CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The village was lost to chaos and Bracket went for his scarab. Four cogs went for the bunny-man. Instead of drawing their firearms, they activated their electrified spears. At blinding speed, the bunny-man pulled a pair of knives from his belt. He eyed their movements, patiently, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. When it came, he moved with an uncanny grace and with a few quick strikes, the cogs fell dead.
The simple brutality of their deaths brought the entire village to silence, even before Bracket could. The bunny-man glared at the fat king. He sheathed his knives, next to his collection of others that were concealed by the rolls of his sweatshirt. No one moved to question his prowess. "No! Stop! Mistake!" His voice was loud and confident. However, there was a nervousness underneath it that scarcely could be detected. He gave Callen a quick look over and shook his head. "He no be Marked One!"
"What brings you here, Prophet?” Bracket mocked. “Or should I say ex-prophet?"
The bunny-man responded nonchalantly by pointing at Bracket's camera.
Bracket’s lips curled. ”You know are no longer welcome in this court! Take yourself and leave! Or I'll authorize the use of more potent weaponry..."
"The bunny-man is their prophet?" Callen whispered to himself. "This is..."
"More just die." The bunny-man warned. He rolled his shoulders and calmly placed his hands on two of his knives, like a gunslinger.
"Here him out, Bracket...we've seen enough death to last us many lifetimes. Besides, he may shed some light on The Marked One's lack of magic." Virette suggested. "Besides, you know he’s notoriously difficult to kill...and if you don't like what he says, you've already exiled him..."
"Fine." Bracket agreed. "Speak, Niknak." The Cogs lowered their weapons.
Satisfied, the bunny-man stepped over the bodies of the dead cogs. When he reached the table, he bared his teeth. He grabbed the back of one of the noble's chairs and tossed it to the ground. Stepping on him and up to the table, he smashed his fist down. "This mistake!" He roared. "He no be Thorne!" He paid no mind to the noble backing away with a broken arm.
"Thorne is the name of the Forger." Bracket stated. "The eye didn't fail, it couldn't have! But, he says he cannot cure the plague...explain yourself..."
"No be Thorne!" The prophet insisted.
"Alexander Thorne is my father," Callen stated. "If he is the Forger, then that makes me his son..."
"He no be Thorne." The prophet stated. "Give me boy, me dispose! He lies!"
"This is ridiculous, Father!" The princess yelled. "This entire process is making a joke of our court! Our people are dying! Debating this boy's divinity is a waste, just like all the resources you spent finding him! We would have some progress to show for if you weren't all blinded by this religious debate!"
"Silence, daughter!" Bracket roared. "You are not yet queen! And you must remember the importance of faith in order to rule..."
"I have not forgotten the importance of faith, but when it rips our people apart, it is worse than the goblins and the plague THEY spread to us! Believing this is a divine curse is insane!" The princess yelled. "Just give him to Niknak to be dealt with, Father, and let this be over...we will kill the goblins that make us sick with their demonic magic. Please, give our people a chance at victory through strength of arms and strategy, not religious dogma."
"Faith has carried us this far, and it will save us now!" Bracket roared. "We must not waver! It is faith that will unite us once again and it is faith that will bring us our redemption!" He began addressing the cameras to placate the crowd as he did his fingers tightly gripped his necklace.
Virette leaned in next to Sprocket. "If you have noticed, Princess Sprocket," She kept her voice low, as if not to interrupt the King. "The unity you seek converges on this boy. Embrace it, and you just might be able to make the right suggestions to bring an end to this goblin plague." She leaned back in her chair, as if pleased with herself. "Now's your chance princess. Take it and unite our people."
Sprocket gave Virette a hard stare. "I don't get you, priestess." The word 'priestess' sounded unnatural, as if she was used to calling Virette something else. "You have the most to loose in the affirmation of his identity."
"Who am I to deny the truth?" She stood and leaned on the table. "My king..." She said interrupting Bracket's speech. She waited for him to pause. When he did, she continued. "My king and the great gremlins of our growing society, you know that I have always been a seeker of the truth, that cannot be denied. It was that truth that caused the Church of the Many to be born from our people's suffering. But, at this moment even I am humbled by the revelation occurring right before our very eyes. But, I must bring up a point of contention, my king. Your tests have shown him to be the Forger's son. Yet, he says he cannot cure the plague with the magic you desire. So, Bracket, what do you say to that? Do you admit that your faith isn't enough to save our people?"
"She is right, Father." Sprocket said. "You claimed he could cure us...so, where is the cure?"
"Silence!" Bracket ordered. "Is what you say true, Marked One? Can you not cure us?"
"If it wasn't true, why would I tell you that?" Callen answered, and the cave magnified the sound of the village's riotous screams.
Bracket quieted them with a few barks and rapid movements of his hand on the scarab and looked to Callen. "So, speak..." He sounded like he was getting desperate.
"But, I know where a cure is..." He looked at Virette and she nodded. "I've come to tell you it's in the Domain..."
