More and more soldiers had arrived at Crastine as they came closer to the departure. Basil was walking with Antonio and Rowan together with their horses. They had packed bedroll, tents and other equipment for the journey ahead. They were waiting at the Letholdus statue looking at the soldiers that had just arrived. From among the chunk of soldiers came Magnus, Leonard and Andre together with their own horses towards the three boys. They greeted each other and mounted their horses as they began moving towards the northern gate.
“So what’s the plan?” Rowan asked Leonard while trying rearranging the package to become more even for his brown horse. “A dark animal or beast have been seen near the town of Lerca, a small bit up Turrun. A local shepherd saw the animal but fled back to the village before taking any risk. The local militia looked further into it and found some dead animals and rotten plants. So they contacted the order and it became a mission for us hunter knights to investigate and deal with the problem if possible.” Magnus coughed “Lesser hunter knights”. Leonard raised his fist towards Magnus who laughed back. “I didn’t ask you to follow me out there” Leonard said while riding further forward in the group. “We are not going out there for your sake. We are going with you to have a good time in the wild while letting the girls have some time on their own. For some of us this might be the last time we see the nature of Lisakdonia after all.
They had left Crastine in the morning and the sun had already disappeared beneath the horizon when they arrived in Lerca. They set up camp outside of the town close to the Turrun river. There were no hopes in searching the area in the dark. After they had set up the camp, Rowan and Leonard went out to search for firewood while the other four went down to the river to fish. The last sunlight in the horizon disappeared just after the moon ascended over the sky, covering the area in calm light. Rowan and Leonard came later back with the firewood and set up a fire. The boys continued to fish and eat and have a good time late into the evening. At one moment they heard a pack of wolves howling to the moon followed by another howling sound. The boys decided to go to bed while two would keep guard. Basil and Magnus began the guard duty.
Ten days until departure to Lalden
The night turned to morning. The fire was almost extinguished when Antonio woke Basil, Magnus, Rowan and Leonard. Andre had seen something further up a cliff that had disappeared further up. Something animal like but with yellow eyes. They formed three groups. Rowan and Leonard would ride up towards the cliff. Basil, Magnus and Antonio would ride into the forest and search for the trace that had been mentioned the day before. Andre would go to the town and talk to the guards to gather more information. Then they set off. Basil, Antonio and Magnus rode up to the cliff where the animal had been seen. The path there was rather steep but not too much trouble. Well up on the cliff they found nothing else but a lone tree and some old bones from a deer stuck beneath a boulder. They continued along the Cliffside for two kilometers without founding anything that was out of the ordinary. They came to a part of the cliff where there had been a landslide earlier so the ground appeared to be quite unstable.
“If the animal came here it must have continued up towards the mountain or down the unstable ground. No matter which one we can’t bring the horses if we decided to follow the path up unless we turn back here.” Magnus said as he jumped off the horse and approached a path upwards too steep for a horse. Antonio and Basil also dismounted their horses and looked around to see if there was somewhere else the animal could have escaped. Basil walked towards the landslide too look closer but stepped a little too close. The ground beneath him cracked and he fell down along the landslide. He did not fall long before he landed on the ground and continued to glide down the steep ground. He stopped at the edge of the forest which was at least twenty meters beneath Antonio and Magnus. “Basil! Are you okay?! Magnus shouted while avoiding the edge of the cliff. “I’m fine!” “Try to remain where you are! We’ll turn back and come and get you from beneath the cliff. Magnus shouted before they mounted their horses and took Nadja with them back along the cliff.
Basil sat down on a broken tree stump as he waited. He only had his sword as his shield were hanging on the saddle on Nadja. As he waited he drew out his sword and held it up towards the sun which made the steel reflect the light like a silver mirror. He noticed a slight shimmer of yellow on the blade. He looked towards the forest and saw two yellow eyes starring towards him from within the shadows of the trees. Basil got a cold feeling through his left arm and decided to pursue the animal rather than waiting there. He ran towards the eyes that disappeared into the forest. As he ran he found a bunch of blood soaked bones and wool spread across a small area. Looking at the sheep remains his arm began to hurt slightly. He held the flame song steady in his right hand as he continued down a path where more bones and wool lied. The pain in his left arm became more intense and began to disrupt his focus. He grabbed his sword firmly and channeled the white flame. He began to realize that it had been a dumb idea to walk in here alone. He began walking towards the sun in the east where the camp was. Even with the burning flame the pain did not falter. Then suddenly a growling sound appeared from behind him. He turned towards it and came face to face with an approaching black wolf. The wolf looked exactly like the one that had attacked him and Lily as children. Another wolf appeared from behind him followed by more wolves that surrounded him.
Basil took burning Flame song with both his hands and held it over his shoulder. He growled back with anger at the wolves “Came at me if you dare! The sound of paws slamming at leaves and sticks came from behind him. He turned around with his sword swinging towards the attacking wolf. The strike hit it straight on cleaving its upper body off. Basil shouted in anger as the dead wolf landed on the other side. The other wolves now attacked him together. Basil struck down the two first ones that attacked but was overrun by the third. He dropped his sword and landed at the ground. The wolf tried to attack Basil’s head who struggled to keep the wolf away from him. The wolf tried forcefully to get in a bite while another wolf ran around to attack Basil from the other side. Basil took his left hand that was in pain and grabbed the wolf’s head. He screamed as he channeled the white flame through the arm. He held onto the struggling wolf who tried to get out of his grip. The other wolf now attacked Basil from behind him and managed to scratch his left ear. Basil used his free right hand to force back the attacking wolf as he screamed. He used all his energy and focused it through his left arm. The wolf screamed as white flames burst out of its head and it stopped moving.
Basil took the wolf’s body and threw it back towards the other wolf before he raised himself up onto his legs. The wolves kept their distance from Basil. Basil screamed with fury at the wolves. Basil was so exhausted that he only managed to keep himself on his own legs by adrenaline alone now so the wolves just had to wait. Basil was shaking of anger and adrenaline as he tried to think of a plan. The wolves changed their focus towards the east just before two horses appeared attacking the wolves. Magnus and Antonio managed to strike one wolf down before the others ran away. Basil fell down on his knees. “Antonio, help him to Lerca and watch over him. I continue to chase after the wolves.” Antonio nodded to Magnus’ order and helped Basil up on his horse to bring him to the town. Basil’s left ear was bleeding but nothing worse than a slight wound. Antonio joked with the exhausted Basil about how Basil should share his action a little. Basil chuckled while trying to not collapse. They got to Lerca where Basil got to rest for a couple of hours with Antonio’s company.
When the sun went down in the evening, Magnus, Leonard, and some other people, two of which appeared to also be knights, returned to the town. Rowan was being helped by two guards as he seemed to have been wounded by something and was in worse condition than Basil. “What happened?” Antonio asked Magnus who seemed very much tired. “It was a large Prokéd. The beast attacked Rowan and would have fallen offer if not Kaylin here had saved his skin. Magnus pointed towards a female knight that was riding beside Leonard and some other male knight. The beast is at least dead and the wolves as well. If there are anyone left roaming it is up to the town guard to deal with them now.” Magnus was not on his usually good mood which was quite understandable. Rowan was taken care of and they decided to spend the night in town instead of in their camp.
Nine days until departure to Lalden
The morning arrived. Rowan was still in bad condition but good enough to ride home. The town thanked the eight knights for their deeds before they departure. Kaylin and her male partner continued west instead of going with the boys so they wished each other good bye and set off home towards Crastine. The journey back took until the evening and as they came to the stables they were met by Janet, Alice, two other females and a dog. Alice was not very happy over something and did not get any happier when she saw Rowan in his condition. Alice went to Rowan and helped him off and put the horse in the stable “What happened with him?” Janet asked. “Ehm, long story. So what have you girls done these three days?” Antonio chuckled modestly. ”It’s a long story, But we got time if you got time, and we know that you got time.” Janet responded. So the group put the horses in the stable and went to speak about their adventure.
The boys left in the morning for their Lerca. Janet and Alice who had nothing planned for that day decided to ride out of Crastine as well. They met up with the two girls that were friends with Magnus’ gang which they had met a couple of days earlier at The eagle’s nest. Helen was a brown haired 25 year old battle knight just like Magnus. Aelia was a 26 year old captain knight from Kelmatein so she had their natural red hair. She was the oldest daughter of seven in a noble family without sons. Even though Helen was rather friendly, Janet quickly became more comfortable with Aelia since she had a charm that was very similar to Antonio. A typical trait among the Kelmateins, also she was quick on deciding where they would ride during their trip. During their trip they came across an old dying man that had been mugged. He had a young dog with him that was unable to help his master. The man begged the girls to take care of his dog, Sam. The girls took care of the dog and helped the man home but he died before they reached the house. The man had no family except an angry brother so they kept the dog without telling him about it.
They decided to return to Crastine and so they did. They shared to take care of Sam during the rest of the day while doing things on their own or together. Ten days until departure to Lalden This morning Janet spent together with Aelia and Sam on the order’s courtyard and training facility before they turned to hand over Sam to Alice and Helen at the library. Aelia decided to take the opportunity while they were there to look up a little about Lalden. Alice was reading her usual books about spells while Helen was writing some letters, probably to her family. Janet sat down with Aelia who red out load about Lalden which Alice was not very fond of. Alice asked in a rather rude tone to be quite but Janet took the book from Aelia and read even louder to mess with Alice. Alice blamed Janet for reading too little and thus had a weak wind. Janet responded that Alice spent too much time reading and thus was weaker in direct combat than the others. The quarrel continued until Helen had enough and proposed that the girls decide in the arena by combat which one was correct. The two agreed. However the small arena was occupied for the rest of the day so they had to take it the day after.
Nine days until departure to Lalden As the sun reached its highest point. The four girls together with Sam and a few spectators arrived in the small wooden arena. They equipped themselves in the specific armor and the blunt white swords specific for knight duels before they met inside the circle of the arena. Aelia informed the few spectators of the two fighters and the fight began. Since it was a duel. There was no real risk in hurting the opponent with the blunt blade but the white flame and Alice’s spells could. So they had to use their spells sparingly to avoid hurting their opponent severely or they would be punished equally harsh. Alice began the fight by casting force spells which were usually effective without hurting the opponent too much. Janet was on her hand not defenseless against the spells as she could “cut” through them with her flame as she tried to avoid most of them. Alice was a relatively skilled spell caster for her age but the white flame was by the wizards at the academy considered a professional class spell so it would not be beaten by simple force spells.
Alice turned to more professional spells such as limb burden and mind seize but as she quickly noticed, Janet was better with the flame than Rowan so the spells did very little effect. Janet moved over the ground holding her sword towards Alice to protect herself from her spells. Alice took drew her own sword and channeled the flame as Janet came to strike towards her. Janet lower the intensity of her flame just as she struck to avoid risking harming Alice too much. The swords clashed with equal force but Janet was a better swordsman as well so she managed to make a quick maneuver with her sword to twist Alice’s sword out of her hand. Alice, who did not want to lose to Janet pushed her hands towards Janet as she channeled a fire ball to force Janet back. The fire wasn’t very powerful but Janet did not take the risk and remain close to Alice so she backed off and raised her sword. Alice realized that she was the underdog by the rules. Her non-harming spells were too weak of impact to penetrate Janet’s shield and her other spells were either too weak to penetrate or too dangerous to use in the arena.
Alice continued to cast less intensive spells as Janet moved around the ground. Janet then moved towards Alice as earlier. Alice threw a small fire ball before she channeled both her hands with different spells. A great fire ball in one and a force spell in the other. Janet would definitely avoid the fire ball and be hit by the force spell. She threw the ball which Janet avoid by rolling on the ground but before Alice threw the force spell Janet threw her sword at Alice and hit her breast plate. Alice groaned as Janet rolled over Alice sword and took it up. She stood up and pushed Alice down and jumped on top of her with her sword over her neck indicating that she had won. Alice was grumpy and in a bad mood for the rest of the day until the boys came back in the evening. Janet however was in a spectacularly good mood. She managed to silence Alice for a day which was a price in itself.
More knights and soldiers from the eastern coast, Megatus, Milusium and the surrounding regions arrived each day to Crastine for the upcoming departure to Lalden. The day was spent in the training facility to get to know other knights which they would fight together with in Lalden and Stelladora. Basil and the others met new friends and rivals from mainly Megatus and Milisium but also Akeine, Febala and even Sepakius.
Seven and six days until departure to Lalden
If they were not training and getting to know their new companions they were showing the newly arrived knights were they would sleep for the week. Otherwise they were doing chores or other smaller missions.
Five days until departure to Lalden
Almost everyone that had been assigned or voluntarily planned for the mission ahead had now arrived. This day the people of Crastine would get to see those that would departure in just five days. Queen Yiadelle, the order masters and the generals would hold a speech to those assigned. Basil and the other guys had just managed to put on their armors when the girls stepped inside the room to get them. They met up with a larger group of knights, probably a hundred or so. They walked out from the order’s barracks and out on the busy streets. Civilians, mostly Crastiniens but also from other parts of Lisakdonia greeted them and some followed them as they walked towards the western plaza. Soldiers were walking the streets to keep order among the civilians and give more easy access for the knights.
When they got to the plaza they were met with a formation of 35,000 soldiers or so. The statue in the middle and the houses around the plaza were decorated with flags and a large crowd of civilians stood behind the formation of soldiers and at the sides. Assigned guards were preventing the civilians from coming to close to the army. The soldiers in the formation were all facing towards the stairs and platform before a large mansion where more flags stood. Basil was taken by the pure scale. They had known that the invasion of Stelladora was a big deal but it was not until now that a visual image was given for the scale. The line of knights walked beside the large formation of soldiers to the front where a separated group of knights stood in formation. The knights took their position among the knights and waited. The next twenty minutes more knights arrived to the formation.
After the formation of knights had been complete the doors to the mansion opened. First came eight flag bearers that took their position towards the army with flags in their hands. Followed by them came eight royal guardian knights. Basil recognized most of them since not all of them were positioned in Crastine usually. After the royal guardians came Queen Yiadelle, Master Gorbeniac, master Maria, master Galahad, two other masters, general Nicholas, Sylvester, Walter and a bunch others. They took their positions. Yiadelle began by telling the knights, soldiers and the civilians welcome but it was General Nicholas who spoke mainly. He spoke about the dire need that Lalden was in for their help. The crimes that Stelladora had committed by breaking the peace and they spoke how they did not seek to harm Stelladora but to end this pointless war. They spoke about the history of Lisakdonia and the pride the people hold their soldiers and knights in. He spoke about the fear and sadness that covered the kingdom after the Margeficus attacked and much more.
Nicholas later gave the word to Sylvester, Gorbeniac and others. One of highly interest was a woman from Milisium that would join as second in command under Nicholas for the Lalden liberation. The speech continued for almost two hours and was only paused now and then for the soldiers and knight to do some coordinated maneuver to impress the crowd. When the speech was over the speech holders returned inside the mansion followed by the guardians. The soldiers and knights turned around towards the crowd before they set off to either speak with the crowd or go back to their usual deeds.
Four, three days until departure to Lalden
The next day was spent going through the plan for the operation. The different division captains were called to the generals to go through the strategies, logistics, equipment, etc. The knights were given more information regarding if they would work within division or as freelancers within the army during the Lalden liberation. Only a few handfuls of knights would participate directly in the fighting unless necessary. Other times were used to train to keep the body prepared for the fighting ahead. Otherwise the time was used for small chores or free time.
Two days until departure to Lalden Basil and Antonio stepped out from the tailor. They both held packages in their hands. Since all knights had the day off hey decided to take a walk down the harbor where some knights had planned some games or something. The Harbor was more calm than usual since the trade has been temporarily moved so the military could get free access to the harbor. Even though the departure was only two days away the harbor was not yet filled with ships of the army but only a few. Almost the entire navy was located in Frejdan. Many of the ships could even be seen from Crastine in the distance. Basil and Antonio walked to the location that the specified location and found a hundred or so people singing or trying to. They were practicing songs to the gods for good fortune during the operation.
Janet who was among the groups noticed the two boys and ran off to them. She noted the two packages. “Really? You know there is only one day left and you decided to take them today. What if they are the wrong seizes?” Antonio responded. ”Well. Ehm. We did not think about that. At least we got these today. Rowan haven’t even gotten his yes.”
To which Janet responded. “Rowan have not grown out of his old ones yet.” Antonio was looking over his package as Basil spoke up. “How about you then Janet. Have you tried yours yet?” The knights were continuing to practice a new song in the background that made Janet eager. “I have had it for three weeks. You’ll see tomorrow. Now let’s practice a little. I doubt anyone would feel honored if you forgot your lines in the heat.”
Janet took the boys’ hands and walked back to the singing knights.
As the night approached. Basil went out to an florist before he made night.
The boy who met seven gods – Chapter 16: The last day
Dark grey clouds swept over Crastine followed by heavy rain. Basil, Antonio, Alice, Rowan, Magnus, Andre and Aelia began to run to avoid being wet. Leonard walked as usually without any care for the rain. Helen held a hand over her head and Janet welcomed the rain that swept over her. Antonio and Aelia chuckled over Leonard’s adamant behavior and Janet’s cheerfulness. They were not far away now, only fifty meters or so. Janet and Helen began to move faster as the others ran towards the large house. “Are you sure Magnus that they let me and Leonard in today?” Andre asked Magnus just before they stepped through the doors. “No better way to find out than to find out I guess” Magnus responded as he shook water from his hair.
They stepped inside a large lobby mostly of white marble and red cedar. An old male supervisor welcomed them. After the Leonard stepped inside the old man assigned two assistants, one male and one female to lead them to their respective section. The walked further into the building before they divided at a pathway into dressing room doors. The women went into the right and the men into the left. Sound of laughter and speeches could be heard from further within and the air became more humid. After they had removed their clothed they handed their belongings to two servants in the hallway behind the dressing room and before the bath.
After they were finished and had given their belongings to the servants they stepped out into the main bath. Magnus walked directly to the marble wall on the right that had an opening just beneath the roof. “Have fun now girls!” He shouted towards the opening. Someone that sounded like Aelia responded with “Thanks. The same now for you boys!” The two groups laughed slightly. “See. There were no problems like I said” Magnus said while bunching into Andre. “You never said anything to guarantee that we would get inside” Andre responded by jokingly push Magnus back. The bath house was filled with men sitting in baths laughing and speaking. Most of them were somewhere around the 30’s and probably half of them were knights while the others were captains, supervisors, lieutenants and other military or logistically responsible people together with a few nobles. In a separate section of the bath were some generals, commanders and some high nobles. The boys found a fitting bath were they could sit down and just relax for an hour in the warm water.
After an hour of a relaxing bath a servant came by and told them “Gentlemen, the performance will begin in less than an hour. Don’t be late” The boys went up and dressed into their formalwear for the upcoming performance. Rowan dressed in black pants and a black shirt. Above the shirt he wore a purple formal jacket with yellow buttons that ended at his waist. His shoes were short and black with brown leather beltings. Magnus wore dark blue pants, black shoes but with a white shirt. On top he wore a white suit that ended at his waist but had a tail that ended just beneath the backside of his knees. On the back he had a red lion sewn in with what looked like light yellow flames bursting out from its mane. Antonio wore dark brown leather boots, dark green pants and a golden shirt. On top he wore a green overcoat that reached all the way down half his boots. The coat’s was decorated with golden markings especially around his neck and at breast height. A rather usual style among average noble Kelmatein men. Basil wore black short shoes, silver grey pants and shirt. On top he wore a red jacket similar to Rowan’s but slightly longer. The jacket had white buttons and other white decorations. At last Basil took a white purple lily that he had gotten the day before and put it in his small breast pocket. Andre and leonard had managed to get into the bath but their names would not be on the list for the performance so they had no formal wear to war.
They walked out of the dressing room back to the lobby. It had almost stopped raining completely outside so they all went outside instead of taking the indoor hallway to the side building that was connected to the bath through a small section in between courtyards. A quite significant amount of people had begun to move towards the large performance house through the courtyard. Andre gave a hand gesture towards Magnus “Have fun tonight and we’ll see you tomorrow before the departure.”Magnus gave an equal hand gesture to Leonard and Andre before they walked down the street. Only a few drops of rain still fell outside as the four boys waited for the girls to arrive from the bath. Only a few moments later the four girls stepped outside of the bath house.
Helen came out first through the doors. She wore a wine red and white dress with a special silver necklace looking piece around her neck that held dress firmly while leaving her outer shoulders and arms free. She wore a short red glove on her left hand but a long sleeved glove on her right arm. The dress did not reach as a whole piece down the legs, instead it separated into two parts that covered the legs outsides but not completely the inside so it was visible that she wore white leggings beneath. Aelia wore a more standard blue dress with a golden center leading from her neck and widening beneath her waist. Her left shoulder was free but her right shoulder was covered by a short cape looking piece of cloth with a version of Lisakdonia’s logo on it indicating her knight captain statues. Alice wore a simple purple dress with a crystal opening over her heart area revealing a green gem necklace and her female structure. Janet was dressed in a cyan dress with white long sleeves at her arms. The section between the white arms and cyan dress was tailored with a golden decoration. The same around her neck and waist.
Alice was quick at walking over to Rowan and force him up from the stone he was sitting on and grab his arm. Magnus chuckled over the action before he bowed and offered his hand to Helen who accepted. Janet moved slightly quitter to grab Basil’s arm after seeing the other two pairs formed. Antonio looked around slightly confused before he turned to Aelia asking her for her hand by trying to be as charming as possible and adding a wink. The others including Aelia chuckled by the over the top wink. Aelia moved into Antonio while grabbing his arm with such force that he almost fell. “Come now charm boy. Let’s have some Kelmatein fun this evening!” They then walked to the large entrance and into a decorated lobby with a large double stair in the center. A young man behind a desk asked for the eight’s full name and profession upon which he made eight marks in the book.
They then steeped beside the large stairs through a large door and into an auditorium. The scene was covered with a large red curtain and the room was filled with voices from probably soon to be two or three thousand knights, nobles etc. This was an event for those that would departure to Stelladora tomorrow and other involved after all. Well, everyone except the low or average ranked soldiers. The eight found some good seats where they sat down in their formed pairs. The time passed and after almost twenty minutes a conductor came out on scene where he bowed to the audience and wished everyone welcome and that they would soon see a spectacular performance. Now the opera could begin.
The audience turned silent and as the conductor moved to a rather an orchestra beneath the scene. The orchestra began to play a calm song as the curtains began to move aside. The scene was empty except for one middle aged woman wearing a gold and red dress of magnificent standard a slightly younger man who wore a royal black costume. They stood towards the audience at a slight angle with both wearing a cape slightly outwards. The man’s cape bore the emblem of Friyena while the woman’s cape bore Lisakdonia’s coat of arms. They both bowed slightly towards the audience and then towards each other to reveal the capes better. The man then walked back in unison with three drum sounds as he rose out his left arm while moving his right arm forward. On the third step he began to sing with an opera’s stature and tone. “Tir karvusol tenor tir caerhan kavidia!”
The woman moves forward towards the man with three steps as another set of three drum sounds. “Av lys erien! Lys vida tir caerhan! After the first song was over the man moved out of stage as some staff members removed a screen at the back revealing a wall with a painted coast. The woman moved back closer to the wall as a ship looking model was being seemingly pushed out onto the scene. On the ship stood a couple of performers in old classic soldier armor and a princess performer. On the ship were banners of Akdonia. The orchestra began playing a calm song again. Then pirate performers attacked the ship and the music turned quicker with the singer singing faster as well. Soldier after soldier fell to the pirates until another ship with Lisienan soldiers came onto the scene. The music and song now became more hopeful as the newly arrived soldiers began to fight the pirates and finally win. Some of the captains began to raise their hands as they noticed the princess but a prince among them helped her up instead and led her onto his ship.
The curtains began to cover up once again with the princess in the arms of the prince. After a minute or so the next song began and curtains opened up now revealing the interior of a castle. An old man was speaking with his son that was played by the male singer from earlier. The son was not happy. He swung his arm in anger before the king as he began to sing that he was disappointed in his father. He then left the scene. A few moments later the king was attacked by some covered up men and dragged out of the scene. Soon after a bed was being pushed onto the scene in which the king lied. The princess, now pregnant and the prince talked to the dying king while the son stood in a dark corner. The princess left the scene crying when the king dropped dead. The prince kissed the prince on his forehead before the son came in singing threatening while facing the prince. A group of soldiers came after and took away the prince. The son ended his line by ordering the soldiers to have the prince executed for murder.
In the next scene and song the princess was crying over her bed and the son was there singing and pretending to care for her before he led her away. Outside of scene the woman screamed of pain. The scene thereafter the princess was lying in a bed stained with blood with nurses helping her. The son was singing as he entered the scene that the crown would soon be his. The nurses took out a baby looking doll from the bed between the princess’ legs. The son apologized to his sister before he walked out of scene with a smile. The nurses then later took out another doll now to the sound of a crying baby. The scene ended and in the next scene the son was sitting on a throne and about to be crowned. The son was singing in pleasure on his throne surrounded by his followers but he then became interrupted by another male singer. Onto the scene came a bunch of soldiers and a singing captain that told about the newly born child and the princess’ order to have the son executed.
The next songs represented other historic moments of Lisakdonia. One song began not with any of the opera singers but another female singer that had a more gentle voice. She was dressed as a princess and was sitting in a garden smelling the flowers. Then multiple people began to shout from outside the scene and the princess decided to hide. The female opera singer appeared beside her and took over the singing. The male singer then appeared dressed as Sir Pavyel followed by performers playing the royal family. The singer led the family to a door but they were unable to open it. Soldiers began to surround the royal family and two guards. Then by order they executed them as the female singer was singing beside them. The male singer looked through the bodies and noticed that the princess was not there. He cried out in song and anger. Find the princess or we will have failed. The soldiers moved out of the scene and he followed soon after. The princess was sitting in her hiding place unknowing about what had happened. Then an unknown soldier appeared at the scene. He was looking for something and then he found her. He tried to take her with him but she refused. After a little while he managed to persuade her and they fled out of the scene to the singer’s song.
In the next scene the location was a completely different. The soldier was sitting before the princess trying to offer his loyalty and service but she refused. The soldier tried to convince her but she was adamant in her fear and sadness over losing her family. The soldier gave up and walked away to a shrine further away. He sat down and prayed. After some time the female singer appeared now dressed like Friyena. She sang to the soldier who remained on his knees. She then took out a sword and gave it to him. He accepted the sword and she disappeared. The soldier now knighted took down a banner with Friyena’s symbol from the wall and went outside the scene. The following scene illustrated him fighting soldiers and hiring new knights that followed him like a wildfire. The last scene he appeared towards a large amount of soldiers. He raised the sword in his hands and it began to glow. It was slightly obvious that the large flame was mainly caused by some oil since it did not last very long and had a green root at the blade. More than half of the soldiers turned side. After the battle Reynold’s performer met and dueled Sir Payvel’s. A battle which he won.
The next song was about the Margeficus’ attack upon Crastine. The dragon was represented with a large wooden model that spewed flames. The dragon defeated many soldiers and knights until the second commander sacrificed his life to give time for the civilians. Soon after the female singer appeared again as Friyena. She sung towards the dragon with spear in her hand. The dragon responded with the voice of both male singers. The dragon seemed to be impossible to beat until the female singer took up a half spear and sang out while holding it high. White lightning appeared and she threw the spear at the dragon that crumbled and disappeared behind the scene. The following song represented Lalden being attacked by Stelladora. As Lalden began to lose, an army of Lisakdonia appeared to the sound of cheers from the audience and pushed the Stelladorans back. The song continued with how the Lisakdonians win battle after battle with the Stelladorans before reaching Grailline and Zeislanta were they demand the longed for peace. The performers cheered in victory as the curtains closed and the orchestra began playing a slow and somewhat scary song before the curtains moved aside again.
When the curtains was being moved aside for the next song the wall in the back reveal a night sky but with a black sun. The song was now much colder and scarier. The female and male singers were standing on the scene now singing with fear as figures began to move around them. The figures were performers covered in black cloths that behaved like mindless monsters. A couple of soldiers appeared and managed to defend the singers from the monsters but many of the soldiers fell before they managed to retreat. The scenes revealed the difficulty that the soldiers had to defeat the monsters. The knights appeared as heroes as they slayed monster after monster but not without problems. The music became faster and faster together with the singing. Then the music and song stopped and a new large black clothed figure appeared on scene to the whispers “Septhis”.
The many knights attacked Septhis but they were easily defeated. The music began very mildly as well as the singers. Then the music and singers raiser their volumes as white light covered the scene and Friyena’s performer appeared. She fought against Septhis but she appeared to lose so the knights that had retreated charged again towards Septhis, fighting together with Friyena. After a tough fight, Friyena thrust her spear through Septhis. Septhis fell and the other monster ran away to the cheers of the knights.
The curtains began to cover the scene again before it revealed the next scene were the sun was back at the background. All of the performers now stood on scene. The singers began to sing with the music followed by the others. They sang a celebrating song named. “Lys avien non Miviniar”. Dawn of Miviniar, the day of freedom, safety, hope and all that is good. The day when the evil Septhis has perished and the world can live in peace without fear of the abyssal monsters anymore. Antonio poked Basil slightly. “That is what we fight for.” After the song and music had ended the performers and the orchestra stood up and bowed to the audience’s applauds. When the applauds ended the girl that had played princess Julia walked to the front of the scene.
Without any music she began to sing “Ren alvus.”. The other singers began to sing with her after the first piece and so did many of the knights in the audience with more and more following until almost everyone was singing. After the song both the performers and the audience bowed before they left the opera and went outside of the auditorium. Out in the lobby before the closed door stood the receptionist and some other staff pointing everyone in a direction to a now opened door at the side. The door led to a short hallway that led into a large ball room. One side of the room was occupied with large long dining tables.
The other part was an empty dance floor just in front of an empty scene that would soon be occupied with the musical instruments from the opera. While staff members carried in the instruments the guests were offered to sit down at the tables. Men to the left and women to the right. The eight did not have any trouble finding a place since they already had made partners. Since of the 800 or so knights, only around 200 were female. So most knights got to sit down with some daughter, sister or other female relative to some noble or higher ranked knight. “Lucky those guys. The noble daughters have rather soft hands compared to the knight girls” Magnus pointed out as he looked from Helen’s gloves over across the tables. “Soft hands? Look who speaks. If I recall correctly you was the coward that decided to leave your position in Migeran.” Helen said with a snide tone as she double checked her gloves. “I did not. I moved to get to a greater opportunity. It’s not a coward’s act if it leads to a greater opportunity.”. Magnus tried to sound proud and experienced as he tried to defend his own skin.
“You keep saying that is if it would become a famous quote that people will follow in the future. If you want it to be famous then you better follow it yourself first Magnus.”
Magnus sneered over the tables as he saw master Gorbeniac raising up from his chair “Oh it’s time for the toast. He said as he grabbed his glass. Master Gorbeniac hit his glass with the fork to get everyone’s attention. He began to make a joke that only the older knights and nobles seemed to understand as they chuckled to it.
“My friends. I would like to wish you welcome but I don’t own the place so let me thank our dear queen Yiadelle for arranging this wonderful event. Now this is the last night most of you spend here in Crastine before you leave tomorrow for Lalden but know this. Even when everything turns dark and even if it feels hopeless, you are fighting for a good cause. You are fighting for peace and those that cannot fight for themselves. You will be the heroes when this turns to a tale that the children of Lalden tell each other at the campfire. But now I’m getting thirsty and hungry so everyone. Let’s enjoy this evening as if it was the last. For Lisakdonia, the queen and our goddess Friyena. Cheers! ” Almost everyone raised their glasses “For Lisakdonia, the queen and goddess Friyena!”
An hour later. Janet was now sitting beside Basil, Antonio, Aelia, Alice and Rowan looking out on the dance floor where Magnus and Helen were dancing among a hundred other couples. Aelia was looking rather eager where she was sitting until she stood up and almost dragged Antonio from the chair. “Come now! Let’s show these east coasters how you dance in the west.” Both Basil and Janet laughed as it was quite obvious that Antonio was not a good dancer. Basil looked at Janet and opened his hand to her. She grabbed it with a smile and they went out on the dance floor. The got a good location and stopped. Basil put his left hand at Janet’s lower back and took her hand with his right. Janet instead took Basil’s right hand and put on her upper back before she put her right arm around his shoulder and her left hand beneath his arm. Janet began swinging with Basil slightly to the rhythm of the music. The swinging turned to rotations of their upper bodies before Basil took a short right step slightly back followed by the left and then forward again. He then moved his right leg forward beside Janet while pushing her with his right shoulder and pulling her with his left hand as he took a slight back right step with his left foot.
“Basil you never told me you could dance.”. “I used to dance when I was young at the town festivals north of our home. “With Lily?” Basil did not answer but he nodded slightly. Janet pulled Basil tighter to her. She rested her head on his shoulder. Basil got Janet’s blonde hair in his face but he did not really mind. He let his chin rest on her head. Her hair smelled good and relaxing. Antonio shouted something but Basil did not listen. He wanted this moment in peace. He could feel Janet’s breath at his shoulder. Gentle and relax breathing. Antonio seemed to joyfully laugh before he walked away. The world around them became irrelevant almost nonexistent for Basil. He let his body move as his mind relaxed as it had not done in years. He did not know if time went faster or slower than usual. It felt strange to be so close to someone. It felt as if Janet was so close that she was inside him, a part of him. He did not really know what to feel or think but he knew that he wanted this moment to last. Her breath on his shoulder. Her hair under his nose. Her heartbeat close to his.
