Both Alvin and Calder were shocked by the news of an army on their doorstep, to make matters worse the Seven Deadly Sins were attacking them on the other side of the capital.
"King Gustav of Xeovell?" Calder stared. "What reason could he have for coming to Berk?"
"I'll take care of him," said Alvin suddenly. "And Calder, I intend to leave the Seven Deadly Sins to you."
The two of them now their eyes at one another, it was now clear that neither one of them considered each other friend.
"As you command," said Calder reluctantly.
Alvin immediately made his way to the Southgate, with two Dragon Knights as an escort.
"Open the gate!" a soldier yelled.
The Southgate opened and Alvin came face-to-face with King Gustav and his robe companion. Behind the two of them was a massive army, all of them carrying flags with the Xeovell banner upon it.
"I am one of the Lord Inquisitors of Berk, Sir Alvin," said Alvin. "I know that you are a king from a nation to our south, but showing a peer without sending an emissary in advance is somewhat discourteous is it not?"
"I am Gustav Larson, King of Xeovell," said Gustav. "I apologise for my rudeness, but years ago the King of Berk showed me great kindness and I have come to express my gratitude."
Alvin raised an eyebrow. "With an army?"
"I felt that I would be granted an audience unless I did so," Gustav explained.
Alvin looked at him suspiciously. "Really?"
His robe companion then raised his hand and then snapped his fingers. Suddenly the army behind the two of them suddenly vanished into thin air, it had been nothing more than an illusion.
Alvin smiled. "A most impressive display to be sure, but sadly I regret to inform you that the King of Berk has suddenly fallen ill and is currently bedridden. I must ask you to turn back."
"All the more reason that I cannot do so," said Gustav he then turned towards his companion. "My companion here has the ability to cure the King's illness."
Alvin looked to the companion and then back to Gustav. "We truly appreciate your goodwill, but I insist you leave right now."
Gustav then removed his helmet reveal a young man of 16 years with jet black hair. "I refuse."
"How dare you!" said one of the Dragon Knights.
Alvin raised his hand to stop him. "Sorry… come again?"
"Lord Alvin, it's obvious that you're facing a problem that you would prefer to keep from outsiders, but we would gladly offer you our aid in resolving this problem," said Gustav.
Alvin could tell instantly that there was no way to dissuade him.
Meanwhile Ruby suddenly found herself in a dark damp room.
"Where am I?" she said looking around wildly. "I don't understand, I was just at the Black Dragon wasn't I?" It looked as if she was in some sort of prison cell, but how she got there she had no clue. "Sir Hiccup!"
"I happily welcome you home to Berk," said a voice.
Ruby jumped in fright and then saw the mage that had abducted her. "Are you the one that brought me here? I beg you, take me to Sir Hiccup!"
However she then promptly vanished and she began to take in her surroundings. "Can't be, this is Berk?"
"It would seem as if we been teleported," said a voice.
Ruby immediately looked down and saw Toothless. "Is that you, Toothless?"
Toothless nodded. "It would seem as if I was close enough for that mage to teleporters both." He then turned towards the cell door. "I think it's time for us to make our getaway."
He then immediately opened his mouth and fired a plasma blast and destroyed the door.
"You destroyed the door," Ruby stared.
Toothless then just to the door with his wings. "After you."
They had just got outside the cell when a soldier emerged from one of the doors down the corridor. Clearly he had just been asleep when he heard the commotion and was yawning heavily.
"What's all that noise out here?" he yawned.
"It's the lookout," Ruby panicked.
Toothless immediately pounced on him and slammed him into the wall, knocking him out cold.
He then looked at Ruby. "I think it's time we make our getaway, don't you?"
Ruby nodded. "Okay."
Meanwhile on the palace walls, Calder was informing a group of Dragon Knights of the situation.
"Three of them? And Princess Ruby's bodyguards?" said Gilthunder. He then shook his head. "That doesn't make any sense, five of the Sins should be here now."
Ake agreed silently. 'Yeah, if Heather was here we would spot her in a second. Thank goodness.' He then immediately shook his head. 'Wait a minute, what am I saying?'
Calder looked at Tarragon. "Now seeing that your Alvin is devoted lapdog I'm sure you know something of worth, don't you Sir Tarragon."
"Well, if you yourself don't know Lord Calder, then how on earth would a mere Cardinal like myself…?" Calder then narrowed his eyes at him. "Well, if they were planning something, I bet they would focus their efforts on Lord Alvin's Magical Research Building."
