Chapter 12
"May I say, I did not think you would show." Deora jumped at the looming voice. She turned to the dark figure in the shadows of the woods surrounding the cavern. She was rendered motionless. He was much larger than her, and she may not be able to see it, but the scowl on his face terrified her. She knew why he asked for her, he wanted to take the most vulnerable, the one he thought he could wrap around his finger from fear. She was going to prove him wrong.
She had grown up in a safe, customary castle like any other princess, and she had found it dreadfully boring. When she was first brought to Cestria she knew the island would hold all the adventures she had longed for to fill her dullness. Oh, how she missed that dullness now, she would give anything for peace, and for her nerves to cease it's shaking.
"Well little princess, I was not sure you would show. Then again Cestria as always been known for its weakness." Her fear turned into anger. "Shut it Vexicus. Where's Ileana?" His scowl turned smirk irked her beyond belief, but she was standing her ground. "Where is the stone?" She could hear Vexicus' guards rustling through the trees, knew they were watching them, watching her.
"That STONE is safe, and only I know where it is. Show me the Queen or BE GONE!" she was not precise onto where the words were coming from. She never found herself to be as dainty or fragile as the other princesses she had met. She actually found them outright annoyances. However, standing up to the most sinister man she has ever met. She was not a woman warrior like Bryn or Maeve, and she was not intellectually superior and witty like Shalice, they each displayed a type of valor she was not sure she contained. She would not let him see her insecurity; she would not give him the satisfaction.
"As you wish princess." He opened his palm and said words that were foreign to Deora. With a rush of light, the queen appeared. Deora's knees buckled. The beloved queen, Toris' mother was floating in a bed of light, but she was not awake or maybe not even alive. "Vexicus, how do I know the queen is alive? I am not trading the stone for a corpse." She hated to sound so cold, especially about Ileana, but she was there to do a job, and this had to be the performance of her life.
He glared at her for a long moment, waiting for the slightest softening, but she stood her ground, "You want to know princess, come see for yourself." The snake-like slither in his voice sent chills through Deora. He was right however. She had to know, no matter the consequences.
She walked up to the queen's still figure, closing her eyes praying that she would not feel.....warmth, she felt warmth, and the queen was alive. Deora caressed her face, and promised the queen in her mind that she would get her out of there.
"Fine. You want your precious stone? Follow me." She started retreating towards the cavern. "Where are you going?" Deora turned back to answer the question. "Your stone is up there," She pointed to the cavern's peak, "You did not think I would keep it close did you?" she turned back to walking to the cavern, still hearing the rumbling and flustering in the trees follow them. 'They may stalk us now, but they have no idea what they have gotten themselves into.' She thought and brought a smirk to her face.
His silence had been almost deafening, she was not sure at some points he was still behind her, but she refused to turn to find out. They had entered the cavern's narrow entrance. The path she was leading on was more dangerous and unsteady as the ones Toris had taken her on. However, with the unsettled terrain would keep most of Vexicus' men outside. She wanted to scream out in pain from the cuts and bruises she was receiving, but she kept her face tensionless. She was to be a future queen and mother of future kings and queens, if they survived this day anyhow, she should be able to fight for what was hers.
When she saw the opening to the cliff's end, she turned and saw him looming over her. "Where is MY STONE?!" She saw the anger in his eyes, and stepped back, but he grabbed her neck. "The Queen first." She could feel him squeezing the life out of her, but she did not move. With a quick sigh he let her go and she fell to the floor. "No one here to protect you little princess, it would be wise not to anger me." She got up and looked him in eye. "I have no expectations of leaving here as I came, but you will give me the queen first."
He stepped back from her and as he did before held out his hand. With a blast of light, the queen fell to the ground. Deora ran to her side. "You want your stone Vexicus, go fetch it." She threw the stone from under her skirts and threw it across the room.
Vexicus kept his eyes on her as he walked to the stone; he put it in his hands and felt the presence of another. "We are not alone are we?" She looked up at him, and made a smirk that was identical to his before. "I do not know Vexicus. MAEVE, are we alone?" She stood up in front of him, behind her Sinbad and Toris. "MEN!" Vexicus yell could be heard through the island. His guards coming out the trees, towards the cavern, the others that followed them came into the opening.
