Faded Shadows
Chapter 10
"Are the troops ready?" asked Scarhide with his sights on the castle.
"As ready as they could every be." replied the griffon that he was addressing. "It has been an honor serving under you, General."
"You say that as if we will not live through this." said Scarhide as he turned towards the griffon.
"The troops know this and accept it. We are glad to be by your side." replied the griffon.
Scarhide smiled. Even when faced with impossible odds, his troops were always by him, Unlike that insufferable duo that tagged along
"Get ready to charge." he told the griffon.
"They are ready." said the griffon as he motioned to the thousands of troops lined up.
"Troops!" yelled Scarhide. "Today, we take the castle and put an end to King Leo's reign!" The General pulled out his sword and pointed it at the castle.
"CHARGE!" he yelled as a battle cry from the thousands of griffons echoed throughout the area. The siege was underway.
Everyone in the throne room was dead silent. I'm pretty sure that even Azure surprised himself with what he had said.
"What did you say?" I asked still in disbelief.
"I said I'll take you with me." replied the pegasus.
"I don't know if that is such a good idea." replied Agliss. "It might be better for him to go with me."
"I put some thought into what you said, Agliss." replied Azure. "Maybe it's time I give him a chance."
Agliss didn't reply, he just smiled. I myself was taken aback. This was coming from a pony who wanted to burn me to a crisp yesterday. Now he wanted to give me a chance. Agliss must have brainwashed him, that's for sure.
I opened my mouth to protest but had my attention turned to the newly installed throne room doors as they were thrown open.
"My King!" yelled the griffon guard that ran through. "Scarhide and his troops are attacking the castle and the city below."
"What?!" yelled Leo as he turned towards the guard.
"He brought over 1000 rebels with him. They've ripped through our defenses and are destroying everything in their path." replied the guard.
"Any civilian casualties?" asked the King. The guard didn't respond, he just nodded at Leo. "Then I want every troop we have at the city. I will personally skewer Scarhide to the wall!"
Leo looked over to us.
"This is why I brought you over here." he started. "This is what they see fit to do and for that, they deserve no forgiveness."
"We will continue this later." replied Agliss. "I will protect this castle." The old man looked over towards me. "So will he."
I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.
"Don't know how much of a help I'll be right now." I said.
"Don't worry about." replied Leo. "I need you to guard the High Priestess. Her guards will appreciate the extra support."
I didn't reply.
"I'm going to the front lines." said Phoenix. "I'm gonna have me some fun."
"At this point, I can't argue with that." replied the King. "Zhane, the High Priestess is in her study. Agliss, would you escort him?"
"Of course." he replied. "I'll guard the road to the castle. I'll make sure nothing gets past me."
Leo nodded and flicked his head to the left. Agliss started to walk for the door and motioned me to follow. I turned and started to walk with him.
"How is the attack going?" asked Scarhide as he watched the smoke from the city rise.
"It's going great." replied a rebel troop. "The guards are no match for us."
"What of Solomon and Melody?" asked Scarhide."
"Last I saw, they were headed towards the castle." replied the rebel. "They must be after the glory of this battle."
"I doubt they'll get any." said Scarhide as he smiled. He knew full and well who was waiting in that castle. It was his fullest intent not to move on it at all.
"Here" said Agliss as he pointed at the door leading to the High Priestess' study. He gave three quick knock and announced himself. "High Priestess, this is Agliss." The door was opened a few moments afterward.
The inside of the study was almost as large as the throne room. This must value their High Priestess as much as the King. All the way in the back of the study stood the High Priestess, Bloom and about four guards.
"Hello Agliss." she said as we walked in. "And hello Zhane."
"We have another guard for you." said Agliss as he pushed me forward.
"Leo wants Zhane to guard me?" she asked as she walked forward.
"He's not as useful in open combat as he used to be, but I think he'll do fine guarding you." replied Agliss.
I frowned at the old man's comment.
"All help is appreciated." replied the High Priestess. "I'll have him armored and weapon ready in no time."
"I know you can handle him." responded Agliss. "His collar is still very much active."
"I forgot about that." I said as I grab the metal collar on my neck.
Agliss turned and started to walk out of the room.
"Good luck Agliss." said the High Priestess.
"Thank you." he replied as he walked out of the room and closed the door behind him.
"Well then." started the High Priestess. "Let's get you prepared."
"Is Zhane with the High Priestess?" asked Leo as he watched Agliss approach the road that led to the castle.
"He's there." replied Agliss. "Both of them should be fine."
"Good." replied Leo. "We have a change of plans, I need you with me. We are going to attack with our full force and push them out of the city."
"I don't know if that's a good idea." replied Agliss. "What if some get through?"
"None of them will get through." replied Leo. "They won't be able to. Not if we attack from all directions."
"Alright then." replied Agliss. "Let's finish this quickly."
"Let's." said Leo as the two of them advanced for the town.
Minutes after the pair had left the road leading towards the castle a large gnoll with a unicorn on its back emerged from the shadows.
