Shining so Bright
Chapter 4: Murmurs of Evil.
The dawn was at its peak and the bright sun above them granted strength to their tired bodies. Maian glanced at Ichael who walked beside him and saw that he was tired, they had been holding hands since they left the village. Behind them walked Maretté draped in her cloak and she was yawning more frequently by the step. They had not seen a human since they left the village and Maian knew they all three needed a rest. He looked around, surveyed the landscape and found a small river flowing not far from them and continued in a southward direction and he directed their steps that way.
"Good idea." Maretté said from behind him and revealed her hands from beneath the cloak.
"What?" Ichael wondered and looked in the direction he was feeling Maian. "What's a good idea?"
"We are taking a break." Maian said. "We have travelled long and neither of us had a good nights sleep." They reached a good spot at the bank of the river and Maian stopped. "You can sit here Ichael, I will get us something to eat." The blind boy sat down and beside him Maretté made company. They did not speak as Maian walked over to the riven to fill his flask with fresh water then her returned to them. Handed Maretté the water while he began searching his bag for bread. He split a piece of bread in to three equal chunks and handed them out then he sat down beside Ichael with and felt the fatigue wash over him as he began eating.
Maian and Maretté had fallen asleep, Ichael was the only one awake and he sat straight and listened to the river and the birds. He had been tired but the bread and water had rejuvenated him and now he sat listening to for any noise that might travel towards them over the landscape. They where in danger, he knew it but would not tell his new comrades. They would reach their destiny which ever way they walked, she would see to that, always did. For her humans where pieces on a chessboard, pawns ready to be sacrificed. He had to do something and he seemed to have arrived in the right company. All that remained was to have patience, follow them and harvest the fruits of their ambition.
Then he heard it, the sounds of hoofs so loud it almost made his ears shatter, his placed his hand on Maian and squeezed. "Someone is coming." And the squire awoke. Dashed to his feet with his blade unsheathed and Maretté awoke with a stir.
Across the plains came a single jet black stallion with a flowing mane and in the saddle sat a figure with the shapes of a woman. Then into view came a band of armoured centaurs with large bronze lances in sharp contrast to the sky. The woman spurred her horse further and looked over her shoulder, they where gaining on her. Then when she once again looked over the fields before her she saw the small group by the river, aimed at them and in her view they became clearer and she recognised two of them.
Maian made himself ready for battle, held his sword strongly but knew that his enemies would be to strong for him.
"I wish to aid." Ichael said and rose. "Guide me towards the enemies." Maretté did so, aimed him in the direction they where coming then prayed as she recognised the chased rider. It was Porcena, her fellow maid. They had both attended Lady Ifreit the day but she had been selected to join Maian. "Blaze level three." Ichael called and a rain of fire came down over the centaurs and Porcena who escaped from harm but the same could not be said for her horse. One of its hind legs received a massive hit and was thorn from the body, the same fate suffered the centaurs to; death either by burning or the hot stones that pierced their armour and flesh.
Maretté ran to Porcena's side, saved her from the fires that lingered on the grass and took her to safety in a tight embrace. She had not fainted, kept her eyes wide open and watched her friend as she mumbled. "After you left a Devil came to the mansion, he spoke to Lord Ifreit for many hours. I was in the bedchamber when they spoke, the Devil knew who had kidnapped the young Lady. A Witch named Kour the Devil blamed it on, our Lord said that he would visit her. He left at noon with most of his guards and at night came the monsters, the Devil summoned them from a black orb. I saw it as I escaped. I needed to warn you." She looked deep into Maretté's eyes and smiled sinking deep into comfort.
Maian surveyed the plains, the magic Ichael wielded was powerful. A power they surely would need now that the stakes where higher, the Devils had attacked. Lord Ifreit was probably dead and the land would be reigned by darkness. "Kour." He looked at the blind boy beside him. "Do you know anything about her?"
Ichael felt around himself until he touched Maian and held on to the squire and even came a little closer. "I have heard about her, she is a Witch dedicated to the dark arts of the Devils. But she is our smallest problem if real Devils have appeared." There was a silence between them as Maian looked at the girls. "But we can go and see her, maybe your Lord is with her, and that Lady you all speak of."
Maian took Ichael's and turned towards the young women. "Let's give them a little more time." He said and as he looked back at Ichael the boy smiling, passionately and so deep it made Maian warm.