Bryn stepped out to cliff's edge and threw her arms out. "I think you boys should cool off." She said her incantation that sent a tidal wave from three sides of the island. The wave engulfed the men. Many could not swim from their armor; others found a surprise waiting for them in the water. The Nomad's crew ran off their boats, fighting the guards that were pulled into the water.
Doubar grabbed a rock half his size, threw it over his head and heaved it at three of the soldiers. Some got up and pulled out their swords. "Am I suppose to be afraid of those. You lads want to see a sword. He pulled out his sword from his side. The men stood there and gawked at the massive weapon with its sharp, curved shaped edges. Doubar let out a chuckle, and they began their battle.
Rongar helped Firouz light the ends of the explosive sticks. Throwing them at the guards who were approaching. The guards did not predict what the sticks were going to do, so as they continued to charge most of them were sent flying over the cliff into the rocky terrain below. "STUPENDOUS!" Firouz smiled, but was knocked off his feet from a blow from a Bo. Once again, Rongar came to the rescue and snatched the Bo right of the guard's hand. He then used the Bo to take its owner and some of his aides to the floor. He turned back to Firouz and gave him an arm. "Thanks." Rongar nodded at Firouz as they got back to work.
Shalice had crawled to where the Queen was lying with Deora at her side. She had made Mailadine to promise and stay in her hiding place until it was time. Deora and Shalice took Ileana by her sides and began to pick her up when they a ball of fire came at them. "Not so fast BITCH." Vexicus came at them with the fury in his eyes. He grabbed for Deora's hair and threw her across the room. Toris ran from his fight to Deora's side.
Shalice was still holding onto Ileana's limp body, but she knew with her wound she would not last long. Especially with Vexicus making his way back to them.
"Did anyone ever tell you to pick on someone your own size?" Sinbad's sword was pointed in front of Vexicus as he blocked the path to the women. Vexicus took his hand up as he was about to use magic, "You would be too cowardly to face me, and then again you will probably run again, so it would be a waste of my time." He brought Vexicus eyes to blood red. Vexicus swiftly grabbed his sword, and Sinbad and his duel began.
Maeve, Dermott and Bryn were busy keeping the guards away as they set the initial plan into motion. Maeve turned back to check on Sinbad, he was the bait; the diversion and it scared her. All Vexicus needed to do was lose his patience with wanting to win, a swing of his hand, and Sinbad would be taken from her forever. She shook her head and continued to work, he was dong his job, she needed to prepare to do hers.
Sinbad and Vexicus twisted and turned, meeting each other swing for swing. "Come now Vexicus. Is that all you have, I thought you were a great and powerful Magician?" Sinbad's cockiness, which he once commended now, was getting under his skin. With every swing and each swipe, the battle was becoming apparent that he would not be the victor. He kneed Sinbad's side as Sinbad lunge at him. He used the chance to pin Sinbad to the ground with his sword.
The Queen, who was now becoming conscious saw Sinbad's predicament from the corner of her eye and yelled, "MAILADINE, STOP HIM!" Maila came out from her corner and saw what was going to happen and screeched, "SSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The child's screech shook the earth as it had done in their last battle. However, it was much more powerful this time. The power sent all to their feet, even Doubar was on the ground.
The guards started retreating back towards the exit. Vexicus saw this and started cursing at his men. Sinbad took the chance to move and rolled off from under Vexicus sword and turned to Maila, "Thank You Malady." He bowed to her and she smiled. That is when Vexicus saw it, the stone of Cynx. Just as Sinbad was ready to continue their duel Vexicus threw a light ball at him and sent Sinbad pummeling.
He went straight for the child. She tried retreating but Vexicus caught her arm and took the stone from her hand. "Look what I found." The movement of the opening stopped, all to look at the small child in his hands. "HAHAHA! You thought you won. With your tricks and hiding, nothing more than children's games. You will all now experience true power. I...." as he was going to continue his ranting, he was brought to an abrupt stop by a sharp pain. He felt his hand being bit by the girl he was grasping. He jerked her off and had inadvertently let her go. "I will deal with you child." He pointed the stone at her, and as he squeezed it, it turned into dust.
