"Until we die." The army called behind him.
"May the gods be with us," Domarwink closed his eyes.
"Domkachil," the call said a third time. Hundreds of green fireballs were shot from the liches hands toward Nature army.
"Fight," Domarwink called and rode firth, Alystus at his side.
Nature's warriors ran toward the undead army.
"Until we die," Genghis shouted, wielding two axes in his hands.
From above, huge war bats with archers and grey=skinned fighters covered the sky.
Nature's soldiers fought valiantly and without fear. Many fell to liches foul magic, skewered by the skeletons swords, eaten by carrion eaters and zombies, or cursed by the spectres. Dozens of priests pushed forward, holding talismans. They sang the turning hymns and managed to banish for a little while the skeletons and spectres, but their effect on the battle was minimal. Thousands of stones tied ropes to the bats and used them to drop to the ground in a matter of seconds, falling like black snowflakes from the sky.
"Our chances of winning are decreasing with every passing second, Domarwink," Alystus called to the king, still fighting against a zombie. "The bat archers are hitting us hard, as well as the liches."
"Don't let your spirit down, Alystus," Domarwink called to him, "look."
The ground started shaking to the north of the battlefield. At the southern sky, thousands of silver lit the sky, and a noise rose to the east.
"Hey, who called for help?" Dor screamed at the head of a flock of huge eagles.
"Hey, look, guys, look at all the carrions down there," Con called to him, "Is this heaven or am I dreaming?"
The thousands of eagles started to drop on the battlefield. They dropped the grey elf archers and gobbled the undead army.
From the east appeared a whole army. At the head walked an old bistoness, her lacy dress made of metal and wearing a steel cap. Next to her walked a tiger with two little squibs, Chase and Dupree.
Thousands of angry human women, bistonesses, and elven maids stood behind her. They were armed with bows, clubs, swords, and axes.
"Genghis," the bistoness called, "just wait there, I am coming to get you."
"Girls, let's show them what we can do," the bistoness yelled. The women ran to the battlefield.
From the north came a big army. You could even say, that it was giant in its proportions.
"What is the first rule that we obey?!" Fitz stood on the royal tiger and shouted.
"Never kick a squib today," two hundred of mountain giants called.
"What's the second law decreed?" Sai said, riding on the neck of the giants' leader.
"Come to aid when there is need," the giants called.
"What's the third rule, punished by death?" Fitz called.
"Every Friday we must bath," the giants called as one.
"And the fourth rule, please confess?" Sai called.
"Every giant wears a dress," the giants shouted.
"And the last rule of them all," Fitz called.
"They saved our commander, so the big ones are not angry on the small," the mountain giants called.
"Giants, stop!" Sai commanded.
"The city of the squibs was destroyed by the Ashon forces," Fitz called.
"We must avenge their death," the giants said.
"Destroy every single soldier of the dark forces and help Nature's army," Sai called.
"Charge," the two squibs shouted. The earth beneath the giants charging into battle shook and rolled.
Chapter 40 - The Return of the Light
The horn still clutched in her hand, Logan exited the castle with the two reporters.
Sludge the boar slept by the gates and snored. Next to him were the bodies of two big and grey goblins. "It seems that they have died from lack of air," Dunlop said. "It probably gave them a merry chase until they dropped dead."
"Sludge," Serdamus ran with joy to his boar.
"Logan," Krunch called and ran to her from the darkness.
"Krunch, you are okay," Logan called and hugged him.
"What are you doing in this place?" De-Stik said after he saw the two reporters, "This castle is dangerous; it is not a competition or a race."
"Yes…" Dunlop said, "but… we came to warn you."
"We sailed in their boat, and then looked all over the castle for ye," Serdamus said.
"And when we arrived… well… "Dunlop said.
"It was a bitsy too late," Serdamus continued.
"Dunlop and Serdamus helped us to win the battle," Logan said and winked to De-Stik.
The two reported lifted their head high.
"How bad is he?" Logan went to Kiril and examined his wound.
