by S. L. Morgan
The Pemdai charged full speed down the hill as the arrows fell into the grass behind them where they once stood.
Navarre and Samuel’s plan was flawlessly executed; the archers could no longer be used, as now the Pemdai were in the midst of their army. Once in their camp, the Pemdai lunged themselves from their horses and fell into perfect rhythm, battling their enemy with sword and shield only. The horses battled violently alongside the warriors, giving them more of an advantage against the Armedite Army. Just as Navarre had requested, the men pursued and killed each opponent instantly, causing them no pain in delivering them to their deaths.
As Levi and Areion fought alongside the Guardians, they were ambushed by a group Armedites who charged in on horseback. They were so encased in the battle before them that they had not seen the surprise attack coming toward them from their sides.
The Guardians fought to mount their horses in order to defend themselves against the invading army. Most were successful; however, Levi and Areion had become separated in the attack, leaving Levi completely vulnerable.
Levi defeated four men before he was restrained on the ground with a blade at his neck. As Levi struggled to roll out from underneath the man who pinned him to the ground, Navarre came from behind and removed the man’s head from his body with one swift motion.
As Levi reached to grab Navarre’s outstretched hand, he watched as a sword penetrated through the abdomen of his father’s armor.
Levi grabbed his father as he collapsed to the ground. When he looked up, he saw Michael Visor wiping the emperor’s blood from his sword.
Michael smiled amusingly at him. “Fear not; I will be your emperor soon enough.”
Before Levi could respond, Michael mounted his horse, and sheltered himself within an army of men. The moment Michael fled, hundreds of Guardian horses surrounded them; they formed an impenetrable barrier around the fallen emperor, and everything grew silent.
The Armedites retreated hastily, having no way to break through the wall of horses that served to protect the Guardians behind them. The warriors rushed to where Navarre lay, breathing shallowly in the arms of his son.
As the men gathered, Levi called out. “Where is Samuel? The emperor must be escorted back to Pemdas immediately!”
One warrior looked down at Levi remorsefully. “Samuel is dead, sir.”
“Areion!” Levi roared.
The horse charged to Levi’s side.
“The emperor is still alive; you must get him back to Pemdas for help this instant,” Levi ordered as three men approached and helped Levi strap his father into the horse’s saddle.
“Go now, Areion!” Levi demanded, before the horse galloped fiercely toward the vortex.
“We have lost Samuel; are there any others who have fallen?” Levi questioned.
“We have lost 37 men in total, sir. Eleven wounded have already returned to Pemdas,” a warrior responded.
Levi nodded in understanding. “The Armedites have only retreated because they believe we will give up now that our emperor is no longer among us.” Levi stared purposefully at the group of men surrounding him. “Gentlemen, our emperor is still alive, and we will fulfill the duty he has assigned us. Let us not forget; Harrison will be joining us soon with the rest of our army. It’s time for us to form a new strategy.”
As Harrison arrived at the vortex to Armedias with close to thirty thousand men, his father approached him with more troops. With a quick exchange and farewell to his father, Harrison turned his horse, and prepared to lead the charge into Armedias.
Harrison suddenly halted the men behind him when he saw Areion entering Pemdas through the vortex. Levi!
“Areion!” he called out as the horse sprinted to him.
King Nathaniel and Harrison quickly dismounted and approached Areion. The men were astounded to find that the fallen man was their emperor.
King Nathaniel unstrapped his brother from the horse and held the emperor in his arms, “Son, I will bring our emperor back to Pasidian. You must join the rest of the warriors this instant!”
Harrison turned and swiftly hoisted himself back up onto his stallion’s back. He ordered two men to escort King Nathaniel’s return to the palace.
“Gentlemen, let us join our men!” Harrison shouted, as he gave charge.
The mob of warriors responded, and rode aggressively through the vortex into Armedias.
Levi knelt on one knee, going over the next phase of their battle plan.
