It has been a long, long, long time since I updated guys. Two weeks is far to long for me to take between chapters. I'm really sorry about that. However I am back and I can tell you that it won't take as long between this chapter and the next. I had the perfect string of events lead to me taking so long. College prep has taken time, nearly broke my left hand which made it nearly impossible to write with any speed, and this chapter being so hard to write just compounded on those other problems. The nearly broken hand thing happened about a week ago and really sucked hard, but it felt better over the past few days, so I was able to write this stuff.
So I was really pleased with the reviews I go, but I really want some more. Really helps me write faster knowing that there is a big fanbase out there waiting for the next chapter. Please, please, please leave a review. I can be happy with what I get, but I really feel that I don't have nearly enough feedback. Remember guys feedback is good. Say anything you want. Tell me I suck or I wrote shit. Or tell me I'm great or this chapter was fantastic. All of it is good because it makes me a better writer for you guys.
And here is chapter 28. Enjoy!
Chapter 28
Wind whistled past his every pore, his hair blew wildly around his head as they sped away from the palace. Eight fliers each with a human rider zoomed over the city. Their destination the firelands, a ten hour flight far from Regalia. Behind them rose a force of a hundred soldiers, all fully armed, their armor reflecting the light from the torches that were interspersed within the group. The sound of beating wings was near deafening as the party soared out of the city and over the wall into the darkness of the underland.
Their pace decreased after they were past the city. The goal was to get out as fast as possible to reduce the number of people who would see them leave. Gregor sat up to his full height, wiping the tears from his eyes and brushing the hair from his face. His face was steely, set with determination. His mood was not one for talking. The only talking he wanted to do was with Roderick to try to defuse the violence that was flooding his new home and was only inches from taking his friends from him numerous times.
Any of Gregor's regular features were gone. There would be no goofy smiles. There would be no jokes, no laughter. There would be no time for any of it. There was a long journey ahead, but his mind was set already. He was ready to do what he needed to do when he was needed to do it. Hopefully he wouldn't be needed for that, but he would do whatever he had to to keep his friends safe. His cold eyes panned to his right and fell on the most important person in the world to him.
He long hair blew behind her head even though it was tied up in a tight braid. The cold steel of her sword could be felt through her tight fitting tights. There was much brewing in her head behind the gold circle she wore on her head. This would be a make or break for her, pushing her to the limits of her negotiating skills and her patience. And if that all failed it would be a battle and more death. She had watched as her people died around her. She had fought to try to save them only to have to be saved herself. She had seen her friends nearly die. She heard of their feats. Even she had nearly died herself in this despicable conflict.
Her purple eyes blinked a few times as she straightened herself out on the back of Aurora. The golden flier would not speak to her unless spoken to first in this situation. She kept her features cool and calm, not showing the fear and uncertainty that was flooding her mind. There was a strange confidence mixed in that told her that this was the end. No matter what happened there would be nothing else after this. The war would end with words or with blood And the words would be hers aided by Vikus. The blood however would not be hers. Every soldier would throw themselves in front of a sword for her. Mareth would. Perdita would. Howard would. Eisen would. And he would. She looked to her left and her eyes locked right on the one person she trusted above everyone else.
His eyes locked on hers, her purple irises staring right back at his brown ones in the limited light. All around them were people that meant something to them. People they cared for. But their eyes told each other that the only person they were thinking about was the other. Gregor cracked a small smile which Luxa returned to him. It was all they could do. Gregor's demeanor went right back to straight and rigid, determined. There wasn't anything else for him to do.
As the trip carried on his intense focus started to slip. The outside stayed the same, but inside his thoughts started to drift. His mind conjured up visions of things he wanted to see happen. One moment, there was peace and the stingers were gone, back to their lands, both species in agreement and the war over. There were feasts and parties, loved ones hugging and kissing, amongst them Gregor and Luxa. And then the next moment there was fire all around them, blood covering every inch of the ground. His sword cleaving through the flesh of one person. And then pain followed by the flash of red from a burst artery as he slashed his sword through someone else.
He shook his head to clear his mind and he registered the slight increase in temperature. They were inching closer to the firelands and the event that could change the underland. His mind clear of his fantasies, he refocused on the task at hand. This was the biggest thing to happen since he defeated the Bane. And he was just as significant to this as he was when he was tasked with killing the giant white rat. Of course, he was also way more prepared for it this time. There was no more little twelve year old Gregor. No, instead there was a practiced killer who was ready to do whatever he had to do.
