Ancient Prophecy (30 page)

“Stop!” shouted Jenneva. The dragon halted, searching for the source of the new voice. Jenneva walked into the open and faced the dragon. “It is under orders from the Mage that we have come for the Sword of Heavens. The Ancient Prophecy requires it to remove the Dark One.”

The dragon’s eyes narrowed at the small form of Jenneva. “So, thief has an accomplice. Why should I believe that the Mage sent you? Why would he not come himself?”

“The Mage is busy with Alutar,” answered Jenneva. “If he asked you to guard the Sword of Heavens, then he must have also told you that someday it would be needed. Today is that day.”

The dragon tilted his head toward the diminutive form of Jenneva. “He told me that it would be required one day,” admitted the dragon. “He also told me how I would know that day. Do you know?”

“The seven jewels will be gone,” answered Alex as he slid off the dragon’s back and joined Jenneva. “Look, if the Mage trusted you with the Sword of Heavens, then I can trust you with my life. The Ancient Prophecy has begun and the Universes have collapsed. The Sword of Heavens will be naked. If it is not, you may eat me.”

Alex sheathed his sword and grabbed Jenneva’s hand. The dragon peered at the two figures for a long moment and finally spoke. “Lay your sword on the ground and go up the small tunnel on my right. There is a single chest at the end of the tunnel. Bring it down here.”

Alex did as the dragon ordered and returned with the chest. He laid the chest on the ground and opened it. The top item in the chest was the Sword of Heavens and the jewels were missing.

“I am glad that I did not eat you,” mused the dragon. “I am Wyka, Keeper of the Sword of Heavens. How can I aid the friends of the Mage in their quest?”

“I am Jenneva, student of the Mage,” replied Jenneva, “and this is my mate, Alex. You have already helped us, friend of the Mage. We need to study the scrolls in the chest and then we must locate the Dark One so that I may imprison him.”

“There is one who can tell you where to find the Dark One,” stated Wyka. “The Oracle of Estara will know. I will take you there when you are ready.”

Alex and Jenneva decided to go through the chest outside the claustrophobic cave and agreed for Wyka to meet them there the next morning. They both inhaled deeply after clearing the cave entrance and informed Kaz of what had happened and about the dragon’s planned arrival for the following morning. Jenneva found and memorized the imprisonment spell while Alex hunted up some dinner.

Jenneva was fascinated at the remaining contents of the chest and Alex could hardly drag her away long enough to sample the roast grouse that he had prepared. After dinner Jenneva remained isolated with the chest until she couldn’t keep her eyes open any more.

In the morning Wyka appeared at the mouth of the cave and Alex handled the introduction with Kaz. Alex hoisted Jenneva onto Kaz’s back and then scrambled to a position on Wyka. Wyka took to the sky heading northward and Kaz and Jenneva followed. Wyka flew gracefully and Alex actually felt rather comfortable, which surprised him. They flew over the entire length of Sordoa and the central valleys of Targa before approaching the Boulder Mountains. Wyka started dropping altitude and mountain peaks started sliding by on both sides of her. Suddenly, Wyka swooped up and landed on the very peak of one of the mountains.

“If you climb down my tail,” Wyka instructed, “there is a small path. Follow the path to a cave opening. You will see nothing abnormal about the cave itself and the only way to speak with the Oracle is to introduce yourself first. I will wait here for you.”

Alex climbed down and followed the path to the cave entrance. He waited there until Kaz and Jenneva landed and together they entered the cave. Alex whispered Wyka’s instructions to Jenneva to let her handle the introductions.

The cave was not very large and it appeared empty. They walked around the entire cave and could find no sign of any life. Jenneva stepped to the center of the cave.

“Greetings, Oracle of Estara,” she called, “I am Jenneva, student and friend of the Mage. I seek your enlightenment.” After several seconds with no response, Jenneva continued. “I have brought my mate, Alexander Tork, and our friend, Kaz, with me.”

“Greetings, Jenneva and friends,” echoed the cave. The rear wall of the cave shimmered and turned translucent. A figure appeared in the new section of the cave, which was bathed in blues and greens dancing together. The figure appeared to sit cross-legged, but its image was hazy and indistinct. “What do you wish of the Oracle?”

“We seek to fulfill the Ancient Prophecy by destroying the Dark One,” replied Jenneva. “At this time I am empowered to imprison him, but I do not know his location.”

