OoO( 29 )OoO

Ignoring the stares and cheers from the people around them, Lyle, Alex, and Van all walked through Bowerstone, headed strait for Bowerstone North. As they approached the gateway to the sector, the guards stepped in front of them.

"Ah, Mr. Sabre. Lady Grey is expecting you." he said. Then looked at the other two. "I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask your friends to stay behind. Regulations and all." he said.

Lyle looked at him. "They are with me."

"I'm sorry, but I'm not allowed to..." said the guard. Lyle glared at him murderously, making the man change his tune immediately. "Uh...surely they won't mind letting your friends in. Just, stay out of trouble, alright?" said the guard. They all walked through the gate and strait for the Grey Mansion. When they arrived, the warrior turned to the other two.

"I will go in alone from here." he said.

"Are you sure?" asked Alex.

Lyle nodded. "Don't worry, this is something I have to do alone." he said. The other two nodded, then he turned and walked into the mansion without knocking. Walking across the corridor with many potraits of the former Grey mayors, he entered the dining hall and went strait for the stairs. After climbing a giant staircase, he entered the bedroom, where Lady Grey was resting in her bed. The warrior approached the four poster bed and Grey opened her eyes.

Sitting up, she stared at him. "Hello lover. I heard about what happened with Thunder. So, when shall the wedding be?" she asked smiling. When he looked at her, she could almost feel her soul freeze from the cold look he was giving her. "What is it?"

He reached into his pouch and grabbed the parchment, then tossed it to her. "Your sister gave me this." he said. She grabbed the scroll and unrolled it, then began reading it. Her eyes went wide as she finished the letter. "Care to explain this?" he asked. She opened her mouth to say something, but Lyle held up a hand and stopped her. "Don't bother. I already know all that I need to know. There will be no wedding, there will be no marriage, and I will make sure that everybody in the country knows about this."

Grey stared at him wide eyed. "Lyle...please..." she said.

"Don't even. I have murdered before, but I had reason on my side. My family was killed by bandits, and I kill bandits as visciously as I do because of that. But to murder your own blood, your own sister because you don't get your way isn't murder, it's disgraceful. You killed your sister for self gain, and I, nor anybody else in this country can forgive that."

"But Lyle..."

"Take your damn lies somewhere else!" he yelled, making Lady Grey jump in fright. "Because they're wasted on me." he said, then turned around and walked out the door. He left the mansion without another word.

Van and Alex waited out front for Lyle, when he came busting out the front door. Van looked up at the warrior. "Did you tell her?" he asked.

Lyle nodded. "Yeah, I told her. She won't be in office for long." he said.

"And she probably won't be married either." said Alex.

Lyle shook his head as he approached the two. "No, she still may get married. I talked to Thunder about this already, and he said that he would still marry her because he loves her. But he also mentioned that if he did marry her, he was going to show her that he isn't marrying her so she can show him off as a trophy. He's going to make sure she knows who the head of the house is." he said.

"Well, I'm sure they would make a lovely couple." said Van sarcastically.

"Yeah. Well, she isn't my concern anymore. Now, all I have to worry about is getting my mother free from Bargate. Once I free her, its going to be a long vacation for me." he said as they walked away from Northern Bowerstone.

OoOoO

Lyle and the others sat in the mess hall at the guild, laughing and talking with each other and the many apprentices around them. William sat on Alex's right side, with Van across from her, Lyle on her other side and Elizabeth sitting across from him.

"So, Lyle, I hear you cut it off with Lady Grey." said William.

"That's right. You could hear his shouting across Bowerstone." said Van.

"Sounds like you really let her have it." said the warrior.

"She deserved nothing less." said Lyle.

Then, the girl Cara came up next to William. "May I have a seat?" she asked. He scooted over and she sat next to him, setting her plate onto the table. "So, what are you guys talking about?" she asked.

"An attack on the House of Grey." said Van.

"Really? I haven't heard about it. Is she alright?" asked Cara.

"Let's hope not." said Lyle.

"Well, thats not nice." said Elizabeth.

"But its true. I would've driven a stake into her heart if I thought it would kill her." said the warrior, sending the table into laughter.

Suddenly, loud and heavy footsteps could be heard heading towards the mess hall. Maze entered, out of breath and worn out. He looked around and spotted Lyle and the others sitting at the end of the table, then ran towards them. "Lyle, Van!" he shouted.

Lyle stood to his feet with a worried expression. "What is it Maze?" he asked.

"It's my friend the Archeologist! He's been kidnapped!" yelled the mage.

All the heros at the table sprang to their feet. "When?" shouted Van.

"They took him only a short time ago, I found signs of struggle in his room. Someone had to have taken him."

"Where would they take him?" asked Alex.

