I do not own.
Nachum glared at the figure standing over him. It was the first time he got a good look. The attacker had bandages wrapped across his face and body. He tried to push the man's foot off his chest, but it only got heavier.
"Where are the Orbs?" He asked.
"Someplace you'll never get them!" Nachum snapped.
The man lifted his hand that glowed red and brought it down onto Nachum's head. Nachum screamed in pain as the red engulfed his body then just as quickly, the pain stopped.
Nachum looked to see an arrow sticking out from his attacker's shoulder. The man staggered back. Nachum rolled out of his reach.
"Hey, you're from the castle." Roy had arrived. The Crossbow on his hand changed to War Hammers."
"You! You have an orb." Quarttuor growled. He pulled the arrow out and tossed it to the side. Shadows erupted from the ground. The creatures surrounded Roy. "I won't fail this time." He moved away from the
"Uh oh." Roy looked around nervously at the small army of shadow creatures.
"I don't know how you were able to stop my shadow army last time, but you won't escape this time." He said menacingly.
Roy gulped as the shadows surrounded him. "All right, magic orb. Do something. Do something now…" He murmured.
His War Hammers grew bright blue. The shadows recoiled as Roy swung them close to them.
"What's wrong with you?" Quarttuor shouted at the shadows shrunk away.
He swung a hammer at the nearest creature dissipating it. "It looks like your friends are afraid of my bright persona." Roy sneered.
"That's terrible." Nachum groaned. He was on the ground gathering dry leaves.
"Oh, and I suppose you can think of something clever to say on short notice." Roy countered as he swung several more times making
"This is serious! There's no time for that nonsense." Nachum retorted. He struck his knife against a flint. Sparks flew onto the tinder causing a small fire. Lighting his torch, he swung at the shadows as well who also disappeared.
"I am serious!" Roy argued. He took out the last of the creatures.
"Shut up!" Quarttuor bellowed. "I will not be defeated by a couple of boys!"
Both looked up angrily.
"I'm not a boy!" They both said in unison. They attacked him at the same time, Roy with his War Hammers and Nachum with his sword and torch. Quarttuor's wrappings came to life. They shot out from his chest blocking their attacks. He knocked the torch from Nachum's hand. The torch landed on the ground and started smoldering. Nachum gripped the hilt of his sword with both hands for better leverage. Roy and Nachum slashed at the tendrils as they forced their way towards the mage. When they got close, Quarttuor's hands glowed an eerie red. He slashed at Roy who countered with his war hammer. But as soon as his hand touched the war hammer, it crumpled.
"Whoa!" Roy jumped back as he stared at his now normal hand. "But how?"
"I want that Orb!" He growled. A flood of wrappings suddenly bombarded Nachum throwing him back. Then it doubled back and wrapped around Roy. He pulled Roy towards him as Roy struggled. As he was pulled closer to Quarttuor's hands, Roy felt desperation flood through his body. Just when his hand was about to touch Roy, a sword sliced through the wrappings.
Roy fell on the floor. Looking up, he saw Senarius.
"So you're the traitor." He said grimly. "Looks like the ruse worked"
"What are you babbling about?" Quarttuor snarled.
"We knew one of you wanted the Orbs. So, we sent these decoys to draw you out. The real Orbs are safe. All except his so that you can still sense the magic." Senarius told Quarttuor bluntly. "We knew you couldn't pass up the chance to get the Orbs. I don't know how you managed to evade the Master's eye."
"Bah, he's an old fool. I don't know what he ever saw in you." Quarttuor spat out. "You're nothing but an interloper with no magical skills."
"But I still managed to beat you." Senarius replied calmly.
This enraged him enough to charge Senarius who neatly sidestepped him and brought the hilt of his sword against the back of his neck. This stunned Quarttuor momentarily before he got up and swung his glowing red hands at Senarius. He twisted his body to avoid his hands. He then brought his leg across Quarttuor's head bringing him down on his hands and knees. He shook his head and glared at him. Then from his back wrapping burst out and surged toward Senarius.
Senarius swung his sword to ward off the attack. Unfortunately, the deluge was overwhelming, and he was knocked down. His sword slid from his hands and one of the wrappings snatched it and brought it to Quarttuor.
"Not so cocky now, eh. You were just lucky, but your luck has just run out." He lifted the sword.
Before he could do anything, he was kicked by horse's hooves. Roy stood over him. His lower half was a horse.
"I don't believe in luck." Senarius said as he retrieved his sword. "Good work, Roy."
Roy beamed. Nachum limped over with his sword.
"What should we do with him, my lord?" Nachum asked.
"We hand him over to the Master." Senarius said.
"No! I won't answer to the old man!" His eyes glowed red again. In a flash of red light he disappeared.
They looked around expecting him to appear.
"Where did he bloody go?" Nachum asked bewildered.
"He's gone… for now." Senarius sheathed his sword.
"What if he goes after the Orbs?" Roy asked alarmed.
"He doesn't know where they are. We've distracted them long enough for the group to mobilize. They should be on their way." Senarius said. "We will meet up with them. But first I need to inform the Master."
He walked into the forest. Roy and Nachum looked at each other before they followed him.
0o0
"I'm sure they are all right." Bofur told Reselda as they rode on the cart. They were surrounded of Senarius' army.
"I know." She didn't sound convinced.
They rode in silence as Reselda kept looking behind her.
"We're safe with all these soldiers around us." Bofur told her to reassure her.
Reselda sighed. "I know. But I can't help worrying."
"We'll be in Provendencia before daybreak." Bofur kept talking to keep her from fretting.
"Then we'll kick those knaves out of your kingdom."
Reselda nodded.
When it was clear that she wasn't feeling talkative, Bofur gave up trying to converse.
A few minutes later they came to a stop.
"What's going on?" Reselda tried to see what was going on in the front.
Soon the sea of men in front parted. A single man ran on foot through.
"Looks like the scout." Bofur stated the obvious.
When the man reached the cart, he bowed low.
"Please, rise. What news do you bring?" Reselda asked.
"My lady. Provendencia is barely holding on. They have breached the outer walls and are now building siege works on the inner walls." The scout reported.
Reselda tried to keep her voice even. "Come inside the cart so we may discuss what you found."
The scout bowed low. Reselda was helped down by Bofur. They went into the cart. There the scout informed her and Bofur the position of the Baratrum army.
"I think we can proceed as planned." Reselda said after he was finished.
"Great. I'll tell them to continue." Bofur left the cart.
"You can rest here as we travel to Provendencia." She told the scout. Leaving the cart, she didn't notice the smirk on the scout's face as his eyes flashed red.
I'm not dead… just feels like it. Don't worry. I'm not sick just not motivated, tired, and lethargic. But I'm determined to finish, and I've always posted something on this day. Why stop tradition?
Anyway, I'll hopefully finish this soon. I have some other ideas. I want to work on.