“How is this possible? How can they fire out, but we can’t fire in? What kind of trickery is this?” ranted General Bor. His confidence in a quick victory was gone. In fact, he was now very concerned about any of them surviving this day.
A dragon and a young boy flying high overhead had the same question. Janus and Granny had been expressly forbidden from participating in the battle. Granny was too old, and Janus was too valuable to risk in combat. Nevertheless, they had decided this battle was not something to be missed and snuck north from the cave to at least witness it.
Janus told Granny, “The Septumcolans have built shields which block magical energy but let physical objects pass through. The dragons’ flames will be useless to attack either the catapults or the soldiers from above. They would have to be lying on their bellies to fire below the shield and would be slaughtered by those massive crossbows. It’s dangerous to even attack from the sky with those weapons. I fear the Lachians have lost their dragon and aerial advantage.”
Janus had no sooner thought this when Granny let out a scream. The Septumcolans had struck Juice with a ten-foot arrow. It had pierced his tough dragon hide, and he appeared to be injured.
“We have to help Betelgeuse! Will your magic rock work?” shouted Granny as she watched her great-grandson crash at the fringe of the battlefield.
Janus replied, “It’s called a bomb, and it won’t get rid of those crossbows scattered around the field, but it might take out that bank of catapults. Dive down low toward the middle of the catapults and avoid those arrows! Then let’s help get Juice out of here!”
Shon had done some research after she learned the name of the cave back on Earth. Saltpeter is used to make gunpowder, and it had been mined from Great Saltpeter Cave to make explosives in the early nineteenth century. There was still saltpeter in the cave here on Mearth, and Janus had excavated and refined it into gunpowder to craft a small bomb roughly the size of a bowling ball. It had a flint and steel inside, which would spark upon his weapon striking the ground. The bomb would probably explode, but it was far too small to inflict much damage by itself. However, Janus had enhanced the explosive yield with magic and hoped it would be enough to destroy at least a few of the trebuchets. The concept sounded great, but it was completely untested, and the bomb might not even explode at all.
Granny dropped from the sky in a power dive straight at the catapults at a breakneck speed. Janus tossed his bomb toward the large weapons at the bottom of her path. Then he prayed his unique combination of technology and magic would work as arrows whizzed past on either side. His prayer was answered a few seconds later, when they were nearly knocked from the sky by the bomb’s percussive explosion.
Janus turned to see the damage and was nearly blinded by what he saw. The bomb had exploded with more force than expected. It was like looking into the sun. Nothing was left of the trebuchet installation or the troops protecting it. One problem was solved, but the power shield protecting the Septumcolan army was still in place, and the enemy still had their oversized crossbows. Granny deftly dodged an arrow the size of a small tree, and the two interlopers quickly exited the battleground as she said, “I wish you had more of those rocks.”
Janus agreed and then pointed at the far edge of the battlefield. Mintaka was fending off the approaching enemy while Sera and Nariana worked on removing Juice’s arrow. The young dragon’s fiery breath was preventing the soldiers from advancing past the shield. However, their flames were masking what Janus and Granny could see. Several deadly crossbows were being wheeled into place, and one was preparing to fire at the dragons.
Granny altered course and raced to protect her family. She barely slowed down as she hit the ground and crushed the crossbow about to fire at Mintaka. Wood, metal, and bodies went flying in all directions while nearby soldiers fled in panic. Granny spewed unbelievable amounts of dragon fire in all directions as she slowly spun her long neck in a complete circle. She devastated a hundred-foot-wide circle around her, leaving nothing but scorched earth and burning bodies. Janus immediately pointed out three more crossbows leveled in her direction.
“We need to go, Granny!” he shouted as she took a deep breath.
The old dragon leaped into the air and flew after her family as two arrows harmlessly whizzed past.
“I’m too old for this, but I am so glad Merlin woke me up. I would’ve hated to have slept through this fight. However, I think I’ll be ready for another long nap when this is over,” she chuckled.