The evening was closing in towards midnight and the guest had begun to leave the event after giving their thanks to the staff. Alice, Rowan, Magnus and Helen had already left a while before. Antonio and Aelia were cracking jokes from their home as the group walked out of the opera house and down the street that was lit up by the white moon. Janet laughed with joy to their jokes as she had her left arm crossed with smiling Basil. The walk to the order’s barracks were not much longer than fifteen minutes but Janet and Basil instead decided to walk down to the harbor one last time. They wished Antonio and Aelia good night and then walked separated ways.
Even though it was very late the harbor was not silent. A couple of ships were docked. Sailors and some soldiers were busy carrying all kinds of goods up on them. Boxes, barrels, some animals such as horses and much more. Aside from the that activity the harbor was very calm and silent. In the distance the Frejdan light house was burning and the structures of the islands could be seen from the lights. Basil and Janet sat down to watch out over the Fredjan sea that reflected the light from the moon like a silver pillar on its surface. Janet leaned onto Basil resting her head on his shoulder.
“Tomorrow might be the last time we see Crastine and Lisakdonia, our home. This might be the last time we can sit here together. “It might be, yes.” ”I don’t want it to be that way. Basil. Let’s make a promise.” “A promise?” “Yes. Let’s make a promise that whatever happens in Lalden and Stelladora that we both make it out ok. That we both return to Crastine so that we can sit here together again.” Basil looked at Janet and out onto the sea. He then opened his arms and embraced Janet. “I Promise.” -------------------------------------------
The sun was rising over Crastine. The doors to the order’s stable opened and Antonio and Basil stepped out with their horses packaged with bags and other necessities. Their respectively cape was lying on top of the bag on their horses, a detailed they had been ordered to do. Rowan, Alice and Magnus came after with their horses equally packaged. They met Janet, Helen and their horses at the gates before they left to walk to the docks. The streets were filled with soldiers carrying their bags on their shoulders heading towards the harbor. Through the masses they met up with Andre and Leonard who joined them. “Where is that other red haired girl?” Rowan asked. “Aelia. She is a captain so she got a little special treatment.” Magnus said before he continued to speak to Andre and Leonard.
The harbor was crowded with soldiers, civilians and others. The civilians wanted to say good bye to their loved ones before they left, maybe forever. The water outside of the harbor was full with ships as well as on docked to the harbor. The air was filled with the voices of crying families, sailors shouting and captains giving orders. “So which ship is our ship?” Janet asked. “Aelia said she had signed us all onto Phaeton III.” said Magnus. They walked further away until someone shouted. “Eyy! Magnus. Here!” It was Aelia that shouted from on top of a ship at the edge. The group began to move towards the ship between the busy soldiers and civilians. They wished Andre and Leonard good bye and good luck before they stepped up onto the bridge to Phaeton III. They led their horses down beneath deck to their intended location before they put their packages into their respectively room where four double beds had been mounted. It might not be like home but it is far better than what the ordinary soldiers got. They spent the rest of their time on deck playing a game with the sailors that went out to trap or knock out an opponent’s painted rocks with one own.
More knights stepped up on the ship as time passed by, all being noted in a book before they could bring down their horses, if they had any. Ships had left and docked the harbour further down during the time but Phaeton remained together with a couple of other ships. The day turned to afternoon before a loud horn sounded off from somewhere. The sailors and some knights quickly got back to work. They raised the bridge to the dock and climbing up towards the sail but not releasing them until they had drifted away a good distance from the harbour. At a good distance they lowered one sail and later the others. They sailed towards the Frejdan islands were a bunch of other ships set out before them. In the lead were the two ships, The Altina and Vireden that carried the generals and commanders of the operation. General Nicholas Celsus was on the Atlina together with Caerellia, Jackhel, Decius and some others. General Sylvester Solum was on the other ship together with Lucius, Kaidon, Annia, some others and also an almost unknown commander by the name of Victor Qentimus.
Basil looked back towards Crastine that they moved further away from. It became difficult to see Crastine as most of the hundred fifty ships were between them and the city as the moved between the Fredjan islands. The very top of the palace was still visible as they moved out on open sea from Frejdan a long time later. Basil and the others looked towards Crastine as it disappeared beneath the horizon just before the sun settled. Now there is only open sea for almost two weeks before they arrive in Lalden.
The boy who met seven gods – Chapter 17: Liberation
A large burning ball of many flew through the afternoon sky before it slammed into a tower of Valdune. From behind the stone walls other burning ball was thrown back towards the besieging army. The air around the walls was filled with smoke and arrows from the Stelladoran soldiers on them and Lisakdonian & Laldenien soldiers beneath them. The Lisakdonian soldiers moved forward behind large wooden shields as they shot towards the Stelladorans to give room for another group of soldiers that moved under a defensive canopy towards the gate house. There they would attach vials of liquid frost which would weaken the iron enough to be breached.
On a safe distance from the fighting were the majority of the besieging army, the commanders and knights waiting. Basil and the others had just received a bowl of soup on which they dined around a camp fire as they watched the soldiers approaching the gate house in the distance and the siege that continued to bombard the walls. The only ones except those responsible for the siege equipment that were active regarding the siege were a number of commanders and overseers. One of the commanders that seemed to command the main attack was standing with a couple of small flags. When the canopy came close enough to the gate the commander raised a flag upon which the soldiers began shooting more aggressively towards the Stelladorans on and around the gate house to give room for a few soldiers to run out of the canopy over the broken lowering bridge and to the gate with the vials and place them before breaking them. The men ran back to the cover to let the liquid freeze the iron for a couple of minutes. After the time had passed the commander raised another flag. Now a group of eight soldiers came running out of the canopy with an Iron reinforced straight towards the gate. The frozen gate broke by the impact leaving open access towards the inner gatehouse where there was another wooden door and gate hindering their access to the city.
It would take another two hours before the second gate had been breached and the southern walls overtaken. The inner defenses of Valdune were defeated within an hour thereafter since knowledge of the city’s sub areas was at an advantage to the besieging army’s Laldeniens. Victory had been achieved and the city was liberated. The celebrations however were kept short almost nonexistent. The soldiers that had actively besieged the city were given rest while other groups of soldiers that had earlier been resting were ordered to clean up the bodies and take care of those that had been taken prisoners. The citizens of Valdune that dared to step outside greeted the Lisakdonian army and the Laldenien, many of whom lived in the city until it was taken over. The Laldeniens together with many of the soldiers were offered to spend the night in care of the citizens. Others that were not offered this were stationed either in tents outside of the city or in the barracks or public domains within. Many of the knights were given room in the various places but generally better places.
The sun descended beneath the hills to the west and the sky turned dark. Basil, Antonio, Magnus and Rowan walked with a large group of other soldiers and a handful other knights. The Laldenien soldiers wanted to show how they spend their free time in Lalden. Most of the Laldenien common soldiers could not speak any of the Evieran languages so they mostly waved and shouted “Cabuk! Dienme!” to those further behind. Beside their lack of skill speaking any Evieran most of the Laldenien were easily recognized for their light brown skin tone than any Lisakdonian. There was a slight significant amount of light skinned and mixed Laldenien that had descended from Lisakdonian traders or soldiers. After a short while they arrived at a building that for any foreigner appeared to be a tavern. The Laldeniens rushed in laughing and the slower Lisakdonians followed. The building inside had a couple of tables and couches around the walls and in the center and opposite corner was a large wooden floor that was slightly higher than the floor around it. The Lisakdonians slightly confused went and sat down at the couches while the Laldeniens stood around the wooden floor and began shouting. “Ole monjo!” repeatedly in unison.
After a while an angry old Laldenien walked out from a door at the back. She shouted angrily at the Laldeniens who kept shouting “Ole Monjo!” with happy smiles. After a short while the old woman shook her head and said something that Basil presumed meant “ok”. The Laldeniens jumped in joy as the woman stepped back into the door. After some time a couple of young women out into the large room. Most of them had the Laldenien light brown skin tone and two had slight lighter tones. All of them wore some kind of folk dress and either held a musical instrument or had bells or similar attached to their dress. The Laldenien soldiers cheered and then they either sat down on any free couch or directly on the floor. The women clapped their hand and the soldiers followed. They then made hand gestures to the Lisakdonians to also clap their hands. The women with instruments began to play and those without began dancing before some lead singer or they all sang. They sang what Basil assumed to be Laldenien folk songs so they had no possibility to understand what they sang about but it sounded happy so they followed with the mood.
Antonio and Magnus showed great interest in the performance or what it could be called while Rowan seemed less interested. After a while one of the women gave a gesture like “come to me” to the soldiers. The Laldenien almost jumped up onto the scene to her carrying her up in their arms. They carried her so she could stand in their hands while moving around as she made a gesture to one of them to come up to her. The soldiers around the man of interest picked him up as he did a swing beside the woman before they lowered him and rose up another soldier. This soldier moved kind of danced with the woman before he was sent down. Another woman now stepped forward and gave a gesture to the Lisakdonians. Antonio, Magnus and a couple of others jumped up from their seat quicker than Basil could comprehend. Basil, Rowan and those that were still sitting continued to clap at least but one after one of them joined the dance.
”Join us Basil, Rowan! This is fun!” Antonio shouted as he was raised up beside the woman while giving her a swing which her holders responded to by swinging her. Basil laughed before he stood up and ran out onto the dance floor. Rowan remained alone at his seat as he continued to clap awkwardly. Another woman stepped forward and waved to the last Lisakdonians who all stepped out to join except Rowan and two others. The woman waved to them but they just shook their heads. Then out of the crowd came Antonio, Magnus and Basil and dragged Rowan out of his seat and raised him up as they walked to the now laughing woman. The woman gave a slight kiss on Rowan’s forehead before she waved to the other two who finally joined the dance. They danced until they could not carry on any longer.
The four guys walked to their inn where they would sleep for the night. Rowan however did not join them and instead said good night as he walked to where the girls were. He would probably sleep with Alice tonight. Basil, Antonio and Magnus chuckled over it as they went inside and up to their room that they shared with three other knights. The three were exhausted from the dance so they fell asleep almost immediately as they jumped into bed still wearing most of their armor. They only slept without what they could put on themselves alone such as helmet, grieves and gauntlets.
A bolt of thunder struck far in the distance. The rain was falling heavily over them. The winged woman that sat before him held a staff of some sort in her left hand and with her right hand she reached to his heart. Her hand began to glow with a divine and powerful light that sipped into to him. The darkness within him that had destroyed him withdrew deeper within. The light that entered what was left of his body and his soul gave him strength. Strength not only to withstand the darkness but to use it, control it.
He was still crippled and his body cracked but no longer was he in pain. Regardless of the winged woman’s power she was unable to give him back what he once had lost. Another bolt of lightning struck, closer this time. He watched on his broken hands before him. He felt the wet rain and the cold air touching his bare body. His mind except for one thought, one purpose was completely numbed by everything that just had happened and was happening. He looked upon the woman that had saved him. She was far beyond anything human and contained powers to form the very world itself. The woman struck her hand over his face and then she took out a small stone, like a gem from her staff. The stone formed within her hands to a mask. He took the mask which she reached to him. He held it in his hands as he looked on it. It seemed to be a mask of illusion. A mask to hide beneath. A fitting mask for him and what he was. Before he put it on he asked the woman. “Who are you?” Another strike of thunder burst in the distance.
----------------------- ”Everyone wake up!”
Basil woke up together with the other six instantly. They quickly put on the equipment, their swords and shield before they ran out. “Are we being attacked!?” Magnus shouted to the soldier that had woken them up. The soldier did probably not hear him as he ran out again followed by the knights. A large number of houses were burning to the north, east but also in the south. Soldiers, both Lisakdonian and Laldenien were running in all directions. A group of Laldenien soldiers following their captain came running past the building. “Elnir alomniuhn osh arahan fa Valdune!” shouted the captain. “What is going on?” said Magnus. “They are trying to burn down the city! Hurry!” The captain shouted in an almost broken Evieran. The Laldeniens disappeared behind the corner. Magnus turned to Basil, Antonio and the others. “Antonio, Basil. Could you ran and see how the girls are doing. Help them if necessary. You three, follow me. We need to assist the soldiers save the city. Now go!”
Magnus and the three knights ran off towards the north. Basil and Antonio ran south towards the girls and the southern stables. They did not run for long before they saw someone. It was a man with a torch and a pouch with what appeared to be bottles. He took out a bottle and lit it on fire before he tossed it into a building. Flames began to burst out of the windows before civilians ran out of the door. “Eyy! You! Stop! Antonio shouted in anger as they ran towards the man. The man panicked and took out another bottle which he put on fire and threw towards Basil and Antonio. Antonio grabbed the bottle and threw it back at the man. It hit him covering him in flames and seconds later the bottles exploded in an inferno. Basil and Antonio had no choice but to run around the buildings to get to the other side.
Civilians and soldiers were running either trying to find somewhere safe to hide or trying to put the fires. Basil and Antonio ran through a road where a battle between Laldeniens and Stelladorans was held. The Laldeniens were at a great disadvantage as Stelladorans began to surround them. Basil and Antonio ran in to assist the soldiers but Stelladorans had started do appear and shoot them from top of buildings. The Laldeniens tried to escape but the Stelladorans were too many. One of the Stelladorans on the roofs were shot by an arrow and fell down. A horn sounded and a bunch of knights on horses with general Caerellia in the lead. They charged straight into the Stelladorans who broken and began to flee. Caerellia shouted orders to both the knights and the Laldeniens who began to chase down the escaping soldiers. Basil and Antonio broke free from the chaos and continued to run towards the stable.
As they came closer they realized that the stable was on fire. The horses were panicking inside but a few people were already there trying to release them before it was too late. “Basil, Antonio! Help! It was Janet that shouted. Basil and Antonio ran and helped them release the horses. They managed to save all of them. A few had their mane burned and were running away terrified until they stopped further away. Janet held her grey horse trying to calm it down. ”Where are the others?” Antonio said to her. “I don’t know. Me, Alice, Helen and Rowan tried to run here but we got separated as a building collapsed between us. I had to continue to run when the Stelladoran soldiers appeared.” Janet said. “Then we must find them as quickly as possible! Antonio said. Basil and Janet agreed. After they had calmed their horses they mounted them and rode off towards where Janet had been separated from the others.
As they rode through Valdune it seemed as the Lisakdonian-Laldenien forces had begun to take control over the chaotic situation somewhat. A huge number of buildings were still on fire but the number of new buildings that were set ablaze had decreased significantly. Janet was riding in the lead as the rode past the collapsed building and down another path to come around. They had to ride through some roads between burning buildings. Janet rode through a cluster of smoke and a few seconds later Basil heard her scream as if she fell. Basil and Antonio followed quickly after through the smoke but were met by flying arrows. They both managed to shield themselves but Nadja got hit by an arrow in her left back leg. Basil dropped off Nadja while Antonio rushed straight towards the Stelladoran attackers. Just moments later came some allied soldiers and helped them defeat the Stelladoran. Basil meanwhile ran to Janet who had fallen beneath her horse. The horse was bleeding heavily from two arrows in its neck and was unable to be saved. Two soldiers came and helped Janet. Janet was still conscious but she had broken her right leg and she was bleeding slightly from her mouth.
Antonio after he had dealt with the attackers came running to them. “Antonio, Go and help the others. I take care of Janet.” Basil said and Antonio nodded after which he rode off. Basil and the soldiers helped Janet up on Nadja who even though harmed still able to carry Janet without any problems. The soldiers with Basil led Nadja to where the army’s’ doctors were. When they got to the doctor later he declined to help anyone more as they had already more patients than they could take care of. The doctor changed his mind however when he realized that the girl was a knight and ordered some servants to help her. Basil took a quick care of Nadja by cleaning her wound and putting on a bandage before he walked off to where the others were.
The fighting was now over and the soldiers were busy trying to save those houses that had not been set aflame yet. The air was filled with ash and smoke from the many burnt down and still burning houses. But the city still stood. Basil had to ask around to find out where the others were and after a while he got an answer. They were at some fountain in the southern district. When he got there it was filled with soldiers and knights taking care of the wounded ones and others that were taking care of the dead ones. At the fountain sat Helen who cleaned a wound that Magnus had beneath his left eye. Antonio sat beside them looking down in the stone pavement. Aelia along some other captains walked around trying to get some logistics in everything. He could not see neither Alice nor Rowan anywhere. Basil walked up to the guys at the fountain. “Where is Alice and Rowan?” Antonio looked up on Basil and then he pointed towards a location behind him. Basil walked there and found Alice sitting with Rowan in her arms. She was cleaning him with a towel. When Basil came closer to them he realized. “They always said that he was a coward. That he did not belong among us knights. I did not listen to them. I knew that he was brave and he would prove it to us all one day. And he did.” Alice said as she embraced Rowan.
“Lev’ Foralt Rowan”
“They remained hidden within the sewers, waiting for the moment. The guards were too few and we had to pay the price. Now one thousand are dead and two thousand more are wounded and that is only counting the military. Did they know about our plans? We must move towards Grailline as soon and quick as possible. We can’t wait for the wounded ones to recover. We’ll have to leave them behind with a small healthy force. We’ll move towards Grailline tomorrow. Spread the word”
There were many feelings among the soldiers and knights that evening. Fear, sadness, anger, fury. This was the first painful experience for many of war and its terror. Memories of the Margeficus attack returned among those that had experienced it. There were no songs or any visits to those lovely dancing girls. The guards were more than doubled this evening, Aelia among them. When the morning came the horns sounded and the army began to prepare to move out east. Basil was up extra early to visit Janet. He did not have to walk all the way as he met Janet and Nadja outdoor. She had been walking together with Nadja towards him as well. She held a crutch under her right arm and her leg and waist were bandaged.
“I heard that you will move east today.” Janet said. “Yes. So I wanted to see again if this would be the last time.” Basil said. “Don’t say that. We made a promise that we would both return to Crastine. I have to go first and I will wait for you. I will wait for all of you.” Basil helped Janet sit down on a yard of grass before he sat down beside her. They looked out over the ruins of a dozen buildings. “Nadja was anxious to see you all nights.” Janet said. “Janet. I want to take Nadja. She was never bread for war. Also she is still hurt so I dare not take her in case her wound would become worse. You know Nadja almost as well as I do so I see no better solution than for you to take care of her, to take her home.” said Basil. “How about you then?” Janet said. “I believe you heard about Rowan. Since his horse Gavin is without rider I will take him.” Said Basil. “Yes I have. Poor Rowan, poor Alice.”
They sat there for a couple of minutes more in silence. When another set of horns sounded in the distance Basil helped Janet up. Before they left each other Janet gave Basil a quick kiss and a deep hug. Then Basil left while Janet stood there looking towards him before he disappeared behind a corner. Antonio and Magnus were ready when Basil came back. He mounted the slight light brown horse Gavin who he prepared since earlier and they rode off towards the position where they would meet the others. Helen and Alice came riding will full package but Aelia who also was there had no package. “Where is your package Aelia?” Magnus asked confused. “I have been ordered to stay here as partly responsible for those that are still here. So I won’t join you to Grailline sadly. I promise you Basil that I will take good care of Janet.” She said while looking over the five and ending on Basil. Basil thanked her and they all said their good bye before they headed off towards the eastern gate.
Large portions of the army that was now only a little more than ten thousand Lisakdonian and Laldenien soldiers combined had already begun to move east. Beside the soldiers were a large number of siege equipment mainly ballistae on transport charts. Basil, Antonio and Magnus saw someone they recognised among the Laldenien. It was the captain from the day earlier named Ari. Generals rode through the ranks of the marching army giving further orders from General Nicholas. They would move east until they reached a town named Liemen and then south towards the Rosa river. It was assumed that the journey to the end of the river where they could cross it would take few days. After they had passed the river they would end up in the low populated land known as Lalden Minor.
The boy who met seven gods – Chapter 18: Lalden Minor, part 1/2
Liemen was a small trade town surrounded by huge farm lands just east of the old Lalden proper. The army stayed nearby the town for the night which gave those that wanted an opportunity to visit the town. Basil, Antonio, Magnus and Helen followed with Ari who wanted them to try something called Klasunu. Klasunu was made by grinding some dried pink beans that was grown in the area into a powder. The powder was then mixed with heated water and honey before it was stored aside for a couple of days. The slightly thick liquid was then mixed with milk or cream if the buyer could afford it and thereafter any desired fruit or other taste givers. The finished cream Klasunu was then served in mug with a spoon or without spoon if it was mixed with milk. The Klasunu was very sweet and left a special aftertaste in the mouth. The Klasunu was a thing also in Lisakdonia but there the price was far higher so it was almost completely limited to rich nobles, traders or high ranked military personnel.
At the morning’s first light the army dissembled their camp and continued south. They walked passed a number of smaller Laldenien villages on the way. At most of the villages a commander or two stopped to bargain a price to provide the army with provisions since it would be more difficult to provide such necessities through most of Lalden Minor. As they walked pass the many farms and villages, more birds began to appear in the sky. Birds that usually resided around the coasts and rivers. When the army walked over one hill the Rosa River revealed itself. From the hill multiple villages and some towns could be seen at the river. One of the larger ones was just on the path downwards. A town were the army would camp for the night. To save on the provision most of the army feed on fish from the fishers from town.
During the night Basil and Antonio woke up by a small alarm that sounded just to raise awareness. Even though there was no apparent danger Basil and Antonio stepped out of their tent to see what the reason was. A bunch of soldiers were out already crewing some of the nearby ballistae or reading themselves with bows. It became clear what the reason was as the sound of a dragon’s roar sounded from the east. And indeed far to the east in the night sky a dragon with its rider could be seen. From higher up on the hill the generals and commanders could be seen looking over the dragon as well.
“So Eagrolyn has finally found us. Looks like the easy trip is coming to an end.” said a captain. “That is not an Eagrolyn dragon. It is a dragon from Ecodolon. Pure blood as well so there is no mistaking it.” said a Laldenien commander. “Ecodolon has no reason to have scouts here in Lalden unless Ecodolon and Eagrolyn had formed a unified army.” said General Nicholas. “They can’t have formed a unified force already. Beldon and the rest of Ecodolon is way too far from here to have sent an army already even if they knew about it when we landed in Hiend.” said another captain. “Maybe they did send and army but only their dragon riders have arrived?” said the first captain. “It would be stupid even for Stelladorans to split their land force and dragon force from each other. That is unless they could ensure a victory with only Ecodolon’s dragons as reinforcement.” said general Caerellia. ”Do they underestimate us?” said a captain. “Either that or they have something that we don’t know about yet. Regardless of what we shall increase the number of scouts. If they have rallied the southern and western kingdoms to force we’ll know. If the Ecodolon forces were position within Eagrolyn we’ll know. If their force is larger than expected we’ll know.” said General Nicholas.
The dragon in the sky only circulated for a short time far away from the camp before it flew south. Most of the soldiers and others that have left their tents returned to sleep while a few were ordered to remain at their ballistae until morning. Early in the morning before the army had managed to begin dismantle the camp a dozen scouts were sent out, most of them to Lalden minor and the rest to the east and north east. The army continued alongside Rosa river to the east for a couple of hours. Rosa river became more narrow and even split up into multiple smaller rivers as they went. At the afternoon they finally arrived at a stone bridge that led over the river. There were two smaller bridges of wood that followed after that they had to pass through before they arrived in Lalden minor. Since the evening was approaching the army made camp before the last bridge.
Lalden Minor was except for the area just around the rivers a rather barren landscape with forest and mostly thin layers of soil that could not sustain farming. Lalden minor was of the form of a large valley between the mountains to the east and a single large mountain surrounded by forest to the west. Only an hour or so after they had passed the bridge one of the scouts returned with a note or message. He approached Nicholas both giving him some instructions by mouth and the note. Nicholas read through the note and afterwards he looked through the area. He asked the scout something which the scout responded while pointing towards the south. Nicholas nodded and ordered everyone that had stopped to continue. Throughout the day another scouts returned. The day had not even passed afternoon before they arrived at a large hillside to the west and Nicholas gave order to set camp.
As they set up the camp another three scouts returned to the camp with even more information. He then went and spoke with general Caerellia and the other commanders. When the camp was ready most soldiers did start any routines nor cooking or anything. They gathered outside of Nicholas’ tent and waited for him to update them what was going on. One of the commanders went inside the tent and told him that the army was waiting. The commander stepped out and walked back soon before Nicholas and Caerelllia stepped outside. Nicholas looked around on the thousands of soldiers that waited for him to say anything.
“Brothers and sisters! Today I got words than an army of Eagrolyn is marching towards Lalden Minor. With them they have the armies of Bratia, Cellusion and Esteray together with dragon riders from Ecodolon! A force of twenty thousand men. But do not fear my friends for as they are many they are weak, non-unified and the aggressor in this war. So feast tonight! Eat, drink and sing! For after tomorrow you might not be able to anymore. For tomorrow we’ll face the Stelladorans on the battlefield! Tomorrow we make them pay for breaking the peace! Tomorrow we fight for Lisakdonia! For Lalden! For queen Yiadelle! For Friyena!” Nicholas shouted as he drew his sword and raised it. The soldiers, the knights and the commanders all cheered with him. Maybe for the last time.
Basil sat in his tent fully armored. In his hand he held his mother’s emblem necklace. He let his thumb sweep over the silver fox as he thought back. Magnus who lied down on his bedroll stood up and put his hand on Basil’s shoulder before he stepped outside. Basil sat down for a couple of minutes longer before he stood up and stepped outside. The morning began to turn late but the sunlight had not yet reached the camp because of the eastern mountains. Antonio was making some jokes for Helen and Alice. Helen chuckled slightly while Alice did not show any emotions. To the west of the camp a 500 or so mounted soldiers rode south towards and into a large forest. To the south east the ballistae and other units had been slightly dug and reinforced with three quarter surrounding wooden pikes and soil piles. The ballistae and few catapults had also been covered in some fire resistant oil. There were at all times at least two soldiers stationed at the ballistae.
One of the few scouts that were out returned to the camp and Nicholas. Breakfast was a little later served. Instead of the usual bean soup this time even the ordinary soldiers were served meat stew with bread and vegetables. After the breakfast everyone was given a cup of wine. During the breakfast another two dragon riders appeared at the eastern mountains. One of them landed on a cliff far while the other circulated for a moment before it returned south. The one of the cliff stayed and watched. Some shown concern over the watching dragon rider but those more experienced calmed them down. It did not take all too long before another dragon rider appeared and also landed on the mountains with a roar. Basil and the others sitting at a campfire when a horn sounded. It was Nicholas’ horn. Every soldier and knight in the camp that hadn’t grabbed their weapons and shield did so and ran out towards the designated location. Basil and the other knight and the cavalry units went and mounted their horses before they rode out to position.
The army formation faced south east down the hills. The Lisakdonian part took formation at the south of the hill with the Laldenien taking the north eastern. The first line at the furthest down of the hill consisted of archers that had positioned wooden pikes before them with a small wooden barricade behind those. After their line was a larger line with infantry then a line with archers and a line of infantry and finally a last line of archers. The archer lines were thin at only four or five width. The infantry lines consisted of smaller lines within the lines. Each line was almost 80 soldiers long before a slight distance to the next line. At the wings of the army was the main cavalry formations. Lisakdonians to the south and Laldenien to the north. Behind the middle of the whole army stood Nicholas and his elite guards. The other commanders were spread out at their respectively division. Basil together with the others was within a subsection behind the cavalry unit.
Now they waited. While they waited, many soldiers sang Ren Alvus mildly. More dragons appeared in from the south. Some of them circulated high in the air above the field before they landed on the mountain’s cliffs. A couple of wine pouches were sent around the soldiers to take a sip. A different horn sounded in the south followed by more horns as a marching army appeared behind the hills and cliffs a few kilometers away from the Lisakdonian Laldenien army. A 30 or so dragons followed the army in the sky above. The Stelladoran army marched and positioned themselves on the opposite side of the valley. As the army took their formation three of them rode out towards the Lisakdonian army. Nicholas rode together with two of his commander and met them in the middle. They did not speak for long but it was clear that no truce was signed as the both groups blew their horns as they returned to their armies.
Magnus and many others in the cavalry then jumped off their horses and bowed down on the ground where he dug up a little dirt. He spread the dirt on his forehead “Levirga. I speak to you know for if I fall on his ground I wish that you take care of my body.” The others and those that had not mounted also did the same. One of the last ones to do so was Nicholas when he returned to his position. Everyone looked at him. Nicholas then put his hand on his breast and began to sing “Ren Alvus”. His army singed with him after the first piece.
After they had finished the song Nicholas sounded the horn again. Another horn sounded from the Stelladorans and they began to march forward in a similar boxed formation. Their formations however were larger and did not have the narrow lines like the Lisakdonian Laldeniens. Their army in total was wider and longer as well and they also had cavalry at the wings. The dragons now began to roar and flew around the sky in an attempt to inflict intimidation in the Lisakdonian ranks.
One of the dragon riders flew a little too low so a commander at the archer line ordered fire. The archers released a volley towards the dragon and some hit it at the neck and one in the eye. The rider tried to escape but a ballista had already shot a chained dual bolt. The chain grabbed the dragon’s neck and swung it backwards. The dragon fell onto the field with the rider first definitely killing both.
The other dragons flew higher as they saw what happened to the apparently young dragon rider and his dragon. A horn and shouts sounded from the Stelladoran army as the first line of archers ran forward. The commanders in the archer lines gave order to fire as towards the approaching archers. At the same time a number of dragons descended to cover them in flames. The captains in the infantry lines shouted orders and instructions. When the dragons descended the soldiers in the apparent line of danger pushed with their shield the one in front or behind to create a cap. The soldiers then lowered themselves with their shield towards the gap creating an opening for the flames to go down into the ground and thus limiting the casualties. The archers above fired at the dragons. Those dragons that stopped or slowed to redirect their flames would have been easy targets for the archers and ballistae.
The stelladoran archers that survived the first volley from the Lisakdoniens began to fire their own arrows towards the Lisakdonien lines. The Stelladoran army had sent of their first line of infantry which was answered by the Lisakdonian’s siege units that were not busy with the dragons. The archer line and the first infantry line quickly changed place and the infantry procceded to keep the Stelladorans beneath the wooden pikes. The Stelladorans’ first line however was far longer and could reach around the Lisakdonian main force but was stopped by the cavalry at both wings. The northern part was cut off with cliffs and rocks so the soldiers could not bypass the cavalry there. The stelladoran send their own cavalry to the south where there was a slight opening between the engaged forces and the forest. Basil and the others had not yet engaged in combat but now their sub sections were ordered to meet the approaching Stelladoran cavalry. When the Stelladorans rode through the gap the remaining cavalry met them in a charge as a horn sounded in their ranks.
Only soon after the cavalry charge was stopped, Caerellia and her force of 500 cavalry charged out of the forest straight into and around the Stelladoran cavalry. The Stelladoran cavalry broke rather quickly but a new Stelladoran cavalry force was sent forward. Caerellia quickly lined up her men and charged the approaching cavalry. The group that Basil was in was ordered to assist Caerelia’s force. Antonio was knocked off his horse as they classed with the Stelladorans once again but he managed to stand up and fight dismounted.
Regardless of half the numbers the Lisakdonian Laldenien army did better and seemed like they would go out victorious from this battle. Infantry from the main force came to reinforce the cavalry and the Stelladoran dragon riders did not achieve any more than they lost by engaging so they remained mostly in the sky looking for any opportunities. The battle continued without changing much for almost half an hour.
A loud sound echoed through the valley. It sounded like a roar from something huge. Most of the soldiers and the commanders as well looked around but could not see anything. A few moments later the sounds appeared and now it was clear that it came from the south. And then soon after a huge dragon, a great dragon appeared that flew straight towards them. When Nicholas noted that there was someone riding on the dragon he ordered most of the ballistae and archers to focus on the huge one. Most soldiers and many knights as well were chocked. Had the Stelladorans successfully domesticated a great dragon? As the great dragon swept in over the battlefield the other dragons attacked while the archer and ballistae tried to stop the great one. Many dragons were hit and fell but with the great one they broke through and began to burn the Lisakdonian Laldenien army. The great one spewed fire over the main force as he was constantly bombarded with arrows and bolts. Many hit him and caused bleeding wounds at wings and neck but not far enough to stop the beast.
The cavalry under Caerellia tried no back off into the forest to avoid the dragons. Basil when trying to turn back was knocked off his horse. He fell and hit his left shoulder in a stone. His arm was in pain but he did not have time for that so he forced himself up with shield and sword in hand and began to retreat towards the forest. The pains in his left arm become worse as he ran and he began to become dizzy. As he ran a dragon descended to cover the retreating soldiers in flames. The dragon approached Basil and no one was able to stop it. Basil raised his shield but the pain in his left arm became so bad that he dropped his shield. It felt as his arm was being ripped off him while the dragon’s flames came closer. But just before the flames reached him his arm fell and he followed.