His mind worked to keep him pumped up and ready for what was to come. Over the next few hours he floated his thoughts to everything positive, focusing any other emotions into his determination and readiness. The surroundings had already changed to the familiar looking's of the firelands. The area was also just as familiar. Off in the distance he saw the volcano that had been given the name to Queen. The memory of watching the genocide of the nibblers at the foot of the mountain came freely to his mind. Their struggle to breath. Their bodies covered by the lava flow. The massive explosion that had rocked the area and had caused them all much pain. It all came back so easily to him.
They sped past the Queen and headed off further into the firelands. Nothing looked familiar then, but he quickly started to see black rocks that he knew were chunks of obsidian. Huge chunks were exposed in the walls and rested on the ground. The farther they flew the more prominent it became. Mareth suddenly broke out ahead of the rest of the group and all the bats started to file into pairs. Gregor was confused for all of a second before he saw the small entrance to a tunnel, just wide enough for two large fliers to fly abreast. Artemese shifted into position right next to Aurora and Luxa was within arm's reach. Gregor reached his hand out and he felt Luxa take hold of it for a second before letting go. The short contact was all Gregor needed. It reinforced to him that this was a do or die situation. And he would die for her if it came to it.
The tunnel was pitch black when they ducked in; not because it was dark, but because the entire tunnel was within the obsidian that was there. A natural feature that was formed in the rock as it cooled. The light from the torches reflected off the contours of the rocks smooth surfaces, splashing blurred reflections to Gregor's eyes as they moved through the tunnel. It dipped down and turned left and right numerous times. The dizzying descent grew steeper and the bats had to start to coast down instead of fly. Finally it leveled out and the floor of a cavern was just discernible ahead.
Artemese burst out into the cavern and Gregor's mouth dropped open in amazement. The huge cavern was entirely obsidian except for the ground which was the regular red tinted stone of the firelands. There were pillars of obsidian from ceiling to floor set at almost perfect intervals from each other. The entire room seemed to resemble a black cathedral, but instead of pews there were massive chunks of obsidian that had fallen from the roof and from the walls. It was a remarkably beautiful sight and something he would have loved to explore if it weren't for the ranks of stingers that lined the floor.
Artemese glided towards the ground and Gregor leaped off his back a few feet from the ground. Mareth was already off Andromeda, Eisen and Perdita were off of their fliers and helping Vikus off of Euripides. He felt rather than heard Luxa land next to him.
"It seems they have come in force," she said to him.
"They outnumber us easily five to one if not more," Gregor replied without turning to her. At least five hundred stingers were waiting for them and the number was probably higher than that. "Ripred maxes out at four hundred to one," he thought. "And he's not even here. I can probably take maybe five on by myself at a time and they'll send more than that at me easily."
"Then we must not let this come to battle," Luxa replied stepping up next to him, her eyes scanning the first row of the stingers. "I do not see Roderick or any of his men."
"I do," Gregor said through clenched teeth. Roderick was standing on the back of a stinger, along with a few other people. It was obviously him, by his height and the way he carried himself. The stinger they were on was moving towards them through the sea of massive tails and pincers. It didn't take long for Luxa to spot him as well.
"Come, we must be ready with the others. Mareth will have a plan should this become a battle." The two of them went over to the collective of their friends. Mareth and Eisen were deep in quiet conversation, their hands occasionally darting out and gesturing towards the enemy. Perdita stood silently by herself, her hands on her hips, staring off into the mass of scorpions. Vikus was the only one who seemed truly calm. He stood with Euripides, his arms crossed across his chest, his breathing normal and his body looking much younger than Gregor had seen since his return. It was almost as if Vikus was made for this moment, his body ready to take on the task at hand.
When they walked up all conversation ceased and all eyes turned to the two. Wisdom and strength were what was needed in this situation and Luxa and Gregor had both. They may not have been the wisest or the strongest, but they had the will and it was that attribute that brought all eyes to them. The hope that they would end this without a fight. Of course they weren't alone in this endeavor. Vikus was there for his extensive knowledge of negotiating. Mareth, Eisen and Perdita provided all the strength and knowledge to take on the enemy should it come to that. But Gregor and Luxa seemed to be the number ones here.
