Section Nine: The Ebon Stronghold
"So after we cross this mountain range, we reach a swamp?" Falco looked at the map.
"A bayou, actually." Fox said. "The Blood Bayou, specifically."
"BLOOD? Oh, wonderful." Falco rubbed his eyes. "Why do I not like how that sounds?"
"Walking skeletons, necromantic golems, and people who are living diseases. Why should you like how it sounds?" Peppy smiled halfway. "However, just traveling through there doesn't assign us to death. If we don't bother those living there, they shouldn't bother us."
"Mostly correct." Fox said, rolling up the map. "We're in more danger going through this mountain range then the Bayou. Bill and I killed a red dragon, and this is where red dragons live. I'm sure that they aren't very pleased with us."
"Aye." Katt nodded. "Then let's travel quickly and reach the stronghold by nightfall. We should be safe there."
The group continued to move along the worn path. It got colder as they traveled farther, making several don cloaks over their armor and pull collars up. This area seemed trapped in a perpetual winter; what animals they did see were thin and desperate looking. The marks of O'Donnel's party remained on the ground still, however, and they followed the prints to the stronghold.
"My god." Falco craned his neck up to stare at the fortress. Made from dark gray stone, it both blended in with the mountains and seemed to sit forebodingly in the way of all who would attack the kingdom. "How long has this been here?"
"A very long time." Peppy replied, pulling his horse to a halt. "The drawbridge is up."
Positioned so a natural ravine separated the stronghold and the road, the severe drop seemed impossible to climb, which of course was the exact point. At the bottom of the ravine, a river crashed and raged.
"HO!" Bill shouted up at the stronghold walls. No reply, no movement. No flags fluttered on the walls. No torches glowed in their scones. "It seems abandoned. Odd. Last I heard, this stronghold was fully manned."
"How did O'Donnel's party get across then?" Katt asked, looking at where the hoof prints and wagon tracks continued on blissfully over the edge of the ravine.
"Falco." Slippy said, and Falco nudged his horse closer. They conferred for a moment, and Falco nodded. "Like this, sirs and madam."
Falco dismounted, handing his reins to Peppy, and pulled a grappling hook out of his belt pouch. He judged, twirled it easily above his head, and threw. It soared through the air and hooked into a metal bar on the drawbridge, sharp point digging into the old wood. After testing the grappling hook's hold, Falco braced, and stepped off the cliff. The rope swung him in a partial circle, landing him safely on the other side.
Watching Falco take down the grappling hook, Fox grinned. "Even thieves have their uses."
"Precisely, my esteemed leader…" Falco called over the ravine, having heard every word Fox had said. Another twirl, and the hook went over the wall. Wrapping the rope around his hands, Falco easily scaled the wall, then made his way over to the drawbridge controls. "Watch thyselves!" He called, and pulled the aging lever.
With a long series of clanks, the drawbridge sped down and thumped onto the cliff wall in front of them, startling several pebbles to fall into the raging water. After a long moment, the party proceeded over the drawbridge.
Falco met them in the empty courtyard of the stronghold. "I believe this place to be abandoned."
"Any sign of a struggle?" Fox asked, looking around.
"No. None. No signs of any fighting at all."
The rest of the party dismounted, and they did a thorough search of the stronghold, meeting back in the courtyard.
"Just like the gypsy town." Bill shook his head.
"Perhaps more ghosts then?"
"There are no memories here." Katt brushed her hand down one of the stone walls. "But there is… a residual fear. Something did happen here."
"Aye." Fox said, shaking his head. "This is quite a puzzle. I imagine his Majesty will be enraged when he finds out, but there's nothing we can do. Very well. We camp here for the night, if anything for the protection, and we move on in the morning. We still have a long ways to travel…" He turned his head, staring off in the distance towards the border. "And I have a feeling that the King's army will need our help, and soon."
They nodded, already setting up a camp.
"We're only six people, Fox." Peppy quietly remarked.