He then jetted towards a tall building opposite the castle.
Meanwhile Hiccup and the others were still continuing their assault on the northern gate.
"Do not allow Hiccup to use Inferno! Aim for direct hit!" a soldier ordered.
The said soldier then immediately raised his axe and slammed it towards Hiccup. Hiccup however quickly parried his attacks with Endeavour and then punched him aside. A couple more Dragon Knights charged them, but Hiccup not one side with a punch and Snotlout had slammed his fist down on the other.
"Don't think you can beat us without using magical powers muttonheads," said Snotlout. "Of course even with them you would still lose."
The twins had used their Twinsanity and were quickly countering each one of the Dragon Knights with unbelievable speed and strength. They also remained in close quarters so they could power each other up in a moments notice.
"There's no end to them," said Ruffnut.
"The longer we wasted the more danger Princess Ruby could be in," said Tuffnut.
Hiccup look towards Astrid. "Think you can take care of this?"
Astrid then stepped forward. "Naturally."
The Dragon Knights were charging towards them and Astrid immediately drew Bloodfury. Then suddenly a blue aura began to cover her entire body and she raised her axe.
"Seismic Crash!" she roared.
She then swung Bloodfury and certainly a massive shockwave slammed right into the Dragon Knights. The moment it slammed into them they were immediately knocked out cold knock, in fact no one knew any better they would appear to be dead.
"What was that?" Ruffnut stared.
"She took them down with just one swing," Tuffnut gulped.
Astrid looked at them and smiled as she rested Bloodfury on her shoulder. "I merely channelled their rage into myself and then unleashed it. The moment the shockwave made contact they immediately became overcome and felt just like dominoes."
"In any case the coast is clear, let's go before they reinforced the wall," said Hiccup.
They immediately snuck inside and sure enough Dragon Knights began to make their way to the Northgate. In order not to be spotted they hid behind fences and buildings.
"Okay, we all managed to get into the capital, but what are we supposed to do from here?" Hiccup frowned.
"We can't just recklessly start battling in the city," Astrid pointed out.
"Why not? I wouldn't mind knocking some heads," said Snotlout.
"Because our priority is finding Ruby and will never find hope we keep on jumping into fights," Hiccup pointed out.
"Then we should head straight to the castle, I mean is the most obvious place they would take a Princess," said Snotlout.
Hiccup nodded. "While we are here, I wouldn't mind checking on Topaz. He might be the one person who can bring order to this chaos."
Meanwhile Alvin was escorting Gustav and his companion through the city, but eventually they came to a stop. Alvin then snapped his fingers and the two Dragon Knights with immediately drew their weapons.
"I guess this is the point where you assassinate Royal dignitary," said Gustav.
"You know it's commonplace for envoys to be killed in foreign countries, even kings," said Alvin narrowing his eyes. "Now what is your angle?"
Gustav smiled. "That's my little secret."
Suddenly appearing next to Alvin was the mage that kidnapped Ruby.
"Oh my, this is a pretty predicament, shall I lend you a hand?" she said.
Alvin looked at her. "Where did you put the last fragment?"
"In the underground dungeon at the Palace, should I have waited into the ritual to bring it?"
"The Seven Deadly Sins have descended upon the capital, so just make certain that none of them can steal it," Alvin instructed.
"So the Sins have already arrived. Understood," said the mage. "Then I shall say goodbye to the pretty boy and sorry mage too."
She then vanished.
"That woman must have been a mage of Berk to be able to teleport like that," said Gustav.
Alvin then suddenly appeared right in front of him. "It's not any of your concern!"
He then slammed him with his sword sending him down the street fatter than anyone could blink and he crashed into the building opposite. However, Gustav somehow managed to strike Alvin just before the attack dealing him a nasty scratch on his forehead which was now bleeding.
"Inquisitor Alvin!" said one of the Dragon Knights.
Alvin smiled as he looked at the dust cloud in front of him. "Gustav Larson, you are not a king in name alone I see."
The dust cloud had lifted and Gustav proved to be just fine with a sword in his hand. "So this is an Inquisitor's strength, I think I might be able to handle you."
Alvin then walked past the Dragon Knights.
"We shall lend you our support," said one of them.
"Focus your efforts on the opponent behind you," said Alvin.
The two of them looked confused, but then soaring into the sky was the robed figure.
Meanwhile Hiccup and the others were making their way through the streets towards the Palace. That's when they saw a massive explosion and could sense a great deal of magic power emanating from an area.
