by Han, George
Chapter 40
Old Scores & Allies United
Maganus the Wise struggled to his feet like an aged man. For the first time in ages, he felt ache in his limbs; the price to pay for walking on earth as an Angel. He took a long moment to align his senses and gather his powers, that familiar warmth in the chest. Then he heard the familiar deep-throated laughter that turned his stomach cold.
Before him stood the Amazonian Eberhard, whose sinewy limbs swung like iron clubs.
Maganus shook his head. “You sure have timed your appearances well.”
“I had been waiting, Maganus.” the gargoyle roared as he flexed his hands with a crackle of the knuckles.
Maganus unclenched his fleshy fist and murmured in concentration. His trustworthy shimmering battleaxes materialized in his hands. I’m not sure if I have the strength, my choices are limited. I might have to sacrifice myself to save the rest.
“There has to be an outcome today,” Maganus whispered as belligerent Eberhard glared. “May there be a surviving victor to announce the outcome.”
#
With aplomb and poise, Jin marched to the front, shoulders squared and chest firm. His sinews pulsated with adrenaline as he wielded the indomitable Adam’s Bow. With an icy-cold stare, Jin positioned his bow and aimed at the advancing columns. Gently, he wrapped his fingers on the string and pulled. Upon his release, trails of fire raced across the fields and sliced through the Demons’ formation like a knife into melting butter.
Dozens fell and the hysteria led to a stampede with Familiars and Demons of all sorts dispersing. Count Raum remained steady and cracked his whip a lash of which turned countless beings into ashes. Calm returned as the Demons gruidgingly regrouped with speed.
“Bravo, Jin.” Gwyneth cheered like a little girl despite her injury.
Jin had no time to join her celebration as Count Raum taunted him from afar. “Anymore tricks, Jin?” With a calm purpose, Jin looked to the sky and commanded,
“Incendia of Polus. O commodo mihi vestri vires.” Fires of Heavens. O’ lend me strength.
Strong winds raced across the plains as Jin lifted his bow. With steady hands, he aimed once more at the Familiars. As he released, a blanket of fire spammed from his weapon and descended on the armies of Demons, setting them ablaze.
The dark field turned into a sea of furious orange which allowed Jin to gauge the size of the army of Demons. He shook his head at the sight. “If there had been a full charge, there is no way we could withstood the onslaught,” he said.
“But your heroic act won a reprieve,” Gwyneth said.
“Only a brief one,” he replied as he turned around to face his companions.
Gwyneth gasped. The sheen on his face had transmuted into a deathly grey. “Your powers …” she said.
Jin nodded. “I am spent. I can do no more.”
“I will take them out,” Mathew said.
To which Jin whispered, “Just stay alive. I beg of you”
Jin’s plea stopped Mathew in his theatrics. In strained calmness, Mathew asked
“Are we going to have more help?”
Gwyneth turned to Marz. “Our friends?” she asked and the white wolf responded with a powerful howl that pierced the eerie silence.
“What is that for?” Mathew asked.
“Our friends are here!” Father Bellator exclaimed.
As if on cue, a beating of drums erupted, followed by a chorus of blaring horns.
Gwyneth’s was full of smiles as she declared“The Dwarf Lords.”
“Dwarves? Is this a joke?” Mathew blurted.
“Do not be rude, Mathew. They are Allies of the Angels,” Father Bellator explained. “It is a friendship that dates back to the first civilization of mankind.”
The nearby trees begun to stir and a stream of light shone through the woods as the ground quivered with the wild thumping of galloping horses. Mathew stood mouth agape as shapes materialized and gradually columns of friendly forces filled the field around them. The boy stared in wonder at the dwarf lords who came on their trained ponies and wild boars.
#
As the new arrivals turned up, Mathew was floored. Before he asked, an equally surprised Jin had turned to Gwyneth. “It cannot be. They had sworn seclusion centuries ago.”
“They came to honour their promise to an old friend.” The White Angel explained.
“They had vowed never to meddle in the affairs of mankind,” Jin reminded her.
“A vow,” Mathew repeated. “Why?”
