Faded Shadows
Chapter 17
During my entire life, I'd never imagine that I would eventually scale an icy mountain to assassinate some giant bird. I guess you should never count out the impossibilities and always assume that anything could happen. As I quietly followed Azure Phoenix as closely as possible, I wondered what awaited us at this mountain top base. Would it be something that we could handle with ease or maybe too many enemies for us to even count. I would safely assume that since this bird was the second hand man of Scarhide, he'd be protected quite a bit.
I was pulled out of my thoughts by Azure Phoenix's wing being raised in front of me. I took this as a sign to stop and huddled a bit closer to him.
"There." he said as he pointed his head towards the distance. I focused my vision forward to see a small yet steep hill with a road leading up to it. At the top sat what looked to be a giant building. It had to be the keep we were looking for.
"Here's the deal." started Azure. "I'm going to make my way up the side of the cliff. You are going to take the road. It looks like the guards might be on the inside of the complex instead of patrolling the outside. Don't kill anything unless you have to. It would save both of us a whole lot of trouble if we kept this as quiet as possible."
Azure paused and pointed to the highest point of the complex.
"Once you make it into the complex, head for that tower. I'll meet you there and we'll go over the game plan."
Azure flexed his wings and readied himself for a takeoff but stopped. He looked at me one last time.
"I mean what I said, Zhane. Don't kill anything unless you have to."
With that, Azure bolted into the sky and flew low until he reached the cliff of the complex. I groaned, how did he expect me to be of use if I can't kill anything? I placed my hand on my new sword and the bow on my back. I was protected as I could be. No reason to complain now.
I pulled the bow from my shoulder and tested the string, it had been far too long since I last held one. To be a bit honest, I still missed my push daggers. They made things a bit more personal between me and those I fought. At this point, they were probably sitting somewhere in the castle. I looked up at the complex and moved forward slightly. The rush of all those years of stalking and kill were flooding back. I thought that this task would be near impossible but now I was happy for this opportunity.
I had made my way up the road in 20 minutes. Azure was right about the guards, there were none to be found. I just hoped there wasn't hundreds sitting in the complex waiting for me. As I reached the gate, I noticed that the gate was wide up with no one guarding it. This was too strange, it was almost as if they were inviting me in.
I remained low and passed through the gate. Thank god my armor blended well with the snow or I might have been spotted coming in. I looked up for the tower and found it right in front of me, the door leading up to it being completely unguarded. I slowly entered the building until I know it was safe for me to be there. I found the stairs and began to climb.
I reached the top and was met with the sight of one very cautious Azure Phoenix.
"Something is wrong." he said in a quiet voice. "There should be plenty of guards here. Did you see any on your way here?"
"No." I replied. "The front gate was wide open."
Did they figure out about our mission?" Azure asked himself. "Are they waiting to spring their trap?"
Azure looked around at the complex.
"Let's check the buildings. Our target might be in there."
I watched as Azure leaped off the edge and glided back towards the ground, making his way to the closest entrance. I did the same and descended the tower, finding a door leading inside at the bottom. Once indoors, I noticed once again that there were no guards present. Slowly, I began to wander the complex until I reached a large set of door where I saw Azure peeking into the room beyond it.
"Find the target?" I quietly asked as I approached Azure.
"Yeah." he said as he nodded. "Listen."
Azure beckoned for me to put my head closer as to hear into the next room.
"Are the preparations ready?" I heard a voice ask in the other room.
"Yes, Commander Rossen." replied another voice. "Everything is prepared for Scarhide's arrival. All available guards were sent to protect him on his way here."
"Excellent." replied Rossen. "This attack that Leo has launched has caused enough trouble today but at least they won't capture Scarhide. Not while I have anything to say about it."
I pulled my head away from the door and looked at Azure. He looked back with a smile.
"Get ready, we're going in."
I smiled back and put the bow back on my shoulder. I reached for my sword and slowly pulled it out from the sheath.
"Kill any guard in there." began Azure. "Don't kill Rossen, just capture him. I believe that he's our target."
I nodded.
"Would you like to do the honors?" asked Azure as he backed away from the door.
I smiled and centered myself at the door. I raised a foot and pushed with all of my might. The door buckled under the weight and swung open with great force, catching those in the next room by surprise.
As I entered the room, only two griffons entered my sight. One who was wearing a set of armor and the other who wore a sash filled with medals.
"I got the guard!" I yelled to Azure. "Grab the target."
I then shifted focus to the armored griffon that stood before. I gave him no time to prepare as he attempt to grab him weapon to defend himself. I swung the sword and made contact right at the neck. The guard dropped the next moment, bleeding all over the place.
"It's been too long." I quietly say to myself and I finish the guard off. "Far too long."
I looked over at the other side of the room to see Azure Phoenix boxing in the target, Commander Rossen. With his wings ablaze, Azure had Rossen cowering in the corner like a frightened little girl.
"Do you have any idea who I am!?" yelled Rossen from the corner. "I am a Commander of the Rebel Forces! I am right hand to Scarhide himself! Your heads will be on pikes when he finds out what you've just done!"
"I seriously doubt that." replied Azure. "We'll be gone before that happens."
Rossen began to laugh.
"What makes you think that?" he asked. "Scarhide is just down the hill with 100 of my guards. There is no way you're making it out of here alive."
Azure stared at Rossen for a moment before flapping his wings in the direction of the Commander. Rossen, and the area around him lit up in a bright blue flame. I cringed slightly as I thought back to what that flame felt like. It must suck to be Rossen right now.
After a few moments, the flames were extinguished and all that remained of Rossen were his charred remains.
"Alright Zhane." began Azure. "We have a problem."
"I think we have an opportunity." I replied. "100 guards would be nothing to you. Just destroy them and we take Scarhide dead or alive."
"How can we be sure that it's only 100 guards?" asked Azure. "What if Scarhide brought his soldiers as well?"
"Then we'll retreat but we can't let this opportunity slip past us. I can't do as much damage as you can but I can do my best to thin the numbers."
Azure thought for a moment before letting lose a sigh.
"Alright, what's the plan?"