"What the heck was that?" said Snotlout.
"Whatever cause it was half a mile away, between the South and the palace gates," Astrid deduced.
"Now that you mention it, what we sensing something with some crazy magic powers?" Snotlout asked.
"I can't be certain, but I think it's Alvin," said Astrid. "If my memory serves me correctly 10 years ago, he was a Dragon Knight that bore the rank Sharp Class."
Snotlout then immediately took off.
"Where are you going?" Hiccup yelled. "We're supposed to be heading towards the castle!"
"If you want a free will be taken them all out fast is the way to do it?" Snotlout smiled as he jumped over the wall.
Hiccup sighed. "Why am I not surprised?"
"We better follow him," said Astrid tiredly.
They then began to follow Snotlout.
Meanwhile Heather and Fishlegs were making their way to the capital. Sadly they had to leave the Tavern behind, as neither one of them knew how to operate the machinery.
"Do you think Hiccup was going to be mad that we let the Tavern behind?" Fishlegs asked.
"I'm sure it's going to be fine, but we need to make our way to the capital as quickly as we can," said Heather.
"But I wonder why he got to work up after Ruby got abducted?" Fishlegs frowned.
"I don't know, but she is family," Heather reminded. "He might feel responsible, it's easy to forget that he is her ancestor."
Fishlegs shook his head. "I think it something else."
Heather shrugged. "Well, we better keep on pressing on to the capital. Skull already took off and I imagine he's probably halfway there by now and if you weren't stuck with me you would probably be there by now. I only wish that I had a way of getting there quickly."
Fishlegs face lit up. "I nearly forgot."
He then immediately whistled and suddenly a portal appeared right above them, a split second later a huge dog emerged from it. Upon seen Fishlegs, the dog immediately nuzzled him and licked him.
"Meatlug!" Fishlegs smiled.
Heather blinked. "Is that a dog?"
"A black hound actually," Fishlegs corrected. "She's a special type of fairy that lives in between the human world and the fairy world. She's an old friend of mine too." Meatlug then opened her largemouth revealing a dark portal inside of it. "She has this mysterious power that allows her to teleport anything she swallows to another place."
Heather's face lit up. "Does that mean that she can send us straight to Berk?"
"Exactly," Fishlegs nodded proudly.
Heather frowned. "Then why didn't you mention this earlier? We could have arrived there together."
Fishlegs face dropped. "I completely forgot."
Heather shook her head. "I don't suppose she can grow, because if not there's no way are going to be able to fit in her mouth?"
"Don't worry about that," said Fishlegs as he turned to face Meatlug. "All right, Meatlug."
Meatlug then immediately began to grow until she was as big as Heather, then a split second later she immediately pounced on Heather. Unfortunately, despite growing in size Heather still proved to be a bit too large so only her upper torso was swallowed up.
Heather found herself in a dark catacomb, she had absolutely no idea where she was. "I can't see anything and I'm stuck. Uh, Fishlegs could you please give me a shove?"
Fishlegs face immediately turned pink. "I don't know if I sure had…"
"Just do it!" Heather snapped.
"I doubt that I would be able to push you any further even if I wanted to, I'm nowhere near that strong," Fishlegs pointed out.
Calder and the other Dragon Knights were currently in the research building and it was certainly filled with magical artefacts.
"Tell me what's in this place?" said Calder directing his question towards Tarragon.
"It's a mystic research building, filled to the brim of valuable magical artefacts of every possible kind," Tarragon explained. "I'm sure the cash-strapped Sins would come to steal anything with monetary value."
Calder very much doubt that the Sins would attack the capital just because the short on calling. He had a sneaking suspicion that the reason they were here was because of Alvin.
Tarragon immediately backed away from him and approached Gabrielle and Ase. "Now I want you two to get into the fighting spirit and make sure the Seven Deadly Sins are finished off this time."
"All right, I'll give you my word that I won't fail you," said Gabrielle and then narrowed her eyes at him. "And after I fulfil my mission, I want the truth behind the disappearance of my father, Dragon Knight Dale."
Tarragon looked at her. "Very well."
Then suddenly they felt the entire play shock and it sound as if the shaking was directly below them.
"That came from below," said Calder.
He then immediately extended his hand and the entire floor disintegrated and he began falling towards the bottom.
"Wait, hold on a moment Lord Calder," said Tarragon following him.
Soon all of them reached the bottom and that's where they found themselves face-to-face with Heather, much to everyone's surprise.
