Chapter 16
The Water's Edge
Under the fearsome might of cannon fire, Kimchiku and his braves made good on their escape. Dispatching with the closest guards to hand, they would move to free as many slave as they could before engaging in battle. And Kimchiku roared with pride for soon Professor Clayton and Captain Frances – keeping true to their word – would join in the uprising; Queen Somichi’s fleet setting fire to the sky above with hope to bring ruin to the Creed’s Kingdome forevermore. The battle had truly begun, but deep within the clouds a darker twist of fate had yet to play its hand...
‘Captain,’ roared Lioness Somichi, ’portside – we’ve got company?!’
Captain Frances gazed a far, eyeing the sky as a new fleet of ships entered the battle, ‘I thought that Sand Raiders didn’t have ships?’ he asked.
‘They don’t,’ said Professor Clayton, ‘but whoever they are, let us hope they’re friendly.’
A cannonball shot across their bow. Promptly, Captain Frances reached for his butter knife!
Out from the clouds came many ships of war. Their sails were but ash, with hulls burnt to a crisp black as though raised from the very fires of Hell its self?
‘Take the city by force!’ roared King Evil, standing proudly upon the deck of his ship, ‘I want the princess alive. And if that prince charming gives you the slightest hint of trouble, make sure to dispose of him quickly.’
He gave his breath a freshness of mint. Who knew that speed dating could be such hard work?
Leaving Captain Silver to that of his own chance, Zack began to lead the way to the water’s edge. Upon great platforms they now ventured, swinging from web of rope to the lower level of the next. However, in the fall of cannon fire, the capstone held high above the Creed did lose its hold. Down it fell, crushing’s everything in its path. Swiftly Estaru nudge Zack out of the way, Suzan stranded upon the far side as he desperately tried to reach her, but alas he could not.
‘Find another way,’ he yelled, unable to breach a gap in the capstone, ‘reach the safety of an airship if you can?’
‘Perfect,’ moaned Cara, ‘why does it always have to be the hard way? I just knew I should have signed with Walt Disney. This is not exactly my idea of non–stop swashbuckling fun, you know?!’
‘What about Zack?’ asked Morku.
‘There isn’t much time – hurry,’ insisted Estaru, ‘I will see to it that your friend is safe from harm – you have my word!’
But little did he know that he had mistakenly nudged Zack over the edge of the remaining platform. As he turned to see, he could tell that Zack hadn’t found the ground. Through the open streets – two beastly jackals startled by the fall of cannon fire – ran wildly with their prison carriage in toe. Zack was clinging helplessly atop of its caged roof!
Estaru shook his head in disbelief, watching as they galloped through the remains of a once great wall, a far across the Dunes of Earthly Time. Suzan’s returning gaze wasn’t an impressive one. By the looks of it, it was going to be a long day.
The beastly chariot fled the realm of the Creed. Somewhat bemused, Zack struggled to keep his hold while trying to reach the reins of the beasts. But over and over again they would slip from his grasp. With weak footing, he fell in–between their rushing hoofs. Though he had managed to grasp the reins at last, his feet now dragged across the earth, drawing him inward, beneath the underside of the iron chariot. And out from the far end the reins snapped firmly into place, dragging him helplessly across the dunes. Desperately, he tried to pull himself along its length, reaching the chariot’s edge not a moment too soon. However, about him now the Creed came swift upon the great backs of their beasts.
Quickly, Zack move along the side of the caged chariot, using its square segments for sure footing. And the near rock of spear or edge of stone blade came swift, but the chariot was too wild in its movement for the Creed to close him down. When at last he did reach its top, grasping the reins truly for the first time, he whipped its leader to drive forth the beasts once more. But to his side the earth did rumble with life, where ahead it grew even greater as it streamed by? And out from its growth did form that of the earthly Lord, waiting, taunting, as though willing Zack to strike through the heart of its very being.
The chariot came forth. The Lord of Erath vanished within air of dust, reforming beyond its end with fist clenched upon its cage. And its body of being seeped through the cold layer of segments unharmed, furious in renewed form for the hunt of its prey. Zack pulled hard upon the reins, shifting the chariot from side to side in hope to throw the earthly Lord. But he would not be moved, coming upon Zack with easy. And the ill grasp of grain seeped through the final lay of iron. And the air slowly began to creep to its form. There was nothing for it; Zack heaved the reins hard... and he heaved them sharp!
Aboard the pirate ship, its crew made way to the starboard side. A rope ladder sounded heavily under the weight of Captain Silver as he neared its end – Click? – Naturally, it came as no surprise to be greeted by his crew... pistols and all!
‘Permission to board me fair honourable crew,’ he began, ‘for I bring a pledge of absconders as duly noted upon message of return.’ The glinting edge of a blade seemed uneasily convinced, ‘this be settling the matter of the bill too, I do believe?’ he tried.