✽✽✽
Juice was on the lawn in front of his cave limping in circles and moaning in pain by the time Granny and Janus arrived. He was furious that his injury sidelined him from the battle. Versera soothed him by explaining that all the dragons were sidelined from today’s fight due to the shield.
“But Versera and I aren’t,” stated Nariana. She was furious and turned to Nari to command, “Take us back to General Bor’s command post. Today we’re going to show those Septumcolans what heroes can really do!”
Granny told them to be careful and said that she and Janus would take Betelgeuse back to the training cave to recuperate in safety. Versera complained that Phaeote was far too old to be able to assist Juice for such a long trip. Granny just laughed at her and said, “Never underestimate the cleverness of experience, young lady.”
Granny instructed them to fashion a harness for her great-grandson, which she could grasp with both feet. She smiled with approval at the result and assured them that she could assist Juice while carrying Janus for the entire journey back to the valley. She claimed that she only needed to get Juice into a strong updraft and then they could soar and glide the rest of the trip.
Juice argued, “But Granny, there are no big updrafts around here. I’ve lived here for years, and I know this place like the back of my wing.”
Granny said, “Watch this, kiddo,” as she jumped into the air, beat her mighty wings, and grasped Juice’s harness.
Juice immediately began flapping his wings and squealing in surprise, “Ouch! You’re squeezing me! Where are we going?”
Granny was silent as she struggled to lift the massive dragon and headed toward the blazing forest set afire by the trebuchets’ flaming oil projectiles. Both dragons were spiraling up in the intense heat a few minutes later.
Juice was coughing and complaining, “Ow, these ropes are chafing. I can’t breathe with all this smoke. Are you hot, or is it just me? Why don’t you let me go, Granny? I can do this!”
Granny released her grip on Juice’s harness and said, “Have it your way, Juice. Either you’ll fall, or you’ll fly, but at least I won’t have to hear you whine anymore.”
Juice flapped once or twice before adjusting his wings and effortlessly soaring upward behind Granny in a large spiral.
He said, “Hey, Granny, you called me Juice!”
The old dragon sighed, “Yes, I did because I cannot stomach the thought that any dragon carrying the noble name Betelgeuse would ever whine like that. Now be quiet and follow me.”
Juice, of course, could not remain quiet for long, and Janus softly chuckled as he listened to his two friends bicker for the slow glide back to the training cave. He no longer had any doubts they would arrive safely and prayed that the heroes and the Lachian army were successful. He had to finalize preparations for the final prophecy phase.
✽✽✽
Janus’ bomb eliminating the catapults raised the Lachians’ spirits. However, the two generals were disappointed that their carefully-planned attack had turned into a melee. This battle was now going to be a messy, hand-to-hand fight. The Septumcolan energy shield and crossbows eliminated the dragon fire from above, and the forced attack had erased the Lachians’ high-ground advantage. However, General Bor still had his aerial, dragon-eye view through Saiph and her children, who had returned with Versera and Nariana. The Septumcolans had a similar view from the city towers, but Bor could also distinguish real troops from illusions. He was confident that this would be enough
of an advantage to ensure their victory. An hour later, he changed his mind.
The fighting had been fierce with many casualties on both sides, but by midday, the Lachians were definitely winning. The fires blocking their retreat to the south had finally burned out, and the enemy troops were thinning. The Generals began to align their forces for the next phase to breach the newly-constructed bridge and enter the city. They never got the chance to issue those orders, though.
The battle had progressed to a point where Bor was focusing more on strategy than surveying the battlefield through the dragon’s eyes. He was startled when Sera shouted an alarm in his mind and quickly melded with her. The seasoned warrior gasped in horror at what he saw. Five-hundred or more fresh Septumcolan troops were emerging from the burnt forest to the south. His army was unexpectedly surrounded and outnumbered. Furthermore, the attacking soldiers from behind were well-rested and had broken into a running attack from uphill.
