“Understood” Pinly replied. The large silver door was pushed open by the two immense skulls. They walked passed a hall before stopping in front of another massive door made out of green wood. Gravehart finally stopped and pushed the doors open. Pinly quickly glanced at Vince and took a deep breath. They were about to put the plan into action, as soon as they stepped through, he wouldn’t have long to look for Lion.
“You wait here” Gravehart said then left the vast room. There wasn’t much inside, apart from a big wooden throne at the back, more pillars and a coloured glass ceiling that let in the bright Jahnian sun in a cluster of different hues. Next to the throne there was a door, the only other exit out of the room. It suddenly burst open and in a rush of bones and clanking armours, at least fifty armed skulls poured in. Pinly almost conjured his sword, but waited as the skulls did not attack. More clanking followed after the skulls, but this time it was coming from only one armour. The steps became louder until the owner came into view, there he was, the silver soldier; Dragmar. He went to sit on his throne
“I hear you have rare merchandise” Dragmar said, Pinly raised Vince’s cage and attempted to approach, but Dragmar raised his hand.
“You’re close enough. How much do you want for this one?”
“I’m willing to give you this one for free, I have plenty more which I’d like to sell for four kilos of gold each” Pinly replied. Dragmar’s head tilted slightly
“Why so little?” he asked. Pinly didn’t know four kilos of gold was cheap when he said it, this could raise suspicions further.
“I insist on the fact that I have many of these, I’m willing to get rid of them very quickly” Pinly said
“Fairy, do you know what we do with your folks here?” Dragmar asked, Pinly shrugged “we torture them first, make them work until they’re too weak, then guess what happens…” Dragmar smirked and stood up, he walked down to one of his skulls and tapped on its armour “we kill them and with their blood and a little leprechaun magic, we raise these magnificent soldiers out of the ground” he said, pacing around his soldiers “but once in a while we stumble upon different kind of fairies and by far my favourite so far, is the wingless kind just like you” Pinly felt rage building up inside of him, if he could spit fire, this whole place would be no more than ashes.
“P calm down” he heard Vince whisper, before realising his whole body was shaking. He took a deep breath.
“Where is this story going?” Pinly asked
“Let me finish” Dragmar went back to sit on his throne “I came across a jewel not so long ago, a small city hidden in Fiby, the spectacle was so beautiful I stayed and observed for a few days… Imagine that, wingless fairies everywhere. A single one of those fairies has more power than ordinary fairies, but they don’t even know it” he chuckled as if recollecting a fond memory “how often does anyone gets so lucky?” he abruptly stopped smiling “I had to have them, luckily enough they knew nothing about their powers… Most of them are dead now, but I still have one of them and never will I ever separate from it” the silver soldier snapped his fingers “Bring him out!” he said. Gravehart came from the back door, dragging a motionless body. Lion’s. For a minute Lion’s body didn’t move, but as they turned him towards Pinly, he began thrusting wildly, they had gagged him, so he couldn’t say anything, but he attempted muffled screams.
“You’ll pay for this” Pinly said as his three golems manifested by his side, he ripped Vince’s cage, who zoomed up and through the window ceiling to alert Ayloo.
