Chapter 29
The Siege of Dead Marsh
Jeszekia sat on her throne listening to Urganox and the others tell her of the events taking place throughout Calencia, the prophecy, and whatever information they knew about the part they would all play. She, just like the others, wanted to speak with Locmire to learn more of the prophecy, but she did not object to leaving her crown behind in an attempt to save Calencia.
"Zo, what iz ze next ztep?" Jeszekia asked.
"Locmire and Thaddeus should be here soon," Lot said. "Know that when we are all together, Locmire promised to tell us of the entire prophecy."
"He better fulfill his promise," Urganox said. "I am tired of being left in the dark."
"Why haz he not told you the entirety of ze prophezy?" Jeszekia asked.
"He says he would rather have us together and answer all questions at once," Oggy replied. "Or at least that is what he has led me to believe."
"Why do you have so many of your people patrolling the marsh?" Urganox asked. "Have you seen anything out of the ordinary?"
"No. I haz not zeen anyzhing, but rather a feeling zat I have," Jeszekia said, her tail tapping the floor. "Zumthing iz not right."
"Hasbarie has attacked all the kingdoms, except for Pizenchaffe and Dead Marsh. He could lay siege to either kingdom at any given moment," Lot said. "If he attacks Dead Marsh, he will be in for a surprise."
"I believe the opposite," River stated.
"What do you mean?" Lot asked.
"I believe that he knows we are all here," River said. "If so, he will send a great number of his forces if he decides to attack us."
"Or he could be sendin dem ta Pizerchaf. Thar not be's many under da mountain to defend it," Red said.
Oggy's face grew grim. He had not thought of this, but now that the Pirate mentioned it, it weighed heavy on his soul.
"Why would you say something like that, Red?" River asked.
"What?" Red asked, throwing his hands in the air. "Ye said da same ting bout Dead Marsh."
"You need to learn to keep your thoughts to yourself sometimes," Urganox said.
"Either way, we will come face to face with him soon enough," Lot said. "I hope Thaddeus and Locmire return. I want to get this over with as soon as we can."
"Would ye look at dat!" Red exclaimed.
"What?" Lot asked.
Looking out the window, Red said, "Da whole sky be's black. Lookin like night time out thar."
"Prepare yourselves," Lot ordered as he looked out the window. "He is here."
Even though it was midday, the sky grew black. The trees swayed back and forth, dancing to the rhythm of the wind.
"Perhaps another storm?" Oggy asked.
"No," Lot said. "Something much worse."
"Let'z go outzide. I needz to have my troopz prepare," Jeszekia said.
They exited her hut to find themselves in the middle of a near blackout. The darkness blotting out the sun was like a thick blanket.
Above the violent wind, desperate pleas and shouts came from the other side of the wooden walls, accompanied by moans and shrieks echoing across the marsh.
Oggy shivered. "What do you suppose it is?"
"The Breathless, Shadow Men, who knows what else," Lot said.
Oggy scratched his head. What are Shadow Men?
"Come to ze gatez!" Jeszekia cried as she stormed off. "We'z muzt open ze gatez and let my people in!"
"No!" Urganox called to her. "It is too dangerous to open the gates!"
"I can check it out," Caleb said to Lot. "Want me to go?"
"Yes." He paused as another scream came from beyond the gate. "But be careful."
Like so many times before, Caleb jumped into the air and soared over the gates to survey the situation.
He was only in the air for a moment when his heart pounded from his chest. Fifty or less Raptilians raced toward the village. Right behind them, like a giant wave advancing to the shore, a thousand or more of Hasbarie's troops were in hot pursuit.
Urganox argued with Jeszekia at the gates, pleading with her to not open them when Caleb touched down beside them.
"Thousands of them," he panted, chest heaving like a bellow. "They are everywhere."
"Can my people be let inzide?" Jeszekia asked.
"If we can close the gates fast enough," he paused. "Possibly."
"Open ze gatez!" Jeszekia ordered. "Take to the top of ze wall. Hold them off az long az pozzible."
Raptilians lined the top of the wall armed with their blowguns and poisonous darts. About thirty Raptilians scrambled toward the gate.
Dezide with your brain, not your heart. "They will never make it in time," Jeszekia said softly. "Cloze ze gatez."
The Raptilian guards did not move, only stared at Jeszekia in horror at the order she gave them.
"You heard me!" She ordered them once more. "Cloze ze gatez! Now!"
"Wait!" River cried. "I think I can help."
"How?" Jeszekia asked, turning to her.
"Just trust me," River replied as she stepped through the gate.
"River!" Azonis called as he ran to her. "What are you doing?"
"Giving them some extra time," she replied with a smile.
"I am coming with you," he told her. "You must be careful. Do not expend your magic on one spell. We will need you in the upcoming battle."
"I won't," she told him. "Come on if you are coming. Time is short."
