The Skull Warrior

by Yajat Sharma

  “I am not lying!” Cad yelled. Even though Lynx didn’t believe him, something in Cad’s eyes told him otherwise.

  “I am not lying,” Cad shouted.

  Cad was just an inch above the fifth step. Lynx had to decide fast.

  “Here’s a gift for you, Grim,” Lynx said. He dropped Cad on the fifth step. With a whoosh, Cad got sucked into the wormhole.

  Grim stomped down the narrow passage.

  “This better be important,” Grim said. “I hope what you are about to show me is interesting, or you know what will happen to you.”

  The two men flanking him nodded their heads a little too eagerly. “Not to worry, sire!” One of them said, “You will not be disappointed.”

  Grim rolled his eyes and tried to control his anger. After five days of shooting practice, he was finally getting a grip on the Oculus. He had managed to score two bull’s eyes on the target. He wanted to score another bull’s eye. And then what happened? As he was about to fire, these two prison wardens had come and disturbed him.

  And what could be worse? His aim misfired and it struck his trainer in the face. The trainer was bandaged up now, and he couldn’t teach Grim any longer. That was one big misfortune.

  Grim walked past the prison cells and his pride reduced his irritation somewhat. They had a well-planned system of imprisonment here, and it was all because of his planning. There were prison cells on both sides of the walkway. Each cell had only one occupant. The size and quality of the cells decreased further down. Prisoners were classified into the cells based on the crimes they had committed. If the crime was minor, they were put into the first few cells and were released early. The worse the crime, the worse the cell and the more the time they spent in the cell until release.

  As Grim walked further, one of the men began speaking. “Sire, we were watching the cells when all of a sudden there was a large alarm and -”

  “Alarm?” Grim asked. That could only mean one thing.

  “Yes, sire!” The man said eagerly. “An alarm.”

  Grim’s spirits soared. The alarm was fit only in the last cell, where he and his men had created a wormhole that linked to all the master chariots. The master chariots were chariots with experienced warriors and had a vast basement inside the chariot. There were twelve master chariots, and if anyone on the master chariot caught any fugitives, they had the order to put them in the wormhole immediately. The wormhole would then teleport the captured fugitive to the prison cell and trigger an alarm.

  And the alarm had been sounded.

  He stopped in front of the last cell and ordered the men to switch on the lights. Grim saw a single sword lying on the floor. Just a sword. Nothing else.

  “Open the cell,” Grim ordered.

  One of the men pressed a button and the cell bars opened.

  Grim walked inside and knelt in front of the sword. He turned towards the two men. “Is this what you wanted me to see?”

  The men nodded nervously.

  Grim turned back and examined the sword thoroughly. The pattern inscribed on it suggested that it belonged to a high-ranking official.

  Grim went closer and looked up, straight into the wormhole.

  “We told you it was interesting, didn’t we, sire?” the two men said in unison. “What do you think?”

  Grim couldn’t reply.

  Because...

  Two armoured guards fell from the wormhole and landed on top of Grim.

  Grim’s face cracked against the floor and stars appeared in front of his eyes. Grim rolled to the side and tried to move his jaw. To his horror, he couldn’t. It was broken. His nose was squashed too and many of his teeth had broken.

  The prison wardens at once pulled the guards off Grim. One of them asked, “Are you okay, sire?”

  Grim yelled in frustration and anger. “Do I look okay?!

  He raised his head and looked towards the wormhole again, and a stream of curses for the Scavenger escaped from his mouth.

  A second later, Cad fell from the wormhole. Grim’s eyes widened, but he was too late to move away from Cad’s line of fall.

  Grim’s roar shook the entire cell.

  13

  No One, Scavenger, James and Archer surrounded the coffin.

  The Scavenger said in an emotional tone, “I am so relieved. It is like a massive weight has lifted from my mind.”

  He looked back into the coffin. The bones of Arcane lay in the coffin.

  “Let’s move,” No One said to the Scavenger. “I understand that it was important for you to clear your doubt, but this mission has taken too much time. Our friends must be in Opal City looking for Insanity in the quest for the Trident. We all need to be together. Let’s hurry.”

