never done this without you and your guild." Berek shook Yuri's hand in agreement of the plan, as they went their separate ways and got their possessions and weapons.

  Dalkreen laid his head back on the exit of the cave; he over-briefed the captains and pointed them to the entrance of the tunnels.

  Yuri walked to Dalkreen. "Ah Yuri, I now give you the map to the underground tunnels. This will give you proper direction to Wyndal."

  "Thanks," said Yuri, "this will be very helpful. How many men are at Berek’s and my command?" Yuri hoped a larger number than what he thought.

  "There are at least a total of four hundred men at your command. Pikes are a third of the army, which also wield blades. The archers cover the rest." Dalkreen wished Yuri luck and walked back to the terrace and headed up to the higher parts of the temple.

  Berek regrouped with Yuri. Yuri showed Berek the map and this was shared with the rest of the group.

  "Aleazar and Roark, you will follow us, for we will lead the army in three by three formations. Helen and Tablitha will stay behind us men." Berek looked at Helen and smiled. "Only to ensure their safety." Helen smiled back.

  "Well the... where is this army?" Roark could not hear the commotion behind him.

  "Behind you," said Aleazar as he laughed at Roark's late reaction. He looked, seeing a number of hundreds upon hundreds from the cave, waiting for command.

  "They know their orders; this entrance appears to be about thirty yards from this location... follow!" Yuri spoke this and Berek followed, leading the army. They stood in straight formation, three by three, rather than all of the heroes. The entrance was found. It was a circular top, about nine feet high and thirteen feet wide. The men fit through perfectly.

  Berek was impressed with such architecture, as he caught up with Yuri. He looked at the dark textures and stone covered walls that were a great fortification. Nothing could break the walls in the tunnel. Swords, shields, and supplies were scattered every few feet in. Berek hoped with his heart the attack would go according to plan.

  Chapter Forty-Five: Arrival at Wyndal

  T he army marched through the long and winding tunnel. The tunnel stretched out from the circular entrance and grew long and wider with each step. Berek heard the hard footsteps on the stone floor as the army marched and ran with much haste. Berek looked to his left, seeing Yuri in the front. He looked to his right and saw Dalkreen holding a bright torch which helped the men see clearly in the dark tunnel. Berek turned a curve and ran on. The men behind him had much stamina and never seemed to grow tired. The hours past in the day and soon, it became night. Berek was still leading his men along the tunnels.

  Each was equipped with the regular armor of Blood Shadows: crimson breastplates were strapped to their chests, as the rest of their plate mail armor was crimson. Their helmets were pointed at two ends and in the middle left two slits for their eyesight. Strange designs which Berek could only deduce as the Baelrytic language were etched upon their armor. However, Berek looked further behind him, seeing Zoran upon a great, black steed.

  The horse was armored from head to toe; the rider however was completely different. Zoran wore no armor, for only his mask was seen on his body. He wore a long, dark blue robe which fell from the horse and sometimes touched the ground. Berek turned back and ran closer to Yuri.

  "Why does Zoran wear no armor?" he muttered. "He shall be slain."

  "No, good Berek," replied Yuri, "Zoran will not fight unless he has to. He has his guards with him to protect him. He will stay in these tunnels and hold off any intruders, should they breach these tunnels."

  “Your own master will not fight?" asked Berek, outraged.

  "Do not tire yourself with our customs," curtly spoke Yuri. "We have a battle to fight, and there is no time to linger on passing words. Now come!" Yuri ran on with much more haste. Berek sighed. He missed the Shieldvanes, being under Jarem’s command. Even Jarem, as old as he was, still fought in their missions. Berek wondered why Zoran did not, but took Yuri's words to heart. They had a battle to fight and he needed no distractions.

  Soon they rounded another corner. The air around them grew stuffier with each step. Berek noticed the ceiling height changed dramatically; once it stood nine feet high, when now it was only around seven feet high. The pike-men in the back felt their spears and pikes clatter against the ceiling. Dalkreen held a hand for a halt. The armor behind him all halted with one single movement, and none faltered. Berek halted his soldiers, as did Yuri.

  "What is it, Dalkreen?" asked Berek.

  Dalkreen seemed to sniff the air. "The air is foul in these tunnels. We are far underground. However, I do not remember this terrible stench."

