Letanya seemed shaken up with Anthony’s words.
“Seems that you do remember her. I wonder, did you let her es- cape?”
“Yes.” Letanya’s bindings flared up and she let out an angry growl, snapping her reins.
“Interesting. So you, the person who killed an entire village, a vil- lage that was probably not unlike your own, let one of the peo- ple you despise live,” Anthony mused aloud.
“She cared for you so deeply that you cut her deep—not with a blade or weapon. She devoted her life to the military, to defend- ing the people. She is probably on that bloody battlefield right now, fighting for the people around her and the people in the villages behind her. Did you know that because of you, she hates all hu- mans? Kind of iron- ic, isn’t it?” Anthony laughed but it contained only chilling anger. “You slaughtered a village like yours—did it feel good, killing innocent peo- ple, mothers and fathers, daugh- ters, sons, brothers and sisters?”
“I only killed one person,” Letanya hissed. “Oh, one per- son? Why?”
“I had to. They would have sounded the alarm,” Letanya said. “Had to? How many other people did you have to kill? How many
people died in that village? If it wasn’t for you, none of them would’ve. You are not people of the Church of Light—you are just broken tools that worked for the Drafeng.”
“The Lord of Light will cleanse Dena and your foulness!” a priest yelled.
“Oh.” Anthony held out his hand. A spark of white power ap- peared there, forming into a ball. He had to raise his voice to be heard over the sound of their hooves. “I bet you didn’t know, but I was a knight of the Order of Light. We were a small group of peo- ple looking to heal and help. A group of healers.”
Anthony let the ball disappear and they kept on going. “Seeing as we have the time, you should understand what is go-
ing on,” Damien said.
“About five hundred years ago, Dena was filled with chaos. A bunch of people banded together, the races working together to create something together instead of apart. Made the Guardians—people to go out, help people and have the power to do it by themselves. Found that a group was behind most of the issues that were cropping up. They called themselves the Agents of Chaos. Nice name. Well, these people of Dena from across the globe were linked to these groups. We traced them back to these creatures called the Drafeng. Well, not me—I was a little young at the time. I was just training up.
“Anyway, these Drafeng didn’t use mana like we do, where it’s a transference of energy. They consume it to power themselves. They were all over the place, stirring shit up. As we’re dealing with that chaos, these doors start to appear. We thought that it was just ran- dom. Few days later, Drafeng and their chaotic beasts start rush- ing through, killing people across Dena. The armies were forced to fight together to push back the Drafeng. They needed help work- ing together so the Guardians helped. Lots of people died, but we pushed back the Drafeng. People were working together—it was a great time.
“Underneath our eyes, the Drafeng, Agents of Chaos leaders, they hadn’t stopped. While we were focusing on the frontlines, they got into the population and the people. We recovered; they attacked. They took control aggressively. The Guardians were all
over the place, trying to settle the people, deal with their plots. Per- ception of Guardians changed: people saw us as the reason for this pain, put the blame on
us. The Order of Light changed to the Church of Light and to- gether with the new emperor they attacked the Guardians, broke the tower and doused the Guardian Flame. Guardians were killed as they tried to help others.
“People fled back to their homelands. The Drafeng played up- on species and race divides, distracting and creating infighting among one another. People started to fight each other, until the hu- mans invaded the beast kin. There were no Guardians left. They had been all killed now as war raged between the people of Dena.
“I’m not saying that the Drafeng caused all of the violence in Dena. No, they didn’t need to—they just created the spark—the us and them divide—and that was all Dena needed. The lines reap- peared and the di- vide became larger than ever before. Below these lands, people from all species and races are buried together, died for one another.
“Above it, people were killing one another over their dif- ferences.” “We just came from the Guardian Tower, what you call the Church
of Light in Ascen. Did you happen to see any humans in their upper echelon, Damien?” Anthony asked.
“Nope. Looked like they were all Drafeng comman- ders—though, you know, those people they called saints were a lit- tle different.” Damien looked at Letanya. “Seems that they had the power of Dena poured into them, called the power of Light, cov- ered up the corrupted power at their core that truly powered them and corrupted their minds.”
Damien didn’t need to ask anything as he looked into Letanya’s eyes. “Nothing but battery packs for the Drafeng to consume when they enter Dena.”
“You are the start of the invasion—the Agents of Chaos, the Church of Light, the bandits, the corrupt officials. Not all of the
church is bad. There are many people who truly believe in it and the values of the order. Hopefully they will be able to recreate that same or- der,” Anthony said.
The rest of the ride was silent as they continued to head north.
Chapter: Phoenix and the Dragon
Saintess Letanya walked her horse forward, the priests behind her as the two undead wore their robes and the gnome hid in a sack.
She didn’t need to say anything as the doors to the city opened ahead of her.
“Bayham town greets the saintess and Church of Light.” A man came out, bowing his head as if a chicken. She had seen it so many times before, sneering and looking down on these people who stayed back, hiding in their homes instead of charging out to defeat the de- filers. None of them were worth a passing glance.