"Sugar dust. Even science has its good points," said Maeve as she swiftly gestured Maila. The little girl ran to Shalice's side and grabbed her hand. "Let's End this. DERMOTT NOW!" Dermott took a bag of powder and threw it in Vexicus face.
Sinbad took Ileana as Toris picked up Deora and moved them out of harms way. The others stood watching as the women circled around Vexicus. Each starting to making incantations.
"YOU THINK THIS WILL STOP ME!" Vexicus wiped his eyes and saw sorceresses surrounded him. Maeve, Bryn and Shalice each threw powder at him and repeated the incantation they made from the potions room. And with the grand explosion, Vexicus was no more.
Everyone stayed quiet for a long moment. Bryn turned to Dermott, "I was wrong, it wasn't too much Bastic root." He looked back at her and the two smiled. He enveloped her in a great hug.
Shalice had shielded Maila during the blast so the child was now in her arms. And with a great yelp Shalice picked her up forgetting the pain from her wound and started spinning her. "Shalice, I'm getting dizzy." But the child's protest went unheard.
Maeve walked to where Vexicus stood. She looked around at the smiling faces, Toris and Deora embracing Ileana, the crew, and.... "Maeve its over." She did not need him to touch her shoulder, or even speak, she knew who it was. She turned and her captain threw his arms around her. "I told you your temper was going to cause havoc someday." She giggled and hit him, but still not letting him go. His eyes sprung open though at what he saw from the entrance. It happened so fast he was running on instinct. And let her go from the hug and saw her eyes open as the sound of the arrow being released shrieked through the room.
"NOOOOO!!!!" Rongar threw his dagger straight in Meliko's heart, but was too late to have stopped him from killing her. Sinbad looked at the pool of blood, and Dermott who had had her already in his arms. Maeve was on the ground and spoke, "Bryn, Oh God no." She put her arms around her brother and held him as he sobbed.
SOOOOOOO..whatcha think...sorry it took so long....but I had some writer's block and between that school I didn't have too much time. So I hope you like it...the next chapter will be the LAST chapter. And it will be up by Friday.
Oh, and whatever you're thinking, DON'T cause I promise my ending will have a surprise or two. THIS STORY IS NOT OVER YET...you know what to do from here.
"May I say, I did not think you would show." Deora jumped at the looming voice. She turned to the dark figure in the shadows of the woods surrounding the cavern. She was rendered motionless. He was much larger than her, and she may not be able to see it, but the scowl on his face terrified her. She knew why he asked for her, he wanted to take the most vulnerable, the one he thought he could wrap around his finger from fear. She was going to prove him wrong.
She had grown up in a safe, customary castle like any other princess, and she had found it dreadfully boring. When she was first brought to Cestria she knew the island would hold all the adventures she had longed for to fill her dullness. Oh, how she missed that dullness now, she would give anything for peace, and for her nerves to cease it's shaking.
"Well little princess, I was not sure you would show. Then again Cestria as always been known for its weakness." Her fear turned into anger. "Shut it Vexicus. Where's Ileana?" His scowl turned smirk irked her beyond belief, but she was standing her ground. "Where is the stone?" She could hear Vexicus' guards rustling through the trees, knew they were watching them, watching her.
"That STONE is safe, and only I know where it is. Show me the Queen or BE GONE!" she was not precise onto where the words were coming from. She never found herself to be as dainty or fragile as the other princesses she had met. She actually found them outright annoyances. However, standing up to the most sinister man she has ever met. She was not a woman warrior like Bryn or Maeve, and she was not intellectually superior and witty like Shalice, they each displayed a type of valor she was not sure she contained. She would not let him see her insecurity; she would not give him the satisfaction.
"As you wish princess." He opened his palm and said words that were foreign to Deora. With a rush of light, the queen appeared. Deora's knees buckled. The beloved queen, Toris' mother was floating in a bed of light, but she was not awake or maybe not even alive. "Vexicus, how do I know the queen is alive? I am not trading the stone for a corpse." She hated to sound so cold, especially about Ileana, but she was there to do a job, and this had to be the performance of her life.
He glared at her for a long moment, waiting for the slightest softening, but she stood her ground, "You want to know princess, come see for yourself." The snake-like slither in his voice sent chills through Deora. He was right however. She had to know, no matter the consequences.
