"Dammit, Itise!" shouted Connery. "Stop lagging behind!"
Two riders were streaking across hilly plains north of what used to be the Zaback mines. Itise winced as Connery shouted again for him to keep up. The young man heeled his mount again to try and keep up with the small thief. Alleia had a death grip on Connery's left shoulder so that she would not be thrown.
The small group had only been a few hours out of Zaback heading north to try and scout the approaching Hades Army force. It had been just past mid day when the south had exploded in a dome of black. Connery had wasted no time in calling for them to turn around and head back to Zaback. The closer they came to the mining town, the colder Itise began to feel. Yes, the temperature was unusually cool, but that was not all. He felt as if his very spirit was beginning to chill around the edges.
The two horses cleared another hill, and now they were about to head through the flat lands above Zaback. At least there used to be a flat plain north of Zaback. Connery and Itise pulled their mounts to a stop right at the edge of an enormous crater. The hole in the earth seemed to go on for miles.
"What the hell happened?" breathed Connery. Itise saw him grasp the White Dragon's Crest. There was a white flash, and Connery was wearing his armor. He took his Spear in his right hand and nudged the horse forward. "Be on guard. Who knows what could be down there."
They slowly urged the horses down into the crater. The animals were very reluctant to do so, which eventually lead to both Connery and Itise dismounting and going ahead on foot. Connery used his Spear to freeze the horses' reins to the ground before heading out. Alleia hovered above the two of them as they walked slowly towards the remains of Zaback. Itise gripped his quarterstaff tightly as the cold feeling around his soul increased.
Itise followed the White Dragon Knight deeper into the crater. Pieces of buildings were sticking up from the ground like bones from extinct beast. Itise's eyes widened and his skin paled when he began to see actual human bones mixed in with the rubble. Soon entire skeletons were visible on the ground.
"This is horrible," he whispered. Connery had stopped to inspect a rubble pile. Itise moved to stand beside him. "I can't understand this, Connery. Who could do such a thing? Why?"
Connery's face was dark and serious. "I can feel the residual energy all around us," said the small Knight. "Only the Demon Dragonmaster could have done this. He's the only one that could have used this kind of power."
"But why, Connery?" asked Itise again. "No one could be this heartless and destroy an entire city." He swallowed hard. "No one could just murder all of these people for no reason. I won't believe that someone is that evil."
Connery looked up at him. "Believe me, my friend. That son of a bitch in the coldest bastard I have ever seen. He probably did this just to get his jollies." He gave him a small smile. "I can see that you don't want to believe it, kid, but the Demon Dragonmaster has a soul blacker than Ziatoch's." The thief huffed. "If he even has a soul."
Itise was shaking his head. "Sorry, Connery, but I can't accept that. Nobody can be that evil."
The White Knight actually laughed. "Itise, you just might be the only optimist left on both Lunar and the Blue Star."
"Cooonnnneerrryyy," whined Alleia. The young white dragon landed on his shoulder. "Can we get out of here? This place is making me feel sick."
"Sure, Alleia," he said while scratching her head. "We won't learn anything else by staying here." He turned and started to lead them back to the horses.
Itise followed closely behind. The chill around his soul remained, but the young man was lost in thought all the way back to the horses. He just could not understand how someone could kill... just for amusement.
Connery hadn't slept the entire night. He merely sat there watching the embers of the campfire die, and after that he watched the horizon until the sun rose. Itise had been a little withdrawn since returning from the crater, but he had fallen asleep eventually. Alleia had curled up in front of the fire and dropped into deep slumber almost immediately. Connery, however, did not want to even close his eyes. He reached under his black tunic and grasped his Crest. It was still warm. When they had been inside the crater, the Crest had reacted strongly to the negative energy all around the devastation.
The sky began to lighten. Connery huffed and got to his feet. He pulled on his camouflage trench coat and grabbed the White Dragon's Spear. He quickly went about erasing the signs of the camp. The sun was now peeking at the edge of the horizon. Connery stopped his chore and nudged Itise with the butt of his Spear. "Wakey wakey."
Itise moaned in response and rolled on to his back. Satisfied, Connery walked over to Alleia and poked her with his right index finger. The young White growled and mumbled something at the thief. With everyone awake, Connery returned to breaking the camp. When he was done, Itise and Alleia were something close to being fully awake. Itise had retrieved some dried beef and bread from their packs and handed some to Connery.
The small thief took it and began eating. He didn't feel hungry, but Connery knew better than to pass up a chance to eat when on the road. "So what are we going to do now?" asked Itise.
