Chapter Seven: Garth's Tower Confrontation
Entering the woods Logan and Saker ran down a path stopping to see massive bear-like footprints leading to where rocks had once blocked the path now crushed into rubble leading down into Brightwoods, "these tracks, the bloody bugger a bear!"
"Are all the agents taking on animal forms?" Logan asked following the path of knocked-over trees towards the tower in the distance.
"They take on many forms that suit their environment in the Void, the dark pit they crawled from, its mystery's lies unknown to us, but the threats that come from there are not to be taken lightly," Gabriel spoke.
In that moment Saker and Logan felt the earth shake turning to see bursting from the ground the Ravager emerge.
Standing taller than an elephant the Corrupted monster with an animal mask over its snout roared, creating a red mist around them and a flood of Corruption came rushing down the hill towards the heroes.
"Run!" Saker yelled taking off down the road towards the tower with Logan, the corruption-like tsunami chasing after them with bolts of lightning striking down trying to hit the heroes.
"Hurry! Get to the tower! We can't risk you two drowning in that Corruption!" Gabriel warned.
Running through the gates to the towers Logan and Saker ran up the stairs turning to see the Ravager burst through the gate and its wall, roaring at the two.
Its roar then created a storm around them creating a barrier of red wind, the bear then growled heading towards the tower.
"Bloody hell! It set a damn trap! We're sitting ducks!" Saker yelled running up the tower and seeing the Corruption flood around the tower the bear making its way towards them.
"We need to get higher!" Logan yelled entering past the fireplace and running up the stairs with Saker where the felt the tower shake violently.
"What is it doing?!" Saker yelled reaching the top where the two turned to see the bear using its claws to climb up reaching out and trying to sink its fang into Logan.
"Light!" Logan yelled throwing the spell into its mouth making it roar out in pain and fall over splashing into the Corruption below.
Making their way across the bridge the two stood near the Cullis Gate watching the Corruption rise and created a platform for the bear that now stood on its two hind legs next to the wall.
Roaring the Ravager slammed its claws down shaking the tower violently, "It's gonna bring the tower down!" Saker yelled lighting a bomb with his cigar while Logan drew his sword.
"Well, then we better kill this overgrown beast before it does then!" Logan growled watching thunder clash behind the Ravager, its roar echoing throughout Brightwood.
A spinning flare-like light then shot from the highest tower doing several loops before hitting the side of the bear's head creating a firework explosion that destroyed some of its armor.
"W-what the?!" Saker spoke watching the bear swipe its claws taking out the top of the tower, having ducked Tali stood up her gauntlet glowing again.
"Firework!" She yelled launching another red ball that exploded against the Ravager's head exposing it again, "What are you waiting for an invitation?! Attack the damn thing!"
"Yes ma'am!" Saker grinned throwing a bomb covering his eyes when Logan pulled out his pistol shooting at the bomb that exploded in the Ravager's face making it roar and shaking its head to try and put out the fire.
"Keep at it!" Logan yelled forming two inferno fireballs and throwing them at the Ravager watching it growl and swing its claws at the high tower Tali stood on.
"Oh shit!" Tali yelled running and jumping off the tower just as the bear claws destroyed and knocked over the tower into the Corruption below, Tali then held out her hand to Logan who ran to the edge catching her hand and hitting the ground with a grunt.
"I got you!" he grunted looking down to see a dark pit below Tali, pulling her up Tali gasped seeing the bear above them ready to bring its claws down on them.
"Shock!" Garth yelled from the sky above sitting on Percy's dragon form back launching powerful bolts of lightning down on the Ravager that roared turning its attention to the Will user.
"Hurry the hell up will ya?!" Saker yelled running over his massive hand covering Logan and Tali's hands and pulling her up.
Opening its massive jaws the Ravager roared at Garth's red lightning striking around Percy who flew to dodge them, "Firework!" Tali yelled snapping her fingers and launching another red bolt right into the Ravager's jaws.
Exploding the Ravager roared its neck showing an exposed weakness getting an idea Saker grab Logan by the back of his collar, "Yo dragon! You better catch him!"
"Wait! Saker, don't you dare!" Logan yelled unable to argue in time being picked up effortlessly and with a yell Saker threw Logan towards the Ravager.
Drawing his sword in his left-hand Logan swiped the light spell with his right hand burning the Ravager's neck than with a slice of his sword Logan cut the massive bear's neck cutting straight through and into the air where Percy who had been waiting grabbed Logan midair.
Hanging onto Percy's claws Logan turned to see the Ravager remain motionless before watching its head slowly slide off its body and fall into the Corruption below followed by its body falling over.
The clouds above then parted sunlight shining down and burning away the Corruption, all of Brightwood slowly being purified of the Corruption that had flooded it.
Flying down Percy set Logan near the gate where they turned to see Garth hop down from Percy's back looking to the heroes before him, then turned to look at the damage the tower took, "well someone gonna have to repair this, seems the Cullis Gate took damage too."
"Could you repair this gate? We will need it to get to Wraithmarsh, the map at the Sanctuary will not be able to take the heroes there," Gabriel spoke.
"Why in the bloody hell would we ever fucking ever want to go to Wraithmarsh?!" Saker spoke having heard the horror stories about the marsh.
"An agent has taken refuge there it would be very dangerous if it corrupts the dark forces that reside there," Gabriel spoke.
"This would indeed be an issue, it will take some time but now that the agent and its Corruption have been cleared, I can work in peace," Garth spoke turning to Logan, "this is the first time we formally met, you look so much like your father."
"It's an honor to meet you Garth, do you need anything from us to help fix the gate?" Logan asked watching Garth examine the gate.