She walked up to the queen's still figure, closing her eyes praying that she would not feel.....warmth, she felt warmth, and the queen was alive. Deora caressed her face, and promised the queen in her mind that she would get her out of there.
"Fine. You want your precious stone? Follow me." She started retreating towards the cavern. "Where are you going?" Deora turned back to answer the question. "Your stone is up there," She pointed to the cavern's peak, "You did not think I would keep it close did you?" she turned back to walking to the cavern, still hearing the rumbling and flustering in the trees follow them. 'They may stalk us now, but they have no idea what they have gotten themselves into.' She thought and brought a smirk to her face.
His silence had been almost deafening, she was not sure at some points he was still behind her, but she refused to turn to find out. They had entered the cavern's narrow entrance. The path she was leading on was more dangerous and unsteady as the ones Toris had taken her on. However, with the unsettled terrain would keep most of Vexicus' men outside. She wanted to scream out in pain from the cuts and bruises she was receiving, but she kept her face tensionless. She was to be a future queen and mother of future kings and queens, if they survived this day anyhow, she should be able to fight for what was hers.
When she saw the opening to the cliff's end, she turned and saw him looming over her. "Where is MY STONE?!" She saw the anger in his eyes, and stepped back, but he grabbed her neck. "The Queen first." She could feel him squeezing the life out of her, but she did not move. With a quick sigh he let her go and she fell to the floor. "No one here to protect you little princess, it would be wise not to anger me." She got up and looked him in eye. "I have no expectations of leaving here as I came, but you will give me the queen first."
He stepped back from her and as he did before held out his hand. With a blast of light, the queen fell to the ground. Deora ran to her side. "You want your stone Vexicus, go fetch it." She threw the stone from under her skirts and threw it across the room.
Vexicus kept his eyes on her as he walked to the stone; he put it in his hands and felt the presence of another. "We are not alone are we?" She looked up at him, and made a smirk that was identical to his before. "I do not know Vexicus. MAEVE, are we alone?" She stood up in front of him, behind her Sinbad and Toris. "MEN!" Vexicus yell could be heard through the island. His guards coming out the trees, towards the cavern, the others that followed them came into the opening.
Bryn stepped out to cliff's edge and threw her arms out. "I think you boys should cool off." She said her incantation that sent a tidal wave from three sides of the island. The wave engulfed the men. Many could not swim from their armor; others found a surprise waiting for them in the water. The Nomad's crew ran off their boats, fighting the guards that were pulled into the water.
Doubar grabbed a rock half his size, threw it over his head and heaved it at three of the soldiers. Some got up and pulled out their swords. "Am I suppose to be afraid of those. You lads want to see a sword. He pulled out his sword from his side. The men stood there and gawked at the massive weapon with its sharp, curved shaped edges. Doubar let out a chuckle, and they began their battle.
Rongar helped Firouz light the ends of the explosive sticks. Throwing them at the guards who were approaching. The guards did not predict what the sticks were going to do, so as they continued to charge most of them were sent flying over the cliff into the rocky terrain below. "STUPENDOUS!" Firouz smiled, but was knocked off his feet from a blow from a Bo. Once again, Rongar came to the rescue and snatched the Bo right of the guard's hand. He then used the Bo to take its owner and some of his aides to the floor. He turned back to Firouz and gave him an arm. "Thanks." Rongar nodded at Firouz as they got back to work.
Shalice had crawled to where the Queen was lying with Deora at her side. She had made Mailadine to promise and stay in her hiding place until it was time. Deora and Shalice took Ileana by her sides and began to pick her up when they a ball of fire came at them. "Not so fast BITCH." Vexicus came at them with the fury in his eyes. He grabbed for Deora's hair and threw her across the room. Toris ran from his fight to Deora's side.
Shalice was still holding onto Ileana's limp body, but she knew with her wound she would not last long. Especially with Vexicus making his way back to them.
"Did anyone ever tell you to pick on someone your own size?" Sinbad's sword was pointed in front of Vexicus as he blocked the path to the women. Vexicus took his hand up as he was about to use magic, "You would be too cowardly to face me, and then again you will probably run again, so it would be a waste of my time." He brought Vexicus eyes to blood red. Vexicus swiftly grabbed his sword, and Sinbad and his duel began.