"Look the Serpents Sin!" Gabrielle grasped.
"It's Heather," said Ake stunned.
"I guess I must be in Berk with all the Dragon Knights here," said Heather looking equally stunned.
Calder then immediately began to approach. "It has been awhile, now hasn't it Sin. Just what would a heinous criminal, driven from the country, be doing out here?"
"Just tell me where Ruby is," Heather demanded.
Calder frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"Give her back to me right now!" Heather roared.
Ake couldn't believe what was happening. 'You really need to get out of here now.'
Gilthunder then took a step forward. "It would seem you don't fully realise your predicament you're in."
Ase then stepped forward. "I'll do it, an upper level Dragon Knight shouldn't have to dirty his hands against an immovable giant." Ase then immediately charged at Heather and reached for her sword. "God Speed: Bone Cutter!"
However, before she could drew her sword, Heather slammed her hand into the ground and the entire play shock. It was so powerful that Ase have blacked out and when she opened her eyes she found herself upside down with Gilthunder grasping her leg. The other Dragon Knights had managed to jump clear from the attack and were now standing in daylight as Heather managed to blow away a section of the wall.
"Blacking out as soon you begin to do battle is simply appalling," said Gilthunder. He then turned his attention onto Heather, who was still stuck. "This is the power they wield using Sacred Treasures." He then released Ase and looked at her and Gabrielle. "You don't stand a chance against this kind of strength. You too need to withdraw at once."
"We're Dragon Knights, same as you so we're not going anywhere," said Ase strongly.
"Gilthunder and Ake," said Calder.
"Sir!" said the two Dragon Knights.
Heather merely narrowed her eyes at them.
Gilthunder looked at Ase forcefully. "I won't tell you again."
"Shut up!" Ase roared.
Gilthunder then began to swing his sword and Ake stared at him. "Hey, Gil, hold on a minute!"
Gilthunder then plunged his sword down and lightning immediately began to strike Heather. "Thunderbolt Execution!"
Fishlegs heard a series of voices and knew instantly that Heather was in some sort of trouble. All we could do was watch as Heather moved her legs frantically.
"Heather, no!" Fishlegs yelled. "Something must have happened over there."
Then suddenly the lower part of Heather's torso was struck by lightning and the same things soon happen to Meatlug.
"Meatlug!" Fishlegs cried.
In the capital was far more intense, Heather was being pelted by lightning in every direction. Gabrielle and Ase themselves were again struck by the after-shock and even that was almost unbearable.
"So this is Gilthunder's Thunderbolt Execution," said Gabrielle looking immensely impressed.
"We're being bombarded… by its after effects," said Ase through gritted teeth. "It's like my body is being ripped apart."
It was far worse for Heather as she was being struck at full force.
Calder had noticed that Ake had not attacked. "What's the matter Ake, are you shrinking before a Deadly Sin?"
The truth was attacking Heather was the last thing he wanted. "Inquisitor Calder? I-I can't."
Calder looked at him suspiciously. "Is there a particular reason why you won't attack?"
Ake knew he had no choice and immediately raised his lance. "Rising Tornado!"
Immediately a tornado began to erupt around Heather and merged with Gilthunder's lightning.
"Combined Attack! Dragon Castle!" Gilthunder announced.
The two attacks had combined now formed a raging tornado that was shooting lightning in every direction, making even the eye of the storm dangerous. Gabrielle and Ase immediately retreated as the tornado began to extend.
"That that should do it," Calder nodded.
The attack had on one unfortunate consequence, it had freed Heather for her imprisonment, but there was not much she could do as she was been swept away by the current.
"Salutations little badger," Tarragon smirked. He then contacted several groups of Dragon Knights that was surrounding his Link. "If they are fighting with their lightning and tornadoes then I shall be appropriating your eyes power for myself, Balder."
Balder was Ase older brother and wore the armour of a Snow Wraith. "Yes, of course."
Ice then began to surround Tarragon. "Feel my Hail Bullet!"
He then immediately began to bombard Heather with ice shards that were being exonerated by the wind and merged with the lightning to form a devastating attack. Heather screamed as the three combined attacks began to pelt her body.
"Amazing," said Gabrielle.
"Don't you ever underestimate the giant race?" Heather roared from inside the tornado.
Tarragon doing looked intimidated in the slightest. "What was that, dear? I could have sworn that you said something about never underestimating the giant race."