He fell away from the flames, away from the battle, away from Lalden Minor, Away from Avelaide.
The boy who met seven gods – Chapter 19: Heventos & the celestial egg, part 1
Basil lied with his face down on the grass. He could feel the smell of flowers around him. He wanted to look but he was tired and his arm and head was in pain. Someone in a dress walked beside him. He felt two soft hands grabbing onto him and helping him up. The pain began to numb before it seemingly disappeared. “Can you walk?” said a girl, the same girl that helped him up. When he was up on his own legs he watched out over an endless green field painted white with countless flowers. The girl that had helped him up released her hands from him. Basil turned around but the girl was gone. Instead before him he saw a humongous tree that reached miles up in the sky. The tree looked like an oak yet very different with its almost glowing branches. Thirteen distinct branches that was covered in some bloomed tree flowers or similar. A gust of wind swept past Basil towards the tree and touched one of the branches. The flowers on the branch began to swing and release their leaves that danced in circles. The leaves then flew with the wind back towards basil and flew in a circle around him.
Basil woke up at the base of a normal sized tree. He looked around and found himself within a forest with trees that he did not recognize. It was night and dark. ” What happened? Was it a dream? Where am I? Am I dead?” He looked around himself and found his sword beside him. He still wore the armor but his shield was nowhere to be found. He took up the sword and sheathed it. He looked around once more trying to find some kind of clue to where he was, whatever he was still in Lalden, the afterlife or something else entirely. He found an opening in the forest where dim light entered onto a small field of grass. He took off towards the small field of grass. When he came out on the small field he saw that the light was not moon light and seemed strange for being sun light even though it came from the horizon. He spent the night in the small field trying to get some sleep even though he lacked everything.
He had managed to get a little sleep when the sunlight touched his face. He looked up and saw that the sun was not the same as the light source which still shined in the horizon. It was neither from the sun nor the moon but it shined as if it was either. Regardless of what the light was it was at least something that he could walk towards in an attempt to found out where he was. After a couple of hours he managed to trap a rabbit which he grilled to eat. After he had finished putting up a fire and eaten a bird flew down into the forest and landed on a tree branch, watching Basil from a distance. The bird gave him skeptical feelings but he tried to think that it was just a bird interested in the remains of the rabbit. He took his things and continued his journey.
For two days he walked and the bird that he found out to be a crow followed him on a distance. He almost got used to having the crow watching over him from a distance. Basil then later came to a wide river. The river was calm but the wideness was unsettling. Basil sat down at the river side looking towards the light that he was walking towards. He had not earlier noticed it but now it was clear that the light was pulsing or circulating. With the new discovery and the river before him he thought if he should continue or go somewhere else. But where? He had not seen anything but wild forest or mountains and lakes thus far. The light was his only location. He followed the river a bit upstream but it seemed to continue far longer than manageable. Unless he wanted to spend maybe weeks searching for a place to cross he would have to swim. It would have to wait until the next though.
He withdrew a long string from his cloth. He then removed a ring from his chain mail that he pulled into the shape of a hook. He searched for a good stick that he could wire the string and hook to. Lastly he shoved through the dirt for some worms to attach to the hook so that he could fish. It was not time efficient with the poor tools but it gave him some time to relax and think. “What happened back there? We were attacked by a great dragon, with a rider. What happened to the others!? Antonio? Alice? Magnus? Aelia? Ari? Did they manage to escape? Where they taken as prisoners? As he sat thinking something bite the hook. He pulled the rod and a small trout flew up from the water. He laughed over the small fish but it was at least something. He managed to catch another one later that was slightly larger which he cooked.
The next day he took his armor and external equipment and wrapped it into his cloths. He felt the weight of the armor and realized that he would not be able to swim over without sinking. So he went into the forest and chopped down a small tree with his sword. He then took the equipment and put it into steadily onto the tree before he stepped into the water. It was slightly cold but completely manageable. He supported himself upon the small tree as he swam towards the other side. It was exhausting to transport the tree but he could rest upon it so it made it slower but easier to pass over. After more than half an hour he reached the other side. He walked up and sat down in the sun for a moment to dry and warm up before he continued. As he sat in the sun he noticed the crow flying over the river into the forest on the other side. “Well at least I have company” Basil thought.
When he had dried up he put on the cloths. The armor he carried on his back in an improvised bag. The terrain began to move upwards as he came closer to some mountains that broke through the forest. It was not very difficult to ascend the mountain as it was covered with forest almost to the top. The summit of the mountain was free from dirt and trees with bare rock but not very majestic in dominance. It did however give a good view over the land. He could see the huge forest and the river that he had travelled through. Around him he could see other mountains in the distance and large open fields with some animals on them. The light was still in the horizon but now it lit up much of the dark sky. The light that was as a large stretched orbed revealed that it was some kind of storm within or around it. So the light did clearly not belong to any ordinary civilization but something else.
Basil sat down on a flat boulder watching the surrounding while planning the best route from there on. He could still not see any civilization or any other signs of such. While he sat there he began to feel tired so he rested and slightly feel asleep. He later woke up by something special flying over his mountain towards the light. He looked up and got shocked as he saw what it was. It was a winged woman. Friyena?!
A couple of days passed just as they had done earlier without any sign of sentient life except for the winged woman on the mountain. Basil had set up camp for the on a large field beneath a lonely tree. even though it was very late in the evening there were no lack of light with the moon shining a white silver light in the sky over the world and of course the violent light source in the distance. the storm looking phenomenon was now so large that basil could no longer cover up it even with both his open hands straightened out. Now and again he could hear low sounds from the storms. Sounds like thunder strikes, raging winds and roaring quakes in the mountain close to the source. Across the open field there were a large number of animals like deer, birds, some large hairy animal and even horses but none of them seemed to care about the storm, keeping the distance to this human boy was far a larger concern for them, with the one exception of the crow that had followed basil ever since he arrived here more than a week ago. Basil was chewing on an apple from an apple tree he had come across the other day before he went to sleep. The land might have been completely strange and new to him but it had not proven to contain any threat towards him yet.
Basil moved silently through some small tress. He took deep and silent breathes as he moved closer and closer. Then as he came just close enough he threw his bag that was attached to a rope that he held with his other hand. The bag flew just above a brown horse that he had his eyes on. The bag and the rope managed to get the now frightened horse out of balance for a short second that basil took opportunity of to run and mount the horse. He drew the rope quickly around the horse neck before it regained its balance and began jumping around trying to throw off this intruder on its back. Basil just managed to hold on as the horse set off in full burst of speed for a short distance before it began jumping again. Now basil did not manage to hold onto the rope and fell off onto the ground. Basil turned around and saw the horde run far away from him. Just as he lowered his vision to stand up he raised it again. Had he seen correctly. There had been a horse with what looked like a human or other humanoid with it further away at a small river. Both the horse and the person was gone now but the quick image still remained in basil’s mind.
Basil decided to not try again with another horse since it would likely take a day or two to get another opportunity. He walked back and retrieved his bag together with his other items. The crow flew high above him making a laughing sound apparently to mock him. Just seconds later another crow appear above him, this one being silent and looking more like the one that had actually followed him until now. Was he followed by yet another crow or was this just a strange event of chance? Even hours after he had left the field behind him and walked into small valley in which a river flew the two crows remained close to his presence. One watching in silence and the other making sounds which basil kept taking as mocking. At one point he grew tired of the laughing crow and threw a stone towards it.
The stone easily missed but basil noticed that something was strange with that crows left wing as it avoided the stone. Basil looked at the crow as it landed in a tree further away still laughing if it really was laughing. Basil looked over towards the other silent crow that was sitting in another tree then down on another stone. He picked up the stone and threw it towards the silent one. Just like the other crow this one revealed something strange with its wing as it avoided the stone just that it was now the right one. Basil looked at the two crows, one still laughing and the other still silent. He could not remember the silent crow ever eating anything. The laughing one he had already seen eaten a couple of nuts and the rests of an apple already. The crows were like polar opposites and they both followed or spied on him for some reason. They also kept a distance from him large enough to make it impossible to check those strange wings. Another quake from the storm pulled Basil from his thinking and he continued to walk forward.
The following week Basil travelled through highly elevated land, forests and open cliffs. The mountain before him now blocked the entire view of the direct storming light source but the sky around the mountain was lit up in red, purple and yellow colors all most likely from the source. The sounds from the source were now so large that they reminded of real powerful thunderstorms, hurricanes and quakes all at the same time. The air was also different. It was cold and warm, dry and humid but mostly filled with what felt like powerful essence. Still with the powerful presence of the storm the animals were also here undisturbed by the storm. A few hours later he realized that he could not go any longer as the rocky cliffs before him were too steep and tall. He watched around and to walk around the mountain would take many days longer. Then another quake struck that made a boulder further behind Basil to crack and fall down a hole.
Basil walked to the location and found what had earlier been a river but was now dried up. The river had cut a path through the rock and into the mountain but the actual water was now flowing further down. Basil watched through the path and noticed that it was wide enough for him to fit. The river had cut through the weakest rock and left hard rock to support the path. Basil sat down for a moment thinking. It felt stupid to consider walking through the path but something made him feel like it was the correct way. Maybe it was only his guts or essence that flew from the path but it managed to convince him. He jumped into the narrow path and followed it into the mountain.
Basil held his sword in his right hand before him channeling a slim white flame to lit up the path. The path was longer than Basil had expected and began to split up into different paths multiple times. Some paths led straight down into the violently flowing stream so Basil had to walk careful to avoid falling down to what seemed to be a certain death. Most of the splitting paths were easy to choose as only one was either large enough or appeared safe, until another quake struck. Basil held onto the walls for the short while the quake diminished. He thought for a short while to turn back but the flow essence or magic was stronger now and it was almost easy to make out the correct path where it came from.
Basil began to ignore the quakes that turned louder and shook the path more violently as the other sounds grew louder as well. Then when he turned around another corner with multiple paths he saw a shifting light. The end of the tunnel. As he moved closer to the opening the essence grow stronger and almost made Basil uneased. What in the name of the gods could this storm be revealing a power equal to the gods without even being in sight already? Basil held tight onto his sword as he approached the opening. He took a deep breath before he took the last step out of the tunnel.
Basil was as frozen in place as he looked at the storm which was now in plain sight before him but still one or two kilometers away. The storm was nothing like anything Basil had seen or even imagined before. Just the kilometers before him was a huge bowl like hole in the ground and within it circulated a tremendous amount of essence around what appeared to be a white shining core in the middle high up in the air. The storm was not just a storm, all kind of magical elements seemed to be within the storm, fire, water, white essence, black essence, chunks of rock forming together and exploding over and over. It was not only the nature of the storm that chocked Basil beyond believes but the pure size as well. The storm was so large that the mountain behind him looked small in comparison. The distance of two kilometers from the storm felt like nothing as the storm appeared to be more than ten times that in diameter. The area around the storm was clear from any life, plant nor anima but it seemed clear as now and then a burst of magic broke out of the storm and broke into the surrounding area.
Basil as he regained his senses realized that he had reached his goal but what now? There were no one here to guide him further nor any other sign of where he was nor why he was there. Only the storm of tremendous essence. He then came to think of the crows. He turned around and up thinking they would not follow him here but against his believes there they were far up in the sky, watching him. Was the storm not dangerous towards them like everything else? Maybe it was not dangerous towards Basil either. The everlasting light of the storm in the night, Friyena flying towards it, that human person at the river and the essence flow in the tunnel. They all lead him here. Was it all just some kind of test and the violent storm there to repel unworthy ones? Another quake of large scale shook the ground violently beneath Basil. That must be it. It must all just be a test created by the gods. Basil looked at the storm and its core that shined as bright as the sun. “And that must be my goal.”
With this newly found courage he began to walk the last bit towards the raging storm. The essence in the very air was almost overwhelming for Basil but he continued in the belief that it was also just a part of the test. “Not even the black flames of Margefius could measure with this storm.” A large boulder broke out from the storm and flew in very high speed into the ground not far from Basil exploding into thousands of small pieces. Basil smiled for the storm’s attempt to scare him. Basil had walked more than half the last distance towards the storm and the essence was now so strong it began to hurt Basil, yet he did not back off. At one moment he believed he could hear wings slap in the wind. Basil was only a couple of hundred meters from the storm now. A whirl of violent flames broke out from the storm and headed straight towards Basil in high velocity,
”Fool!”
Something managed to get between Basil and the flames just before it crashed into him. Basil covered his eyes from the intense light from the breaking flames and before he could see what it was, someone grabbed him and flew away from the storm in high speed. The flight was just a few seconds long but Basil managed to gather that it was the winged woman from earlier. Her wings were burning just like friyena’s. She put him down on a distance further away from the storm than the tunnel had been. Basil soon after he was put down backed a step. “friy..”
As Basil backed he saw that it was not Frieyna. He did not recognize this woman at all and it took another second to understand that the burning wings were not from her own might but from the flames of the storm. After she had released Basil she slapped her wings once in the air violently to blow off the flames. Her wings were however badly wounded and what appeared to be bones could also be seen at some places. “What were you doing there!? Do you have a death wish!?” The woman shouted at Basil in both anger and pain.
Basil did not answer the woman. He was in not only shock but mostly confusion. He had been saved by a winged woman that was not Friyena and there were not even any tales about another bewinged woman except her. He got a quick glance over the woman’s wings. They were bleeding and heavily burn damaged. Far behind her the storm was still violently surrounding the shining core. Basil kind of came back to his senses when the woman grunted of the pain in her wings. He walked to her and helped her up on her legs trying to avoid touching the wings. He did notice being so close to the wings that they were quite different from Friyena’s wings apart from them being badly wounded. They had a softer look and the individual feathers were longer with a slightly brown-yellow white color. It was not only Basil that was confused, the woman saw the shock and fear in his eyes and the strange sword that he wore.
It was apparent that this boy did not know much or anything about where or anything of this was. She spoke to Basil again but this time without the anger but still some of the pain. “What where you doing here? Basil was afraid to answer the question but he felt he had no better choice than to be honest with this savior of his life. “I was guided here. Something was calling for me. I believe it was the shining core of that storm there.” He said while pointing at the storm. The woman looked at the storm confused. “Calling? storm? Do you even know what that storm is?” Basil shook his head slowly in slight shame. The woman would have guessed that the boy must have lost his memories somehow but the equipment he wore as not of this world so something was not right. He did not know what the storm was so he probably did not know anything else about the world either.
”It’s the celestial egg. An egg that draws the power of the ancient celestial being that had been scattered all around the world and its inner. A power so large that a gathering of it back into one being was always expected from the days when the celestial was buried deep beneath the surface. The egg has been gathering power for hundreds of years and now the very air within contain more magical energy than most living creatures. So if any such being would enter or even come too close the magical energy would be pulled into him and destroy him from within. In a hundred years or so the egg will be complete and a being of celestial powers will be born from it, either to protect us or destroy us. The celestial descendant.”
Basil only got more confused by the answer than he had been before. Celestial? Egg? If this celestial and its egg was so powerful how could he have never heard of it. Nothing of it was similar to the tales about the afterlife either. It all felt too real to be a dream as well. So he asked her. ”Where are we?”“We are in Min Elmurion, just east of Min Bardor. In the world Heventos” She lastly added as the first names did not wake any reaction in the boy. Basil’s eyes widened by the last sentence. World Heventos? Was he really in another world?
”You seem to have more questions than I can answer. There is one you could speak to that has knowledge about worlds beyond Heventos. Amrir, an elf in Mistfall.” The angel responded as she saw the boy’s confusion when she mentioned Heventos. Basil looked at her and around at the storm before he nodded to her. “Come. I can lead you to a town west of here. There you could easily find some that can take you to Mistfall.”
Basil took up his bag and watched the angel’s wings. They were no longer bleedin and she was not in any visible pain anymore but the wings seemed far too damaged to be able to fly with. “I really appreciate your help and kindness my lady and I’m very sorry for the harm I have caused upon you” Basil lowered his head in both respect and shame. “It is my duty to protect. The best you can do to respect my sacrifice is to take care of yourself and find the information you are seeking so that you may return to where you belong.”
The two began to walk west towards the village west of the storm. A journey would only take a little more than four hours. Even with her damaged wings. The angel was able to carry the boy for short distances over bad terrain but not more. As they walked Basil spoke about who he was, his life, him being a knight, about Avelaide and the battle at Lalden where he had disappeared. The angel spoke more about this world Heventos. She presented herself as an angel by the name of Veloria and she spoke about different continents and ancient kingdoms. She also mentioned more about what was called the “celestial”. Some powerful being that came to the world hundreds of thousands of years ago and threatened to destroy everything. The celestial was lured down into the earth and trapped for hundreds of years as its powers were drained into the world itself.
They later arrived at a town. An elven town but these elves were far different from those in Avelaide. They almost looked more “sophisticated” and taller but a less gentle appearance. The elves directly knew the woman and wanted to help her wings. Veloria denied their help as she mentioned what had harmed them. Something or someone more capable would be needed to heal her wings if possible. Veloria spoke to Basil that she had to leave him there and fly west to some land called “Zargoth” where someone lived that could help her. “I wish you good bye and good luck. If you ever happen to came back to Heventos, I would love you see you again.” She held Basils hands in hers before she turned around and flew west and the sunset on her broken wings. In a tree just outside the village sat the two crows, one laughing, one silent .Basil walked to a house he had been allowed to stay in during the night. The morning thereafter, he left with a caravan for Mistfall and the elf named Amrir.
The boy who met seven gods – Chapter 20: Victor Qentimus
Cold winds drew in from the sea over Crastine. The city was unusually silent except for a few people that praised the people to raise up in arms. Most of the citizen did not listen. The people were filled with sadness and shock of the rumored defeat at Lalden Minor that the Laldenian traders had spoken about. Many had lost dear ones to the Margeficus and now they had lost even more to the defeat at Lalden. The people boiled with anger deep within but they did not have the heart or courage to rise up again. Not without someone to lead them. The queen Yiadelle kept herself in her palace, maybe out of fear, shame or waiting for a good opportunity. Friyena had made an oath ages ago to never raise sword against humans so she remained out of the war completely.
Janet sat on the bench that she and Basil last had sit on when they were together there. She watched out over the sea towards Frejdan as she had done for hours every day. No one had returned yet she hoped. One day she would see a Lisakdonian flag rise up from the horizon and beneath, an armada of ships with survivors would come home. Basil, Antonio and Alice would all come home again. Basil had promised that he would.
“It does not make it any better to sit here and wait, Janet.”
Janet looked to her side where Aelia had appeared. She had a basket and a blanket with her. She gave the blanket to Janet to wrap around her to keep warm. She then took out two pieces of cinnamon breads and a jug from the basket. She poured the steaming content from the jug into two mugs and gave one to Janet.
“Do you not miss Magnus and Helen? Janet said as she took a sip from the mug. “Of course I miss them but I cannot fall down whenever I lose someone. I, we are expected to be able to carry on. To stand strong because we will lose many more and there will always be someone that need us. That is our duty as knights after all.” Aelia sat down beside Janet and watched out towards the horizon with her. She looked towards Frejdan and the tall lighthouse. “You know. I have been a captain for a little more than a year now yet I have never been to Frejdan. We should go there sometime. You, me, Leonard and Andre. Maybe get your mind on something else”
Soon after someone shouted something from the top of one of the harbor buildings. A crowd of a hundred or so people began to move towards the water line and soon after a single Lisakdonian flag was spotted in the distance. Janet and Aelia put down everything in the basked and moved to the water line to see the ship better. The flag was part of a ship of the fleet that had left for Lalden a month ago. Before the ship arrived at the harbor a couple of royal guards arrived at the harbor from the palace. When the shipped docked, a bunch of soldiers stepped off. Soldiers from Sylvester’s army that had been sent to take Zeistlanta. Among the soldiers came a few captains and a blonde commander. The commander held what appeared to be a rolled Stelladoran flag in his hands. The royal guards took the commander and a few soldiers that the commander pointed out to them with them and rode off towards the palace.
“Who was that?” Janet asked
“I saw him earlier before the departure. He is a low ranked commander under general Sylvester. I don’t know who he is beside that though.” said Aelia. They asked some of the soldiers that stayed at the ship what had happened. “We had just docked at shore east of Elizen when we got attacked. An army from Zeistlanta had appeared to stop us. They had not been a larger problem if it had not been for a knight that rode upon a huge dragon. He swept over the army and destroyed the fleet. No one would have survived if it had not been for Victor. He led us to safety, he led us home.” said one of the soldiers. The other said more or less the same things. The soldiers began to move home to their loved ones that did not run and meet them with theirs at the harbor. Janet and Aelia went home soon thereafter. The return of Victor and his soldiers spread quickly and soon the people began to wish for and even demand to know what had happened in Dormania. They wanted Victor to speak to them. They wanted to know what had happened to those that had left more than a month earlier.
The next day the streets were crawling full with people that all were heading to the central plaza. Victor Qentimus would today speak to the people. Janet, Aelia, Leonard and Andre were all on their way there as well both by interest and by order as everyone connected to the military or the knightly order are obligated to participate if able. The central plaza was filled to the brink with more than a hundred thousand people. There were people on top of the roofs, pillars and everywhere they could reach. At the front of the plaza where the stairs and platform were was a burning chalice in the middle and beside it stood a stelladoran flag. The only four generals still in Crastine were present and so was queen Yiadelle and Friyena as well. Victor stood beside three of the generals with his hands on the shoulders of his young son, Alexander. Beside Victor stood his wife Larisa who carried their daughter Alexandra. The fourth general stood beside the burning chalice and spoke to the public about why the war fought and that it was a meaningless war or something. Not many actually listened to the general since his name was barely famous and he had not even been to Dormania or Lalden.
“We’re not here to hear your sermons! We are here to hear Victor speak!” Some man shouted from the crowd and many others with him. The general tried to calm down the crowd but gave up with an irritated expression. He walked back to the other generals as many in the crowd continued to shout. The crowd became almost completely silent when Victor walked down to the chalice and took the position that the General earlier had stood on.
“Eight years ago, a terrible monster of unimaginable powers attacked our home. It took from all of us, friends, Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters and sons. It burned our homes. It destroyed our walls. It broke our streets and killed our heroes. But it did not take our fire. Me mourned those we had lost but our fire continued to burn. Where did that monster come from? It did not come from within, it came from outside. It came from the sea, it came from the east, it came from Stelladora. A monster meant to destroy us and everything we have built and hold dear. Was it their fault? Did they send the black flames to burn us?
The Stelladorans marched into Lalden, our allies. They wanted us gone. So we answered and sailed east to force peace. We brought peace to Lalden but soon after Nicholas and his army was met by an army at Lalden minor. A battle they would have won until the Stelladorans revealed their secret weapon. A knight riding on a great dragon. They had tamed a great one and brought it into battle! Not only to win their battles but to eradicate their enemies. Not one Lisakdonian soldier escaped their flames. The great one then flew north towards Sylvester and us. We met an army on the battlefield but the great one appeared. It burned down our fleet to prevent our escape. It tore down the mountain to trap us. No one would be left to live. Me and my men managed to escape through the flames and return home. We lost many good men and women. Many of our friends that wanted to return home but where mercilessly killed by a monster tamed by the Stelladorans. Just like eight years ago!
They tried to put out the fire that burns within us but we shall not let them! We shall not just keep our fires warm. We shall bring it to them! We tried to bring peace but they answered without mercy so neither shall we! We were once a kingdom born on the foundation of fire and sword and we shall show them!”
The crowd began to cheer with Victor. The general from earlier began to dislike the speech. He looked around at the other generals. Two of them looked unsure but one looked like she liked where Victor was going with his speech. ”Around our kingdom stand abandoned barracks and military academies. I want to bring them to life again! Many of our sons and brothers want to show their might and will in battle. I want to let them! In the Kieran mountains stand countless forges cold and empty. I want to bring the fire back to them! I want to rebuild the fleet ten times larger! Then when we are ready, we will bring the newborn flames of Lisakdonia back to Stelladora!”
Victor broke off the Stelladoran flag and held it into the fire of the chalice as the crowd cheered. Victor took the burning flag and held it high up in the air.
“I will not rest until the flames have turned Stelladora to ashes!”
The huge crowd cheered wildly. The generals had mixed feelings. One cheered silently and another left and walked back to the palace in disgust. The other two remained mostly expressionless but most likely they were happy to have someone of great might that could take control and lead them to victory.
Later Victor Qentimus became the second ever generalissimo of the Lisakdonian army.
The boy who met seven gods – Chapter 21: Alone in hostile land
Once again Basil stood over the endless field of countless white flowers. In the distance stood the colossal tree mighty above its surrounding. There was some old and powerful magic imbued in the tree and landscape. A gust of wind swept over Basil just as it had done during his earlier visit. The wind took hold of thousands of flowers and white leaves from the tree and brought it back towards Basil. The flowers and leaves flew around and around Basil. Someone pushed Basil slightly from the back and he walked through the flower and leaves.
Basil was back at the battlefield in Lalden Minor. The battle however had long since been over and the field was now covered in old broken ballistae, banners, pieces of cloths, broken weapons and large piles of ash and coal. The camp was burnt to the ground and what little was left was broken. It seemed as if the Lisakdonians had lost the battle. The memories returned to Basil and he began to worry for Antonio, Alice, Helen and Magnus. Where are they? Are they okay? Basil continued to walk around the large battlefield but he could not find anything that was not broken or of value. Basil looked towards the forest and remembered. Many had fled into the forests during the last moments that he remained in the battle. So he went into the forest to continue his search.
The search through the forest took much longer but there was much more that had not been removed. A large number of bones decorated the forest, horse, humans and even one dragon. Broken spears, banners and cloths also decorated the forest. After more than an hour he found a dead Lisakdonian cavalier in a hole that must have gone unnoticed. The cavalier was not much more than a skeleton but he was still equipped in armor and a in his belt he had a sheathed dagger. He seemed to have lost his main weapon though. Basil pulled the soldier out of the hole. Basil held the cavaliers cape in his hands. On the cape was a sewed emblem. A bronze owl over a green background. Basil took the belt and the dagger from the soldier and a pouch he had. He then proceeded to take off his armor from the body and put the remains in the cape which he made into a sack. He dropped down the sack back down into the hole which he began to fill with dirt, leaves and what else he could find. After he was finished he took the armor and put it onto the grave. “Lev’ Foralt”
Basil already had his own armor and sword so carrying around any other armor would only make it more difficult to move. Also since he was not in need and had no respectable use for it, it would have been disrespectful towards the dead soldier. The dagger however could provide a purpose for Basil and thus it would give the soldier respect by finding that purpose. Basil gave up in his search and returned to the battlefield. He sat down on the hill and looked east towards the mountains. There must be survivors. Where could they be? He looked north and felt almost stupid for a second. Back to Lalden of course. Basil set off and began to walk north towards the Rosa river.
Basil walked for a few days. He passed a couple of small villages and towns before he made it to the first city of Sagun. Sagun was a small civilian city of no more than a couple of thousand inhabitants and laid just at the Rosa river but it was the first and best place for him to hopefully gather some information. It did not take long before the inhabitants noticed his Lisakdonian armor. They whispered to each other and avoided Basil for some reason. There were a few Laldenien soldiers among the civilians that noticed Basil. One of the soldiers ran away further into the city. Basil began to feel that something was wrong and he should probably turn back. Before he managed to turn back he noticed a female sitting at a table drinking from a mug. The female was clearly some kind of knight but neither Laldenien nor Lisakdonian. When she noticed Basil she did not turn away her eyesight from him. Basil began to move away from the street into a tight alley. Soon after he had turned into the alley, he felt that someone had walked in after him. Basil turned at a crossway and began to move faster. Just before he came to the next crossway, a laldenien soldier stepped before him, blocking his path. Someone behind him grabbed Basil’s arms and put a hand over his mouth.
“Nonme, Nonme! Evina anjolmo.” Said the soldier in front of Basil while he moved his hands in the air before his mouth as to indicate Basil to be quiet. The soldiers did not seem threatening nor did they seem to have any desire to harm nor rob Basil so he did not resist. The soldier behind him let go of Basil slightly but not entirely. The other soldier indicated with his hands for Basil to follow him. “Estir fel isor atonas Ari. Vel kendilor.” Said the soldier. “I don’t understand you.” Said Basil but the soldiers clearly did not understand him. The soldier led Basil through a system of alleys to avoid the open streets. They soon came to a door with a sign of a drinking bear where they stepped inside. “Basil? You alive!” said someone from a corner in the tavern. Basil quickly recognized the girl as Ari. The Laldenien captain they had met in Valdune. Ari sat at a table with three other soldiers, one of which was the soldier that had seen Basil earlier.
Basil sat down with Ari and told her what had happened. He said it as if he had been transported to the afterlife and been given a second chance. Ari looked as if she had difficulties believing what he said. She did not know what to think. Basil had been at the battle and he was here now, alive so either there were some kind of truth in what he said or he had managed to retreat and somehow avoided to hear what had happened. She then told Basil about what had happened in Lalden Minor in her somewhat broken translation. The Lisakdonians had lost but they had stood strong when the great one attacked. They had fell back to a better position and managed to keep the great one away from them while also trying to fend off the other dragons. The Laldeniens were forced north by the main force and could not assist the Lisakdonians who began to become surrounded by the Stelladoran forces. They were forced to surrender and were taken prisoners. The Laldenien soldiers were taken back to Lalden in exchange for a ransom, but the Stelladorans took their weapons.
“Where did they take them? Where did they take the Lisakdonians?” Basil said half eager half worried.
“Do not know. Somewhere south and east. They did not tell anything. Sorry… I can fix horse and map for you. You can go after them.” Ari later added. Basil nodded with a small smile. Basil got something to eat and drink with Ari. Then afterwards they shook hands. “Good luck Basil. Hope you find your friends.” Ari said before giving an laldenien honor sign with her hands. Basil did the same to her before he followed the two soldiers out of the tavern.
One of the soldiers gave Basil a brown cloak to hide his whole armor beneath until they had left the city. The two soldiers led Basil back through the valley the same way they had come earlier but hey took another turn later. The soldiers were still speaking and making some jokes that Basil could not understand but he smiled either way as the soldier laughed. They came to the end of the valley and out on the streets. The inhabitants did not look at Basil any strange now as they had done earlier so it felt safer to walk in the open. The soldiers continued to lead Basil until they came to a large stable. They stepped around the building and went to see a brown and black horse that stood outside. It was not a very beautiful horse nor was it very fit but it looked quite healthy enough to help Basil. Just as Basil walked forth, to the horse something struck him hard in the head and he fell into the stable wall.
The boy who met seven gods – Chapter 22: The dragonless dragon rider, part 1
“Velhanano, estul on almin kapan fertol!” “Zeburh ombru erus almin” “Dacken!!” Basil woke up in some lit room. His head was in pain and his vision and hearing was somewhat dim. In the same room were two people arguing. A middle-aged man that spoke in an explanting voice and a young woman who was very upset and angry. They spoke in some Dormanian language, most likely eastern Dormanian. Basil laid down on the floor with his hands wrapped in rope. He only wore his simple cloths and was facing away from the two others in the room so he could not see what they were arguing about but it was probably something about him. The woman and the man continued to argue for a while longer before the woman gave up her angry temperament. She seemed to agree to something reluctantly. Basil laid still and silent as he listened. Not one sound except for some footsteps came for a couple of seconds. Basil then felt someone dragging him up on his legs.
A large strong man with a scar over his lip starred at Basil with a despised expression. Behind the man stood a young and long woman with very long blonde hair. She wore some kind of knight armour with what appeared to be long strings or similar that hanged from her armour. In her hand she held Basil’s sword. “Her handren ost uravan” she said to the man who seemed who agreed. ”Dun” said the man as he took up Basil on his shoulder and they walked out of the room. "What is going on! Where are you taking me? I have a right to ask for liberation by ransom”
The two did not listen or they did not understand him as they continued out of the room and further out of the building. The man and the woman continued to speak to each other in their eastern Dormanian. They came out onto some kind of training ground beside a barrack of some sort. There were Dormanian soldiers walking around in formations, some starred at Basil while some other kept to their own business. The man shouted towards the stable for someone and after a short while, a soldier came out with a large brown horse. The horse had two large bags, a shield and a lance attached to it. The man put down Basil on his feet. The soldier then took the rope around Basil’s arms and connected it to the horse’s saddle. The man then gave a small coin pouch to the woman and they shook hands.
The woman then walked over to the horse, attached the sword to the saddle and mounted the horse. On top of the horse, she gave a “bye” sign to the man before she looked at Basil with a down-looking smile. Basil tried to somehow unwrap his hands but they were wrapped tight. He did not know if he was angry or afraid as the woman ordered the horse to begin walking. Even though the horse did not move much faster than walking speed the dragging force from the rope was painful and almost brought Basil out of balance. Basil had to move slightly faster to avoid having the rope stretched. They walked out onto the streets of Sagun where people stopped and watched them. A few watched Basil with joy but even more of them looked like they felt pity for him, or the fact that Sagun felt to Stelladoran control. Basil watched over towards the tavern where he had met Ari. He noticed someone looking at them from the mirror but mover aside as Basil looked there. At one point, someone ran in and tried to cut the rope and free Basil but the man was stopped and brought to the ground by some nearby soldiers before he could cut nearly enough. The remaining path out of Sagun was so troublesome that the Stelladoran soldiers had to remain around them for the last part of the path. As they left Sagun behind them the woman turned around towards basil, said something and laughed. Basil felt to fear anymore, he felt only anger. He began to think, to plan. If this woman was the only one that would take him to wherever they were headed, then he could most likely get an opportunity to get free.