Chapter 27
Aubornis Castle
Stavius, Elisa, and Larsa reached Aubornis castle while the battle was raging. There had been no more patrols on their way, but that was not the case at their destination. Soldiers filled the structure with more pouring out of every entrance as they entered the courtyard. The enemy was attacking the three rebels on too many fronts, and Larsa quickly asked whether Stavius and Elisa could handle the courtyard soldiers. They assured her they could, and the vampire disappeared in a puff of smoke. Moments later, they heard crashes and screams inside the castle, and Stavius silently wished he could teleport like her.
Stavius pushed that last thought out of his mind as the soldiers resumed their attack. The two heroes became a blur of karate blocks, kicks, and punches. Elisa struck two soldiers with her stave in a whirling motion, which knocked them to the ground, causing the four soldiers beside them to pause their attack. Stavius tossed a lightning bolt toward three attackers from another direction. The lightning exploded at their feet and threw them to the ground. The soldiers retreated a minute or two later, and the two heroes took a moment to catch their breaths and to savor their victorious feeling. That sensation quickly dissipated as they looked up and understood the real reason for the soldiers’ withdrawal. A heavily-armored banker had entered the courtyard. He was radiating power, and the air throbbed around him with energy.
The banker shouted, “Prepare to die!” and thrust his arms toward Elisa. Stavius dove in front of his friend and caught the blast full on his chest. The soldiers cheered as a cloud of smoke, consumed the boy. Their cheers turned into silence a minute later when the smoke cleared, and they saw Stavius standing and absorbing the banker’s energy.
The banker’s confident smile faded as he blasted Stavius again and again with no effect. Then panic began flowing over his face as he realized he couldn’t stop his final attack. Stavius was no longer just absorbing his lightning bolt. The Prophecy Hero had taken ahold of the blast and was actively draining the banker’s energy. The banker tried to pull away to no avail. He tried to run, but his feet wouldn’t budge. Within seconds his brilliantly-colored armor faded to a dull gray, and he could barely stand.
Stavius released the banker from his hold before he was utterly drained and watched the confused wizard struggle to remain upright. Then, the boy released a fraction of the energy he had absorbed at the terrified man. The soldiers soon witnessed one of the strongest wizards they had ever known lying on the ground naked and shaking with fear. Stavius’ blast had vaporized his precious armor and reduced the pavement around him to a pile of rubble.
Stavius lifted his gaze to the remaining troops and growled, “OK, who’s next?”
The soldiers took one look at the whimpering banker and another at Stavius, who was surrounded by air shimmering with incredible amounts of magical power before fleeing as quickly as they could. Larsa had finished with the inside guards and watched the final scene from the castle entrance.
“Well, that was impressive. I have never seen anything like that in my five hundred years of life,” she uttered with genuine astonishment.
“That was gentle,” Stavius offhandedly replied. “You should’ve seen what I did to the first banker I deposed. She really pissed me off.”
Larsa had heard rumors of Stavius’ battle with the banker at the slave camp but assumed they were exaggerations. The centuries-old vampire felt something she hadn’t experienced in a very long time as she realized the rumors were true. She felt a combination of awe and fear. This boy was much more potent than anyone she knew, and yet he was unsure of his abilities. Larsa knew she was standing in front of possibly the most dangerous person in the world, and it both excited and terrified her.
“Let’s go get the talisman,” said Elisa as she took Stavius’ hand.
“You two go up, and I’ll keep the riff-raff from following,” offered Larsa as she positioned herself, blocking the only entrance to the castle tower.
Elisa and Stavius raced across the courtyard and up the tower stairs. They knew where to find the Crown of Helios altar because King and Queen Aubornis made sure everyone knew. All seven families displayed their power and wealth with outrageously designed castles and lavish parties. The Aubornis family was, however, the most excessive.
