Kelm surveyed the battle from atop the castle’s command tower. Standing at the highest point in the kingdom, he too felt the ground tremors as the Legion rapidly approached. He witnessed the invading horde ashen the distant hillsides. Now, from what he could tell, the first perimeter around Centre Pointe had dissolved, and what remained of their force had dispersed. The second-perimeter soldiers stood in position around the castle, each anticipating, bravely awaiting their turn to engage such a monstrous enemy.
Kelm, knowing this moment would come, awaited Maebus’ retreat. Emotionless, he watched the progression of the battle. For some time, he’d possessed the full knowledge of the Legion’s ruthlessness. But it still wasn’t enough to prepare him for the reality he now witnessed. He struggled to school his features, to show no dismay.
He quickly ran all aspects of their elaborate plan through his mind. “So many moving pieces,” he muttered to himself, remembering the conversation he shared with Maebus just last night. Everyone—the army, the two young brothers, the Council, even the Legion—had a role to play. Events had proceeded beyond Kelm’s control. Being a meticulous man, he was unsettled at having to remain passive.
A few miles just beyond the castle, he spotted an explosion. A yellowish streak hit the ground and crackled into black smoke. Through it, Kelm saw Maebus and Khroy riding full speed towards the castle. Legionaries pursued them, separated by an unnervingly short distance.
It’s time.
Attached to the ledge of the command tower sat a massive ram horn. After inhaling a deep breath, Kelm blew into it. When those protecting the Realmsic Castle heard its deep bass note, they would spring into action. As its sound resonated and faded, he retreated into the tower and quickly descended the spiral staircase.
• • • • •
Maebus’ body overheated as Khroy clenched onto him upon Nightly. He could feel his own sweat steaming beneath his armor. As he galloped over an incline, the Realmsic Castle and the waiting second combat battalion came into view. Reining in Nightly at the first rank of commanding officers, Maebus quickly dismounted. Khroy, too, slid down.
Nightly neighed as Maebus rubbed her muzzle one last time. “Be free,” he whispered to her. Smacking her rear, Nightly galloped off towards the Centre Forest. He watched her disappear into the distance.
“It’s better this way,” he said to Khroy. “She wasn’t needed for the next stage of my plan, and there’s no telling what the Legion would do to her if caught.”
Khroy nodded his agreement.
The officers saluted as the two approached their lines of defense. The blood-curdling, demented shrieks of the Legion could be heard in the distance, growing louder as they neared the castle’s perimeter.
“Officers,” Maebus said, “Move your ranks forward and engage.”
“Aye, Commandant!” they all acknowledged in unison.
As the lines of the army began pressing forward, Khroy readied himself for his second round of battle. Maebus turned toward him.
“Khroy, you need to go, now!”
“What?” His eyes widened in astonishment.
“Get out of here,” Maebus commanded. “There’s not much time!”
“But ... this will be our last stand against Damian’s Legion. I won’t leave you!”
Maebus steadied his gaze on Khroy. Harshly, he stated, “Is this not what I told you, Commander? Did I not say I’d ask the impossible?” He grabbed hold of Khroy’s uniform and then shoved him away hard.
“Go!” Maebus exclaimed.
Khroy stumbled backward before regaining his balance.
“Follow your instructions,” Maebus said. Without a backward glance, he wheeled away from Khroy and disappeared into the oncoming fray.
• • • • •
It had been a long night’s journey through the Centre Forest but, as midday approached, Heegan and Hom found themselves miles away from the castle. Heegan led the way southward as Hom skipped through the forest. His scrawny frame made him extremely light on his feet, though Heegan often teased him about his chubby cheeks, which he too had at Hom’s age. Both young brothers resided at the Realmsic Castle with their parents, who worked on the housekeeping staff.
What Heegan and his brother lacked in age, however, they more than compensated for in craftiness. Stomach grumbling, Heegan recalled that their mission from King Maebus was due to him and Hom getting caught with their hands in a cookie jar. It happened to be the royal cookie jar. King Maebus had received a gift of cookies from Councilwoman Elva for his coronation. By evading sentries and breaking into the King’s chamber, he and Hom had proven beyond a doubt that they could be skillful spies. It was also for that reason that Maebus now double-bolted his chamber door when away.
Their mission tonight had a more serious goal than just stealing cookies, however. King Maebus had provided them with necessities for an extended journey. They carried a satchel filled with food, camping sacks, and magical tools. They wore the clothing of woodsmen, consisting of earth tones and heavy materials that were made to blend in with their surroundings. Their parents never would’ve agreed to such a journey had King Maebus not personally assured their safety.
So as not to draw attention to themselves, they walked along the heavy brush of the tree lines. With the Realmsic lands now filled with Legionaries and Damian supporters, Heegan knew no path was truly safe. For several miles, they traveled together in silence until Hom suddenly stopped in his tracks. “You hear that?”
Heegan halted, listening. A faint metallic pitch carried over the breeze. “It’s the sound of battle.”
The clanging of steel rang through the forest.
Heegan hoisted himself up along the trunk of a tree, securing his footing in the knobby bark. With little effort, he scaled upwards towards the high branches, eventually making it to the closest one. After pulling himself up, he steadied upon the branch by holding one arm against the tree trunk. Peering into the distance, Heegan saw smoke plumes.
“Most of the fighting is to the north of us. So, from here on southward, our path should be clear,” he said.
“Maybe,” Hom replied. “Whatcha doing up there? It’s not like you can see the battle.”