Maeve, Dermott and Bryn were busy keeping the guards away as they set the initial plan into motion. Maeve turned back to check on Sinbad, he was the bait; the diversion and it scared her. All Vexicus needed to do was lose his patience with wanting to win, a swing of his hand, and Sinbad would be taken from her forever. She shook her head and continued to work, he was dong his job, she needed to prepare to do hers.
Sinbad and Vexicus twisted and turned, meeting each other swing for swing. "Come now Vexicus. Is that all you have, I thought you were a great and powerful Magician?" Sinbad's cockiness, which he once commended now, was getting under his skin. With every swing and each swipe, the battle was becoming apparent that he would not be the victor. He kneed Sinbad's side as Sinbad lunge at him. He used the chance to pin Sinbad to the ground with his sword.
The Queen, who was now becoming conscious saw Sinbad's predicament from the corner of her eye and yelled, "MAILADINE, STOP HIM!" Maila came out from her corner and saw what was going to happen and screeched, "SSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The child's screech shook the earth as it had done in their last battle. However, it was much more powerful this time. The power sent all to their feet, even Doubar was on the ground.
The guards started retreating back towards the exit. Vexicus saw this and started cursing at his men. Sinbad took the chance to move and rolled off from under Vexicus sword and turned to Maila, "Thank You Malady." He bowed to her and she smiled. That is when Vexicus saw it, the stone of Cynx. Just as Sinbad was ready to continue their duel Vexicus threw a light ball at him and sent Sinbad pummeling.
He went straight for the child. She tried retreating but Vexicus caught her arm and took the stone from her hand. "Look what I found." The movement of the opening stopped, all to look at the small child in his hands. "HAHAHA! You thought you won. With your tricks and hiding, nothing more than children's games. You will all now experience true power. I...." as he was going to continue his ranting, he was brought to an abrupt stop by a sharp pain. He felt his hand being bit by the girl he was grasping. He jerked her off and had inadvertently let her go. "I will deal with you child." He pointed the stone at her, and as he squeezed it, it turned into dust.
"Sugar dust. Even science has its good points," said Maeve as she swiftly gestured Maila. The little girl ran to Shalice's side and grabbed her hand. "Let's End this. DERMOTT NOW!" Dermott took a bag of powder and threw it in Vexicus face.
Sinbad took Ileana as Toris picked up Deora and moved them out of harms way. The others stood watching as the women circled around Vexicus. Each starting to making incantations.
"YOU THINK THIS WILL STOP ME!" Vexicus wiped his eyes and saw sorceresses surrounded him. Maeve, Bryn and Shalice each threw powder at him and repeated the incantation they made from the potions room. And with the grand explosion, Vexicus was no more.
Everyone stayed quiet for a long moment. Bryn turned to Dermott, "I was wrong, it wasn't too much Bastic root." He looked back at her and the two smiled. He enveloped her in a great hug.
Shalice had shielded Maila during the blast so the child was now in her arms. And with a great yelp Shalice picked her up forgetting the pain from her wound and started spinning her. "Shalice, I'm getting dizzy." But the child's protest went unheard.
Maeve walked to where Vexicus stood. She looked around at the smiling faces, Toris and Deora embracing Ileana, the crew, and.... "Maeve its over." She did not need him to touch her shoulder, or even speak, she knew who it was. She turned and her captain threw his arms around her. "I told you your temper was going to cause havoc someday." She giggled and hit him, but still not letting him go. His eyes sprung open though at what he saw from the entrance. It happened so fast he was running on instinct. And let her go from the hug and saw her eyes open as the sound of the arrow being released shrieked through the room.
"NOOOOO!!!!" Rongar threw his dagger straight in Meliko's heart, but was too late to have stopped him from killing her. Sinbad looked at the pool of blood, and Dermott who had had her already in his arms. Maeve was on the ground and spoke, "Bryn, Oh God no." She put her arms around her brother and held him as he sobbed.
SOOOOOOO..whatcha think...sorry it took so long....but I had some writer's block and between that school I didn't have too much time. So I hope you like it...the next chapter will be the LAST chapter. And it will be up by Friday.
Oh, and whatever you're thinking, DON'T cause I promise my ending will have a surprise or two. THIS STORY IS NOT OVER YET...you know what to do from here.