Connery swallowed a mouth full of bread. "Not sure, really. I'm more of a problem solver. I never was a very good planner. Most of my ideas usually sucked and ended up getting the group into trouble." He gave the young man a small smile. "Usually left the good scheming to Cole or Mirage." He chewed on some beef before continuing. "I guess we have to keep heading north and get to the Northern Iceberg."
"What about the Hades Army?" asked Alleia. "Aren't they sitting a couple of days north of here?"
Connery nodded. "Yeah. Originally I was going to help Zaback upgrade its defenses, and while the Hades Army laid siege to the city we were going to sneak past." He finished his beef and shrugged. "I guess we'll just have to find another way past them. Then if we make it past the bastards, we still have to get a hold of a boat."
The small thief finished his breakfast, took a swig from his water flask, and walked to the mounts. "Hurry up and finish, guys. We gotta get going." He secured his Spear on the saddle and jumped up on to his horse. Alleia flapped her way over and assumed her perch on his left shoulder. Itise followed quickly and climbed on to his own horse.
The small group was on the move again before the sun was completely up. Connery kept them moving at a good but careful pace for the next day and a half. It was mid day two days later when they encountered the first scouting party of the Hades Army. The only warning Connery had was his Crest's reaction. The hand sized crest the shape of a white dragon seemed to go on fire just moments before three hellhounds and their human keeper came upon them.
The first of the hounds leapt at Connery's mount and sunk its jaws into the horse's throat. A white flash surrounded Connery as he grabbed his Spear and vaulted off of the dying animal. The White Knight landed on his feet and twirled his weapon defensively. Itise cried out in panic as the other two hounds took down his mount.
"Just remember what I taught you about defensive fighting!" shouted Connery as the hound that killed his horse charged him. The black scaled beast snapped at him with acid coated teeth.
Connery feinted left drawing the hound's attack. The best followed the feint. Connery pivoted on his right foot, spun around, and brought the tip of his Spear along its side. The hound died instantly. The Knight didn't stop moving and ran to help Itise. The young man was frantically trying to keep the other two hounds at bay. Alleia aided him by blowing a small cone of frost into one hound's face. Itise took advantage and whacked the beast in the head with his staff. Connery was relieved to see that Itise was out of immediate danger. With only one hound left to deal with, he seemed to be fine.
There was a battle cry, and the black armored knight who had been watching over the hounds charged the White Knight. Connery skidded to a complete stop and parried the knight's sword. He twirled his Spear disarming his foe and drove its tip into him. Connery winced at the sound of his weapon tearing through the breastplate. He pulled it free and turned to help Itise and Alleia. Itise was fending off the remaining hellhound, but that was about it. Connery focused his mind, and a stream of blue liquid shot from the Spear tip encasing the hound in a cube of ice.
The hound that Alleia had blasted in the face began to move, but a quick slash from the White Knight kept it still for good. "Everyone in one piece?"
"Uh huh," breathed Alleia.
"W... what the hell were those things?" stammered Itise.
"Hellhounds," answered Connery. "They're the least of what we're going to find ahead of us. Trust me, Itise. The beasties are just going to get bigger and uglier."
Itise visibly swallowed. "You mean bigger than that dragon that attacked us at Lion's Head?"
Connery shook his head. "Oh, no. The Demon Dragons are the biggest, but there will be things almost that nasty." He stopped to inspect the horses. "Well, I guess it's better we don't have the horses anymore. We'll be moving a lot slower, but it'll be easier to avoid future enemy patrols." The White Knight quickly pulled his party back together, and they all resumed heading north.
The next day found them all in the foothills overlooking the eastern coastline and the Hades Army encampment. "Looks like they run for at least two miles up and down the coastline," mumbled Connery. He shifted his gaze from the black mass on the coast to the sea itself. "How many ships do you count out there?"
"About two dozen, maybe more," whispered Itise. "What are you thinking?" He turned to look at Connery, who simply smiled. "You can't be serious!"
"What?" replied Connery in an innocent tone. "We need a ship, don't we?"
"Yeah, but... but," stuttered Itise.
"Then it's settled," stated Connery as he turned to go.
"W... wait!" cried Itise. He reached out and grabbed Connery's right arm. "How do you plan to do this?"
Connery gave him a broad smile. "Easy. We walk into their camp and turn ourselves in." Itise's face went ashen.
"You know what? You do suck at making plans," commented Alleia.
"I would like to repeat that this plan really sucks, Connery," growled Alleia.
"Well, it's too late now," muttered Itise.
Connery merely took the remarks of his companions in stride as the three of them were lead deeper into the enemy camp. He did have a plan, after all. Unfortunately, it was one of the riskiest plans the little thief had ever come up with. Ten minutes earlier he, Itise, and Alleia had walked right up to the guards around the camp and turned themselves in. They had all been stripped of their weapons and equipment with the exception of the White Dragon's Crest. One of the enemy knights had turned to ash the moment he had touched it. Despite all of this, Connery was calm as can be. So far, everything was going as he had hoped.
