5Chapter 12: Storms of Hell
The evening sun was hidden by a dark, foreboding sky. The wind whipped through the trees, threatening to knock the hunched man down. A messanger had to be sent to Tarasinia to inform the King that his daughter, along with her two friends, had been captured, and would be ransomed by the Shadows for a suitable price. Janir Medoan had been given the unenviable task of being that messanger. He had a sinking feeling that he wasn't going to leave the city with his life.
He decided to go against Commander Methwan's orders and chose not to "personally ensure" that the large scroll with the ransom note on it would end up in the King's hands. He'd just give it to a Guard and leave. He may have sold his soul for the opportunity to join the Shadows, but unlike most of his comrades, he actually valued what life he had left.
A sudden burst of lightning flashed across the darkened sky and Medoan jumped. He hadn't felt this uncomfortable even when facing the Baron and swearing his new loyalties so long ago. He hastily composed himself and quickened his pace until he reached the long dirt road. The massive gates of Tarasinia were just ahead.
Instead of the usual two Guards standing at the gates, there was now an entire patrol. Medoan counted at least sixteen thoroughly checking everyone trying to enter the city. They obviously weren't going to let the Shadows, or anyone else, get away with infiltrating their city again. Too late, Medoan thought, the damage has already been done.
This brought a slight grin to his face and he straightened himself up, rehearsing what he was going to say to the Guards in his mind. He would not immediately identify himself as a Shadow, otherwise the Guards would put a sword through him first and ask questions later. He would simply say that he had an important message for the King, hand over the scroll, and walk away. He reminded himself not to answer questions and just keep walking. Once he felt that he was a safe distance from the archers in the towers, he would yell back to them just who the message was from.
A loud thunderclap snapped him out of his reverie and he gasped, suddenly realizing that he was standing just a few yards away from the entire Guard patrol. Not a good start, he told himself.
A tall, fully-armored Guard with an engraved long sword quickly stepped out towards him, shouting as he approached.
"Identify yourself stranger!" Medoan was able to see a hard intensity in the man's eyes. He would have to be extra careful.
He reached into his pack and pulled out the long scroll. A look of puzzlement flashed across the Guard's face for a second, but Medoan noticed that he tightened his grip on his sword hilt.
"I bear a message from my master. He requests that this be delivered to the King immediately." He handed over the scroll.
The Guard took it warily and began to unroll it. Another Guard, with officer's insignia on the breastplate, ran up behind him. She had her helmet off, and Medoan couldn't help but notice that she was rather good-looking. Her long brunette hair was slightly curled and her eyes were sky blue. But he quickly found out that she had a piercing gaze, which she turned on him once she caught him staring.
She turned her attention back to the scroll. "What does it say Harlen? Hurry up and read it!" Medoan thought she sounded more like a schoolgirl rather than a ranking officer.
"Easy Daniela, I haven't opened it yet." He finished unrolling it and read it to himself. Medoan saw the look in his eyes turn from surprised to enraged. He assumed that it was his cue to leave. He turned and fled, hoping that he could outrun them.
"Come back here Hellspawn!" Harlen's voice rang loudly in Medoan's head. He kept his focus on the road and didn't look back. Suddenly his left leg gave out and he tumbled hard to the ground. He gasped in pain and was amazed to see that a gleaming arrowshaft had scored a direct hit right above his knee. He made one attempt to get back up, but his leg would not support his weight, and he collapsed back to the ground, anticipating the end.
Harlen reached Medoan's fallen body and roughly flipped him over. The Shadow was still alive.
Harlen spat on him. "You wretched murderers! How dare you insult us a second time!" He raised his sword, eyes blazing, ready to make the killing blow.
Medoan simply smiled and embraced the end. He closed his eyes just before Harlen's sword connected with a sickening crack.
Harlen and Daniela raced into the Palace, trying to reach the King as fast as possible. They reached the marble staircase in the Grand Hall, and Harlen barely paused. "Important message for the King, let us through!" He was shouting and waving the scroll above his head, hoping that they wouldn't be stopped.
The Guards along the staircase hesitated, but made no move to stop them. They plowed through the double doors into the throne room and skidded to a halt. They immediately knelt down and averted their gaze, hoping they hadn't intruded on anything.
"What is the meaning of this?" King Leo did not sound angry, merely curious.
Harlen bolted upright and pointed to the scroll in his hand. "It is a message from the Shadows your Highness, they say they have captured Darryl, Tyler, and the Princess!"
"What?!" Leo sprang out of his chair and walked directly in front of Harlen. Queen Dyelin screamed and slunk into her royal chair, sobbing.
"Where is she? What have they done to her?" Leo's eyes were blazing, causing Harlen and Daniela to take a step back.