"Krunch already put some ointment on it," Kiril answered. "It is good to see you, sister." The two hugged, "mother would have turned in her grave if she knew that you came back for me."
Logan smiled.
"You have the horn," De-Stik said when he saw the conch in her hands. "This is a light in this night. But why your face is long? And where is the knight?"
Logan frowned. De-Stik, Krunch and Kiril looked at her eyes and kept silent. Tears filled their eyes.
"Let's get away from here," Logan said with determination, "the mission is not yet completed."
Logan turned to the two reporters who were still writing and painting until that moment.
"Dunlop, Serdamus, where is that boat of yours?" Logan asked.
"It was here…" Dunlop said, "Near the pier…"
Dunlop and Serdamus looked at the place where the boat was left. They could see from afar a dark shadow sailing on the dark sea.
"Dunlop," Serdamus said, "Are ye sure you dropped the anchor?"
Logan put her fingers in her mouth and whistled sharply. A few seconds afterwards, Catch landed on her arm.
"Catch," Kiril was happy to see the old hawk and patted him, "You are also here."
"We need help, Catch," Logan said to the hawk, "We must leave this place and reach Meltadarf."
Catch called once, flew and disappeared into the dark sky. After a short while, Catch returned with the two eagles.
"Hey, wait," Dunlop called.
"Don't ye leave us here," Serdamus called.
"Go to the south-east," Logan called from Con's back, "This is where the lava pit stands." Below her, the battlefield raged. Con passed it quickly and flew up high.
"Look. Logan," De-Stik called, "not only is the horn in our possession; it seems that the dark army is on the brink of destruction."
"I see Meltadarf," Logan called, "I can feel its searing heat from over here."
"Logan, De-Stik, look back," Krunch called, riding on Dor with Kiril at his back.
"What?" Logan asked.
"I think we have company," Krunch called.
Three war bats chased them. At their head were Hubris and his huge bat. They shot arrows toward the giant eagles, which turned and twisted to dodge the missiles.
"Slower, Con," Logan called when she almost lost her balance.
"De-Stik, hold the horn," she called and passed him the conch. She took her bow and aimed an arrow at the target.
"Krunch," she yelled, "Do you have any spells left?"
"Sernin took almost everything from me," Krunch said, "I have just one spell left for me today."
An arrow was shot from Logan's bow toward Hubris. His bat managed to dodge, but the arrow struck the face of the bat behind him.
Krunch took Kiril's sword hilt and pulled it from the scabbard. "I don't think you'll mind if I borrow it," he shouted toward Kiril. Krunch looked back. Hubris and another grey elf chased them on the back of two bats.
"As the eagle we cry and fly!" Krunch whispered, leapt from the eagle and flew quickly toward the bats, holding the sword in his hands.
A great scream was heard and the bat dropped from the sky. Only Hubris remained.
"Whew," Dor called, "This lutin is brave."
"Hubris is gaining," Con called.
Lo
gan looked back and saw Hubris pulling the bow's string.
"Kiril," Logan called to her brother, who rode on Dor's back, "Take the horn and continue to Meltadarf. De-Stik and I will try to stop Hubris."
De-Stik reached his hand to deliver the horn to Kiril, and at exactly the same moment, an arrow was shot and hit Con's rear.
"Oi," Con squeaked and lost his balance.
The horn slipped from De-Stik hand and fell downwards. Con fervently hit his wings in the air to stay afloat.
"Where is the horn?" Kiril called, "I can't see it."
A screech filled the air, and Catch, the old hawk, appeared next to them, holding the horn in his claws.
"Catch," Kiril called with joy.
"Catch," Logan called, "Throw it into the lava pit."
Catch screeched one more time and flew forward.
"We are landing," called wounded Con, "I can't bear the pain anymore."
Hubris's bat passed them and pursued the old hawk, incessantly shooting arrows at him. The two other bats disappeared.
"Come on, Catch, you can do it," Logan called to him.
Catch was already descending into the lava pit when a fire arrow was shot and caught him in the wing.
"Catch," Logan screamed, seeing the erratic movements of Catch. Fires burned his feathers. He sank like a phoenix into the lava pit, screeching his last heart-wrenching cry.
