The Sword and the Shadows_The First Chronicle

by Patrick Kriener

  "Enough chattering, we must move!" Yuri led Berek by the shoulder, along with fifty men behind him. Soon they broke through the ranks of the Ancients and ran to the ladder. Berek and Yuri stood behind as they watched the fifty Blood Shadows members climb the ladder. They slew any Ancient that tried killing them, and as the last man flew up the ladder, Yuri looked to Berek.

  "Go!" he cried.

  "What about you?"

  Yuri looked at Berek with intense eyes. Suddenly, Yuri clutched his torso as he cried out in pain. When he stood once again, green veins were etched in his skin, as he stood taller and his muscles were larger.

  "The Callous Scales!" cried Berek. "Be careful, Yuri!" He climbed the ladder as he saw Yuri standing in front of the ladder, taking out any Ancient. Yuri smashed and stabbed, using anything he had as a weapon.

  Berek finally reached the trapdoor as he pushed it open. He felt hands grabbing him as they lifted him from the ladder and onto cold, hard ground. The trapdoor slammed shut, but Berek looked close at the hinges and heard a crack. One of the hinges broke, locking the trapdoor in its place.

  "Yuri!" cried Berek, rushing to the trapdoor. He tried pulling it open, but it would not budge. "Yuri, no!"

  "My lord, it is too late," said a Blood Shadows member. Berek pulled harder and harder but it was too late. Yuri was locked in the tunnels. Hopefully he could take the Ancients by himself, but Berek had run out of hope.

  ***

  He was standing in a great courtyard, surrounded by stone structures. He was told that a great number of Ancients stood outside, ready to attack if needed. However, he was led to a room by one of the Shadows. When he opened it, he saw a strange man sitting in the corner. The man was old, probably in his fifties or sixties. He wore a great Amulet of gold, with a large ruby set in the middle. He was dressed in a long, purple robe. When Berek entered, the man turned to Berek.

  "You must be Berek," said the man.

  "Yes, I am. Who are you?"

  "I am Ramas Octavium."

  Chapter Forty-Six: Dispersion of Heroes

  B erek looked into the aged-man's eyes. He bowed quickly and recognized his glorious purpose.

  "My Lord, my Emperor..." He got back up to hear a response.

  Ramas Octavium seemed to have a disturbed look. "It is an imprisonment. The Ancients have overrun the city. Even the extra guard that came from the Octavium City was of no help." His voice was old, and seemed to possess a nature of wisdom.

  "How are you here? Were you taken by force?"

  "No, the guard sent me here for protection. They are all dead, for it is me now and the enemy is out there. They must not know where I am; I thank you for the protection. The Blood Shadows are helpful in this attack."

  Berek was glad; he took a deep breath and sat next to Ramas Octavium. "My friends, they are all out there and I know not what their fate is."

  "Friends? Yes, I have many dreams of my friends. Heroes of battle, slayers of the demons... claimers of the kingdoms."

  Berek did not know what Ramas spoke of. He forgot of his previous words and continued. "Seraph, he is a captain of the Ancients. He led many attacks... one of them in the Snowcleft Spine, where I met up with Yuri, son of Baldric, and another at Skyhallow Temple, destroying the Shieldvanes. My friends Roark, Aleazar, and Helen were with me, and when I found out the Blood Shadows would help us with this attack..."

  "You were a member of the Shieldvanes?"

  "Yes, I am Berek, son of Hector, and I was in great friendship with Jarem, who recently passed away. The Ancients also invaded the Temple of the Shieldvanes, in which they took the Crystal of Melageth. All of them… they are all dead!"

  "You are the one they speak of. You have the capability to slay the Ancients!"

  Berek stood being proud of his blade, saying stoutly, "With this sword I am able to slay any Ancients, and even Seraph himself." He waved Dawnfrost high in the air. He sheathed it back as Ramas was impressed.

  "It is so... it is Dawnfrost." A blue reflection was seen in Ramas’ eyes.

  ***

  Yuri slashed at another Ancient. He felt despair, for he had no guidance without his friend, Berek. Finally he gave up and knelt down. He breathed in and tried calming his heartbeat.