The cheers in the cavern erupted again, this time they sounded more united and less riotous. "Silence!" Bracket rubbed one of his fingers over the scarab and shook his head angrily. The gremlins relaxed. "Those words were declared heresy long ago." Bracket yelled. "They are blasphemy. The domain must stay sealed! It is our sacred duty!"
"Only because they also bring into question your Forger-given right to rule..." Virette pointed out. "More of your Forger's prophecy was reviled, as well. He spoke of the door being opened with a holy key by your Marked One and him retrieving cure beyond it...as his mark turns outward..."
"Your purpose becomes transparent, Priestess," Bracket stated. "Your intentions seek to usurp me with the rule of the prophet! The Prophet is not the chosen king!"
"I only seek to save our people." Virette sighed. "I wish that you could see that...after you exiled the Prophet, he continued to speak. A cure was locked beyond the door for us, not a monster...a cure for the day we need it most...and that day is here...and the Forger made this cure! The Forger was the one that made our salvation! Don't you see? We have to open the domain!"
"But, we have no key...how can this be right?" Bracket slumped back in defeat. "Why would the Forger lock the domain if we would need to open it? It doesn't make sense..."
"Father, just give the order and I'll..." The Princess started.
"But, what if there was a key? Would you know it if you saw it?" Virette cut her off.
Bracket nodded. "I remember his blasphemous words, I've seen the drawings in the scriptures, and I remember the last being to have it was the Forger. So, I would know it if I saw it...but our sacred duty is to guard the domain...The Forger locked it when he gave us our freedom...the key was then destroyed..."
"If it weren't destroyed, Great King, would you consider using it?" Virette pressed. "What if the forger never destroyed it? He was the last one to possess it...and why would he destroy an object of such power? What if he..."
The king roared with frustration. "But there is no longer a key, priestess...if's are pointless..."
"I'm tired of the bickering!" Sprocket roared as she stood up. "It is time to disregard superstition and unite for our common goal! This ends now!" She pulled a pistol, Callen's pistol, from her belt. "No more of this..." She cocked the weapon.
Callen felt a drop
of sweat roll down his forehead and he lifted his hand to his neck to hold his father's cross. His heart skipped a beat when he grabbed only air. He remembered the cross was in his pocket, so he reached into feel it one more time.
"Wait, princess!" Virette screamed. "He has something! Show us, Marked One!"
Callen listened and opened his hand to reveal his father's cross. "It's only my father's cross..."
The prophetic bunny-man didn't look surprised and cursed under his breath.
Bracket's eyes focused on Callen's hand. "Wait!" He said, and Sprocket lowered the gun. "He carries the Forger's Cross?" He shook his head. His face creased with disbelief. "It is...can't be..."
"I have your Key of Creation." Callen insisted, remembering it was referred to as that when he first received it. "I have memories of him using it in the domain, and I know he used its power to lock the domain...and I can open it..."
"The Marked One has his father's magic...it controls the domain! Our salvation is here!" A sinister grin crossed Virette's face. "So, will you take this chance to save our people, wise king? Or will you condemn us?"
"Father...it seems things are converging on this boy..." The princess shook her head. "This is...crazy...but even I cannot argue...even now, as you debate his fate he is uniting our people..."
"You see, great king? We stand ready to be united!" Virette said. "All you have to do is allow the domain to be opened by the Marked One and he will save us..." She grinned. "And all the Many's faithful know that our true king would do anything to save our people...with all our prayers, we all look to you dear king..."
"This is...unbelievable..." Bracket shook his head. "But, I cannot deny it...I have no choice..." He looked at Virette. "If you seek a king that will save our people, then so be it...I will be that type of king, like I've always been. We will deal with our differences in faith when this concludes if they remain...Princess, assemble our army. We have a prophecy to see unfold!"
"No!" The prophet yelled. "Bad, Bad! No army. Send with me. Me take."
"The Forger's child will lead our army to reclaim Forgeholm as it has been written!" Bracket stated.
"But, the prophet has some validity in his point, Father." Sprocket said. "You cannot rely on an inexperienced boy to lead our army and we know nothing of the state of Forgeholm! The only one who has managed to move past the goblin patrols is the Prophet."
"Yes, you are right. This is a perfect opportunity...and the Marked One needs to cure us first according to scripture. If he is to lead us, he must get the cure and bring it back." Bracket admitted. "A squad can provide an escort and gather tactical recon on the current status of Forgeholm to aid in the eventual siege."
"I cannot deny your logic, my liege or yours Princess." Virette pointed out. "The Prophet wanders the forbidden tunnels and knows the ways around the enemy. He knows the tunnels better than any of us. He has wandered all over the deep on his vision quests! He should take the boy there before we send our army and open the domain."
"Fine, do as Sprocket suggests. The prophet will lead, Alpha team will escort." Bracket said. "General Sprocket, gather our forces in Tiremound and send runners to our other settlements. When the Marked One returns, we are going to war!" The crowd roared.