"I am coming too," Rasmere said as he fell in beside of them.
Azonis gave him a nod, and they followed River into the marsh. River ran toward the fleeing Raptilians. When she came upon them, she stopped dead in her tracks. Hasbarie's army closed in behind them.
The Raptilians ran past her, swallowing her like a horde of hungry insects. She raised her staff high in the air and slammed it into the ground. A great wall of flame rose straight up into the darkness blanketing the land. Hasbarie's army halted behind the flames. A few at the front of the troop perished in the fire as they were pushed forward, becoming incinerated on contact. Shrills from the Shadow Men echoed through the marsh as the blazing wall of fire reduced them to ashes.
River fell to one knee, placing her hand on her head.
"Come on River!" Azonis cried, scooping her up in his arms. "We have to go!"
"Run!" Lot called out from the gate. They are not going to make it!
The Breathless sacrificed themselves, falling on the flames and smothering it out. Hasbarie's horde raced toward the village.
"Cloze ze gatez!" Jeszekia ordered, as River, Azonis, and Rasmere made it back to safety.
"They will not cloze!" a Raptilian cried. "Zomething is blocking zem."
"Mud," Caleb called out. "There is too much mud. We must move it!"
"No time," Urganox yelled. "They are almost here."
"Quickly!" Jeszekia cried. "Move ze mud! Everyone!"
The Raptilians went to work trying to move enough of the mud away from the gate. The guards atop the wall were raining down darts upon the horde, but most of their shots went astray due to the violent wind.
"Aim at the center of them!" Rasmere cried.
His arms became a blur, releasing opas arrows in rapid succession.
To be so tiny, the Raptilians' darts were deadly. The poison that laced their tips had a catastrophic effect when it collided with the Breathless, but not so much with the Shadow Men. It did not matter where the darts struck the Breathless, the effect was the same: deterioration. Their flesh, after being pricked, melted away, leaving behind a heap of bubbling goop.
"Hurry!" Rasmere cried, Breathless falling mere feet away from him.
"Gotz it!" a Raptilian cried. "Tryz it again!"
This time when the Raptilians tried to close the gates, they did. The wooden gates slammed shut, and they barred them with a thick chunk of wood.
"Keep firing!" Jeszekia cried out to the guards atop the wall.
"Did you see him?" Rasmere asked.
"Who?" Lot an
swered.
"The Summoner," Rasmere replied. "He was coming at the gate."
"What be's are plan?" Red asked.
"We'z muzt defend ze village," Jeszekia said. "No matter ze cozt."
Ryker pawed at the gate, barking to the top of his lungs as the Breathless and Shadow Men slammed themselves against it.
"Will it hold?" Caleb asked.
"It is opas wood," Azonis said. "The entire wall is made from opas, a gift from the Engeniums many years ago. Opas wood will hold as long as nothing too large lays siege to the village."
"Da Shader Men can't be hurt wiff no weapon. We gotta have lots of light ta keep em out," Red said.
Looking around at her warriors, Jeszekia said, "You heard him! Light ze firez!"
In a moments time the entire village was well lit as the torches and pools of petrom blazed.
"Dat should keep da Shader Men out fur a bit," Red said, cutlasses in hand. "Me be's hopin dat da Breafless be all we gotta contend wiff."
The Saviors jumped as a voice that shook the very ground they stood on called out to them from the other side of the walls.
"Saviors, I will give you one last chance," the voice boomed.
"Hasbarie," Lot whispered.
"Is he here?" River asked.
"I do not think so. Not physically," Lot replied.
"In a moment, my forces will destroy all of Dead Marsh. There is nothing any of you can do to stop me," Hasbarie told them. With the utmost sincerity in his voice, Hasbarie said, "If you open the gates to the kingdom I shall spare you. . . most of you. I give you my word. Open the gates and live. Leave them closed. . . I will destroy everyone."
"Where are Locmire and Thaddeus?" Azonis asked.
"I was hoping they would have returned," Oggy said. "We could sure use the Wizard right about now."
"Urganox?" Lot asked.
He turned to the Thief. "Yes?"
"Are you ready for a fight?" Lot inquired with a smile.
"What do you think?" Urganox replied, grinding his teeth together.
Grinning, Lot asked, "Are we ready?"
Everyone nodded their heads and drew their weapons.
Lot approached the gate. "Hasbarie! Can you hear me?"
"Ah, the voice of reason. Are you ready to open your gates?" The Dark Wizard asked.
"I regret to inform you, but we will not be opening our gates. However, I believe you are mistaken concerning our destruction. Send your army and we shall see how this plays out," Lot roared. "And once we are done with your dark puppets, you should prepare yourself, because we are coming for you next!"
"Fool!" Hasbarie cried.
A violent explosion occurred outside of the gate, shaking the entire Raptilian kingdom.
