Chapter 14: All or Nothing
After the hard fought victory, we went back to our base to plan our next course of action. I wondered how soon Stefan and the rest of them would return. With the power that I had discovered along with what they would soon have, we could change this war. While I was thinking, Brandon walked over to me.
"Wow, I never would have guessed you had that kind of power", he said to me.
"It's a good thing I did. There is no way I could have beaten that general without it."
"I'm glad you're on our side."
"It's not just me though. It's our whole army fighting together as one. You may not have an incredible flashy power but your simple skills with the lance are nothing to laugh at," I said.
"True, after all the battles I've been in I hope I have learned something. With all these brutal fights I'm glad I got through one without serious injury", he said chuckling.
"I'm glad we you with us. You have done so much to help me."
As I finished the sentence, the others teleported back to us. We ran out to meet them.
"Did it work?" I asked them.
"I'm not sure exactly what happened but I can feel a new power in me", Stefan said.
"The same for me. I'm curious to see what it can do", Soren said.
"I don't feel a raw power like you say you do. I feel something but it is more a power of peace and order", said Micaiah.
"In that case its time to use this new power", I stated, "I know what the power of the awakening can do. We could utilize it to end this war."
"Even with this kind of power how could 4 people end a war?" Soren questioned.
"By taking out their leader. I suggest a surprise attack on the empire's capital and to kill Emperor Jonathan", I stated.
"How do you know it would be enough though?" Soren asked.
"If it isn't enough then what is?" I asked.
"Good point", Stefan said, "we can't just keep hiding from them."
"So, are you in?" I asked.
"Sure, let's end this", Soren said confidently.
"The fight will soon be over", said Stefan.
"I want this suffering to end so I will fight", replied Micaiah.
"Count me in too", Brandon added.
"Are you sure?" Stefan asked him.
"I didn't come this far just to miss the final fight. You never know what a lancer can bring to the fight", he said.
"Okay so it's the five of us then", Stefan said, and "so what is our plan?"
"I think I have an idea", Soren stated, "Our first problem is to get to Jonathan. His army is huge and attacking the capital where he is would be suicide."
"What about having Sephiran teleport us near him?" I asked.
"Using his warp powers drains him. We would be sitting ducks", Soren explained, "I propose something more radical, more dangerous".
"What is it?" Stefan asked.
"If we fail then the war is over. This is truly an all or nothing situation. Therefore, I propose giving them exactly what they want. We reveal the location of our base."
"That's suicide though!" Stefan exclaimed.
"That's exactly what they will think. When they know where we are, they will send everything that they have to destroy us. Leaving their capital wide open. Besides we will be expecting the attack but they will not."
"So then we can just march in and defeat him", I said.
"Exactly, we don't know what to expect from him but together we should be able to defeat him", Soren said, "and if we expect an attack we can prepare for it."
_
Therefore, the attack was set. Information was leaked to the empires forces and the prepared to attack our base. Our force planned to leave our base 2 days before the attack would get to us. That would give us enough time to get to the capital. Our base was rigged with several traps to keep our fighters alive. While they would be out numbed, they would have the desert on their side. The location of the base would also make it difficult for the army to be overwhelmed all at once. Massive cliffs surrounded it giving us the ability to limit enemy forces. Even with all this, I wondered if it would be enough. After all an army as strong as possibly a million would be attacking them. With everything we had, we numbered only a few thousand. Right before we left our plans were changed.
"Is everyone ready", Stefan said.
"Yes", Soren, Brandon, and I replied in unison.
"I can't come with you," Micaiah said.
"Why", I asked her.
"I can't just abandon them like this. They need a leader so I will stay here with them. Go and end this war", she said with resolve.
"I understand", I said, "We will try to end this before the battle can begin".
"Thank you", she said returning to the base with Miriam and Tormad. Then the four of us continued on our way.
The four of us continued on the march to the empire capital. During the first day, we met no resistance. I guessed most of the empires forces were on the way to our base. We made our camp about 10 miles from the capital. A minimal force guarded the cities outer walls. Our plan was to kill the guards and one gate and then to continue on to the emperor. Tomorrow the war would end.
That night while Stefan was sharpening his blade I finally was able to ask him something that had been bugging me.
"What happened in the battle with the tigers?"
"Oh", he said with a tone of sadness, "That battle continued on for over an hour after you left. During the battle, we learned about the army that would soon be attacking the base. Both of us were too badly hurt to fight much longer. Night was approaching and we knew that we would not stand a chance in the dark against the beasts. There was a small lull in the forces and Cheese told me to run. One of the tigers chased me but Cheese threw his sword at it. I'm guessing he didn't live much longer."
"Incredible, he has done so much to help us".
"I hardly knew him but he will be missed", Stefan replied.
The new dawn came and we were ready to make our move. The nearest gate had only a dozen guards. When we were close, Soren and I attacked them from range with wind and lightning. Brandon and Stefan finished them off. As we went to enter the gates, a powerful blast struck all four of us. As we, rose to see what struck us we saw a mighty black dragon in the sky. He breathed another ebon blast at us. Soren then used his wind magic to deflect the attack.
The attacks made a hole in the gate. "Go", Soren said to us, "I will take care of him then join you soon".
"We can take him together", I protested.
"There isn't enough time. If we wait too long we will lose the element of surprise. Go!" and we went through the gate and into the city
Therefore, we ran. We could here the clash of power in the distance as we went deeper into the city. Several swordsmen tried to block our path. Stefan ran at them blocking the attack of the first one and slicing through them. He rolled out of the way of the other two and ran back slicing through and killing both of them. With the swordsman dead, we started to continue on our way until we heard a voice call out to us.
"You have some power for being such despicable beings", the voice said to us, "I wonder what you will do when you face true power." In our part was a muscular man with long fiery red hair. He appeared to be unarmed.
"It's been a while general, or should I say king, Skrimir", Stefan said to him, "I'm surprised to see the hot blooded lion king would stay behind and miss the battle."
"Bah, I knew you puny beings would have something planned. I thought I might get to kill the strongest pray here. It looks like I was right", he replied.
"In that case I challenge you, to a one on one fight. Let us see if my skill with the blade can match your raw power", Stefan said.
"Wait we can fight him better together", I protested.
"It's too risky for us to waste anymore time. If we all stay here to fight we will be too worn out by the time we reach the emperor", Stefan explained.
"One or many it's all the same to me. Let's see if your confidence can stand the power of my fang". Skrimir said and transformed into his lion form. He was a powerful red lion with a flowing mane. Brandon and I continued on our way and we heard a terrible clash of claw and steal. We came closer to the former palace of the apostle. Emperor Jonathan had taken over the palace after the rebels took over the capital.
Once we got to the palace, only one guard remained. He stood carrying a large axe. He seemed not to notice us approaching.
"Go", I quietly told Brandon. I called down a strike of lightning but the axmen jumped out of the way of the attack. He then blocked Brandon's lance and struck him with his axe. The impact sent Brandon back a few feet. The axmen the charged at Brandon but he rolled out of the way. Brandon got up and the lance and axe stuck each other.
"Go!" he told me. So that was Brandon's plan. He put himself between the enemy and me and I was between them and the palace. I had no choice but to take this opportunity.
"Don't die", I said to him as I ran into the palace. In there the emperor was waiting for me.
"The time has come. You shall fall today!" I exclaimed to Emperor Jonathan.
_
Thanks for those who read and even more so to those who tell me what you think of this.