Then suddenly Heather immediately slammed Gideon into the ground and suddenly a massive sword of stone erupted piercing Tarragon.
"Ground Gladiators!" Heather yelled.
Seconds later Heather landed on the ground shaking it as she appeared right in front of Calder.
Hiccup and the others had stopped running the moment they had seen the giant sword stone erupting near the research building.
"Hiccup, is that what I think it is?" Astrid asked.
Hiccup nodded. "That's Ground Gladiators, that must mean that Heather is here then."
"What is she doing here in the capital?" Snotlout asked.
"I've seen that move a dozen times, only she is capable of creating such a feat," said Astrid.
"So what are we going to do?" Ruffnut asked.
"Yeah, are we still going to make away to the castle or are we going to back Heather?" Tuffnut asked.
"I'll give her a hand," said Astrid as she stepped forward. "Saving the princess should be your top priority."
Calder and the other Dragon Knights were now face-to-face with Heather.
"Even now you don't yield an inch, your coverage during this fight is commendable," Calder acknowledged. "You are truly an opponent worthy of us. Heather, Serpents Sin of Envy, with your death allow me to ring the bell that will usher in a Holy War!"
Heather glared down at him. "Astrid must be ashamed to be related to you, you wish to start a war for no reason that as a mark of a coward that wishes to hide something! Now I'm only going to tell you with this one more time, return my friend to me! Give me back Ruby right now!"
Calder looked slightly amused. "The Princess is your friend."
"Don't say I didn't warn you!" Heather roared.
"Pathetic!"
Heather then immediately raised Gideon and slammed down towards the ground. "Ground Gladiators!"
Calder then immediately raised his sword just as the giant stone sword was beginning to form. Somehow he was able to block it and then even more astonishingly he managed to cut the tip of the sword.
"What? You're kidding me?" Ase stared.
"That much power from only one sword?" Gabrielle gasped.
"Magical power emanates from want indomitable will, mind and experiences," said Calder. "I shall annihilate all those who would thwart the realisation of my ideals and forge onward. The name of my magical power, born of my will, is Break!"
Then suddenly the remains of the stone sword was shattered and then he immediately thrusted his sword towards Heather. "Now die!"
A beam of light and exit from the sword and struck Heather's shoulder, and went straight through it. The attack was strong enough to cause havoc the blackout and she immediately toppled over leaving everyone quite speechless.
"Astounding, so this is the power of a true Dragon Knight?" Gabrielle grasped as Ase remain totally speechless.
"This can't be real," said Ake stunned.
Tarragon that immediately removed himself from the stone sword, though a bit winded and floated down towards the ground. "It's just what one would expect from the most powerful Inquisitor of the kingdom."
Gabrielle looked surprised upon his recovery. "Lord Tarragon, you were able to survive that?"
Tarragon smiled. "You see my Substitute Spell kicked in at the last second, some of my men were killed by the impact, but I can easily replace them."
Calder then looked at him. "Tarragon, tell me. Is the Princess here in Berk right now?"
"Who knows," Tarragon shrugged. "That giant most likely received faulty information."
"It was one of you, who took Ruby," said Heather as she picked herself up, gritting her teeth in pain. "They just showed up out of the blue, snatched up and vanished."
"Is she immortal or something?" said Tarragon.
"Just stay down! Give up already!" Ake yelled with a pleading voice.
Heather glared down at them. "Giants are far tougher then you puny little humans give us credit for!"
She then immediately charge towards Calder, but he then immediately raised his sword again. "Siklen Skewer!"
A beam shot out of his sword and pierced right through Heather's right thigh, the sudden attack also to collapse towards Calder. She looked down in time to see him raising his sword once again unleashing another burst of magic beneath her.
"Demolishing Attack!" he yelled.
There was suddenly a blinding flash of light that caused everyone to cover their eyes.
At the same time, the townspeople were growing concerned with all the explosions.
"Did you hear that? It sounds as if the kingdom is in big trouble, right?"
"How should I know?"
That's when they notice something falling straight towards them and it turned out to be Heather. Calder have been so powerful that she was sent flying and she landed on several houses and everyone panicked.
Back in the clearing everyone had witnessed Heather landing in the town and Gabrielle's eyes widen which you realise where precisely she landed.
"That's the direction of—" she then immediately took off with fear covering her face. "No! Agnar!"
"Gabrielle, hold on!" Ase yelled running after her.
Calder then pulled out a blue spell bead. "I am Inquisitor Calder, people of Berk we have been infiltrated by traitors known as the Seven Deadly Sins and they have begun ransacking the kingdom."