Easier said than done. They moved north for multiple hours. Basil had been shouting and begging for them to stop and take a rest for a long time by now as his legs could barely carry him any longer. The woman seemed to take pleasure in Basil’s struggle and only stopped when Basil was about to fall and hinder their progress significantly. Basil was so tired that he fell down onto his knees as soon as they stopped. His hurt like rarely before. The woman took out a small rope and wrapped Basil’s feet. Basil withdrew his feet so the woman kicked Basil in the stomach. She then went and made up a fire where she sat down and prepared food for herself. She also feed the horse but she gave nothing to Basil.
The morning thereafter Basil woke up by the woman unwrapping his feet and forcing him up on his legs. And so they continued north towards Dijesker which took a couple of days. During those days, the woman only gave food to Basil a few times to keep him on his feet. She spoke to Basil sometimes with an angry and blaming voice. Other times she enjoyed his pain. Basil continued to find an opportunity to flee but the woman kept him tired all the time and she even kept an eye on him when he had to do his natural business, something that was incredibly difficult with his hands wrapped. In Dijesker they stopped for the night. The woman left Basil in a cell at the barracks while she went out with his sword. Basil expected her to try to sell it or trade it in somehow. The morning after the woman, pissed off, returned to get Basil and they went to the horse. Basil sighted with relief when he saw that the sword was back in the bag when the woman opened it quickly to take something. They then continued out of Lalden and east into the vast Dormania.
For weeks, the woman continued to treat Basil like dirt and keep in underfed to keep his energy low. She did however speak to Basil in an angry blaming voice less and less as the days went by and before long she only did it on rare occasions. She began to kick him less often and not as hard. She even seemed to begin take notice when Basil spoke or shouted something, even if it was just a turn of her head or something equally insignificant. They even began to move slightly slower and take rest a little earlier.
Then one cold evening when they stopped, the woman did not tie Basil’s legs. Instead after she had made up the fire she disconnected the rope from the horse and took Basil to the fire. Basil who was really cold and tired felt a slight comfort for the first time in a month. He looked at the woman who sat down at the fire opposite to him. Basil realised that he had never gotten a good look at her and now that he looked at her he realized that she was a little quite, beautiful actually. She had a necklace with what appeared to be dragon teeth around her neck. She began to grill two pieces of meat. “Basil”. She looked up at him. “Basil” He said again while keeping his hands towards his chest. She gave a small slight smile and put one hand on her breast. ”Zenaida”
Even though Zenaida had shown a gentle side of herself that evening, she continued to show disgust towards Basil long thereafter. She continued to feed him poorly to keep his energy low and have him sleeping on the ground. During multiple times occasion, she left Basil and the horse to hunt in some forest. She did however bring them both while scouting to minimize any time Basil was left alone. When he was though, Basil had tried to get loose from the rope around his arms but they tightly tied. So tight that they had almost dug into Basil’s flesh and hurt something extremely, something that Zenaida did not show any care for.
Weeks passed by and Basil had begun to lose a lot of weight. His arms and legs were weak and he had difficulties thinking straight. The world had become colder and the days shorter. For how long would they travel and where were they heading actually? They had stopped at a river where Zeinada had walked into a forest one again. Basil waited as usual, but something was different this time. She had not come back when she used to. Basil did not think about it much but he strangely began to worry. What if she was hurt and could not make it back? He shook his head. Why did he worry? She had treated him so badly these weeks. Yet, she had kept him alive, could he survive without her? Basil banged his head onto the tree that he was tied to. What was wrong with him? He was a knight of Lisakdonia, why would he be dependent on some Stelladoran woman who likely wanted him dead anyway.
The time passed and she did not come back. Basil had continued trying to gather his mind. He was just hungry and weak. He could not have any feelings for that woman. What if she is gone? He thought while he looked around himself and then upon his ropes. “Then I will not die here?” Basil began to move his arms against each other in an attempt to loosen up the rope. Since the knot was so tight it harmed his arms by doing so but he continued. It was no effective strategy but it was the only thing he could think up as weak as he was. Hours later and Zenaida had still not come back. Basil could barely move his arms due to exhaustion but the knot had loosened up significantly. Basil began to pull his right arm towards him and the left away. It felt like his skin would break under the rope. Small movements were made and then suddenly, his right arm flew out of the knot. He was free.
Basil took off the rope and comforted his poor wrists. He then stood up and walked to the horse with the bags. He opened the bag with the food and drink. He ate pieces of dried meat, bread, fruit and even wine. He ate so much so fast that it felt almost as if his stomach would break. He looked into another bag and found his sword, Flame song. It was such a relief to hold it again. Basil took the horse’s rope from the horse. When he was about to mount the horse it began to jump and threw him off. Basil landed on his side with his sword in hand. The horse who was scarred ran off up the river. Basil, bowled stood up on his legs and took up his sword. He sighted and began to move after the horse. The horse had ran quite far and Basil was still not in condition to run so it took some time to catch up with it. The horse was eating on a grass field. Basil tried to not scare off the horse again by moving gently, until he walked over a stick that broke. The horse heard it and moved further away from Basil. Basil sighted again and moved after. The next time he came close to the horse it ran away again but this time it was not by Basil it was frightened.
“Tikavan! A familiar voice shouted.
Basil turned towards the voice. Zenaida came walking out from among some trees with a sword in her right hand. She seemed to have hurt her left arm and she was angry, furious as she approached him. Basil drew Flame song and held it before him with both hands. “I won’t be your prisoner anymore Zenaida!” he shouted towards her. Zenaida did not care as she continued towards Basil with her sword in hand. When she was close enough, Basil moved forward and swung his sword in a diagonal swing. He was still rather weak so Zenaida could easily dodge the strike and hit basil’s head with the hilt of her sword before he could get a second attack. Basil tried to back and go for another strike but then Zenaida struck his leg leaving a deep wound. Basil fell as he lost balance. Zenaida took her sword by the blade and struck his head with the hilt knocking him out.
Almost two months passed since then. Snow had begun to fall transforming the land of Dormania. Basil and Zenaida had calmed down since the fight and begun speak with each other. They even learned words from each other’s language. Basil learned that words such as “Dun” meant “yes,” Esen” meant “no”, “Osfar” meant “sword” or “weapon”, “Tikavan” meant something like “fugitive” and some other words. Zenaida even took Basil with her during hunting trips, but that was probably just to keep an eye on him. Basil had much time to think. Zenaida was actually very beautiful whenever her eyes were not red of anger. She was skilled with weapon and smart. She seemed to carry loss of some sort. Basil did wish sometimes that they had not been enemies. Maybe they could have been real friends or something. They had moved through many smaller towns and villages on their way and never had they met anyone that could understand Basil. Zenaida was the only one that could even understand a few words so he had grown some sort of affection for her. But he still had his mind on Lisakdonia, to escape home, even if those thoughts were more rare these days he would be given an opportunity greater yet worse than he could ask for.
One seemingly normal but cold day, they turned off the road for a little longer than normal. They headed towards a village named Fodarla, which was strange since it was not long ago that they had left the last town. What was so special about this one? It did not take long for it to be clear as they entered the walled village. Someone shouted something and soon after a large crowd of people to gather and greet Zenaida. Some people looked upon them as if someone or something was missing. This was probably her home. In the crowd was a young boy that Zenaida took up and comforted before they walked off further into the village. Basil was left at the stable with two guards. The guards spoke and pointed at Basil while they laughed about something. The larger of the guards even grabbed Basil and began dancing with him jokingly while the other laughed his feet off. They stayed in the town for the night. Basil had to sleep in a cell at the barracks. At least the two annoying guards had stopped fooling around, for a moment. They even brought him a real meal so Basil could not really think badly about the guards. Beyond the language barrier, they were probably nice people.
The next day began cold and even more snow had fallen upon the world. The guards gave Basil some real soup before they took him to the stable where they met Zenaida. She seemed happier now, she even said “Estir” (Hello) to Basil. Basil had been allowed to ride on top of the horse together with Zenaida so she helped him up. Before they went off they were met by some of Zenaida’s family again. The mother, the sister and her sister’s son together with some others. Zenaida said farewell and they set off north.
Dark clouds had begun to cover the sky and cold winds blew in over the mountains as if a storm was about to begin. The horse began to whimper but they continued. Something felt awfully familiar about this to Basil. A bad feeling began to grow within him, a feeling of fear and terror. Zenaida noticed something happened to Basil. She looked over her shoulder and said something. Basil just nodded and they continued. The feeling became worse and the horse whimpered more. Darker, colder. The forest moved with the wind in distress. Even Zenaida felt that something was wrong. Zenaida began to ride faster, she wanted to come out of the forest. They rode out of the forest onto a road and did not slow down until they came up on a hill. The feeling was less intense now. They breathed out. Zenaida looked back at Basil but something cached her eyes and her eyes began to open up.
Basil looked back towards the forest and saw it. A large portion of the forest was grey, dead. Something that looked like black smoke came from far down the forest. Something huge was moving in the forest towards Fodarla. The large thing came out towards a Cliffside. An akon. Zenaida began to ride south but Basil dragged onto her. “No! We cannot beat that thing!” Zenaida threw Basil off the horse and looked at him with the angry eyes, not exactly like the usual though. She took out Basil’s sword and threw it on the ground and said “Tikavan” before she rode towards Fodarla as fast as she could. Basil took up the Flame song and looked towards Zenaida as she disappeared back into the forest. Basil looked up towards the sky and then he began to walk west. He did not stop until he looked down upon the Flame song. He stood still. He watched west and south.
The boy who met seven gods – Chapter 23: The hero of Fodarla
Zenaida rode as fast as she could through the snow covered forest. She did not know what she could accomplice against such monster but what would she otherwise do? Listen to that shameful Lisakdonian? This is her home. How he froze up when it got colder, when the air got fouler. Had he faced such monster before or is he just a shameful coward? Zenaida stopped thinking as she rode out into the grey dead path. The snow had, not melted away but kind of vapored away. Everything that was left was the dead colorless plants and tree bodies. The air was foul, dark. A town bell began to ring further ahead of her. Zenaida took up her lance in her right hand. The horse began to resist but she held it on straight course towards Fodarla.
The town appeared before her. The gate and a large portion of the wall had been breached and couple of houses had been destroyed within. Black smoke covered much of the town and behind a corner, the akon brought down another house in one strike. Soldiers and civil clothed men and women were trying to attack the monster with bows and javelins. A hopeless tactic but they wanted to defend their home as much as Zenaida. The Akon turned towards the people and cleaved one man that had come too close in half. The parts of the man flew and covered the ground in blood. Zenaida charged straight through the gate and towards the Akon. She hit it straight in the neck with a powerful strike from her lance. The akon flinched for a very short moment before it turned towards Zenaida. It attacked by taking a large bite off the horse. Zenaida was thrown of the horse who screamed it’s last short moment before it was not much more than a blood covered meat bag.
“Zenaida! Get away from it!” A guard shouted from atop one of the buildings. It was Bierik, the smaller of the guards that had messed with Basil the day before. The other guards tried continued to throw javelins and shoot arrows towards the beast but it had its focus now on Zenaida.
She stood up and ran fast around a corner of a building but the Akon was after her. It broke through the building and two guards that had stood on the roof fell down. One fell before the Akon and was stomped to death. Zenaida continued to ran around the corners but the Akon was only slightly slowed by the buildings that it broke through. She ran out towards another part of the walls were guards were ready with bows and arrows to shoot the beast. “Aki!” a captain shouted and the guards released their arrows towards the beast. Most arrows just bounced off its thick hide. Zenaida continued to run through a market.
A swift shadow was cast upon her and the moment later, a large impact was heard from the Akon behind her. She turned around and saw a dragon attack the Akon swiftly before flying away again. Moments later the market was covered in flames as another dragon dove in. The Akon gave out a terrifying screech that caused Zenaida to cover her ears as she looked up towards the dragon that had just passed by. “Mom!” she shouted to the rider of the dragon. The Akon turned tried to strike the dragon but missed. Just then, the other dragon swooped in and attacked the akon again by trying to scratch out its eyes. It hit one eye but missed the other. The Akon screeched even higher now, a screech that made the bones within Zenaida to shiver. The Akon turned towards Zenaida again and began to chase her and she began to run again. Her mother descended behind the dragon to attack it. Just as she came close, the Akon turned and struck towards her. Blood flew and much of it covered Zenaida. The dragon fell in high speed into a building causing the wall to break. The dragon was shacking in pain but its neck had been cut open. The mother lied beneath the dragon and tried to get out. The Akon moved in on them. “Zenaida, flee with your family” the mother shouted before the Akon struck so blood flew. “I will mom.” Zenaida said lowly before she began to run home.
She could hear behind her as flames once again covered the streets as the other dragon moved in. The guards continued to shout orders and attack the monster. Zenaida was soon far away from the battle as she ran home. Families and soldiers were running on the streets towards the other gate to escape the town. Another dragon with its rider flew over the town towards the Akon. When she came to their home, she breached through the door. “Tenise! Elnor” She shouted. Soon after, her sister and nephew came running up from the vine cellar. “We must go. Now!” Her sister nodded and they took the most essential stuff and went outside. Elnor was shaking but he was completely quiet.
They began to run towards the gate when the crowd began to shout. Soon after the houses on the side breached and the Akon began to attack the fleeing families. The guards tried their best to keep it away from the families but they were just slaughtered together with them. One dragon was still alive and tried to get the Akons attention without coming too close but it seemed to be very difficult. Those that survived quickly ran back towards their homes or through the alleys towards the other gate. Zenaida, Tenise and Elnor also ran towards the other gate. Tenise took up Elnor and held his eyes covered as they ran past many bodies. Thankfully, their mother’s, Elnor’s grandmother’s body was in the other direction so they could save him that vision. He probably knew either way.
It was difficult to move fast with all the rubble in the way towards the gate from the collapsed buildings. Some people tried to walk over while others tried to walk around or even jump down from the walls. It did not take long for the akon to come back as people ran away from the southern section. Zenaida, Tenise and Elnor could no longer run to the gate or they would have been caught by the Akon, so they ran towards the barracks instead which had not been attacked yet. They ran into the barracks where Tenise, Elnor and many other civilians were led down into the cellar. Zenaida ran up to the upper level where a few captains and their leaders tried to make up some kind of strategy. Each proposal was neglected by others and it began to look completely hopeless. They had sent for reinforcement from the nearby towns but they would not arrive for at least another hour. The only one that really could deal with the Akon right now was the dragon rider Walfur and his dragon. He just had to survive for another hour while still keeping the population safe. It is no way though that the dragon will be able to remain in combat for so long.
“Can we lead the Akon away from the town?” one said. “It won’t chase you when the town still stands if you are enough people, and we don’t have that many horses.” “But we have to do something.” “We already are, we’re surviving.” “We won’t for much longer.”
Many of the captains very close or already had broken down. The discussions were made by only a few by this point and lead nowhere. Zenaida was sitting down in a corner. She did not know what to do either. The time passed by fast or maybe slow. She did not know. Her head was spinning and she felt as she wanted to throw up. Now only two captains continued to argue. Then Zeinada felt something strange, as if one beat of her heart became much warmer. The air changed a little and her head did not spin as much. Some of the other captains looked as if they felt something similar. A screech from the Akon echoed through the town and into the barracks. Something has happened.
Zenaida and many of the captains ran out of the building. Walfur and his dragon were flying in the northern part of the town. He descended quickly and a little later ascended again so he clearly was still fighting the Akon but he seemed more aggressive this time. Zenaida ran over the building roofs towards them. When they saw the Akon it was breaking through a small hut as it tried to attack someone. White sparks flew over the Akon’s shoulder as it was hit by a white burning blade. Just as the Akon was about to strike again, Walfur attacked the Akon’s head, scratching out the other eye. The Akon turned around trying to cut the dragon but Walfur was quickly away again. The Akon had a large white glowing wound in its face surrounded by countless black bleeding wounds. The man with the glowing blade ran further away behind some ruined buildings.
“Basil!?” thought. The akon screeched again as it set off towards Basil. The Akon ran straight through the ruins without any sort of self-preservation in a furious anger towards Basil. Buildings fell apart as the Akon ran after Basil in such speed that Walfur could not catch up, less help him. Zenaida was first of the captains to climb down the roof and run towards where the Akon had disappeared. She ran through the rubble and blood covered streets. When she came around a corner, she saw Basil lie down beneath some planks. Blood was dripping from his nose and mouth and his left arm was covered in blood and looked very damaged. She froze as she looked at the Akon before Basil. White flames were violently burning through the black hide around the blade that was buried deep into its skull. It was dead. Walfur soon landed not far away and approached them. He helped Zenaida with Basil. Soon later, the captains and some surviving soldiers appeared and even later civilians.
Hours later, Basil woke up in some bed. His body was in pain. He looked down and saw that his arm and other wounds had been bandaged. Planks outside of the room squeaked by someone walking. “Hello” he said. No one answered and the squeaking moved further away. Basil lied down and looked out the window. The sky was dark and the moon shined through. In the corner of the room someone had put his sword. Soon later, the planks began to squeak again followed by the door opening. Zenaida stood in the doorway for a short moment with a bowl and towel in her hands. She stepped inside, walked to Basil, and put down the bowl on a board beside the bed. She sat down on the bed and began to remove the bandages except the arm from Basil’s wounds and clean them. The wounds were already cleaned so it felt redundant but he did not resist. It felt nice so he sat there silent. She let her hand move through Basil’s hair as she cleaned his face. When she was finished she put on the bandages again. She held Basil’s left hand for a moment as she sat there, silent. Basil thought about moving his arm around her but she stood up before he could decide. She moved to the door without the bowl. Instead of going out she closed and the door and walked back to Basil. She did not sit down directly on the bed. Instead she stood beside the bed and took off her clothes. When she was completely naked, she went down into the bed with Basil and moved closer to him.
Basil woke up in the middle of the day thereafter. The room was empty again. Zenaida was gone. He put on a couple of clothes that had been left on a table and took his sword before he stepped out of the room. “Hello?” he said. No one answered. He walked into the main room and kitchen but there seemed to be no one home. On the table was a note, one word written in Evilerian and a name. “Farewell Basil”. Basil took the paper and put it into a small bag that was attached to his shirt. He stepped outside of the house and saw some guards working with some rubbles. There seemed to be only soldiers left in the town. One familiar guard shouted as he came running towards Basil. It was the large guard that had messed with him two days earlier. He shook his hand and led Basil to the stable. On the way they met many other soldiers that wanted to shake Basil’s hand and some that cheered “Halden!” as they saw him. The guard took out a beige horse that looked exactly like the one that the other guard had taken care off. The horse had already two bags on it. The guard looked as if he was about to cry as he prepared the horse. A clear and familiar sign for Basil, he did not need to ask even if he could. The guard gave the horse’s reins to Basil and then shook his hand. “Viel Dan” he said. Basil paused for a moment. Viel Dan? Did he say that in Evilerian or did they have the same word for good-bye? Basil responded with the same before he mounted the horse. Basil then set off. Now he could finally search for Antonio, Alice, Magnus and Helen.
The boy who met seven gods – Chapter 24: The mountain fortress, Beldon part 1/3
“South and east? From Lalden minor.”
For weeks that turned to months, Basil traveled from town to town, searching and asking as well as he could. The words he knew in Dormanian expanded for every day but to gain any information at all was almost impossible. Commonly those he asked did not know anything or rarely they took Basil for a Lisakdonian spy and called for guards. Basil most often managed to escape but a few times, he had to fight to get away. Then one day he came across a large city o the name Archenti. Basil had tried to avoid the cities as well as possible but he began to realize that if he would ever get the chance to see his friends again he had to take the risk.
He walked through the city’s busy streets at the docks in an attempt to find some merchant that could have knowledge about the Lisakdonian army. He managed to find one old and slightly fat man. The man however did not even speak eastern dormanion but some of the southern languages. Basil tried to communicate by hand gestures and showing his emblem. The man, confused thought that Basil wanted to buy leather and silk or color powders. Basil tried for a few more minutes but it became meaningless as the man began to become annoyed. Basil continued through the city looking for someone else to ask. He walked past a couple of markets, some chapel, an armory and a blacksmith, a butcher’s house and much other. Basil stopped after a while. Something had caught his eye earlier so he walked back again.
He walked to the blacksmith he had earlier seen. On the walls were a couple swords, axes, spears, some armor and shields. Most of the shields were either kite shields or more rounded shields but there was one of a particular and very familiar design. In the corner hung a praestodum, a Lisakdonian army shield design. The shield usually had a Lisakdonian red bird on it but this one had a yellow horse. Basil walked and began speak to the main smith. Basil pointed towards the praestodum while he mentioned it by name and the Lisakdonian army. The smith asked Basil for gold which he did not have. The smith burst out with angry insults indicating that Basil was wasting his time before he returned to his work. Basil, now also angry turned around and walked away. In that moment he heard some bucket fall over in the blacksmith and the old man screaming out in fury towards someone else that agreed shamefully.
Basil turned around and soon saw a young dirty man with an empty bucket walk towards him. The young man took Basil’s arm and led him away into an alleyway. “You’re Lisakdonian?” the man asked in Evilerian as they stopped. Basil looked confused for a few seconds before he almost shouted out. “Ehm yes! Are you also Lisakdonian?” He had not heard anyone speak Evlierian, at least in mother tongue for half a year. The young man lightened up while still being quite stressed. “What, what happened at Lalden? Is Lisakdonia coming to save us? I want to go home.” the man continued to speak out in such haste as his eyes began to tear up. Basil was shocked. He had not expected this reaction. He had to lie and told the man that Lisakdonia were indeed going to save them. He could not bear to tell the truth that he did not know. Also now he needed as much information as possible from this man, breaking his hope would not help.
The man lit up with tearing eyes as he cheered with his dirty poor hands. “Ha! Haha! i’m gonna go home. Mom, sister, I’m coming home!” Basil put his hand on the man’s shoulders. ”All right, calm down now. They just need a little more time but they are coming to save you. Now I need a little help from you. I need to know what happened to you? Where are everyone else?”
The man dried his tears with his dirty shirt. “Right, right. We are taken east. Some of us were sent to work at farms, others were sent to work in the iron mines. I was taken by master to his blacksmith. The general, captains and the knights were brought to some place called Beldon. I don’t know why. I could not understand them but they were very strict about them getting there. They also took away our weapons and equipment but the knights’ weapons they kept with them as they continued to Beldon. I also don’t know that. I can’t speak much longer. Master will else send me back to the mines. I must go” Basil thanked the man and they did the Lisakdonian army salute before the man ran away with the bucket. Basil began moving back to his horse. He finally had a location.
A week later. Basil is riding north in the Beldon valley. The Gijora Mountains on each side rises higher than any mountain Basil ever seen before. They reached so far up into the sky so much of them could not even be seen due to the clouds being beneath them. Basil had to keep himself among the trees to avoid the dragons that flew around high above. Some with riders and many without. So many sizes, so many colors and each and every one of them would want to make Basil and his horse their dinner if they got the chance. The dragons’ with riders might be there to control the wild dragons but Basil did not want to take the risk.
Basil came by a trading village that looked more like a fort than a village in the central opening of the valley. A lake was located nearby and to it lead a river that came from a path in the west. Far in the west in the valley, the river ended up at a huge gatehouse. The gates of Beldon.
The first gatehouse of Beldon led to a wide path that led up on between and lightly around the mountains. The path led to another gatehouse that was as large as the first one. This gatehouse led to a long and huge stone bridge. “The iron bridge” that went over a deep drop where the river was running. In the middle of the bridge was another but smaller gatehouse and in the end of the bridge was another large gatehouse beside a waterfall. The third gatehouse led to another path that also went upwards together with the river. The air became thinner and the clouds above him did not seem as distant. The last pathway ended at the large walls and the gate to Beldon itself. The ends where the walls dug into the mountain sides were constructed with towers.
The city of Beldon itself was a huge grey and white stone city with yellow/green roofs. The city was located inside a “mountain bowl” with fertile farmland with a small lake in the northern part, large enough to almost alone provide food for the city. In the southwest was the castle of Beldon, which was defended by another set of large walls and towers. In Lisakdonia, Beldon was sometimes referred to as “The city in the clouds” or “the mountain fortress”. A fortress almost impossible to besiege and overtake and neither had it even been since it was formed by the iron king, Zeladorn.
Basil sat down inside the city. He had to recover his breath from walking up so far. When he had gathered his strength, he began to look around the city. He did not know where to go from now. Luckily, the guards did not seem to be very active in the city so Basil did not have to be too careful walking around. Basil managed to get his hands over a set of guardian attire and equipment as well. The first place Basil decided to search was the second barracks, which also was a prison of some sort. Basil approached the guards who stopped him by holding up their hand towards him. “Efolm akamsur?” they asked him. ”Visi eldi etahor” Basil replied trying to sound as secure with the accent as he could. The guards looked doubtful at first but they stepped back and let Basil inside.
The barracks were mostly empty except for a couple of drunken soldiers that were singing songs. After some time searching he finally made it to the prison cells. Except for a couple of ordinary criminals and such there were no Lisakdonians there. Basil continued to search around the building for a while longer before he went out. Basil then continued to search the mine, the farms, the markets, crafting stores and everywhere else that he could think of, except for the castle. The gates to the castle were much better guarded than the barracks. Two captains were behind the gatehouse and on top of it was a dragon with its rider. Basil would not be able to make it inside, even with his attire. He needed some distraction, a significant one.
A little further away from the gate was a tower with a large stable in front. It gave Basil an idea. He waited until dark, which happen quite fast due to the surrounding mountains. Basil walked up to the tower’s base inside the stable. He took out his blade and held it firmly in his left hand. He channeled the white flame so his whole arm screamed in pain. He then swung with all power he had in his right arm into the tower wall. The blade cut through forcefully and left a large cut. Basil, a little dizzy walked away and took a torch which he threw at the stable roof. It did not take long for the horses to begin panicking and some nearby soldiers to shout. Meanwhile soldiers began to show up to put out the fire, Basil had snuck inside the building and stood inside the tower’s circle stairs. He took out his sword again and took a couple of deep breaths. He channeled the flame and struck the middle pillar.
The walls around Basil quickly began to crack and moment later the whole tower began to move. Basil could hear soldiers screaming in panic further up the tower as it began to fall over. Soldiers at the stable also began to scream. Basil, neglecting the pain in his arm and the spinning head ran out of the building. It felt as if the whole city shook of the impact when the tower collapsed into the burning stable.
Basil ran towards the gate pretending to be terrified. “Jagran! Jagran” (fire! fire!) he shouted in panic pointing towards the collapsed tower. Soldier were already running out of the game even before he had arrived so he just ran in continuing to shout “Jagran! Jagran!” He continued until he had ran into the first door he could find. It was silent inside so he now pretended to be an ordinary guard. He walked through large white corridors with golden chandeliers. On the walls were a couple of huge paintings of kings and queens, all with very pale skin and light hair. He looked through a large number of rooms, both large and small. He did not know what to look for really. There had to be something here.
After some time searching, he could hear a large door open somewhere inside the castle. Basil tried to search up the source and found himself in another corridor. There were voices coming from inside what must be the throne room. He snuck up along the wall to take look. There were a large number of people in the room, mostly nobles and royal guards. At the front of the group where what seemed to be the queen and king discussing with some very fat noble. In the group were also two children in royal clothes. A seven-year-old girl and a six-year-old boy. Both had the same pale skin and light hair as the queen and king. Basil noticed one man that brought back memories. Among the guards stood the man responsible for all of this, Ammar Avitus himself. Basil held his hand over the sword’s hilt as he starred on the man.
“Estir zolnir, con robuz?” Basil turned around swiftly only to find that a four or so year old girl was standing before him. She looked very similar to the other children so she was probably also a child to the king and queen. “ zolnir, con robuz?” She said again now shacking Basil’s tabard. Basil looked around and then at the child. “Ni.. Nikh”. The young girl looked at basil with disappointment. She probably thought he was as boring as any other guard was as she left and walked back to the others. Basil looked at the group and noticed a slightly dark skinned man that he also recognised as they turned towards the girl. The group soon later split up. Basil thought for a short while if he would follow Ammar or the dark man. Basil decided to follow the dark skinned man. The man did not have any guards with him so following him was easy. The man walked until he came to what appeared to be his bedroom. Basil walked in after.
The man who was a Laldenien general that had been at Lalden minor turned around calmly and asked Basil something in eastern Dormanian. Basil drew his sword and grabbed the man by the throat and pushing him into a wall. “Did you betray us!” Basil said in Evilerian.
“What? What is this?” the man responded. “Did you betray us at lalden minor!?” Basil said as he hit the man’s head onto the wall. “You’re Lisakdonian? No! No I never betrayed you. I thought we would win.” the man said.
“Then why are you here? You are no prisoner? Why did they take my friends but not your!?” Basil drew the blade closer to his throat. “No! We are Dormanians, we always were, that’s why we were spared on a ransom. I am here as a simple diplomat to ensure our relations now when Lisakdonia is gone.” “So you are a traitor then! “I am loyal to Lalden. I do what is best for Lalden. Be it with or against Lisakdonia.”
Basil, still upset relished the man. “I never wanted this to happen, but I have to do the best of the situation.” Basil sat down on the bed. He looked up on the man who still stood at the wall. “Where are they? Where did they take my friends” said Basil. The laldenien man was still shaking and looked like he did not want to answer. “They are. They are not here.”
“Where are they!?” Basil grabbed his sword and starred at the man. “They. Oh no. no. They. The knights and generals were fed to the imprisoned great mother. I’m so so sorry.” Basil felt empty. He stood up and drew his sword towards the man’s neck so close that he cut a bleeding wound. “Is it true?” The man was crying of fear. “I have no reason to lie to you. If you don’t believe me. Look in the royal armoury. It is downstairs in the western section”
Basil withdrew his sword and left the man to grab his bleeding neck. Basil went out of the door and walked directly towards the armoury without caring for anyone that would be able to see him. He walked fast yet it felt not fast enough. His head felt empty yet it was spinning significantly. He could barely focus on the path yet he walked steadfast. Before long he found himself in the armoury. Thousands of weapons, shields and sets of armour were there. He walked through the room looking over all the walls and racks. Basil stopped and his stomach got cold. He grabbed for a sword among other familiar ones. He looked at the sword. It had a green hilt and a name forged into the metal. “Malumion” Antonio’s sword. Basil looked around and he also saw the swords of, Helen, Magnus and Alice. Where they all really dead?
A bell began to ring further up. A little later another bell began to ring and people, soldiers could be heard shouting. Basil, filled with rage grabbed Malumion and walked out of the armoury. His mind was clouded but he walk straight forward without any clue what to do. He just walked. The sounds of footsteps and shouts began to fill the corridors and soon two soldiers ran out of another path. They looked towards basil and shouted some question. Basil did not listen, instead he channelled the flame and then let the blade find its way through both the soldiers, killing them. Basil almost awakened by the action began to run through the corridors, keeping an eye towards the other paths. When he found a stairway, he ran up. The stairway led all the way up to a balcony of some sort. On the balcony were three saddled dragons kept in cages. Without thinking, basil cut through the lock to one that was sleeping. Before the dragon had waking up, Basil had jumped into the saddle. In confusion, the dragon walked out of the cell and began to fly without knowing it was not its master riding on it.
The dragon flew west down the mountains. Basil let the dragon fly on its own while he held onto the saddle so he did not fall off. He used this time to breath and try to think but this mind was still numb. He could not think about anything else than Antonio, Alice, Helen and Magnus. Basil almost fell asleep. Then suddenly the dragon screamed as something grabbed it and threw it towards the ground. Basil fell with the dragon for a few seconds and the dragon took the whole impact. All air escaped his lungs for a couple of seconds as he lied on the dragon. Something large landed on the ground.
Basil dropped off the whining dragon still holding onto Malumion. “Run miechem edlo osfar. Ofa upach edlo glorn” A man said in threatening tone. Basil looked towards him. It was a large strong man with a large black dragon. Basil took a combat ready stance. The man shook his head. “Ni ekion” the man said just as he raised his large sword. Basil did not have time to channel the flame before the swing came. Basil had to block the attack but the man was much stronger so Basil’s whole balance was set of course. Before Basil could regain his balance, the man hit him with his fist. Basil fell to the ground and dropping Malumion. The man grabbed Basil by the hair and pulled him up. The man then pushed Basil towards the black dragon causing him almost to fall. Basil then stood still while holding his hand on Flame Song’s hilt. The man pushed Basil again, now harder so he fell. Just as the man was going to pull him up again, Basil turned around and swung with his burning sword.
