Chapter 12
I doubt any of you will listen, but I feel as if I must explain a few things. You know me as Tarkus, and while that is my name, I was known as Head Captain of the Guard for the king Ashnard. You must remember how dark those times were. I committed so many dark deeds for a king I blindly followed. I have slain so many defenseless women, men and children than I care to count. My sleep is filled with the screams of those I have killed. Where others see life, I see only death. Those I have flayed, executed for speaking out against the King, my Blood lust was known as the Executioner of the Mad King. I am still hunted for those crimes. When my right side woke myself from the nightmare, it was when I was ordered to hunt down and kill two children, their names were Ike and Mist. They were only toddlers, and I had saw them previously. I said two letters that my liege didn't want to hear, no. While it was a moral victory, the price was devastating, as refusal of orders. I was bound and watched as my entire family lineage was placed to death. I watched my wife flayed alive after being ravaged by my former comrades. My Nieces and Nephews were slaughtered in the most brutal of fashions even my younger niece, who was only a week old was tossed onto a bonfire still alive. My children were tied into groups of two, and to save arrows they shot only one in the head and the other fell to the moat, the weight of the dead drowning them. I was then sentenced into exile, and I became the man I am right now. That sour tone you heard in my voice when I spoke of Ike, it was because I held him responsible for the death of my family. But now I see it clearly. But now I see it differently. Each victory must come at a price, in one form or another. This time, I have decided to pay it myself. And if the cost is my life... so be it.
Tarkus sighed heavily and set down the letter next to the sword he was now giving Samus. With a quick look around he took a deep breath considering that this could be the last time he'd ever see them again. But he knew that it was for the right reasons. Titus remained waiting in the exact spot he had been before for Tarkus to arrive. Once Tarkus had approached him Titus pulled his hood over his head and turned in the direction of the fortress. Their slow walking allowed for some conversation.
"Titus, where did you go all this time?" Tarkus started lowly. Titus remained silent. "I thought that you would have been killed too."
"Yes, I thought I was finished as well until my senses came back and everything was clear. Once I escaped, I was named a rouge and very soon the last of the Phantoms. No one else even knows of us anymore. Except that mysterious puppeteer who's pulling the strings from the shadows."
"You don't have any clue who it might be?"
"No, though there is a strong possibility that he's high ranking in Crimea. I do know however that this man possesses dark powers of necromancy. He can bring the dead back to life but it does take it's toll on his body."
"That explains Greil, though, I'm still puzzled as to why they would bring him back over many others."
"Greil wasn't the only general brought back. I'm afraid Zelgius as well was revived but he's completely brainwashed and can't remember anything of his former self. Now he reigns over the rebel guard as their commander moving to every whim of his master."
"General Zelgius, previously killed by Ike in the Tower of Guidance on Ike's mission to rid the continent of the goddess Ashera's judgment. Well, this will be one tough battle indeed." Tarkus let out a low chuckle and looked straight ahead.
"Of course, and everyone knows the story of Ike's success in the tower. It spread like wildfire across the continent. Though as all usual do, it died off and a new power hungry fool stepped up claiming to take Tellius to it's highest. Having General Zelgius and Greil to back the plan up seemed to spark the interest of many eventually forming the rebel army. Tarkus," Titus gave him a look of seriousness. "Talking to them won't work, many have tried but they're too blinded by the power to even comprehend what this madman is doing to Crimea. All we can do is fight. No matter how many people have to die, it's our only chance at restoring the peace back to Crimea." Tarkus listened to Titus' story with a sour look. Eventually he let out a sigh and spotted the fortress just ahead.
"Titus, no matter what happens to me, you must ensure that you and Ike get out alive. Ike is our only chance for winning this war, and I'd hate to see Zelda lose everything she has just like I once did." Titus nodded his head slowly with eyes filled with sorrow. They both crouched lower to the ground and made their way to the bushes just before the clearing the fort was in. Guards were on patrol at the top of the great stone walls making it to risky to try to climb. The main gate as well wasn't an option by the group of soldiers guarding it.
"Ike must be here. Otherwise this fortress wouldn't be so heavily guarded." Tarkus muttered. He looked over to Titus who wore a small smile. "I assume you have a plan?"
