THE WAR OF THE ELEMENTS
By m00nstorm77
Chapter Three
Dorian had stumbled into a large cave, shaking. When he finally dared to look up he saw he was not alone in the cave. A rebel Spirit was bound and lay on a specially made table before Dorian. East Element guards were torturing it with a number of deadly looking metal instruments. Chained to the walls were more prisoners who were in line for similar treatment. Screams echoed in the cave, or was it Dorian's mind? By some form of luck, none of the guards had noticed his entrance. He drew his sword and swung it from a distance, forming a purple disc. The disc spun towards two of the torturers, decapitating them. All eyes were on him now. The silence was only broken by the falling of the headless corpses. Dorian rushed the rest of the guards, killing them before they could draw their own weapons. All the foes lost their heads and fell to the ground instantly.
Dorian unstrapped the prisoners, assuring them he wouldn't hurt them. There were sixteen in all, three horsemen, five archers, seven footmen and one huntress, all wearing tattered clothes in Spirit colours.
*~*~*~*
The quadruplets broke down as Louie told them the sad news. Isis and Lydia ended up on the floor clinging to each other and sobbing through their soft brown eyes. Waylen booted his soccer ball through a rather expensive window, tears running down his face. Markus glared at Louie as if it were his fault then ran to his room where he was found later among a pile of shredded sheets and hangings.
Swordsmen were still running around checking for hidden intruders although they found none. The village had not been torched so it was safe to return. Back at the palace, a thump and a clatter were heard in the Feasting hall, heads turned to see an East Element soldier standing over the body of a serving girl.
The soldier looked as if he'd had a rough night. He glared at the quadruplets and other officials. Waylen stuck his tongue out at the East Element. A foot soldier ran at the man and spear tackled him, knocking his sword away. Another three footmen came round the corner along with a Huntress of Earth. Her name was Luella. She was a petite, red-haired young archer and, only nineteen. She was the youngest huntress in two centuries and could fire an arrow over the town and still hit her target.
"Take him to the prison." She ordered the footmen. Then she walked towards the bloodstained sword and picked it up. The huntress glanced at Markus and winked. Louie barked
"Report Captain." Luella snapped to attention.
"You were right sir, the only intruders were the three who weren't spotted until dawn but we've found all of them now. I'm having the soldiers dig graves for the dead. I'll personally remove this one." She indicated the serving girl at her feet.
Louie nodded and she left, taking the dead girl with her.
Markus watched here go out the room, still dazed at all that had happened. In the midst of all the death, Luella had winked at him. This was a good sign; Markus had a crush on her, despite their age difference and always dressed nicely in case she visited. Most people had to wear the official Spirit colours (purple, turquoise, brown, golden brown and a pink or violet underlay) but children were let off.
He wore black tuxedo with a grey silk shirt, an obsidian necklace and his black hair deliberately mussed. He always said to his siblings that he was going to marry her and rule the kingdom. Waylen always said that Dorian was heir to the throne and that he didn't want what happened to their father to happen to Markus, but Markus never listened.
*~*~*~*
Dorian woke in the cave the next morning to see the sixteen soldiers working to repair all that was destroyed by the East Elements. Dorian never trusted what Louie said about the East Elements; it always seemed like Louie put his father under too much pressure and exaggerated with tales of incredible violence and prejudice, but he had grown to realise that there had been good reason behind what Louie had done.
Dorian got up, only to be confronted by the huntress. It took a while for him to understand what she was saying,
"He's coming round. Hello, hello! Oh good, you're awake. I want to thank you for saving our lives. You're in our cave, which goes straight into the mountain for about half a mile. Here, I'll introduce you to the others."
After he had been introduced he got sucked into helping them fix up their base. As the hours passed he learnt that one of the footmen was his great- uncle's cousin. At the end of the day he had discovered how all of them were related to each other in some way. The closest one was the huntress how turned out to be his aunt. Dorian couldn't believe that one of the horsewomen was his father's aunt and was only sixty
"And only halfway through my life." She said, winking at him.
Dorian had stayed a few days with the troupe when he woke to hear leaves rustling and soft footsteps. He rose and tiptoed to the mouth of the cave and peered out. A dozen East Elements were heading up the hill to the cave. Dorian pulled his head back in and roused the others. The East Elements had come to find out why the torturers hadn't reported in.