She had thought that they were in awe of her strength, over- pow- ered by the sight of her and her fellow members of the church. Now she could only see the fear in his eyes. She looked to the peo- ple lined up. The fear was in their eyes as well as they waved to
the church.
It suddenly felt all very fake. These people she would have thought were devout believers who were cheering them as they en- tered the gates of the town—they weren’t devout: they were scared into submission.
They fear what we might do if they don’t keep up this appearance. I would have never had these thoughts before. Is this because of the chaotic power being removed from within me?
She gritted her teeth, seeing some people pale or put in more effort to give them a hero’s welcome as they advanced into the town.
They stayed in the lord’s residence. At night, Letanya and the others remained in their rooms with Damien. Anthony had waited with the beasts and the gnome, Tommie.
***
81
“What’s happening?” one of the elven rangers asked. Several mages were attacking the faint mirage hanging in the air.
45
Grand Elder Allynna looked over as it started to fluctuate. “Ready yourselves!” She started to gather power from the forest around her. The Deepwood responded; elves who had been resting or waiting in the trees or on the ground around the gate prepared their weapons. Staffs were gripped tighter and mana streamed in toward the casters. Bows were strung and pulled back.
The mages working on the gate worked harder. The gate shrunk slightly. It had gone from being wide enough to fit four carriages through side by side to only being able to fit one carriage and it was sus- pended a few meters off the ground.
The hazy circle had a spot of black appear in it. Like blood in water, it spread and rapidly reached out to cover the door.
A whistling noise filled the Deepwood, as if Dena were being drawn into that dark mirror.
A roar came from the other side as a beast clambered through the door.
“Is that a
chaotic beast?” one of the elves near Allynna asked their partner.
“First squad!” Arrows and staffs were employed, hitting the chaotic beast and tearing it apart as the mages around the doorway worked quickly.
Two more beasts pushed through, using the first as a shield. They were killed with arrows and magic. More came through be- hind them. These spit out a beam of power that made Allynna’s skin crawl. As it struck trees and plants, it would cause them to fade and die.
Elf mages created barriers to stop the attacks from hitting their
fel- low casters and rangers.
The chaotic beasts pushed out like a horde in one direction, making progress. They pushed forward. Some were trying to move to the edges and killed the mages there.
The door shimmered and shook. Then, with a sound of crack- ing glass, it shattered and the chaotic beasts that were in the door- way were cut apart by the closing doorway.
Allynna pulled out her mirror of communication. “Watcher Cecil- ia, the chaotic beasts have started to come through the door- ways.”
“We have cleared most of them from within the Deepwood.
Keep working,” Cecilia said.
“Yes, Watcher.” Allynna made to put the mirror away. “Stay safe, Allynna,” Cecilia said.
Allynna looked at her mother and smiled. “I’ll do my best, Mother.” She might be hundreds of years old, but she was still her mother’s daughter.
***
Anthony walked through Bayham. People lowered their heads to him in passing as he wore the robes of the Church of Light. He reached a square. Most of the people were asleep or made sure not to stare at the knight of the Church of Light.
So much fear. Anthony felt the weight on his shoulders. It was sup- posed to have been years left to prepare for the Drafeng to ap- pear.
Instead, there were already doors appearing across Dena.
It feels like everything is spiraling out of control already.
Anthony drew his sword and leaned against a pillar in the mid- dle of the abandoned marketplace. Remainders of letters and ad- vertise- ments rippled in the wind.
Anthony pushed his sword into the ground, using his body and Church of Light cloak to hide what he was doing. He directed power through his sword.
Light appeared around his sword as the stone started to change and transform.
The light dimmed and there were lines and runes carved into the ground. Anthony removed his sword and sheathed it.
He didn’t see the purple light that started to fill the enchant- ments. He had barely made it to the end of the square when the en- chantment activated.
A fire burst out, covering the square in a purple glow. Anthony increased his pace before he heard a voice.
“The distortions that you see are actually doorways to another place, another planet that is hostile to Dena. To destroy the door- ways, you will need to pull apart the spell creating it or land enough physical attacks on the doorway to break it. Be aware—these door- ways have started opening, allowing chaotic beasts and Drafeng in- to Dena! The chaotic beasts...”
Anthony watched the flames as Watcher Cecilia stood there, telling people about the doorways, about the Drafeng.
“Pull everyone inside the cities and towns. The Drafeng now wan- der our lands. Destroy the doorways that you can. It is the on- ly way we can slow down this invasion.”
Anthony was running; he didn’t hear the last of her words. His eyes turned green as he used Bruce’s strength. He reached the place where the others were staying. He ignored the others as he made it to the no- ble’s house.
Anthony opened the door into the house. “Damien!”
The house woke up and the Church of Light members gathered to- gether.
Damien jumped down the stairs, slamming into the floor. He rolled over with his war hammer in hand.