“Sir,” a Guardian interrupted, “The Armedites are holding their formation on the other side of the horses’ barrier. They’re anticipating our retreat.”
Levi stood up, “Are their archers still in place?”
“Yes; however, their army is too close to ours to use them.”
“Thank you,” Levi answered, “Once Harrison joins our army, Michael will find out that he has made a grave mistake by underestimating us.”
At that moment, the ground began to shake, and Harrison and his army thundered through the vortex. Right on time, Harrison, Levi thought as the men approached rapidly.
“Sir, our reinforcements have taken Michael by surprise,” a Guardian announced, “He is scrambling to figure out his next move.”
“The coward will most likely flee, but we’re not stopping until we’ve recovered the Key.” Levi responded as Harrison approached him.
Harrison slowly dismounted and walked Areion over to where Levi stood. He unstrapped the emperor’s sword and shield from Areion’s saddle and handed them to Levi. “Emperor Levi, your Guardians and I await your first orders.”
Levi’s heart wrenched at the realization that his father had not survived. He gripped the handle of this father’s sword and forced himself to maintain his warrior mindset. He turned to face his men, who were all standing at attention. When he spoke, there was no edge to his voice. His words were smooth and commanding.
“Guardians, hear me now! Never before has a Pemdai Emperor fallen in battle. This news will spread, and it is sure to insight rebellion against the Pemdai throughout all dimensions. As the protectors of the Key and of Earth, we cannot allow this seed of dissention to take root. You all know very well that there is more at stake now than the well-being of the Key. The order of the universe, and our rightful place within it, lies here on this bloodied ground. We must make an example this day for all worlds to see. We must show them all that pursuit of the Key, and the power that it holds, comes at the highest price.”
Levi continued. “Guardians, we must lay waste to this land, and write upon it a memorial for all to see. From this day forward, Armedias will represent defeat. All worlds will soon learn what happens to those who would interfere with our prime objective.
Levi hoisted himself onto Areion, and grabbed the reins tightly. Areion anxiously stamped his feet in place one by one.
“Guardians!” shouted Levi. “If it bears arms, kill it! If it seeks refuge, capture it. If any building is left standing, burn it! Gentlemen, mount your horses! Let everything you do from here be done in the honor Emperor Navarre, the valiant man who fought fiercely alongside you this day. Let these words be my first orders to you as your emperor.”
With Levi’s command to mount, the wall of horses broke, and each Guardian horse raced with its master. Harrison mounted Saracen, and guided him to where Levi sat, staring intently at the Armedites who were retreating rapidly toward their castle.
Levi looked over at Harrison. “Commander?”
Harrison nodded somberly. “At your word, Emperor.”
With that Levi drew his sword. “Let us finish this.”
The Guardians showed no mercy as they charged brutally into the Armedites’ camp, killing anyone who stood in their way. Once the Armedite line broke, Levi and Harrison heeled their horses to the castle in order to retrieve the Key, leaving the rest of the warriors to finish off the last of the Armedite Army. It was an easy feat, as Michael was nowhere to be found, and the Armedites no longer had a commanding officer.
As Levi and Harrison charged the castle, the archer’s drew their bows. Arrows flew all around them, but the horses were too quick for an archer to hit his target. With swords drawn, Harrison and Levi rushed to the bottom steps of Castle Merstaille. The men leapt from their horses as castle guards stormed down the steps toward them. They disarmed their attackers swiftly, and killed them with their own swords.
Levi and Harrison took the extra swords, and quickly ascended the steps that lead them into an outside courtyard of the castle.
Another group of Armedite soldiers stood between them and the entrance to the castle. They walked slowly toward Harrison and Levi, swords drawn.
Harrison, go at them from the right, I’m going left, Levi commanded his cousin telepathically. Harrison nodded.
With a sword in each hand, the men split and attacked the soldiers from the side. As the mob of men began to diminish, Levi was disarmed by an Armedite warrior who towered over him. As another soldier came at him from the side, Levi spun into the attack, missing the blade of the Armedite’s sword by only inches. He used his momentum to knock the soldier off balance. Levi reached for the dagger at his hip and pinned the attacker to a tree by his neck. Levi didn’t have an opportunity to retrieve his dagger before the larger man rushed over to him.