When the crowd quieted, the Niknak spoke. "No take soldiers. Just me and boy."
"That will not be what happens, Niknak. I am king, not you!" Bracket roared. “You will do as I order!” The anger left his voice. “Sarge, Alpha team ready?" His gaze was locked on Niknak.
"Yah, My king," Sarge, the gremlin dressed in commando gear, replied in a deep Austrian accent. "Just say the word."
"Then, no take!" Niknak protested angrily.
Bracket stared hard at Niknak. "You will do as I command, scout. You wouldn't want to fail your master, now would you, prophet?" Bracket placed hard emphasis on the words fail and master.
The prophet's head twitched slightly. He then looked angrily at Bracket. "Fine. I take." He said at last. "Niknak...no fail," he twitched. "Niknak must serve." He shook his head violently.
"Surely Bracket," Virette said. "After all he has done and his protests to your orders, are you just going to take his word? Surely he harbors resentment for you...if only there something to bargain with him for...a wise and powerful king would give anything to save his people..."
Niknak looked at Virette and his organic eye widened with a realization. "Yes, Niknak demand pay!" He turned and stared at Bracket's hands that were tightly clasping his necklace. "Niknak want what Bracket stole! Niknak want Niknak's coin and scarab back!"
Virette grinned as Niknak mentioned the coins.
"Never, they are mine! I never took them...I was given them by the Forger!" Bracket roared. "Your failure of your mas..."
Virette interrupted before he could finish. "King Bracket! That is a fair price to pay for the return of Forgeholm! We are all united under this human boy and you. You have no need for those relics now. We are all with you, those of the Many or Forger, it makes no difference now...a new day is upon us. Especially, if the prophet denies his prophecy based claim to the throne..." She looked at Niknak and waited.
He nodded. "Niknak no want to be king...Niknak just want coin and scarab back!"
"So be it." Bracket growled. "Guide them, Prophet and you will have what you request."
Niknak grinned happily. "Then Niknak take, but no trust Bracket. Give now."
"You will be paid on your successful return," Bracket said. "Not before."
"No trust. Give now or no take!" Niknak growled. "Many changes in tunnels. Many collapses. Need me or no reach Forgeholm."
"Give me them both, and I will pay him when he returns," Virette stated.
"What makes you think I would EVER hand them over to you, Priestess?" Bracket roared.
"Father, them to me. I will hold them." Sprocket suggested. "I will pay him after we retake Forgeholm."
"Do you accept this?" Bracket asked Niknak.
Niknak looked at Sprocket and nodded. "Accept. Take, then princess pay."
"Fine." Bracket seared and he tossed the two necklaces to Sprocket.
"You shall get this upon your return, Prophet." Sprocket said. "You have my word as heir to the throne and General."
"It is settled then." Bracket stated. "Our salvation has begun!"
"No, it isn't settled," Callen interjected. "You all talk as if I've agreed to help you." He looked at Sadie, Tende, Ania and the other captives. "But if you free these children..."
Bracket's eyes focused on Callen and his horrible face twisted with anger. "This was not part of any prophecy!" He roared.
"I doubt that killing them and countless others to find me was either," Callen said. "You need me, and I need them to be released. Now."
"What, do you think I am stupid?" Bracket said angrily. "If you are using this as a bargaining chip, you obviously have no care for the gremlin people!"
"Shouldn't a savior care about everyone?" Callen stood firm, his heart pounded. “Humanity's savior did.”
He stared hard at Callen and finally nodded. "I guess if you didn't care for them it would make you less of a savior. So, I offer you this...when you return they will be set free, as insurance."
“As long as they’re unharmed, I agree,” Callen said. “However, I have an additional request.” He gestured to Ania. “This girl I saved to come with me along with that the girl there and the boy there." He pointed to Sadie and Tende.
"I agree to the no harm, but only a human with the blood of the Forger in his veins shall fulfill the prophecy." Bracket started.
"Well, that makes part of it easy then," Callen stated. "The girl I stepped in for is my sister. If you have any question of that, why do you think I risked my own death to protect her from your test machine? If you don't agree to at least this, then y
ou're going to have to shoot me..."
"Fine!" Bracket roared angrily. "The girl will go! But, the other two will stay here with the other humans until you return Forgeholm to us."
"It will be done." Callen nodded. "You have my word."
"Then the deal is set." Bracket roared. "Assembly adjured."
"Ah, my liege," Sarge said as the crowd seated around the table began to leave. "They will need supplies. The tunnels are dangerous."
"Sprocket, take the Marked One, that girl, and the prophet to the armory." Bracket ordered. “Then, do as I ordered. I await news of victory." Bracket looked towards the guards who were watching the children. "Take the prisoners to the castle prison to wait for the marked one's triumphant return."
"As will I, King Bracket," Virette smirked. "I will call all the Many's faithful to prayer. We must give thanks and pray for the Marked One's success."
"Excellent to have you returning to reason, Priestess." Bracket smiled. "Now, we must prepare!"