Fox turned his back and left the courtyard, climbing up to one of the towers and sitting on the stone wall, staring out.
'I suppose that nothing is escaping the touch of Andross now…' Peppy mused, pacing down the halls of the stronghold, carrying a torch. It threw dancing shadows across the worn gray stone, pacing him in his wanderings. 'Perhaps that is what happened to this stronghold… to the gypsy town.' He paused, reaching an alcove, looking out at the courtyard. A warm fire glowed; Katt had produced a lute from her packs, Slippy was cooking, the others relaxing. Fox was still unseen, apparently still up on the tower. 'I do not know why Fox puts such confidence in us. We are such a small group, how we will make a difference in such a war?' Peppy shook his head, moving on. 'But he is young, and he has his father's blood in his veins. He can command naturally. I hope in this aspect he does as well as his father, but… he is only eighteen. We are a group of six commanded by an eighteen year old.' He sighed. 'But you would not have it any other way, would you, Peppy Hare? Only right that the progeny of James McCloud leads as once he did. And just like his father, Fox carries in him the touch of Heironeous. Bless him.'
A very faint moan split the air, making him freeze and turn. "Hello? Is anyone there?" After a long moment, the noise repeated, and he began to search, ending up in a small set of servant's quarters their search had somehow missed. A young woman lay there, apparently just becoming conscious. "Young lady? What are you doing here?" He asked blankly, setting the torch in a wall scone and pulling a chair to the bed.
A young canine with a slender but curved figure, her clothes were tattered, and she stared up at him blankly. After a moment, his eyes registered her as being at least half elf. "Sir…? I do not recognize you… what are you doing in servant's quarters?"
"Ah young lady, do you remember anything?" Peppy frowned. "I found you. You seem to be the only one alive here."
"What?" She struggled up, staring at him. In spite of her battered condition, she was stunningly beautiful, features delicate. It was an unusual beauty, something he had always associated with the Elven race, and even then it seemed not quite like any elf he had ever seen.
"Do not worry, I am one of the King's own Knights." Peppy managed a smile, gesturing at insignias he was not even legally able to wear at this point in time. He was fallen from grace, no longer a knight, but this young lady didn't need to know such information. Especially when it caused him so much shame and disgrace. "We believed this stronghold to be abandoned, and in light of the war, we supposed that those who were here were casualties."
"I am the only one?" She asked faintly.
"I am afraid so."
"But… what am I to do?"
"Firstly, mademoiselle, I suggest we leave this room and join my comrades. Trust me, we will not harm you." He held out a hand.
She hesitated, then took it. He felt a little shiver go up his arm, and tried hard to ignore it.
"Well, well, well. What's this? Who is your friend Peppy?" Falco said, looking up.
"I found her in the servant's quarters." Peppy replied, having already given his cloak to the young woman. She sat down by the fire, huddling close and turning the cloak's collar up. "I'm afraid she doesn't remember much…"
"Nothing… I remember nothing." She shook her head, feathery dark hair cascading around her face. Now that she was in good light, she seemed even more beautiful, soft fur glowing in the firelight. "The last thing I remember is retiring after doing dishes from the commander's meal. Then, I remember your comrade awaking me. Nothing in between."
"Well, goodness then." Slippy shook his head.
Katt crossed her arms, suspicious. She didn't like this. "Why is it, you suppose, that only she survived then?"
"You suspect me?" The young woman was horrified, eyes wide and hurt.
"Katt…!" Bill protested. "How could this young lady do any damage?"
"Humph. I'm going to find Fox." Katt left the campsite, climbing the stone stairs to the tower.
"Why would she think such a thing?" Tears showed around the young woman's eyes.
"Don't let her bother you. She's a Sorceress. I suppose she's allowed." Falco handed her a kerchief. "Now, what would your name be, milady?"
"Sylvia." The woman smiled, brushing her hair back.
"Yes Katt?"
"No sneaking up on you, is there?" Katt sat down next to Fox, also staring off.
"No. Who is the new person by the fire? It is no one I know."
