Chapter 7
"Wait, Voldan. If you go after him now, the chances are that you will not get close to the Lord Marshal before you get cut down. You must think about what you are doing. Don't go in all guns blazing without an action plan or escape route."
"Escape route? What makes you think I need an escape route? Did you not hear what I said? I will take his miserable fucking head even if I get killed in the process!"
"You will not make it even to within 3 metres of him."
"You underestimate me Alzan. I will be in there and he will be dead before the noise of my thunder has been heard."
"But it is not The Lord Marshall who is to blame for the destruction of Brilbane, he wasn't there, he appointed someone else to lead a couple of his divisions at us while he was occupied with another planet."
"How do you know this?"
"Because unlike you, I do research. What good is it going to kill your target when you don't know who your target is?"
"Then you kill every other mother-fucker there until you do find him!"
"No you don't because then your target will know and slip away when your back is turned."
"I would sense him."
"Not over all the other movement you wouldn't. That is why you need to research."
"Do you know who is responsible?"
"Yes I do, but I refuse to tell you any more until you calm down!"
"Tell me now! Otherwise you will meet the same fate as every Necro here."
"Then so be it. If you wish to kill me because you are angry then do it, but you will regret it once you have."
Luckily for Alzan, Voldan was as quick to calm down as he was to anger. He calmed down and the light faded in his eyes leaving them the normal sky-blue. For a while they walked in silence, going slowly. They could see the procession advancing far ahead, though it was too late for Voldan to kill his prey now. Besides, if what Alzan said was true then his anger was fixed upon one of the generals, though who, he did not know. Voldan finally broke the silence.
"I'm sorry."
"Not to worry. I know what you are like, your anger takes control and you don't think about things, you just do them on impulse and instinct. That's why you are so unpredictable."
"Well you know me; I like to keep people guessing. So do you have any idea who this commander is, or did you just say that to calm me down."
"A bit of both actually. I knew the only way I could calm you down was to either knock you off course or to console you, but I have always found it easier to undertake the former." Voldan laughed, he knew what he was like when he was angry, but he just couldn't help it. As Alzan had said, the anger takes control of him, and he was right: he didn't think about things; he just went ahead and did it.
"So who is it?"
"I will not tell you yet."
"Why not tell me? I have calmed down now."
"Yes, at the minute. All I would have to do is tell you who is responsible and you would light up again only this time I would not be able to hold you back. You would be too determined."
"Okay, I understand, but will you tell me later?"
"Yes, I will tell you later, but for now there is something I want to do. You will probably want to come too."
"What do you want to do? Where do I want to go?"
"The Lord Marshal is holding a meeting for some of the citizens of New Mecca; I guess he is going to persuade them to join him."
"And if they don't he'll kill them, right?"
"Exactly, and I want to see how that turns out."
"Aye, and also I sent him a message; I want to see what he thinks of it?"
"And what message may that be?"
"Just a little something to tell him that his enemies are catching up with him, that is if the messenger reaches him. He was in a pretty bad state when I sent him on his way," Voldan said with a devilish gleam in his eyes.
"You're doing I suppose?" Alzan asked, smiling.
"Maybe," Voldan replied.
They picked up the pace and followed the procession, who were now nearly out of sight. They were jumping across roofs and leaping over streets. Alzan was nearly being left behind as he could not match Voldan's pace or his jump length, but as he realised, he slowed down letting him catch up.
They were running for at least 15 minutes when they came to what they guessed was the city hall. There were Necros walking in to it, through various entrances, though there was no sign of the Lord Marshal. Voldan guessed he was already inside. He and Alzan jumped from the roof, knowing they couldn't go any further other than at ground level. The made sure their hoods were pulled low over their faces so as to make sure that they weren't recognisable, even though they doubted anyone would other than the Brilbanian soldiers which were already inside the hall, also hooded and cloaked, hiding their weapons. Alzan had 'forgotten' to mention them to Voldan.
The two men walked into the hall and stood at the back. Looking around they saw a platoon of Necromongers guarding the exits and entrances, though they were more interested in the man standing on the pedestal in the centre. There were people sitting all around this man. They were of different cultures and races. Yet they were all standing as one listening to a man below the Lord Marshal speaking of equality and fraternity and liberty.
