Chapter 5

In Peril

"All hail the return of their majesties, the Queen of Albion, and the King of Francia!" A soldier called from the gate of Bowerstone castle. A huge crowd had gathered in the courtyard, and cheered wildly as the Queen stepped down from her regal, purple, carriage. Hobson and Jasper followed, and then their carriage moved away, replaced by the luxurious blue and white carriage of the Francians. King Louis stepped boldly from doorway, his arm out wide, and his cloak flowing behind him. The people jumped and screamed in excitement. He stepped slowly from the steps and behind him, quiet and like a shadow, the large and powerful champion of Francia followed him. The Queen turned back to the castle and was met by her husband, Prince Elliot, who was standing with Reaver and Garth. Elliot took her hand and kissed it, leading to a round of fawning by those in court. Soldiers saluted, and the Queen, taking Eliiot's hand, led her entourage and allies into Bowerstone castle. The people continued to cheer as they left. Some citizens were so audacious as to cry, "Albion is saved!" and "With our Queen, we cannot fail!"

The Queen walked past the throne room turned into the war room, where Kalin and some other provincial governors bowed to the Queen. Garth and Reaver stood in the room as well, along with the new commander of the Albion army, General Drusus, who saluted proudly. He was a tall man with an air of rigidness about him, and was known for his punctuality and exactness. He had been the commander of the army in Southcliff during the Crawler's incursion and had successfully repelled the creature's attacks and actually began moving on the offensive before the Queen finally defeated the monster. He was dressed in true soldier's uniform save his hat, which was an old guard cap, traditionally worn by soldiers stationed in the Bloodstone peninsula. He wore a sword at his side, an obsidian blade from the days of the Hero of Oakvale, a precious family heirloom he had called it, and held a swagger stick. The Queen noticed Jasper smiling as he put the stick to his side and turned to his ruler.

"Your majesty, to have you back is an honor I cannot easily describe," Drusus said proudly.

"I could not agree more. We need the Queen's leadership in this crisis, for only she truly knows how best defeat such a creature," Kalin said, raising her hands and making wide motions as she spoke.

"You all know then?"

"Yes, Garth has informed us and begun to mobilize the army," Drusus said. The Queen turned to Garth, who remained unemotional.

"I have provided reasonable evidence, along with a variety of plans in the case of several different invasions. It would help if there were Will-users in your army but I find them rarer then diamonds in Albion," The Samarkander said coldly. He moved to a map of Albion and laid several pieces of paper before the monarch.

"Not saying that this is unhelpful. But how did you gain such tactical knowledge?"

"I became the acting leader of Samarkand during the time of the Life-Eater's invasion there. I learned such tactics through trial and error, and unfortunately, each error cost many lives. However, I predict that Albion can beat back such an attack without great difficulty this time. And my associate would be happy to explain why," Garth said, signaling Reaver. The smiling immortal tapped his cane then pointed to the window, out of which the smokestacks of Bowerstone Industrial were visible.

"I have shifted the entirety of my factories output into weapons. Pistols, rifles, cannons, swords, ammunition, armor, and what have you. At our current pace, we shall be able to arm your many soldiers within the span of two weeks, maybe sooner! And, as my horrid acquaintance demanded, free of charge to her majesty! However, I must make money myself, and to achieve this, some of the supplies will be available for purchase by select members of society willing to fight for the kingdom!"

"…I appreciate it, but perhaps arming civilians isn't…"

"Your majesty, if I may be so bold?" Hobson interjected, pushing around the Queen and turning to the immortal, "How exactly did you plan to provide the monetary means to supply this venture? While you're generous and gracious donations are no doubt a boon to our meager treasury, the royal funds cannot possibly hope to cover the cost of food, army payments and general salaries."

"Meager? Hah! I'd say that funding this war will be an easy task for a treasury that full," Reaver said with a laugh.

"What are you saying? When we left we had no more than two million gold on hand, barely enough to keep our government in function, much less managing an army of the size…"

"Have you seen the treasury since then?"

"No but…" Hobson's began to glare at Reaver then turned around and went into the treasury room before screaming at the top of his lungs. The Queen and her allies rushed in after him, and there, piles of gold, more than was even used for the war with the Crawler, were stacked up to the ceiling. Hobson was rolling in the money, in a delirious state. The Queen rubbed her eyes, then upon recognizing the realness of the gold, turned to Garth and Reaver, struggling to form words.

"How did you…you…how…"

"It was a gift of your father's, one of the last ones you'll likely find. In the escape route behind his grave, there lies a small cavern which led to this pile of gold, and several of his great weapons, including the Flame Gauntlet, a tool used by Sparrow to strengthen his magical attacks fourfold. I also found his gun, sword, and hammer all ready for use as well."

