The mountain shook like an earthquake and Dakho lost his balance. “Oh damn!” Dakho yelped and he fell into the chasm below. A horrid screech blasted from a device on the Chieftain’s wrist. The Chieftain pulled a tiny part off a gadget from his wrist and threw it down into the chasm.
The device flew past Dakho and with a bang it erupted a bright purple web, which stretched the length of the gap. It caught Dakho as well as a couple of the others that had fallen with the quake.
“We must hurry, they have broken through!” The Chieftain shouted. He ordered the strongest to help get the fallen out of the web and back up onto the path. Once the others had been rescued, everyone scrambled quickly and in a short matter of minutes, they started to arrive at an enormous elevator. They began to get inside when they heard a loud crack of stone behind them.
The enemy had arrived and they had already got through. In a panic, the Gnomes piled into the huge elevator which caused even more panic.
The Chieftain tried his best to calm everyone. He knew that the enemy would struggle to get them on the dangerous paths. What he did not anticipate was a small swarm of Puck, which ran along the sides of the cavern like spiders. Dakho and The Chieftain were still too far away to get inside the elevator before the Puck would arrive. Dakho stopped in his place and turned to face the Puck.
“Master Dakho what are you doing?” The Chieftain exclaimed.
“You must hurry and get your people to safety, I will hold them off!”
The Chieftain hesitated, he needed to get his people to safety, but he also wanted to help Dakho.
“Just go!” Dakho shouted. He took out his sword and thrust it into the stone at his feet. He then touched the crystal on the bottom of the handle.
Dakho’s skin started to harden into an unnatural pearly white, his skin turned into the stone and minerals from inside the rock. He pulled the sword out from the wall and noticed the Puck’s attempt to flank around him so that they could attack the Gnomes directly. He closed his eyes and cast a spell that created a wall to block the Pucks path and send them towards him. The wall worked and to Dakho’s demise, the Puck now hurtled towards him.
Dakho slashed his sword at one of the Puck, which severed its legs. He kicked another and it fell into the abyss below. Dakho battled in a frenzy, he enjoyed the thrill of combat and this was no exception. Soon the Puck outnumbered him and he could not hold them back. Several Puck ran past him to be greeted by a ball of flame cast from Ponzepen’s wand.
“Dakho Hurry!” The Chieftain yelled. Everyone was inside the elevator and now waited for Dakho.
Dakho’s heart raced. He turned and ran towards the elevator as fast as he could. The Puck now had no resistance and now sped towards Dakho and the Gnomes in the elevator.
Dakho stood on the leg of one of the Puck and he tripped. He hit the path with a thud and was barely an inch from the edge. Both The Chieftain and Ponzepen fired spells at the Puck to defend their people.
“We can’t hold them,” Ponzepen shouted.
“We have to!” The Chieftain argued.
Dakho could see that they would not hold a fight for long and there was no way he would make it in time. The Puck ran on top of him and he could not get himself up.
“Go! Save your people!” Dakho yelled. The Chieftain ignored Dakho’s plea and continued to fire spells at the Puck.
“I won’t leave you while we can still save you!” The Chieftain shouted.
“Very well…” Dakho said. He used all the energy he had to push himself free from the Puck and off the ledge. Dakho fell from the ledge and plummeted into the raging water below.
“No!” The Chieftain yelled. Ponzepen pulled The Chieftain into the elevator and closed the doors. The Puck slammed against the reinforced steel doors of the elevator. The elevator started to descend, but the cable that held it snapped and it plummeted down at excessive speed.
“Brace yourselves!”
With a bang, the elevator hit the water below and now thrashed roughly down the river. Water started to leak into the elevator as it raced down the river. The elevator stopped abruptly with an enormous thud which threw everyone against the wall.
The elevator had stopped, but it now began to sink down into the water. The only exit was a small hatch and the panic made it worse. Many of the Gnomes managed to escape, but several perished who were either injured from the fall or drowned.
The Chieftain came out from the water and gasped for air. He had noticed that the elevator had gone down river to a large pool on the other side of the mountain. He made his way to the riverbank and helped those he could.