Gwyneth explained. “They used to be close friends with the humans, many ages ago. They fought alongside your ancestors, the Kings and nobles of the human race. They bled for your race and fought without asking for a reward. However, in the moment of victory, man turned ungrateful.
“That hurt their trust and the alliance crumbled.”
“What did we do?” Mathew asked innocently.
“A foolish act of grievous proportions for everybody. In their pursuit of mindless developments, man had forgotten about their friends and destroyed the natural habitat of the dwarves, nature, and the very yoke of Earth. Their homes were crushed with their clans shattered. But their dislike for man has not disrupted their bond with the Angels. It was I who summoned them, not the man. They will serve our cause, my friend.”
As she spoke, legions of dwarves formed up in columns.
“There aren’t very many of them,” Mathew said. “How are we—”
“Be considerate, Mathew!” Gwyneth said. “There may be only about a hundred or so, but their presence alone is a boost to our strained morale. Do you think you can defeat the Demons singlehandedly? Careless remarks were not what we looked for in a future King.”
Mathew felt dumb and wished he had a hole to hide. His words had earned him looks of disdain. Mathew murmured his apologies as he studied the newly-arrived army. The riders were rotund figures, no more than five feet tall and their rides were sturdy ponies of brown and black, and the boars.
The dwarves carried proud expressions befitting their ancient warrior class and were dressed in silver armour and seasoned robes of gold, black, white, and blue. Their accoutrements of war, the repertoire of swords, battle-hammers, and battleaxes lent them an air of formidability. They had stolen the moment with their gallantry and the Demons came to a standstill, unsure about their next move.
A figure with elaborate armoury and sword in hand steered his mount towards Gwyneth and Mathew. He dismounted and bowed in deference in front of the White Angel, then nodded at the boy.
Gwyneth returned the gesture and said, “My friend, your arrival is timely.”
“Alfred, Lord of the War Dwarfs at your service, Lady Gwyneth.”
“My gratitude is deeply felt, Alfred,” she said and touched her chest with a fist.
“We are honoured as always,” the dwarf lord declared before he offered his humble greetings to Jin and Father Bellator. He turned to Mathew and casted a wary scan.
“A kingling?” Alfred asked, his moustache fidgeted as he scanned Mathew with his sapphire-blue eyes.
Mathew shuffled his feet but said nothing.
“They are still worth your labours?” Alfred said.
“They are the hope for humanity.”
The dwarf lord shrugged. “That fact is not worth verifying. I came because of you.”
Mathew cringed and recalled Gwyneth’s story about how badly the forefathers of humans had treated the dwarves. He opened his mouth to speak, but a war cry signaled that the battle was about to begin.
#
“Your friends have brought reinforcements, Sarah,” Lord Barbatos said in a crisp voice as he watched battle scene unfold from his study.
Next to him, Sarah was a trembling doll. Barbatos whispered her name and she jumped.
“I am sorry I’d frightened you.” He apologized with a smirk.
“Don’t hurt them, Lord Barbatos.” Sarah pleaded.
“It is war. It is unavoidable.” Barb
atos explained with tight smile.
Sarah pleaded but the dark lord was peeved, always so with tears which was a sure sign of human weakness. He put his hands on Sarah’s shoulders and gently massaged them. It will be a real shame if you have to die tonight. I have had such fun with you, like a conjurer with a wooden puppet and twitching its limbs at my whim. However I need to know your prowess. Show them, Sarah. Show them!
“Your brother is with them,” he said, his voice like silk.
Her eyes roamed the fields as Barbatos bent down. “There is t one full legion of Demons down there.”
Sarah shut her eyes and then lowered her head in silent prayer.
“Prayers are for losers, Sarah.”
Sarah stopped, befuddled and searching for words.
“Prayers cannot save your brother. Once Count Raum gives his order for a charge, it will be all over.”
The tears continued.
“Your tears burn my heart.”
“Don’t hurt my brother.”
“You want him to live?” Barbatos asked, his hands stroking her hair.
“What is it you want?” she asked as rolls of tears wet her cheeks.
“Save him. Show me your prowess. You must have some powers?”
Sarah wiped her cheeks.