"This is unbelievable. My father assists me from the grave, and I must thank him properly for it…and you and Reaver too. With this kind of financial support and weapons, we'll have no trouble in victory." The Queen walked to the hammer and grabbed it, then turned around and handed it to Drusus.

"This is for you, my general, so that your leadership never falters."

"I swear on my life it shall not your majesty."

"And this, this sword will go to the nation of Francia. It is the symbol of our allegiance, which is promised to you."

"Thank you your majesty," the King said smiling, taking the weapon. He drew it from its scabbard, revealing a Samarkandian katana.

"The Dachi, your majesty…" Garth said with a nod. King Louis looked at it closely then turned to the Queen.

"Francia and Albion will be allied against this monster. Together, we will not fail!" He held the sword high. The provincial leaders cheered and the Queen turned to Reaver and Garth, who stood behind their majesty.

"Only one more issue remains. What will you two do?"

"Your majesty?"

"Assuming that Page and Ben Finn are preparing eastern Albion, and Drusus and I will defend western Albion, where are you two going? Reaver disappeared last time the darkness struck. Should I expect you to run again?"

"No! Your majesty, I would never…"

"We will fight, and though it may not seem like it, we will both always support you," Garth said, nodding. Reaver sighed, then nodded quickly in support of his ally.

"Thank you, both."

"My god, what is this?" Page asked, in awe as she followed Ben through the high tunnels of the Reliquary. They turned another corner only to find more caves, continually getting deeper into the ancient ruins of the Old Kingdom.

"This is quite something, but I think we can make it. Look, if you go this way, then, assuming we don't run into more hollow men, then we might be able to find…" Ben turned to his left and pointed to an arena area. Four hollow men burst from their graves and started to shuffle toward the two. Ben drew his rifle and Page took her sword and twirled it wildly.

"Alright, I promise this is the last set of hollow men we'll find," Ben said, backing up from the approaching zombies.

"Just fight dammit!" Page rushed the first hollow man and destroyed the creature with one slash to its skull. Ben took aim and destroyed two hollow men with one shot. Page twirled and broke the legs of the last one, then stabbed it through its chest and destroyed it.

"Where are these monster's coming from?" Ben said, sheathing his gun and resting against a boulder.

"These have to be arenas of the Old Kingdom. They must have tested Heroes in these arenas."

"Or for executing them," Page said, noting the human skeleton in the corner with obvious marks of hacking. Ben shook his head, then started away, almost depressed by the sight. They followed through several other halls, and Page continued to become agitated.

"Do you even know where you're going?" Page asked, looking up at the cavern top.

"I know what I am doing; I am a son of the greatest hero of strength." Ben looked to his left, and saw a hallway with a bluish glow.

"There it is, the hall of Sister Hannah!" Ben said, pointing down the hall. Page simply rubbed her eyes, unable to believe Ben was right. They stepped slowly into the walkway, Ben leading. He lowered his gun as he moved toward a shining robe, Page by his side the whole time.

"What is this…" Page said, somewhat dumbstruck.

"The robe of my mother! The Robe of Sister Hannah. It gives a wielder a veil of absolute goodness." Ben reached out slowly and grabbed the cloth. He put it over his body and pulled the hood over his head. Page looked at the tomb of Hammer and touched its words. They were strange letters which looked like complex shapes to her.

"The last hero of strength, my predecessor, a hero of strength to which there has been no equal."

"Am I supposed to feel something?" The cloak, obviously too big for Ben, laid loosely around his body. He lifted his hand, to which the sleeve slipped down to his elbow. He turned his head, which sent the hood down past around his face, which made him more flustered.

"Darn it! What is the secret here? I don't feel anything!"

"Wait…I think I know what this is…Ben, you still read the Old Language, right?" Page asked.

"Some…" Ben said, one eye visible behind the hood, "Not well, but I could give you the gist." Ben leaned forward and, with Page's help, pulled the cloak off himself.

"Good grief, that cloak was doing nothing for me. Now, what're we looking at…" Ben moved to look at his mother's tomb and started to murmur to himself as the cloak in Page's hand started to glow.

"Um…Ben…"

"Hold on…Evrit coleti oman…Gonro lize o pali…Sister Hannah…holding…something…Hammer maybe? Stick…no struck enemies in thousands…or a single man alone…" Ben said, still muttering. Page tried to put the cloak down, but it would not leave her hand. Its cloth started to wrap around her arm, forming a sleeve on her.

"Ben…I think I need some help."

"Hammer…called was she…uh… found herself…striking… greatest enemy…ever. God I hate the old language. Many died and only few were…saved, but at the last…one became a powerful, no too powerful. Hammer learned to see into a heart and siege her enemies' oldness … no see of her enemies' weakness…donning the cloak and whispering…"

"Whispering what?" Page said wildly, starting to float and being engulfed by this robe.