"Of course. This particular fortress has a secret entrance through some tunnels underground. Even the rebel army doesn't know about it. The tunnels will bring us to the eastern side of the fortress while we may have to sneak a bit to the prison cells at the northern edge."
"You sneaky little bastard." Tarkus chuckled lightly. Titus shrugged his shoulders and returned the chuckle.
"I learn from the best. Come on, we should hurry. The night won't cloak us forever." Tarkus nodded once and followed Titus to the woods on the eastern side of the fortress. Just a little ways away was a dried up well which Titus pulled out a rope and lowered himself into. Tarkus followed him down but stopped as Titus took the time to light his torch. Tarkus' eyebrows raised in surprise discovering Titus' magical abilities. Titus opened the rusted gate and allowed Tarkus through before closing it again. The dark and dank tunnels infested with rodents and spiders seemed to go on forever, until they
approached a locked gate that is. Titus pushed on it finding that it wasn't moving anytime soon. With a swift kick Titus knocked the old gate down as the sound of clanking metal echoed throughout the tunnel.
"This tunnel doesn't seem to have been used in a long time." Tarkus stated rubbing his hands along the stone wall. Titus nodded his head.
"The last time it was used was during the mad king's war. I suppose it had just been forgotten over time." Titus replied. After a short period of silence and continued walking Titus stopped at a ladder and looked up at the small rays of light coming from the wooden door on the wall above. Titus began to climb the ladder and reached out pushing the wooden door open. Tarkus as well made his way through the little door into what seemed like an empty storage room. Titus motioned for him to approach the door and Tarkus did slowly hearing muffled voices.
"We'll be moving Ike to the new fort tomorrow. I'll take over for now. You go get some well deserved drinks. I'm sure your quite tired from guarding him all night."
"Thank you. I'll go do that right away." The sound of jingleing keys being exchanged echoed throughout the hall. Footsteps as well trailed off in opposite directions, one pair seeming rather hasty. Titus slowly lifted the wooden bar on the door and opened it examining the hall in both directions. A little ways down the hall was one rebel soldier stopping to look into the room beside him. Titus held up his hand to Tarkus and began slowly and silently down the hall taking the opportunity to take out the next rebel on guard duty. After the rebel had closed the door with a small laugh, Titus wrapped one hand around the rebel's mouth and held a dagger to his throat. The rebel's eyes grew wide as Titus dragged him down the hall and back to the storage room. Tarkus restrained the rebel's arms as Titus slit the man's throat. Once the rebel quick squirming around Tarkus dragged him to the corner and took a small cloth wiping some of the blood from his armor. Titus grabbed the keys from his belt and returned to the door checking again before motioning for Tarkus to follow. Tarkus slowly closed the door behind him and followed Titus down the hall and around the corner. Titus peeked in an open door to find about six rebels asleep on beds and small pallets on the floor. He began to resume sneaking again and stopped looking in another open door finding the same thing. Cautiously he checked around another corner and squinted his eyes at the distant objects. A guard sat in a small wooden chair sound asleep beside a slightly larger door.
"Alright the prison cells are just beyond that door. We'll take out the guard grab Ike and hurry out of here." Tarkus nodded his head once and followed behind Titus. Titus covered the guards mouth with his hand and did the same as he did with the other. Tarkus pushed open the door as Titus dragged the body into the room with them. Tarkus closed the door and surveyed the room. In the very last cell was a blue haired man who groaned and leaned over on his side. Tarkus rushed over to him and pulled at the cell door. I didn't budge. As Tarkus waited for Titus to unlock the door, he bent down and studied Ike. His arms covered in small cuts and bruises. His clothing torn in multiple places. Even Ike's once healthy face was now thin and frail while dark circles surrounded his eyes. Tarkus knew that Zelda was not going to be very collected when she sees Ike's condition. Titus unlocked the cell door and Tarkus rushed to Ike sitting him up.
"Ike, can you hear me? We're going to get you out of here." Ike's eyes opened slightly and drooped back shut while he mumbled under his breath the first syllable of a word. Tarkus made it out to be Zelda's name. With a small smile Tarkus lifted up Ike's head. "Don't worry Zelda is alright, she's waiting for us back at the camp." Ike's eyes opened slightly again and this time a small smile formed on his lips.
