Chapter 6 UNRAVELED

The Kingdom of Lance

Tony Rooks, partially asleep, opens his eyes to the clank sound from the dungeon door. Immediately the door was opened wide, three Lancian warriors strolled in.

Tony straightened himself then gazes up to the warriors, "Just for formality sake, I'm not going to be executed without a fight." He assured.

"Not today Tony" a voice familiar to Tony spoke from behind the warriors. Darren, a young Commander walks amidst the warriors then stops in front of Tony; average in height, having a body size in between being skinny and chubby. He was in his early thirties but his long dark hair brought out his twenties look.

"Prince Phil has ordered for your immediate release."

"Like hell he would" said Tony, trying to hide his relief and happiness on hearing the great news.

"It's true Tony, have I ever lied...."

"Really, we are doing this" stands on his feet "lets' not forget you made a promise to always look after my father."

"I am truly sorry for not being able to assist your father" place his right hand on his chest "but I swear to you with my life, I will do everything within my power to find his killer" touches Tony's shoulder "trust me on this."

"I'll put faith in your word this time Darren, for old time sake."

"Take him to his chambers and provide him with a suitable meal" looks upon the warriors, "when he is done direct him to the barracks" The three warriors stood at attention then Darren took his leave.

The barracks of Lance is located outside the gates of the Castle, just before the town of the first district. It is a large site stretching through a suitable hectare of land, freely open with no walls enclosing it; holding up to twenty cottages. In this defended space is a training ground and five vaults well built with strong timber to hold prisoners.

Along the track in front of the barracks Darren and Phil, mounted on their horses were in a brief discussion when Tony rode his horse into their mist.

"Nice of you to join us Tony." Said Phil

"Don't get all comfy with me" Tony replied bluntly, "I'm only doing this for my father and Darren here."

"Fine by me, as long as you are in the search with us, Darren address him on the details."

"After the incident in the fifth district happened under my command, we investigated it and found no trace of the perpetrator. Then three days after, the west section of sixth district went dark"

"Dark?" Tony interrupted

"Yes, there were no interactions and day refused to dawn in the district, I reported immediately to Prince Phil" sighs "it was then he sent Sri Jerrod Rooks and his elite troops to investigate the cause. A day past and morning came back to the sixth district but no sign of life. I and some of my men went in, only to find every single elite warrior dead all slit by the throat and a hay of ash."

"I was told my father died while fighting off outlaws, not some occult group"

"That was how I ordered the news to be spread." Said Phil

"Both commander Royce and his men were not found" draws a Rapier hanging from the side of his horse "this was the sword found impaled into your father's corpse" A good look at the Rapier, Tony gave an expression like he had seen it before.

"You knew who it belongs to" Phil suggested noticing the look on Tony's face

"This sword belongs to Elroy, but I doubt he killed my father."

"Who is Elroy?" asked Darren

"I met him in the fifth district, he was new to town and lost, he approached me for directions and I showed him around the district before taking him to the black bod, he offered me a drink and that was the last time I saw him."

"Till further enquires he's a suspect." Ordered Phil

"If you permit me your highness, can we get moving" Darren requested, Phil nods in agreement, then they rode their horses down the track towards the town with Darren taking the lead.

As stormy as the sky was, a hawk flew its way through the vigor wind until it came to open sky were it began hovering over hundreds of green tents in a valley stretching as far as the eyes could see. Finding its way through the tents, the hawk rested on the stretched hand of a Drokan warrior standing by the entrance of a marquee, stationed in the center of the tents. Tied to its leg was a well folded paper which the warrior pulled out before entering into the marquee.

There was a feast ongoing inside the marquee, Drokan warriors drank and cheered as two young slave girls brutally and violently fought each other with knives.

At the far end of the marquee sat Dorak Herra the twentieth, drinking from a human skull. Dorak Herra is the name given to the leader of the Dorak Clan; to be a Dorak was a big deal in the Clan, before the Dorak becomes old and weak he picks seven women, either from his clan or slaves from raids. Then he beds them and waits for the result, if a girl were to be born she would be trained to be the carrier of the next Dorak's child, which apparently is her step brother.

The boys that are born begin cruel and vicious training by age ten, those strong enough to survive are forced to fight to the death at age nineteen and by age twenty, depending on the Dorak's age the one survivor goes on a journey with his father to the mountains. No member of the Clan knows what transpires there, but the father never comes back and the son always comes back filled with wisdom and stronger than his father, ready to rule his clan with a common goal, liberate the world from the oppression of power.

The present Dorak was tan in complexion, tall and heavily muscled, having multiple scars all over his broad chest, his long red hair gave him a wicked beauty as well as a daring appearance.

On getting to Dorak, the Drokan warrior goes on his kneels then offers the paper with both hands. After a short while of reading the Dorak stood on his feet, influencing a great silence in the marquee.