“I knew you’d come back for him…” Dragmar said putting a foot on Lion’s back “Did you really think you could fool us again? A wingless fairy, a humming fairy and a Kahoory… Very unusual trio, where is your winged friend by the way? I thought you’d all come back” Dragmar quickly glanced at Gravehart
“He’s here somewhere father, he has to be” Gravehart said
“Find the humming fairy and bring it to me” Dragmar said to his son
“Someone has to stop you” Pinly said, Dragmar and Gravehart began to laugh
“And is that someone you?” the silver soldier asked. Pinly did not reply, he just glared at him
“Father let me have him instead” Gravehart said
“No, this one is mine, you find Tchenyen and kill the other two” Dragmar replied
“Attack!” Dragmar ordered the skulls. But as they charged, Ayloo’s first light arrow pierced through the ceiling and destroyed the floor in an explosion of marble and a rain of shattered coloured glass. By the sound of it, the winged fairy was shooting a storm of arrows all over the castle, it quaked as if shaken by giants. A flash of golden light, impacted with Gravehart as Vince made his comeback. They began a fierce fight of speed and strength. Pinly could now focus on getting Lion back. Dragmar was getting away with his brother. Pinly rushed after him, his golems cleared the way from the attacking skulls as best as they could but there were too many. Pinly had to dodge immense blocks of marble that collapsed under Ayloo’s devastating assault on the castle. Pinly knew he was following Dragmar into another trap, but what else could he do? He’d have to find a way out of it with his brother. He barged through the back door and ran through a long stone corridor before barging through another door that led outside. It was exactly what he thought it was. Waiting for him was a whole army, thousands of soldiers waiting with their weapons out. Both skulls and leprechauns. Ayloo was plummeting down from the clouds, fighting a leprechaun on a winged elmer. They came crashing between Pinly and Dragmar’s army.
“Ayloo! Are you okay?” he rushed to his friend who rolled away from the dead leprechaun with difficulty
“I am fine.” Ayloo moaned. Pinly hurried to give him some fairy dust. Vince and Gravehart landed there too, Gravehart backed away to where his father was. They were now eight, including their golems, facing an entire army.
“How are we going to do this, guys?” Vince whispered
“I have to fight him on my own, just me against Dragmar, otherwise we’ll never get out of here alive” Pinly said
“No Pinly, he is too strong” Ayloo said
“It’s not the best idea P” Vince added
“That’s the only way” Pinly replied, Dragmar came forward to stand in front of his army,
“I don’t want you to die, I just need you to surrender so I can make you my pet, like your brother here” his soldiers began laughing “And honestly, you’re wasting my time, I have a real war to fight”
“You’re such a coward that you need your whole army to fight a kid, you want me? Come get me yourself!” Pinly said. He heard Ayloo’s wings swish back and forth
“There is something approaching” Ayloo whispered “When it arrives, you need to charge and quickly get your brother whilst Dragmar is distracted”
“What’s happening?” Pinly asked. He too could feel something powerful approach but he had no idea what it could be. There were a few seconds of silence, Dragmar too seemed distracted, he too could sense something was approaching and by the look on his face, it wasn't friendly to him “Go!” Ayloo screamed. The three boys charged as a gate vibrated into existence behind them. Fast approaching roars, followed by a flood of soldiers. Pinly immediately recognised Miss Poli, Cook and Tempus as a flash of white and bright blue, led an army into battle. She was riding a broomstick from which she unsheathed a sword off the top. The mage was backed up by an army of leprechauns in shiny green armours and majestic elmers.
“Miss Poli!” Pinly screamed over the clash of both armies, somehow, she had managed to hear him and turned around.
“Pinly?” She seemed in shock to see him, but there was no time for explanations now
“Lion is right there!” He pointed at where Dragmar was fighting, Lion was balled up as armoured feet threatened to step on him.
“Cook, Tempus!” she called out and pointed at Dragmar, they were gone in a flash of blue light
“Nits, Blindy, Junior!” Pinly called out. The arrival of his three golems s
eemed to take Miss Poli aback “Let's go!” They forced their way through their enemies' defences. Cook and Tempus battled the best they could, but there were way too many foes protecting Dragmar. The silver soldier suddenly picked Lion up and put him over his shoulder. He was walking away from the battle "No!" Pinly screamed. He lifted off to fly after him but was narrowly missed by arrows, he had to stay on the ground. Not again! he thought to himself. He wasn't going to take Lion away again! "He's escaping with Lion!" Pinly screamed, Ayloo pulled one of his arm back and one of his light arrows began to shine
“I need our allies to move” Ayloo said,
“Be ready” Miss Poli said as she spread her arms wide open, the green armoured leprechauns were ejected out of the way and Ayloo let go of his arrow. It bolted through the enemy lines of defence, creating a path paved with cadavres. Pinly and the rest of the gang rushed through the opening. There was nothing between them and Dragmar. The silver soldier raised his free hand and a gate vibrated into view. Pinly didn't even know gates could be opened that way.
