Chapter Twenty-Four: Preparation of War
Searching Bowerstone Castle Logan tore off a drawer dumping its contents on the floor before growling and throwing the empty drawer down, "dammit!"
"It must be in here somewhere Logan! Think, did your father give you any clues?" Anna asked searching a desk in the library they heavily searched.
"No! He never even mentioned these bloody gems to me!" Logan spoke growling in frustration and looked up at all the books on the shelves seeing Tali and Echo opening and checking books in one section.
"This is getting us nowhere Logan! There gotta be a memory or clue, even if it seemed like nothing at the time," Echo spoke tossing the book she checked for hidden cut-out.
"I'm sorry but I'm drawing a blank! I wish he left a bloody clue!" Logan growled seeing Garth enter the room and went into thought at Logan's remark.
"Your father would have located the Diamond of Sorrow from my tower, in a cursed bed to a cursed realm of dreams ruled by a murderous spirit, the spirit would force its victim to play its twisted games," Garth explained getting Tali's attention who turned to Garth.
"How could anyone survive such a thing?" Tali asked putting a book back where she found it.
"How can anyone when they were turned into a child in that realm," Garth spoke as that statement clicked with Logan.
"Wait say that again," Logan spoke getting Garth to raise an eyebrow at the request.
"The being turned into a child part?" Garth repeated watching Logan slap his forehead.
"That's it!" Logan spoke climbing up a ladder to an upper section of the library.
"What's it?" Tali asked approaching the ladder below with Echo and Anna.
"When I was a child I remember my father always reading a collection of bedtime stories to my brother and me, when we got older I came in here one day to see him putting away our favorite book, and he said 'You two will pick this old book one day, perhaps as an adult when you need something precious,' I never understood what he meant when he said 'precious' but now I think I do!" he spoke moving his finger across a section and stopping at a red book spine and carefully pulled it out before climbing down the ladder.
"Fables and Legends," Echo spoke reading the cover and seeing Logan open the book where they found the last two Divinity Gems in the middle of the book.
Picking up the gems Logan smiled before holding them out to Tali who held out her hand and took the gems placing them in the brown drawstring bag with the other two gems she placed in there.
About to close the book Logan stopped to look at the first page which had a written message, 'To my sons Logan and Adam, I hope that someday you both will get the chance to read these stories at night to your own children, to tuck them in, kiss their foreheads and to let them know that you love them over the moon and back, all my love, your father, Sparrow.'
Closing the book Logan smiled and placed the book on the desk, he would share this message with his brother soon, "With that taken care of, we're ready."
"Sounds like a plan, now let's go, we have a country to liberate!" Anna growled leading the heroes out of the library and towards the balcony of the palace where below all of Bowerstone's soldiers and warriors awaited the word.
"Attention for her Majesty the Queen of Albion!" Ben shouted as the noise of the crowd below went silent.
"Good people of Albion, thanks to the efforts of new heroes we have defeated and banished the Corruption that dared to attack our kingdom! This is but a small victory, now we shall sail to Samarkand! We will make the Empress and her Corruption rue the day they attack our kingdom and take our beloved king!" Anna declared getting a roar of applause and cheers from below.
"This is it," Logan spoke standing behind Anna who continued her speech.
"Do not fear, we shall not leave those who stay unguarded! Not only am I entrusting my people's safety to the loyal soldiers who trained for this day I am also trusting you, you the great people of Albion! Protect one another, share your homes, share a meal, and look out for each other during this time! War is upon us and I plan to return with our king victorious!" Anna yelled lifting her hammer in the air and getting a louder cheer from the people.
"Spoken like a queen," Saker chuckled turning to Logan.
"I admire her strength," Tali smiled looking to her allies, "we must go over our war plans."
Later that day on Kalin's warship the group all gathered around the map table where Anna wearing her old revolutionary attire pointed.
"Logan I am lending Percy to you and your group, we will all march together from this point while Kalin will take our fleet up the coast," Anna spoke moving little pieces in place.