"What was that?" Oggy asked with eyes the size of yarkle eggs.
"I think I know," Lot answered.
"Everafter?" River asked.
"Yes," Lot replied.
"Another one of those things we fought at the cabin?" Azonis asked.
"Yes," River said.
"Keep firing!" Jeszekia ordered.
The Raptilians atop the gate unleashed a multitude of darts upon the abominations below. A loud shriek tore through the kingdom, and the Raptilian dart blowers disappeared.
"Did ye just see dat!" Red exclaimed. "Whur did dey go!"
"Something pulled them over the wall," Caleb said.
"We'z need more dart blowerz on ze wall! Now!" Jeszekia ordered.
Another squad of dart blowers mounted the wall. They unleashed one round of darts when they too vanished. Another group prepared to climb the wall when Jeszekia cried out to them.
"No! I will not loze anymore of my people," Jeszekia said. "We'z will defend our kingdom from within."
Ryker whimpered and jumped back from the gate as something crashed into it causing the entire wall to wobble.
"We must put together a plan. The gate will not hold them forever," Azonis said.
"We'z faze zem now," Jeszekia said.
"No!" Azonis said. "You are talking foolish. We cannot open those gates for any reason."
"She is right," Urganox said. "We must open the gates."
"Have you lost your mind?" Azonis asked.
"We are sitting ducks in here," Rasmere said. "I agree."
"They will break down ze gatez zoon enough. If we'z letz zem in, at leazt it will be on our termz. We'z will have ze upper hand," Jeszekia said. "Az zey pour through ze gate, ze dart blowerz will attack az zey enter. Their bodiez will pile up and zlow zem down. We'z can pick zem apart."
"What of the rest of your people?" Lot asked. "They do not need to be here."
"We'z haz a hidden exit zat leads zouth of ze marzh, to ze ozean. They can ezcape and follow ze coazt to zafety," Jeszekia said.
"Okay then, that settles it. Get your people out of the village. We will prepare for war," Lot said. "River, you and Rasmere will be the second line of defense. If anything makes it past the dart blowers, take them out. The rest of us will be backing you. Eventually, we need to make a push out of the village."
"I can help with that," Urganox said, grinding his teeth.
"Frayzur," Jeszekia said. "I needz you to takez ze villagerz out of Dead Marzh."
"My Queen," Frayzur said. "I would rather ztay and fight."
"I needz zomeone who I truzt to lead ze villagerz to zafety. It muzt be you," Jeszekia told him.
He nodded his head, "If I muzt. Take care, my Queen, I will zee you zoon."
Frayzur rounded up the few remaining villagers and lead them to the southernmost section of the village where they fled into a secret tunnel leading out of the marsh.
"Is everyone ready?" Lot called out. They gave him the go ahead nod. "Open the gates!"
The guards pushed open the gates. As soon as a crack appeared in the gates, decaying arms poked through searching for something to latch onto. The dart blowers unleashed a barrage of darts stopping the Breathless in their tracks. The lifeless muck that remained clogged up the entrance to the village. Several times, Shadow Men tried rushing into the village only to be turned into ash and blown away by the hurricane force winds.
"Do not let up!" Jeszekia cried, drawing her own blow gun to help even the odds.
The gates stood wide open now, and the Breathless came stumbling into the village in grand numbers.
"River! Now!" Lot cried.
River swung her staff, unleashing a devastating force spell that sent the Breathless, minus a few appendages, crashing back through the gate. Rasmere let loose with the Bow of Elmidas, dropping the remaining stragglers. More Breathless lumbered toward the gate and the dart blowers went back to work, but not for long. The piercing shrieks rang out through the darkness once more. Tentacle-like appendages slithered through the gate, grabbed the dart blowers around the ankles, and drug them off, screaming into the marsh.
Before anyone could react, an Everafter pounded into the village with a large mallet in hand. River and Rasmere rolled out of the way as he charged through and slammed his mallet onto the ground where the others stood. They all leapt out of the way avoiding becoming smashed.
"River! Rasmere! Hold the gate!" Lot cried before rolling out of the way of the stampeding Everafter.
Oggy rushed in and smashed his war hammer onto the Everafter's foot. The creature let out a loud scream and kicked the small Dainty, sending him airborne. Caleb flew in clawing at its eyes, but with one swift swat, he lay face down in the mud. Red drew his pistol and emptied the chamber into the side of its head, freeing a multitude of imprisoned maggots. The beast let out a mighty roar and charged the Pirate, but before it was able to reach Red, Lot dashed in and made a deep cut across the front of its shin. It screamed in pain as it brought its mallet down, but Lot was already gone, a shadow in the darkness.