"What is the plan, Mareth?" Luxa asked her tone serious, hiding any other emotions she was feeling.
"If the negotiating dissolves to fighting our first plan is to retreat. If that does not work for any reason, then we shall attack mostly from the air. There is plenty of space above for an aerial attack. There will be only a few ground fighters. We are just hoping that it does not come to that. Does that all sound well?" he asked the question to Gregor, who was slightly surprised. He nearly forgot he was a general and that he had a say in the strategy that they would use.
"All of that sounds pretty solid. Keep only a small force on the ground to attack strategically along with a heavy air support tactic. Best fighters on the ground to occupy the stingers from the airborne troops. It would be our best option if it came to a fight. We could use Ripred if it came to that." The fact that the rat wasn't there with them had been weighing on him, but he hadn't had much reason to ask. Now though it seemed like reason enough to do so. "Where is he anyway?"
"I can answer that," Vikus spoke up. "We, together, decided that he should go and collect a group of gnawers and they should head here directly. It was a quick decision and could play very key here."
"Why did you not tell us?" Luxa shot at her grandfather.
"It was a quick decision. If we stopped to talk with everyone about it the chances they would make it here in time for any of this were very low. We decided and he left. I figured it could be a very good surprise if none of us knew it was coming. And it would make Ripred look like a hero again. He hasn't had that feeling in quite some time. Please do not tell him I told you. It will crush him and none of us want to see that." Vikus was smiling as he finished. Gregor couldn't help but join him. The rat just wanted to feel the hero again and if it meant that he had to act surprised when he showed up, so be it.
Gregor's eyes flashed over to the stingers and he saw that Roderick and his group of humans were nearly to the stingers front line. It was nearing go time. Time for them to get everything straightened out and lay everything on the table. He could feel the anxiety of the situation mixing with the burning hatred he had for Roderick and the mixture was not one he wanted to see. His stomach was churning and he had to resort to deep breathing to bring it back under control. He looked back at the group, but Vikus caught his eye first. His eyes were staring straight at one person. The old strange man that Gregor had seen just one time before.
"I should have seen this coming," Vikus said shaking his head. "I should have known as soon as Roderick was involved in this entire mess."
"What is it you should have seen?" Howard said. Those were the first words he had spoken since they had arrived in the Blackness. Gregor had almost forgotten that the doctor had accompanied them.
"It is no coincidence that Roderick is involved in this. He is not smart enough to have conjured up this plan by himself. That man by his side is someone I knew years ago. Someone I believed long dead." Vikus stopped talking, his eyes closed to the world. "He is Roderick's brother." There was a collective gasp from everyone. Not a single person had expected that at all.
"I did not know that Roderick had a brother," Mareth spoke to the air.
"Many did not. You would have been just born, Mareth, and all of the rest of you had not been given light yet. I was still a soldier and me and Solovet were still short a child. I remember the trial. Roderick was just a babe and his mother held him the entire time. The outcome of the trial was banishment and very few believed he had much of a chance to survive. He was not much older than Gregor had been when he first fell into the underland."
"Why was he banished?" Gregor asked quickly. There seemed to be something fishy about the guy. What could he have done that warranted banishment at such a young age.
"The story is long, Gregor. There will be time for it to be told later in all of its detail. But at this time I do believe we have some more important things to talk about." Vikus' gaze was back on the stingers and for good reason. The humans and their stinger ride had broken through the front line and was only a few dozen yards away. The humans had already started dismounting and Gregor quickly recognized many of them. Roderick and his brother were there obviously. Some of the guards were familiar for beating him and treating him as poorly as possible. His hand had unconsciously shifted to the handle of his sword and he gripped it so tight he feared he would snap the metal of the blade.
There was one other person with them: Stellovet. She was the last to climb down off the stinger and she moved to stand beside Roderick. She didn't seem harmed. She wasn't even bound. She walked freely amongst the humans and stingers without anyone batting an eye at her. Eisen had taken notice of her and moved a bit ahead of the rest of them. Mareth had to grab his shoulder to rein him in and bring him back to them.
