Chapter 6 - Slade's Tale
Orin strained to sit up, and confirm what he had seen. He had heard that the bandits in this area were dangerous, but he knew not that their leader was one of his father's good friends. His back was sore with pain, but he sat up and looked at Slade, feeling a great deal of discomfort at the site of the rat. Slade, who was now motioning his minions away, didn't seem to Orin, as the type that would do such a thing as kill innocent passerby for their valuables. Orin blinked at Slade, still trying to focus his eyes on him, but couldn't do so because of the dizzying pain throughout his body.
"Be gone with you, scum of this forest." roared Duran, as he lifted his axe in the air, "If you do not leave us now, then you'll pay with your life, rat!"
"I do not believe you want to do that, my friend." said Slade, his face growing angry at such a threat, "I could strike you down right here, without a second thought!"
Slade stood quickly, and unsheathed his sword. Duran backed off slightly, but kept his axe raised, hoping that his stubbornness would discourage Slade. It did not, and with a grunt of anger, Duran turned, and vented his anger by launching his axe into a tree trunk.
"Wise of you, dwarf." said Slade, with some aggravation still left in his voice, as he sheathed his long, gleaming sword.
It was twilight now, and the fire had begun to serve its purpose of both light and warmth, as the night grew dark and cold. Slade looked at the fire for several minutes, and Duran had stormed off into the forest to cool off, and took his axe with him, so he could get more firewood. Slade finally looked from the blazing fire, to Orin, who was now lying again, to rest from the constant pain in his back.
"Why have you come here, Orin?" asked Slade, with a look of seriousness and worry, "You have no reason to be venturing in such a dangerous area."
"I needed to see the priestess Sarah." he said, his voice scratchy and dry.
"Sarah? But does she not reside with you for months at a time?" asked Slade, as he pondered at Orin's reply.
"She was wounded greatly by a devil, and had to return home to her family, so that she could heal." said Orin, "I need information about my father."
"Bowie refuses to tell you a great deal about his past, because he believes you might decided to follow in his footsteps." Slade said, as he looked to the blazing fire again. "I understand now why he does this." he added, pointing to the bandage on Orin's head.
"That is not why I need to see the priestess Sarah." said Orin, his voice raising as he spoke of his intentions of the information he will obtain, "My father has gone missing. I believe his was kidnapped by a devil."
With those words, Slade stood, eyes widening, and he rushed to Orin.
"How! How is such a thing possible!?" cried Slade, as he grabbed Orin's shoulders, "Your father has the most powerful mind, and is too pure of heart to ever fall to a devil's power!"
"Don't yell at me, I don't know how this happened!!" cried Orin, as tears began to roll down his cheeks, "That is why I need to know about my father, so that I can find who sent the devil to possess him!"
Orin's face was red with anger and sadness, but he managed to suppress the remaining tears, and lay back to the soft mat. Slade stood above Orin, and turned to the fire again. He stood for a second, and suddenly dropped to his knees, his fists clenched and teeth clenched in anger.
"This wouldn't have happened if…" Slade stopped, and grabbed the hilt of his sword, and, in a rush of spontaneous anger, he ran to a nearby tree, and sliced clear through it.
The cut was so swift that the tree did not move at all, and didn't even fall. He sheathed his sword again, and turned to Orin, a look of anger still beating on his face.
"I will bring you to Sarah. If I can help you in any other way, then please, tell me now." said Slade, his teeth still clenched in anger.
"Tell me about my father then." said Orin, "that is the only possible way you can really help me now."
"Then I will, and I will not hesitate to tell you the entire truth." said Slade, as he sat back down on the log next to him.
Slade retold most of the story Bowie had told the night before, but Slade gave much more detailed information on the battles that took place. When Orin found that his father had been the leader of the Shining Force, he sat up on the mat, ignoring the pain in his back, and arms. He felt even more determined to find his father now. Slade had gotten to the point in which Bowie and the force had defeated Taros at the ancient ruins.