"I don't know..." said Maze as he closed his eyes. "We don't know who captured him either."

"I know a way we can find out." said Alex. They all looked at her as she searched for an old childhood memory. "A long time ago, the guildmaster said that the Ancient Mirror could see all in the guild. But, maybe it can see outside the guild as well." she said.

Maze slapped his head. "Of course! The mirror can see anything that goes on anywhere!" said the dark mage. "Come now, we have to find him." he said as he ran through the door again. He was followed by Lyle, Alex, Van, Elizabeth, William, Cara, and another hero named Jenra. Together they all ran into the room with the ancient mirror and skidded to a halt. Maze stepped up to the ancient portal and gazed into its reflective surface. "Show us the Archeologist!" he said. Suddenly, the glass in the mirror started to ripple and shift into a moving picture.

The Archeologist was bound and gagged, being drug down a small pathway by two men. They all stared at the mirror, looking for any signs that would tell them where his current location was. Maze looked back and forth at the picture when he finally spotted something. "There! That's a windmill!" he said. "The only windmill within a weeks walk of here is just north of Bowerstone. They must be taking him to the docks there!" he said.

"Why the docks?" asked Alex.

"The only other place they could be taking him that far north is to Headsman Hill, but he is far more useful alive than dead. Its the only other place." he said.

"Don't worry, we'll get him back for you." said Van. They all turned and went for the door. Lyle was about to follow when Maze grabbed his arm.

"What is it?" asked the warrior.

"Lyle, be careful. Those are very powerful beings that took him from here." said the mage.

"How do you know that?" asked Lyle confusedly.

"Because, I put very strong barriers around the Archeologist's room to protect him. If they can get through my magic with no ill effect, then they are very dangerous."

"Don't worry, I won't fail you." said the warrior. Then he dashed through the door and followed his allies through the cullis gate.

OoOoO

It took a lot of running to catch up to the Archeologist, but they finally made it. Van ran forward and yelled, "Hey! Let go of him!"

Both men turned to the heros, making the group gasp. They were both human looking, but had pale skin and pure black eyes. Both of them let go of the unconsious scientist and glared at the group.

"Cummon, they can't be that tough." said Cara as she stepped forward. But Van held her back. Looking up at her instructor, she asked, "What's wrong? They're human just like we are."

"No...no they aren't..." said the mage.

Then, both men tore their clothes off and dropped to their knees. The skin on them started to split open as bulk and muscle grew underneath. The skin was soon replaced by scale and fingers tore into razor sharp claws. When the transformation was finished, both of them stood up and glared at the party with the human faces still draped over them like masks. They both grabbed the faces with their scaly hands and pulled them off, revealing a reptilian face with blood stained scales, pointed teeth coming from their mouths, and the same pure black eyes as before.

"Oh God..." said William.

"W-What is it?" asked Cara frightened.

"Dragonites..." he said.

"I thought they were extinct!" shouted Van.

"Does it look like it?" asked Lyle. Both of the dragonites pulled helmets off their backs and placed them onto their heads, then drew double bladed weapons from behind them.

"The minions of darkness." said Elizabeth. Lyle ran forward and attacked them first. Suddenly, another minion appeared and grabbed the Archeologist, then began to run up the path to the north.

"Get the Archeologist!" shouted William. "Me and Lyle will handle these two!" he said, then ran at the other dragonite. He swung his daggers expertly at the reptilian warrior. But the creature manuevered out of the way and slashed at him with the double bladed weapon cutting him across the arm.

Lyle attacked with his sword, striking and swinging at the creature. Like the other, this dragonite was very agile and dodged most of the attacks. But, it did not get away without damage. Lyle swung his sword around and the creature blocked with its own weapon, but Lyle was prepared. He thrust his other hand out and grabbed the dragonites metal helmet. He sent a large amount of electricity through his arm and into the helmet in an attempt to electrocute it. But the creature, as if unfazed, grabbed Lyle and lifted him from the ground bodily with one arm, then hurled him away like a stone.

William attacked again with his blades and managed to slash the creatures armor off. Seeing Lyle's attempt, he yelled. "They are resistant to magic! That won't work on them!" he shouted. Then, the enemy grabbed him by the arm and slammed him harshly to the ground. Raising its weapon, it went to strike William, when an arrow pinged off its metal helmet and flew into the distance. The beast turned to the warrior and glared. Lyle stood with his bow in his hand, holding the other creature down with a heavy boot on its head. But, it eventually gripped the ground and jumped back to its clawed feet, sending Lyle sprawling backwards.

Jumping into the air, both creatures attempted to pounce the warrior. But fire shot forth and struck both of them. Though it had minimal effect, it sent both creatures flying backwards. Lyle jumped to his feet after the dragon flame attack and yelled, "William! Give it all you've got!"

