"Better late than never my king, I am sorry for the delay," Benzoete said as he dismounted Barrok.
"By the Gods you made it!" Gabriel exclaimed.
"My mother and the others are taking care of the remaining orcs outside. Elos is with Antoine," Benzoete said.
Gabriel shot a smile to Tradan thinking perhaps the balance had just been tipped in their favor.
Dori'naur pulled his war scythe from its sheath, "I will deliver your heads personally and we will kill your people slowly."
Tradan stood with his father and Benzoete. "You will try."
Dori'naur thrust his hands toward the ground, causing roots to cover the ground. Tradan stepped forward, wings fanned out, shimmering brightly in the sun's light. With the Bloodblade in his hand, he bent to one knee and pierced the ground. A white light emitted from the blade and engulfed the evil roots, choking them out. "We have tricks of our own," said Tradan.
The demon gripped the scythe tightly and charged for Gabriel. Sparks flew as the two blades connected. Dori'naur would not be defeated easily. Gabriel stepped back, avoiding Dori'naur's strike, then spun forward with a hearty swing of his own. Dori'naur had a plan for everything. He pointed his left hand in the direction of Tradan. A long chain of bones shot out around the Champion, pulling him in front of the strike. Gabriel had to use all his strength to divert the swing away from his son. Dori'naur used that to his advantage to connect with Gabriel's face. Tradan sent an elbow to the demon's chin knocking him backward.
Benzoete was busy trying to clear the way for Elos and the others when he heard whispers in his mind.
"My time has come, wizard."
Benzoete tried to shake it off.
"Your mother could not defeat us. She is stronger than you."
Again, he shook off the whispers. "You will not best my mind!"
Craotonus tried to conquer the wizard's main weapon: his mind. Benzoete waved his hand sending a group of orcs flying against a wall.
A loud roar was heard as Barrok soared once more into the courtyard. Zachery pointed down to a group of orcs circling around the wizard, and quickly Barrok snatched them up in his massive talons. "Find Craotonus! We have to stop him!" Zachery and Barrok slammed the minions to the ground outside the castle where some of the Iron Army made mincemeat of them.
The scene outside the castle gates was pure chaos. The refugee army and elven army were dealing with the orcs and barkers. What a sight it was to have Aliz'Ra standing on top of a ridge commanding an army of elves against a horde of demons. It was a flashback to three thousand years ago. "I will not let you slip from my grasp again." she whispered under her breath as she sent a fireball into a group of orcs. "Using my magic again feels good!" She made her way from the ridge to the castle to find Malonox.
Antoine and George had their group over the eastern wall and were pouring into the waiting group of orcs.
"I never knew there was these many orcs in existence! Where did they all come from?" asked Antoine.
George explained to him they were summoned by the darkness. "Malonox is their master and they heed his call. Cut the head off the serpent and it dies."
George turned to see an orc archer aiming for Antoine. He grabbed a spear from one of the wall racks and hurled it through the air. The spear caught him in the chest, pushing him back.
The orc let the arrow loose, striking one of his own comrades in the back of the head. Antoine slid down a ladder with a sword in each hand. On the ground, he slid between two orcs on his knees, slicing their legs. As they fell, he buried the blades deep in their backs. George followed Antoine into battle, swinging his broadsword. Left to right, slice and dice, orcs fell to their death.
Suddenly, a booming voice called out. "Angelic one! We have unfinished business. One of us dies today!" Xago stood alone just inside the archway. Antoine looked on in disbelief. "Did you think me dead? I am a God amongst the filth, you cannot defeat me." He stepped into the light; his body scarred from the talons of Barrok.
"I will send you to your Gods, Xago!" Antoine shouted.
Xago laughed. "And I will let you see your father again!"
Antoine asked George to find Andrea and then ran straight for Xago, swords at the ready. He lept over a dwarf and stretched out both arms. Each blade struck the necks of the orcs, flanking him as he planted his boots at Xago's chest sending him to the ground. With amazingly quick reflexes for a warrior his size, Antoine was already positioned at Xago's head before he could get to his feet. He thrust his blades down piercing Xago's shoulders to the ground. Xago let out a monstrous howl of pain.