"Schenzeriz? I don't know, this looks like it's almost in a different language. Maybe Samarkander…"

"Schenzeriz!" Page screamed. The cloak's hood flew over her head and she was consumed by its power. Her eyes turned pure white and marks of goodness formed on her face. Ben turned around and screamed loudly.

"Page!" He yelled, grabbing her arm.

Page was sailing through the sky, stars and darkness flying past her. She could barely keep her eyes open, yet, the force pushing against her prevented her from closing them if she had wanted to. She suddenly stopped in a sunny and sandy land, at the base of what appeared to be the Spire, except it was sandstone and had a white, shining top. She suddenly sped to its top, where a man was sitting cross-legged on the flat top of the tower, facing away from her. Page fell onto it and looked up to see his face, but he remained still.

"Hello…"

"Page!" The man barked, in a voice which sounded almost identical to Garth. It wasn't Garth though; this kind of speech was unlike him

"Who are you?" The man turned his head slightly, and with the wave of a hand, the tower began to shift. The top turned 180˚ and soon the man was standing in front of the sun. He turned completely to reaval himself to be a very old, thick beard man wearing only a long white desert cloak. He had a scar through his left eye also, but, unlike Garth, this eye was functioning and focused with the other on her.

"I am your grandfather, the father of Garth, Galba, and Kelan, who is your father. I speak as an old Priest of Samarkand, and ask for your forgiveness Page. I have gained immortal life, but I am tasked with the duty of watching over the people of Samarkand from this tower, 'The Mnara,' unable to touch, but with the ability to influence. Therefore, I cannot stop the Dueler as I wish I could for my son and my granddaughter."

"How…did I contact you?"

"The robe of Sister Hannah brought you to the one you most need. If you come to me on the Mnara, I am to answer your three most pressing questions. I believe I answered the first. You are, indeed, the daughter of Kelan. Garth is your uncle, and I your grandfather,"

"My father…"

"Accepting this is not a choice, but a duty. You will not succeed if you cannot trust Garth."

"I will try…but if you cannot stop the Dueler…can you speak of it? "

"The monster is real, and coming to Albion. The invasion of Samarkand by the Life-eater was a process with the singular goal of eventually reaching Albion with an army of darkness. This is the Dueler's goal. It assaults Francia so that it might get at Albion."

"Why are these creatures attacking us?"

"This I cannot for certain say, however, know that the one commanding the Dueler, was the same who commander the Life-Eater and the Crawler. Also know that one among you has fed the monster's lust, though inadvertently."

"Reaver, dammit!" Page said, stomping her foot.

"Yes, but do not let the good of the many be subject to your anger. If you wish to stop the darkness from attacking Albion, you must defeat it and its master, and the only way to do so is with Reaver's help. Now, your final question to be answered," the man sucked in a deep breath, paused, then spoke, "Garth has emptied his hall of everything of value, but, if you wear the cloak and touch the tomb of her husband, Kieran, his pistol, a special weapon Hammer brought from the Northern Wastes, is in their tomb. Now go, child of my son. Make our family proud, and wield the heroic power gifted to me by my mother. Do what you must, but until you fall in battle or succeed in peace, this robe will remain with you and help you contact me."

"Thank you, grandfather." Page was dramatically dragged back into reality, where she awoke lying with Ben sitting over her, doting on her every move.

"Ben…"

"Page." Ben grabbed her hand. She stood up slowly and touching her sleeve, which seemed to be all that remained of the cloak, she felt the warmth of goodness, similar to the warmth of Garth's will lines. She turned mechanically toward Kieran's tomb, and touching it, a small dais with a pistol on it lifted from behind the grave. She went to the weapon and took it. It was a beautiful golden weapon with a sword like grip and a complex firing sequence which looked to be almost old kingdom technology. She handed it to Ben, who held it cautiously.

"…Here…" Page said slowly, regaining her consciousness.

"Uh, what is this Page?"

"A legendary pistol…it belonged to your father."

"What do I . . . never mind. I appreciate it," Ben answered, taking the pistol and reaching for her hand. Page, after much struggle, went to the doorway and pulled her sword free from its scabbard, reclaiming full control of her body.

"We must go to the capital. The Dueler is targeting Albion, and if it's targeting Albion, it will target Bowerstone first!"

"Then we must get to the castle! We must gather what forces we can and get to Bowerstone as quickly as physically possible," Ben said, racing past Page, Harriet's Rifle in one hand, Kieran's pistol in the other, "Come on, we've got a monarch to defend," Ben commanded.

"Ben…" Page said as he reached out and grabbed Ben's hand.

"Yes Page?" Ben said, turning back to the woman.

"I love you," Page said, pulling him close and kissing him passionately. They were locked for several moments before he finally broke off.

"I love you too, Page…" Ben said, pulling her head close to his.