"From there Percy and I will ascend to the top of the Grand Library," Tali spoke with Percy turning into a white ferret and crawling onto her shoulder.
"No doubt we will be spotted, the Samarkand army will do everything in its power to keep our forces from getting into the city so they will leave through the main gates here," Garth spoke pointing.
"Saker, Echo, and I will have to climb that wall into the Inner City, we will slip through the city while Sabine and catapult front lines let loose," Logan spoke looking at the map.
"Aye, we will keep the bloody bastards busy! We will get that giant shiny stone in the center of the city then Garth can work his magic on the little bombs we made," Sabine smirked moving his pieces.
"We can try and buy as much time as we can but it will be difficult since we won't be able to hurt the Corrupted people," Ben spoke crossing his arms.
"That's all we can do, buy time for Tali so use the Divinity Gems to turn this fight in our favor," Page spoke looking to Kalin.
"From the coast, we can help bring down the walls with our mortars, perhaps clear a path for Logan to get to the palace," Kalin spoke turning to Logan's group.
"Leave getting Logan to the palace to us, Saker and I will do everything to make sure he gets there at full strength to fight that Empress bitch," Echo spoke laying her staff on her shoulder.
"Getting across the Inner City to Zahadar will not be easy Logan, and neither will getting to the top of the Grand Library, it be safer for Percy to fly us to the entrance, being in the sky would be too risky, meaning our troops gotta buy time for Logan and myself to get to where we need to be," Tali spoke studying the map.
"Not to mention that Vexator bastard will be waiting for us, my guess at the palace to make sure Logan dose does not get his hands on Adam," Saker growled narrowing his eyes.
"The Empress made a tower in the throne room, that is where she will be holding your King hostage," Tali explained moving the crown piece, "and she will not give him up easily."
"Fine with me, I'm looking forward to cutting that bitch down," Logan growled angrily clenching his fist.
"It will take us four days to reach Samarkand, three if the seas remain calm and steady," Kalin spoke looking out to the open sea and then back to all the ships that sailed behind them.
"I am going to radio in on our fleet, make sure no one starts slacking in their training and duties," Ben spoke walking into the cabin.
"I'll go give Ben a hand," Page spoke following Ben.
"I'm putting money on it that those two are gonna start snogging!" Ginjer spoke getting an annoyed glare from the group.
"Ok, I can't wait any longer, what the fuck is that?!" Saker asked pointing to Ginjer.
Letting out a sigh Anna spoke up, "This is Ginjer she Ben...friend so we're forbidden to shoot the bloody nuisances."
"That easy enough for you to understand ya overgrown smelly troll!" Ginjer taunted getting a glare from Saker.
"Well, I am gonna go rest, can't go to war with no sleep now! Come Boulder," Sabine spoke to Boulder who was playing with Xander, and looked up.
"Huh? Awww," Boulder sighed following close after the tiny man below deck to the sleeping quarters.
"Sabine seems to have the right idea, everyone should get some rest, we have plenty of beds," Kalin smiled leading the others to where they could rest their heads.
"I'll be down in a bit," Anna spoke still studying the map with Xander at her side.
Later into the night, Logan stirred on his bed matt rolling onto his back to look up at the wooden ceiling with a sigh, it was very hard to sleep when he knew what would happen soon. Another war, would it be like when the Crawler attacked? Would they enter a hellish nightmare of a city? So many questions ran through his mind.
Sitting up Logan walked part other sleeping mats where his fellow men were sound asleep and snoring while the women were in another room. Making his way up on the deck Logan spotted Anna still at the map table.
"Anna? Cannot sleep either?" Logan spoke approaching and taking an empty seat across from her.
"Not at all," Anna sighed petting Xander's head who rested his head on her lap, "Logan, do you still get nightmares? From that day?"
Nodding Logan leaned back in the seat to look up to the sky, "Not as often as I used to but when I do get them, they are awful. I can still hear that thing's laughter."
"The nightmares weren't as bad when I had Adam with me but since he got captured the nightmares have been more often, I can still see Walter's face," Anna spoke looking to Logan, "do you think Samarkand going to look like Albion did when the Crawler attacked?"