“That’s not what I’m looking for.” Heegan stood on the tips of his toes trying to gain a better view of the tree line ahead.
“There!” he pointed forward and carefully hopped down from the elevated branch. “I think that large oak will be a good spot for the second one.”
Hom followed as his brother scampered a few yards to the appointed tree. Heegan touched the bark of its trunk, examining it. Satisfied with his finding, he reached in his carrying pouch and pulled out a metal object.
“Wait!” Hom shouted, startling Heegan.
“What!”
“You said I could do the next one.”
Heegan sighed, handing over the device. “Here. Do it quickly,” he snapped.
Obliging, Hom pressed the pointed metal object against the bark. Immediately, its sharp tip glowed, magically soldering a line into the tree. Hom concentrated, drawing line after line into the bark.
“Hurry!” Heegan insisted.
“Don’t rush talent,” Hom focused.
After a few more swipes of his hand, the Realmsic symbol—a curvy letter R—had been drawn into the trunk. But within seconds, the image faded away, leaving what appeared to be an untouched layer of tree. He smiled at his work. Heegan backed away a few steps to examine its flawlessness.
“That Wizard and his gadgets,” he mused. “It’s good that we’re spacing these symbols out. But I hope the others can find them.”
“Worry much?” Hom teased.
“With you? All the time!”
Heegan gave his younger brother a playful shove. After wiping their footprints from the ground, they snuck back into the tree brush and continued southward.
• • • • •
Kelm burst through the double doors of the Great Hall. The small group of Council members
had nervously awaited his arrival since the battle began, just as they had been instructed to do. It was highly unconventional for the Council to be exposed during a conflict. Kelm sensed the frustration in the room like an exposed nerve, raw and prickling. The Noble Laws created by Gregor, the first Realmsic King, dictated that at the commencement of battle, the Council would retreat to the security chambers located in the bowels of the castle. Maebus, however, had dictated otherwise.
Each member trained their gaze on Kelm, as if expecting some type of acknowledgement of their discomfort. Yet the Grand Wizard had no intentions of acknowledging anything of the sort. Kelm, in fact, had no intention of even stopping as he strode from one chamber entrance to the second exit across the room.
“Council, it’s time,” he said, passing them quickly.
Without a single word, the Council members rose from the table and trailed behind his lead. As one group, they exited the chamber.
The corridors were empty. All citizens, including staff, were already in various security chambers throughout the castle and would hopefully be safe from harm. Kelm navigated the curving walkway. The Council kept close pace while listening carefully to his briefing of the situation.
“The Realmsic Army has engaged the enemy and, just as we anticipated, our troops are being pushed back. We need to—”
“Advisor,” Councilman Ferst interrupted, “I think I speak on behalf of us all by saying that this is highly unorthodox.”
“What is, Councilman?” Kelm asked as patiently as he could.
“Everything. The secrecy, the sudden frenzy of activity contrary to the Noble Laws. Why have we not been escorted to a security chamber?”
Kelm stopped at a T-intersection at the end of the corridor. “Because this castle will fall, Councilman. Our staff will be fine, but neither you nor any other high-ranking official wants to be discovered in a small, confined area when the Legion bursts through our doors.”
Ferst was stunned into silence.
“The secrecy you speak of is for your own protection. You, Council, are an integral part of a larger operation. Believe in what King Maebus has told you to do and follow it to the letter. We’ve no time to lose.”
Kelm waited for a rebuttal, but none came.
“Okay, I need either you or Councilwoman Elva to lead the group to the sub-east exit of the castle and wait.”
“Wait, for what?” Ferst asked. The Wizard remained silent, staring blankly at the Councilman.
Ferst sighed, “Very well.”
Councilwoman Elva stepped forward. “I’ll lead us,” she said to them.
“Thank you,” Kelm replied. He clasped hands with both Elva and Ferst. “I ask you all to be strong. You will get through this.”
Kelm left them, hurrying away down the left corridor of the T-intersection. The hurried footfalls of the Council members were all he heard as they fled to the right.
They’ll be fine, he tried to convince himself.
From the end of the left-side corridor, Kelm ascended the staircase several stories to an upper portion of the castle. The wide area was once used to store inventory during the castle’s incipient years. However, a mysterious fire had left it vacant and unvisited ever since. He entered cautiously.
Approaching a giant door at the far end of the open room, he pressed his weight against the door’s massive metal handle and entered a dimly lit alcove. Aside from several dusty suits of armor arranged like battle-ready phantoms around the room, the space was vacant. Kelm snapped his fingers and produced a small flame in the palm of his hand. Suddenly, he realized that he’d not been in this room since he was a small child with his mother. Remembering his last visit, he instinctively walked over to one of the stone walls and placed his free hand against its surface. His fingers vibrated as he searched for a trace of energy only he would know.
“There!” he breathed, finding the invisible spot on the wall, like a single ray of light shooting through darkness.
Pressing the weight of his body into the wall, the Wizard mumbled the magical phrase, stillness departs. It was a common spell used for walking through solid objects. Like being absorbed into a waterfall, Kelm passed through the wall.
A bright light momentarily blinded him as Kelm entered the hidden enclosure. Briskly extinguishing the flame in his palm, he squinted as he approached the emanating Realmsic Crystal. As the illumination grew brighter, his knees buckled. Unexpectedly, he collapsed onto the drab, dusty ground.
Chapter Nine