  The Scavenger nodded. All of them got up and started walking towards the forest.

  After putting Cad onto the fifth step, Lynx took over control of the chariot. Everyone was deep in thought. Lynx seemed to be thinking very deeply.

  “I wish Cad had cooperated,” Matt said, in an attempt to break the awkward silence.

  “He wouldn’t have,” Daniel said. “There was too much at stake for him. If he had revealed the information, and somehow Grim had come to know about it, Cad would have been executed.”

  “Speaking of that,” Daniel continued. “What were you and Lynx talking about? About the Sorcerers? You know, before we were attacked by Cad.”

  “Exactly,” Lynx said, approaching Matt and Daniel. “Before being attacked by Cad. Don’t you see? If we had overpowered the Sorcerers, there was Cad who was the second ring of attack. It all appears planned.”

  Daniel said impatiently, “First tell me what you were talking about.”

  “Oh, I will,” Lynx said. “But first, and most importantly…” Suddenly Lynx turned towards Urrax, who was standing to the side, silent, as he had been during the whole journey, “Why are you not hurt?”

  Urrax raised his eyebrows. “What?”

  “I can’t see any bruises on you. Cad and the rest of them bound us very tightly. Look at these red marks.” Lynx showed the red ring-like bruises on his arms. Matt and Daniel had them too. “You don’t have them? That means you were not bound so tightly. Why?”

  Urrax shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  Lynx continued, “When the Sorcerers flipped us, they flipped us horizontally in the direction of the east. I remember you asking me if you could take my place on the right side of the chariot. If I connect the dots, I can now understand that when the chariot flipped, you remained safe.”

  “Wait,” Matt said. “How?”

  “Simple,” Lynx said. “Imagine a chariot flipping eastward. At one time, when it is perpendicular to the ground, the ones at the top would be thrown outwards. Those at the bottom would be thrown inwards. In other words, the ones on the right side would get hurt less.”

  “Just wait,” Urrax said, frowning. “What are you implying?”

  “I am not implying,” Lynx said. “Merely stating. And I can’t help but imply something too. What are you hiding?”

  “That’s it!” Daniel said suddenly, realizing what Lynx was talking about. “You can’t suspect everyone you meet, for goodness’s sake! You are suggesting that Urrax is betraying us. I refuse to believe you.”

  “Yeah, me too,” Matt said, but half-heartedly. “Maybe.”

  Daniel glared at him. “Maybe? What does that mean? Urrax risked everything to help us when we first met him. How can he betray us?”

  “Calm down,” Lynx said in a composed voice.

  “How can I?” Daniel said. “Urrax is our friend. We can’t go on suspecting friends.”

  “All right, all right,” Lynx said. “Forget this discussion. It never happened, all right? Calm down.”

  “Okay,” Daniel said, his reddened face coming back to normal.

  Lynx turned back to look at the valley and the conversation ended.

  Matt leaned against the railing and looked outside, feeling the cold wind hitting his face. Daniel was saying
something to Urrax, most probably comforting him.

  They had travelled for about thirty minutes when they saw a bull with a long tail standing right in the middle of the road. It was humongous and took most of the space sideways on the road. There was no way they could drive the chariot around it.

  Lynx stopped the chariot as soon as he spotted the bull and they started contemplating what to do next.

  “What is that?” Daniel asked.

  “A Stonehound,” Lynx replied. “It is a creature whose skin is made up of stone. If it gets provoked, it is dangerous to handle.”

  “It looks like it isn’t going to attack, though,” Matt said.

  As if on cue, the bull growled and darted towards them.

  “Oh, no,” Daniel said. “Matt, you jinxed us.”

  “Ditch the chariot!” Lynx yelled before leaping. They all jumped out of the chariot. There was a massive crunch behind them as the bull slammed into the chariot and demolished it.

  “Move quick,” Lynx said. “Before it comes back. Just run away. I know how to handle it.”