"Th..thank... goodness..." His eyes again fell shut. Tarkus then lifted Ike and slung him onto his back. Ike held on with as much strength as he had drifting in and out of consciousness. Titus gave Tarkus a single head nod as they began to make their way out of the room. Swiftly they traveled through the halls and reached the tunnels. A loud shout was heard echoing throughout fortress. Titus made his way down the ladder and Tarkus handed Ike over to him. Once Tarkus was down, he grabbed Ike back as the two sprinted through the tunnels, the loud voice of the rebels still shouting behind them. Tarkus cursed under his breath at the next obstacle. Climbing the wall with Ike would be quite a challenge.
"Climb up to the top and pull us up." Tarkus nodded once and did as Titus said. Tarkus climbed the rope back to the top of the well and waited for Titus signal. Once Titus had a hold of Ike, Tarkus set down his axe and began to pull Titus and Ike up. After much straining Titus and Tarkus began to carry off Ike. They stopped however and spun around at a man's chuckling. They found a man of smaller build flanked by four cloaked warriors wearing the same clothing as Titus. Titus noticed this and let out a hiss.
"The Phantoms." He muttered. Tarkus turned his attention back to the man and lowered into a defensive position.
"Well well well, and just where do you think you're going with him hm?" He laughed lowly twirling a sword around in his hands. Tarkus stepped in front of Titus and turned his head slightly not breaking eye contact with the man.
"Titus, get Ike back to camp, I'll deal with this." Titus went to object but stopped and sighed heavily with a small nod. As Titus dashed off with Ike, the Phantoms beside the man started after them. Tarkus however quickly caught them off guard and downed each Phantom with ease only receiving a small wound. The man began to laugh and Tarkus soon after recognizing who he was.
"You..." He growled. "I should have know. The Grandmaster of the Phantoms."
"You cannot win this war Tarkus. Give up now, before it's too late."
"You will never reign over me! And I won't allow you to hurt my friends!" Tarkus jumped forward at the man who raised his sword blocking the powerful blow of Tarkus' axe. Tarkus however didn't see him pull out a much smaller blade aimed at his side. Tarkus grunted and jumped back leaving the man only laughing.
"Do you really think you can save that girls future? No, no she will have the same fate as you. I will take it all away and make her suffer the true pains of loss!" The man smirked at Tarkus and motioned for another attack. Tarkus hesitated briefly letting his words sink in. He stood up straight with a sour look and began removing his armor. The man raised an eyebrow with a small chuckle.
"Let's settle this, here and now." Tarkus growled. He removed the last of his armor and raised his axe once again. The man nodded his head in agreement. Both charged at each other and each delivering lethal blows. Though they both blocked them with ease. Tarkus moved away watching as the grandmaster charged at him this time. His quick and agile movements made it slightly harder to block. Tarkus took an opening in his defenses to bring the axe down on the grandmaster's shoulder. It was shortly after tarkus noticed that he dodged it that a sharp pain filled his chest causing him to scream out in pain. Tarkus backed away slightly taking in the sight of the grandmaster's blade driven into his chest. The grandmaster let out a low chuckle.
"I wonder how history will remember you, Tarkus, how will the annals of history portray you? A shame the dead man won't be able to see it." The grandmaster taunted him. Tarkus exhaled sharply, blood dripping from his mouth.
"We're finished, we both are." Planting the palm of his hand against the grandmaster's neck, Tarkus shot a cross bow bolt from Martellus' gift. The grandmaster screamed in agony and disappeared into thin air leaving Tarkus on his knees. Tarkus attempted to crawl and pulled at the ground bringing himself a little farther away from the site of his defeat. Shortly after the pain wouldn't let him continue on and he rolled onto his back closing his eyes. A small smile formed on his lips as he muttered only a few words he was relieved he could say. "My debt has been paid."
Sorry for the late update guys and please don't hate me for killing off Tarkus, you'll see later on what I have planned. Well I hope y'all enjoyed the chapter and yay Ike's back! Tell me what you think in the reviews! Thanks again for reading! :)