‘Aye, aye, Cap–em!’ they cheered, Captain Silver dusting himself off delightedly as he climbed aboard.
Creak? – The rope ladder sounded heavily once more; Captain Silver’s First Mate would have to think fast, ‘I bring news of progress overboard,’ he nervously stated – But why was his Captain holding a pistol too? – ‘And one a pair of Long Johns – Medium – Red – Extra toe hole left–hand side for causal fit?’ he added.
The crew eyed one another with suspicion, ‘Hooray!’ they finally cheered.
Aerr, it was good to see the old boys again!
Among the alleyways and backstreets, Suzan fought to find another way out. How and to what end out ran her thoughts, but perhaps the answer lay with the beastly form of a dragon?
A dwarf tumbled to the ground, ‘Droc, you came for us,’ yelled Morku, ‘I just knew you would.’
‘Sorry for the delay,’ he replied, looking a bit worse for wear, ‘you wouldn’t believe the problems with transportation these days; it’s simply murder.’ He pulled himself together, eyeing Suzan, ‘at last we meet, your Highness. Allow me to introduce myself...’
‘Does this look like a social occasion to you?’ interrupted Cara, ‘Zack is out there somewhere, and we need to get to one of those ships!’
Swiftly, Droc turned to Earru who was still seated upon the dragon, ‘it seems that there is not a moment to lose,’ he said, ‘take flight and find our young companion at once; quickly now, before all may be lost.’
Suzan and Cara tried to protest – The dragon took flight!
‘I don’t believe it?’ Droc froze innocently. ‘Do you realise what you have just done?’ He wasn’t quite sure that he followed. ‘That, my hairy friend, was or only ticket out of here,’ said Cara, ‘how do you propose we reach one of those ships now?’
‘A slight miscalculation on my part, I must concede,’ he said, nervously twiddling his fingers, ‘but I’m curtain that an alternative opportunity will present its self... eventually?’
Samif and Airtu shook their heads with embarrassment, the end of a rope ladder swaying aimlessly in the background. As alternatives go, a pirate’s ship wasn’t quite what they had in mind. But then again, it wasn’t like they really had a choice.
However, aboard the pirate ship the small clan of Magical locks – disguising themselves as pirates – were well on their way to capturing the ship. Their moment had finally arrived, and they were keen to act.
‘We be boarded no doubt!’ yelled Captain Silver. Swiftly the Magical–Pirates froze, the Captain making his way to the starboard side. Instinctively his eye patch popped up, lay sight upon his ship’s rope ladder to where Suzan and the
dwarves now boldly made their way. ‘Alright you sorry looking scoundrels,’ he yelled once more, ‘prepare to greet the honourable cargo, Season Discount and all!’
‘Ach, aye wee privy Cap, aye!’ cheered the Magical–Pirates with relief.
Admittedly it may have seemed a little strange, but orders were orders.
The chariot crashed to a sudden halt. Slowly, Zack crawled out from beneath the wreckage, the air seeming strangely still as the Lord of Earth began to form before him. Zack clawed his way backward, never shifting his sight from its form. There was nothing that he could do except fill his fists with sand, a sign of his desperation as his fingers sunk beneath the dried earth.
But soon the earth would feel strangely moist? Slowly he drew his fists before him, watching as they dripped with mud. He turned with hope; the water’s edge, the beginning of a vast lay of Ribbon Dunes!
‘And so thee would lure the Creed to form of weakness?’ began the Lord of Earth, ‘not so easily shall it be, for thou seeks such task alone. Even here thou should have taken many of great worth to defeat my Creed!’
But Zack paid little heed to the Lord of Erath, crawling further into the water with hope that he could not follow.
‘Run,’ mocked the Lord of Earth, raising its great crescent stone blade high into the blinding of sun, ‘hide and seek out aid if thou are so willing to defy fate. But here thou soul shall be mine...’
Clash! – Down came the heavy blade of fate, but it did meet with that of another?
Estaru eyed the great Lord, his guard of blade safely protecting Zack, ‘the boy may have moved quicker than an elf of wild this day,’ he said, ‘but I warn you... he stands not along!’ He looked down upon Zack, ‘run you fool, leave this to me for I will repay my debt to you this day.’ Leaning close to the Lord of Earth, he whispered, ‘tell me, has thou not seen where it is that thou footing lies?’
From behind the Lord of Earth the water’s surface began to part. The great mane of lion rose with strength to a breath of air, a cold and narrow frown setting firmly upon the earthly Lord. The true beastly kings, the Men of Lion revealed themselves from their watery place of hiding. Zack smiled. The trap had been set, and those of the Creed had foolishly followed!