Antoine leaned down, face-to-face. "I am in no mood for you today, orc." He was close enough for Xago to land a massive headbutt, sending Antoine sprawling.
With a low growl, Xago stood, breaking the blades off at the ground. "I told you little human, I am a GOD!" He pulled the hilts of the swords from his body and tossed them to the ground.
Antoine stood, shaking his head, "As your master will soon find out, even Gods can die. You will just find out first."
The orc pulled a broadsword from his back sheath. Antoine, now without his swords, pulled two daggers from his boots.
Xago gave a great big booming laugh. "Little human with little knives."
Antoine slowly walked toward him, twirling the blades in his hands. Coming forward, the two met. Xago swung downward while Antoine crossed his daggers and blocked the strike above his head.
Before the orc could recoil his sword, Antoine delivered a quick kick to his midsection, followed by a swipe with the left dagger, which caught Xago's chest-plate strap and dropped one side loose. "What happened Xago? Did you drop something?"
The orc grew furious, slamming the armor to the ground.
The battle was spread out all over the grounds. Tradan and Gabriel were busy with Dori'naur while the others dealt with the minions and searched for Craotonus. Tradan hovered above the ground and grasped the Bloodblade as it ignited. As the two exchanged blows, the sound of the Bloodblade striking the blade of Dori’naur’s scythe was like thunder. Gabriel worked his way behind Dori'naur and swung for his head. Dori'naur lifted the handle of the scythe and blocked the king's strike behind his head while landing a kick to the Champion.
Tradan took flight and landed beside his father. "We have to strike together, he's stronger now."
Gabriel lifted his head to the heavens and asked his father in a silent prayer for help.
The demon laughed at his challengers, "We will rule this day!" He saw signs of readiness for their next strike. Dori'naur held out his left arm to form a massive oaken shield upon it.
Barrok and Zachery came flying back over the walls and engulfed the demon in dragon fire. Through the smoke and flame, they saw him walking out. "I have walked through the fires of Hell, given my life to the burn of darkness, do you think dragon fire would stop me?"
What stood before them was not the Dori'naur they had known. He no longer controlled the mutated body of the noble Sir Rodderick. The dragon fire was not enough to stop him, but it did burn away his outer shell, leaving his true form. What they saw now was a grotesque, vile creature with roots surrounding his body acting as living armor.
Andrea and her group came running outside now. "My Lord, no sign of Craotonus or Malonox." she shouted as she and her men joined the attack on the minions.
"This will not end until we destroy Craotonus,” Gabriel told Tradan. “To do that, we must kill Dori'naur."
Walking slowly toward them, the demon boasted, "We are eternal, we are as one now. His strength powers me."
With that said, they knew why Malonox was not found, he was within Dori'naur. That is where his added power came from. They knew if they killed Dori'naur, Craotonus would have to show himself. The father and son duo charged forward, eager to end it. Dori'naur raised his shield and held his battle scythe at the ready. Tradan waved his hand and sent a wave of holy fire at the demon, he blocked it with his shield. After the blast, Gabriel followed in
with Fuascailte gleaming in the sun's light. His blade found its mark and opened a gash in Dori'naur's side. Wincing from the pain, he lowered his shield and knocked Gabriel to the ground. He raised the scythe's blade to deliver a blow to the downed king.
"Aye, you be an ugly bastard ain't ya!" Kegan exclaimed suddenly, catching the demon in the back with his war mace, drawing his attention and anger.
"Enough from you, little man!" Dori'naur spun, catching Kegan full force with his shield.
The blow sent the dwarf flying into the air where Dori'naur speared him with his spinning blade, driving him to the ground. Kegan's life rapidly faded, and his skin turned black from the scythe's darkness of death.
Dori'naur leaned in. "My master thanks you for the donation."
He retracted the blade in the nick of time, blocking a strike from Gabriel who was back on his feet. Upon seeing the lifeless body of the King of the Iron Army, Tradan and Gabriel got their second wind. Gabriel was overcome with emotion at seeing his friends and allies fall to their death.
Gabriel heard the voice of his father Akadius in his mind. "Trust in your power. Trust in the Champion."