Before Slade could continue, though, a loud roar echoed through the forest. Slade looked around for the source of the noise, before standing and drawing his sword. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a creature appeared from the forest behind Slade. Orin yelled out to Slade, but was too late, as the devil had already delivered a fierce blow from its axe. Slade wobbled, and fell unconscious to the ground, barely missing the raging flames. The devil looked at Ikara, then Keith, and then to a surprised Orin. It looked like a large man in armor, and Orin recognized it as a soldier that had been possessed by a devil, and commanded by a possessed king of Granseal's ally, Galam. The soldier walked slowly toward Orin, his axed raised in anger at the sight of a mortal, and before it could bring down his razor sharp axe, Duran jumped out of nowhere, dropping his firewood, and ramming headfirst into the armored soldier. It fell into the flames, and roared with anger, before it exploded, and made the flames burn even brighter. Duran stood up, his head pounding because of the strong armor that covered the soldiers body.
"You alright Orin?" asked Duran, rubbing his head rapidly, as if it might lessen the pain.
"Yes, thanks for that." replied Orin, who stood up now that the pain in his body had lessened.
"No problem, but is the thief alright?" said Duran, pointing to an unconscious Slade.
"Damn it, we've got to get him to Sarah's, she can heal us all in the blink of an eye." said Orin, gritting his teeth in anger at the devil who had attacked them.
"We have to wait for Ikara and Keith to come to first." said Duran, "We can't carry all three of them."
"Ok, we will wait then." said Orin, and he put a small pot over the fire, "Put Slade on my mat, I do not need to lay there any longer."
They both hoisted Slade up, and put him down on the mat. He was not heavy, but his cloths made him look bulkier than he was. Orin sat on the log, and looked at the fire, as he dropped piece of wood and twigs into it, Duran treated the wound on Slade's head. As they sat in wait, the night grew, and they both became tired. They lay down on the ground to sleep, but had hardly drifted off, when a strange fog rolled into the forest.
Orin, opened his eyes hours later, to see a fire, full with only smoldering coals, and ashes. The fog was draped heavily throughout the area, and it made it hard for him to see clearly. He saw all three of his comrades, and Slade, all asleep, and tried to do the same, but was interrupted when he heard a rustling in some nearby bushes. He looked to the bushes, and out of them, came a dark circle. It was easy to see in the fog, and it was traveling slowly toward Slade. Orin stood up, but was instantly pulled to the ground, and was totally immobile. He looked to Slade, and screamed out his name twice, but he did not stir, and Orin was quiet, because his mouth would not open. A strange force had him strapped to the ground, and kept his mouth shut tightly. Orin struggled under the force, but could not move, and began to wriggle fiercely under it. The circular specter like thing moved closer to Slade, and suddenly, flew into the sky, and dived back down into the body of Slade, causing his sleeping body to twitch and bounce uncontrollably.
"NO!" cried Orin, surprised at the fact that he could speak again, "GET AWAY!"
Duran jumped up, and looked around, wondering who was yelling, and why they were doing so. When he spotted Orin, he eyes widened, and he stood up.
"Orin, what's the matter." asked Duran, slightly twisting his head in curiosity.
"Slade! He's been possessed by a devil!" cried Orin, as he pointed nervously to Slade's slightly twitching body.
Slade suddenly sprung to his feet, eyes wide and white, pupil nowhere to be found in his eye. He growled in anger, and gripped the hilt of his sword, but stopped suddenly. He seemed to be listening to a voice, that both Duran and Orin could not hear. Slade ginned wildly, and turned toward the fog filled forest. He rushed into them, quicker than either of them could see, and he was gone. Orin and Duran stood in awe, and Orin's face grew red with anger. Another of the original Shining Force had been possessed by an evil being, and were seemingly willing to follow any orders given to them, no matter who the person was that they had to slay. Orin sat down and looked at Duran, who was still in awe at what had happened.
"We have to go soon." said Orin, picking up his satchel and putting his shirt back on, "I don't want to be possessed by any of those orbs."
Duran looked at Orin, seemingly not comprehending what he had said. Nevertheless, Duran rubbed Ikara's shoulder, and she awoke almost immediately.
"We've got to go now, Ikara." said Duran, "I'll explain later."
Ikara nodded, and sat up. Her arm was bandaged heavily, as was her thigh, and she grabbed her staff, and stood, seemingly without any trouble, though her face showed a pained expression. Duran and Orin both lifted Keith, and began walking through the forest, toward Sarah's house. The sun began to rise, a golden yellow, and the fog cleared quickly from the forest, as they walked toward the home of the priestess.