The man’s blade landed in the ground beside Basil. Basil backed off and stood up while looking at the man. In his hand, he held the hilt of the sword and half his face had been cut through, from the shin, through the mouth and left eye. The man coughed blood as he tried to breath. Basil raised his sword and cut off the man’s head.
The black dragon roared behind Basil but instead of trying to attack, it flew off. Basil stood there with the sword in his hand, just looking at the body of the man. Beneath all the sick feelings he had there was one feeling. A feeling of wrong. Something was very familiar with this man. Too familiar. As if he had killed someone he should have known or did know.
The boy who met seven gods – Chapter 25: Malumion – the monster slayer
Days later. Basil was walking over a field with tall grass. He did not know what to do anymore. He should have traveled home to Lisakdonia with his friends by now. He still did not know if he should have believed the man, but as he had said. Why would he lie? Basil stroke his right hand over his head. His head was in pain and he felt sick. His body felt fragile and his left arm felt as it had broken into thousands of pieces. He sat down for a while. He did not know if he was about to cry, scream or throw up. Everything felt so wrong, everything was so wrong. Why was he even in Dormania? Why was he here so far from home? He lowered his head into his arms.
Basil tried to find some answer or comfort in his memories but mostly he saw only death. He remembered his grandmother and Byron, killed by an infected wolf. He remembered his parent, killed by the Margeficus. He remembered Lily, killed and defiled by Philip and his men. He remembered Rowan, killed by Stelladorans. He remembered the people that died in Giern, those that had died in Nadra Vika, Sirdaca, Lalden Minor. He remembered Antonio, Alice, Magnus and Helen, also killed by Stelladorans. He remembered Janet. Basil looked up. His mind became clearer. That’s it. He came here in hope of finding and taking revenge upon the one or those responsible for the Margeficus. At home, Janet was waiting for him. With newly found purpose, Basil stood up and continued to walk.
Sometime later, A dragon flew past Basil high up in the sky. Basil did not take notice of it until it turned around further ahead. It was a black dragon with someone riding on in. The dragon flew lower as it turned again. It was the same kind of dragon that the man he had fought some days earlier had. The dragon as it turned again flew straight down towards Basil and landed not far away from him. Basil stood still and watched the Dragon and the rider who jumped off. She looked at Basil with an expression that could end up either with her crying or screaming out in fury and anger. She was shaking uncontrollably holding her sword. A tear left her right eye as she spoke with trembling voice. “Eren sky, Eren sky ish dor?” The tall grass was dancing around them. Something was different about her. She held her sword in the right hand and her left hand she held over her abdomen.
Basil did not answer. He began walk away from Zenaida. “Eren sky ish dor!” she shouted out in anger. Basil stood still for a few seconds while he thought. He then drew his sword and turned around. “Dun” he said. Zenaida was shaking even more as she closed her eyes and lowered head with tears pouring from her eyes. She put one hand on the dragon that began to fly away. She grabbed her sword with both hands and opened her eyes. Her eyes were black with hatred and she breathed heavily. Then she stopped. Basil raised his sword at the same moment as she dashed forward. She swung towards basil’s shoulder from her right shoulder. Basil blocked the attack with his sword. Zenaida pushed his sword with her own and turned around her own shoulder and deliver another attack from her left shoulder. Basil who had his own shoulder in the way to move his sword tried to push Zenaida away. As the sword swung over Basil’s head, Zenaida released her left hand from it and punched Basil’s jaw with it.
Basil backed off and turned his whole body to gain moment forward with a swing for his blade. Zenaida was already moving away but strains of hair and a little blood splattered as the sword passed her. Zenaida was struck just above her left eye. She had her sword reaching behind and as she moved forward, she raised the sword as she pushed into Basil. She sword cut through the outer layer of Basil’s cloth armour. Basil pushed forward and punched her in her breast so she dropped the sword. Basil then pushed her down as he grabbed her by the neck with his right arm as he moved the sword towards her neck with the left arm. Zenaida took out a dagger from her belt and stabbed Basil in the shoulder. He lost his grip so she could move away. She ran to her sword and took it up. Meanwhile, Basil dragged out the dagger from his shoulder.
Zenaida held sword at shoulders height pointed forward as she turned around towards Basil. She moved forward to thrust it towards Basil who came swinging in with his left hand on his sword. She ducked beneath the blade but then fell forward and dropped her sword. Basil had stabbed her with the dagger in the chest just above the abdomen. Basil look her in his right arm and lowered his sword. Zenaida held her eyes down into Basil’s chest. She then took the dagger and cut Basil’s left arm while holding his right. She grabbed Basil’s sword and turned around her right shoulder leading the blade straight back into Basil’s own chest. Basil trembled backwards and fell onto the ground.
Zenaida fell down onto her knees holding her hands towards her abdomen and her bleeding chest. Basil forced himself up on his legs even with the sword piercing straight through him. He grabbed the hilt and pulled. Even how hard he tried he could not avoid to scream by the pain. His clothes were beginning to be drenched in his own blood. Basil held the sword as he limped forward towards Zenaida. Basil stepped beside her and raised the sword above his head turned towards her. The blood from the sword dripped down upon his head. Zenaida looked up upon him. She was still furious but mostly sad.
“Akonar” she said. Basil starred at her before he lowered the sword. He upon the blade. “Malumion, the monster slayer”. A tear finally broke out of Basil’s eye. Then the Malumion. The sword landed soft in the grass beside Zenaida. Basil then turned around and began to walk away while holding his hands around the bleeding wound. He walked beyond the field towards a river. He began to feel weak and cold. Every step became more difficult than the last. Then he could no longer take another step and he fell onto the ground.
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More and more soldiers had arrived at Crastine as they came closer to the departure. Basil was walking with Antonio and Rowan together with their horses. They had packed bedroll, tents and other equipment for the journey ahead. They were waiting at the Letholdus statue looking at the soldiers that had just arrived. From among the chunk of soldiers came Magnus, Leonard and Andre together with their own horses towards the three boys. They greeted each other and mounted their horses as they began moving towards the northern gate.
“So what’s the plan?” Rowan asked Leonard while trying rearranging the package to become more even for his brown horse.
“A dark animal or beast have been seen near the town of Lerca, a small bit up Turrun. A local shepherd saw the animal but fled back to the village before taking any risk. The local militia looked further into it and found some dead animals and rotten plants. So they contacted the order and it became a mission for us hunter knights to investigate and deal with the problem if possible.”
Magnus coughed “Lesser hunter knights”. Leonard raised his fist towards Magnus who laughed back. “I didn’t ask you to follow me out there” Leonard said while riding further forward in the group. “We are not going out there for your sake. We are going with you to have a good time in the wild while letting the girls have some time on their own. For some of us this might be the last time we see the nature of Lisakdonia after all.
They had left Crastine in the morning and the sun had already disappeared beneath the horizon when they arrived in Lerca. They set up camp outside of the town close to the Turrun river. There were no hopes in searching the area in the dark. After they had set up the camp, Rowan and Leonard went out to search for firewood while the other four went down to the river to fish. The last sunlight in the horizon disappeared just after the moon ascended over the sky, covering the area in calm light.
Rowan and Leonard came later back with the firewood and set up a fire. The boys continued to fish and eat and have a good time late into the evening. At one moment they heard a pack of wolves howling to the moon followed by another howling sound. The boys decided to go to bed while two would keep guard. Basil and Magnus began the guard duty.
Ten days until departure to Lalden
The night turned to morning. The fire was almost extinguished when Antonio woke Basil, Magnus, Rowan and Leonard. Andre had seen something further up a cliff that had disappeared further up. Something animal like but with yellow eyes. They formed three groups. Rowan and Leonard would ride up towards the cliff. Basil, Magnus and Antonio would ride into the forest and search for the trace that had been mentioned the day before. Andre would go to the town and talk to the guards to gather more information. Then they set off. Basil, Antonio and Magnus rode up to the cliff where the animal had been seen. The path there was rather steep but not too much trouble. Well up on the cliff they found nothing else but a lone tree and some old bones from a deer stuck beneath a boulder. They continued along the Cliffside for two kilometers without founding anything that was out of the ordinary. They came to a part of the cliff where there had been a landslide earlier so the ground appeared to be quite unstable.
“If the animal came here it must have continued up towards the mountain or down the unstable ground. No matter which one we can’t bring the horses if we decided to follow the path up unless we turn back here.” Magnus said as he jumped off the horse and approached a path upwards too steep for a horse. Antonio and Basil also dismounted their horses and looked around to see if there was somewhere else the animal could have escaped. Basil walked towards the landslide too look closer but stepped a little too close. The ground beneath him cracked and he fell down along the landslide. He did not fall long before he landed on the ground and continued to glide down the steep ground. He stopped at the edge of the forest which was at least twenty meters beneath Antonio and Magnus. “Basil! Are you okay?! Magnus shouted while avoiding the edge of the cliff. “I’m fine!”
“Try to remain where you are! We’ll turn back and come and get you from beneath the cliff. Magnus shouted before they mounted their horses and took Nadja with them back along the cliff.
Basil sat down on a broken tree stump as he waited. He only had his sword as his shield were hanging on the saddle on Nadja. As he waited he drew out his sword and held it up towards the sun which made the steel reflect the light like a silver mirror. He noticed a slight shimmer of yellow on the blade. He looked towards the forest and saw two yellow eyes starring towards him from within the shadows of the trees. Basil got a cold feeling through his left arm and decided to pursue the animal rather than waiting there. He ran towards the eyes that disappeared into the forest.
As he ran he found a bunch of blood soaked bones and wool spread across a small area. Looking at the sheep remains his arm began to hurt slightly. He held the flame song steady in his right hand as he continued down a path where more bones and wool lied. The pain in his left arm became more intense and began to disrupt his focus. He grabbed his sword firmly and channeled the white flame. He began to realize that it had been a dumb idea to walk in here alone. He began walking towards the sun in the east where the camp was. Even with the burning flame the pain did not falter. Then suddenly a growling sound appeared from behind him. He turned towards it and came face to face with an approaching black wolf. The wolf looked exactly like the one that had attacked him and Lily as children. Another wolf appeared from behind him followed by more wolves that surrounded him.
Basil took the wolf’s body and threw it back towards the other wolf before he raised himself up onto his legs. The wolves kept their distance from Basil. Basil screamed with fury at the wolves. Basil was so exhausted that he only managed to keep himself on his own legs by adrenaline alone now so the wolves just had to wait. Basil was shaking of anger and adrenaline as he tried to think of a plan. The wolves changed their focus towards the east just before two horses appeared attacking the wolves. Magnus and Antonio managed to strike one wolf down before the others ran away. Basil fell down on his knees. “Antonio, help him to Lerca and watch over him. I continue to chase after the wolves.” Antonio nodded to Magnus’ order and helped Basil up on his horse to bring him to the town. Basil’s left ear was bleeding but nothing worse than a slight wound. Antonio joked with the exhausted Basil about how Basil should share his action a little. Basil chuckled while trying to not collapse. They got to Lerca where Basil got to rest for a couple of hours with Antonio’s company.
When the sun went down in the evening, Magnus, Leonard, and some other people, two of which appeared to also be knights, returned to the town. Rowan was being helped by two guards as he seemed to have been wounded by something and was in worse condition than Basil. “What happened?” Antonio asked Magnus who seemed very much tired. “It was a large Prokéd. The beast attacked Rowan and would have fallen offer if not Kaylin here had saved his skin. Magnus pointed towards a female knight that was riding beside Leonard and some other male knight. The beast is at least dead and the wolves as well. If there are anyone left roaming it is up to the town guard to deal with them now.” Magnus was not on his usually good mood which was quite understandable. Rowan was taken care of and they decided to spend the night in town instead of in their camp.
Nine days until departure to Lalden
The morning arrived. Rowan was still in bad condition but good enough to ride home. The town thanked the eight knights for their deeds before they departure. Kaylin and her male partner continued west instead of going with the boys so they wished each other good bye and set off home towards Crastine.
The journey back took until the evening and as they came to the stables they were met by Janet, Alice, two other females and a dog. Alice was not very happy over something and did not get any happier when she saw Rowan in his condition. Alice went to Rowan and helped him off and put the horse in the stable “What happened with him?” Janet asked. “Ehm, long story. So what have you girls done these three days?” Antonio chuckled modestly. ”It’s a long story, But we got time if you got time, and we know that you got time.” Janet responded. So the group put the horses in the stable and went to speak about their adventure.
The boys left in the morning for their Lerca. Janet and Alice who had nothing planned for that day decided to ride out of Crastine as well. They met up with the two girls that were friends with Magnus’ gang which they had met a couple of days earlier at The eagle’s nest. Helen was a brown haired 25 year old battle knight just like Magnus. Aelia was a 26 year old captain knight from Kelmatein so she had their natural red hair. She was the oldest daughter of seven in a noble family without sons. Even though Helen was rather friendly, Janet quickly became more comfortable with Aelia since she had a charm that was very similar to Antonio. A typical trait among the Kelmateins, also she was quick on deciding where they would ride during their trip. During their trip they came across an old dying man that had been mugged. He had a young dog with him that was unable to help his master. The man begged the girls to take care of his dog, Sam. The girls took care of the dog and helped the man home but he died before they reached the house. The man had no family except an angry brother so they kept the dog without telling him about it.
They decided to return to Crastine and so they did. They shared to take care of Sam during the rest of the day while doing things on their own or together.
Ten days until departure to Lalden
This morning Janet spent together with Aelia and Sam on the order’s courtyard and training facility before they turned to hand over Sam to Alice and Helen at the library. Aelia decided to take the opportunity while they were there to look up a little about Lalden. Alice was reading her usual books about spells while Helen was writing some letters, probably to her family. Janet sat down with Aelia who red out load about Lalden which Alice was not very fond of. Alice asked in a rather rude tone to be quite but Janet took the book from Aelia and read even louder to mess with Alice. Alice blamed Janet for reading too little and thus had a weak wind. Janet responded that Alice spent too much time reading and thus was weaker in direct combat than the others. The quarrel continued until Helen had enough and proposed that the girls decide in the arena by combat which one was correct. The two agreed. However the small arena was occupied for the rest of the day so they had to take it the day after.
Nine days until departure to Lalden
As the sun reached its highest point. The four girls together with Sam and a few spectators arrived in the small wooden arena. They equipped themselves in the specific armor and the blunt white swords specific for knight duels before they met inside the circle of the arena. Aelia informed the few spectators of the two fighters and the fight began. Since it was a duel. There was no real risk in hurting the opponent with the blunt blade but the white flame and Alice’s spells could. So they had to use their spells sparingly to avoid hurting their opponent severely or they would be punished equally harsh. Alice began the fight by casting force spells which were usually effective without hurting the opponent too much. Janet was on her hand not defenseless against the spells as she could “cut” through them with her flame as she tried to avoid most of them. Alice was a relatively skilled spell caster for her age but the white flame was by the wizards at the academy considered a professional class spell so it would not be beaten by simple force spells.
Alice turned to more professional spells such as limb burden and mind seize but as she quickly noticed, Janet was better with the flame than Rowan so the spells did very little effect. Janet moved over the ground holding her sword towards Alice to protect herself from her spells. Alice took drew her own sword and channeled the flame as Janet came to strike towards her. Janet lower the intensity of her flame just as she struck to avoid risking harming Alice too much. The swords clashed with equal force but Janet was a better swordsman as well so she managed to make a quick maneuver with her sword to twist Alice’s sword out of her hand. Alice, who did not want to lose to Janet pushed her hands towards Janet as she channeled a fire ball to force Janet back. The fire wasn’t very powerful but Janet did not take the risk and remain close to Alice so she backed off and raised her sword. Alice realized that she was the underdog by the rules. Her non-harming spells were too weak of impact to penetrate Janet’s shield and her other spells were either too weak to penetrate or too dangerous to use in the arena.
Alice continued to cast less intensive spells as Janet moved around the ground. Janet then moved towards Alice as earlier. Alice threw a small fire ball before she channeled both her hands with different spells. A great fire ball in one and a force spell in the other. Janet would definitely avoid the fire ball and be hit by the force spell. She threw the ball which Janet avoid by rolling on the ground but before Alice threw the force spell Janet threw her sword at Alice and hit her breast plate. Alice groaned as Janet rolled over Alice sword and took it up. She stood up and pushed Alice down and jumped on top of her with her sword over her neck indicating that she had won.
Alice was grumpy and in a bad mood for the rest of the day until the boys came back in the evening. Janet however was in a spectacularly good mood. She managed to silence Alice for a day which was a price in itself.
More knights and soldiers from the eastern coast, Megatus, Milusium and the surrounding regions arrived each day to Crastine for the upcoming departure to Lalden. The day was spent in the training facility to get to know other knights which they would fight together with in Lalden and Stelladora. Basil and the others met new friends and rivals from mainly Megatus and Milisium but also Akeine, Febala and even Sepakius.
Seven and six days until departure to Lalden
If they were not training and getting to know their new companions they were showing the newly arrived knights were they would sleep for the week. Otherwise they were doing chores or other smaller missions.
Five days until departure to Lalden
Almost everyone that had been assigned or voluntarily planned for the mission ahead had now arrived. This day the people of Crastine would get to see those that would departure in just five days. Queen Yiadelle, the order masters and the generals would hold a speech to those assigned. Basil and the other guys had just managed to put on their armors when the girls stepped inside the room to get them. They met up with a larger group of knights, probably a hundred or so. They walked out from the order’s barracks and out on the busy streets. Civilians, mostly Crastiniens but also from other parts of Lisakdonia greeted them and some followed them as they walked towards the western plaza. Soldiers were walking the streets to keep order among the civilians and give more easy access for the knights.
When they got to the plaza they were met with a formation of 35,000 soldiers or so. The statue in the middle and the houses around the plaza were decorated with flags and a large crowd of civilians stood behind the formation of soldiers and at the sides. Assigned guards were preventing the civilians from coming to close to the army. The soldiers in the formation were all facing towards the stairs and platform before a large mansion where more flags stood. Basil was taken by the pure scale. They had known that the invasion of Stelladora was a big deal but it was not until now that a visual image was given for the scale. The line of knights walked beside the large formation of soldiers to the front where a separated group of knights stood in formation. The knights took their position among the knights and waited. The next twenty minutes more knights arrived to the formation.
After the formation of knights had been complete the doors to the mansion opened. First came eight flag bearers that took their position towards the army with flags in their hands. Followed by them came eight royal guardian knights. Basil recognized most of them since not all of them were positioned in Crastine usually. After the royal guardians came Queen Yiadelle, Master Gorbeniac, master Maria, master Galahad, two other masters, general Nicholas, Sylvester, Walter and a bunch others. They took their positions. Yiadelle began by telling the knights, soldiers and the civilians welcome but it was General Nicholas who spoke mainly. He spoke about the dire need that Lalden was in for their help. The crimes that Stelladora had committed by breaking the peace and they spoke how they did not seek to harm Stelladora but to end this pointless war. They spoke about the history of Lisakdonia and the pride the people hold their soldiers and knights in. He spoke about the fear and sadness that covered the kingdom after the Margeficus attacked and much more.
Nicholas later gave the word to Sylvester, Gorbeniac and others. One of highly interest was a woman from Milisium that would join as second in command under Nicholas for the Lalden liberation. The speech continued for almost two hours and was only paused now and then for the soldiers and knight to do some coordinated maneuver to impress the crowd. When the speech was over the speech holders returned inside the mansion followed by the guardians. The soldiers and knights turned around towards the crowd before they set off to either speak with the crowd or go back to their usual deeds.
Four, three days until departure to Lalden
The next day was spent going through the plan for the operation. The different division captains were called to the generals to go through the strategies, logistics, equipment, etc. The knights were given more information regarding if they would work within division or as freelancers within the army during the Lalden liberation. Only a few handfuls of knights would participate directly in the fighting unless necessary. Other times were used to train to keep the body prepared for the fighting ahead. Otherwise the time was used for small chores or free time.
Two days until departure to Lalden
Basil and Antonio stepped out from the tailor. They both held packages in their hands. Since all knights had the day off hey decided to take a walk down the harbor where some knights had planned some games or something. The Harbor was more calm than usual since the trade has been temporarily moved so the military could get free access to the harbor. Even though the departure was only two days away the harbor was not yet filled with ships of the army but only a few. Almost the entire navy was located in Frejdan. Many of the ships could even be seen from Crastine in the distance. Basil and Antonio walked to the location that the specified location and found a hundred or so people singing or trying to. They were practicing songs to the gods for good fortune during the operation.
Janet who was among the groups noticed the two boys and ran off to them. She noted the two packages. “Really? You know there is only one day left and you decided to take them today. What if they are the wrong seizes?” Antonio responded. ”Well. Ehm. We did not think about that. At least we got these today. Rowan haven’t even gotten his yes.”
To which Janet responded. “Rowan have not grown out of his old ones yet.”
Antonio was looking over his package as Basil spoke up. “How about you then Janet. Have you tried yours yet?”
The knights were continuing to practice a new song in the background that made Janet eager.
“I have had it for three weeks. You’ll see tomorrow. Now let’s practice a little. I doubt anyone would feel honored if you forgot your lines in the heat.”
Janet took the boys’ hands and walked back to the singing knights.
As the night approached. Basil went out to an florist before he made night.
Dark grey clouds swept over Crastine followed by heavy rain. Basil, Antonio, Alice, Rowan, Magnus, Andre and Aelia began to run to avoid being wet. Leonard walked as usually without any care for the rain. Helen held a hand over her head and Janet welcomed the rain that swept over her. Antonio and Aelia chuckled over Leonard’s adamant behavior and Janet’s cheerfulness. They were not far away now, only fifty meters or so. Janet and Helen began to move faster as the others ran towards the large house. “Are you sure Magnus that they let me and Leonard in today?” Andre asked Magnus just before they stepped through the doors. “No better way to find out than to find out I guess” Magnus responded as he shook water from his hair.
They stepped inside a large lobby mostly of white marble and red cedar. An old male supervisor welcomed them. After the Leonard stepped inside the old man assigned two assistants, one male and one female to lead them to their respective section. The walked further into the building before they divided at a pathway into dressing room doors. The women went into the right and the men into the left. Sound of laughter and speeches could be heard from further within and the air became more humid. After they had removed their clothed they handed their belongings to two servants in the hallway behind the dressing room and before the bath.
After they were finished and had given their belongings to the servants they stepped out into the main bath. Magnus walked directly to the marble wall on the right that had an opening just beneath the roof. “Have fun now girls!” He shouted towards the opening. Someone that sounded like Aelia responded with “Thanks. The same now for you boys!” The two groups laughed slightly. “See. There were no problems like I said” Magnus said while bunching into Andre. “You never said anything to guarantee that we would get inside” Andre responded by jokingly push Magnus back. The bath house was filled with men sitting in baths laughing and speaking. Most of them were somewhere around the 30’s and probably half of them were knights while the others were captains, supervisors, lieutenants and other military or logistically responsible people together with a few nobles. In a separate section of the bath were some generals, commanders and some high nobles. The boys found a fitting bath were they could sit down and just relax for an hour in the warm water.
After an hour of a relaxing bath a servant came by and told them “Gentlemen, the performance will begin in less than an hour. Don’t be late” The boys went up and dressed into their formalwear for the upcoming performance. Rowan dressed in black pants and a black shirt. Above the shirt he wore a purple formal jacket with yellow buttons that ended at his waist. His shoes were short and black with brown leather beltings. Magnus wore dark blue pants, black shoes but with a white shirt. On top he wore a white suit that ended at his waist but had a tail that ended just beneath the backside of his knees. On the back he had a red lion sewn in with what looked like light yellow flames bursting out from its mane. Antonio wore dark brown leather boots, dark green pants and a golden shirt. On top he wore a green overcoat that reached all the way down half his boots. The coat’s was decorated with golden markings especially around his neck and at breast height. A rather usual style among average noble Kelmatein men. Basil wore black short shoes, silver grey pants and shirt. On top he wore a red jacket similar to Rowan’s but slightly longer. The jacket had white buttons and other white decorations. At last Basil took a white purple lily that he had gotten the day before and put it in his small breast pocket. Andre and leonard had managed to get into the bath but their names would not be on the list for the performance so they had no formal wear to war.
They walked out of the dressing room back to the lobby. It had almost stopped raining completely outside so they all went outside instead of taking the indoor hallway to the side building that was connected to the bath through a small section in between courtyards. A quite significant amount of people had begun to move towards the large performance house through the courtyard. Andre gave a hand gesture towards Magnus “Have fun tonight and we’ll see you tomorrow before the departure.”Magnus gave an equal hand gesture to Leonard and Andre before they walked down the street. Only a few drops of rain still fell outside as the four boys waited for the girls to arrive from the bath. Only a few moments later the four girls stepped outside of the bath house.
Helen came out first through the doors. She wore a wine red and white dress with a special silver necklace looking piece around her neck that held dress firmly while leaving her outer shoulders and arms free. She wore a short red glove on her left hand but a long sleeved glove on her right arm. The dress did not reach as a whole piece down the legs, instead it separated into two parts that covered the legs outsides but not completely the inside so it was visible that she wore white leggings beneath. Aelia wore a more standard blue dress with a golden center leading from her neck and widening beneath her waist. Her left shoulder was free but her right shoulder was covered by a short cape looking piece of cloth with a version of Lisakdonia’s logo on it indicating her knight captain statues. Alice wore a simple purple dress with a crystal opening over her heart area revealing a green gem necklace and her female structure. Janet was dressed in a cyan dress with white long sleeves at her arms. The section between the white arms and cyan dress was tailored with a golden decoration. The same around her neck and waist.
Alice was quick at walking over to Rowan and force him up from the stone he was sitting on and grab his arm. Magnus chuckled over the action before he bowed and offered his hand to Helen who accepted. Janet moved slightly quitter to grab Basil’s arm after seeing the other two pairs formed. Antonio looked around slightly confused before he turned to Aelia asking her for her hand by trying to be as charming as possible and adding a wink. The others including Aelia chuckled by the over the top wink. Aelia moved into Antonio while grabbing his arm with such force that he almost fell. “Come now charm boy. Let’s have some Kelmatein fun this evening!” They then walked to the large entrance and into a decorated lobby with a large double stair in the center. A young man behind a desk asked for the eight’s full name and profession upon which he made eight marks in the book.
They then steeped beside the large stairs through a large door and into an auditorium. The scene was covered with a large red curtain and the room was filled with voices from probably soon to be two or three thousand knights, nobles etc. This was an event for those that would departure to Stelladora tomorrow and other involved after all. Well, everyone except the low or average ranked soldiers. The eight found some good seats where they sat down in their formed pairs. The time passed and after almost twenty minutes a conductor came out on scene where he bowed to the audience and wished everyone welcome and that they would soon see a spectacular performance.
Now the opera could begin.
The woman moves forward towards the man with three steps as another set of three drum sounds. “Av lys erien! Lys vida tir caerhan!
After the first song was over the man moved out of stage as some staff members removed a screen at the back revealing a wall with a painted coast. The woman moved back closer to the wall as a ship looking model was being seemingly pushed out onto the scene. On the ship stood a couple of performers in old classic soldier armor and a princess performer. On the ship were banners of Akdonia. The orchestra began playing a calm song again. Then pirate performers attacked the ship and the music turned quicker with the singer singing faster as well. Soldier after soldier fell to the pirates until another ship with Lisienan soldiers came onto the scene. The music and song now became more hopeful as the newly arrived soldiers began to fight the pirates and finally win. Some of the captains began to raise their hands as they noticed the princess but a prince among them helped her up instead and led her onto his ship.
The curtains began to cover up once again with the princess in the arms of the prince. After a minute or so the next song began and curtains opened up now revealing the interior of a castle. An old man was speaking with his son that was played by the male singer from earlier. The son was not happy. He swung his arm in anger before the king as he began to sing that he was disappointed in his father. He then left the scene. A few moments later the king was attacked by some covered up men and dragged out of the scene. Soon after a bed was being pushed onto the scene in which the king lied. The princess, now pregnant and the prince talked to the dying king while the son stood in a dark corner. The princess left the scene crying when the king dropped dead. The prince kissed the prince on his forehead before the son came in singing threatening while facing the prince. A group of soldiers came after and took away the prince. The son ended his line by ordering the soldiers to have the prince executed for murder.
In the next scene and song the princess was crying over her bed and the son was there singing and pretending to care for her before he led her away. Outside of scene the woman screamed of pain. The scene thereafter the princess was lying in a bed stained with blood with nurses helping her. The son was singing as he entered the scene that the crown would soon be his. The nurses took out a baby looking doll from the bed between the princess’ legs. The son apologized to his sister before he walked out of scene with a smile. The nurses then later took out another doll now to the sound of a crying baby. The scene ended and in the next scene the son was sitting on a throne and about to be crowned. The son was singing in pleasure on his throne surrounded by his followers but he then became interrupted by another male singer. Onto the scene came a bunch of soldiers and a singing captain that told about the newly born child and the princess’ order to have the son executed.
The next songs represented other historic moments of Lisakdonia. One song began not with any of the opera singers but another female singer that had a more gentle voice. She was dressed as a princess and was sitting in a garden smelling the flowers. Then multiple people began to shout from outside the scene and the princess decided to hide. The female opera singer appeared beside her and took over the singing. The male singer then appeared dressed as Sir Pavyel followed by performers playing the royal family. The singer led the family to a door but they were unable to open it. Soldiers began to surround the royal family and two guards. Then by order they executed them as the female singer was singing beside them. The male singer looked through the bodies and noticed that the princess was not there. He cried out in song and anger. Find the princess or we will have failed. The soldiers moved out of the scene and he followed soon after. The princess was sitting in her hiding place unknowing about what had happened. Then an unknown soldier appeared at the scene. He was looking for something and then he found her. He tried to take her with him but she refused. After a little while he managed to persuade her and they fled out of the scene to the singer’s song.
In the next scene the location was a completely different. The soldier was sitting before the princess trying to offer his loyalty and service but she refused. The soldier tried to convince her but she was adamant in her fear and sadness over losing her family. The soldier gave up and walked away to a shrine further away. He sat down and prayed. After some time the female singer appeared now dressed like Friyena. She sang to the soldier who remained on his knees. She then took out a sword and gave it to him. He accepted the sword and she disappeared. The soldier now knighted took down a banner with Friyena’s symbol from the wall and went outside the scene. The following scene illustrated him fighting soldiers and hiring new knights that followed him like a wildfire. The last scene he appeared towards a large amount of soldiers. He raised the sword in his hands and it began to glow. It was slightly obvious that the large flame was mainly caused by some oil since it did not last very long and had a green root at the blade. More than half of the soldiers turned side. After the battle Reynold’s performer met and dueled Sir Payvel’s. A battle which he won.
The next song was about the Margeficus’ attack upon Crastine. The dragon was represented with a large wooden model that spewed flames. The dragon defeated many soldiers and knights until the second commander sacrificed his life to give time for the civilians. Soon after the female singer appeared again as Friyena. She sung towards the dragon with spear in her hand. The dragon responded with the voice of both male singers. The dragon seemed to be impossible to beat until the female singer took up a half spear and sang out while holding it high. White lightning appeared and she threw the spear at the dragon that crumbled and disappeared behind the scene.
The following song represented Lalden being attacked by Stelladora. As Lalden began to lose, an army of Lisakdonia appeared to the sound of cheers from the audience and pushed the Stelladorans back. The song continued with how the Lisakdonians win battle after battle with the Stelladorans before reaching Grailline and Zeislanta were they demand the longed for peace. The performers cheered in victory as the curtains closed and the orchestra began playing a slow and somewhat scary song before the curtains moved aside again.
The many knights attacked Septhis but they were easily defeated. The music began very mildly as well as the singers. Then the music and singers raiser their volumes as white light covered the scene and Friyena’s performer appeared. She fought against Septhis but she appeared to lose so the knights that had retreated charged again towards Septhis, fighting together with Friyena. After a tough fight, Friyena thrust her spear through Septhis. Septhis fell and the other monster ran away to the cheers of the knights.
The curtains began to cover the scene again before it revealed the next scene were the sun was back at the background. All of the performers now stood on scene. The singers began to sing with the music followed by the others. They sang a celebrating song named. “Lys avien non Miviniar”. Dawn of Miviniar, the day of freedom, safety, hope and all that is good. The day when the evil Septhis has perished and the world can live in peace without fear of the abyssal monsters anymore. Antonio poked Basil slightly. “That is what we fight for.” After the song and music had ended the performers and the orchestra stood up and bowed to the audience’s applauds. When the applauds ended the girl that had played princess Julia walked to the front of the scene.
Without any music she began to sing “Ren alvus.”. The other singers began to sing with her after the first piece and so did many of the knights in the audience with more and more following until almost everyone was singing. After the song both the performers and the audience bowed before they left the opera and went outside of the auditorium. Out in the lobby before the closed door stood the receptionist and some other staff pointing everyone in a direction to a now opened door at the side. The door led to a short hallway that led into a large ball room. One side of the room was occupied with large long dining tables.
The other part was an empty dance floor just in front of an empty scene that would soon be occupied with the musical instruments from the opera.