He knew what had to be done. They would not win a brute force battle against Dori'naur and Craotonus. Gabriel decided a prayer to the heavens might just be the unexpected turning point in the battle they needed. He lowered his sword and knelt on one knee. Letting Dori'naur see his opening.
He closed in on the defenseless king, left his shield at his side to get an unencumbered swing. The instant before the blade claimed its prize and in a blazing bright blur, Tradan flew between them. He grabbed his father's sword with his left hand in anticipation of the demon's blade and blocked the dark scythe out of the way. His right hand held the Bloodblade piercing Dori'naur's black heart as he thrust deep. Gabriel opened his eyes, plunging his hands to the ground and sending a shockwave throughout the courtyard, knocking all the minions off-balance.
Dori'naur looked down at the blade in his chest, locking eyes with Tradan. "I am eternal. I have the master's power...his will."
Tradan twisted the blade, and the demon screamed in pain. "Your master will soon follow you." He retracted the blade and placed it against his throat.
Dori'naur dropped the weapon to the ground, "Master, do not forsake me!"
Malonox appeared behind the demon, grasping the scythe from the ground, "You are not worthy of mercy." The fallen God used the forsaken blade to remove Dori'naur's head. "I hold out hope your master will prove better." A blinding light emitted from his outstretched hands. As the group regained their sight, they found Dori'naur's headless body and no sign of Malonox.
Back inside, Antoine and Xago had beaten each other senseless.
Xago could not believe he hadn't killed Antoine yet. "You are truly a warrior angelic one, but you shall not last much longer."
"That is the same thing Kodar thought as well, just before I killed him." George had found Andrea and the two rushed for Antoine. "This is between us, no one is to interfere."
Andrea called to him, "Please, we can help you! We are in this together."
George pulled her back, "He has to do this on his own, and we have to let him. We need to help Aliz'Ra and the others." George tossed Antoine his sword and nodded. They rushed out, leaving the two warriors to finish their personal battle.
"Now, we finish this," Antoine smirked as he twirled the blade at his side.
Xago slowly walked back and forth, switching his sword from hand to hand. Antoine ran for the orc, sword held high. Xago stood his ground, waiting for the right moment. Just as Antoine slashed forward, Xago stepped forward and caught Antoine flush with his boot, sending him flat on his back. The orc descended upon Antoine, pushing his blade down upon him. He desperately held the massive arms of the orc up, trying to free himself. The blade inched down at him, but Antoine delivered kick after kick to Xago's back, the final one landing on the back of his head. With the orc dazed, Antoine twisted and knocked him off. He rapidly crawled away, making his way back to his feet. Antoine pulled another dagger from his belt and hurled it at Xago. The dagger found its mark deep in the orc's stomach. He pulled the dagger out and threw it back at Antoine, who barely moved out of the way.
"What do I have to do?" Antoine muttered to himself.
"Do not worry little human, I will kill you quickly if you wish." Xago started for him again, but this time Antoine knew he could not stand against him with brute strength.
Xago brought his sword down as Antoine rolled forward digging the dagger into the orc’s massive thighs. Xago was bleeding badly now with another open wound. The blood loss made him see double and Antoine took advantage of his disability. Xago swung wildly trying to connect. Each missed swing drained him; Antoine just had to make sure he was one step ahead. Xago missed and Antoine was behind him, plunging the dagger repeatedly into the orc's side, then lept out of the way of his swinging elbow.
"Do you see your end Xago? Today belongs to the Light."
Xago unleashed a furious roar, turning and jabbing one right after the other, but Antoine blocked each one. He dropped and swept the orc's legs out from under him. He fell with a thud and Antoine climbed on top of him, driving the dagger into his chest over and over. Antoine slowly rolled off his motionless body, trying to catch his breath.
Andrea had been watching from a distance, she ran to see if he was all right. "Antoine! Can you move? Speak to me!" Tears flowed staining her ebony cheeks.
Antoine let out a low grunt. "I'm fine. We need to help Gab. . ."
As he said this, Xago planted a blade into his shoulder, barely missing Antoine's head. Andrea screamed, jumped to her feet and beheaded the orc. Even in death it took all Andrea had to pry his hand from the hilt. Once she pulled the blade from Antoine's body, she helped him up.