Harlen handed over the scroll. "They say that will enter the city tonight, and that unless they are paid...they will execute all three of them."
Leo quickly read the ransom note before throwing it into the corner. "Mass every Guard in the city and have them follow the Shadows into the Square in a box formation! Find General Renay and order him to stockpile ten thousand gold coins, but hide them all in different buildings surrounding the Square. Have the archers be prepared to fire on my standard signal. Now go! We don't have much time!"
Harlen and Daniela hastily bowed, then exited as quickly as they entered, hurrying to their respective tasks.
Leo went over to his wife and tried to console her as best as he could. She got up and hugged him fiercely. Her daughter's life was in danger for the second time in as many nights.
"We will get them all back my dear, have faith in our Guards, and don't expect Rose or her friends to go down without a fight." The Queen sobbed even harder. Leo hugged her close and sighed. The Shadows will pay dearly for this!
Geijan Methwan smirked at the head of his legion, which still numbered nearly two hundred soldiers. His men were marching in two rigid columns, with their prisoners chained to a makeshift cart that took three men to pull. Methwan and Blanch led the procession, with the cart between them and the rest of the soldiers. They reached Tarasinia's central Square, and the Shadow soldiers spread out, guarding Methwan's rear and flanks. Tarasinia's Guards reacted accordingly, and positioned themselves so that they surrounded the entire Legion. Blanch looked around warily, clearly not liking what he was seeing. But Methwan knew that there would be no attack, their Princess was too important to them to risk a direct assault.
Methwan involuntarily reached into his coat pocket. Two small rocks were nestled tightly inside, and he knew that without them, they were not going to leave the city alive. The rocks were actually recall stones, special gifts bestowed by the Baron only when the situation required them. The recall stones were stones within a stone. In order to activate them, the user was required to smash the outer rock, thus triggering the power buried inside the inner rock. These small stones would transport the user back to a predetermined destination. In this case, these rocks were his and Roal's quick escape back to the Baron's palace. He had one extra with him, which would be used to take the Princess with them.
Leonardo Garnerio saw him and briskly walked in his direction, flanked by ten of Tarasinia's highest-ranking soldiers. The King's cloak flared out behind him, and his gigantic long sword was already drawn. The Guards also had their weapons ready. Methwan simply took a step back, withdrew a small dagger, and shook the Princess awake, placing the blade at her throat. She oriented herself and gasped, her face stark white with fear. Her eyes widened even farther when she saw her father, with an extremely intense look on his face.
Methwan spoke first. "The Princess will not be damaged your Highness. All you need to do is deliver the goods." His tone was mocking, and Leo wanted nothing more than to remove the man's head from his shoulders, but not while he still held his daughter.
"Your money is here, but I need assurances that none of them will be harmed." He gestured toward Tyler and Darryl, indicating that they would not be forgotten. Tyler was being restrained by extra thick chains, while Darryl remained unconscious from the poisonous arrow.
"You will place the money at my feet or your daughter dies," Methwan snarled, tightening his grip on the Princess, who refused to struggle against her chains, fearing that she would impale herself on her captor's blade.
Leo hesitated, and Methwan spoke again. "You are wasting my time your Highness. Roal, pick one of the boys and execute him." Roal grinned and rolled Darryl's prone body so that he lay on his back. Roal removed his jeweled short sword from his belt and ran his hand along the blade, licking the blood that came from a small cut on his finger. He was going to enjoy this.
He drew the sword behind him, preparing to put his whole weight into a killing blow, when a deafening crack of thunder and an extremely large bolt of lightning flared across the darkened sky. Everyone jumped, even Methwan, causing Rose to scream as the dagger cut lightly into her skin.
Roal took a step back, shaking his head in disbelief. Darryl's body was glowing bright red. His eyes snapped open and focused, and his entire face creased in anger. He ripped the chains free from his arms and legs before slowly getting to his feet. His dark brown eyes had turned a hellish red, and another thunderclap rattled across the sky once he drew himself up to his full height.
Everyone stared at him in absolute disbelief. The Tarasinians starting panicking, not being able to hide their fear and intense distrust of magic. But nobody, not even Geijan Methwan or Roal Blanch, had seen anything quite like this before.
Darryl raised his arm and abruptly brought it back down. A bolt of lightning ripped directly in the ranks of the Shadow legion, instantly vaporizing several bodies, and scattering several more high into the air. Two more high-powered bolts followed, and the Shadows completely broke and began to flee.