Give me a second, Levi, Harrison said telepathically as he sensed the danger his cousin was in. He managed to maneuver his way closer to Levi so that he could hand him a sword.
“You’re all alone, Guardian. Your head will make a fine trophy,” the man taunted.
Levi arched his brow, as he knew that his cousin was about to intervene. Harrison managed to remove a sword from his attacker’s grip, and tossed it over his shoulder toward Levi, end over end.
In one graceful move, Levi caught the sword’s handle, and delivered a crippling blow to his attacker’s calf. He stood over the man, who now lay on the ground, and finished him with a final strike through the chest.
Once the group was defeated, Levi returned to retrieve his dagger, and prepared to charge the castle.
He glanced at Harrison as he sheathed the dagger. “We must split up from here. Find your way to the dungeons; the Key is there. I will handle Lucas and Michael.”
“Give them my regards,” Harrison said with a grin.
Levi nodded. “As soon as I have finished giving them my father’s.”
When the men entered the castle, Harrison turned down a hallway in search of a passage into the dungeon, and Levi continued straight into the empty marble halls, searching for Lucas and Michael.
Levi saw two massive wooden doors at the end of the corridor, which opened for him upon his approach. He advanced with great caution, knowing very well that this was most likely a trap. He used all of his mental ability to tune into whoever might be in the room, and to assess the situation.
The room was a vast, open space with carved pillars lining the stone walls. At the far end of the chamber, a group of men stood guard at the bottom of steps that led up to a throne where Lucas was seated.
Lucas was a young man who took his father’s throne before he was twenty years old. It was rumored throughout all dimensions that Lucas may have had something to do with his father’s tragic demise. Lucas’ father was a humble man, and before his death, he and Navarre were extremely close. So close, in fact, that when Armedias grieved the death of Lucas’ father, the land of Pemdas did as well. Once Lucas ascended to the throne, everything changed within Armedias, and they distanced themselves from the alliance they had created with Pemdas.
“Emperor Levi,” Lucas said with a strange confidence, “may I congratulate you on your new title. You must be elated!”
Levi approached closer, but said nothing in response.
“Ah, Emperor, you and I have so much in common now. We have assumed the throne at a young age; however, the only difference is, I had to have my father assassinated to gain my rightful place. I envy you; your father’s blood is not on your hands…or is it?” He grinned.
“Lucas, you will join your father soon enough,” Levi responded.
Lucas chuckled. “You didn’t answer my question, Emperor Levi,” Lucas sneered, “Is not your father’s blood upon your hands? Did he not die this day saving your life?”
“My father died in pursuit of your death.”
Lucas shook his head. “You men of Pemdas believe yourselves to be so honorable and brave, yet…you are not. You are arrogant enough to believe you will defeat me? Soon I will have the stone in my possession, and I’ll control all dimensions in existence.”
“I’m not interested in your delusions.” Levi said as he drew his sword and gripped it tightly. The men at the foot of the steps approached, and Levi responded quickly.
He lunged at the first man aggressively, plunging his sword into his heart. As he withdrew his blade, he pivoted on his right leg, spun around, and with his left foot, knocked another man to the ground before driving his sword into the man’s chest. As another man charged Levi’s side, Levi lunged around him, clinched his neck in the bend of his elbow, and broke his neck with one swift movement. One man remained, and he stared at Levi in disbelief. Levi gazed intently into the man’s widened eyes for a brief moment before he lunged forward and swung his sword across the man’s neck.
Before the last soldier’s body fell to the floor, Lucas stood, laughing and clapping his hands. Levi stood, catching his breath. Before he could respond to Lucas, a door to his left opened, and Michael and Simone entered. Five soldiers followed closely behind, carrying a slender body wrapped tightly in a white cloth.