“No! Stop him!” He screamed, they all ran and flew after him as fast as they could but the silver soldier disappeared through it, taking with him, all hope Pinly had to get his brother back. This was it, the gate was going to close and there was nothing he could do. “No!” Pinly screamed, Miss Poli had her hand raised towards the gate
“I'll keep it open, you have to go first otherwise it will close behind me” she said through gritted teeth. Vince and Ayloo crossed first
“Miss Poli watch out” Pinly shouted as a monstrous Elmer caught up with her. The young fairy crossed the gate as it unfolded. Miss Poli was forced to let go of the gate to defend herself and did not manage to cross. Pinly stopped himself, before impacting with Ayloo. “Where are we?” He asked
“I don't know” Vince said
“We are still in Jahny but I do not know where” Ayloo replied as they scrutinised their surroundings.
“You're very stubborn, aren't you?” Dragmar appeared from behind the closest trees,
“Where is my brother?” Pinly asked
“How many times do I have to say that I will never part from him?” Dragmar smirked
“This is amusing to you huh?” Pinly shook his head “you're outnumbered, you better do as I say”
“I like my chances, plus I'm not really outnumbered” he said. Gravehart suddenly appeared from behind him
“Guess whose blood this is?” Gravehart grinned as he held a blood stained dagger, to Pinly's horror blood dripped onto the ground. It could well be Lion’s. Gravehart knelt and touched where the blood was, it only took a few seconds for bare knuckles to punch their way out the ground. Skulls were digging themselves out
“That's not all” Dragmar touched the closest tree. It began to burst into shape, the bottom seperated in two enormous legs, they joined up into a body, gigantic arms sprang out in an explosion of barks, the leafs and branches formed a terrifying face. It growled at the sight of the boys.
“I will take care of it” Ayloo stepped forward
“I'll take Gravehart and the skulls, will you be alright with him?” Vince asked
“I have to” Pinly took a deep breath. Without warning the giant elmer began running in their direction, each step making the ground shake, Ayloo conjured one of his light arrow and let go of it, the elmer dodged it without slowing down. Ayloo beat his wings towards the beast. Vince, Trampler and Gor charged towards Gravehart and the skulls. Pinly and his three golems charged towards Dragmar, more elmers sprung out the nearby the stumps and engaged with his golems. He threw himself at the silver soldier, pretending to swing his sword then took advantage of Dragmar dodging the imaginary blade to go around him. He made a run for it through the forest. “Lion!” He called out as he zig zagged around the trunks, he heard his brother's muffled screams and flew to him. Lion was wiggling on the floor, he was so close, but before he could reach him the silver soldier kicked him in the ribs. Pinly went crashing against a tree and onto the ground. Dragmar giggled and walked past Pinly to stand where Lion was. Footsteps rushed in Pinly's direction. If this was an enemy, he was done. There was nothing more he could do, he had tried his best. His ribs hurt, they were probably broken. He couldn't even stand up. A body was tossed and went rolling in the dirt in front of him. It laid there unconscious, its hands bound together. Pinly lifted his head up to see which one of his friends it was, but he hadn't had time to check that a someone's grip rolled him over. It was Vince, he sprinkled fairy dust into his mouth. Pinly felt everything that was broken in him, repair itself, he could breathe again.
“Interesting, you can change form at will…” Dragmar said, not paying any attention to the body of his unconscious son. Pinly finally stood up again.
“Ayloo is still fighting the giant” Vince said, but Pinly didn't have to be told, the blows like earthquakes echoed all around the forest. “all the golems are helping him…”
“Good” Pinly replied
“The both of us can take this guy” Vince had his two sabres drawn, Pinly picked up his golden sword
“It doesn't have to end like this for you two” Dragmar said “I could spare you”
“Let's do this” Pinly said
“Do you know why this is all happening?” Dragmar said “why we burned your village to ashes?”