“ I don’t…I don’t understand.”
“Your powers.”
“What powers?”
Barbatos found a stream of acid fury creeping up his throat.
“You should know.”
“I don’t.”
Barbatos clenched his fist and rose to full height. His face is now a mask of scathing indignation.
“You are lying!”
Sarah shook her head.
“I will be your catalyst, Sarah.” he said as the girl broke in loud sobs.
He would have delivered a firm smack if not for an incident on the battlefield.
#
As the dwarves lined up for war, commotion stirred within the woods. A shroud of blue light grew over the ominous trees into a sea of illumination. Gwyneth crossed her heart in thanks. Hundreds of Tree Fairies had arrived. Dressed in resplendent robes of flowing blue and yellow, their flipping wings formed a sea of glitter that held the dark vibes in check. One of the fairies, a lady larger than the rest, flew over and curtsied to the White Angel.
“Catherine, Queen of the Tree Fairies, thank you.”
“Gwyneth, it is our honour to fulfill this agreement.”
The Queen glanced at the hordes of demons and registered a worrying frown.
“They are on the rise again. My heart trembles at their ascent.”
“The human race is weak,” Gwyneth said. “They need us.”
Catherine smiled. “Intelligent beings but they are too selfish and ungrateful. Only adversity will refresh their memories of friends,” she said, her eyes running over to Mathew. “Who is behind all these madness?”
“Barbatos,” Gwyneth said.
The mention of the name immediately dimmed the illumination emanating from Queen Catherine.
“You fear? You are not alone,” said Alfred, who joined them.
“Alfred?” Catherine said. “Alfred of the Ancient Dwarves? The Antiquus?”
“Queen Catherine, I am glad you came.”
Jin stepped up. “My friends, your arrival matters to us. Now let our fighting do the talking,” Jin commanding voice resonated through the air as he drew his sword. The Angel cupped a palm to his mouth and unleashed a roaring call to rally the forces. “Friends of Angels, this battle concern the future of the Earth; the future of human civilization. We have been through such darkness before and triumph. We will triumph today.”
#
Maganus stood in awe of Eberhard’s strength. Fighting on the demons’ terrain is always disadvantageous for the Angels, a painful handicap while the dark ambience nourishes the Demons. He stiffed his torso ready for Eberhard’s next move. The Demonic gargoyle was enjoying every moment of superiority over the Angel. Drooling with sickening satisfaction, Eberhard launched a leg into Maganus who doubled over to break the impact. He recovered with a proud grimace.
“Is this your best?” Maganus taunted.
Eberhard crackled his knuckles. “The best punches are coming.”
The beast shut his eyes, absorbed in the murmurs of an ugly tongue. A horrific physical transformation, much to Maganus’s disgust, ensued—mutatio vox—the transformation that Angels and Demons can perform to raise their powers to their highest potential. However, the mutatio vox can only be executed once every sixty days, as it takes two full moons for Angels, or Demons, to replenish their energies after such an excruciating transformation.
As Eberhard went into a series of spasms, Maganus watched in muted discomfort. The creature’s horns grew and spikes sprouted up all over his body, beefing up his thick hide. The beast dropped to his knees, and was silent for moment before he leapt to his feet. His winds spread to their full length and his eyes burned like red rubies. Eberhard had grown a formidable size larger.
“Maganus, the game is at a new level,” Eberhard grunted with a twisted smile.
“You know something? You looked more beautiful before the transformation,” Magnus replied with a wink.
“You will now experience the full wrath of the Demons, Maganus.”
“Come ye, bestia,” Maganus retorted, swung his battleaxes, and lurched forth to engage the gargoyle. Eberhard ducked, but Maganus’ decisive chop managed to hit the shoulder and chip off pieces from his granite-hard hide.
The gargoyle retaliated with his claws and ripped the fabric off Maganus’s left arm. The Angel dropped a battleaxe. Using his remaining axe, Maganus battled on with his remaining axe. He had aimed for Eberhard’s neck but Demon ducked quick. He lost his footing and before he could steady himself, Eberhard had twirled his tail around the Angel’s neck and dragged him through the mud. Struggle as Maganus tried, he could not escape the stranglehold. Eberhard raised Maganus and then slammed him to the ground. The Guardian Angel lost his grip on his remaining battleaxe.