"It a delicate process but I can manage for now, I'll inform Gabriel if I require anything, you should make your way to Brightwall, I believe you have a promise to keep to some Dwellers," Garth spoke watching Percy fly away back to the castle.
"Hey, you could have offered to give us a ride! Bloody overgrown gecko!" Saker growled taking a drag of his cigar then smirked at Tali, "And who are you, my lovely exotic beauty."
"Silence! You show respect when in the presence of the crown princess!" Garth growled getting a raised brow from Logan who recognized the young girl had met her in their youth.
He remembered this meeting very well, so many years ago, it was when Logan was very young his father King Sparrow had taken his son with him to meet with the current Emperor of Samarkand, Logan was excited not only to be able to leave the castle but to see an exotic land few have seen.
There in the palace, Logan got bored quickly sitting and watching his father speak with the Emperor on the current trade agreements, Logan had tried to make friends with Prince Zarak but got brushed off when the prince had no interest to speak with Logan.
Sneaking off Logan looked out a window to look at the vast kingdom, hearing a giggle Logan turned to look at Tali who peeked around a pillar and waved to Logan.
Looking around to make sure it was him she waved at Logan who pointed to himself seeing the Princess giggle and nodded coming out from behind the pillar dressed in an elegant red dress, befitting of the princess.
Remembering his lessons Logan stood up straight and bowed, "It's a pleasure to meet you, your Highness," young Logan spoke hearing the girl giggle and look up.
"Don't be so stiff, our fathers aren't watching we don't have to put on the royal stiff formalities," Tali giggled at Logan trying to be a proper prince.
"Ha-ah I guess you're right," Logan laughed nervously scratching the back of his head, "I'm Prince Logan of Albion."
"I am Princess Tali of Samarkand," she smiled joining him by the window, "isn't it amazing? How a place one thought couldn't hold life could flourish and blossom into a grand kingdom? What is Albion like? Is Bowerstone Castle as beautiful as I've heard?"
"Oh yes it can be very beautiful, especially during the winter when it snows," Logan smiled seeing her confusion.
"Snow? Oh! That's when rain freezes into ice right? We don't get snow, describe it for me," Tali spoke listening excitedly.
"Hmm well, my castle is grand, a beautiful green garden in front with a fountain, grand stairs leading to a door with beautiful stain glass above the entrance, during the winters you can see the glow from the castle through all the windows, and at night the snow blankets over the castle almost like sand but white, and it glows in the moonlight," Logan spoke trying his best to describe the castle.
"It sounds absolutely beautiful, I hope I get to see your kingdom someday," Tali smiled turning to Logan.
"I hope so too," Logan smiled both being snapped from their conversation and hearing a laugh.
Turning they looked to see their fathers the Emperor and King Sparrow looking at the sight, "Oh ho ho well Sparrow my friend it seems maybe we should discuss possible unifications of our kingdoms, your son looks capable enough to have my daughter's hand."
"Baba!" Tali blushed red embarrassed by her father's comment about her getting married.
"Well, Baahir my friend I dare say you may be right, look how the young prince blushes," Sparrow spoke with a chuckle.
"Father!" Logan blushed embarrassed by his father's words.
"Come Logan, the Emperor is going to give us a tour of his magnificent kingdom," Sparrow spoke seeing a maid approach.
"There you are your highness, your lessons are going to start," she spoke bowing to the Emperor.
"Off you go my flower," Emperor Baahir spoke to his daughter.
"Yes Baba," Tali spoke both going down a different path of the hallway, Logan peeked back at Tali and she also did before the doors closing broke their gaze.
That would be the last time Logan saw Tali, there had been plans for a ball when his father was alive but events wouldn't play in Logan's favor when his mother passed away than his father a few years later.
Logan never thought he would meet Princess Tali again, until now, he had remembered how pretty she was when they were children but now, she was beautiful, however, Logan can see it in her eyes, he knew that look very well, she had suffered greatly.
Clearing his throat Logan bowed his head respectfully, "It's an honor to see you again, Princess Tali of Samarkand."
"Prince, no sorry, former King Logan, it's been a long time," Tali spoke coldly while Saker look between the two sensing the tension.
"I take it you also want his head on a platter?" Saker asked pointing at Logan.
"No, the seer was right, if I wish to free my people and my kingdom I need the aid of this kingdom, if I have to do that by working with...him...then so be it, let's move," Tali spoke making her way down the stairs.
"What crawled up her arse?" Saker asked dragging another puff of his cigar.
"Leave her be Saker, she suffered for many years in Samarkand, I suspect I am part of that blame, I did end the trades our kingdom had in place many years ago, if I wasn't so desperate to save Albion maybe I could have seen their cries for help when the darkness was slowly taking over their kingdom," Logan spoke following after Tali.
"The past is behind us, right now the focus is the future and that future depends on the survival of both Albion and Samarkand," Gabriel spoke.
"So," Saker spoke trailing behind Tali, "from Samarkand, eh? Are the women there as ravishing as you are?"
"Saker!" Logan growled to get the man to behave but didn't need to when Tali drew her katana and sliced the end of Saker's cigar off and held the blade to his throat.
"Listen you rude sorry excuse of a man, I am only going to warn you once, keep your gross comments and questions to yourself or I'll personally castrate you and force you to sit to urinate, are we clear?" Tali warned seeing the man quickly cover his family jewels and nod.
Spinning the katana, she returned it to its sleeve at her side continuing down the road with Saker taking a few steps back to whisper to Logan, "She a fiery one, I like that in a woman!"
"Please behave, Saker, that wasn't a warning she made, that a promise, so if you like your dick where it is, behave yourself around her," Logan spoke rolling his eyes his gaze focusing on the back of Tali's head seeing her turn to the image of her he saw as a child.
A.N. What do you think of the team so far? Any favorites?