The sun hadn't yet appeared but rays of light were peeking over the horizon. The huntress ordered a few of her people to hide in the shadows, wait until the East Elements were in the cave then attack. She sent four out to block the exit, and hid the horse riders in the very back of the cave.
The East Elements crept into the cave, straining to see. The three horsemen charged, their footsteps echoing on the walls. The East Elements looked at each other, confused at what the sound was.
The horsemen lunged out of the gloom and embedded their spears in the chests of the East Elements. Those hiding in the shadows jumped to the attack while the footmen outside stopped the East Elements trying to escape. As the East Elements ran the archers released a volley from one side. Dorian shot a violet comet at an East Element soldier and both the comet and the East Element exploded. The Spirit footmen and the huntress advanced on the remaining two East Element soldiers, and surrounded them.
As they closed in the East Elements dropped their weapons and prepared to use elemental magic. But the East Element soldiers were too slow. What remained of the bodies was burnt on a pyre in a valley nearby.
*~*~*~*
Louie was an Earth element and had noticed the frequent contact between Markus and the Earth huntress. Louie thought that he could use this to corrupt Markus, the new heir, and use him to help the Earth Elements gain money buy paying less taxes, more supplies and better quality of life. It seemed Markus's dream of marrying Luella and becoming king was more real then ever.
After Louie had finished his work for the day he went straight to the Earth huntress, who was in her office. He rapped the door and strode in when she called.
"Ah, Uncle Louie, is this a formal visit?" She asked over steeped fingers.
"No, Luella. How was your day?"
"Not so good. Is there a reason for this visit? I have work to do."
"I need you to do something for me. You are loyal to your family aren't you? Loyal to the Element of Earth?" Louie raised his eyebrows at her.
"Of course Uncle, I serve Earth before all else."
"That's excellent to know. Surely you have noticed that Markus has developed a, erm, crush on you. Get close to him, and we shall corrupt him. I need you to use this to help Earth rise to its rightful place at the top of the kingdom. We must seize this chance! It is our destiny!" His voice had risen to a shout now.
"O - k." Answered Luella. She hated it when her uncle was in a patriotic mood. "I'll do it."
"Good girl. You are as obedient as your dear mother. I will see to it that Markus is made king. Excuse me but I must leave now." He bowed low and swept out the door.
By m00nstorm77
Chapter Three
Dorian had stumbled into a large cave, shaking. When he finally dared to look up he saw he was not alone in the cave. A rebel Spirit was bound and lay on a specially made table before Dorian. East Element guards were torturing it with a number of deadly looking metal instruments. Chained to the walls were more prisoners who were in line for similar treatment. Screams echoed in the cave, or was it Dorian's mind? By some form of luck, none of the guards had noticed his entrance. He drew his sword and swung it from a distance, forming a purple disc. The disc spun towards two of the torturers, decapitating them. All eyes were on him now. The silence was only broken by the falling of the headless corpses. Dorian rushed the rest of the guards, killing them before they could draw their own weapons. All the foes lost their heads and fell to the ground instantly.
Dorian unstrapped the prisoners, assuring them he wouldn't hurt them. There were sixteen in all, three horsemen, five archers, seven footmen and one huntress, all wearing tattered clothes in Spirit colours.
*~*~*~*
The quadruplets broke down as Louie told them the sad news. Isis and Lydia ended up on the floor clinging to each other and sobbing through their soft brown eyes. Waylen booted his soccer ball through a rather expensive window, tears running down his face. Markus glared at Louie as if it were his fault then ran to his room where he was found later among a pile of shredded sheets and hangings.
Swordsmen were still running around checking for hidden intruders although they found none. The village had not been torched so it was safe to return. Back at the palace, a thump and a clatter were heard in the Feasting hall, heads turned to see an East Element soldier standing over the body of a serving girl.
The soldier looked as if he'd had a rough night. He glared at the quadruplets and other officials. Waylen stuck his tongue out at the East Element. A foot soldier ran at the man and spear tackled him, knocking his sword away. Another three footmen came round the corner along with a Huntress of Earth. Her name was Luella. She was a petite, red-haired young archer and, only nineteen. She was the youngest huntress in two centuries and could fire an arrow over the town and still hit her target.
"Take him to the prison." She ordered the footmen. Then she walked towards the bloodstained sword and picked it up. The huntress glanced at Markus and winked. Louie barked
"Report Captain." Luella snapped to attention.