The three of them were being taken to the commander of this force. Connery briefly wondered who it was going to be. Was it the Demon Dragonmaster himself? One of his Knights? Or was one of the Demon Dragons in charge here? The small thief did not have to wait long to find out. The small group was ordered to halt in front of a cleared out area of the camp. A fifty by fifty foot area was empty except for two figures. Connery could not help but grimace at the doubles of Argile and Mirage.
The two Demon Knights were sparring with one another. They stopped their fight as soon as the prisoners arrived. "Well look what we have here," sneered Miraje. The Shadow Knight sheathed his black Scimitar and walked over to Connery and his friends.
"We seem to have caught ourselves a rodent," added Arguile. His Armor rippled as he chuckled.
"We didn't capture them sir," reported one of the knights. "These three turned themselves into the perimeter guards without any trouble."
Miraje raised an eyebrow. "How interesting." He tapped his chin while looking Connery up and down. "Tell me Dragon Knight, why are you here?"
"He had these items, sir," said the same knight. He handed Miraje Connery's saddlebag.
The Shadow Knight opened the flap and looked inside. His eyes went wide at what he saw. "Zophar must be smiling on us from hell, Arguile." He reached into the bag and took out the green sphere Connery had found at Lion's Head.
Arguile took the sphere from his comrade and held it in his large right hand. "Are you sure it's one of them?"
Miraje pulled out the tablet next and looked it over. His smile chilled Connery to the bone. The thief didn't like this, but it was a necessary risk. "Oh yeah, big fella. It's one of the Stones. Looks like old Scorn was right about there being eight." He handed the tablet to the Blood Knight and grabbed Connery by the front of his coat. "I'll ask you again, you little pest. Why are you here?"
"To make a deal," he replied coolly. "We turn ourselves in and give you that thing, whatever it is, and you spare the remaining towns in this region."
The two Demon Knights burst out laughing. "You seem to have overlooked something, twerp," gloated Miraje. "You have already given us the item, so how can you make a deal?"
Connery gave him a knowing smile. "I'm not finished, yet. I have something else that you might want. Or more precisely, I know where there is something your master would probably like to get his hands on."
"And what would that be?" asked Arguile.
Connery dived his gaze between the two Demon Knights. "The White Dragon's Aura."
"CONNERY!" screamed Alleia. "WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?"
Both men stopped laughing. "What do you mean?" snarled Miraje.
"Simple," answered Connery. "I know where Ruby put the White Dragon's Aura. You pull your forces out of this region, and I take you there. Deal?"
Miraje looked over to his cohort. "What do you think?"
"Lord Kole would be pleased if we retrieved something of that power. It would go far towards erasing our past failures."
The Shadow Knight nodded in agreement. "Yes." He looked back at Connery. "You have a deal, boy. With Zaback gone, the remaining towns are nothing anyway. Give the order for the army to pull back to Meribia and prepare my ship to set sail to Horam."
One of the knights saluted. "Yes, sir!" He turned and ran off.
Miraje quickly grabbed the front of Connery's coat again and threw the thief to the ground. "I want this little thief guarded constantly." One of the knights raised a pair of shackles, but the Shadow Knight waved them away. "Don't bother with those. He'll just get out of them, and we'll just have to keep putting them back on. Just keep him guarded." He leaned down to Connery's face. "I know your scheming little brain is planning something, Connery." He laughed and walked away from them.
Arguile smirked and followed his companion. The Hades knights forcibly pulled Connery to his feet and pushed him and Itise to start walking. Alleia landed on Connery's shoulder with her claws extended. Connery winced as they dug into his skin.
"Did you fall on your head or something?" whispered Alleia through clenched teeth.
Connery folded his hands behind his back and smiled. "Nope."
"Then what in Althena's name are you doing?"
"Can't really say," he said without moving his lips. "Just keep your eyes open and be ready to act when I tell you." Alleia sighed and retracted her claws. Connery's smile faded as they were steered towards a rowboat that would take them to Miraje's ship.
The sky was blanketed by gray clouds that reflected the earth below. The ground was cracked and dead for miles around. The woman named Luna stood in the middle of this dead plain observing it all with sad eyes. She closed her deep blue orbs and sighed. Perhaps this was a mistake. The Demon Dragonmaster was powerful, but if she reverted to her true self again, maybe her power would be strong enough to defeat him?
"No," she whispered immediately. "I will not do that to the Blue Star again. I regretted my actions then, and I would compound my personal sin if I sought such a way out again. I have to have hope that Cole and the others will come through in the end." She opened her eyes and straightened. "My place is not to fight. The most important thing I can do is get as many people to safety as possible."
