The Eight Riders stared in amusement at the two doomed warriors rushing straight at them. One, the one who seemed older, carried a spear. The other carried a bow. The Eight Riders landed onto the plain, dismounted and sent their dragons up into the sky to make sure no one interfered. Then, meeting the two Knights of the Maple's challenges, they attacked. The two bow Riders both drew bomb arrows and shot them at the two Knights. The Knights dodged to the left, but the blast still hit them. The hunter was hit in his already damaged left arm again while the spearman didn't seem dazed. The two spear Riders raised both of their lances and prepared for their attack.
The Liege Knight of the Maple ran toward the Riders. He began to build up mana within him for a large blast. If it succeeded, they would gain the upper hand. If it failed, then the maneuver may cost them the fight. The Liege Knight of the Maple took a deep breath, and then began to chant the ancient language of dragons. In a couple of seconds, he gave a gigantic dragon roar. The floor shook as the roar sent the Riders hurling back. The Ellimist took his cue. He drew two bomb arrows and shot both of them. They exploded right on the Riders. However, the hooded warriors got up and charged again. The Ellimist looked at the Liege Knight. The Liege Knight was down on one knee. It seemed like that spell took up all of his energy. The Ellimist began drew four arrows. He shot all of them. Like before, the arrows bounced off the Riders.
The Liege Knight got back up on his feet. He charged at the Riders. The spear Riders lifted their lances and thrust at him. The Liege Knight dodged, but a ghostly image of the Riders' spears emerged for the Riders' lances and shot across the plain. The Liege Knight thought, "A magicked spear. Long and short distance attacks. Ingenious."
The Liege Knight chanted another dragon spell and thrust his spear at both Riders. The spear turned into a dragon-like form and struck three times at the two Riders. The Riders were damaged, but, like before, got back up. The Liege Knight kept his spear pointed at them, but he began to step back as four Riders advanced on him.
The Ellimist kept the other four Riders busy. The two axe Riders had thrown their axes at him and missed. The other two bow Riders and shot wave after wave of rot arrows at the Ellimist. The Ellimist had read the path of each arrow and had dodged each one. However, one had gotten him on his badly wounded left arm. It seemed to him, that his left arm would never know healing again. The Ellimist drew back his bowstring. His left arm pained so much. The power he put in each arrow was weakening. He fired more arrows, but to no avail. The Riders seemed invincible. The two bow Riders drew two more rot arrows. They fired and then looked. The Ellimist had dodged them again.
However, the Riders had hit their mark.
The Liege Knight felt two stinging pains in his back. He looked on his back and saw two arrows lodged into his back. The skin around it was rotting away. He cursed and continued to fight. However, he was now crippled. It took more and more of his energy to fight back. Then, his legs gave out. He collapsed. The two sword Riders chanted a spell. A purple circle surrounded the Liege Knight. Then he screamed as his soul began to leave him. The Ellimist yelled, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Then there was a white light.
The sword Riders were feasting on the veteran's soul. His soul had strengthened them. Then the blasted light appeared and then a ray of light had struck them. The spell had been broken. The Eight Riders looked at where the light had appeared. Standing there, were two groups. The first group was all donned in white robes. They were all clerics. The second group was donned in blue and was all thieves. There were fifty in each group. The leader of the two was a priest and an assassin. The priest pointed his staff at the Riders and the newcomers charged.
The
Ellimist ran over to the Liege Knight's side, "No! Don't die!
Not now! My lord, don't die!"
"My
time is up. My legs have gone cold and my vision is blurring,"
replied the Liege Knight.
"No!
Please, don't die, please!" the Ellimist said.
"You
must promise me something. Go to Sleepywood and tell them of the
prophecy. Also, I proclaim you my heir. Once I die, you are the new
Liege Knight of the Maple. You know everything I thought you. Take my
lance and give it to your apprentice. One more thing,
don't….ever….fall….to….evil…." the Liege Knight said.
With that, the Liege Knight died. He died, with a look of peace on
his face. But, in his mind, he had seen the prophecy. The final
picture of it showed a person that looked like the Ellimist. He was a
hunter and he was leading the armies of darkness. The Liege Knight's
final thought was a thought of despair.