"Were you watching?"
"No."
Katt stared at him for a moment, and then shook her head. "I won't ask how you know. A servant girl Peppy found in the stronghold. Personally, I'm a bit suspicious. How is it that only she is here?"
"A bit strange, even I'll say that." Fox frowned, but it was like he didn't know he was, mind far way.
"So we agree?"
"I suppose we do. You have good senses, milady Katt. As a Sorceress, you must."
Katt laughed. "I'm not a very good sorceress, Fox."
"That all depends on who is watching." Fox was silent. A frozen wind blew across them, making Fox's rough-weave cape flap. After a long moment, he suddenly said, "Andross is winning the war." With that, he stood and returned to the campsite, Katt following.
"How do you know?"
"Not sure. A feeling… like someone told me, but without me hearing." Fox shrugged. "I cannot fully explain it."
"That's all right. I understand."
"And there's the last member of our party." Falco said, smiling when Fox and Katt joined them. "Fox, this is Sylvia. She was a servant here. Sylvia, this is our leader, Fox McCloud."
"Rather young for a Commander." She raised her eyebrows.
"It's not an official rank, milady." Fox sat down, pressing his fingertips together absently.
"Then how is it that you are in charge?"
"Because we're vigilantes."
Sylvia raised her eyebrows again. "Indeed?"
"We all have our reasons, but that fact in itself is true." Fox was watching her, but unlike the others, his gaze was cool. "And I am very curious why only you survived."
"Siding with Katt on this?" Bill asked. "Why question it, Fox?"
Fox looked at Sylvia for a long time, then looked at Katt. They communicated silently for a moment, and Fox turned back to Sylvia, leaning close. In a voice so low only she heard, he said, "I know what you are."
She jumped. "Really sir! Was that necessary?"
"What did you say?" Peppy asked.
Fox looked around, saw the look in his group's eyes, and felt the fur on the back of his neck go on end. "She knows and she's the only one who needs to know." He stood. "And perhaps, if you could look past her charm, her becoming appearance, you would agree with me."
"What?" Bill asked, not understanding.
"She's a Fey'ri." Katt said in a cutting voice. "Not an Elf."
Sylvia jerked and leapt to her feet, Peppy's cloak falling to the ground, hair lapping her face. "How dare you insinuate such a thing! Me, a Fey'ri!" She cried, tears dripping.
"Humph." Fox walked away from the fire to his pack, and came back, carrying his Katana. "Tell me why I shouldn't believe it. You've charmed my entire party." He hung the Katana on his belt, fingers tapping the hilt. "And tell me why I shouldn't kill you right now."
Her eyes widened, tears still running down her cheeks, then turned to the rest of the party. "You will let him say these things to me? Why do you let him lead? Does he treat every lady like this?"
Fox felt the magic flutter across the party, and snarled. "That's enough, 'Sylvia.'"
"Fox, this isn't necessary." Peppy stood up, standing beside Sylvia. She tossed herself into his arms, and he looked surprised, looking down at her, then smiled very softly. "She's obviously an innocent."
"No. She isn't." Then Fox added some scathing-sounding words in Elven, making even Katt wince.
Sylvia began to tremble.
"Listen to me, my friends, and listen well. I doubt very highly that this fortress is abandoned. No, everyone is gone from here for a reason…" He drew his sword and pointed it at Sylvia. "And I'm willing to believe that her race is why."
"Fey'ri? What exactly IS a Fey'ri?" Falco asked, shaking off the charm ever-so-slightly, enough so that Fox was starting to make sense.
"Years ago, there was a great war, and a certain tribe of elves was almost destroyed. Desperate, they bred with demons. The Fey'ri are the byproduct of this unholy union." Fox said, voice caustic. "Naturally they inherit the talents of the demon they spawned from… ability to disguise their true nature… charms… unearthly beauty because they are not of this earth…"
"Lies, lies all of it!" Sylvia sobbed. "Why can't you believe me?"