"You were right sir, the only intruders were the three who weren't spotted until dawn but we've found all of them now. I'm having the soldiers dig graves for the dead. I'll personally remove this one." She indicated the serving girl at her feet.
Louie nodded and she left, taking the dead girl with her.
Markus watched here go out the room, still dazed at all that had happened. In the midst of all the death, Luella had winked at him. This was a good sign; Markus had a crush on her, despite their age difference and always dressed nicely in case she visited. Most people had to wear the official Spirit colours (purple, turquoise, brown, golden brown and a pink or violet underlay) but children were let off.
He wore black tuxedo with a grey silk shirt, an obsidian necklace and his black hair deliberately mussed. He always said to his siblings that he was going to marry her and rule the kingdom. Waylen always said that Dorian was heir to the throne and that he didn't want what happened to their father to happen to Markus, but Markus never listened.
*~*~*~*
Dorian woke in the cave the next morning to see the sixteen soldiers working to repair all that was destroyed by the East Elements. Dorian never trusted what Louie said about the East Elements; it always seemed like Louie put his father under too much pressure and exaggerated with tales of incredible violence and prejudice, but he had grown to realise that there had been good reason behind what Louie had done.
Dorian got up, only to be confronted by the huntress. It took a while for him to understand what she was saying,
"He's coming round. Hello, hello! Oh good, you're awake. I want to thank you for saving our lives. You're in our cave, which goes straight into the mountain for about half a mile. Here, I'll introduce you to the others."
After he had been introduced he got sucked into helping them fix up their base. As the hours passed he learnt that one of the footmen was his great- uncle's cousin. At the end of the day he had discovered how all of them were related to each other in some way. The closest one was the huntress how turned out to be his aunt. Dorian couldn't believe that one of the horsewomen was his father's aunt and was only sixty
"And only halfway through my life." She said, winking at him.
Dorian had stayed a few days with the troupe when he woke to hear leaves rustling and soft footsteps. He rose and tiptoed to the mouth of the cave and peered out. A dozen East Elements were heading up the hill to the cave. Dorian pulled his head back in and roused the others. The East Elements had come to find out why the torturers hadn't reported in.
The sun hadn't yet appeared but rays of light were peeking over the horizon. The huntress ordered a few of her people to hide in the shadows, wait until the East Elements were in the cave then attack. She sent four out to block the exit, and hid the horse riders in the very back of the cave.
The East Elements crept into the cave, straining to see. The three horsemen charged, their footsteps echoing on the walls. The East Elements looked at each other, confused at what the sound was.
The horsemen lunged out of the gloom and embedded their spears in the chests of the East Elements. Those hiding in the shadows jumped to the attack while the footmen outside stopped the East Elements trying to escape. As the East Elements ran the archers released a volley from one side. Dorian shot a violet comet at an East Element soldier and both the comet and the East Element exploded. The Spirit footmen and the huntress advanced on the remaining two East Element soldiers, and surrounded them.
As they closed in the East Elements dropped their weapons and prepared to use elemental magic. But the East Element soldiers were too slow. What remained of the bodies was burnt on a pyre in a valley nearby.
*~*~*~*
Louie was an Earth element and had noticed the frequent contact between Markus and the Earth huntress. Louie thought that he could use this to corrupt Markus, the new heir, and use him to help the Earth Elements gain money buy paying less taxes, more supplies and better quality of life. It seemed Markus's dream of marrying Luella and becoming king was more real then ever.
After Louie had finished his work for the day he went straight to the Earth huntress, who was in her office. He rapped the door and strode in when she called.
"Ah, Uncle Louie, is this a formal visit?" She asked over steeped fingers.
"No, Luella. How was your day?"
"Not so good. Is there a reason for this visit? I have work to do."
"I need you to do something for me. You are loyal to your family aren't you? Loyal to the Element of Earth?" Louie raised his eyebrows at her.
"Of course Uncle, I serve Earth before all else."
"That's excellent to know. Surely you have noticed that Markus has developed a, erm, crush on you. Get close to him, and we shall corrupt him. I need you to use this to help Earth rise to its rightful place at the top of the kingdom. We must seize this chance! It is our destiny!" His voice had risen to a shout now.
"O - k." Answered Luella. She hated it when her uncle was in a patriotic mood. "I'll do it."
"Good girl. You are as obedient as your dear mother. I will see to it that Markus is made king. Excuse me but I must leave now." He bowed low and swept out the door.