  "Yuri, help over here!" More Blood soldiers were pushing the Ancients down the opposite way of the tunnel. It took much manpower to push through the onslaught of Ancients. Yuri helped out as he stood out the strongest. Yuri grabbed an Ancient’s head and stabbed it through the chest. He sucker-punched another and sliced off its head. Yuri felt much rage; he had to find an escape.

  "Push... push harder, don't give up our flank!" A nearby captain was seen and stood near Yuri.

  "Sir, what is our current position?" he shouted, trying to cover the voices of battle-cries and nearby stabbings.

  "The exit heading to the courtyard is blocked! We have to find a different way!"

  "Then we will, soldier!" Yuri smacked another Ancient minion and stabbed it. He ducked and chopped off three Ancients’ legs with one slice. The arms of Yuri grew longer from the Callous Scales. The Blood Shadows guards were amazed of Yuri's skill in fighting. He threw one right over the heads of many Ancients and sliced at the others. The Ancients would dare not near Yuri's strikes of rage.

  "Show no mercy, keep the fight!" Yuri pushed one away, and chopped another head. Yuri was filled with bloody textures, both red and black. "Keep the fight on!"

  The Blood Shadows were encouraged by Yuri's leadership. Room was limited in the closed-in space of the tunnel. Dead bodies piled up and the sight was harder to see from each clashing side.

  "Alas, we take the front!" Yuri charged with a few Blood Shadows guards, as they accomplished the pull-through.

  "We have to find an exit, anywhere!" spoke a guard. He held his pike near and jabbed any enemy near him.

  "The only way out is to find a steep place, where we can stand and chop through. We will need the strongest men, able to do such labor." Yuri found a dull spot, filled with soggy mud. It would lead up to the surface.

  "There! We need men to break it though!" Five Blood Shadows members came out of the pack of guards. They were well-built and tall. Each wielded claymores and an over-sized axe, filled with purest silver. Yuri trusted them with this.

  "Cover each direction, and give the men some cover!" shouted one of the captains. More Ancients swarmed down the tunnel in each direction. All the men had pikes at the ready. There were a thousand left in estimate from Yuri's view. Others were dispersed, most on the surface, supposedly.

  This battle occurred for nearly an hour and many Ancients were slain from each side. Yuri kept his ground and helped out any needy guards in danger.

  Yuri kept close watch on the five bruisers. They jabbed at stone and mud, as they kept strong and repeatedly dug up closer to the surface.

  ***

  "We have to find a way to get your friends back!" Ramas Octavium got up; he was ready to fight for his kingdom.

  "Not you, Emperor. We are here to protect you. Though, I must go after Seraph. I must claim vengeance for Jarem, for the existence of the Shieldvanes!"

  Blood guards were seen all over the courtyard. They filled the place entirely in number. Berek walked out and left Ramas safe with a few guards, in the closed-in room.

  "Listen here!" Berek waited for the Shadows’ attention. "Everyone, listen here!" All were at attention. "We are here with our Emperor, Ramas Octavium. This is our duty; we must fight off the Ancients and finish off Seraph. The Crystal of Melageth must be retrieved." Berek looked though the steel-barred gates, as many Ancients were slaying the remainders of the Blood Shadows guards who made it to the surface.

  Berek continued, "We will not fall back, and we will not be defeated! This day we fight for the races that brought our population into existence. We will fight as one, Shadows and Shieldvanes, hero and soul. Whoever enters these gates... we will fight and kill!"

  All the men shouted in victory, and they bashed shields wi
th their pikes and some unsheathed their blades. Berek smiled but then was struck with sudden worry.

  "Helen..." he whispered to himself. He left the men to their wants of bloodshed.

  Ramas still sat in the room. He had his knees to his face. "I am distraught, good Berek... these demons came from no similar fate. I do not perceive this act of violence and heresy."

  "I know not either, but these beasts must return to the place from whence they came. I will send them back, once the Crystal is retrieved." Berek came close to Ramas. "I am here to save you. I swear that your family line will live on, return to the throne and claim rule over Alundiel."

  "I thank you for such bravery; now, we must act quickly if we are to survive in this yard," said Ramas in haste.