The two sides faced each other, neither party making the first move. Gregor inched minutely forward and ended up in line with Mareth. Luxa had moved forward as well and stood on Eisen's right hand side. But none of them advanced further than that. A small sigh came from behind them and Vikus proceeded to walk past them slowly. At his advance, Roderick and his brother stepped forward and started a slow walk towards Vikus.
"It is good to see you again, Vikus. You have aged greatly, but I still see the same look in your eyes that I did so many years ago," Roderick's brother called, his beard and hair long and white making him seem to be the elder of the two.
"Indeed it had been long Bilius. You have come back from banishment to wage war against Regalia. Perhaps banishment was to light a sentence," Vikus retorted back. Roderick seemed to take offense and reached for his sword, but his brother reached out and grabbed his arm, calming him.
"Perhaps so, Vikus," Bilius replied. He stopped. Roderick stopped beside him. There was a mere dozen feet separating Vikus and the brothers. "Why do you come out alone?"
"I shall start these talks before my granddaughter and our warrior comes and finish them," Vikus answered.
"Ah yes. The queen and her boyfriend. I have heard much about them from my brother. I do believe that these talks will be well worth my time after all."
"Stellovet!" someone called breaking the calm tones of conversation. Eisen was standing tiptoed looking at her. "Are you alright?"
"She is fine you idiot," Roderick called back. "Do not worry so about her. I am sure she will want to see you again sometime."
"What have you done to her?" Eisen shouted back, the entire point of them being there put on hold for the moment.
"I have done nothing. She has willingly stayed and we have formulated a relationship. I am sure you are happy to hear that with how much you seem to care for her. She is very angry with all of you as well. It was her idea to trade Gregor for her. That was of course so we could kill him together."
"You have warped her mind!" Eisen cried back anger flooding his voice. His spear was poised for an attack, but a pair of strong arms held him back. Mareth wrestled him down and calmed him quickly. Eisen then stood defeated, his lip quivering with anger.
"Now that that little outburst is over, shall we begin?" Bilius asked Vikus.
"Not so fast brother," Roderick spat. He sprinted forward and grabbed Vikus, wrapping his strong arm around the old man's throat. Vikus didn't stand a chance to get away. Roderick was much larger and much stronger.
"You idiot!" Bilius snapped. "Let him go. This was not part of our plan at all. Vikus was not to be harmed at all. You wanted your revenge and i wanted Regalia and here we were to get it. But that is all ruined now." Bilius stopped and glared at his brother. "Let him go!"
Gregor stared in shock at the scene in front of him. Seconds before things seemed to be working as expected. But now he knew that things were never going to be normal. There was going to have been fighting no matter what had happened. And now Vikus was being held in a chokehold with no escape. Things didn't look good.
His eyes fell on Luxa. He could see the worry on her face, but he could see the anger in her eyes even more. She was ready to pounce and let her hot blooded nature take over. But she had to retain control over herself if there was any chance of Vikus being okay.
"You want me to let him go brother?" Roderick said a few moments later. "Fine. I will let him go." Roderick's arm loosened from around Vikus' neck and the old man stumbled forward a few paces. His eyes looked right at Gregor and he smiled. There was a twinkle in his eyes as he took a few steps towards them. And then his eyes grew wide, the twinkle leaving them. His mouth opened and closed as if drawing breath or searching for words. A trickle of blood leaked from the corner of his lips. His hands grasped the blade that had plunged through his chest.
Someone screamed, but Gregor was numb. He saw the blade protruding from Vikus' chest and he saw the pain and fear in the old man's eyes. There was very little light left in those eyes, but they never broke from Gregor's. Vikus mouthed one final word before closing his eye: hope. Vikus slumped to the ground, his light gone from his body. Roderick pulled his word from Vikus and held it loosely in his hand. Bilius was screaming at his brother, but Gregor didn't hear the words. His sword was out of its sheath and in his hand.
"Noooooooooooo!" he screamed as he propelled himself forward. His eyes caught one glimpse of Luxa being dragged screaming away by Perdita, before bringing his attention to Roderick. His vision blurred red and his mind lost all normal thoughts. If it was a battle Roderick wanted, it was a battle he would get.
And that is a wrap for this one. Remember to review and tell me what you thought of this.
What do you think about me killing Vikus? How will this affect Luxa, Gregor, and the rest of the cast? Who will take the biggest hit?