“We must move on, it won't be long until they find us here,” Ponzepen said.
“But where do we go?” one of the gnomes asked.
With some hesitation, The Chieftain discussed Dakho’s plan for the Gnomes to help in the war effort and that they would have the assistance of the Legion to build their new home. After some persuasion, he convinced the Gnomes to head to Stoweforth where the Legion was to meet once they had their verdicts.
“What about Dakho? We can't just leave without searching for him?” The Chieftain whispered in Ponzepen’s ear.
“We can't risk any more people or their trust. We must move out now. Besides...I doubt he could have survived that fall, let alone the rapids...” Ponzepen said. The Chieftain agreed silently, but he felt deeply saddened for Dakho.
No one turned back to look for Dakho, except The Chieftain, who glanced one last time. The Gnomes survived the fall and the rapids, and Dakho had skin like rock. Surely he could have survived?
Chapter 12
The thrill of the Hailborg soon dissipated and was replaced with concern. They would soon have to confront the entire great wolf race and it would be no easy task to convince them to end one war just to enter another.
Either way, Zelkith and Loona had no choice but to try. Within several hours, the first wolves had turned up. To their surprise, the wolves had arrived in a small group of four.
This worked out well for Zelkith and Loona. It turned out that they were a family that had taken Zelkith’s and Loona’s word from before the civil war started. They were forced to live in a harsh land around humans but survived as they stuck together. A true testament to what Zelkith and Loona wished to prove.
Together with the small family, they hunted to provide food for the impending hundreds of great wolves who were destined to arrive within the next few days. They had quickly killed wildebeest and other large animals which they had carried back to the Hailborg.
Slowly but surely over the next three days, the great wolves turned up mostly one by one. However, Zelkith did notice more and more came in small packs.
When the last wolf arrived the Hailborg dimmed and stopped its glow. Now just the moonlight illuminated the darkness around them.
All the wolves glanced over to see a single, large menacing wolf. He was clearly visible from the distance and was the one wolf Zelkith hoped had perished.
Most of the wolves kept their distance from each other. They all speculated and argued over what the meeting was for, but most knew Zelkith and Loona wanted to end the war, but why now? Zelkith had kept his reason quiet until everyone was gathered all at once.
The large wolf approached slowly, a stern look on his face, not of anger but of concern. He had three large scars that ran along the side of his chest. He walked calmly through the crowd of wolves and to the Hailborg to see Zelkith and Loona stood atop.
“You’re alive! My daughter” the Wolf said surprised. He smiled, at first, but he then glanced at Zelkith and snarled with aggression.
“You’re supposed to be dead!” the wolf shouted in a horrible voice. Zelkith knew that he had to stand up and show that he was a leader now.
“Vulug, whatever your opinion of me, it is no longer important,” Zelkith said out loud without hesitation or fear.
Zelkith turned to face everyone. “I have been given a task from Pagnell herself, to reunite the great
wolves and end the civil war.”
Most of the wolves gasped and gave him a puzzled and almost angry look. Pagnell had died many hundreds of years ago. There was no way that she could have given Zelkith that mission herself.
“I know many of you do not believe me” Zelkith shouted.
“It's not a question of believing such blatant lies!” shouted one of the wolves.
“You must believe him, he is telling the truth!” Loona shouted to back up Zelkith.
“Love has made you blind Loona! Pagnell died almost three hundred years ago” Vulug argued.
“Yes Pagnell is long dead, but her soul is not unreachable!”
“What the hell are you talking about? You truly have gone mad,” Vulug shouted. Vulug then jumped up on top of the horn and shoved Zelkith out of the way.
“Are you all going to believe this idiot? A great wolf who started this civil war now wishes to end it!” Vulug voiced.
“You know that's a lie! I was the one who tried to stop the fighting with your daughter! It was you and my father who caused this rift” Zelkith argued.