  Berek knew he had to find his friends as well as the loved one he left behind. Berek looked at Ramas, ending with these words: "I will return, my Lord. The throne of Octavium will live on." Berek exited and left Ramas to his thinking.

  Berek had to find a way, some approach to get to Seraph quickly before more danger was put about. Before this, he knew he had to keep duty by defending the men that were in the courtyard. Gates at large surrounded them. Ancients were seen all around them, and hope was small in all hearts.

  "Berek!" A captain of the guard was seen, as he came near Berek. "I have a plan... I will take my number of one hundred men to the east wing of the courtyard and stab through any Ancients there. I leave the rest of the men in your command."

  Berek accepted, saying, "Thank you, my friend. The Ancients are swift; they will break into this courtyard in a matter of minutes..."

  "Just know the east side is covered!" The captain took his men and they came close to the barred gates, stabbing through the bars with their weapons.

  "Defend all weak corners, keep them out!" Berek ran to a corner of the large courtyard. Another gate was seen, guards at it, pummeling any Ancients that were against the gate. Minutes past and all gates were covered from all sides.

  "West wing! They are through!" Ancients crawled over each to reaching over the gate. It was bashed down with their strength and force.

  "Cover the gate... extra defense!" Berek knew time was running out. He hoped for reinforcements soon.

  ***

  "The job is done, sir!" The bulky man shouted out to Yuri. The five dispersed, leaving a clear way up.

  Yuri found the surface only ten feet from the ground they stood. "Okay men, teamwork! We will lift each other, until every man is up!" Yuri saw the progression of Blood Shadows slaying the remaining Ancients in the tunnel.

  The captain finally said in haste, "Grab the roots, grab anything and get out of this hole!" All of the men piled up on each other as they got out. Yuri was in clear sight, for he exited first. As he ascended upon the surface, he saw no Ancient, as only death was seen all around him.

  The circular hole was five by five feet in width. It was enough for the men to drag themselves out. Finally all of the men exited, and only a few were left down there, weak and hopeless.

  Yuri pointed down in the distance, seeing the city of Wyndal. "There! We charge to the city, and destroy the rest of these demons!" Yuri ran, keeping pace with the rest of the exhausted soldiers. Yuri ran closer, seeing a clear view of the city. A battle occurred down there; this was where Yuri's final stand would be.

  Chapter Forty-Seven: Battle at the Gates

  “W

  here are the blasted defenses?" cried out Roark. He stood in the middle of a hundred Blood Shadows members, holding the line against the Ancients outside the gates. Roark could hear them pummeling against the gate, pushing against it to bring it down. But the Shadows were strong as they held their own. The spear-men stood at the front, stabbing between the wooden holes that were formed.

  "Hold the line!" yelled Roark. "Don't let up!"

  Roark looked behind him, seeing Berek rushing toward him. He had not seen Berek since the tunnels and was glad of his sudden appearance.

  “Roark!" cried Berek. "How are we holding up?"

  "Well," replied Roark, "we're holding. The men never lose courage or strength, and I am glad to be fighting beside them."

  "As am I," said Berek proudly. He stepped closer to Roark, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "Roark, I have a request of you."

  "Anything, Berek," replied Roark. "You know that."

  "I need you to stay with the Emperor."

  "What?" asked Roark, with a surprised tone. He turned back and looked at the men, still defending the gates. "What about the Shadows members? They need my help!"

  "And so does the Emperor!" cried Berek. "The guards I placed him with are not enough. He needs a worthy protector, someone like you."

  Roark stuttered, struggling for words. He wanted to help out here, but then again, he could not disobey Berek, for he had saved his life on many accounts. Berek looked Roark firmly in the eyes. "Please," he spoke quietly.

  Roark looked back. Finally, he nodded. "Yes. I shall go to him. I shall protect him with my life."

  Berek slapped Roark on the shoulder as Roark yelled to the air, a war cry escaping his lips. He left Berek standing there in the muddy ground as he rushed back to the small terrace. He stood next to the guards. Ramas was inside, with additional protection. Roark faced the front, and looked down from the terrace at the men holding the gate.

  ***

  Helen stood behind a large tower, behind the city. Standing next to her, breathing deeply, was Tablitha.