  The bull was racing towards Lynx. All the others scattered. Just as the bull was about to hit him, Lynx jumped sideways and rolled on the grass. The bull turned.

  Lynx, knowing the situation was getting dangerous, quickly waved his hands around and muttered a spell.

  The bull dashed towards Lynx. Suddenly, a big, dark square space appeared just in front of Lynx. The bull ran straight into it and disappeared.

  “What was that?” Daniel asked.

  “That was a special portal. The bull is now having fun in the cold mountains.” Lynx sighed with relief.

  “What do we do now?” Matt asked. “The chariot is broken.”

  “We walk,” Lynx said. “Opal City is not far.” He pointed up ahead.

  Matt looked ahead and saw the silhouette of a tall structure against the bright sky.

  “What’s that?” Matt asked.

  “You’ll see when we get to it,” Lynx replied.

  They started walking. Matt was steadily getting tired, but he didn’t complain. Lynx just kept walking undeterred at a steady pace.

  “Slow down,” Daniel called.

  Lynx slowed his pace but kept walking.

  “I wish I had physical abilities of a warrior,” Daniel said. “It is such a boon.”

  Lynx’s expert hearing caught his words. “Physical abilities are nothing more than curses,” he said. “As soon as people know that you are a warrior, they won’t stop at anything to put you down. They become jealous, you see. All my life, I have had to put up with these people.”

  Daniel thought about it. “Hmmm. Maybe you are right.”

  They continued walking in silence. Matt admired the scenery around. Back in London, this breath-taking view was not possible.

  As they walked, the tall structure was getting closer. Matt still couldn’t figure out what it was.

  And then it suddenly hit him.

  “Is that what I think it is?” Matt asked.

  Lynx nodded. “Yes.”

  The structure’s height was difficult to take in. Matt remembered the day when his parents had taken him to Dubai and showed him the Burj Khalifa. Matt had been shocked to see its sheer height. Well, the Burj Khalifa looked like a school building compared to this structure.

  It was a majestic statue of Lord Arcane.

  “Who made this?” Matt asked in awe.

  “Lord Arcane’s followers,” Lynx replied. “As a tribute to him. It’s a one-of-its-kind statue in the entire Dark World. It took almost two years to make this statue, and that too with hundreds of people working non-stop and many sorcerers to help. This was a massive project.”

  Just behind the statue, there was an entrance to a city. A sign prominently read – “Welcome to the Opal City.”

  Opal City was simply stunning. The streets were made of bricks, with specks of diamond dust all around. On either side of the street were mansions made of opal. It shone in the sunlight. The sight was mesmerizing. The streets had shops selling food, clothes, armours, etc. Some shops were even selling Oculuses and Cules.

  The four of them mingled with the crowd and walked calmly, keeping distance between them to avoid suspicion. Lynx had told them beforehand that he would be wearing a red cloth, so as to be starkly visible to the children against the crowd. The children fixed their sights on Lynx’s head.

  As they walked, Matt started to get tired. It was getting difficult for him to keep up with Lynx and the others.

  Matt had already lost sight of Urrax and Daniel; he was just focusing hard on Lynx’s head. Getting lost here would result in a lot of time being wasted, and there was the chance of someone recognizing the fugitives.

  Matt kept his gaze fixed on Lynx’s head, which was covered with a red cloth.

  Matt suddenly bumped into a large fat man. The man was carrying a food packet, which was now on the ground.

  “Watch where you’re going, idiot!” the man snapped loudly, making Matt uncomfortable. People nearby turned their heads towards them. “Look what you’ve done now!”

  “I am sorry.” Matt excused himself from there as soon as possible. The last thing Matt wanted was to draw attention to himself.

  He walked a few paces and then suddenly stopped.

  He had lost sight of Lynx.

  Matt cursed silently but kept going forward, trying to spot Lynx.

  Suddenly, he spotted a man wearing a red cloth on his head and breathed a sigh of relief.

  The man disappeared into a side alleyway. Matt ran as fast as he could. He couldn’t afford to lose sight of Lynx again.