The Everafter spun around to find itself face to face with the King of the Brazurkins. Urganox charged the beast and smashed his flail into its knee. The Everafter brought his mallet down and met Urganox's shield. For
a moment, there was a brief test of strength as the Everafter tried to force Urganox to the ground. Urganox slid out from under the weight of the mallet and tossed his shield and flail to the ground. He charged the Everafter and rammed the beast with his mighty horns. The Everafter stumbled backward, crying out in pain once again as Azonis drug his sword across the back of its calf. Its knee buckled, sending it to the ground.
Before the Everafter could stand, Jeszekia leapt into the air and drove her trident into its face, not once, but well over ten times. Black blood and maggots spewed from the beast as it swatted at the Raptilian Queen, but she was too quick. She was all over the beast, darting from shoulder to shoulder, back to front, stabbing and gouging with her trident.
The Everafter fell onto its back. Lot dashed forward and drove his short swords under its chin. He ripped his hands apart, creating a gaping wound in the creature's neck. Azonis, Urganox, and Oggy hacked and bashed at the Everafter's limbs, not stopping until every appendage had been removed from its torso. Ryker latched on to the creature's head and drug it off out of sight. They let out a sigh of relief and gave one another a nod of approval.
"A little help over here!" River cried out.
Lot turned to see a flood of the Breathless attempting to come through the gate, but that was not the problem, River and Rasmere were defending the gate well. Six round, bulbous, creatures were slithering their way over the wall. One creature had what looked to be twenty arrows sticking out of it, like a meaty pin cushion, but it moved just as quickly as the others.
"By the gods!" Lot said. "What are those things?"
"I have a feeling that is what took the dart blowers," Oggy said as he wiped black blood from his face.
"Those are Vraymen," a voice said.
Lot whirled around. "Locmire! Thank the gods you are here!"
"It looks like you are in need of assistance," Thaddeus said as he knelt to receive an overly excited Ryker, who lapped at his face.
"I am glad to see your two ugly mugs," Urganox said.
"We will have time for pleasantries later," Locmire said. "We must deal with the Vraymen. They have a voracious appetite."
"Thaddeus," Caleb said in wonder. "Your arm? You have an arm!"
Thaddeus held up his new blue arm, clenching his fist and opening it again. "Nice, is it not?"
"Can you use it?" Oggy asked.
Thaddeus drew his dragon bone axe and said, "We shall see."
"How do we kill these things?" Azonis asked. "Arrows have no effect on them."
"I will deal with the Vraymen," Locmire said. "You must kill the Summoner."
"He turned into an Everafter. We have already dealt with it," River said.
"There must be more. There is no possible way that a single Summoner could bring forth this many creatures," Locmire said.
"We can handle it," Lot said, twirling his swords.
"Then let us get to it," Thaddeus said.
King Graystone charged the gate. As he ran past Rasmere and River, Thaddeus heard them both call out his name in wonder.
The Saviors, now fully united, stormed from the village. River created several large blazes of fire to keep the Shadow Men at bay. They dismembered thousands of the Breathless, and another Everafter in a quest to find the Summoners. To their horror, it turned out that there was not just one Summoner, but five.
As they bore down upon one of them, he floated into the air and exploded, creating yet another Everafter, which Urganox and Oggy showed no hesitation to engage.
They continued to cleave their way through the sea of Breathless, setting their sights on the Summoners the entire time.
Meanwhile, Locmire stood surrounded by the Vraymen. They lashed out at him with their tentacles, attempting to drag him into their toothy mouths, which were bigger than an average sized man. The Wizard produced his lightning-like whip and severed every hungry tentacle that came his way.
Vraymen were durable and highly uncommon. During the Great War, Locmire had only laid eyes upon three of these creatures, but three Vraymen were enough. They consumed many of Calencia's warriors, and yet their appetite raged. The only way to kill a Vraymen was from the inside out, but he had to first deal with their tentacles.
Locmire hurled a fireball into one of their gaping mouths. The Vraymen swallowed the ball of fire, belching loudly. Smoke rolled from the corners of its mouth like a chimney. It flopped over onto its back and went still.
The Wizard fed each of the hungry creatures a fireball, ceasing their veracious appetites the only way possible, through death. Locmire watched as the Vraymen lay smoldering on the ground.
Locmire looked up at the dark sky.
I think it is time to shed some light.
He held his staff high above his head. A bright ray of light came bursting forth from its end, colliding with the darkness in the sky. An epic game of tug-of-war played out high above everyone's heads. The light, after much struggle, won, peeling away the darkness. It shrieked as it left. The hurricane force winds dissipated, and the marsh's environment restored itself to normal.
Lot looked up at the sky, thankful for the reemergence of the sun.
"Locmire!" Thaddeus cried out in joy.
The disappearance of the darkness lifted The Saviors' spirits. Swords, hammers, flails, arrows, teeth, and spells ravaged the battlefield as they met Hasbarie's forces with rejuvenated focus. Locmire exited the village and joined The Saviors in battle.