“The Dark One dwells on Mount Kalas,” revealed the Oracle. “The way will be difficult and treacherous, but he has built a castle atop the tallest mountain.”

“What of the children?” asked Jenneva. “Can you tell us where to find them or what has become of them?”

“The children are alive and well, but not where they belong,” answered the Oracle. “I cannot tell you where they are, but the Dark One also seeks them and he does not know, either. You are few and he is many. Even if he is imprisoned, still he will search. Your task is long and arduous. May fortune smile upon you, for I can offer no more help.”

The blue and green lights winked out and the cave wall solidified. Gone was the image of the Oracle of Estara and the echo of its voice.

“Thank you, Oracle,” sighed Jenneva as they left the cave.

As Yorra circled over the Targan Royal Palace, Prince Oscar gazed down at the destroyed city of Tagaret. Most of the city was ablaze with fires devouring whole city blocks and bodies were strewn throughout the four quarters of the once proud capital of Targa. Spirals of black smoke rose from every section of the city and merged with the inky black mist that covered the world. The river and harbor were littered with half-sunken remains of the merchant fleets and the small Targan Navy. Off towards the southern horizon, the remnant of the Targan Army was chasing the fleeing Sordoans.

Oscar tapped Yorra and the magnificent white unicorn circled, lowered and landed in the Red Sword courtyard of the Royal Palace. The Red Sword barracks and stables were completely burned and nothing moved in the normally busy courtyard. The Prince left Yorra and ran into the Palace. Many of the small rooms off the corridor that had been used for offices were now being used as infirmaries with wounded men laid across the floors of the small rooms. Oscar continued past with hardly a glance at the wounded soldiers as it became obvious from the piles of dead Sordoans that the battle had also been fought within the Palace walls.

The Royal Prince raced towards his father’s study, a growing feeling of dread coursing through his mind as the signs of fighting continued upstairs. Prince Oscar ran through the door to King Byron’s study and skidded to a halt. The body of General Clark lay tossed at the base of the large desk like a discarded toy, broken and limp. The study’s floor was sprinkled with dead Sordoans and Red Swords. Looking to his left, Oscar saw Lord Habas pinned to the large wall map with a Sordoan spear.

Prince Oscar ran to the far side of the room and threw open the door leading to King Byron’s reading room. As Prince Oscar entered the room, General Gregor spun around, his sword unsheathed and pointed towards the door.

“Prince Oscar!” shouted the General. “You’re alive!”

Oscar peered at the General’s bloodied uniform and noticed the cloth wrapped around the soldier’s waist and the gaping rent in his uniform. Behind General Gregor stood King Byron brandishing his rapier and guarding the Queen who was sitting in a high-back leather chair. The Prince sheathed his sword and, laying his hand on General Gregor’s shoulder, nodded to the King’s protector. Walking past the soldier the Prince embraced his father tightly before dropping to his knees alongside his mother’s chair and kissing her gently.

“I am so relieved to see you all well,” the Prince sighed. From above it appears as if the entire city was totally destroyed.”

“It may as well have been,” declared King Byron. “Targa as a nation no longer exists as it used to. The Army has been decimated and now resembles a city garrison more than a nation’s army. Most of the reports from the North indicate total destruction of the outpost garrisons and the villages around them. I’m afraid that I am the last King of Targa. Perhaps I should be called the King of Tagaret. That would be more appropriate because this ruined city is all that is left of Targa.”

“Alcea,” Prince Oscar sighed sitting on the table. “Tagaret is the ancient city of Alcea. Alex and Jenneva told me of the ancient prophecy and it foretells of the future King of Alcea. Father, you need to reform your kingdom into the Kingdom of Alcea and the Red Swords as the Knights of Alcea. The Kingdom must survive at all costs if the prophecy is to be fulfilled favorably.”

Queen Marta started crying and the room fell quiet. King Byron’s eyes saddened and softly he addressed his son.

“Oscar, the
Princess
Lidia
was sunk on its way to Grakus. There were no reports of survivors.”

The Prince slumped to the floor and stared off into space. For a long time the room remained silent, each of its occupants lost in their own thoughts of despair. Finally, Prince Oscar rose from the floor and gazed out the window at the ruins of the city. Queen Marta rose from her chair and embraced Oscar.

“Oscar,” she whispered, “we don’t know for sure that they died on the voyage. Perhaps they were saved somehow.”

“They must have survived,” braved Oscar. “I will search for them and I will find them. Do not worry for me, Mother. Help Father rebuild the Kingdom.”