"Solomon think these griffons too weak." said Solomon. "Ashkin could destroy them all."
"Don't think about it too much big guy." said Melody. "We're here to do as we please. In this case, that would be to retrieve Zhane."
"Solomon don't like tiny human." replied the gnoll. "He weak and harmless."
"Our boss thinks otherwise." replied Melody. "Let's just grab Zhane and get him back to the boss as quick as possible. I won't let Scarhide have all of the fun today."
"What if we run into trouble?" asked Solomon.
"Scarhide has orders to assist if anything goes wrong. We're fine." replied Melody. "Now, if you're done, let's get a move on."
"Well." said the High Priestess. "We got you as armored as we could."
The only thing they could fit on me were some wrist guards. The best weapon they could find for me was a standard sword that one of the guards had.
"I feel so invincible right now." I said sarcastically. In all honesty, I could probably only take down one enemy. Oh how I missed being able to use magic.
"You look like you could take on an army." replied Bloom in her usual springy voice.
"I wish I could." I replied back as I took my position next to the guards around the High Priestess.
"Any idea why Scarhide would attack us right now?" I asked looking at the High Priestess.
"They might have decided that it was time to attack. Maybe they're just a bunch of idiots who think they can defeat us." replied the High Priestess.
"So what you're saying is that you're guess is as good as mine?" I asked
"Pretty much." she replied.
"Can you find him?" asked Solomon as he walked down the halls of the castle. It seemed that the fighting in the city has emptied the castle.
"Whatever he's wearing is giving off a strong magic signal." replied the unicorn. "I could find him from 100 miles away."
"Which way is he?" asked the gnoll.
"He's up above us." replied Melody. "He might be in some kind of tower."
"Solomon get us there quick." replied the gnoll as he took off running for their destination.
After what seemed like ages of standing at attention around the High Priestess, a small knock came from the door on the other side of the room.
"Identify yourself!" replied one of the other guards.
"We need your help out here!" replied the voice. "They're slaughtering us!"
In response to this, the guard rushed over to the door to open it. Once there, he pushed the large doors open only to see a green unicorn standing there.
"Well." said the unicorn as she looked at me. "I love a good game of hide and seek but it seems that I have found you."
As she said that, a giant sword came from the unicorn's side and skewered the guard completely. My eyes went wide when I realized who decided to pay me a visit.
"You got him Solomon!" replied the unicorn. "Acquaint yourself with the others."
The giant sword with the skewered guard slid back through the door, taking the guard with it. In its place, a large wolf like creature fit himself through the door. I could see the other guards backing away in my peripherals.
"Solomon likes making new friends." replied the giant wolf as it approached us.
"You two again?" started the High Priestess. "I thought Agliss sent you running for the hills?"
"You think wrong little priestess." replied Solomon. "We not scared off by some tiny human."
"As a matter of fact." started Melody. "We here to collect something."
The green unicorn looked over to me and winked, I respond with a look of disgust.
"That sucks cause I'm not going with you." I replied.
"That sucks because that means that Solomon is going to kill everypony here." retorted the unicorn. "I think we'll start with that young, little hen over there."
I looked over to where Bloom was standing and saw here cowering behind the High Priestess, as if she was some kind of impenetrable wall. I wouldn't have really cared either way but this unicorn really pisses me off. I walked over to the large wolf thing, stood in its path and pointed my sword at it.
"I really don't like seeing children being killed. So I'm afraid that isn't going to happen."
Melody looked me over and began to laugh.
"You think something like you can stand up to Solomon?" she asked. "You might have been powerful once but now you're as weak as those pathetic griffons over there."
"You'd be surprised how well I can hold my own." I said bluffing my ass off. If this broke out into a fight, I'm not sure how I would fare, let alone Bloom or the High Priestess.
Melody frowned and snorted slightly.
"Don't hurt him too bad, Solomon." said the unicorn.
"No promises." replied Solomon as he drew his sword again, allowing the metal to ring against its holster. In the same fashion as myself, Solomon held his sword out, pointing it at me.
"You will crumble beneath Solomon you puny insect." he said with a smirk.
I made no retort, I was trying to focus on the matter at hand. Only two days here and I've already gotten this deep into the problem here. I goes I'm the one they're after really. In that case, there's no way I'm letting them win.
"Not talking?" asked the hulking beast. "You must be nervous or scared."
Without breaking eye contact, I yelled over to the High Priestess.
"High Priestess, Bloom!" I started. "You might want to back up. This is gonna get messy."
Understanding this, the remaining griffons backed away from the conflict. They retreated to a far corner of the room with the remaining guards protecting the High Priestess and Bloom intently. Solomon gave a large snort and barred his teeth.
"You that cocky?" he asked.
"Not at all." I replied.
"Hehehe." began the behemoth. "Solomon take back what was said earlier. Solomon beginning to like you."
As he said this, Solomon rose his sword in preparation for the fight. In one swift move, the giant was all over me and had his sword not far behind.