"I've seen the Corruption in the land first had, they are very similar, but that won't stop me from doing what needs to be done, I will find my brother and kill that Empress," Logan spoke looking to Anna.
"If possible, bring her to me alive, I wanna be the one to lop off her head! If she refuses to come easy execute the bitch," Anna spoke seeing Logan nod.
"I can promise you that, though I suspect she won't come easy, I'll bring you her head after all is said and done," Logan spoke crossing his arms as Anna smirked and leaned on the map table.
"So, how long have you been in love with Princess Tali?" Anna asked seeing Logan's eyes widen and nearly fall backward in his seat.
"W-what?! Love? What gave you that impression?" Logan spoke trying not to sound nervous but could see that mischievous smirk on Anna's face.
"Oh, I don't know maybe when you shouted her name in the throne room after passing out and worrying that the Vexator still had her in his clutches," Anna chuckled seeing Logan trying hard not to blush like a love-struck teen.
"I was just worried for her safety," Logan stated avoiding eye contact.
"Mmhmm sure, by the way, thanks for coming when you did, had it not been for you, who knows what could of happen to my friends, I am now more than convinced you will succeed in saving your brother," Anna spoke with a smile.
"Don't worry sis, I'll be sure to get your husband home," Logan said smiling back to his sister-in-law.
"Sis?" Anna repeated with a laugh, "Well that's a first, guess that's to be expected, a lot of things have changed, we both have."
"Go get some sleep, if our Queen is to lead our troops to war, she shouldn't have bags under her eyes," Logan teased getting a glare from Anna.
"Honestly you sound as bad as Hubson, been going on and on about paintings of our victory in this war to sell," Anna spoke getting up, "good night Logan."
"Night," Logan said with a nod seeing her disappear below deck with Xander following close behind.
Looking out to the sea in the distance Logan stood up and leaned over the rail hearing the approach of footsteps where Echo leaned on the rail to his left and Tali to his right and Saker took a spot next to Echo.
"What do you think will happen after all this is over? Do you think the four of us will remain as friends and still be close like Adam and Anna with all their allies?" Echo asked looking out to the sea, "Or maybe drift apart? Like this sea?"
"I know for a fact we will remain in each other's lives for a long time, besides," Saker spoke leaning on the rail and grinning evilly, "I plan to mooch off you three for many years to come!"
Snickering Tali let out a laugh that got the other's attention, "Oh Saker, I wouldn't expect any less from you, it wouldn't surprise me if we do remain in each other's lives till we're old and gray."
"When we go to war, Tali will take her place as the rightful Empress of Samarkand, once we dethrone that tyrant bitch," Logan spoke still looking out to sea.
"That right! I still owe that cunt a punch for the lives she took! I have a promise to keep!" Saker growled punching his fist into his palm.
"I must confess, I am a little nervous, I have never fought in a war before, and I don't wanna see any of you get killed," Echo spoke not expecting Saker to lean on the rail close to her.
"War is no place for doubts, in the heat of battle hesitation and fear can get your brothers in arms killed, trust in your skills Echo, we must never allow the enemy to get the upper hand," Saker spoke crossing his arms.
"Saker is correct in that regard, as long as we focus on the goal, and buy time for Tali, I am positive we can win this war and free Samarkand from its Corruption," Logan spoke looking to Tali who held her brown drawstring bag in her hands.
"I am still not sure how exactly I am to use these gems but I promise to do my best and hurry to join Logan at the palace so we can deal with the Empress," Tali spoke tying the bag safely to her side.
"The Oracle should have been more specific on that aspect, 'an act from the heart to reach the people of Samarkand hearts,' that's what those creepy heads said," Echo spoke looking to Tali.
"I'm sure she will figure it out, no one loves her people more than their beloved Princess," Logan smiled as Tali smiled back.
"Your confidence in me is refreshing, Logan," Tali said looking to the sky, the four staying silent as they looked to the stars above.