The two men looked around; the civilians were sitting on tiers all facing the pedestal, on which they guessed the Mayor or King or Duke or whatever they have here would stand on to address the lords and such. The hall was beautiful, if indeed a bit tattered, but what can one expect from an onslaught such as last night's. The people all looked weary and frightened, as well they should be; the Necros were a fearsome people, not caring who they killed or converted. They were all listening to the man in front of the heavily armoured man on the pedestal, who Voldan guessed was the Lord Marshal. He was barely holding back the sniggers of some of the promises that the man made. Some nearby Necros looked at him with distaste, hearing his sniggers but Voldan just met their eyes and sniggered again when they turned away.
The Lord Marshal started talking, his voice was harsh and pitiless and mocking, and trying to intimidate the people into thinking they were of smaller stature then the Necromongers. He was looking around as he spoke and Voldan became aware that he had faces on the sides of his helmet.
"Everyone of my legion vast was once like you, fought as feebly as you." Voldan growled in his throat, listening to the condescension of this bastard. "They swept your forces aside in one night." Voldan didn't hear any more, he had been distracted by a movement to his left; a soldier limped in guarded by two other soldiers. Voldan smiled, recognising him immediately. It was the emissary that he had sent. His attention was brought back to the centre of the room when some of the civilians started to revolt, one man in particular, with messy blond hair and a bruise on his cheek above a blond beard.
"None of us here will do what you ask. It is unthinkable, and we cannot and will not renounce our faiths." The Lord Marshal had started walking down to meet the man, and he said something barely perceptible other than to Voldan's ears.
"Then I will take your soul."
As he said that he thrust his hand through the man's chest, though it had turned ghostlike and left no marks whatsoever, but when he passed the man, he was holding the man's spirit in his hand. The man tried in a vain attempt to reclaim it but collapsed in the process. The Lord Marshal literally threw his spirit in the dust. Voldan lurched forward, aghast at the feat he had just seen. 'What the fuck is he?' he thought. Some of the Necros looked at him contentedly.
Frightened into submission all around, other than Voldan, Alzan and about 10 people all cloaked, people bowed down to the Lord Marshal. The 10 other cloaked men left the hall without being noticed, that was when Voldan noticed another cloaked figure at the opposite end of the hall, unfortunately, another soldier, who had an air of authority about him noticed the cloaked figure too and started towards him, but said something barely audible to the other side of the room.
"You will do well to bow to the Lord."
"I bow to no man." Was the man's reply; that had now shown himself as Riddick, much to Voldan's amazement.
The other soldier took off his helmet, showing hair that was shaved at the sides but extended down his back at the back.
"He is not a man. He is the Holy Half Dead who has seen the Underverse."
'Ooh, freaky' thought Voldan, with a smirk.
"I will take a piece of him, though." Riddick said pointing at a man who held 2 pole-axe-like weapons in his hands.
"A piece you shall have." The soldier replied, the challenged soldier slammed his weapon together in sign of what he thought was intimidation. Voldan scoffed at this, making Alzan smile. They were standing in the shadows, and as yet had not been seen. Or if they had, they had been forgotten. The fight broke out between the large brute of a man and Riddick, though as soon as it had begun it was over. Voldan was impressed at Riddick's skill and speed. It was amazing. The Lord Marshal made his way to Riddick and grabbed the knife that was impaled in the fallen soldier's body.
"What do you make of this blade?" he asked Riddick as he approached.
"Shit, probably." Voldan said quietly, making the normally composed Alzan utter a chuckle. Some of the Necros around him glared at the two men. Voldan gave them a sign of the infamous two fingers, which enraged the two men. And they started forward. Voldan missed Riddick's reply, but heard the Lord Marshal's words clearly.
"In our faith, you keep what you kill." He thrust the blade into Riddick's hands and squeezed it tightly.
"Take him to my ship for mind regression!" He ordered.
Then suddenly, another shout made him whip round again and he noticed 2 men who he had not noticed before.
"Why did you not bow? Who are you to not bow?" The soldier's voice was harsh and unforgiving, his skin was dark and he was about as tall as Voldan, who just smirked at him.
"Bow to him? You're having a laugh! Even if my legs were broken I wouldn't bow to that tyrant!"
"What!? If you will not bow, I will make you bow." The dark skinned man said.