“Don't listen to him” Vince said
“Did she tell you?” He asked
“Tell me what?” Pinly asked but before he could get an answer, Vince was already about to engage with Dragmar. Pinly bolted behind him. He rolled on the ground and caught his brother as Vince distracted the silver soldier. He wasn't going to make the same mistake again, Pinly hurried to cut his brother loose and feed him fairy dust. Lion took deep breaths as if breathing for the first time. His face found its colour again and his scars disappeared. Vince was incredibly fast, faster than Pinly had ever seen move but Dragmar managed to move as fast, he found an opening and sent Vince flying back with a kick to the chest. Pinly lunged to catch him. Vince winced in pain.
“I told you…” Dragmar started but failed to finish as something exploded where Ayloo was. It seemed to paralyse the silver soldier for a second, Pinly let go of Vince and jumped at him, the silver soldier came back to his senses fast enough to catch Pinly by the throat. He clawed and kicked until the leprechaun let go and he did after Pinly heard the sickening sound of flesh being pierced. Pinly's sword was through the leprechaun’s chest, but he hadn't done it, he wasn't even holding his sword. Dragmar turned in his agony to reveal Lion, his eyes full of rage. Dragmar coughed and spat blood before falling to his knees. Lion jumped on him and began punching away. He screamed as he beat the dying soldier. So much pain and rage could be heard from his screams. Pinly had to grab his fists to stop him
“It's okay Lion” Pinly locked his arms around Lion’s body “It’s okay, he can’t do anything to you anymore, it’s okay”, the silver soldier was crawling away. Pinly stood up and took out his sword out of the soldiers back. Dragmar screamed in pain.
“No!” Gravehart had just regained consciousness, he attempted to crawl towards Dragmar the best he could.
“Don't worry, it'll only hurt as much as you hurt me” Pinly said to Dragmar as white light charged in his hand
“I regret nothing” the leprechaun grinned. Pinly smacked the light on Dragmar’s back. The blast sent him and everyone around, flying backwards. The silver soldier was no more. He was finally dead. But most importantly, Lion was alive.
“Ayloo!” Vince struggled to stand up. They ran to where Ayloo had taken the fight. The trees were snapped in half and the ground full with enormous holes. Ayloo was in the middle of it all, laying on top of the motionless tree beast. He tilted his head towards them.
“You are alive” Ayloo said softly “we did it” tears of happiness ran down his face. Vince and Pinly rushed in for a hug
“We did it” Pinly repeated, he looked back and beckoned Lion over.
“You have ma
de me weak, a Kahoory does not cry” he laughed and they laughed with him. This whole adventure had taken it out of them. Pinly was happy but exhausted.
Chapter 42
A new home
I mmediately after the fight, the group left Jahny and opened a gate to Fiby. Ayloo wanted to see beyond Mendy and his place wasn't in Bonhill anymore, but with his new family so he followed. Vince refused to go back to Chavo yet, when asked if he wanted to see his brothers, he shook his head and said that he wasn't ready to face them. Without any objections from the group, the gate was opened straight into Soubrey. They entered where it all happened, where Pinly last saw his parents alive and dead. It seemed so different now that he had seen more of the world. They had appeared next to the now fully repaired library. There were still candles on the ground, in memory of the fallen of that day. It still smelled of grass and fresh water from the streams nearby.
“Kwassy’s boys” an old fairy said as he landed from above. He wore the same long grey robes his father did; a librarian. “They’re back! Kwassy’s boys made it back home!” he shouted with excitement. Familiar faces flew down to greet them, most rushed in for a hug. They marvelled at Ayloo’s wings, the younger ones approached to touch them.
“Nits, Blindy, Junior, come on out” Pinly said and his golems, rose from the ground. Fairies backed away at the sight of them. “Don’t be afraid, they're my friends”
“Welcome back boys, you must be exhausted, follow me” the old librarian said
Made of Magic and True Grit Page 29