She shifted her gaze to her first goal a few miles to the south. It looked to be the remains of a city, but Luna knew that it was nothing but a work camp for prisoners. With strong and steady steps, Luna walked confidently towards the ruined city. As she came closer, she could see numerous guards milling about the perimeter. Luna grew slightly cold at the sight of demons mixed in with the human knights.
"I wish Alex was here," she told herself quietly. The blue haired woman quickly shook herself and took a steadying breath. "Well he's not, so accept it. You're a goddess, Luna. You can do this. I just have to remember not to use too much power."
She was now only a few dozen yards from the first group of knights. It was not much longer before they spotted her approaching. They collectively drew their weapons and advanced on Luna. Keeping her face calm, she stopped just before them.
"Excuse me, gentlemen, but I wish to pass," she stated calmly. Her heart, however, was threatening to burst out of her chest.
"Will ya get a load of this chick," barked one of the black armored knights.
"I am," said another. "And I like what I'm seeing."
They all started to laugh as they surrounded Luna. Seeing no other way around the situation, Luna took a deep breath and began humming. One by one, the group of knights collapsed to the ground unconscious. Without pause, Luna lifted up the hem of her black skirt and stepped over the bodies. Thus, she left a trail of sleeping knights and demons all the way to the city.
Luna entered what was left of the city and wept inwardly at what she beheld. There were black armored knights everywhere snapping whips and forcing slaves in tattered rags to go from point A to point B for no apparent reason. Filled with determination, Luna took another deep breath and began to sing. Her voice started out low and slowly began to rise in pitch. The melody was a sad yet beautiful. As she sang gusts of mist appeared all over the city. Tendrils of mist wound themselves up and down the remaining buildings in time with Luna's voice. The mist crept up and wrapped around the black armored knights, pouring itself into their mouths and ears.
Luna's voice trembled for just a moment, and all the knights fell to the ground unconscious. She ended her sorrowful song and walked over to a group of humans. Men, women, and children alike were standing there with wide eyes and gapping mouths. A shaggy brown haired man without a shirt and a one legged pair of brown pants stared at Luna as she neared.
"Who are you?" he questioned. "And how did you do this?"
Luna smiled warmly at the man and patted his shoulder lightly. "My name is Luna, and I am here to help." She let her gaze drift over those that could be seen. "You are all free now. There is little time, so you must hurry and escape."
The shaggy man shook his head. "We can't, my lady. Everyone in this city has been worked to near death. There has been little to eat or drink, as well. We barely have the strength to stand." Luna could see his legs shaking. "Even if we could walk, where would we go?"
Luna continued to smile at them. "It's all going to okay." She gestured to the mist still clinging to the city. "This mist will give you the strength you all need to escape. It will also act as a cover while you go north to the mountains."
"M... mountains?" stuttered the man.
Luna nodded sagely. "Yes. Have faith and let the mist guide and protect you. Once in the mountains, you will find a crystal tower. Go there and be safe from the evil that haunts this land." The man started to protest again, but Luna's only response was a quiet and soothing melody akin to cherry blossoms floating on the wind.
The people gathered around her suddenly seemed filled with life again. All signs of worry and stress disappeared. The shaggy man's eyes were now filled with hope. "You're right." He smiled for the first time. "Every thing is going to be all right."
"Yes," agreed Luna. "Now quickly gather all those in the city and go." The freed prisoners nodded vigorously and ran off to gather all their brethren.
Luna remained in the city until all the freed slaves had left for the mountains in the north. When they were all gone, the mist left with them. All alone now, Luna allowed herself to relax. Shoulders slumping down, the blue haired woman released a tired sigh. Calling the mist had taken more out of her than she had expected.
"But I had no choice," she reminded herself. The mist was strong enough to hide those people, but still weak enough not to attract attention from the Demon Dragonmaster.
After a few moments to gather her resources, Luna squared her shoulders once again and started for the city limits. She had just reached the edge of the ruins, when a sudden wave of pain and dizziness washed over her. The mortal goddess dropped to her knees and cried out in intense pain. Then as soon as the attack had come, it was gone. Gripping her head between her hands, Luna struggled back to her feet.
"How could he?" she said in a trembling whisper. "How can he continue to kill entire cities like that?" Tears began to fall from her blue eyes, but the woman named Luna continued walking west.
Tears continued to stream down her cheeks, but Luna's pace only quickened. She knew why the Demon Dragonmaster was causing such destruction. "He wants to draw me out," she told the wind. "Well he has." A determined smile crept on to her face. "And that will be his first mistake." Luna continued to march west with her head high. Not another innocent life would be lost if she could help it.