“Maganus, I’d waited a long time for this match,” Eberhard said. “Where are your powers? I am waiting to see them.”
Maganus did not respond, busy with a prayer-spell as the hold on his neck tightened. “Incendia ex Polu.”Fire from heavens. He muttered as veins on his neck and temples swelled. Soon his hands ignited with fire, and he laid them tight onto the strangling tail. Maganus broke loose as the scorching heat sent Eberhard belching in fury.
The infuriated Demon turned around with a hammer-fist, but Maganus rolled over and missed by just inches. The Angel struggled to his feet, but his knees failed him. He collapsed to the ground and clasped his hands to raise another prayer-spell. “Terra temerarius meus dico.” Earth heeded my call.
Eberhard thundered at Maganus like a crescendo and was only five yards from impact when the ground erupted and opened up. The Demon tumbled into the hole like a fly swallowed by a predatory flower.
#
Sarah looked out to the fields as anarchy raged unabated. Like a wave of darkness, the Demons descended on the core of light, holding out between the dark woods and the ancient castle.
“You will let them die?” Barbatos teased.
Sarah said nothing, her face a cusp of fear and anxiety. Her lips trembled as she turned to Barbatos.
“I...”
“Show me your powers.”
Sarah shook her head. For the first time, doubt fermented in Barbatos’s mind. Was the prophecy wrong? The King who whispers…
Barbatos looked away. He paused. Somehow, there was something in Sarah that made him uncomfortable. He could not pinpoint the reason but he felt a sort of hesitation, a subtle mellowing, that arose from the interaction with the child. In the chilling cataclysm of his soul, there was growing warmth that gnawed away at his iron-hard core of ruthlessness and unfeeling. Barbatos felt different but he fought hard to suppress that awareness.
“What is this all about?”
Sarah pleaded.
“Sarah, this is a battle that you will remember for the rest of your life. It is a day of great significance.”
Sarah bit her lips. “I am not interested in this fight. I want them to live, my brother. ”
Sarah clutched Barbatos’s hand and caused the Duke of Demons a tinge of unease.
“Let them live.” Sarah pleaded and this time the tears brought an effect. Barbatos felt a stirring in his gut. Not today, Barbatos.
“Sarah, I don’t like to plead. Let me provide some catalyst to
“Let us now join your friends on the field.” Without warning, Barbatos clutched Sarah by the shoulder and snapped his fingers.
Chapter 41
Mayhem and Bloodshed
At Count Raum’s behest, the Demons unleashed an earth-shaking charge at the besieged Guardian Angels. Alfred’s cavalry responded in kind. As they rode towards the advancing darkness, caution abandoned, the War Dwarves were a spear of light. Their sturdy steeds crushed into the rank and file of the Demons, flattening the the advance columns of darkness.
In the first moments when the two formations clashed, flesh against flesh, bone against bone, the earth howled in a chorus of bloodshed. The scent of rough battle was an intoxicating spirit that stirred his pugnacious senses to Alfred the Dwarf Lord. He roared, cried, and, at his behest, his tiny battalion fought with vigour. With his battle-axe, carved from thousand-year-old oak, he felled Demons with gusto.
Jin joined the action with a brave assist, a stunning volley from the Adam’s bow that launched a dozen fiery arrows into the columns of darkness. However a second volley was neutralized by a shield of force raised by Count Raum.
The advantage of the sheer numbers of the dark side became telling as the action dragged on. Despite the valiant display, Alfred and his men and the fairies were a weak dam holding back strong currents. The regrouped Familiars, Goblins, Trolls and Demons, and all else, had swollen into an unstoppable juggernaut.
Count Raum stepped up the offensive momentum with a battery of fresh archers. At his word, hundreds of arrows fell onto the allies of Angels and sent hordes of dwarves and fairies tumbling to their deaths. Then Count Raum looked to the east, raised his hands and brought on half a dozen demonic trolls to join the battle. Their stomping sent the dwarfs into a reluctant retreat.