Orin strained to sit up, and confirm what he had seen. He had heard that the bandits in this area were dangerous, but he knew not that their leader was one of his father's good friends. His back was sore with pain, but he sat up and looked at Slade, feeling a great deal of discomfort at the site of the rat. Slade, who was now motioning his minions away, didn't seem to Orin, as the type that would do such a thing as kill innocent passerby for their valuables. Orin blinked at Slade, still trying to focus his eyes on him, but couldn't do so because of the dizzying pain throughout his body.
"Be gone with you, scum of this forest." roared Duran, as he lifted his axe in the air, "If you do not leave us now, then you'll pay with your life, rat!"
"I do not believe you want to do that, my friend." said Slade, his face growing angry at such a threat, "I could strike you down right here, without a second thought!"
Slade stood quickly, and unsheathed his sword. Duran backed off slightly, but kept his axe raised, hoping that his stubbornness would discourage Slade. It did not, and with a grunt of anger, Duran turned, and vented his anger by launching his axe into a tree trunk.
"Wise of you, dwarf." said Slade, with some aggravation still left in his voice, as he sheathed his long, gleaming sword.
It was twilight now, and the fire had begun to serve its purpose of both light and warmth, as the night grew dark and cold. Slade looked at the fire for several minutes, and Duran had stormed off into the forest to cool off, and took his axe with him, so he could get more firewood. Slade finally looked from the blazing fire, to Orin, who was now lying again, to rest from the constant pain in his back.
"Why have you come here, Orin?" asked Slade, with a look of seriousness and worry, "You have no reason to be venturing in such a dangerous area."
"I needed to see the priestess Sarah." he said, his voice scratchy and dry.
"Sarah? But does she not reside with you for months at a time?" asked Slade, as he pondered at Orin's reply.
"She was wounded greatly by a devil, and had to return home to her family, so that she could heal." said Orin, "I need information about my father."
"Bowie refuses to tell you a great deal about his past, because he believes you might decided to follow in his footsteps." Slade said, as he looked to the blazing fire again. "I understand now why he does this." he added, pointing to the bandage on Orin's head.
"That is not why I need to see the priestess Sarah." said Orin, his voice raising as he spoke of his intentions of the information he will obtain, "My father has gone missing. I believe his was kidnapped by a devil."
With those words, Slade stood, eyes widening, and he rushed to Orin.
"How! How is such a thing possible!?" cried Slade, as he grabbed Orin's shoulders, "Your father has the most powerful mind, and is too pure of heart to ever fall to a devil's power!"
"Don't yell at me, I don't know how this happened!!" cried Orin, as tears began to roll down his cheeks, "That is why I need to know about my father, so that I can find who sent the devil to possess him!"
Orin's face was red with anger and sadness, but he managed to suppress the remaining tears, and lay back to the soft mat. Slade stood above Orin, and turned to the fire again. He stood for a second, and suddenly dropped to his knees, his fists clenched and teeth clenched in anger.
"This wouldn't have happened if…" Slade stopped, and grabbed the hilt of his sword, and, in a rush of spontaneous anger, he ran to a nearby tree, and sliced clear through it.
The cut was so swift that the tree did not move at all, and didn't even fall. He sheathed his sword again, and turned to Orin, a look of anger still beating on his face.
"I will bring you to Sarah. If I can help you in any other way, then please, tell me now." said Slade, his teeth still clenched in anger.
"Tell me about my father then." said Orin, "that is the only possible way you can really help me now."
"Then I will, and I will not hesitate to tell you the entire truth." said Slade, as he sat back down on the log next to him.
Slade retold most of the story Bowie had told the night before, but Slade gave much more detailed information on the battles that took place. When Orin found that his father had been the leader of the Shining Force, he sat up on the mat, ignoring the pain in his back, and arms. He felt even more determined to find his father now. Slade had gotten to the point in which Bowie and the force had defeated Taros at the ancient ruins.