“I'm the liar? Is that why you have lied to everyone? Why they don't know you’re a remnant?” Vulug Said. There was a distinct look of shock on the wolves. To be a remnant was considered weak and shameful. Vulug Looked at Loona with a hope that she had a look of shock. Instead, he was met by a glance of hatred. Vulug disregarded it and turned to face the crowd again.
“Yes, it’s true. I am a remnant…to the daughter of the most powerful wizard in all history, Biren Kyro. I am now a part of the Legion of Silver Snake. It was when I joined the Legion that I spoke to Pagnell in the spirit world,” Zelkith said.
“It does not change the fact that you are a remnant, a pet, plaything of the two legs” Vulug protested.
“And so what if he is a remnant? How does that make him any weaker than you or any of us? If anything that makes him stronger. For thousands of years, strength in numbers has been a great wolf’s source of power. Great wolves are not feared by the world any longer, can you not see that if this civil war does not end, we will all become as weak as those we accuse” Loona argued.
“How do you expect us to just overlook thirty years of civil war and another hundred years of cold war” stated a voice from the crowd.
“I am not asking you to forget, I am asking that we learn from this war and put it behind us. We are all the same pack and should be as one. If we do not, it may be the end of us all” Zelkith said.
“And just why would that be?” Vulug said with sarcasm.
“Right this very moment an army is massing against Aceon. They plan to take over and rule it for themselves. Dartis plans on wiping out many innocent people and ruling the land how he wants” Zelkith said. This was not strictly true. Zelkith did not know his plan, but because he was a Remnant to Iris, it is likely the enemy would target the great wolves too.
“I don't see how this concerns us” one of the wolves argued. Many of the other wolves agreed.
“We are one of the races Dartis plans to kill, and he will easily do so if we are separated as we are now. We must unite to survive” Zelkith explained.
“This is all your fault!” snarled Vulug in anger. He leapt at Zelkith with full force, which knocked him from the top of the Hailborg and pinned him to the floor with a crash. Zelkith pushed Vulug away and clawed at his face in the process.
“Dad what are you doing?!” Loona yelped.
“Vulug we can settle this without violence,” Zelkith said. He wanted to reason with him rather than cause more fighting.
“Settle this? Yes. We can settle this argument once and for all. With your death!” barked Vulug. He leapt towards Zelkith, his fangs and claws ready to attack. The wolves made a large circle around Vulug and Zelkith.
“Use your head, you know doing this will resolve nothing” Zelkith pleaded. Vulug took another swing with his massive claw. Zelkith narrowly dodged it and just snarled back.
“I will purify our name once and for all,” Vulug said. He lunged at Zelkith and dug his teeth deep into Zelkith’s rear leg. With a cry of pain, Zelkith plunged his teeth into the back of Vulug and tried his best to pull him away.
Vulug eventually released Zelkith’s leg. Zelkith slumped down unable to lift himself. The blood rushed from Zelkith’s wound. Vulug took a swipe at Zelkith’s face, he could not move away in time. The claw carved a deep cut along Zelkith’s eye and face.
“Dad stop it!” Loona yelped. She jumped over the wolves and into the circle.
“If you do not wish for the Neots to be victorious, then you are as traitorous as he!” Vulug shouted.
“This is not the way to go about it, why won't you ever listen!” Loona shouted.
“Stay out of my way!” Vulug yelled. He pushed Loona aside violently into the wolves around her. She tried to rush back, but the others stopped her.
“Look at you. You’re as weak and pathetic as we all knew you were. Just like your useless idealism” Vulug taunted Zelkith. Zelkith struggled back to his feet.
“I refuse to fight one of my own, we should be acting together, not causing more civil war” Zelkith argued.
“Then you shall die like your father!” Vulug shouted.
Zelkith did not understand. His father had died at the hands of a human on one of their hunts many years ago.
“Oh don't look so surprised, you really think that's what truly happened?” Vulug laughed.
“It was you all along!” Zelkith snarled.
“Your father was weak and pathetic just like you. It’s rather nostalgic, he begged for forgiveness and claimed he could settle things peacefully. You disgust me!”