The Prince kissed his mother and embraced the King. “Father, take care of my mother and our Kingdom. I may not return, but the Heir will come to rule Alcea. I promise you that. General Gregor, you will be the first Steward of Alcea. See that the Crown remains available for its Rightful King. If my parents die before the Heir returns, it will be the task of the Steward to maintain the Kingdom until he returns.”

“Won’t you be coming back after you’ve found Callie and the baby?” asked Queen Marta.

“It would not be safe to do that,” answered Prince Oscar. “Sarac will be searching for the True Heir to the Throne of Alcea. Neither of you will be in danger from the Dark One, but Callie and the baby will be. I will send Yorra back to Glendor. Tell Alex and Jenneva to go there. Yorra will know where I can be found and can tell them what happened to Jenneva’s baby. The Heir can only return when the prophecy is to be fulfilled.”

Prince Oscar turned and left the Royal Palace in search of Yorra. Together they ascended into the murky sky and headed for the Isle of Grakus.

Alex mounted Wyka and Jenneva climbed onto Kaz. Together they headed westward towards Mount Kalas and the castle of the Dark One. Their plan was fairly simple. Jenneva would use showy bursts of magic on the lower slopes of the mountain, drawing as many of the Dark One’s forces towards her as she could. Once the enemy started to counterattack, Alex and Wyka would keep them busy while Jenneva and Kaz slipped away to position themselves near the castle. Jenneva had to cast the spell without being distracted by the Black Devils trying to attack her.

Jenneva and Kaz swept down to the beginning of the mountain path that led to Sarac’s castle. Half a dozen ogres stood on the path and watched the woman and unicorn drift down out of the sky. Jenneva remained on Kaz’s back as she tossed several fireballs at the ogres. The flaming ogres began to scream and charged towards their tormentor. The base of the mountain path was not visible from the castle, but Jenneva had little doubt about the castle’s ability to hear the screams.

The six ogres never made it to Jenneva as they succumbed to the inferno she had cast onto them. Soon the path was alive with ogres rushing down the mountain to attack whoever they found there. Jenneva kept the fireballs flying into the charging ranks of ogres and soon the path was a solid wall of flame. Still the ogres charged through it in a feeble attempt to reach the female magician.

Alex and Wyka circled high in the sky, keeping a constant vigil on the mountain path. Alex saw the ogres swarming down the mountainside and Jenneva incinerating them when they reached the bottom. Soon Alex saw scores of Black Devils leaving the castle and charging down the path, as well. Alex knew his time to attack was near. He could not allow the Black Devils to get within striking range of Jenneva because their combined power would overwhelm her.

As the Black Devils closed on Jenneva’s position, Wyka soared down on the castle and proceeded down the path following the Black Devils. Wyka hugged the trail and Alex drew his sword in one hand and fisted a Lanoirian Star in the other. Wyka swept along the path so quickly that Alex fought to keep from getting dizzy. As they rounded a bend, Wyka stretched her claws before her and flew into the ranks of the Black Devils at shoulder height. The first two Black Devils were impaled on Wyka’s claws and dozens more were knocked to the ground or off the path to tumble down the rocks.

The screams from the rear alerted the evil magicians and soon Wyka was soaring into their upturned faces. Alex managed to get off a few Lanoirian Stars, but his sword could not reach any of the enemy as those that were not pitched off of the path directly had flattened themselves to the path.

Jenneva took her cue and Kaz leaped into the air and away from the mountain path. Wyka and Alex soon shot through the flames of Jenneva’s barrier and took up her previous position at the base of the mountain pathway. Confusion took hold of Sarac’s forces, but eventually they continued their downward charge. Alex threw Lanoirian Stars as the ogres continued to flood through the fiery barrier. Wyka’s claws shred any of the ogres that survived the fire and Alex’s sharp missiles.

Kaz positioned Jenneva on the opposite side of the castle from the path and hovered patiently while she incanted her Spell of Binding.

The Black Devils advanced towards Alex and he deflected their missiles with his sword and shield while Wyka backed up to the limit of their range, hovering over the canyon alongside the path. One of the Black Devils tossed a spell that split the air above Wyka and she plummeted towards the canyon floor. Alex grabbed the dragon’s scales and hung on as Wyka dropped downward dangerously out of control. Wyka managed to spread her wings enough to glide away from the mountain just as her claws scraped the edge of the cliff.