They followed the river southward and walked closer together with Maian and Ichael in the middle and a woman on each side. Maretté who were still hidden below her green cloak watched the land around them. Porcena's clothes looked like they had been picked hastily and the colours of orange, brown and green did not look a perfect match. But her attire made her look lean and tall and to keep her hair together she had a silver headband very beautiful and lustrus.
After they had stopped to drink a second time Porcena was the one who began the conversation. "Ichael." She said and he looked in the direction of her voice. "What do you know about the Devils
"Devils." Ichael repeated thoughtfully. "I know a little." His grip on Maian's hand became a little firmer. "There are only three Greater Devils remaining." He said and his voice was in a thick gloom. "Darb Zhal is currently the most powerful one, it's probably he who has tricked this Lord Ifreit and seized his manor. Darb Zhal is in constant battle with Addre, another Great Devil, maybe he is involved with these actions too."
"I remember that name." Maian said and looked at Maretté. "Did not that Bone clad mage yell that name?" She replied him with a nod. "Do you know anything more about Addre?"
Ichael looked at Maian and smiled weakly. "Little is known about him other then that he is loyal to the Devil Kings of old." The other three looked intensely at Icheal and they eyes begged him to continue. "Mottla, the third Great Devil and he joined ranks some time ago but he ended up betrayed. Mottla is the trickster among the Devils."
Porcena cleared her throat. "So these Devil kings of old?" She began and the blind boy looked in her direction. "How can he be loyal to something already dead?"
Maian felt the sweat from Ichael's palm join with his and in a intense moment he felt his heart stir, felt the others boys fingers touch his so gently that he found the awkwardness within him most pleasant. Then came Ichael's voice, it sounded so sweet and innocent and Maian felt his mouth dry up.
"Their powers still remains in this land, he hopes to awaken these evils and rule with them." Ichael said as a vague colour came to his cheeks. "But I think Darb Zhal is our greatest fear. He is the one who threatens this land."
Porcena smiled and it flattened her forehead. "So where are you from Ichael." She said and her gaze slipped past the blind boy and struck Maretté who looked away along the river.
Ichael looked disturbed by the words and his grip on Maian's hand faded in power. "I remember a bright light. The next moment Maian was with me." He looked in the direction he knew Maian was. "I cannot recall more then that."
"A town." Maretté said and pointed at a settlement near the river." It looks as it has not been attacked.
Maian looked up, saw that guards where patrolling the village perimeter and he realised that they had entered another Lords land. "We are refugees." He said and the others gathered their eyes to him. "Maretté is my older sister, Ichael is a boy from our village and Porcena you are a distant relative to the village elder." They nodded and continued towards the village where the guards that had spotted them.
"We will do the talking." Maretté said and tossed a glance and Porcena. "We are the elders in this group, you two stay in the background. We'll let you know if we need aid."
Maian nodded and saw that three guards where heading in their direction and approached quickly. "What is going on?" Ichael asked and tightened his grip on Maian's hand.
"Some guards are coming towards us Maian said, they are guarding the village where we intend to stay tonight." He felt four finger rub the topside of his hand and Ichael looked at him then smiled.
"I hope it will be alright." Then he heard the rumbling voices of the guards and felt how Maian stopped and the two women walked to meet the guards. He heard them speak, they told their false story and the guard who allowed them to stay the night in the village. Told them about a tavern where they could stay, Maretté said that they where short on gold but was interrupted by Porcena who promised that they could pay for their stay. The next moment they where on their way towards the village and he heard Maretté and Porcena join with them.
"I don't have gold to pay for all us four staying at the tavern." Maretté said and looked at the others in the group.
"I'll pay with the headband." Porcena said with a smile. "We can eat, bath and sleep and even have cash to spare." She looked at Maian and Maretté. "I stole it from Lady Ifreit." She added and the others understood why she wanted it sold.
"What happened to Lady Ifreit?" Maian asked.
Porcena shrugged her shoulder. "I don't know, she's probably dead."
Shining so Bright - Chapter 4 end.
Shining Force I, II and Shining in the Darkness is the property of Climax Entertainment, Sonic! Software Planning and Sega. Scenario is the property of Peder Andersson. Revision: 1. Responsible publisher: Peder Andersson. E-mail: .