While staff members carried in the instruments the guests were offered to sit down at the tables. Men to the left and women to the right. The eight did not have any trouble finding a place since they already had made partners. Since of the 800 or so knights, only around 200 were female. So most knights got to sit down with some daughter, sister or other female relative to some noble or higher ranked knight. “Lucky those guys. The noble daughters have rather soft hands compared to the knight girls” Magnus pointed out as he looked from Helen’s gloves over across the tables. “Soft hands? Look who speaks. If I recall correctly you was the coward that decided to leave your position in Migeran.” Helen said with a snide tone as she double checked her gloves. “I did not. I moved to get to a greater opportunity. It’s not a coward’s act if it leads to a greater opportunity.”. Magnus tried to sound proud and experienced as he tried to defend his own skin.
“You keep saying that is if it would become a famous quote that people will follow in the future. If you want it to be famous then you better follow it yourself first Magnus.”
Magnus sneered over the tables as he saw master Gorbeniac raising up from his chair “Oh it’s time for the toast. He said as he grabbed his glass.
Master Gorbeniac hit his glass with the fork to get everyone’s attention. He began to make a joke that only the older knights and nobles seemed to understand as they chuckled to it.
“My friends. I would like to wish you welcome but I don’t own the place so let me thank our dear queen Yiadelle for arranging this wonderful event. Now this is the last night most of you spend here in Crastine before you leave tomorrow for Lalden but know this. Even when everything turns dark and even if it feels hopeless, you are fighting for a good cause. You are fighting for peace and those that cannot fight for themselves. You will be the heroes when this turns to a tale that the children of Lalden tell each other at the campfire. But now I’m getting thirsty and hungry so everyone. Let’s enjoy this evening as if it was the last. For Lisakdonia, the queen and our goddess Friyena. Cheers! ” Almost everyone raised their glasses “For Lisakdonia, the queen and goddess Friyena!”
An hour later. Janet was now sitting beside Basil, Antonio, Aelia, Alice and Rowan looking out on the dance floor where Magnus and Helen were dancing among a hundred other couples. Aelia was looking rather eager where she was sitting until she stood up and almost dragged Antonio from the chair. “Come now! Let’s show these east coasters how you dance in the west.” Both Basil and Janet laughed as it was quite obvious that Antonio was not a good dancer. Basil looked at Janet and opened his hand to her. She grabbed it with a smile and they went out on the dance floor. The got a good location and stopped. Basil put his left hand at Janet’s lower back and took her hand with his right. Janet instead took Basil’s right hand and put on her upper back before she put her right arm around his shoulder and her left hand beneath his arm. Janet began swinging with Basil slightly to the rhythm of the music. The swinging turned to rotations of their upper bodies before Basil took a short right step slightly back followed by the left and then forward again. He then moved his right leg forward beside Janet while pushing her with his right shoulder and pulling her with his left hand as he took a slight back right step with his left foot.
“Basil you never told me you could dance.”.
“I used to dance when I was young at the town festivals north of our home.
“With Lily?” Basil did not answer but he nodded slightly. Janet pulled Basil tighter to her. She rested her head on his shoulder. Basil got Janet’s blonde hair in his face but he did not really mind. He let his chin rest on her head. Her hair smelled good and relaxing. Antonio shouted something but Basil did not listen. He wanted this moment in peace. He could feel Janet’s breath at his shoulder. Gentle and relax breathing. Antonio seemed to joyfully laugh before he walked away. The world around them became irrelevant almost nonexistent for Basil. He let his body move as his mind relaxed as it had not done in years. He did not know if time went faster or slower than usual. It felt strange to be so close to someone. It felt as if Janet was so close that she was inside him, a part of him. He did not really know what to feel or think but he knew that he wanted this moment to last. Her breath on his shoulder. Her hair under his nose. Her heartbeat close to his.
Even though it was very late the harbor was not silent. A couple of ships were docked. Sailors and some soldiers were busy carrying all kinds of goods up on them. Boxes, barrels, some animals such as horses and much more. Aside from the that activity the harbor was very calm and silent. In the distance the Frejdan light house was burning and the structures of the islands could be seen from the lights. Basil and Janet sat down to watch out over the Fredjan sea that reflected the light from the moon like a silver pillar on its surface. Janet leaned onto Basil resting her head on his shoulder.
“Tomorrow might be the last time we see Crastine and Lisakdonia, our home. This might be the last time we can sit here together.
“It might be, yes.”
”I don’t want it to be that way. Basil. Let’s make a promise.”
“A promise?”
“Yes. Let’s make a promise that whatever happens in Lalden and Stelladora that we both make it out ok. That we both return to Crastine so that we can sit here together again.”
Basil looked at Janet and out onto the sea. He then opened his arms and embraced Janet.
“I Promise.”
-------------------------------------------
The sun was rising over Crastine. The doors to the order’s stable opened and Antonio and Basil stepped out with their horses packaged with bags and other necessities. Their respectively cape was lying on top of the bag on their horses, a detailed they had been ordered to do. Rowan, Alice and Magnus came after with their horses equally packaged. They met Janet, Helen and their horses at the gates before they left to walk to the docks. The streets were filled with soldiers carrying their bags on their shoulders heading towards the harbor. Through the masses they met up with Andre and Leonard who joined them. “Where is that other red haired girl?” Rowan asked. “Aelia. She is a captain so she got a little special treatment.” Magnus said before he continued to speak to Andre and Leonard.
The harbor was crowded with soldiers, civilians and others. The civilians wanted to say good bye to their loved ones before they left, maybe forever. The water outside of the harbor was full with ships as well as on docked to the harbor. The air was filled with the voices of crying families, sailors shouting and captains giving orders. “So which ship is our ship?” Janet asked. “Aelia said she had signed us all onto Phaeton III.” said Magnus. They walked further away until someone shouted. “Eyy! Magnus. Here!” It was Aelia that shouted from on top of a ship at the edge. The group began to move towards the ship between the busy soldiers and civilians. They wished Andre and Leonard good bye and good luck before they stepped up onto the bridge to Phaeton III. They led their horses down beneath deck to their intended location before they put their packages into their respectively room where four double beds had been mounted. It might not be like home but it is far better than what the ordinary soldiers got. They spent the rest of their time on deck playing a game with the sailors that went out to trap or knock out an opponent’s painted rocks with one own.
More knights stepped up on the ship as time passed by, all being noted in a book before they could bring down their horses, if they had any. Ships had left and docked the harbour further down during the time but Phaeton remained together with a couple of other ships. The day turned to afternoon before a loud horn sounded off from somewhere. The sailors and some knights quickly got back to work. They raised the bridge to the dock and climbing up towards the sail but not releasing them until they had drifted away a good distance from the harbour. At a good distance they lowered one sail and later the others. They sailed towards the Frejdan islands were a bunch of other ships set out before them. In the lead were the two ships, The Altina and Vireden that carried the generals and commanders of the operation.
General Nicholas Celsus was on the Atlina together with Caerellia, Jackhel, Decius and some others. General Sylvester Solum was on the other ship together with Lucius, Kaidon, Annia, some others and also an almost unknown commander by the name of Victor Qentimus.
Basil looked back towards Crastine that they moved further away from. It became difficult to see Crastine as most of the hundred fifty ships were between them and the city as the moved between the Fredjan islands. The very top of the palace was still visible as they moved out on open sea from Frejdan a long time later. Basil and the others looked towards Crastine as it disappeared beneath the horizon just before the sun settled. Now there is only open sea for almost two weeks before they arrive in Lalden.
A large burning ball of many flew through the afternoon sky before it slammed into a tower of Valdune. From behind the stone walls other burning ball was thrown back towards the besieging army. The air around the walls was filled with smoke and arrows from the Stelladoran soldiers on them and Lisakdonian & Laldenien soldiers beneath them. The Lisakdonian soldiers moved forward behind large wooden shields as they shot towards the Stelladorans to give room for another group of soldiers that moved under a defensive canopy towards the gate house. There they would attach vials of liquid frost which would weaken the iron enough to be breached.
On a safe distance from the fighting were the majority of the besieging army, the commanders and knights waiting. Basil and the others had just received a bowl of soup on which they dined around a camp fire as they watched the soldiers approaching the gate house in the distance and the siege that continued to bombard the walls. The only ones except those responsible for the siege equipment that were active regarding the siege were a number of commanders and overseers. One of the commanders that seemed to command the main attack was standing with a couple of small flags. When the canopy came close enough to the gate the commander raised a flag upon which the soldiers began shooting more aggressively towards the Stelladorans on and around the gate house to give room for a few soldiers to run out of the canopy over the broken lowering bridge and to the gate with the vials and place them before breaking them. The men ran back to the cover to let the liquid freeze the iron for a couple of minutes. After the time had passed the commander raised another flag. Now a group of eight soldiers came running out of the canopy with an Iron reinforced straight towards the gate. The frozen gate broke by the impact leaving open access towards the inner gatehouse where there was another wooden door and gate hindering their access to the city.
It would take another two hours before the second gate had been breached and the southern walls overtaken. The inner defenses of Valdune were defeated within an hour thereafter since knowledge of the city’s sub areas was at an advantage to the besieging army’s Laldeniens. Victory had been achieved and the city was liberated. The celebrations however were kept short almost nonexistent. The soldiers that had actively besieged the city were given rest while other groups of soldiers that had earlier been resting were ordered to clean up the bodies and take care of those that had been taken prisoners. The citizens of Valdune that dared to step outside greeted the Lisakdonian army and the Laldenien, many of whom lived in the city until it was taken over. The Laldeniens together with many of the soldiers were offered to spend the night in care of the citizens. Others that were not offered this were stationed either in tents outside of the city or in the barracks or public domains within. Many of the knights were given room in the various places but generally better places.
The sun descended beneath the hills to the west and the sky turned dark. Basil, Antonio, Magnus and Rowan walked with a large group of other soldiers and a handful other knights. The Laldenien soldiers wanted to show how they spend their free time in Lalden. Most of the Laldenien common soldiers could not speak any of the Evieran languages so they mostly waved and shouted “Cabuk! Dienme!” to those further behind. Beside their lack of skill speaking any Evieran most of the Laldenien were easily recognized for their light brown skin tone than any Lisakdonian. There was a slight significant amount of light skinned and mixed Laldenien that had descended from Lisakdonian traders or soldiers. After a short while they arrived at a building that for any foreigner appeared to be a tavern. The Laldeniens rushed in laughing and the slower Lisakdonians followed.
The building inside had a couple of tables and couches around the walls and in the center and opposite corner was a large wooden floor that was slightly higher than the floor around it. The Lisakdonians slightly confused went and sat down at the couches while the Laldeniens stood around the wooden floor and began shouting. “Ole monjo!” repeatedly in unison.
After a while an angry old Laldenien walked out from a door at the back. She shouted angrily at the Laldeniens who kept shouting “Ole Monjo!” with happy smiles. After a short while the old woman shook her head and said something that Basil presumed meant “ok”. The Laldeniens jumped in joy as the woman stepped back into the door. After some time a couple of young women out into the large room. Most of them had the Laldenien light brown skin tone and two had slight lighter tones. All of them wore some kind of folk dress and either held a musical instrument or had bells or similar attached to their dress. The Laldenien soldiers cheered and then they either sat down on any free couch or directly on the floor. The women clapped their hand and the soldiers followed. They then made hand gestures to the Lisakdonians to also clap their hands. The women with instruments began to play and those without began dancing before some lead singer or they all sang. They sang what Basil assumed to be Laldenien folk songs so they had no possibility to understand what they sang about but it sounded happy so they followed with the mood.
Antonio and Magnus showed great interest in the performance or what it could be called while Rowan seemed less interested. After a while one of the women gave a gesture like “come to me” to the soldiers. The Laldenien almost jumped up onto the scene to her carrying her up in their arms. They carried her so she could stand in their hands while moving around as she made a gesture to one of them to come up to her. The soldiers around the man of interest picked him up as he did a swing beside the woman before they lowered him and rose up another soldier. This soldier moved kind of danced with the woman before he was sent down. Another woman now stepped forward and gave a gesture to the Lisakdonians. Antonio, Magnus and a couple of others jumped up from their seat quicker than Basil could comprehend. Basil, Rowan and those that were still sitting continued to clap at least but one after one of them joined the dance.
”Join us Basil, Rowan! This is fun!” Antonio shouted as he was raised up beside the woman while giving her a swing which her holders responded to by swinging her. Basil laughed before he stood up and ran out onto the dance floor. Rowan remained alone at his seat as he continued to clap awkwardly. Another woman stepped forward and waved to the last Lisakdonians who all stepped out to join except Rowan and two others. The woman waved to them but they just shook their heads. Then out of the crowd came Antonio, Magnus and Basil and dragged Rowan out of his seat and raised him up as they walked to the now laughing woman. The woman gave a slight kiss on Rowan’s forehead before she waved to the other two who finally joined the dance. They danced until they could not carry on any longer.
The four guys walked to their inn where they would sleep for the night. Rowan however did not join them and instead said good night as he walked to where the girls were. He would probably sleep with Alice tonight. Basil, Antonio and Magnus chuckled over it as they went inside and up to their room that they shared with three other knights. The three were exhausted from the dance so they fell asleep almost immediately as they jumped into bed still wearing most of their armor. They only slept without what they could put on themselves alone such as helmet, grieves and gauntlets.
He was still crippled and his body cracked but no longer was he in pain. Regardless of the winged woman’s power she was unable to give him back what he once had lost. Another bolt of lightning struck, closer this time. He watched on his broken hands before him. He felt the wet rain and the cold air touching his bare body. His mind except for one thought, one purpose was completely numbed by everything that just had happened and was happening. He looked upon the woman that had saved him. She was far beyond anything human and contained powers to form the very world itself. The woman struck her hand over his face and then she took out a small stone, like a gem from her staff. The stone formed within her hands to a mask. He took the mask which she reached to him. He held it in his hands as he looked on it. It seemed to be a mask of illusion. A mask to hide beneath. A fitting mask for him and what he was. Before he put it on he asked the woman. “Who are you?” Another strike of thunder burst in the distance.
-----------------------
”Everyone wake up!”
Basil woke up together with the other six instantly. They quickly put on the equipment, their swords and shield before they ran out. “Are we being attacked!?” Magnus shouted to the soldier that had woken them up. The soldier did probably not hear him as he ran out again followed by the knights. A large number of houses were burning to the north, east but also in the south. Soldiers, both Lisakdonian and Laldenien were running in all directions. A group of Laldenien soldiers following their captain came running past the building. “Elnir alomniuhn osh arahan fa Valdune!” shouted the captain. “What is going on?” said Magnus.
“They are trying to burn down the city! Hurry!” The captain shouted in an almost broken Evieran. The Laldeniens disappeared behind the corner. Magnus turned to Basil, Antonio and the others. “Antonio, Basil. Could you ran and see how the girls are doing. Help them if necessary. You three, follow me. We need to assist the soldiers save the city. Now go!”
Magnus and the three knights ran off towards the north. Basil and Antonio ran south towards the girls and the southern stables. They did not run for long before they saw someone. It was a man with a torch and a pouch with what appeared to be bottles. He took out a bottle and lit it on fire before he tossed it into a building. Flames began to burst out of the windows before civilians ran out of the door. “Eyy! You! Stop! Antonio shouted in anger as they ran towards the man. The man panicked and took out another bottle which he put on fire and threw towards Basil and Antonio. Antonio grabbed the bottle and threw it back at the man. It hit him covering him in flames and seconds later the bottles exploded in an inferno. Basil and Antonio had no choice but to run around the buildings to get to the other side.
Civilians and soldiers were running either trying to find somewhere safe to hide or trying to put the fires. Basil and Antonio ran through a road where a battle between Laldeniens and Stelladorans was held. The Laldeniens were at a great disadvantage as Stelladorans began to surround them. Basil and Antonio ran in to assist the soldiers but Stelladorans had started do appear and shoot them from top of buildings. The Laldeniens tried to escape but the Stelladorans were too many. One of the Stelladorans on the roofs were shot by an arrow and fell down. A horn sounded and a bunch of knights on horses with general Caerellia in the lead. They charged straight into the Stelladorans who broken and began to flee. Caerellia shouted orders to both the knights and the Laldeniens who began to chase down the escaping soldiers. Basil and Antonio broke free from the chaos and continued to run towards the stable.
As they came closer they realized that the stable was on fire. The horses were panicking inside but a few people were already there trying to release them before it was too late. “Basil, Antonio! Help! It was Janet that shouted. Basil and Antonio ran and helped them release the horses. They managed to save all of them. A few had their mane burned and were running away terrified until they stopped further away. Janet held her grey horse trying to calm it down. ”Where are the others?” Antonio said to her. “I don’t know. Me, Alice, Helen and Rowan tried to run here but we got separated as a building collapsed between us. I had to continue to run when the Stelladoran soldiers appeared.” Janet said. “Then we must find them as quickly as possible! Antonio said. Basil and Janet agreed. After they had calmed their horses they mounted them and rode off towards where Janet had been separated from the others.
As they rode through Valdune it seemed as the Lisakdonian-Laldenien forces had begun to take control over the chaotic situation somewhat. A huge number of buildings were still on fire but the number of new buildings that were set ablaze had decreased significantly. Janet was riding in the lead as the rode past the collapsed building and down another path to come around. They had to ride through some roads between burning buildings. Janet rode through a cluster of smoke and a few seconds later Basil heard her scream as if she fell. Basil and Antonio followed quickly after through the smoke but were met by flying arrows. They both managed to shield themselves but Nadja got hit by an arrow in her left back leg. Basil dropped off Nadja while Antonio rushed straight towards the Stelladoran attackers. Just moments later came some allied soldiers and helped them defeat the Stelladoran. Basil meanwhile ran to Janet who had fallen beneath her horse. The horse was bleeding heavily from two arrows in its neck and was unable to be saved. Two soldiers came and helped Janet. Janet was still conscious but she had broken her right leg and she was bleeding slightly from her mouth.
Antonio after he had dealt with the attackers came running to them. “Antonio, Go and help the others. I take care of Janet.” Basil said and Antonio nodded after which he rode off. Basil and the soldiers helped Janet up on Nadja who even though harmed still able to carry Janet without any problems. The soldiers with Basil led Nadja to where the army’s’ doctors were. When they got to the doctor later he declined to help anyone more as they had already more patients than they could take care of. The doctor changed his mind however when he realized that the girl was a knight and ordered some servants to help her. Basil took a quick care of Nadja by cleaning her wound and putting on a bandage before he walked off to where the others were.
“Lev’ Foralt Rowan”
“They remained hidden within the sewers, waiting for the moment. The guards were too few and we had to pay the price. Now one thousand are dead and two thousand more are wounded and that is only counting the military. Did they know about our plans? We must move towards Grailline as soon and quick as possible. We can’t wait for the wounded ones to recover. We’ll have to leave them behind with a small healthy force. We’ll move towards Grailline tomorrow. Spread the word”
There were many feelings among the soldiers and knights that evening. Fear, sadness, anger, fury. This was the first painful experience for many of war and its terror. Memories of the Margeficus attack returned among those that had experienced it. There were no songs or any visits to those lovely dancing girls. The guards were more than doubled this evening, Aelia among them. When the morning came the horns sounded and the army began to prepare to move out east. Basil was up extra early to visit Janet. He did not have to walk all the way as he met Janet and Nadja outdoor. She had been walking together with Nadja towards him as well. She held a crutch under her right arm and her leg and waist were bandaged.
“I heard that you will move east today.” Janet said.
“Yes. So I wanted to see again if this would be the last time.” Basil said.
“Don’t say that. We made a promise that we would both return to Crastine. I have to go first and I will wait for you. I will wait for all of you.”
Basil helped Janet sit down on a yard of grass before he sat down beside her. They looked out over the ruins of a dozen buildings.
“Nadja was anxious to see you all nights.” Janet said.
“Janet. I want to take Nadja. She was never bread for war. Also she is still hurt so I dare not take her in case her wound would become worse. You know Nadja almost as well as I do so I see no better solution than for you to take care of her, to take her home.” said Basil.
“How about you then?” Janet said.
“I believe you heard about Rowan. Since his horse Gavin is without rider I will take him.” Said Basil.
“Yes I have. Poor Rowan, poor Alice.”
They sat there for a couple of minutes more in silence. When another set of horns sounded in the distance Basil helped Janet up. Before they left each other Janet gave Basil a quick kiss and a deep hug. Then Basil left while Janet stood there looking towards him before he disappeared behind a corner.
Antonio and Magnus were ready when Basil came back. He mounted the slight light brown horse Gavin who he prepared since earlier and they rode off towards the position where they would meet the others. Helen and Alice came riding will full package but Aelia who also was there had no package. “Where is your package Aelia?” Magnus asked confused. “I have been ordered to stay here as partly responsible for those that are still here. So I won’t join you to Grailline sadly. I promise you Basil that I will take good care of Janet.” She said while looking over the five and ending on Basil. Basil thanked her and they all said their good bye before they headed off towards the eastern gate.
Large portions of the army that was now only a little more than ten thousand Lisakdonian and Laldenien soldiers combined had already begun to move east. Beside the soldiers were a large number of siege equipment mainly ballistae on transport charts. Basil, Antonio and Magnus saw someone they recognised among the Laldenien. It was the captain from the day earlier named Ari. Generals rode through the ranks of the marching army giving further orders from General Nicholas. They would move east until they reached a town named Liemen and then south towards the Rosa river. It was assumed that the journey to the end of the river where they could cross it would take few days. After they had passed the river they would end up in the low populated land known as Lalden Minor.
Liemen was a small trade town surrounded by huge farm lands just east of the old Lalden proper. The army stayed nearby the town for the night which gave those that wanted an opportunity to visit the town. Basil, Antonio, Magnus and Helen followed with Ari who wanted them to try something called Klasunu.
Klasunu was made by grinding some dried pink beans that was grown in the area into a powder. The powder was then mixed with heated water and honey before it was stored aside for a couple of days. The slightly thick liquid was then mixed with milk or cream if the buyer could afford it and thereafter any desired fruit or other taste givers. The finished cream Klasunu was then served in mug with a spoon or without spoon if it was mixed with milk. The Klasunu was very sweet and left a special aftertaste in the mouth. The Klasunu was a thing also in Lisakdonia but there the price was far higher so it was almost completely limited to rich nobles, traders or high ranked military personnel.
At the morning’s first light the army dissembled their camp and continued south. They walked passed a number of smaller Laldenien villages on the way. At most of the villages a commander or two stopped to bargain a price to provide the army with provisions since it would be more difficult to provide such necessities through most of Lalden Minor. As they walked pass the many farms and villages, more birds began to appear in the sky. Birds that usually resided around the coasts and rivers. When the army walked over one hill the Rosa River revealed itself. From the hill multiple villages and some towns could be seen at the river. One of the larger ones was just on the path downwards. A town were the army would camp for the night. To save on the provision most of the army feed on fish from the fishers from town.
During the night Basil and Antonio woke up by a small alarm that sounded just to raise awareness. Even though there was no apparent danger Basil and Antonio stepped out of their tent to see what the reason was. A bunch of soldiers were out already crewing some of the nearby ballistae or reading themselves with bows. It became clear what the reason was as the sound of a dragon’s roar sounded from the east. And indeed far to the east in the night sky a dragon with its rider could be seen. From higher up on the hill the generals and commanders could be seen looking over the dragon as well.
“So Eagrolyn has finally found us. Looks like the easy trip is coming to an end.” said a captain.
“That is not an Eagrolyn dragon. It is a dragon from Ecodolon. Pure blood as well so there is no mistaking it.” said a Laldenien commander.
“Ecodolon has no reason to have scouts here in Lalden unless Ecodolon and Eagrolyn had formed a unified army.” said General Nicholas.
“They can’t have formed a unified force already. Beldon and the rest of Ecodolon is way too far from here to have sent an army already even if they knew about it when we landed in Hiend.” said another captain.
“Maybe they did send and army but only their dragon riders have arrived?” said the first captain.
“It would be stupid even for Stelladorans to split their land force and dragon force from each other. That is unless they could ensure a victory with only Ecodolon’s dragons as reinforcement.” said general Caerellia.
”Do they underestimate us?” said a captain.
“Either that or they have something that we don’t know about yet. Regardless of what we shall increase the number of scouts. If they have rallied the southern and western kingdoms to force we’ll know. If the Ecodolon forces were position within Eagrolyn we’ll know. If their force is larger than expected we’ll know.” said General Nicholas.
The dragon in the sky only circulated for a short time far away from the camp before it flew south. Most of the soldiers and others that have left their tents returned to sleep while a few were ordered to remain at their ballistae until morning. Early in the morning before the army had managed to begin dismantle the camp a dozen scouts were sent out, most of them to Lalden minor and the rest to the east and north east.
The army continued alongside Rosa river to the east for a couple of hours. Rosa river became more narrow and even split up into multiple smaller rivers as they went. At the afternoon they finally arrived at a stone bridge that led over the river. There were two smaller bridges of wood that followed after that they had to pass through before they arrived in Lalden minor. Since the evening was approaching the army made camp before the last bridge.
Lalden Minor was except for the area just around the rivers a rather barren landscape with forest and mostly thin layers of soil that could not sustain farming. Lalden minor was of the form of a large valley between the mountains to the east and a single large mountain surrounded by forest to the west. Only an hour or so after they had passed the bridge one of the scouts returned with a note or message. He approached Nicholas both giving him some instructions by mouth and the note. Nicholas read through the note and afterwards he looked through the area. He asked the scout something which the scout responded while pointing towards the south. Nicholas nodded and ordered everyone that had stopped to continue. Throughout the day another scouts returned. The day had not even passed afternoon before they arrived at a large hillside to the west and Nicholas gave order to set camp.
As they set up the camp another three scouts returned to the camp with even more information. He then went and spoke with general Caerellia and the other commanders. When the camp was ready most soldiers did start any routines nor cooking or anything. They gathered outside of Nicholas’ tent and waited for him to update them what was going on. One of the commanders went inside the tent and told him that the army was waiting. The commander stepped out and walked back soon before Nicholas and Caerelllia stepped outside. Nicholas looked around on the thousands of soldiers that waited for him to say anything.
“Brothers and sisters! Today I got words than an army of Eagrolyn is marching towards Lalden Minor. With them they have the armies of Bratia, Cellusion and Esteray together with dragon riders from Ecodolon! A force of twenty thousand men. But do not fear my friends for as they are many they are weak, non-unified and the aggressor in this war. So feast tonight! Eat, drink and sing! For after tomorrow you might not be able to anymore. For tomorrow we’ll face the Stelladorans on the battlefield! Tomorrow we make them pay for breaking the peace! Tomorrow we fight for Lisakdonia! For Lalden! For queen Yiadelle! For Friyena!” Nicholas shouted as he drew his sword and raised it. The soldiers, the knights and the commanders all cheered with him. Maybe for the last time.
One of the few scouts that were out returned to the camp and Nicholas. Breakfast was a little later served. Instead of the usual bean soup this time even the ordinary soldiers were served meat stew with bread and vegetables. After the breakfast everyone was given a cup of wine. During the breakfast another two dragon riders appeared at the eastern mountains. One of them landed on a cliff far while the other circulated for a moment before it returned south. The one of the cliff stayed and watched. Some shown concern over the watching dragon rider but those more experienced calmed them down. It did not take all too long before another dragon rider appeared and also landed on the mountains with a roar. Basil and the others sitting at a campfire when a horn sounded. It was Nicholas’ horn. Every soldier and knight in the camp that hadn’t grabbed their weapons and shield did so and ran out towards the designated location. Basil and the other knight and the cavalry units went and mounted their horses before they rode out to position.
The army formation faced south east down the hills. The Lisakdonian part took formation at the south of the hill with the Laldenien taking the north eastern. The first line at the furthest down of the hill consisted of archers that had positioned wooden pikes before them with a small wooden barricade behind those. After their line was a larger line with infantry then a line with archers and a line of infantry and finally a last line of archers. The archer lines were thin at only four or five width. The infantry lines consisted of smaller lines within the lines. Each line was almost 80 soldiers long before a slight distance to the next line. At the wings of the army was the main cavalry formations. Lisakdonians to the south and Laldenien to the north. Behind the middle of the whole army stood Nicholas and his elite guards. The other commanders were spread out at their respectively division. Basil together with the others was within a subsection behind the cavalry unit.
Now they waited. While they waited, many soldiers sang Ren Alvus mildly. More dragons appeared in from the south. Some of them circulated high in the air above the field before they landed on the mountain’s cliffs. A couple of wine pouches were sent around the soldiers to take a sip. A different horn sounded in the south followed by more horns as a marching army appeared behind the hills and cliffs a few kilometers away from the Lisakdonian Laldenien army. A 30 or so dragons followed the army in the sky above. The Stelladoran army marched and positioned themselves on the opposite side of the valley. As the army took their formation three of them rode out towards the Lisakdonian army. Nicholas rode together with two of his commander and met them in the middle. They did not speak for long but it was clear that no truce was signed as the both groups blew their horns as they returned to their armies.
Magnus and many others in the cavalry then jumped off their horses and bowed down on the ground where he dug up a little dirt. He spread the dirt on his forehead “Levirga. I speak to you know for if I fall on his ground I wish that you take care of my body.” The others and those that had not mounted also did the same. One of the last ones to do so was Nicholas when he returned to his position. Everyone looked at him. Nicholas then put his hand on his breast and began to sing “Ren Alvus”. His army singed with him after the first piece.
After they had finished the song Nicholas sounded the horn again. Another horn sounded from the Stelladorans and they began to march forward in a similar boxed formation. Their formations however were larger and did not have the narrow lines like the Lisakdonian Laldeniens. Their army in total was wider and longer as well and they also had cavalry at the wings. The dragons now began to roar and flew around the sky in an attempt to inflict intimidation in the Lisakdonian ranks.
The other dragons flew higher as they saw what happened to the apparently young dragon rider and his dragon. A horn and shouts sounded from the Stelladoran army as the first line of archers ran forward. The commanders in the archer lines gave order to fire as towards the approaching archers. At the same time a number of dragons descended to cover them in flames. The captains in the infantry lines shouted orders and instructions. When the dragons descended the soldiers in the apparent line of danger pushed with their shield the one in front or behind to create a cap. The soldiers then lowered themselves with their shield towards the gap creating an opening for the flames to go down into the ground and thus limiting the casualties. The archers above fired at the dragons. Those dragons that stopped or slowed to redirect their flames would have been easy targets for the archers and ballistae.
The stelladoran archers that survived the first volley from the Lisakdoniens began to fire their own arrows towards the Lisakdonien lines. The Stelladoran army had sent of their first line of infantry which was answered by the Lisakdonian’s siege units that were not busy with the dragons. The archer line and the first infantry line quickly changed place and the infantry procceded to keep the Stelladorans beneath the wooden pikes. The Stelladorans’ first line however was far longer and could reach around the Lisakdonian main force but was stopped by the cavalry at both wings. The northern part was cut off with cliffs and rocks so the soldiers could not bypass the cavalry there. The stelladoran send their own cavalry to the south where there was a slight opening between the engaged forces and the forest. Basil and the others had not yet engaged in combat but now their sub sections were ordered to meet the approaching Stelladoran cavalry. When the Stelladorans rode through the gap the remaining cavalry met them in a charge as a horn sounded in their ranks.
Only soon after the cavalry charge was stopped, Caerellia and her force of 500 cavalry charged out of the forest straight into and around the Stelladoran cavalry. The Stelladoran cavalry broke rather quickly but a new Stelladoran cavalry force was sent forward. Caerellia quickly lined up her men and charged the approaching cavalry. The group that Basil was in was ordered to assist Caerelia’s force. Antonio was knocked off his horse as they classed with the Stelladorans once again but he managed to stand up and fight dismounted.
Regardless of half the numbers the Lisakdonian Laldenien army did better and seemed like they would go out victorious from this battle. Infantry from the main force came to reinforce the cavalry and the Stelladoran dragon riders did not achieve any more than they lost by engaging so they remained mostly in the sky looking for any opportunities. The battle continued without changing much for almost half an hour.
A loud sound echoed through the valley. It sounded like a roar from something huge. Most of the soldiers and the commanders as well looked around but could not see anything. A few moments later the sounds appeared and now it was clear that it came from the south. And then soon after a huge dragon, a great dragon appeared that flew straight towards them. When Nicholas noted that there was someone riding on the dragon he ordered most of the ballistae and archers to focus on the huge one. Most soldiers and many knights as well were chocked. Had the Stelladorans successfully domesticated a great dragon? As the great dragon swept in over the battlefield the other dragons attacked while the archer and ballistae tried to stop the great one. Many dragons were hit and fell but with the great one they broke through and began to burn the Lisakdonian Laldenien army. The great one spewed fire over the main force as he was constantly bombarded with arrows and bolts. Many hit him and caused bleeding wounds at wings and neck but not far enough to stop the beast.
The cavalry under Caerellia tried no back off into the forest to avoid the dragons. Basil when trying to turn back was knocked off his horse. He fell and hit his left shoulder in a stone. His arm was in pain but he did not have time for that so he forced himself up with shield and sword in hand and began to retreat towards the forest. The pains in his left arm become worse as he ran and he began to become dizzy. As he ran a dragon descended to cover the retreating soldiers in flames. The dragon approached Basil and no one was able to stop it. Basil raised his shield but the pain in his left arm became so bad that he dropped his shield. It felt as his arm was being ripped off him while the dragon’s flames came closer. But just before the flames reached him his arm fell and he followed.