Hubris's bat almost touched the melting lava, but flew up once more, screaming all the time. Hubris lost his hold on the bat's reins, slipped from his back and caught his feet.
"No, you stupid bat, return to the castle," Hubris screamed and lost his hold. His screaming continued as he fell deep into the depths of Zooloo chasm.
"Catch made it," Kiril called.
"Catch made it," Logan felt the pain of the hawk's death.
"He asked to serve Nature one more time," De-Stik said. "Not all of us manage to fulfil our wishes in our prime."
A great trumpet call was heard again over Nature, but it was different from the previous ones. Its sound was not disharmonious, and her sound did not hurt the ears of the listeners.
It was the call for peace, long and echoing, comforting and consulting.
And the blackness of the sky was banished in the light of a big and purple moon.
My heart is broken, shredded and aches,
A pain so big, it burns me inside.
The world is empty of joy and friends,
My blooming garden has suddenly died.
Kneel, universe, on your bended knee,
Because a hero died not in vain,
Cry, moon, and scream all your pleas,
Until the sun rises up once again.
Sleep my hero, safe and sound,
You gave a mighty blow,
Finally sleep, your spirit will not hound,
And your love will be there to follow.
Sleep my hero, safe and sound,
While all of us crying because you have died.
De-Stik "Journeys"
Chapter 41 - To the Memory of a Friend
Loud laughter voices, accompanied with the music of flutes and drinking were heard at the victory feast in the local wine bar in Broncolina, the "Three Dimensions" bar. The local ice wine, beer, and twenty kinds of rum were poured again and again to glasses made of dry ice. Joy cheers were heard around the table. Bistons, elves, lutins, and humans celebrated their triumph over the Ashon forces.
A staggering beggar, dressed in a worn black robe and a hood walked between the tables, using his cane to support him. He stopped next to every table and reached his hand for alms. Many took copper coins from their pockets, and some gave him a small meal or a drink.
"Waiter," De-Stik voice was heard over the din, "another pitcher of wine to my hand. We drink for the soul of our departed and bearded friend."
De-Stik, red-faced and drunk raised his glass after the wine was poured. Logan and Kiril sat next to him.
"De-Stik, I think you drank too much," Logan said.
"Logan, I do not lose a friend every day of the year," De-Stik said angrily. "I lost one yesterday, and the second one is not even here."
"Maybe Krunch got into trouble," Logan said. "He is really late."
"Of course, he'll be back, this is Krunch the wizard we are talking about," De-Stik said. "It is not the first time that he lost directions during a flight."
"It has been a long time now, De-Stik, we are waiting for him since this morning," Kiril said.
"So what? I will not move an inch until the little fellow gives me a pinch," De-Stik said angrily.
"And what happens if he does not come back?" Logan asked, "We did not see him since he lunged at that bat yesterday."
"What happens if he does not come back?" De-Stik answered with lowered eyes. "I will continue to drunk until I hack," he smiled drunkenly.
The sound of a crash was heard. The shattered glass of De-Stik's glass flew all over the place and wine spilled on his pants. A great smile split his face.
"You really drank too much," Krunch's happy voice was heard and leapt on De-Stik's back.
"Krunch," Logan and Kiril called.
"You did not think I will let you celebrate her without me," Krunch said.
"Waiter," Logan called, "beers for everyone in this table. To life, to the rest of the dead, and to my saved brother."
"To life, my twin," the hooded beggar whispered to himself. "To life…"
About the Authors:
Francois De-Fontain Fantastick
bard galore
This name can be hard, so just cut it in half, Call him De-Stik, no less, no more. He is a modest traveller, skilled and true to his word, a Climber of walls and fast with his sword.
Disappears in shadows and quite adapt with picking a lock
Brings joy to the weeper and a few monsters’ shock!
Meet us on our Facebook page:
Logan Marsh
Logan Marsh: A Thrilling Fantasy Novel (Action Adventure,Mystery, Y/A Book 1) Page 24