As Michael and Simone ascended the steps and took their places at Lucas’ side, the soldiers placed the body on a table at the foot of the steps. Levi’s curiosity forced him to pause.
Lucas grinned. “You see, Levi…we are fully prepared to recover the map at any cost. Michael, please indulge our friend.”
Simone smiled sardonically down at Levi as Michael descended the steps to where the body lay, guarded by the soldiers. As Michael removed the face cloth, Levi’s breath halted. It was Reece, pale and lifeless.
A wave of emotion flooded over him when he saw her. He tried with everything that was in him to retain his warrior mindset, but he couldn’t. He began to turn numb, and rage began to replace every steady nerve throughout his body. As he stared at the woman he loved, the sword fell from his hand, and he fell to his knees.
Reece was in and out of consciousness, and she knew she didn’t have much energy left within her to hold on anymore. She tried with everything that she had, but when her eyes closed and her mind stopped fighting, she was so comfortable. Only then was she at peace.
She was startled awake when loud noises echoed in the vicinity. The sounds of crashing, yelling, and men groaning frightened her. She struggled to understand what was happening, but she didn’t have the energy, and she collapsed over onto the frigid floor. Her face stung from the icy temperature; but she couldn’t move, and she felt her life slipping away.
She heard a familiar voice call out to her. She tried to push herself to sit up and respond, but she couldn’t move. There was a loud uproar directly outside of her cell. She couldn’t open her eyes to see who or what it was. She heard a man call out loudly, and other voices argue back briefly before they fell silent. A loud noise echoed through her chamber, and whoever entered it came directly to her side. The man knelt and cradled her in his arms.
The warmth radiating from him forced a violent shiver throughout her feeble body, and she felt something heavy wrap around her.
“Reece,” the familiar voice said.
She tried to answer, but couldn’t. She felt him rub his strong hands on her face, assessing her condition. He opened one of her eyelids, and said something that she was unable to comprehend. His voice was distant.
It’s Levi. I knew he’d find me, she thought. He held her close, and then something pierce the flesh of her arm. A burning sensation jolted through her body, and she sensed her energy begin
to peak. She tried to open her eyes to see his face, but her lids were still too heavy. As her energy was returning to her body slowly, she wrapped her arm tightly around his waist, embracing him as firmly as she could.
She twisted in his arms, gripped the back of his head tightly, and drew her face up to his. His head turned somewhat, and her lips were on his cheek. She kissed him softly, letting her lips linger on the warmth of his soft skin.
“Reece—” the voice replied humorously.
She kissed him softly again, and ran her hands along his other cheek. She heard him laugh quietly in response.
She rested her head against his sturdy shoulder, “I love you so much,” she whispered to him.
“Reece, sweetheart, it’s Harrison.”
Reece was able to open her eyes and take in the image of Harrison grinning sympathetically at her. She felt the blood rush to her cheeks with embarrassment. Even though she was humiliated, she was beginning to feel energized again.
Harrison placed a kiss on her forehead. “If you must know, I love you too, sweet one. I am thankful that I reached you in time.”
Before Reece could answer him, Harrison’s expression went blank before her. His eyes were glowing, but distant and seeing something else. When his eyes refocused, he looked at Reece with urgency. He stood abruptly, and scooped her Reece up into his arms.
“I need to get you to Levi immediately!” he commanded, as he fled the chamber cell.
Reece hung tightly to Harrison’s neck. He said nothing more as he strode briskly through the dark halls of the dungeon.
She buried her face into Harrison’s neck when she noticed the lifeless bodies all around them. The scene was gruesome, and she was baffled that Harrison conquered these men by himself in order to retrieve her.
Anger coursed violently through Levi, and his blood boiled beneath the surface of his skin as he stared at the lifeless body of his beloved Reece. He grasped the sword that had fallen from his hands, and sprang to his feet. He charged at the soldiers who surrounded Reece’s body, and within moments, the men lay lifeless on the stone floor.