He fell away from the flames, away from the battle, away from Lalden Minor, Away from Avelaide.
End of act 3
Basil lied with his face down on the grass. He could feel the smell of flowers around him. He wanted to look but he was tired and his arm and head was in pain. Someone in a dress walked beside him. He felt two soft hands grabbing onto him and helping him up. The pain began to numb before it seemingly disappeared. “Can you walk?” said a girl, the same girl that helped him up. When he was up on his own legs he watched out over an endless green field painted white with countless flowers. The girl that had helped him up released her hands from him. Basil turned around but the girl was gone. Instead before him he saw a humongous tree that reached miles up in the sky. The tree looked like an oak yet very different with its almost glowing branches. Thirteen distinct branches that was covered in some bloomed tree flowers or similar. A gust of wind swept past Basil towards the tree and touched one of the branches. The flowers on the branch began to swing and release their leaves that danced in circles. The leaves then flew with the wind back towards basil and flew in a circle around him.
Basil woke up at the base of a normal sized tree. He looked around and found himself within a forest with trees that he did not recognize. It was night and dark. ” What happened? Was it a dream? Where am I? Am I dead?” He looked around himself and found his sword beside him. He still wore the armor but his shield was nowhere to be found. He took up the sword and sheathed it. He looked around once more trying to find some kind of clue to where he was, whatever he was still in Lalden, the afterlife or something else entirely. He found an opening in the forest where dim light entered onto a small field of grass. He took off towards the small field of grass. When he came out on the small field he saw that the light was not moon light and seemed strange for being sun light even though it came from the horizon. He spent the night in the small field trying to get some sleep even though he lacked everything.
He had managed to get a little sleep when the sunlight touched his face. He looked up and saw that the sun was not the same as the light source which still shined in the horizon. It was neither from the sun nor the moon but it shined as if it was either. Regardless of what the light was it was at least something that he could walk towards in an attempt to found out where he was. After a couple of hours he managed to trap a rabbit which he grilled to eat. After he had finished putting up a fire and eaten a bird flew down into the forest and landed on a tree branch, watching Basil from a distance. The bird gave him skeptical feelings but he tried to think that it was just a bird interested in the remains of the rabbit. He took his things and continued his journey.
For two days he walked and the bird that he found out to be a crow followed him on a distance. He almost got used to having the crow watching over him from a distance. Basil then later came to a wide river. The river was calm but the wideness was unsettling. Basil sat down at the river side looking towards the light that he was walking towards. He had not earlier noticed it but now it was clear that the light was pulsing or circulating. With the new discovery and the river before him he thought if he should continue or go somewhere else. But where? He had not seen anything but wild forest or mountains and lakes thus far. The light was his only location. He followed the river a bit upstream but it seemed to continue far longer than manageable. Unless he wanted to spend maybe weeks searching for a place to cross he would have to swim. It would have to wait until the next though.
He withdrew a long string from his cloth. He then removed a ring from his chain mail that he pulled into the shape of a hook. He searched for a good stick that he could wire the string and hook to. Lastly he shoved through the dirt for some worms to attach to the hook so that he could fish. It was not time efficient with the poor tools but it gave him some time to relax and think. “What happened back there? We were attacked by a great dragon, with a rider. What happened to the others!? Antonio? Alice? Magnus? Aelia? Ari? Did they manage to escape? Where they taken as prisoners? As he sat thinking something bite the hook. He pulled the rod and a small trout flew up from the water. He laughed over the small fish but it was at least something. He managed to catch another one later that was slightly larger which he cooked.
The next day he took his armor and external equipment and wrapped it into his cloths. He felt the weight of the armor and realized that he would not be able to swim over without sinking. So he went into the forest and chopped down a small tree with his sword. He then took the equipment and put it into steadily onto the tree before he stepped into the water. It was slightly cold but completely manageable. He supported himself upon the small tree as he swam towards the other side. It was exhausting to transport the tree but he could rest upon it so it made it slower but easier to pass over.
After more than half an hour he reached the other side. He walked up and sat down in the sun for a moment to dry and warm up before he continued. As he sat in the sun he noticed the crow flying over the river into the forest on the other side. “Well at least I have company” Basil thought.
When he had dried up he put on the cloths. The armor he carried on his back in an improvised bag. The terrain began to move upwards as he came closer to some mountains that broke through the forest. It was not very difficult to ascend the mountain as it was covered with forest almost to the top. The summit of the mountain was free from dirt and trees with bare rock but not very majestic in dominance. It did however give a good view over the land. He could see the huge forest and the river that he had travelled through. Around him he could see other mountains in the distance and large open fields with some animals on them. The light was still in the horizon but now it lit up much of the dark sky. The light that was as a large stretched orbed revealed that it was some kind of storm within or around it. So the light did clearly not belong to any ordinary civilization but something else.
Basil sat down on a flat boulder watching the surrounding while planning the best route from there on. He could still not see any civilization or any other signs of such. While he sat there he began to feel tired so he rested and slightly feel asleep. He later woke up by something special flying over his mountain towards the light. He looked up and got shocked as he saw what it was. It was a winged woman. Friyena?!
Now and again he could hear low sounds from the storms. Sounds like thunder strikes, raging winds and roaring quakes in the mountain close to the source. Across the open field there were a large number of animals like deer, birds, some large hairy animal and even horses but none of them seemed to care about the storm, keeping the distance to this human boy was far a larger concern for them, with the one exception of the crow that had followed basil ever since he arrived here more than a week ago. Basil was chewing on an apple from an apple tree he had come across the other day before he went to sleep. The land might have been completely strange and new to him but it had not proven to contain any threat towards him yet.
Basil moved silently through some small tress. He took deep and silent breathes as he moved closer and closer. Then as he came just close enough he threw his bag that was attached to a rope that he held with his other hand. The bag flew just above a brown horse that he had his eyes on. The bag and the rope managed to get the now frightened horse out of balance for a short second that basil took opportunity of to run and mount the horse. He drew the rope quickly around the horse neck before it regained its balance and began jumping around trying to throw off this intruder on its back. Basil just managed to hold on as the horse set off in full burst of speed for a short distance before it began jumping again. Now basil did not manage to hold onto the rope and fell off onto the ground. Basil turned around and saw the horde run far away from him. Just as he lowered his vision to stand up he raised it again. Had he seen correctly. There had been a horse with what looked like a human or other humanoid with it further away at a small river. Both the horse and the person was gone now but the quick image still remained in basil’s mind.
Basil decided to not try again with another horse since it would likely take a day or two to get another opportunity. He walked back and retrieved his bag together with his other items. The crow flew high above him making a laughing sound apparently to mock him. Just seconds later another crow appear above him, this one being silent and looking more like the one that had actually followed him until now. Was he followed by yet another crow or was this just a strange event of chance? Even hours after he had left the field behind him and walked into small valley in which a river flew the two crows remained close to his presence. One watching in silence and the other making sounds which basil kept taking as mocking. At one point he grew tired of the laughing crow and threw a stone towards it.
The stone easily missed but basil noticed that something was strange with that crows left wing as it avoided the stone. Basil looked at the crow as it landed in a tree further away still laughing if it really was laughing. Basil looked over towards the other silent crow that was sitting in another tree then down on another stone. He picked up the stone and threw it towards the silent one. Just like the other crow this one revealed something strange with its wing as it avoided the stone just that it was now the right one. Basil looked at the two crows, one still laughing and the other still silent. He could not remember the silent crow ever eating anything. The laughing one he had already seen eaten a couple of nuts and the rests of an apple already. The crows were like polar opposites and they both followed or spied on him for some reason. They also kept a distance from him large enough to make it impossible to check those strange wings. Another quake from the storm pulled Basil from his thinking and he continued to walk forward.
The following week Basil travelled through highly elevated land, forests and open cliffs. The mountain before him now blocked the entire view of the direct storming light source but the sky around the mountain was lit up in red, purple and yellow colors all most likely from the source. The sounds from the source were now so large that they reminded of real powerful thunderstorms, hurricanes and quakes all at the same time. The air was also different. It was cold and warm, dry and humid but mostly filled with what felt like powerful essence. Still with the powerful presence of the storm the animals were also here undisturbed by the storm. A few hours later he realized that he could not go any longer as the rocky cliffs before him were too steep and tall. He watched around and to walk around the mountain would take many days longer. Then another quake struck that made a boulder further behind Basil to crack and fall down a hole.
Basil walked to the location and found what had earlier been a river but was now dried up. The river had cut a path through the rock and into the mountain but the actual water was now flowing further down. Basil watched through the path and noticed that it was wide enough for him to fit. The river had cut through the weakest rock and left hard rock to support the path. Basil sat down for a moment thinking. It felt stupid to consider walking through the path but something made him feel like it was the correct way. Maybe it was only his guts or essence that flew from the path but it managed to convince him. He jumped into the narrow path and followed it into the mountain.
Basil held his sword in his right hand before him channeling a slim white flame to lit up the path. The path was longer than Basil had expected and began to split up into different paths multiple times. Some paths led straight down into the violently flowing stream so Basil had to walk careful to avoid falling down to what seemed to be a certain death. Most of the splitting paths were easy to choose as only one was either large enough or appeared safe, until another quake struck. Basil held onto the walls for the short while the quake diminished. He thought for a short while to turn back but the flow essence or magic was stronger now and it was almost easy to make out the correct path where it came from.
Basil began to ignore the quakes that turned louder and shook the path more violently as the other sounds grew louder as well. Then when he turned around another corner with multiple paths he saw a shifting light. The end of the tunnel. As he moved closer to the opening the essence grow stronger and almost made Basil uneased. What in the name of the gods could this storm be revealing a power equal to the gods without even being in sight already? Basil held tight onto his sword as he approached the opening. He took a deep breath before he took the last step out of the tunnel.
Basil as he regained his senses realized that he had reached his goal but what now? There were no one here to guide him further nor any other sign of where he was nor why he was there. Only the storm of tremendous essence. He then came to think of the crows. He turned around and up thinking they would not follow him here but against his believes there they were far up in the sky, watching him. Was the storm not dangerous towards them like everything else? Maybe it was not dangerous towards Basil either. The everlasting light of the storm in the night, Friyena flying towards it, that human person at the river and the essence flow in the tunnel. They all lead him here. Was it all just some kind of test and the violent storm there to repel unworthy ones? Another quake of large scale shook the ground violently beneath Basil. That must be it. It must all just be a test created by the gods. Basil looked at the storm and its core that shined as bright as the sun. “And that must be my goal.”
With this newly found courage he began to walk the last bit towards the raging storm. The essence in the very air was almost overwhelming for Basil but he continued in the belief that it was also just a part of the test. “Not even the black flames of Margefius could measure with this storm.” A large boulder broke out from the storm and flew in very high speed into the ground not far from Basil exploding into thousands of small pieces. Basil smiled for the storm’s attempt to scare him. Basil had walked more than half the last distance towards the storm and the essence was now so strong it began to hurt Basil, yet he did not back off. At one moment he believed he could hear wings slap in the wind. Basil was only a couple of hundred meters from the storm now. A whirl of violent flames broke out from the storm and headed straight towards Basil in high velocity,
”Fool!”
Something managed to get between Basil and the flames just before it crashed into him. Basil covered his eyes from the intense light from the breaking flames and before he could see what it was, someone grabbed him and flew away from the storm in high speed. The flight was just a few seconds long but Basil managed to gather that it was the winged woman from earlier. Her wings were burning just like friyena’s. She put him down on a distance further away from the storm than the tunnel had been. Basil soon after he was put down backed a step. “friy..”
As Basil backed he saw that it was not Frieyna. He did not recognize this woman at all and it took another second to understand that the burning wings were not from her own might but from the flames of the storm. After she had released Basil she slapped her wings once in the air violently to blow off the flames. Her wings were however badly wounded and what appeared to be bones could also be seen at some places.
“What were you doing there!? Do you have a death wish!?” The woman shouted at Basil in both anger and pain.
Basil did not answer the woman. He was in not only shock but mostly confusion. He had been saved by a winged woman that was not Friyena and there were not even any tales about another bewinged woman except her. He got a quick glance over the woman’s wings. They were bleeding and heavily burn damaged. Far behind her the storm was still violently surrounding the shining core. Basil kind of came back to his senses when the woman grunted of the pain in her wings. He walked to her and helped her up on her legs trying to avoid touching the wings. He did notice being so close to the wings that they were quite different from Friyena’s wings apart from them being badly wounded. They had a softer look and the individual feathers were longer with a slightly brown-yellow white color. It was not only Basil that was confused, the woman saw the shock and fear in his eyes and the strange sword that he wore.
”It’s the celestial egg. An egg that draws the power of the ancient celestial being that had been scattered all around the world and its inner. A power so large that a gathering of it back into one being was always expected from the days when the celestial was buried deep beneath the surface. The egg has been gathering power for hundreds of years and now the very air within contain more magical energy than most living creatures. So if any such being would enter or even come too close the magical energy would be pulled into him and destroy him from within. In a hundred years or so the egg will be complete and a being of celestial powers will be born from it, either to protect us or destroy us. The celestial descendant.”
Basil only got more confused by the answer than he had been before. Celestial? Egg? If this celestial and its egg was so powerful how could he have never heard of it. Nothing of it was similar to the tales about the afterlife either. It all felt too real to be a dream as well. So he asked her. ”Where are we?” “We are in Min Elmurion, just east of Min Bardor. In the world Heventos” She lastly added as the first names did not wake any reaction in the boy. Basil’s eyes widened by the last sentence. World Heventos? Was he really in another world?
”You seem to have more questions than I can answer. There is one you could speak to that has knowledge about worlds beyond Heventos. Amrir, an elf in Mistfall.” The angel responded as she saw the boy’s confusion when she mentioned Heventos. Basil looked at her and around at the storm before he nodded to her. “Come. I can lead you to a town west of here. There you could easily find some that can take you to Mistfall.”
Basil took up his bag and watched the angel’s wings. They were no longer bleedin and she was not in any visible pain anymore but the wings seemed far too damaged to be able to fly with. “I really appreciate your help and kindness my lady and I’m very sorry for the harm I have caused upon you” Basil lowered his head in both respect and shame.
“It is my duty to protect. The best you can do to respect my sacrifice is to take care of yourself and find the information you are seeking so that you may return to where you belong.”
The two began to walk west towards the village west of the storm. A journey would only take a little more than four hours. Even with her damaged wings. The angel was able to carry the boy for short distances over bad terrain but not more. As they walked Basil spoke about who he was, his life, him being a knight, about Avelaide and the battle at Lalden where he had disappeared. The angel spoke more about this world Heventos. She presented herself as an angel by the name of Veloria and she spoke about different continents and ancient kingdoms. She also mentioned more about what was called the “celestial”. Some powerful being that came to the world hundreds of thousands of years ago and threatened to destroy everything. The celestial was lured down into the earth and trapped for hundreds of years as its powers were drained into the world itself.
They later arrived at a town. An elven town but these elves were far different from those in Avelaide. They almost looked more “sophisticated” and taller but a less gentle appearance. The elves directly knew the woman and wanted to help her wings. Veloria denied their help as she mentioned what had harmed them. Something or someone more capable would be needed to heal her wings if possible. Veloria spoke to Basil that she had to leave him there and fly west to some land called “Zargoth” where someone lived that could help her. “I wish you good bye and good luck. If you ever happen to came back to Heventos, I would love you see you again.” She held Basils hands in hers before she turned around and flew west and the sunset on her broken wings. In a tree just outside the village sat the two crows, one laughing, one silent .Basil walked to a house he had been allowed to stay in during the night. The morning thereafter, he left with a caravan for Mistfall and the elf named Amrir.
Only a few weeks later he returned to Avelaide.
Cold winds drew in from the sea over Crastine. The city was unusually silent except for a few people that praised the people to raise up in arms. Most of the citizen did not listen. The people were filled with sadness and shock of the rumored defeat at Lalden Minor that the Laldenian traders had spoken about. Many had lost dear ones to the Margeficus and now they had lost even more to the defeat at Lalden. The people boiled with anger deep within but they did not have the heart or courage to rise up again. Not without someone to lead them. The queen Yiadelle kept herself in her palace, maybe out of fear, shame or waiting for a good opportunity. Friyena had made an oath ages ago to never raise sword against humans so she remained out of the war completely.
Janet sat on the bench that she and Basil last had sit on when they were together there. She watched out over the sea towards Frejdan as she had done for hours every day. No one had returned yet she hoped. One day she would see a Lisakdonian flag rise up from the horizon and beneath, an armada of ships with survivors would come home. Basil, Antonio and Alice would all come home again. Basil had promised that he would.
“It does not make it any better to sit here and wait, Janet.”
Janet looked to her side where Aelia had appeared. She had a basket and a blanket with her. She gave the blanket to Janet to wrap around her to keep warm. She then took out two pieces of cinnamon breads and a jug from the basket. She poured the steaming content from the jug into two mugs and gave one to Janet.
“Do you not miss Magnus and Helen? Janet said as she took a sip from the mug.
“Of course I miss them but I cannot fall down whenever I lose someone. I, we are expected to be able to carry on. To stand strong because we will lose many more and there will always be someone that need us. That is our duty as knights after all.”
Aelia sat down beside Janet and watched out towards the horizon with her. She looked towards Frejdan and the tall lighthouse.
“You know. I have been a captain for a little more than a year now yet I have never been to Frejdan. We should go there sometime. You, me, Leonard and Andre. Maybe get your mind on something else”
Soon after someone shouted something from the top of one of the harbor buildings. A crowd of a hundred or so people began to move towards the water line and soon after a single Lisakdonian flag was spotted in the distance. Janet and Aelia put down everything in the basked and moved to the water line to see the ship better. The flag was part of a ship of the fleet that had left for Lalden a month ago. Before the ship arrived at the harbor a couple of royal guards arrived at the harbor from the palace. When the shipped docked, a bunch of soldiers stepped off. Soldiers from Sylvester’s army that had been sent to take Zeistlanta. Among the soldiers came a few captains and a blonde commander. The commander held what appeared to be a rolled Stelladoran flag in his hands. The royal guards took the commander and a few soldiers that the commander pointed out to them with them and rode off towards the palace.
“Who was that?” Janet asked
“I saw him earlier before the departure. He is a low ranked commander under general Sylvester. I don’t know who he is beside that though.” said Aelia.
They asked some of the soldiers that stayed at the ship what had happened.
“We had just docked at shore east of Elizen when we got attacked. An army from Zeistlanta had appeared to stop us. They had not been a larger problem if it had not been for a knight that rode upon a huge dragon. He swept over the army and destroyed the fleet. No one would have survived if it had not been for Victor. He led us to safety, he led us home.” said one of the soldiers. The other said more or less the same things. The soldiers began to move home to their loved ones that did not run and meet them with theirs at the harbor. Janet and Aelia went home soon thereafter. The return of Victor and his soldiers spread quickly and soon the people began to wish for and even demand to know what had happened in Dormania. They wanted Victor to speak to them. They wanted to know what had happened to those that had left more than a month earlier.
“We’re not here to hear your sermons! We are here to hear Victor speak!” Some man shouted from the crowd and many others with him. The general tried to calm down the crowd but gave up with an irritated expression. He walked back to the other generals as many in the crowd continued to shout. The crowd became almost completely silent when Victor walked down to the chalice and took the position that the General earlier had stood on.
“Eight years ago, a terrible monster of unimaginable powers attacked our home. It took from all of us, friends, Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters and sons. It burned our homes. It destroyed our walls. It broke our streets and killed our heroes. But it did not take our fire. Me mourned those we had lost but our fire continued to burn. Where did that monster come from? It did not come from within, it came from outside. It came from the sea, it came from the east, it came from Stelladora. A monster meant to destroy us and everything we have built and hold dear. Was it their fault? Did they send the black flames to burn us?
The Stelladorans marched into Lalden, our allies. They wanted us gone. So we answered and sailed east to force peace. We brought peace to Lalden but soon after Nicholas and his army was met by an army at Lalden minor. A battle they would have won until the Stelladorans revealed their secret weapon. A knight riding on a great dragon. They had tamed a great one and brought it into battle! Not only to win their battles but to eradicate their enemies. Not one Lisakdonian soldier escaped their flames. The great one then flew north towards Sylvester and us. We met an army on the battlefield but the great one appeared. It burned down our fleet to prevent our escape. It tore down the mountain to trap us. No one would be left to live. Me and my men managed to escape through the flames and return home. We lost many good men and women. Many of our friends that wanted to return home but where mercilessly killed by a monster tamed by the Stelladorans. Just like eight years ago!
They tried to put out the fire that burns within us but we shall not let them! We shall not just keep our fires warm. We shall bring it to them! We tried to bring peace but they answered without mercy so neither shall we! We were once a kingdom born on the foundation of fire and sword and we shall show them!”
The crowd began to cheer with Victor. The general from earlier began to dislike the speech. He looked around at the other generals. Two of them looked unsure but one looked like she liked where Victor was going with his speech.
”Around our kingdom stand abandoned barracks and military academies. I want to bring them to life again! Many of our sons and brothers want to show their might and will in battle. I want to let them! In the Kieran mountains stand countless forges cold and empty. I want to bring the fire back to them! I want to rebuild the fleet ten times larger! Then when we are ready, we will bring the newborn flames of Lisakdonia back to Stelladora!”
Victor broke off the Stelladoran flag and held it into the fire of the chalice as the crowd cheered. Victor took the burning flag and held it high up in the air.
“I will not rest until the flames have turned Stelladora to ashes!”
The huge crowd cheered wildly. The generals had mixed feelings. One cheered silently and another left and walked back to the palace in disgust. The other two remained mostly expressionless but most likely they were happy to have someone of great might that could take control and lead them to victory.
Later Victor Qentimus became the second ever generalissimo of the Lisakdonian army.
Once again Basil stood over the endless field of countless white flowers. In the distance stood the colossal tree mighty above its surrounding. There was some old and powerful magic imbued in the tree and landscape. A gust of wind swept over Basil just as it had done during his earlier visit. The wind took hold of thousands of flowers and white leaves from the tree and brought it back towards Basil. The flowers and leaves flew around and around Basil. Someone pushed Basil slightly from the back and he walked through the flower and leaves.
Basil was back at the battlefield in Lalden Minor. The battle however had long since been over and the field was now covered in old broken ballistae, banners, pieces of cloths, broken weapons and large piles of ash and coal. The camp was burnt to the ground and what little was left was broken. It seemed as if the Lisakdonians had lost the battle. The memories returned to Basil and he began to worry for Antonio, Alice, Helen and Magnus. Where are they? Are they okay? Basil continued to walk around the large battlefield but he could not find anything that was not broken or of value. Basil looked towards the forest and remembered. Many had fled into the forests during the last moments that he remained in the battle. So he went into the forest to continue his search.
The search through the forest took much longer but there was much more that had not been removed. A large number of bones decorated the forest, horse, humans and even one dragon. Broken spears, banners and cloths also decorated the forest. After more than an hour he found a dead Lisakdonian cavalier in a hole that must have gone unnoticed. The cavalier was not much more than a skeleton but he was still equipped in armor and a in his belt he had a sheathed dagger. He seemed to have lost his main weapon though. Basil pulled the soldier out of the hole. Basil held the cavaliers cape in his hands. On the cape was a sewed emblem. A bronze owl over a green background. Basil took the belt and the dagger from the soldier and a pouch he had. He then proceeded to take off his armor from the body and put the remains in the cape which he made into a sack. He dropped down the sack back down into the hole which he began to fill with dirt, leaves and what else he could find. After he was finished he took the armor and put it onto the grave. “Lev’ Foralt”
Basil already had his own armor and sword so carrying around any other armor would only make it more difficult to move. Also since he was not in need and had no respectable use for it, it would have been disrespectful towards the dead soldier. The dagger however could provide a purpose for Basil and thus it would give the soldier respect by finding that purpose. Basil gave up in his search and returned to the battlefield. He sat down on the hill and looked east towards the mountains. There must be survivors. Where could they be? He looked north and felt almost stupid for a second. Back to Lalden of course. Basil set off and began to walk north towards the Rosa river.
Basil walked for a few days. He passed a couple of small villages and towns before he made it to the first city of Sagun. Sagun was a small civilian city of no more than a couple of thousand inhabitants and laid just at the Rosa river but it was the first and best place for him to hopefully gather some information. It did not take long before the inhabitants noticed his Lisakdonian armor. They whispered to each other and avoided Basil for some reason. There were a few Laldenien soldiers among the civilians that noticed Basil. One of the soldiers ran away further into the city. Basil began to feel that something was wrong and he should probably turn back. Before he managed to turn back he noticed a female sitting at a table drinking from a mug. The female was clearly some kind of knight but neither Laldenien nor Lisakdonian. When she noticed Basil she did not turn away her eyesight from him. Basil began to move away from the street into a tight alley. Soon after he had turned into the alley, he felt that someone had walked in after him. Basil turned at a crossway and began to move faster. Just before he came to the next crossway, a laldenien soldier stepped before him, blocking his path. Someone behind him grabbed Basil’s arms and put a hand over his mouth.
“Nonme, Nonme! Evina anjolmo.” Said the soldier in front of Basil while he moved his hands in the air before his mouth as to indicate Basil to be quiet.
The soldiers did not seem threatening nor did they seem to have any desire to harm nor rob Basil so he did not resist. The soldier behind him let go of Basil slightly but not entirely. The other soldier indicated with his hands for Basil to follow him. “Estir fel isor atonas Ari. Vel kendilor.” Said the soldier. “I don’t understand you.” Said Basil but the soldiers clearly did not understand him. The soldier led Basil through a system of alleys to avoid the open streets. They soon came to a door with a sign of a drinking bear where they stepped inside.
“Basil? You alive!” said someone from a corner in the tavern.
Basil quickly recognized the girl as Ari. The Laldenien captain they had met in Valdune. Ari sat at a table with three other soldiers, one of which was the soldier that had seen Basil earlier.
Basil sat down with Ari and told her what had happened. He said it as if he had been transported to the afterlife and been given a second chance. Ari looked as if she had difficulties believing what he said. She did not know what to think. Basil had been at the battle and he was here now, alive so either there were some kind of truth in what he said or he had managed to retreat and somehow avoided to hear what had happened. She then told Basil about what had happened in Lalden Minor in her somewhat broken translation. The Lisakdonians had lost but they had stood strong when the great one attacked. They had fell back to a better position and managed to keep the great one away from them while also trying to fend off the other dragons. The Laldeniens were forced north by the main force and could not assist the Lisakdonians who began to become surrounded by the Stelladoran forces. They were forced to surrender and were taken prisoners. The Laldenien soldiers were taken back to Lalden in exchange for a ransom, but the Stelladorans took their weapons.
“Where did they take them? Where did they take the Lisakdonians?” Basil said half eager half worried.
“Do not know. Somewhere south and east. They did not tell anything. Sorry…
I can fix horse and map for you. You can go after them.” Ari later added.
Basil nodded with a small smile. Basil got something to eat and drink with Ari. Then afterwards they shook hands. “Good luck Basil. Hope you find your friends.” Ari said before giving an laldenien honor sign with her hands. Basil did the same to her before he followed the two soldiers out of the tavern.
One of the soldiers gave Basil a brown cloak to hide his whole armor beneath until they had left the city. The two soldiers led Basil back through the valley the same way they had come earlier but hey took another turn later. The soldiers were still speaking and making some jokes that Basil could not understand but he smiled either way as the soldier laughed. They came to the end of the valley and out on the streets. The inhabitants did not look at Basil any strange now as they had done earlier so it felt safer to walk in the open. The soldiers continued to lead Basil until they came to a large stable. They stepped around the building and went to see a brown and black horse that stood outside. It was not a very beautiful horse nor was it very fit but it looked quite healthy enough to help Basil. Just as Basil walked forth, to the horse something struck him hard in the head and he fell into the stable wall.
“Velhanano, estul on almin kapan fertol!” “Zeburh ombru erus almin” “Dacken!!”
Basil woke up in some lit room. His head was in pain and his vision and hearing was somewhat dim. In the same room were two people arguing. A middle-aged man that spoke in an explanting voice and a young woman who was very upset and angry. They spoke in some Dormanian language, most likely eastern Dormanian. Basil laid down on the floor with his hands wrapped in rope. He only wore his simple cloths and was facing away from the two others in the room so he could not see what they were arguing about but it was probably something about him. The woman and the man continued to argue for a while longer before the woman gave up her angry temperament. She seemed to agree to something reluctantly. Basil laid still and silent as he listened. Not one sound except for some footsteps came for a couple of seconds. Basil then felt someone dragging him up on his legs.
A large strong man with a scar over his lip starred at Basil with a despised expression. Behind the man stood a young and long woman with very long blonde hair. She wore some kind of knight armour with what appeared to be long strings or similar that hanged from her armour. In her hand she held Basil’s sword. “Her handren ost uravan” she said to the man who seemed who agreed. ”Dun” said the man as he took up Basil on his shoulder and they walked out of the room.
"What is going on! Where are you taking me? I have a right to ask for liberation by ransom”
The two did not listen or they did not understand him as they continued out of the room and further out of the building. The man and the woman continued to speak to each other in their eastern Dormanian. They came out onto some kind of training ground beside a barrack of some sort. There were Dormanian soldiers walking around in formations, some starred at Basil while some other kept to their own business. The man shouted towards the stable for someone and after a short while, a soldier came out with a large brown horse. The horse had two large bags, a shield and a lance attached to it. The man put down Basil on his feet. The soldier then took the rope around Basil’s arms and connected it to the horse’s saddle. The man then gave a small coin pouch to the woman and they shook hands.
The woman then walked over to the horse, attached the sword to the saddle and mounted the horse. On top of the horse, she gave a “bye” sign to the man before she looked at Basil with a down-looking smile. Basil tried to somehow unwrap his hands but they were wrapped tight. He did not know if he was angry or afraid as the woman ordered the horse to begin walking. Even though the horse did not move much faster than walking speed the dragging force from the rope was painful and almost brought Basil out of balance. Basil had to move slightly faster to avoid having the rope stretched.
They walked out onto the streets of Sagun where people stopped and watched them. A few watched Basil with joy but even more of them looked like they felt pity for him, or the fact that Sagun felt to Stelladoran control. Basil watched over towards the tavern where he had met Ari. He noticed someone looking at them from the mirror but mover aside as Basil looked there. At one point, someone ran in and tried to cut the rope and free Basil but the man was stopped and brought to the ground by some nearby soldiers before he could cut nearly enough. The remaining path out of Sagun was so troublesome that the Stelladoran soldiers had to remain around them for the last part of the path. As they left Sagun behind them the woman turned around towards basil, said something and laughed. Basil felt to fear anymore, he felt only anger. He began to think, to plan. If this woman was the only one that would take him to wherever they were headed, then he could most likely get an opportunity to get free.
Easier said than done. They moved north for multiple hours. Basil had been shouting and begging for them to stop and take a rest for a long time by now as his legs could barely carry him any longer. The woman seemed to take pleasure in Basil’s struggle and only stopped when Basil was about to fall and hinder their progress significantly. Basil was so tired that he fell down onto his knees as soon as they stopped. His hurt like rarely before. The woman took out a small rope and wrapped Basil’s feet. Basil withdrew his feet so the woman kicked Basil in the stomach. She then went and made up a fire where she sat down and prepared food for herself. She also feed the horse but she gave nothing to Basil.
The morning thereafter Basil woke up by the woman unwrapping his feet and forcing him up on his legs. And so they continued north towards Dijesker which took a couple of days. During those days, the woman only gave food to Basil a few times to keep him on his feet. She spoke to Basil sometimes with an angry and blaming voice. Other times she enjoyed his pain. Basil continued to find an opportunity to flee but the woman kept him tired all the time and she even kept an eye on him when he had to do his natural business, something that was incredibly difficult with his hands wrapped.
In Dijesker they stopped for the night. The woman left Basil in a cell at the barracks while she went out with his sword. Basil expected her to try to sell it or trade it in somehow. The morning after the woman, pissed off, returned to get Basil and they went to the horse. Basil sighted with relief when he saw that the sword was back in the bag when the woman opened it quickly to take something. They then continued out of Lalden and east into the vast Dormania.
For weeks, the woman continued to treat Basil like dirt and keep in underfed to keep his energy low. She did however speak to Basil in an angry blaming voice less and less as the days went by and before long she only did it on rare occasions. She began to kick him less often and not as hard. She even seemed to begin take notice when Basil spoke or shouted something, even if it was just a turn of her head or something equally insignificant. They even began to move slightly slower and take rest a little earlier.