Acting on instinct, Roal lunged at Darryl with his sword outstretched. Darryl merely glanced in his direction and slowly raised his left hand. A bolt of fire smashed in Roal's chest, sending him flying backwards. Darryl turned and ripped the chains off of Tyler before glaring at Methwan. Tyler sprang to his feet and raced to the King's side. Leo and Rose were stunned, they had never seen anyone look so evil before.
Methwan pulled out one of the recall stones and threw it over Darryl's head to Roal, who caught it and immediately smashed it on the ground. A few seconds later, the inner stone glowed, and Roal was gone. Methwan pulled out two more, but Darryl caused another lightning bolt to strike the ground a few yards behind the Commander. Methwan and Rose both pitched forward, and both recall stones shattered. Methwan landed hard and hastily grabbed one of the inner stones that rolled towards him, and seconds later, he was gone.
Darryl caught Rose as she fell screaming into his arms, and burned the last recall stone with another fireball. She screamed again when she looked into his face and pried herself free from his grip. She stumbled back a few steps and Tyler had to catch her from falling again. Leo and Dyelin, who had stood behind the line of Guards, came forward and briefly embraced Rose and Tyler, before turning back to stare at Darryl. Captain Millar ran to their side and drew his sword.
Lightning was now flashing crazily across the sky, and a fiery rain began to fall from the blackened clouds. The ground was stained red by the fire that was falling out of the sky. Then a bright white bolt of lightning completely shattered the Square's fountain, instantly vaporizing the water, only leaving behind a swirl of reddish-white energy.
The Guards had all fled, leaving only Leo, Dyelin, Rose, Tyler, Darryl, and Captain Millar standing temporarily blinded in the ruined Square. Fire continued to pour out of the sky, and when everyone's vision finally cleared, a dark figure stood amid the ruins of the fountain. Black energy swirled around him, and the "man" stepped forward. Darkness seemed to follow wherever he walked.
Everyone except Darryl turned and ran. They stopped and turned around halfway between the Square and the Palace. There were at least fifty yards between them and the two glowing figures still standing in the Square. Leo squinted and saw the dark figure walking towards Darryl. He was at least six inches taller than Darryl, his long black hair haphazardly blowing in the suddenly strong wind. A dark aura surrounded him, and he did not look entirely human.
The strong winds amplified their voices, and their conversation reached the five Tarasinians, who continued to back away towards the Palace gates.
"At last you have awakened. I have waited eighteen years for this day." The dark figure confidently continued to advance on Darryl.
Darryl didn't back down. "Who are you?" His voice sounded inhuman.
"I am known as Saurva. The Archdemon Saurva. One of the leaders of the minions of Hell. Only the three Grand Demons stand above myself and my three companions, as well as the four Devas."
Darryl was stunned. He slowly began to retreat, not taking his eyes off the Demon Lord in front of him.
"An Archdemon? Here? But why?" Leo spoke softly to nobody in particular. Rose, Tyler, Dyelin, and Koran were speechless.
Darryl's mind was racing. He had no idea what was happening. The only thing he was sure of was that whatever powers had suddenly awakened inside of him would be no match for the Archdemon standing in front of him. He was only prepared to act on impulse.
The wind carried his voice. "Run! Get inside the palace!" He turned and fired the largest ball of fire that he could summon and blasted Saurva back into the remains of the fountain. He concentrated on the wind, and used its force to give him extra speed.
The Tarasinians didn't waste any time. All five had only reached the front rotunda before Darryl caught up to them. Roseanda screamed again when she saw him, backing away fearfully.
Darryl skidded to a halt, leaving burn marks on the floor. "Which way to the basement?" He directed the question at the entire group. Thunder roared outside and all the upstairs windows shattered.
Leo was the first to stop staring at him. "To the left. There is a way out." He ran off, followed closely by Koran and Dyelin. Rose and Darryl glanced at each other before Tyler pulled her away. Tyler glared at him, then followed the King, dragging Rose behind him.
The King led them into the basement and through a twisted narrow passageway that seemed to span for miles. Everyone except for Darryl was gasping for air by the time they had reached the outside of the city.
"What do we do now?" Tyler's questioning glance was directed at everyone. Rose sank to her knees and leaned against a wall. Leo and Koran were busy attempting to keep Dyelin on her feet. Nobody seemed to hear him.
Darryl turned his back to them and thought to himself. What is this power I have? Was Saurva summoned by it? And what does he want with me? Too many questions, with no real answers. Tyler's words slowly interrupted his reverie. How would they go on from here? They had to get away from Saurva as fast as they could. Demonic growls echoed from deep inside the city. Saurva must have brought an army with him, and the unfortunate Tarasinians who were caught were most likely dead.