"You will not! I swear to Voltriamë, if you touch me, it will be the last thing you ever do." His eyes flared, and the closer the soldier in front looked, he could begin to see lightning bolts in them. Alzan flinched when he heard him say that, it was rare that Voldan mentioned his God, the one whom all of the Brilbanians believe is reincarnated into Voldan, and when he did then the people who knew him knew there was trouble abroad. The soldier didn't take any notice though and moved to strike Voldan, who just pushed him back with enough force to send him to the floor. The Lord Marshal started forward, but Voldan turned to him.
"Seek me out in a couple of days, after you have received your message." He made a side glance, filled with danger and malice and cunning, at the injured 'emissary'. Then he and Alzan retreated from the city hall.
All in all, Alzan was impressed with Voldan's performance; normally he wouldn't think twice about slitting the throat of someone who attacked him, and he was very composed in front of the Lord Marshal which also surprised him as he had been out for his head for ages. But then he remembered something that Voldan said and was confused by it.
"You said for the Lord Marshal to seek you out when he received his message. What did you mean by that? What message?" he asked his Electrokinetic friend when they were far enough from the city hall and curious ears.
"I have sent him a message. That is all, and once he has seen that message then he can seek me out."
"Yes well I guessed that. Wait, you said 'once he has seen that message'. What do you me-" He stopped mid-sentence when he saw the look on his friends face. "Oh no Voldan, please tell me you didn't. You didn't send him one of the Askivorach did you?"
"Yes I did, and what he shall see is for his eyes only, as you well know, and I will not reveal it to you. In due time I will."
"But as I know you, I know that the message you have sent him will not be pleasant, especially as he has wronged you, or as you think he has. This could be dangerous for you."
"Oh you're right, Alzan; the message I have sent him is not pleasant, far from it. In short, it is a glimpse of the pain that we suffered, and something which is designed to hurt his Majesty," he said the last in a mocking voice.
"But Voldan, the Askivorach is designed to link with the brain! Have you done anything that will physically hurt him because he does not strike me as the sort of person who gives way to emotions."
"Like I said, I will reveal all in due time. But for now, the only recipient is going to be him and him alone."
"So what are you going to do? Wait around while he does whatever he is going to do to Riddick and until he comes looking for you?"
"First of all, I am not here for Riddick's sake. I have been told to make him an ally, not to get him out of situations he has got himself into. For now, I am going back to my ship to sharpen my knives, clean my armour, have a rest and some refreshments. I'm parched and starved."
Alzan laughed, though his face was still troubled. "I don't think you should leave Riddick alone like this, if what this voice told you were true, then Riddick is the only man who can kill the Lord Marshal. And where is your ship? If it is closer than mine, I shall join you."
It was Voldan's turn to laugh. "It is on the outskirts of the city, so you are welcome to join me. And Riddick may be the only one who can beat him because of a prophesy, but he can still look after himself. At the minute I don't think he is any harm, I think the Lord Marshal will only be questioning him about what happened in the city hall and about who he is, and where he is from, but I find it hardly likely that he will give away his upbringing or place of birth."
"I am just uneasy with this whole charade. I have heard of machines he uses to get inside the heads of his captives to get information from him, and that no one can resist them, not for long anyway."
Voldan now looked uneasy. "I know that Riddick can handle himself, but now I understand your concern; if this prophecy is true and Riddick gets killed because of his own foolishness, then the Lord Marshal will believe himself to be indestructible and his reign of terror will never end." Voldan's brow was furrowed. "I must help him, but I am too weary. I haven't slept well for a week or so and I was fighting all last night. I need a rest and something to eat, and my blades need sharpening if I am to do aught else."
"I understand."
"I will clean my armour, quench my thirst and hunger and clean and sharpen my blades, then I shall go and help Riddick if he still has need of it. If I can just make him an ally against this tyrant it will be a victory, but I plan to make the lord pay for the destruction of Brilbane."
"That is what I was trying to tell you, Voldan. The lord ordered the attack on our home-world, but he did not lead it. It was his commander, Toll, who had led them."
"I have no idea who that is." Voldan said, "But whoever it was is going to pay dearly for the people that have been lost and killed. I will show him the true power of lightning for the loss of Davrun." His eyes flashed then dimmed instantly.
He smiled as if he hadn't even been angry. "Right, let's go and get some food." Alzan laughed and they jumped onto a roof in front of them, well, Voldan jumped up in one leap, from floor to roof top, Alzan took two leaps to the roof, propelling himself up with a foot on the wall, and ran to the outskirts of the city to refresh themselves.