A Soul Imprisoned
Chapter 5
Presto had been leaning against a tree, surrounded by a collection of earthly objects. He'd been trying to conjure up something to eat for them all but so far had only managed a fork, a school cafeteria menu and a few other things that Eric had quickly had a sarcastic comment for. Presto didn't take offence though. That was just Eric and if he was back to giving put-downs, it meant that he must be feeling more like himself. He was used to the Cavalier's sarcasm, and oddly enough it never bothered Presto.
Despite being completely different from each other, the two had a friendship of sorts. Not like the one Presto had with Sheila. The Thief and Magician had always been close, and Presto valued her friendship more than anything. But after everything they'd been through, Presto couldn't imagine his life without any of them, here in this Realm, or back at home.
The rain was coming down heavier. He was shoving things back into his hat when Uni froze and made a startled noise beside him.
"What is it Uni?" Bobby asked her, following her gaze.
"She's probably read the food they serve back at school." Eric told him.
"No, guys look!" Presto cried. Above the hill top a display of gold and silver fireworks had filled the sky.
"What do you think that is?" Bobby asked as he tried to pacify Uni.
"That's Hank, that's what that is!" Diana cried. "Come on, he may need our help!"
The small group ran in the direction of the arrows. Sheila, who was already running towards them, pulled down her hood and shouted to her friends.
"Eric!" The Thief shouted, reappearing a few feet in front of them.
"Sheila!" Bobby yelled. "Are you ok?"
"Did you see Hank?" Eric asked her.
"Yeah I saw him," Sheila replied. "And he's with a whole army of Orcs heading this way to capture us and our weapons."
"What!?" Eric exclaimed "But how-"
"I'm not sure how or why" Sheila tried to explain quickly. "But he's working for Venger. He's changed somehow."
Eric's look of surprise turned to anger. "We'll see about that." Eric told her looking in the direction where the "fireworks" had just been.
"It's like he's not Hank anymore, he's-"
"Look's like we've got company!" Diana interrupted Sheila, pulling out her javelin.
They turned their gaze to the top of the rise where a dozen or so Orc soldiers were sneering down at them.
"Yeah, we'll show you, you bunch of-" Bobby started to yell until he saw Hank making his way to the front of the Orcs.
"Hank! What are-" The Barbarian tried to ask until Hank cut him off.
"Surrender yourselves and your weapons!" Hank commanded
At his side, Eric felt Sheila shrink back at the harshness of the Ranger's words.
"Hank! What are you doing?" Diana called out. The disbelief in her voice hit a chord with Eric as the reality of the situation sank in.
"Hank!" Shouted Eric. "You do not work of ol' horn head! He's got some kind of hold or spell over you and-"
"SILENCE!" A voice thundered from above them. Everyone looked up to see Venger on his horse against the grey sky.
"Ranger," Venger called. "I trust I do not need to remind you what is asked of you."
"No Master." Hank replied.
Presto and Diana let gasps of shock. Sheila's eyes glistened with fresh tears.
Confident that the Ranger would carry out his task, Venger rode off into the darkening clouds.
Hank drew a fresh energy arrow and then released it. It flew towards Eric and Sheila. The fact that Eric had seen the look on Hank's face as he let the arrow fly, spurred the cavalier into action. There was no mercy or regret at all in the Ranger's face. Eric flung his free arm around Sheila and pulled her to him. He turned slightly as he raised his shield and braced for impact. A split second later, the arrow connected with the Cavalier's weapon with a force that almost knocked him and the Thief to the ground.
When Eric lowered his shield he found it had a small ring of frost where the arrow had struck. He looked up and saw Hank order the Orcs down the hill.
"Right," Eric called to the others. "We've beaten two-thousand pounds of pork before, let's do it again." He couldn't bring himself to mention Hank. He also didn't want to think about it.
Diana thankfully didn't question him, although Eric was sure she was thinking the same thing.
Presto followed suit. He pulled off his hat and with a wave of his hand it started to glow.
Bobby had raised his club, but when Eric glanced at him he was sure Bobby had only done it because he would never let anyone try and hurt his sister. Bobby had never really had to deal with Hank's earlier "betrayal" as he'd been held captive in Venger's castle. Although aware that something had happened between all of them, Sheila had assured him that everything was ok and his sister's word was good enough for him. Now, seeing Hank the one he looked up to, attack Sheila was unbelievable and the young Barbarian struggled to take it all in. It was this protectiveness in him that made him raise his weapon and follow the Cavalier's lead.
The Orcs advanced towards the smaller group half-way down the hill. The rain was getting heavier and it was hard to see clearly through it.
Diana and Bobby successfully dealt a few but it was Presto that came to the rescue.
Thankfully, his hat decided to co-operate fully on this occasion. He produced a small tornado which grew as it moved in the direction of Venger's soldiers. The Orcs didn't hang around.
Suddenly, through the rain, flashes of light erupted just in front of them. Eric soon realised that Hank had released a volley of arrows. The group was left staring at the Ranger through a criss-cross fence of arrows. On closer inspection the Cavalier noticed the bars weren't made of the bow's usual light energy. These bars were solid ice.
"Hank," Diana ventured. "What's going on?"
"Yeah Hank'" Bobby joined in. "Stop working for Venger and come back to us."
"Don't try and fool me!" Hank shouted back at them. "I work for Venger and won't hesitate to do what he wants!"
"Well you've already hesitated!" Eric spat. "If you've got a job to do then why stand here arguing about it with us?"
The Cavalier's own anger making him snap. He was beyond frustrated now, still reeling from the fact that Hank had attacked them and fuelled by his hatred towards Venger and everything else in this hellish place. He couldn't seem to hold back anymore. He realised he was probably playing with fire - "Or ice." Eric suddenly thought – but he continued.
The Ranger drew another arrow but didn't release it.
"C'mon Hank" Eric challenged. "Give us your best shot!"
Still the Ranger hesitated.
The others looked on helplessly. Diana couldn't tell who looked angrier although there was desperation in Eric's eyes as opposed to the raw hardness she saw in Hank's expression. Before she could decide, the un-thinkable happened.
Hank released the arrow.