Suddenly he remembered Orlan Raban. He hadn't seen the old man since he drove the Shadows out of the city. But it wasn't Orlan himself that stirred something within him; it was his words. That machine reacted to your power...you may have discovered the 'Gale Falcon'.
The ancient hovercraft. That's how they could escape. He reached into his pocket, relieved to find the small box still intact. He opened the lid and held the small device in his hands. Only then did he turn and address the group.
Rose was still on the ground crying profusely, as Tyler's attempts to comfort her were not stopping her tears. Dyelin had composed herself and clung fiercely to her husband. Captain Millar looked lost, unsure of what to do.
Darryl's voice startled them all. It was much softer than before, but it still did not quite sound normal. "We can escape with this," he held out the miniature hovercraft in his left hand.
Tyler got up and looked at him suspiciously. "And what is that supposed to do?" It seemed that the Shadows and the Demons had followed Darryl to Tarasinia, and Tyler no longer trusted him.
"Observe," Darryl simply said before turning around again. He held out the device in front of him and closed his eyes, the red aura returning to surround his entire body. Rose cringed and buried her face in her hands, not wanting to see him like this again. Tyler only glared, while the King and Queen were once again rendered speechless.
A bright light enveloped the area directly in front of Darryl as the hovercraft began to take its former shape. After a few moments, Darryl's hand was empty, and the large machine was nestled on the ground, waiting to be used for the first time in thirteen hundred years.
Rose slowly got to her feet and pointed at the hovercraft. "What is that?" she exclaimed.
Darryl leaped aboard the machine and beckoned for them all the follow. "It is supposedly an ancient machine from the War of Liberation. I don't know anything about it, Orlan showed it to me..." his voice trailed off, remembering that the old man was probably still trapped inside Tarasinia's massive walls.
"How do you know it works?" Leo asked.
"I don't," was Darryl's simple reply. "We just have to trust it." He saw that Tyler's hard stare had not ceased. "Unless you would like to wait here until Saurva finds you."
"It is your fault that he is here in the first place," Tyler's voice was soft, but definitely accusatory. However, he stepped forward and leaped over the hovercraft's rail into the machine. Rose, her parents, and Captain Millar soon followed.
Darryl went over to the main console, and his simple touch activated it. This machine must be driven by my power, he thought. He touched the console again, and the engines suddenly roared to life. However, even the powerful machine was drowned out by the howling winds and booming thunder. A ball of light suddenly appeared on top of the massive wall marking the boundary of the city.
Darryl recognized Lord Saurva. Black light swirled around him, and suddenly eight large winged beasts appeared at his side.
"You cannot run from me Darryl, these gargoyles will track you down and destroy your friends if you attempt to escape," Saurva's voice rattled in their heads like a gong.
Darryl recovered quickly and shouted, "Brace yourselves!" before launching the ship forward as fast as it could go. He slowed it down once they entered a forest and he had to concentrate to avoid crashing into the gigantic trees.
Rose and Dyelin were screaming as loud as they could. Tyler stared fearfully ahead, wondering which tree they were going to hit.
King Leo and Captain Millar glanced behind them and spotted the gargoyles in full pursuit. The winged demons were huge, and their massive wings gave them incredible speed.
The chase wound through the forest until it cleared into a small grassland, which soon gave way to a dry desert area with a large river running through it.
King Leo recognized the Taramecia River, the border between Tarasinia and the neighboring nation of Bermecia. He was astounded at how quickly they covered such a large distance. He noticed the gargoyles beginning to tire and they soon fell far behind. Once they reached the river, Darryl slowed the craft and knelt on the ground, obviously spent. Tyler walked over to the console and gripped the wheel attached to the center. He quickly taught himself how to fly the machine, and took over while Darryl slunk into a corner and rested.
Rose released her grip on the rail and stared at him. His head rolled to one side and he looked like he was about to fall asleep. She noticed that his breathing became more difficult and she quickly scurried to his side.
She ignored everyone and took Darryl's head in her hands. She shifted so that her back was to her parents. She did not want them to see this, but she had no choice. She concentrated hard, reaching deep inside herself for the gift that had always been hers. She drew upon the powers of the earth, specifically its restorative power. She channeled this energy into Darryl's body and he shuddered violently before sighing and sinking into a deep sleep. His breathing eased, and several cuts and wounds had vanished.
Tyler stared at her, knowing that she had used magic on him. He knew about her gift, and had honored his promise to keep her secret from the King and Queen. She did not bother looking back at her parents. She simply wrapped her arms around Darryl's body and hugged him fiercely. She wanted nothing more than to go back to her home and kill the Demon Lord Saurva, but she knew that she would need his help...and that he would need hers. She rested his head on her shoulder and soon fell asleep, curled up against him in their little corner of the hovercraft.