  "Where's Aleazar?" asked Tablitha. "He was supposed to meet us here!"

  "He'll be here," reassured Helen, "don't worry." She gripped the hilt of her katana. She knew the plan: to get back to Berek. Aleazar, Tablitha, and she, along with two hundred Blood Shadows, had run backwards from the skirmish in the tunnels. She wanted to reach Berek, but before she could take a step, she had been pulled backwards by Aleazar. He followed the Shadows soldiers as they backtracked their steps.

  Ancients had followed them, but the moment they reached the alternate exit, a ladder standing fifty feet tall leading outside of the city, the Ancients who had followed stood dead at their feet. They climbed the ladder and found themselves exactly outside of the city. They charged into the gates, which were heavily bombarded with Ancient sentries, and made their way across the city. The guards had surmised that Dalkreen, Berek, and Roark, along with the remaining soldiers, were in the courtyard at the back of the city. That was where the original ladder led out of. Helen planned to meet up with Berek.

  And as she stood now, next to Tablitha, she knew she needed help. She was losing doubt, for Aleazar was to return with three steeds. They were to ride across the city, taking out any Ancients, but also to reach the gates. They would draw out the Ancients in the city, and once this happened, two hundred Blood Shadows soldiers would arrive, and destroy them all. Helen looked to the west, seeing a large, black tower, its tip reaching high in the air. Helen knew Seraph held his domain there, but she knew not what floor.

  After many minutes of waiting, Helen finally spotted a slender figure on a horse, holding the reigns for two others. Aleazar galloped toward them as he stopped suddenly once he reached them.

  "Blasted horses!" he cursed. "I was never skilled riding them."

  "No matter," replied Helen. "We must get to Berek with all haste."

  Helen jumped on the saddle and held the reigns close. Tablitha mimicked her movement and all three of them stood on their horse.

  "Ready?" asked Tablitha.

  "Ready," replied both Helen and Aleazar. They turned their horses and galloped toward the direction of the gates.

  ***

  The Ancients had broken through the west wing. Berek rushed to it quickly, leaving the east wing defended by Dalkreen and the soldiers. They were limited in their number, for the Ancients would not fall. Berek shoved an Ancient to the ground before it could exact its killing stroke on a wounded Shadows soldier. Berek unsheathed Dawnfrost and slashed the formless face of an Ancient. Another stood in its place as
Berek slashed it to the ground. With every killing move he unleashed with Dawnfrost, the felled Ancients would burst into the black smoke.

  But more and more Ancients spilled into the large hole they made. Berek was surrounded by fighting. He had never fought in actual battle, at least not as intense as this. Suddenly, he heard a terrible screech above his head. He raised his eyes to the sky, seeing around fifty black birds flying overhead, descending down toward the terrace...

  "Archers!" cried Berek. "Fire!" He held a hand up and let it drop as thousands of dark arrows flew in the night. Some of them were lit with fire, as they shone bright in the night. The wind whistled with the sound of the arrows, as most of them reached their mark. More screeches were heard, as the Ancients in bird form fell to the ground, arrows stabbed into their flesh. But more came, and it was not enough. Berek spun around, seeing a large Ancient, which resembled the one he had fought in the Temple of Dawnfrost. It bashed through the stone wall, taking out several men and Ancients. Berek ran up to it, slashing at its black skin. It sent a fist flying forward and Berek felt pain in his chest as he was sent through the air flying backwards. He hit the muddy ground with a thud and pain entered his body.

  The huge Ancient reared its black face and let out a terrible roar. Soon, it came rushing toward Berek. Berek had no time to think. His doom was fast approaching. The huge Ancient got closer and closer to Berek, who was on the ground and could not move a muscle.

  "Ah!" cried a voice and suddenly Berek saw a large shape flying over his head. The shape landing on the huge Ancient and began stabbing into its flesh. Berek recognized the strange shape to be Roark. He was stabbing further and further as the Ancient yelled in pain.

  Finally, the Ancient threw Roark off with its huge arms. At this moment, Berek stood up quickly and rushed forward, plunging Dawnfrost into its midsection. It disappeared in a huge black mist. Berek ran over to Roark.