  Berek wondered what he meant, but he sniffed the air as well. Suddenly, a great stench of rot and waste filled his nostrils. How had he not noticed it before?

  "What is it?" asked Berek, disgusted. Dalkreen looked around, and then turned to face Berek. He had a worried look on his face.

  "We're not alone," he whispered. At these words, Berek felt great fear. Even the men behind him, strong and clad in bright armor, felt the same fear. Suddenly, a whistling sound was heard. Berek wondered where it had come from, but then heard a voice cry out. He turned behind him and saw a Blood Shadows solider on the ground, a long oaken arrow stuck in his chest.

  Berek walked to him and quickly pulled out the arrow as blood came flowing fast from the soldier's chest. He gazed upon the arrow. It was black and hard as metal; but suddenly it was no longer in his hands. It had turned into a wisp of dust and floated off into the air.

  "Ancients!" cried Berek. "It's a trap!" He ran back to Dalkreen, screaming for him to go, but suddenly hundreds of black armored figures stood in front of them. They were armed to the core, with obsidian-like armor. They pulled out great swords and weapons of darkness as they got ready to attack.

  "Fight!" yelled Dalkreen. "Fight your way through! We must reach Wyndal with all haste!" He unsheathed a large blade and began to slice through the Ancients. The men also unsheathed their weapons and rushed to the onslaught. Berek took Dawnfrost in his hands as he cried out and rushed to the Ancients. It seemed many stood in his way, but Berek pulled his arm back and slashed. Suddenly, around ten Ancients standing in front of Berek disappeared into the air with wisps of black smoke. Berek looked at Dawnfrost, suddenly understanding. Dawnfrost was the Bane of the Ancients, the only weapon to destroy them forever. Dalkreen noticed as well.

  "Berek! Slash through them all and keep running! Cover Berek!" He stood behind him and chopped through the Ancients. Berek growled and thought of the Shieldvanes and his parents and all that had been taken away from him. Berek chopped through the Ancients, seeing each one disappear into a great cloud of blackness.

  Yuri stood to Berek's left, slicing and hewing away any Ancient that stood in his midst. Berek felt tired after stabbing and slashing. Suddenly, he saw a great ladder up ahead. He ran on, killing any Ancient he saw until at last, he reached the end of their line. The hundred Ancients stood behind him, not noticing
him. He ran to the ladder and called out to Dalkreen.

  "Dalkreen! A ladder! Quick, take your men here! I think we are in Wyndal!"

  Dalkreen nodded and called back to his men. "The end of the tunnel is here, men! Fight your way through and climb with all haste.” Dalkreen ran on and stood next to the ladder.

  "Go on," ordered Berek. "I'll stay here and make sure they reach it." Dalkreen nodded and began to climb the ladder. Ten Dawn members reached it as well as Berek hurriedly pushed them up the ladder. They climbed with great speed, for Berek knew he could not match it. Thirty more men came and soon, Berek had counted, two hundred men had climbed the ladder successfully. But that still left many more. Suddenly, a great yell came from the tunnel as Roark burst through the line.

  "Roark!" Berek yelled. "Where are the others?"

  Roark panted harshly. "Helen...injured," he said through quick breaths. Berek's eyes grew wide. He cried out in anger as he pushed past Roark. He knew the Ancients would not fall against feeble swords of metal. It had to be Dawnfrost to destroy them forever. Berek chopped against one, as he made his way back into the line. He searched around for Helen, seeing no one. He was pushed from behind and lost his footing, falling to the stone floor.

  Several Ancients stood above him, bringing down their spears. Suddenly, a hand pulled him up before the spears reached him. Berek looked and saw Yuri clutching his sleeve. He was covered with blood from head to toe and Berek knew somehow that blood was not his.

  "Yuri, where's Helen?" yelled Berek.

  "Tablitha has her!" cried Yuri, slashing down an Ancient. "There's another ladder leading to Wyndal. Most of the men climbed that ladder and made it out. I believe Helen and Tablitha were with them!"

  Berek ducked as an Ancient swung its black axe. Berek stabbed Dawnfrost into its dark flesh as it once again disappeared in the smoke. "Where's Aleazar?" asked Berek.

  "He led the men to the entrance!" yelled Yuri. "He protects Helen with his life!" Berek smiled. "That's one good thing he did!"