The group was unsure now, looking at Fox's stony, certain face, and the tears pouring from Sylvia's eyes.
"You really are your father's son, aren't you?" Peppy whispered, dropping his arms from where they had wrapped around Sylvia.
Realizing she no longer had the belief of the group, Sylvia backed away from them, trembling. "You would not kill me in cold blood…"
"All depends how fast you release my party." Said Fox.
"Hmm. Why should I do that?" Her voice changed. "I could make them attack you, and you know that."
"Very true. But I'll have my sword through your throat before they could possibly hit me."
Next thing he knew, he saw a flash around her. He dodged to one side, but it still hit him. He saw lights flash across his vision, and collapsed, shivering. A stun spell. No warning.
"A very simple trick that is." Sylvia's voice became innocent and shaky again. "I just didn't wish to be assaulted…"
"Very nice." Katt had retrieved her staff, and took a stand in front of Sylvia. "Now try it with me."
"Is this necessary? I'm not a fighter." She wrapped her arms around herself. Fox, meanwhile, was trying to get up, having pushed himself into a kneeling position. He looked at Sylvia, deeply angered, and magic flashed from him. She deflected the fireball he had thrown, and knocked him out. "Really I'm not…"
"All right, that's enough." Katt said sharply, magic crackling off her staff. "Leave him alone."
Sylvia laughed, large webbed wings opening off of her back. Her soft brown eyes turned hard red, and claws dropped down from her delicate hands. She retained her appearance, but it was savage beauty, not soft beauty. "And who's going to make me? You?"
"That's right." Katt said softly. "If you're honorable enough to take the challenge…"
"Why should I reject a challenge from a weakling?" She asked blandly.
Katt's eyes flashed. "Well then. Let's deal with this."
The rest of the group gasped, suddenly released from the charm, and scrambled away as a blast of fire shot at Katt as Sylvia took off, wings pumping. Katt swung her staff; the fire deflected away, hitting a stone wall, then she took a combat ready stance. Fox's unicorn leapt the paddock wall and took a stance over Fox protectively as her master slowly woke back up again, snarling to himself.
Katt leapt backward onto a set of stone stairs, deflecting more spells away then dealing a few back. She didn't have that many combat spells; she had always focused on healing magic and earth magic. Well, perhaps the later could be of some use if Sylvia landed, but in the mean time, she'd have to use what little combat magic she had.
"I don't believe we were so easily taken by a spell." Peppy sighed as he helped Fox up.
"Most would have been." Fox rubbed his temples, fighting down a headache. "Being of some Elven blood, I was able to shake the charm off. Katt, being a lady elf, was naturally immune."
"Hmm." Peppy looked at Katt, still standing on the stairs, engaged in a magical firefight. "Do you think she will win?"
"Against just Sylvia? Yes. Against a whole group of Fey'ri? Just Katt alone could not defend against them, and if the Fey'ri have any allies among dragonkind…"
"Oh, no."
"Exactly."
"Dragons are best fought against with other dragons." Falco said, crouching on his heels.
"Given you're harboring a dragon's spirit, I'd suppose you'd know." Fox managed a tired smile, now feeling shame fill him. He had let the Fey'ri catch him off guard, twice. Some great fighter and leader he was.
Sylvia arced her body and dove at Katt, rushing the ground-bound feline. Katt braced, and felt the claws cut into her robe as Sylvia swooped past, felt her blood fly. She ignored it, bringing her staff around savagely, lightning snapping. Sylvia screamed, then shook it off, swooping in again close. Katt brought the end of her staff around, slamming Sylvia across the temple, making her flutter and fall to the ground.
"Not accustomed to fighting fellow elves?" Katt inquired.
"I have not fought since we took this stronghold for ourselves." Said Sylvia, getting up. Blood now ran down from her temple, but it was her only wound. Katt, meanwhile, had several deep scratches in her arm and side. "Besides, you have a rather large weakness, now don't you?" She turned and looked at the rest of the party, standing by Fox's unicorn, which snorted and pawed the ground, clearly willing to defend her master.