Castle Aubornis boasted a spacious courtyard surrounded by five stories of banquet halls, private residences, guest suites, offices, and numerous other rooms and venues. The far end of the castle overlooking the river contained a massive tower rising another ten stories above the highest castle parapet. This hollow, seven-sided tower was a hundred feet in diameter with a myriad of long, slender windows and a stone staircase which wrapped along the interior walls from the floor to the top. The Crown of Helios altar was centered on the top floor atop a free-standing, ten-foot-wide crystal pillar rising the full fifteen stories.
The crystal pillar glowed with a shimmering rainbow of colors as magical energy pulsed between the ground and the crown. Colored light radiated out the window slits so that the entire tower became a giant lantern. It cast a soft, ever-changing light show over much of the city every night. The Crown of Helios was so inaccessible and so heavily guarded that Clan Aubornis were not concerned about its prominent display.
The Crown of Helios was high above them, supported by the glowing crystal pillar. The two heroes felt the enormous power emanating from both during their spiraling ascent to the lofty top floor of the tower. Elisa and Stavius were gasping for air by the time they burst out onto the open terrace at the building’s pinnacle and leaned on the low wall running along the seven sides. They paused for a moment to gaze at the altar space. The floor was one hundred feet in diameter and covered in gleaming, white marble. Priceless statues of the gods and Aubornis family members stood in artful poses scattered throughout the space. Clan Aubornis were not at all hesitant to place themselves at the same level as the gods.
The Crown of Helios rested on a slender pedestal in the center of the terrace where a tall woman stood contemplating it with her back to the new arrivals. Elisa decided it was time to go and started to dash toward the woman, but Stavius quickly grabbed her hand and yanked her back.
“Hey, what the heck? That hurt my shoulder!” yelped Elisa.
Stavius whispered, “You would’ve felt much worse if you had fallen. There’s no floor in front of us. It’s an illusion.”
Elisa clung to her friend, unable to move or stop shaking. “What do you mean?”
The woman turned to face them. She answered, “He means that the altar is on an island supported by the crystal pillar. It is surrounded by a ten-foot gap when the floor is retracted. The illusion, however, is perfect. Only an animal would see through it.”
“Hi, Mom, it’s nice to see you, too,” grumbled Stavius.
“Well, it appears that your handicap has finally helped you after all these years. I imagine that Lord and Lady Aubornis would have liked you to be here earlier. Their screams echoed all the way down. It was most disquieting to me during my morning meditation.”
Elisa’s eyes widened in terror as she whispered, “She’s your mother?”
Claricha chortled, “Weren’t you with another trollop the last time we met?”
Stavius blushed and whispered to Elisa, “That was Janus.”
Elisa blushed as well and said, “Yeah, I figured.”
“No, I don’t believe that was her name, but it doesn’t matter, boy. Even you cannot ruin this most auspicious day. Your childish attempt to steal the Crown of Helios is futile. But at least you will have a fabulous view of your accomplices’ destruction.”
Stavius and Elisa spun around toward the battle raging across the river and understood Claricha’s statement. The Septumcolans surrounded the Lachian army. It was only a matter of time before the Lachians were defeated. Stavius felt crushed already. All their efforts to fulfill The Prophecy were wasted.
Claricha cackled, “By nightfall, the other families will have perished as well, and I will have the Jewels of Luna and the Ring of the Air in my possession. Oh, and don’t worry, I will retrieve the others in good time. You have sent them far away, but I can track them far better than you can imagine.
“I must admit that I was mistaken about you, boy. When you were born, I hoped that you would be a powerful enough wizard to help me destroy the families and collect all the talismans. I was, of course, deeply disappointed with your retarded abilities. However, it turns out that your misguided attempts have helped me attain my dreams despite your embarrassing condition.”
Stavius sat on the floor, muttering, “You’re welcome, Mom,” as Elisa grabbed the rucksack from him.
Elisa angrily remarked, “I am not giving up. There has to be something in here we can use.”
The girl pulled out a knife, a rope, the mostly-depleted dragon stones, Ops’ magical map, and a book before turning the bag upside down and shaking out the remaining odds and ends.
Prophecy Page 29