"Zapov Zodaikal wis seda (Commander Zodaikal is dead)" he spoke with a dense voice, looks down on the warrior who handed the paper to him "kirim pesen menyang Zapov Lafiki kanggo miwiti panyiapan sisih kidul, pamrentahan kita minangka dewa wis diwiwiti (Send word to Commander Lafiki to begin the establishment in the south, our reign as gods has begun)"

Kingdom of Vlastisi

It was the fifteenth hour of the day, the gates of Vlastisi was wide open guarded by four warriors, cladded in light armor and helm. Out of the Fir forest came a man, gory and wet, head tilted down. He staggered his way into the open, approaching the gates as he drags a sword behind him.

Two warriors on the watch tower on each side of the gate kept watching the surrounding areas their eyes could grasp when the partially dead man came into view. A close look at him from that distance the warriors knew he was in pain, with a high pitch whistle from one of the warriors on the tower, the four warriors standing below turned their attention to the approaching figure.

"He seems to be in a bad situation" the warrior on the tower assured "approach with caution, there's something strange about him."

Three of the four warriors raised their shields at a high level then fixed their spear forward. Walking side by side, they approached the man while the fourth warrior followed behind unharmed, ready to assist the wounded fellow.

Now in range of sight the man gently lifts up his head, eyes hollow as night Ben wore a blissful grin on his bloody face. No warning or glimpse of weakness Ben charged towards the approaching warriors, the foremost three were quick enough to avoid Ben; unfortunately, the fourth wasn't, he felt a slight gentle breeze zoom through him then the world spinning upside down. Ben had just beheaded the warrior sent to offer a helping hand, everyone froze for a moment, stunned by the situation; with an alarming war cry one of the three warriors charged towards Ben influencing the other two to follow behind.

Panic filled voice the warrior on the tower screamed out "First division, take formation."

The clueless warriors behind the wall, nine in total, hurried to the entrance taking a formation of three by three before drawing their swords, taking the hanging right stance.

Right after deflecting an attack Ben evaded another then struck at the warrior, who deflected his attack with the shield leaving Ben wide open. With a perfect thrust another warrior impaled Ben on his side. No sense of pain Ben chopped off the warrior's hand; on his kneels screaming as blood sprouts into the air Ben ended him with a slash to the head. Terrified and traumatized the last two warriors took a defensive pose, not willing to attack head on. Gazing at the sky Ben pulled out the spear from his side then tossed it on the ground, after whispering to himself he advanced towards the gate.

Three warriors now in the tower wielding javelins, fixed their gaze on Ben. Sure of his aim; one of them lunched it at Ben who evaded it, another came whistling towards Ben but he was swift enough to duck under it, then the last, like it was nothing Ben deflected it. With preciseness threw his sword in a forward but upward angle which stabbed one of the javelin throwers in the chest. Falling backwards he landed beside the warriors in formation, good look at the dead warriors they knew Ben was on another level, the terror of death could be grasped in most of their eyes; eventually a day like this was inevitable.

"Prepare for battle" one of the warrior in the front screamed out to encourage his subordinates, noticing the intensity in the atmosphere.

At that point Ben stopped meters before the warriors, silence broke out and the intense atmosphere deadened allowing the hoof beat of a galloping horse to take on, even the warriors dropped their defensive formation. Just as Ben turned around a figure chopped of his head as it rode pass him. Ben's headless body went on its kneels engulfed in black flames.

On getting to the gate the figure halts his majestic stallion; the figure wore a green hooded salamander wool cloak, even with the covering his muscled physique was not hidden, proving the figure out to be a man. Mounted on his horse his height could still be put in the average class.

"Who might you be?" a warrior looking down from the tower asked

Unveiling his hood his short dark hair fluttered in the passing puff of air, tan in complexion and by looks he seemed to be in his late thirties. "I am Allas Roach" he spoke with a profound tune "from the west-southwest Kingdom, Ramenia. I am here to see Iris, your Chief" sheathes his sword.

"Allas you say, here's the thing, you just killed whatever he was" points at the burnt up body of Ben, now being inspected by two warriors "with one swipe. Why should I allow you through theses gates?"

"You will be answering to me if he's late." An old creaking male voice spoke from behind the warriors standing by the entrance.

Looking forward Allas sets his eyes on an elderly man mounted on a horse "Good to see you again master Iris." Allas greeted with a bow

"Long time no see Allas," Iris replied "Shut the gates, double the defense on the tower and gate; send a search party into the forest to scout what has transpired and bring those corpses in for a proper burial" Iris ordered

The warriors stood at attention then shared themselves to the various task.

"Come in Allas, we have a lot to discuss."

"Indeed master" trots his horse through the gates.