The warrior nodded and ran at the dragons. Yelling as he summoned all his will energy, a heavy wind started to blow. Then, it began to spiral around the two stunned creatures and increase in ferocity. The twister picked the two creatures up and sent them spinning through the air, helpless and vulnerable. Lyle ran forward and yelled as well. He summoned all the magic he could muster and shot it forth into the tornado, making the wind storm change into a fire storm. Both dragonites dropped their weapons and grabbed their heads as the swirling fire began to melt the metal helmets upon their heads and suffocate them. Everything made of metal on the creatures turned to liquid and melded with the scales on their bodies rendering them useless.

Lyle ran forward and jumped into the twister, protecting himself with a magical shield and was also lifted off the ground. Taking his sword, he struck out at both of them with all his strength. Suddenly, the cyclone vanished and all three of them fell to the ground. Lyle landed on his feet with his sword stained black with the blood of the minions, and the other two fell heavily and hit the ground, soon followed by their heads. William looked at Lyle and slowly walked up to the warrior.

"We actually did it..." he said.

Lyle stood up and smiled. "Was their any doubt?" he asked. "Cummon, we have to get to the others." he said, and they both ran for the north leaving the two dragon corpses.

OoOoO

Van and the others had reached the docks and were now in a full fledged war with the minions. There were more than anybody had ever suspected, making for a trying battle. Van had summoned monsters to help with the battle, but they did little to help as they were perished easily by the dark creatures. Elizabeth was fighting the creatures using magic and healing the members at the same time, using much of her magic power. Alex was having the most luck with the assault, sending arrows flying and slaying the creatures by hitting vital spots and weak points across their bodies. Cara was too terrified to do much of anything and Jenra wasn't as advanced in archery as Alex was.

The battle wasn't going well. Van looked over and saw a minion cut Elizabeth across the face with its weapon. Furious, he used his magic and sent a shockwave out causing all the dragonites to fly backwards. Then, raising both hands into the air, he began to summon a large ball of lightning. "Damn...I need more magic!" he shouted. Elizabeth heard his call and raised her arms. Lightning shot from her hands and hit his, making the ball of electricity grow brighter and more powerful. The minions had gathered again and were advancing on the group. "Not...enough..." he said.

Suddenly, another lightning bolt flew and struck his hands as well. Everybody looked over and saw Lyle and William standing, both with their hands out and firing lightning into the mix. Then, Van smiled wickedly. "Game over you bastards!" he yelled, then he shot the ball of electricity forward. It moved slowly forward towards the enemy.

"No! Van, the Archeologist is still down there!" shouted Alex.

Staring down at the end of the dock, the mage cursed as he saw the still form of the scientist. "How do we get to him? That energy will kill anybody who comes within ten feet of it!" shouted Van.

"Cara! You have to go get him!" said Elizabeth. They all stared at the girl.

"Me? But...why?" she asked.

"Because, you are the only one who can teleport. You are the only one who can save him." said Van.

"But...I can't. I only barely did it last time..." she said timidly.

Willaim bent down and placed both hands on her shoulders. "Cara, please. You can do this." he said.

"B-But what if I mess up?" she asked, slightly blushing.

"Then nobody will blame you because you did your best. Please, do it for me." he said.

She looked into his eyes and smiled. "Okay, I'll try. Stand back." she said. William smiled as well and stepped backwards, giving her room. Cara closed both eyes and held her hands flat out in front of her.

Van smiled and elbowed Lyle lightly. "Watch this." he said proudly. Cara stood a moment, then bagan dancing. She spun circles with her eyes closed, the black ribbons from her arms spinning around her like a graceful whirlwind. She continued to dance for a moment her arms moving like smoke on the wind, then stopped in an elegant pose. Suddenly, a dark cloud of magic swallowed her and she vanished into thin air.

When she reappeared, she looked up from the end of the pier and saw the havoc Van's magic was causing the minion army. The dragonites attacked the ball of lightning wildy, but any living thing that stepped too close was hit with a bolt of pure energy, making them explode. Cara looked down at the wooden dock under her feet and saw the Archeologist lying senseless upon the jetty. Reaching down, she picked him up and threw one arm over her shoulders. She took one last look at the ball of lightning heading for her, then vanished into another cloud of smoke.

It was only a matter of seconds before the entire army of minions was demolished. As Cara reappeared behind everybody, she saw the lone ball of magic float off into the distance. Suddenly, cheers erupted from all the hero's around her. She looked at the ground red faced and embarressed. William ran over and picked her up off the ground. "You did it! I knew you could do it!" he shouted and she really started to blush.

"Cummon guys, we have to get him back to Maze." said Lyle. They all nodded, and Van walked over and picked the Archeologist up over his shoulders. Together, they all headed back for Bowerstone.