Then one cold evening when they stopped, the woman did not tie Basil’s legs. Instead after she had made up the fire she disconnected the rope from the horse and took Basil to the fire. Basil who was really cold and tired felt a slight comfort for the first time in a month. He looked at the woman who sat down at the fire opposite to him. Basil realised that he had never gotten a good look at her and now that he looked at her he realized that she was a little quite, beautiful actually. She had a necklace with what appeared to be dragon teeth around her neck. She began to grill two pieces of meat. “Basil”. She looked up at him. “Basil” He said again while keeping his hands towards his chest. She gave a small slight smile and put one hand on her breast. ”Zenaida”
Weeks passed by and Basil had begun to lose a lot of weight. His arms and legs were weak and he had difficulties thinking straight. The world had become colder and the days shorter. For how long would they travel and where were they heading actually? They had stopped at a river where Zeinada had walked into a forest one again. Basil waited as usual, but something was different this time. She had not come back when she used to. Basil did not think about it much but he strangely began to worry. What if she was hurt and could not make it back? He shook his head. Why did he worry? She had treated him so badly these weeks. Yet, she had kept him alive, could he survive without her? Basil banged his head onto the tree that he was tied to. What was wrong with him? He was a knight of Lisakdonia, why would he be dependent on some Stelladoran woman who likely wanted him dead anyway.
The time passed and she did not come back. Basil had continued trying to gather his mind. He was just hungry and weak. He could not have any feelings for that woman. What if she is gone? He thought while he looked around himself and then upon his ropes. “Then I will not die here?” Basil began to move his arms against each other in an attempt to loosen up the rope. Since the knot was so tight it harmed his arms by doing so but he continued. It was no effective strategy but it was the only thing he could think up as weak as he was. Hours later and Zenaida had still not come back. Basil could barely move his arms due to exhaustion but the knot had loosened up significantly. Basil began to pull his right arm towards him and the left away. It felt like his skin would break under the rope. Small movements were made and then suddenly, his right arm flew out of the knot. He was free.
Basil took off the rope and comforted his poor wrists. He then stood up and walked to the horse with the bags. He opened the bag with the food and drink. He ate pieces of dried meat, bread, fruit and even wine. He ate so much so fast that it felt almost as if his stomach would break. He looked into another bag and found his sword, Flame song. It was such a relief to hold it again. Basil took the horse’s rope from the horse. When he was about to mount the horse it began to jump and threw him off. Basil landed on his side with his sword in hand. The horse who was scarred ran off up the river.
Basil, bowled stood up on his legs and took up his sword. He sighted and began to move after the horse. The horse had ran quite far and Basil was still not in condition to run so it took some time to catch up with it. The horse was eating on a grass field. Basil tried to not scare off the horse again by moving gently, until he walked over a stick that broke. The horse heard it and moved further away from Basil. Basil sighted again and moved after. The next time he came close to the horse it ran away again but this time it was not by Basil it was frightened.
“Tikavan! A familiar voice shouted.
Basil turned towards the voice. Zenaida came walking out from among some trees with a sword in her right hand. She seemed to have hurt her left arm and she was angry, furious as she approached him. Basil drew Flame song and held it before him with both hands.
“I won’t be your prisoner anymore Zenaida!” he shouted towards her.
Zenaida did not care as she continued towards Basil with her sword in hand. When she was close enough, Basil moved forward and swung his sword in a diagonal swing. He was still rather weak so Zenaida could easily dodge the strike and hit basil’s head with the hilt of her sword before he could get a second attack. Basil tried to back and go for another strike but then Zenaida struck his leg leaving a deep wound. Basil fell as he lost balance. Zenaida took her sword by the blade and struck his head with the hilt knocking him out.
Almost two months passed since then. Snow had begun to fall transforming the land of Dormania. Basil and Zenaida had calmed down since the fight and begun speak with each other. They even learned words from each other’s language. Basil learned that words such as “Dun” meant “yes,” Esen” meant “no”, “Osfar” meant “sword” or “weapon”, “Tikavan” meant something like “fugitive” and some other words. Zenaida even took Basil with her during hunting trips, but that was probably just to keep an eye on him. Basil had much time to think. Zenaida was actually very beautiful whenever her eyes were not red of anger. She was skilled with weapon and smart. She seemed to carry loss of some sort. Basil did wish sometimes that they had not been enemies. Maybe they could have been real friends or something. They had moved through many smaller towns and villages on their way and never had they met anyone that could understand Basil. Zenaida was the only one that could even understand a few words so he had grown some sort of affection for her. But he still had his mind on Lisakdonia, to escape home, even if those thoughts were more rare these days he would be given an opportunity greater yet worse than he could ask for.
The next day began cold and even more snow had fallen upon the world. The guards gave Basil some real soup before they took him to the stable where they met Zenaida. She seemed happier now, she even said “Estir” (Hello) to Basil. Basil had been allowed to ride on top of the horse together with Zenaida so she helped him up. Before they went off they were met by some of Zenaida’s family again. The mother, the sister and her sister’s son together with some others. Zenaida said farewell and they set off north.
Dark clouds had begun to cover the sky and cold winds blew in over the mountains as if a storm was about to begin. The horse began to whimper but they continued. Something felt awfully familiar about this to Basil. A bad feeling began to grow within him, a feeling of fear and terror. Zenaida noticed something happened to Basil. She looked over her shoulder and said something. Basil just nodded and they continued. The feeling became worse and the horse whimpered more. Darker, colder. The forest moved with the wind in distress. Even Zenaida felt that something was wrong. Zenaida began to ride faster, she wanted to come out of the forest. They rode out of the forest onto a road and did not slow down until they came up on a hill. The feeling was less intense now. They breathed out. Zenaida looked back at Basil but something cached her eyes and her eyes began to open up.
Basil looked back towards the forest and saw it. A large portion of the forest was grey, dead. Something that looked like black smoke came from far down the forest. Something huge was moving in the forest towards Fodarla. The large thing came out towards a Cliffside. An akon.
Zenaida began to ride south but Basil dragged onto her. “No! We cannot beat that thing!”
Zenaida threw Basil off the horse and looked at him with the angry eyes, not exactly like the usual though. She took out Basil’s sword and threw it on the ground and said “Tikavan” before she rode towards Fodarla as fast as she could. Basil took up the Flame song and looked towards Zenaida as she disappeared back into the forest. Basil looked up towards the sky and then he began to walk west. He did not stop until he looked down upon the Flame song. He stood still. He watched west and south.
Zenaida rode as fast as she could through the snow covered forest. She did not know what she could accomplice against such monster but what would she otherwise do? Listen to that shameful Lisakdonian? This is her home. How he froze up when it got colder, when the air got fouler. Had he faced such monster before or is he just a shameful coward? Zenaida stopped thinking as she rode out into the grey dead path. The snow had, not melted away but kind of vapored away. Everything that was left was the dead colorless plants and tree bodies. The air was foul, dark. A town bell began to ring further ahead of her. Zenaida took up her lance in her right hand. The horse began to resist but she held it on straight course towards Fodarla.
The town appeared before her. The gate and a large portion of the wall had been breached and couple of houses had been destroyed within. Black smoke covered much of the town and behind a corner, the akon brought down another house in one strike. Soldiers and civil clothed men and women were trying to attack the monster with bows and javelins. A hopeless tactic but they wanted to defend their home as much as Zenaida. The Akon turned towards the people and cleaved one man that had come too close in half. The parts of the man flew and covered the ground in blood. Zenaida charged straight through the gate and towards the Akon. She hit it straight in the neck with a powerful strike from her lance. The akon flinched for a very short moment before it turned towards Zenaida. It attacked by taking a large bite off the horse. Zenaida was thrown of the horse who screamed it’s last short moment before it was not much more than a blood covered meat bag.
“Zenaida! Get away from it!” A guard shouted from atop one of the buildings. It was Bierik, the smaller of the guards that had messed with Basil the day before. The other guards tried continued to throw javelins and shoot arrows towards the beast but it had its focus now on Zenaida.
She stood up and ran fast around a corner of a building but the Akon was after her. It broke through the building and two guards that had stood on the roof fell down. One fell before the Akon and was stomped to death. Zenaida continued to ran around the corners but the Akon was only slightly slowed by the buildings that it broke through. She ran out towards another part of the walls were guards were ready with bows and arrows to shoot the beast. “Aki!” a captain shouted and the guards released their arrows towards the beast. Most arrows just bounced off its thick hide. Zenaida continued to run through a market.
A swift shadow was cast upon her and the moment later, a large impact was heard from the Akon behind her. She turned around and saw a dragon attack the Akon swiftly before flying away again. Moments later the market was covered in flames as another dragon dove in. The Akon gave out a terrifying screech that caused Zenaida to cover her ears as she looked up towards the dragon that had just passed by. “Mom!” she shouted to the rider of the dragon. The Akon turned tried to strike the dragon but missed. Just then, the other dragon swooped in and attacked the akon again by trying to scratch out its eyes. It hit one eye but missed the other. The Akon screeched even higher now, a screech that made the bones within Zenaida to shiver. The Akon turned towards Zenaida again and began to chase her and she began to run again. Her mother descended behind the dragon to attack it. Just as she came close, the Akon turned and struck towards her. Blood flew and much of it covered Zenaida. The dragon fell in high speed into a building causing the wall to break. The dragon was shacking in pain but its neck had been cut open. The mother lied beneath the dragon and tried to get out. The Akon moved in on them. “Zenaida, flee with your family” the mother shouted before the Akon struck so blood flew. “I will mom.” Zenaida said lowly before she began to run home.
She could hear behind her as flames once again covered the streets as the other dragon moved in. The guards continued to shout orders and attack the monster. Zenaida was soon far away from the battle as she ran home. Families and soldiers were running on the streets towards the other gate to escape the town. Another dragon with its rider flew over the town towards the Akon. When she came to their home, she breached through the door. “Tenise! Elnor” She shouted. Soon after, her sister and nephew came running up from the vine cellar. “We must go. Now!” Her sister nodded and they took the most essential stuff and went outside. Elnor was shaking but he was completely quiet.
They began to run towards the gate when the crowd began to shout. Soon after the houses on the side breached and the Akon began to attack the fleeing families. The guards tried their best to keep it away from the families but they were just slaughtered together with them. One dragon was still alive and tried to get the Akons attention without coming too close but it seemed to be very difficult. Those that survived quickly ran back towards their homes or through the alleys towards the other gate. Zenaida, Tenise and Elnor also ran towards the other gate. Tenise took up Elnor and held his eyes covered as they ran past many bodies. Thankfully, their mother’s, Elnor’s grandmother’s body was in the other direction so they could save him that vision. He probably knew either way.
It was difficult to move fast with all the rubble in the way towards the gate from the collapsed buildings. Some people tried to walk over while others tried to walk around or even jump down from the walls. It did not take long for the akon to come back as people ran away from the southern section. Zenaida, Tenise and Elnor could no longer run to the gate or they would have been caught by the Akon, so they ran towards the barracks instead which had not been attacked yet. They ran into the barracks where Tenise, Elnor and many other civilians were led down into the cellar. Zenaida ran up to the upper level where a few captains and their leaders tried to make up some kind of strategy. Each proposal was neglected by others and it began to look completely hopeless. They had sent for reinforcement from the nearby towns but they would not arrive for at least another hour. The only one that really could deal with the Akon right now was the dragon rider Walfur and his dragon. He just had to survive for another hour while still keeping the population safe. It is no way though that the dragon will be able to remain in combat for so long.
“Can we lead the Akon away from the town?” one said. “It won’t chase you when the town still stands if you are enough people, and we don’t have that many horses.”
“But we have to do something.”
“We already are, we’re surviving.”
“We won’t for much longer.”
Zenaida and many of the captains ran out of the building. Walfur and his dragon were flying in the northern part of the town. He descended quickly and a little later ascended again so he clearly was still fighting the Akon but he seemed more aggressive this time. Zenaida ran over the building roofs towards them. When they saw the Akon it was breaking through a small hut as it tried to attack someone. White sparks flew over the Akon’s shoulder as it was hit by a white burning blade. Just as the Akon was about to strike again, Walfur attacked the Akon’s head, scratching out the other eye. The Akon turned around trying to cut the dragon but Walfur was quickly away again. The Akon had a large white glowing wound in its face surrounded by countless black bleeding wounds.
The man with the glowing blade ran further away behind some ruined buildings.
“Basil!?” thought. The akon screeched again as it set off towards Basil. The Akon ran straight through the ruins without any sort of self-preservation in a furious anger towards Basil. Buildings fell apart as the Akon ran after Basil in such speed that Walfur could not catch up, less help him. Zenaida was first of the captains to climb down the roof and run towards where the Akon had disappeared. She ran through the rubble and blood covered streets. When she came around a corner, she saw Basil lie down beneath some planks. Blood was dripping from his nose and mouth and his left arm was covered in blood and looked very damaged. She froze as she looked at the Akon before Basil. White flames were violently burning through the black hide around the blade that was buried deep into its skull. It was dead. Walfur soon landed not far away and approached them. He helped Zenaida with Basil. Soon later, the captains and some surviving soldiers appeared and even later civilians.
Hours later, Basil woke up in some bed. His body was in pain. He looked down and saw that his arm and other wounds had been bandaged. Planks outside of the room squeaked by someone walking. “Hello” he said. No one answered and the squeaking moved further away. Basil lied down and looked out the window. The sky was dark and the moon shined through. In the corner of the room someone had put his sword. Soon later, the planks began to squeak again followed by the door opening. Zenaida stood in the doorway for a short moment with a bowl and towel in her hands. She stepped inside, walked to Basil, and put down the bowl on a board beside the bed. She sat down on the bed and began to remove the bandages except the arm from Basil’s wounds and clean them. The wounds were already cleaned so it felt redundant but he did not resist. It felt nice so he sat there silent. She let her hand move through Basil’s hair as she cleaned his face. When she was finished she put on the bandages again. She held Basil’s left hand for a moment as she sat there, silent.
Basil thought about moving his arm around her but she stood up before he could decide. She moved to the door without the bowl. Instead of going out she closed and the door and walked back to Basil. She did not sit down directly on the bed. Instead she stood beside the bed and took off her clothes. When she was completely naked, she went down into the bed with Basil and moved closer to him.
Basil woke up in the middle of the day thereafter. The room was empty again. Zenaida was gone. He put on a couple of clothes that had been left on a table and took his sword before he stepped out of the room. “Hello?” he said. No one answered. He walked into the main room and kitchen but there seemed to be no one home. On the table was a note, one word written in Evilerian and a name. “Farewell Basil”. Basil took the paper and put it into a small bag that was attached to his shirt. He stepped outside of the house and saw some guards working with some rubbles. There seemed to be only soldiers left in the town. One familiar guard shouted as he came running towards Basil. It was the large guard that had messed with him two days earlier. He shook his hand and led Basil to the stable. On the way they met many other soldiers that wanted to shake Basil’s hand and some that cheered “Halden!” as they saw him. The guard took out a beige horse that looked exactly like the one that the other guard had taken care off. The horse had already two bags on it. The guard looked as if he was about to cry as he prepared the horse. A clear and familiar sign for Basil, he did not need to ask even if he could.
The guard gave the horse’s reins to Basil and then shook his hand. “Viel Dan” he said. Basil paused for a moment. Viel Dan? Did he say that in Evilerian or did they have the same word for good-bye?
Basil responded with the same before he mounted the horse. Basil then set off. Now he could finally search for Antonio, Alice, Magnus and Helen.
“South and east? From Lalden minor.”
For weeks that turned to months, Basil traveled from town to town, searching and asking as well as he could. The words he knew in Dormanian expanded for every day but to gain any information at all was almost impossible. Commonly those he asked did not know anything or rarely they took Basil for a Lisakdonian spy and called for guards. Basil most often managed to escape but a few times, he had to fight to get away. Then one day he came across a large city o the name Archenti. Basil had tried to avoid the cities as well as possible but he began to realize that if he would ever get the chance to see his friends again he had to take the risk.
He walked through the city’s busy streets at the docks in an attempt to find some merchant that could have knowledge about the Lisakdonian army. He managed to find one old and slightly fat man. The man however did not even speak eastern dormanion but some of the southern languages. Basil tried to communicate by hand gestures and showing his emblem. The man, confused thought that Basil wanted to buy leather and silk or color powders. Basil tried for a few more minutes but it became meaningless as the man began to become annoyed. Basil continued through the city looking for someone else to ask. He walked past a couple of markets, some chapel, an armory and a blacksmith, a butcher’s house and much other. Basil stopped after a while. Something had caught his eye earlier so he walked back again.
He walked to the blacksmith he had earlier seen. On the walls were a couple swords, axes, spears, some armor and shields. Most of the shields were either kite shields or more rounded shields but there was one of a particular and very familiar design. In the corner hung a praestodum, a Lisakdonian army shield design. The shield usually had a Lisakdonian red bird on it but this one had a yellow horse. Basil walked and began speak to the main smith. Basil pointed towards the praestodum while he mentioned it by name and the Lisakdonian army. The smith asked Basil for gold which he did not have. The smith burst out with angry insults indicating that Basil was wasting his time before he returned to his work. Basil, now also angry turned around and walked away. In that moment he heard some bucket fall over in the blacksmith and the old man screaming out in fury towards someone else that agreed shamefully.
Basil turned around and soon saw a young dirty man with an empty bucket walk towards him. The young man took Basil’s arm and led him away into an alleyway. “You’re Lisakdonian?” the man asked in Evilerian as they stopped. Basil looked confused for a few seconds before he almost shouted out. “Ehm yes! Are you also Lisakdonian?” He had not heard anyone speak Evlierian, at least in mother tongue for half a year. The young man lightened up while still being quite stressed. “What, what happened at Lalden? Is Lisakdonia coming to save us? I want to go home.” the man continued to speak out in such haste as his eyes began to tear up. Basil was shocked. He had not expected this reaction. He had to lie and told the man that Lisakdonia were indeed going to save them. He could not bear to tell the truth that he did not know. Also now he needed as much information as possible from this man, breaking his hope would not help.
The man lit up with tearing eyes as he cheered with his dirty poor hands. “Ha! Haha! i’m gonna go home. Mom, sister, I’m coming home!” Basil put his hand on the man’s shoulders. ”All right, calm down now. They just need a little more time but they are coming to save you. Now I need a little help from you. I need to know what happened to you? Where are everyone else?”
The man dried his tears with his dirty shirt. “Right, right. We are taken east. Some of us were sent to work at farms, others were sent to work in the iron mines. I was taken by master to his blacksmith. The general, captains and the knights were brought to some place called Beldon. I don’t know why. I could not understand them but they were very strict about them getting there. They also took away our weapons and equipment but the knights’ weapons they kept with them as they continued to Beldon. I also don’t know that. I can’t speak much longer. Master will else send me back to the mines. I must go”
Basil thanked the man and they did the Lisakdonian army salute before the man ran away with the bucket. Basil began moving back to his horse. He finally had a location.
A week later. Basil is riding north in the Beldon valley. The Gijora Mountains on each side rises higher than any mountain Basil ever seen before. They reached so far up into the sky so much of them could not even be seen due to the clouds being beneath them. Basil had to keep himself among the trees to avoid the dragons that flew around high above. Some with riders and many without. So many sizes, so many colors and each and every one of them would want to make Basil and his horse their dinner if they got the chance. The dragons’ with riders might be there to control the wild dragons but Basil did not want to take the risk.
Basil came by a trading village that looked more like a fort than a village in the central opening of the valley. A lake was located nearby and to it lead a river that came from a path in the west. Far in the west in the valley, the river ended up at a huge gatehouse. The gates of Beldon.
The city of Beldon itself was a huge grey and white stone city with yellow/green roofs. The city was located inside a “mountain bowl” with fertile farmland with a small lake in the northern part, large enough to almost alone provide food for the city. In the southwest was the castle of Beldon, which was defended by another set of large walls and towers. In Lisakdonia, Beldon was sometimes referred to as “The city in the clouds” or “the mountain fortress”. A fortress almost impossible to besiege and overtake and neither had it even been since it was formed by the iron king, Zeladorn.
Basil sat down inside the city. He had to recover his breath from walking up so far. When he had gathered his strength, he began to look around the city. He did not know where to go from now. Luckily, the guards did not seem to be very active in the city so Basil did not have to be too careful walking around. Basil managed to get his hands over a set of guardian attire and equipment as well. The first place Basil decided to search was the second barracks, which also was a prison of some sort. Basil approached the guards who stopped him by holding up their hand towards him. “Efolm akamsur?” they asked him. ”Visi eldi etahor” Basil replied trying to sound as secure with the accent as he could. The guards looked doubtful at first but they stepped back and let Basil inside.
The barracks were mostly empty except for a couple of drunken soldiers that were singing songs. After some time searching he finally made it to the prison cells. Except for a couple of ordinary criminals and such there were no Lisakdonians there. Basil continued to search around the building for a while longer before he went out. Basil then continued to search the mine, the farms, the markets, crafting stores and everywhere else that he could think of, except for the castle. The gates to the castle were much better guarded than the barracks. Two captains were behind the gatehouse and on top of it was a dragon with its rider. Basil would not be able to make it inside, even with his attire. He needed some distraction, a significant one.
A little further away from the gate was a tower with a large stable in front. It gave Basil an idea. He waited until dark, which happen quite fast due to the surrounding mountains. Basil walked up to the tower’s base inside the stable. He took out his blade and held it firmly in his left hand. He channeled the white flame so his whole arm screamed in pain. He then swung with all power he had in his right arm into the tower wall. The blade cut through forcefully and left a large cut. Basil, a little dizzy walked away and took a torch which he threw at the stable roof. It did not take long for the horses to begin panicking and some nearby soldiers to shout. Meanwhile soldiers began to show up to put out the fire, Basil had snuck inside the building and stood inside the tower’s circle stairs. He took out his sword again and took a couple of deep breaths. He channeled the flame and struck the middle pillar.
The walls around Basil quickly began to crack and moment later the whole tower began to move. Basil could hear soldiers screaming in panic further up the tower as it began to fall over. Soldiers at the stable also began to scream. Basil, neglecting the pain in his arm and the spinning head ran out of the building. It felt as if the whole city shook of the impact when the tower collapsed into the burning stable.
Basil ran towards the gate pretending to be terrified. “Jagran! Jagran” (fire! fire!) he shouted in panic pointing towards the collapsed tower. Soldier were already running out of the game even before he had arrived so he just ran in continuing to shout “Jagran! Jagran!” He continued until he had ran into the first door he could find. It was silent inside so he now pretended to be an ordinary guard. He walked through large white corridors with golden chandeliers. On the walls were a couple of huge paintings of kings and queens, all with very pale skin and light hair. He looked through a large number of rooms, both large and small. He did not know what to look for really. There had to be something here.
After some time searching, he could hear a large door open somewhere inside the castle. Basil tried to search up the source and found himself in another corridor. There were voices coming from inside what must be the throne room. He snuck up along the wall to take look. There were a large number of people in the room, mostly nobles and royal guards. At the front of the group where what seemed to be the queen and king discussing with some very fat noble. In the group were also two children in royal clothes. A seven-year-old girl and a six-year-old boy. Both had the same pale skin and light hair as the queen and king. Basil noticed one man that brought back memories. Among the guards stood the man responsible for all of this, Ammar Avitus himself. Basil held his hand over the sword’s hilt as he starred on the man.
“Estir zolnir, con robuz?” Basil turned around swiftly only to find that a four or so year old girl was standing before him. She looked very similar to the other children so she was probably also a child to the king and queen. “ zolnir, con robuz?” She said again now shacking Basil’s tabard. Basil looked around and then at the child. “Ni.. Nikh”. The young girl looked at basil with disappointment. She probably thought he was as boring as any other guard was as she left and walked back to the others. Basil looked at the group and noticed a slightly dark skinned man that he also recognised as they turned towards the girl. The group soon later split up. Basil thought for a short while if he would follow Ammar or the dark man. Basil decided to follow the dark skinned man. The man did not have any guards with him so following him was easy. The man walked until he came to what appeared to be his bedroom. Basil walked in after.
“What? What is this?” the man responded. “Did you betray us at lalden minor!?” Basil said as he hit the man’s head onto the wall.
“You’re Lisakdonian? No! No I never betrayed you. I thought we would win.” the man said.
“Then why are you here? You are no prisoner? Why did they take my friends but not your!?”
Basil drew the blade closer to his throat.
“No! We are Dormanians, we always were, that’s why we were spared on a ransom. I am here as a simple diplomat to ensure our relations now when Lisakdonia is gone.”
“So you are a traitor then!
“I am loyal to Lalden. I do what is best for Lalden. Be it with or against Lisakdonia.”
Basil, still upset relished the man.
“I never wanted this to happen, but I have to do the best of the situation.”
Basil sat down on the bed. He looked up on the man who still stood at the wall.
“Where are they? Where did they take my friends” said Basil.
The laldenien man was still shaking and looked like he did not want to answer.
“They are. They are not here.”
“Where are they!?” Basil grabbed his sword and starred at the man.
“They. Oh no. no. They. The knights and generals were fed to the imprisoned great mother. I’m so so sorry.”
Basil felt empty. He stood up and drew his sword towards the man’s neck so close that he cut a bleeding wound. “Is it true?”
The man was crying of fear. “I have no reason to lie to you. If you don’t believe me. Look in the royal armoury. It is downstairs in the western section”
Basil withdrew his sword and left the man to grab his bleeding neck. Basil went out of the door and walked directly towards the armoury without caring for anyone that would be able to see him. He walked fast yet it felt not fast enough. His head felt empty yet it was spinning significantly. He could barely focus on the path yet he walked steadfast. Before long he found himself in the armoury. Thousands of weapons, shields and sets of armour were there. He walked through the room looking over all the walls and racks. Basil stopped and his stomach got cold. He grabbed for a sword among other familiar ones. He looked at the sword. It had a green hilt and a name forged into the metal. “Malumion” Antonio’s sword. Basil looked around and he also saw the swords of, Helen, Magnus and Alice. Where they all really dead?
A bell began to ring further up. A little later another bell began to ring and people, soldiers could be heard shouting. Basil, filled with rage grabbed Malumion and walked out of the armoury. His mind was clouded but he walk straight forward without any clue what to do. He just walked. The sounds of footsteps and shouts began to fill the corridors and soon two soldiers ran out of another path. They looked towards basil and shouted some question. Basil did not listen, instead he channelled the flame and then let the blade find its way through both the soldiers, killing them. Basil almost awakened by the action began to run through the corridors, keeping an eye towards the other paths. When he found a stairway, he ran up. The stairway led all the way up to a balcony of some sort. On the balcony were three saddled dragons kept in cages. Without thinking, basil cut through the lock to one that was sleeping. Before the dragon had waking up, Basil had jumped into the saddle. In confusion, the dragon walked out of the cell and began to fly without knowing it was not its master riding on it.
The dragon flew west down the mountains. Basil let the dragon fly on its own while he held onto the saddle so he did not fall off. He used this time to breath and try to think but this mind was still numb. He could not think about anything else than Antonio, Alice, Helen and Magnus. Basil almost fell asleep. Then suddenly the dragon screamed as something grabbed it and threw it towards the ground. Basil fell with the dragon for a few seconds and the dragon took the whole impact. All air escaped his lungs for a couple of seconds as he lied on the dragon. Something large landed on the ground.
Basil dropped off the whining dragon still holding onto Malumion. “Run miechem edlo osfar. Ofa upach edlo glorn” A man said in threatening tone. Basil looked towards him. It was a large strong man with a large black dragon. Basil took a combat ready stance. The man shook his head. “Ni ekion” the man said just as he raised his large sword. Basil did not have time to channel the flame before the swing came.
Basil had to block the attack but the man was much stronger so Basil’s whole balance was set of course. Before Basil could regain his balance, the man hit him with his fist. Basil fell to the ground and dropping Malumion. The man grabbed Basil by the hair and pulled him up. The man then pushed Basil towards the black dragon causing him almost to fall. Basil then stood still while holding his hand on Flame Song’s hilt. The man pushed Basil again, now harder so he fell. Just as the man was going to pull him up again, Basil turned around and swung with his burning sword.
The man’s blade landed in the ground beside Basil. Basil backed off and stood up while looking at the man. In his hand, he held the hilt of the sword and half his face had been cut through, from the shin, through the mouth and left eye. The man coughed blood as he tried to breath. Basil raised his sword and cut off the man’s head.
The black dragon roared behind Basil but instead of trying to attack, it flew off. Basil stood there with the sword in his hand, just looking at the body of the man. Beneath all the sick feelings he had there was one feeling. A feeling of wrong. Something was very familiar with this man. Too familiar. As if he had killed someone he should have known or did know.
Days later. Basil was walking over a field with tall grass. He did not know what to do anymore. He should have traveled home to Lisakdonia with his friends by now. He still did not know if he should have believed the man, but as he had said. Why would he lie? Basil stroke his right hand over his head. His head was in pain and he felt sick. His body felt fragile and his left arm felt as it had broken into thousands of pieces. He sat down for a while. He did not know if he was about to cry, scream or throw up. Everything felt so wrong, everything was so wrong. Why was he even in Dormania? Why was he here so far from home? He lowered his head into his arms.
Basil tried to find some answer or comfort in his memories but mostly he saw only death. He remembered his grandmother and Byron, killed by an infected wolf. He remembered his parent, killed by the Margeficus. He remembered Lily, killed and defiled by Philip and his men. He remembered Rowan, killed by Stelladorans. He remembered the people that died in Giern, those that had died in Nadra Vika, Sirdaca, Lalden Minor. He remembered Antonio, Alice, Magnus and Helen, also killed by Stelladorans. He remembered Janet. Basil looked up. His mind became clearer. That’s it. He came here in hope of finding and taking revenge upon the one or those responsible for the Margeficus. At home, Janet was waiting for him. With newly found purpose, Basil stood up and continued to walk.
Sometime later, A dragon flew past Basil high up in the sky. Basil did not take notice of it until it turned around further ahead. It was a black dragon with someone riding on in. The dragon flew lower as it turned again. It was the same kind of dragon that the man he had fought some days earlier had. The dragon as it turned again flew straight down towards Basil and landed not far away from him. Basil stood still and watched the Dragon and the rider who jumped off. She looked at Basil with an expression that could end up either with her crying or screaming out in fury and anger. She was shaking uncontrollably holding her sword. A tear left her right eye as she spoke with trembling voice. “Eren sky, Eren sky ish dor?” The tall grass was dancing around them. Something was different about her. She held her sword in the right hand and her left hand she held over her abdomen.
Basil did not answer. He began walk away from Zenaida. “Eren sky ish dor!” she shouted out in anger. Basil stood still for a few seconds while he thought. He then drew his sword and turned around. “Dun” he said. Zenaida was shaking even more as she closed her eyes and lowered head with tears pouring from her eyes. She put one hand on the dragon that began to fly away. She grabbed her sword with both hands and opened her eyes. Her eyes were black with hatred and she breathed heavily. Then she stopped. Basil raised his sword at the same moment as she dashed forward. She swung towards basil’s shoulder from her right shoulder. Basil blocked the attack with his sword. Zenaida pushed his sword with her own and turned around her own shoulder and deliver another attack from her left shoulder. Basil who had his own shoulder in the way to move his sword tried to push Zenaida away. As the sword swung over Basil’s head, Zenaida released her left hand from it and punched Basil’s jaw with it.
Basil backed off and turned his whole body to gain moment forward with a swing for his blade. Zenaida was already moving away but strains of hair and a little blood splattered as the sword passed her. Zenaida was struck just above her left eye. She had her sword reaching behind and as she moved forward, she raised the sword as she pushed into Basil. She sword cut through the outer layer of Basil’s cloth armour. Basil pushed forward and punched her in her breast so she dropped the sword. Basil then pushed her down as he grabbed her by the neck with his right arm as he moved the sword towards her neck with the left arm. Zenaida took out a dagger from her belt and stabbed Basil in the shoulder. He lost his grip so she could move away. She ran to her sword and took it up. Meanwhile, Basil dragged out the dagger from his shoulder.
Zenaida held sword at shoulders height pointed forward as she turned around towards Basil. She moved forward to thrust it towards Basil who came swinging in with his left hand on his sword. She ducked beneath the blade but then fell forward and dropped her sword. Basil had stabbed her with the dagger in the chest just above the abdomen. Basil look her in his right arm and lowered his sword. Zenaida held her eyes down into Basil’s chest. She then took the dagger and cut Basil’s left arm while holding his right. She grabbed Basil’s sword and turned around her right shoulder leading the blade straight back into Basil’s own chest. Basil trembled backwards and fell onto the ground.
Zenaida fell down onto her knees holding her hands towards her abdomen and her bleeding chest. Basil forced himself up on his legs even with the sword piercing straight through him. He grabbed the hilt and pulled. Even how hard he tried he could not avoid to scream by the pain. His clothes were beginning to be drenched in his own blood. Basil held the sword as he limped forward towards Zenaida. Basil stepped beside her and raised the sword above his head turned towards her. The blood from the sword dripped down upon his head. Zenaida looked up upon him. She was still furious but mostly sad.
“Akonar” she said. Basil starred at her before he lowered the sword. He upon the blade. “Malumion, the monster slayer”. A tear finally broke out of Basil’s eye. Then the Malumion. The sword landed soft in the grass beside Zenaida. Basil then turned around and began to walk away while holding his hands around the bleeding wound. He walked beyond the field towards a river. He began to feel weak and cold. Every step became more difficult than the last. Then he could no longer take another step and he fell onto the ground.