"If you so much as touch them, I will kill you." Katt said, voice hateful and biting.
"Really?"
Katt felt Sylvia start a spell, and shouted in Elven, thumping her staff to the ground. The courtyard floor rocked, ground writhing, then broke up, stone spikes shooting up from the ground. Sylvia screamed and struggled into the air, one wing punctured in two places, leg slashed by the sharp stones. The stalagmites stopped just before the party, which reflexively backed away farther from the battle. Sylvia wheeled and brought down a column of flame, which Katt barely managed to dodge. The edge of her robes caught flame, and she tossed the robe off and aside, revealing a fitted tunic and leggings. She twirled her staff into a blur, then flashed her hand in signals. The stalagmites broke free and launched into the air in sharp rock shards, shooting upward into Sylvia.
Sylvia fell, too injured to continue the fight, gasping. After several moments, she struggled back into the air, leaving the stronghold and into the mountains.
"She'll be back." Katt leapt over the broken ground left by her earth spell, landing lightly in front of the party.
"Thank you, Katt. I suppose I was rather stupid to challenge a Fey'ri head-on." Fox said, standing. "You saved my life. I'm in debt to you."
"Not at all." Katt smiled a bit. "Only too glad to help."
Booming roars echoed through the mountains, making all snap their heads up, tensing.
"It seems Sylvia is stirring up the local inhabitants." Peppy said. "This does not bode well."
"No, it doesn't." Fox said. "But it'd be even more dangerous to leave, because then we have no shelter at all."
A large flying shape appeared, making all back away even more, then it landed on one of the towers, folding its wings. The wavering fire revealed burnished, metallic scales, with some green coming in on the wings.
"It's a copper dragon." Falco said. "We aren't in danger."
"Unless you're belated members of the party that was here last night." Replied the dragon. "They caused some trouble and brought dark magic into our territory." He leaned forward, swaying back and forth, claws digging into the tower, then hopped down to land in front of the team.
"No, we're their enemies." Fox said, stepping forward.
"The enemy of the enemy is my friend." Said the dragon gaily, sitting and wrapping his tail around himself. "Or perhaps so. You're accompanied by a unicorn, and I suppose that that is a good sign. Then of course, there is that sword." He eyed Falco. "A guild thief with a Dragon Fire sword? In-ter-est-ing." He shook off absently. "I see armor of the King. A small unit serving him then?"
"Not precisely, but we are his allies, even if he doesn't know the fact." Said Katt, shaking her head vigorously as her ears rang from the sheer volume of the dragon's voice.
The dragon threw back his head and laughed. "So that's the way it is! Well then. We've heard about the fight in the gypsy town. Nice work, even if you got our enemies dander up. Ah well. In the mean time, perhaps we can strike a deal to repay that favor." He flopped down and lowered his head to the level of those he spoke to.
"Favor?"
"You killed a red dragon. Any losses they have are gains for us."
"I think there is a way you could repay us, but it is a bit extreme." Falco stepped forward.
"Name it."
"Two favors, actually. Firstly, an escort as far as the foothills in the morning."
"Done. The second?"
"Your alliance in the war."
"Oh, are you kidding?" The dragon feigned shock. "We've waiting for the King to come to us asking for alliance for a good while now! We'd gladly fight, and we'll put the word out to other Metallic dragons as well. Andross has Black and Red dragons serving him, and perhaps more then that." The dragon lurched to his feet. "Get some sleep, now. You won't have any more problems tonight, I promise you that."
"We thank you. How will we contact you if you're needed on the battlefield?"
"You'll know." The dragon pointed a claw at Falco's sword, then turned and leapt into the air, wind from his wings almost slamming the party into the ground as he flew away.
"By the time we reach Andross, we will have a small army of allies." Slippy laughed.
"That might be a blessing." Fox replied. "I'm not sure if there's much left of the King's Army. Let's take our new friend's advice and get some rest. I have a feeling we shall need it."