Hello all,
Here, as promised, comes the Conclusion to the fight against the Dark Goddess Kali. Alexander will need all his friends, Helpers and Healers in this ultimate showdown against death and destruction.
All the best wishes and hopefully good reading,
/ NorthernLight
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Escape From Destiny, Part Twenty
Ecbatana, 324 BC
Faithful Defenders Of A King And His Friend
The Archer realized that his friends the faithful Guards were in a very bad way. They could barely breathe and their complexion had turned into an uncanny blue pallor. He held the flagon with the Persian Sovereign Remedy under their nostrils, alternating from Stefanos to Alexios. The blue fumes spread like a peacock's fan from the flagon. It took forever for the Guards to react. At first their nostrils flared faintly and there seemed to be no improvement at all. Then they both took some deep breaths and their complexion was restored to normal. They could breathe with ease and now they seemed to be in a deep and almost normal sleep. The Archer inhaled some of the healing blue fumes, too, before he closed the flagon.
He immediately became wonderfully invigorated after his long wake together with his friends. It was well needed. Soon he, too felt the Dreamworld beckon to him. He could not resist its alluring Shadows. They surrounded him, forming a dark gray Portal. He felt that he must enter, and not a moment too late.
His King and Chiliarch lay stricken on the ground. They fought with desperation against a dark Shadow. It looked like an uncanny spider with eight arms holding on to razor sharp scimitars. The Archer did not know what this horrible Shadow represented, but he recognized true Evil whenever it came before him.
His fellow Guards fought with their spears against the dreadful Shadow. They managed to make it turn away from its hapless victims. Now the Archer saw that it was a woman, and no ordinary woman at all. Her skin had a deep blue and black tone, she had a necklace with screaming tortured skulls around her long and sinewy neck and she was dressed in a gown the colour of newly shed blood.
She smiled towards him. It was no joyful smile, no, it was filled with malice and cruelty and razor sharp fangs.
"How sssstrange, "she hissed at him. My Enemies have so many Defenders, even here in my Dark Realm."
The Archer brandished his curved sword and met her in combat. Now they were five against this dangerous and deathly Goddess. Alexander and Hephaestion had risen and stumbled around, fighting together as one. Alexander was holding his golden and flaming sword. Hephaestion had a white sword, glaring with flames if ice cold silver. They all fought together but they had great difficulties against her overwhelming Evil. They fought with desperation against a dark Shadow. Tentacles of choking darkness grasped at them, feet and hands. Soon they stumbled and fell once more. Their faithful Guards fell together with them. The Evil Goddess slashed at them. Soon she would manage to cut them into small pieces and scarlet ribbons.
The Archer was the only one standing. The dark Goddess did not see him. He acted as fast as he was able when he unstoppered the flagon with the Persian Sovereign Remedy once more. He quickly dipped the point of one of his arrows in it before closing it again. His aim was true and clear when he lifted his bow and notched the arrow. At this close range he managed to hit his dark and dangerous target right between her bony shoulder blades. They looked almost as bat wings.
The arrow hit made her look up with an evil glare towards him. Otherwise she was not affected at all. It was a mere distraction - but enough to allow the four brave Macedonians to rise to their feet. They came towards her with the help of the Archer. Now they all sank their spears and swords into her. Alexander put his flaming, golden sword into her dark and pulsating black heart. Its golden light spread all over the Dreamworld.
Then they saw the Dark Goddess dissolve into a black, hissing and foul smelling smoke. She was gone, at least for now. Only a cold whisper remained.
"Beware, beware, my Enemies. I will return when you least expect it!"
The Archer shuddered but then he embraced his King, his Chiliarch and fellow Guards.
The Dreamworld shimmered and dissolved in a light shimmering in all the colours of the Rainbow arond them.
Then they were back in the Chiliarch's chambers in the Rainbow city. The morning sun shone bright and clear through the windows.
The Chiliarch Hephaestion was sitting up in his bed. His complexion was restored to normal, he was awake and looked as well as before he had been stricken by his strange illness.
King Alexander sat in the wicker chair at his friend's bedside. His face was blue and white and he could barely breathe. Amanda and Doctor Philip was at his side. The Healer anointed his chest with an ointment smelling strongly of mint and camphor. The good Doctor held a bottle with pulmonary herbs under his nostrils.
It was to no avail at all.
Hephaestion gave his friend and King a worried look before he rose on trembling legs and embraced him.
This effort was too much for him in his weakened state. He lost his breath and collapsed over Alexander. Now the Healer and the Doctor wrung their hands in sheer desperation.
The Archer saw all this and now he knew what to do.
A gentle Voice, sounding like all the Sacred Waters of the World, spoke into his ear. It was Anahita.
"Now it is the right time, my brave Son of Persia!"
The Archer swiftly produced his flagon and unstoppered it. The blue fragrances filled the chambers, mixing with the golden sunlight.
He gave his King to drink at first. When Alexander swallowed the blue concoction his breathing was at once restored to normal and his complexion turned into the healthy colour of peaches and roses. Alexander looked at him, his beautiful gray eyes filled with thankfulness. Then he saw the desperate state of his Dear One. He pointed towards Hephaestion.
"No more of this Miracle Remedy for me. Give it to HIM instead!"
The Archer gave the remains in the flagon to Hephaestion. He drank and then he, too, returned to Life.
He embraced Alexander and they sat together in the wicker chair.
King and Chiliarch was well once more.
It was a Morning of Hope and Healing in the Rainbow walled city of Ecbatana.
TBC
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