The surrounding wolves all gave Vulug a look of disappointment and guilt. Zelkith was weak, his leg was too painful to stand on, and he was blind on one side and blurry on the other.
“In fact, this is the very location that I killed both your parents, the same place I will kill you!” Vulug shouted. He lunged toward Zelkith again. Zelkith felt anger build up inside him. This wolf had killed both his parents and there was only one reason that they would both be here at the Hailborg.
Zelkith felt the anger burst out of him from deep within his soul.
“Stop!” Zelkith barked in the same way that Mr Pannett sent Dakho across the hall with magic, this shout sent Vulug through the air, over the circle of wolves and down behind them.
The fur on Zelkith had completely changed. It had gone from grey to pitch black; tribal markings appeared all over his skin that glowed a bright blue.
Zelkith felt the power surge through him. He felt stronger and his wounds had healed. Within a matter of seconds, his leg had repaired and his vision returned. He leapt into the air with incredible speed and landed beside Vulug.
“I pity you, how can you not see that bonds and friendships make you stronger. Even now that Iris is hundreds of miles away, the bond between us makes me stronger,” Zelkith said
“It is you who does not understand. This is the real world! So called friends will stab you in the back, this is a cruel place, genuine peace is nothing but a myth. You’re as much a fool as your father was, and now you shall die just as he did!” Vulug barked, he leapt from his feet and attacked Zelkith with all his might.
Vulug violently swung his great paws and attacked Zelkith, but he quickly dodged his moves. Vulug let out a strange howl and the blue marks on Zelkith’s body went bright red.
Zelkith became paralysed. He could not move at all and Vulug knew it. Vulug started to walk closer, arrogantly. He chuckled and peered into Zelkith’s eyes.
“You are weak, you are not the only one to be able to use magic. Now DIE!” Vulug barked. His own skin lit up green and he lifted one of his arms and swung it toward Zelkith’s neck.
“NO!” Shouted Loona. Loona charged into Vulug and took the blow.
She struggled to get up. There was a massive gash in her neck and back, but she stood in the way of Zelkith to protect him.
“I wo
n't let you hurt him anymore!” Loona said and she stood firm.
“Move aside! I won't hesitate to attack you if you get in my way!” Vulug said coldly.
Loona did not move. She stood her ground and barked.
Vulug was true to his word and he did not hesitate to attack. She fell with each attack and whimpered in pain every time. Time and time again she stood once more to defend Zelkith with her life. Tears ran down Zelkith’s face, as he tried desperately to get free from the spell.
“So...you want to die, do you? You’re no daughter to me!” Vulug shouted. Vulug’s skin glowed bright green and he went to kill with this last blow. He leapt forward but was knocked down in the air by another wolf. All the wolves that stood around moved in closer, they surrounded Vulug and growled aggressively.
“I'll kill every single one of you if I have to!” Vulug yelled. Vulug arched his back and got ready to defend himself.
The Wolves that surrounded Vulug all leapt on him at once. They pinned him down with their teeth.
“STOP!” Zelkith yelled. His voice shook the earth beneath them. Zelkith had broken free from the spell, but something had happened that surprised both Zelkith and the wolves.
The wolves did not turn to look at Zelkith but looked up. The blue marks on Zelkith’s skin had formed a pair of wings on Zelkith’s back. The great wolves looked up in awe at Zelkith who looked like he was some kind of god. Even Vulug looked up amazed.
“You will never win this fight Vulug, leave, and never return,” Zelkith said.
“You're letting him go? He should die for the war he caused!” Exclaimed one of the wolves and many others. Loona said nothing. No matter what Vulug had done, it was still her father.
“No,” Zelkith said, “He shall be banished from here to live in solitude. Let him become known as the ONLY great wolf to be alone. He will be a symbol of the pitiful weakness of our past” Zelkith said.
The other wolves regretfully moved away from Vulug.
“This is not over Zelkith!” Vulug shouted and he ran off into the distance.
Amulet of Souls (The Sentinels of Wizgrad Book 1) Page 13