Tommie pushed up his sack, revealing him in a woolly jacket to stave off the spring night’s chill.
“The doorways are opening. We need to accelerate,” Anthony said. “Well, if you’re okay with revealing our presence—dragon?”
Damien asked.
Tommie shuddered but nodded.
ple.
“What about them?” Damien pointed to the Church of Light peo-
Anthony turned his eyes onto them. “They will only be allowed
to
speak the truth. They will not be able to attack anyone, only to
defend themselves if someone seeks to enact violence against them. You will all stay here, doing your best to train the military or be trained yourself. When there is a call for people to join hands and fight the Drafeng, you will come. You will fight beside all of the races; you will learn how to heal and care for others. You will wear the Church of Light robes so that everyone knows who you are. You will care and look after people of Dena, no matter their species. You will fight beside other races.”
The Church of Light members looked on with horror as their bonds glowed as their new sentences were agreed to and more terms were added by the judges.
“Let’s go.” Anthony headed out of the residence and the other two followed him.
Tommie reached out and put his hands into the wooden boxes. Anthony summoned Dave and Penelope.
Penelope stretched, making Damien drop his hammer at her beau- ty, his jaw half coming off.
“What took you so long, Anthony?” Penelope complained.
Seeing Damien, she winked and gave him a wave.
Tommie’s boxes fell away as the different sections locked to- gether. Gears connected to one another and the different systems came online. Clamps locked into place and screws tightened while bolts were se- cured.
“Needed more mana—we have some work to do.”
“You know how she doesn’t stop complaining.” Dave pointed a thumb at Penelope.
“I do not!” She stomped her foot as the heat around them in- creased. She moved her hands from her hips, crossing her arms. “I am just bringing up my concerns! And possible issues!”
Tommie stood up, now nearly two times Anthony’s height. There were still signs of battle on his armor. Smoke hissed out of his armor as the last connections were made.
“You know how uncomfortable that is?” Dave complained, point- ing at Tommie.
“You know how terrifying it is riding you?” Tommie rebutted. “Just grow wings! Damien isn’t that scared!”
“Well, I can’t die from a fall—annoying for the bones a bit, though,” Damien said.
“Penelope, you take Damien to the smaller towns and villages. Damien, you use Guardian’s Judgement to clean them up. It won’t be thorough, but Guardian Flames will reach them in time. Then organize them to defend and attack the doorways—get them to create a binding contract with you.”
Penelope transformed in a haze of red light, growing into her proud phoenix form. Dave increased in length, wrapping over him- self within the small courtyard, his eyes as big as Anthony’s helmet. “I will go on Dave. I will drop down into the large cities and use
my sword to leave Guardian Flame enchantments. Solomon!”
A fog seeped from Anthony’s body and a pale man wearing a but- ler’s outfit appeared.
“Master.” Solomon’s voice was deep. His face seemed rigid but there was mischief and mayhem in his eyes.
“Have one of your doppelgangers with Damien, another with me. You and Bruce.” Green light lit up Bruce’s familiar tattoo; he seemed to grow from the ground. He wore his robes and held a thick staff marked from constant battles.
“Solomon, move across the land; find the bandits and the crim- inals. Bruce, assist Tommie.” Anthony turned his eyes to the Gnom- inator. “You will need to incapacitate them. Use Guardian’s Judge- ment—send them to the villages and the cities with the Guardian
Flames. They will train up with others to create United Army units, trained up by the Guardian judges.”
Tommie nodded and then looked to Bruce. The two of them shared a look.
“Let
’s go.” Anthony jumped up. He landed on Dave’s back as he un- coiled. Dave grabbed Tommie and Bruce with his talons. Solomon dis- persed into fog. A faint haze attached to Damien, Anthony, and Tom- mie’s shoulders; the rest of him spread out over the land, heading to the north.
Penelope tilted her wing. Damien put his war hammer on his back and climbed up. With a screech that woke everyone in the vil- lage, she flapped her wings. Dust flew and flames appeared around her body, cre- ating a fiery comet that appeared in the heavens.
Dave let out a roar that shook the foundations of the village. He took off into the skies, Anthony riding atop as Tommie yelled under- neath. They headed slightly west while Penelope and Dave went slight- ly east.
***
“Group of bandits holed up in a small encampment in the hills.” Solomon’s voice whispered in Tommie’s ears.
Dave got lower to the ground, shooting over the trees.
Bruce expanded and looked to Tommie. “Feels good to put these old bones to work.” Bruce’s eyes shone.
“See you in the north!” Anthony said from above.
Damien cut into the wind, slowing their speed as he released Tom- mie and Bruce. They dropped, hitting the ground and rolling.
Tommie rose up and shook the dirt off him, making sure every- thing worked.
There was a golden flash followed by a boom as Dave and An- thony took off, heading for the nearest city.
Death Knight Box Set Books 1-5: A humorous power fantasy series Page 52