  Matt saw Lynx entering a shop and disappear behind a shelf. A board outside the shop read – ‘Beritus and Company – All kinds of mirrors available here.’

  Mirrors? Why would Lynx need mirrors? Matt thought.

  There was no one in the shop. Matt cautiously approached the shop and peeked inside.

  Three men were sitting around a desk. One of them was Lynx with the red cloth on his head. The other man wore a black t-shirt, and the third man, who was fat and bulky, wore a green shirt.

  Matt was curious. Where were all his friends? Why was Lynx alone? And with whom? Maybe they were Lynx’s backup friends. As these questions started overwhelming Matt, he shouted, “Hey! Lynx.” Lynx turned sideways, and Matt realized something.

  Although the man’s physique bore a remarkable resemblance to that of Lynx, he wasn’t Lynx. Matt cursed himself for getting fooled because of the red cloth.

  Matt realized his mistake. He turned around and started running.

  “Hey! Stop right there!” A shout came from behind Matt.

  Matt heard the characteristic sounds of Cules being fired at him from Oculuses. He ducked and started running faster. Within a few seconds, he merged into the crowd.

  Suddenly, Matt slammed against someone who drove him to the ground. It was Lynx. Matt heaved a sigh of relief.

  “Where were you?” Lynx asked. “We searched all around for you.”

  Matt was about to reply when he spotted the three men hurtling through the crowd. He shook his head. “No time! Three people are after me!”

  Lynx nodded, understanding at once. Urrax and Daniel appeared behind him, and they all started running.

  The three men started firing in the air from Oculuses to disperse the crowd. Lynx changed track and rushed towards a random stall and hunkered behind it. Matt, Urrax and Daniel followed.

  Within moments, the town square was empty. By this time, another forty to fifty men had joined the three men now, looking for Matt.

  Lynx whispered to Matt, “Before they get us, surrender yourself.”

  “What?!” Matt whispered back.

  “Just do it. These men think you’re the only one in here. They don’t know that others are with you. Go!”

  Matt stepped out, raising his hands.

  The leader of the men spotted him at once. “Well, well, look at that. Where are the rest of your frien
ds?”

  “What friends?” Matt asked. “I am alone.”

  “Don’t lie to me. Do you think I’m stupid? You fugitives always travel in a group, and I spotted others with you. Now, tell me before I shoot you, where are your friends?”

  “I told you I’m alone,” Matt replied boldly.

  The man pointed his Oculus at Matt. “I’m giving ten seconds for your friends to show themselves or I’ll shoot you.”

  Lynx, Daniel and Urrax stepped out at once.

  “That’s better. Do you know what? Curiosity killed the cat. This time, it will kill the boy.” The man aimed his Oculus at Matt’s head.

  Matt closed his eyes, waiting for the end.

  There was a blast.

  Matt waited for a second, but nothing happened. Something was wrong. He hadn’t been hit. And now there was more firing.

  Matt opened his eyes. There was commotion all around, and the men started running helter-skelter. People had come to rescue them, it seemed, and whoever they were, they were smart. They had attacked from behind the enemy, giving them no time to react, and fast. Within seconds, all the men were subdued.

  A voice came from behind Matt.

  “Hello. I am Insanity. I heard you were looking for me.”

  14

  Insanity looked insane.

  He was dressed in a black robe, had an unkempt beard and was in dire need of a haircut. The two Oculuses that he held in his hands had their barrels smoking.

  He raised an Oculus momentarily towards Daniel. For a second, Daniel thought he was going to shoot, but Insanity just threw the Oculuses away.

  “I don’t like new things,” he said. “But they serve the purpose at times.”

  He turned his attention back to them. “Well, no one’s shooting at you now. Relax.”

  Daniel realized that he still had his hands raised. He put them down.

  Lynx spoke up. “We were looking for you to get some important information.”

  Insanity didn’t look at Lynx. “Information,” he said. “Such an important thing, yet it seems useless. Do you know what material grass is made of? Cellulose. Is that going to help with anything? See? Useless bits of information. What is it, if I may ask?”