Before Slade could continue, though, a loud roar echoed through the forest. Slade looked around for the source of the noise, before standing and drawing his sword. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a creature appeared from the forest behind Slade. Orin yelled out to Slade, but was too late, as the devil had already delivered a fierce blow from its axe. Slade wobbled, and fell unconscious to the ground, barely missing the raging flames. The devil looked at Ikara, then Keith, and then to a surprised Orin. It looked like a large man in armor, and Orin recognized it as a soldier that had been possessed by a devil, and commanded by a possessed king of Granseal's ally, Galam. The soldier walked slowly toward Orin, his axed raised in anger at the sight of a mortal, and before it could bring down his razor sharp axe, Duran jumped out of nowhere, dropping his firewood, and ramming headfirst into the armored soldier. It fell into the flames, and roared with anger, before it exploded, and made the flames burn even brighter. Duran stood up, his head pounding because of the strong armor that covered the soldiers body.
"You alright Orin?" asked Duran, rubbing his head rapidly, as if it might lessen the pain.
"Yes, thanks for that." replied Orin, who stood up now that the pain in his body had lessened.
"No problem, but is the thief alright?" said Duran, pointing to an unconscious Slade.
"Damn it, we've got to get him to Sarah's, she can heal us all in the blink of an eye." said Orin, gritting his teeth in anger at the devil who had attacked them.
"We have to wait for Ikara and Keith to come to first." said Duran, "We can't carry all three of them."
"Ok, we will wait then." said Orin, and he put a small pot over the fire, "Put Slade on my mat, I do not need to lay there any longer."
They both hoisted Slade up, and put him down on the mat. He was not heavy, but his cloths made him look bulkier than he was. Orin sat on the log, and looked at the fire, as he dropped piece of wood and twigs into it, Duran treated the wound on Slade's head. As they sat in wait, the night grew, and they both became tired. They lay down on the ground to sleep, but had hardly drifted off, when a strange fog rolled into the forest.
Orin, opened his eyes hours later, to see a fire, full with only smoldering coals, and ashes. The fog was draped heavily throughout the area, and it made it hard for him to see clearly. He saw all three of his comrades, and Slade, all asleep, and tried to do the same, but was interrupted when he heard a rustling in some nearby bushes. He looked to the bushes, and out of them, came a dark circle. It was easy to see in the fog, and it was traveling slowly toward Slade. Orin stood up, but was instantly pulled to the ground, and was totally immobile. He looked to Slade, and screamed out his name twice, but he did not stir, and Orin was quiet, because his mouth would not open. A strange force had him strapped to the ground, and kept his mouth shut tightly. Orin struggled under the force, but could not move, and began to wriggle fiercely under it. The circular specter like thing moved closer to Slade, and suddenly, flew into the sky, and dived back down into the body of Slade, causing his sleeping body to twitch and bounce uncontrollably.
"NO!" cried Orin, surprised at the fact that he could speak again, "GET AWAY!"
Duran jumped up, and looked around, wondering who was yelling, and why they were doing so. When he spotted Orin, he eyes widened, and he stood up.
"Orin, what's the matter." asked Duran, slightly twisting his head in curiosity.
"Slade! He's been possessed by a devil!" cried Orin, as he pointed nervously to Slade's slightly twitching body.
Slade suddenly sprung to his feet, eyes wide and white, pupil nowhere to be found in his eye. He growled in anger, and gripped the hilt of his sword, but stopped suddenly. He seemed to be listening to a voice, that both Duran and Orin could not hear. Slade ginned wildly, and turned toward the fog filled forest. He rushed into them, quicker than either of them could see, and he was gone. Orin and Duran stood in awe, and Orin's face grew red with anger. Another of the original Shining Force had been possessed by an evil being, and were seemingly willing to follow any orders given to them, no matter who the person was that they had to slay. Orin sat down and looked at Duran, who was still in awe at what had happened.
"We have to go soon." said Orin, picking up his satchel and putting his shirt back on, "I don't want to be possessed by any of those orbs."
Duran looked at Orin, seemingly not comprehending what he had said. Nevertheless, Duran rubbed Ikara's shoulder, and she awoke almost immediately.
"We've got to go now, Ikara." said Duran, "I'll explain later."
Ikara nodded, and sat up. Her arm was bandaged heavily, as was her thigh, and she grabbed her staff, and stood, seemingly without any trouble, though her face showed a pained expression. Duran and Orin both lifted Keith, and began walking through the forest, toward Sarah's house. The sun began to rise, a golden yellow, and the fog cleared quickly from the forest, as they walked toward the home of the priestess.