George had sprinted outside to help Aliz'Ra with the minions. He found more than he expected. "Aliz'Ra where do you need me?" George asked and saw a beautiful elven woman look his way.
"George? By the Gods, it is you." He did not recognize this woman.
"Do I know you? Have we met before, my lady?" George asked. His mind flooded with an illusion he saw in Casterton. Could this really be his mother, not some vision of her?
"Yes, I am your mother and I have waited a long time to talk to you again."
George lowered his sword and lost where he was for a moment as he walked toward her. He smiled and held his hand out to her. She gave him a reassuring glance and reached for him. Just as they are about to embrace George's eyes widen and he looked down. An orc had speared the unsuspecting warrior and the tip was through his chest.
"No!" Valindra shouted.
Aliz'Ra pointed at the orc and burned him to ashes. George dropped to his knees as Valindra held him.
"Please, hold them back for a moment," she asked Aliz'Ra with tears filling her eyes.
Elos had said that in the bloodlines of the elves everyone had a gift. Valindra's gift was that of a healer. She pulled the spear from George's back and his blood started to spill everywhere.
"I never knew you, but I’ve always loved you." Valindra touched his lips to his forehead and told him to not talk and lay still. She placed her hands over the wound and started to chant a series of magical words. The elven healer began to glow warmly.
"Valindra, are you sure?" Aliz'Ra asked.
"He is my son; I would gladly give everything in me for him." She closed her eyes. As the tears ran down her cheeks and fell from her face, they took flight around them like fireflies at night. "Nala shon, ella teka. Nala min, teh ife." Valindra spoke these words and George inhaled the magic flying around them.
His wounds started to close, and the bleeding stopped. George opened his eyes and saw Valindra holding him, "What happened? Are you alright my lady?"
She smiled and said, "I am now, my precious boy." Those words echoed throughout his memories, he remembered hearing that as a baby. George smiled at her and was out again from the pain.
"Get h
im to safety until he can regain all his strength," Aliz'Ra ordered.
Valindra helped him to his feet and led him to a tree line out of sight. As the battle waged on, Aliz'Ra's focus shifted to a stranger fighting against the orcs. He left none standing as he walked toward them. She recognized the blade he was using, it was an ancient guardian blade, used by elven warriors who were blessed with extraordinary powers. The blades harnessed the power to unleash the warrior's inner juggernaut. When they held the guardian blade, they were unstoppable warriors, but they were long killed by Craotonus in the first War of the Gods. Who was this stranger?
Elos saw Andrea helping Antoine from the battlefield as well as fight off other minions. He rushed over and put Antoine’s other arm around his shoulders and helped to move him.
"He is bleeding pretty bad, we have to stop it," Andrea exclaimed.
Elos took his sword and held the blade in his bare hands, the steel turning red hot. "Hold him steady, this is going to hurt." Elos pressed the blade against Antoine's skin fusing the wound closed. "Here, make him take these herbs, they will help him regain his strength faster." Elos gave Andrea a pouch and a flask of water, "I must see to the others." He ran back to the battlefield helping whoever he could.
Barrok and Zachery landed in front of the castle gates, readying a barrier the minions could not pass. "We need to make sure all these guys are dealt with." Zachery told Barrok, who unleashed a bloodcurdling roar and a swipe of his tail sending a group of minions crashing into a wall. Zachery asked Cassy to hold tight, he patted Barrok and said, "Let them have it!" Barrok sent a pillar of dragon fire into the mote, setting the water to boil.
Every minion that tried to cross the fire was instantly killed. A loud, resonating sound filled the air and black and purple smoke swirled above the castle courtyard.
Craotonus stood in the center. "I have had enough fun this day. The time has come to end this!" He held the Shadow Bone blade pointed toward Barrok. A bolt of pure shadow hit the beast, knocking it away from the gates, sending Zachery and Cassy flying from his back. "Honor your master! Kill them all, feed me their souls." Craotonus spread his wings and held the Shadow Bone high in the air. All of the minion's eyes began to smolder, as if they were on fire. Every one of them left the fight and ran for the courtyard, surrounding their master. "Son of Akadius, when I feed on your soul, I shall become invincible!"
The Bad Seed Page 26