Hiccup and the others had heard the voice of Calder has they rushed through the city.
"What's he on about, we haven't done any single bit of ransacking since we arrived?" said Snotlout.
Hiccup looked at him. "Isn't it obvious?"
Heather unfortunately had gained quite a bit of attention and the people didn't waste any time grabbing pitchforks.
"Did he say the Seven Deadly Sins? Then that means this giant…"
"Yeah, it's gotta be. It's Heather the Serpents Sin!"
"The Holy War of ancient legend is finally about to begin," Calder continued. "But have no fear, Berk will be guarded by the power of the Dragon Knights. For those who can fight, take up arms and make your stand."
Heather began to rise, though she was extremely weak. Almost immediately the townsfolk immediately began tossing stones at her.
"Take out the Seven Deadly Sins!"
"Stop it, please," she pleaded. "I'm not—I'm not your enemy."
However her pleas fell on deaf ears as they continue tossing stones at her.
"Shut up! Look at what you did to our city!"
Heather then immediately began walking off, though each and every single step was painful.
"Hey, don't let her get away!"
Has have all walked down the street there was a sudden explosion that caught him in the face. The townsfolk naturally assumed that it was caused by her and immediately began running.
"The giant has started attacking us!"
"That's not true, I didn't do this," she said.
Gabrielle currently was running through the streets looking for her brother. "Agnar! Agnar!"
Heather continued walking down the street. "It doesn't make sense, what am I doing in a place like this anyway? The humans' country, why should I give a damn if it's destroyed? I've always been alone anyway, even my own brother turned me away, I'll always be alone no matter what."
She then shook her head. "No, because I made a promise to Ruby and I will keep it."
Gabrielle soon reached the street and saw Heather walking down it. "It's Heather." Then she witnessed an explosion striking the house next to Heather. "Where did that attack come from?"
"The giant wreaking havoc as she roams the village, a stunning site to be sure," said a voice.
Gabrielle turned around and saw Tarragon standing there and walking by his side was Ase.
"But aren't you the one that's causing all the destruction Sir Tarragon?" Ase asked.
Tarragon shrugged. "Well, under these dire circumstances, no matter what I do Heather will be the only one that will be held responsible for this. It's called staging."
Gabrielle then immediately marched towards him and grabbed the helm of his armour. "What exactly do you think you're doing?"
Tarragon narrowed his eyes at her. "Like I said, we now have a villain and it wouldn't do for our ne'er-do-well to not cause a commotion. To establish Knights as the embodiment of justice, villains are a must. Now tell me, what better villains are there than the Seven Deadly Sins?"
Gabrielle just stared at him. "Then… what about all the reports that came in on the Sins plotting to take over the kingdom? Are those lies as well?"
"Come on, Gabrielle. Does any of that really matter right now?" Ase asked. "Forget it and let's go after Heather's head together and give her what she deserves."
Gabrielle took a deep breath and looked at her. "Ase, why exactly did you drink the demons blood?"
Ase frowned of the question. "Why I what?"
"Gabrielle! Is that you!" a small voice cried.
Gabrielle turned and saw running down the street was Agnar. "Stay away from here!"
Unfortunately, Agnar exited the street and saw Heather limping away. "A giant?"
Then a roof from one of the explosions, caused by Tarragon, began to topple over directly above Agnar.
"Agnar!" Gabrielle cried.
Then at the last possible second, Heather threw her body right on top of Agnar shielding him from the fallen debris.
Agnar just stared at her. "Did you… really save me?"
Heather had used the last of her strength in order to protect Agnar. "I'm sorry, I couldn't do anything more to help you after all."
Calder and the others then appeared.
"It would appear that it is all over now," said Calder.
"Inquisitor Calder is here," said Ase and immediately rushed over towards him. "I would be honoured if you would entrust me, Ase, with the task of taking Heather's head."
"Very well," said Calder.
Ase beamed. "And afterwards, promote me to an upper level…"
She, however, stopped when Ake placed himself between them and Heather.
"What do you think you're doing, Ake?" Calder demanded.
Ake looked directly at him. "You told me this years ago, remember? 'You may only use your power when you yourself feel as if the situation justifies it.' Well, it would now appear that that time has finally come."
"So you plan to take us on by yourself, is that it?" said Calder.
Gabrielle then stood by his side. "No, we both will."
Heather look to the two of them. "Ake? Gabrielle?"