BACK

The water of the little lake before the Great Hall was no longer blue but red and the same could be said of the normally green grass surrounding it. Between the burning houses the battle still raged on. Man to man the remnants of the Republic tried to break the encirclement of the Kings army. However there was no single cohesive force left. Just moments ago Count Freedom had had ordered the herald to signal that it was each man and women for his/herself. So small pockets of Immortals was all that was left. Some had retreated into the library and fighting could be heard from inside. Others tried to make it to the bridge but were blocked by the soldiers of the king. Lord Mystic and Count Freedom stood side by side at the half burned house of councillor Farseer. “Do you see that?” Lord Mystic screamed to Freedom. “Freedom looked at the direction Mystic was looking and saw immediately what caused the elder to be worried. Two huge Mahrs were attacking a group of Immortal townsfolk. A band of soldiers instead of helping the townsfolk rushed by to attack yet another group of Immortals. “The demons walking amongst the kings men can only mean one thing, the evil has won over this realm permanently.” Lord Mystic continued. Suddenly a strangely familiar sounding war horn was heard coming from the south. Then again. “Milord’s, Milord’s, another army is coming from the south” a Immortal defender reported. “This is the end” count Freedom thought as he swiftly climbed the rubble of the house to watch to the south. Lord Mystic followed him and both men briefly stood side by side. “This is no kings army, but can this be?” Lord Mystic thought aloud. “What do you mean Mystic? “Freedom bluntly asked the elder. “Look at their colours noble count, look.” And with astonishment Freedom saw the banners of the Republic waving over the approaching army. Soon the sounds of battle could be heard coming from the south and the kings forces seeing the army coming their way suddenly broke, lost faith and ran. Many were cut down by the Immortals still fighting in the town and soon the bridge was packed and filled with retreating men. Some of the men jumped into the water in an attempt to reach the other side swimming. However their heavy armour made them sink to the bottom almost immediately when they hit the water. The demons on the bridge started to attack the kings men as well in an attempt to escape the oncoming onslaught adding to the total carnage already there. “Victory, Victory!” Lord Mystic screamed and soon all survivors of the battle joined in. Shortly after the new army approached the destroyed town. Leading the army, on a white horse a familiar face to Lord Mystic approached. “Its Kitana” he whispered to Freedom. “Kitana? Isn’t she fighting in the south? He answered. “Yes she is, but by a miracle, the crusader army of the Republic is here.”
“My good and old friend, your timing is impeccable what is the crusader army of the Republic doing here? “Lord Mystic asked. Behind Kitana he saw old and familiar faces of Silencer, Metalmaniac and Azcon and Zen. Freedom walked towards the two and saw amongst the army also his old companion Doomwolf. Kitana dismounted and walked to her old friend laughing. She embraced him briefly and then started to speak. “My good and old friend, I am so glad we made it in time.” “How did you know our plight?” Count Freedom asked. “Oh my, I am happy to see you as well, but what do I see here? You are of noble rank now? “Yes Kitana, Mystic answered, you have been away too long my friend, Freedom is a count now.” “Well I have been away too long, forgive me count Freedom. But to answer your question, two months ago while on a patrol we encountered a strange creature. It was black, had long arms and his screams where not of this world. Little we know it was a creature walking these lands.” Kitana pointed at a body of a fallen Mahr. “However after a thorough interrogation it revealed plans to raise an army to take over this realm and to lure its noblest defenders into a trap. We knew our help was needed here so we packed and saddled up almost immediately.” Kitana looked around, then back at the two men. “Where is the council? Where are Albertus and Dennizon? Where are the rest of our forces?” “They have fallen into the trap.” Lord Mystic replied while staring to the ground. “What now?” Count Freedom broke the silence. “Now we leave this place, and take our people to the crusaders land. While its no way safe our clan there pledged to help an old Kingdom defend itself.” “Looking at the dead all around him and the burning village Mystic knew it was indeed time to go. “If any are capable of rejoining us it is our friends and our veterans. We have to go before the king sends more men and demon our way. “What about the Great Hall, it has lots of valuables in it as well as memories of our great deeds.” Freedom thought aloud. “Put them below ground, collapse the entrance then burn it down.” Kitana replied. All three were silent but knew it had to be done. “Kitana, we need to go now scouts report a new army of the king coming our way. A man dressed in shiny armour stated. “Very well, lets hurry then” Kitana replied. Mystic noticed a Kitana and this man briefly smiled at each other. “Who is that man my friend?” he asked. Kitana smiled, and started to walk towards to Great Hall issuing orders, then turning around towards Lord Mystic.. with a smile from ear to ear she replied “That man, as you call him, he is my husband.”

Paragraph 24: Betrayal

“The king can see you now.” The chamberlain spoke to the little group of Albions waiting in the anteroom to the throne room. Albertus looked at Dennizon, then at Foxdom and Sinsmerc. Behind them Cheli and Healingfeary were whispering to each other. After the defeat of Azazel the group discovered a portal and to their utmost surprise it lead straight into Camelot. Their sudden arrival had the city in an uproar and many people started to celebrate the victory over the demon lord. However strangely enough the king did not appear on the streets or wanted to meet the group killing his enemy and swiftly made an end to any celebrations. It took several days before the king was ready to receive the victors. During these days, Albertus and Dennizon were overjoyed to hear their colleague and good friend Farseer had survived the battle. While alive he was severely wounded and remained unconscious. Also Lareaa and Umores survived the battle. One day later Caerial was found amongst the wounded as well. Many others were still missing. “Well then lets go inside” Sinsmerc broke Albertus thoughts. And the group moved into the throne room.
At the end of the throne room sat king Constantine on his throne. Before it lie the head of Azazel. Half wrapped in the same cloth Foxdom had used to wrap the head into in the demon lords lair. Albertus noticed how empty the throne room was, only a few guards next to the king and the chamberlain standing behind him. “Move forward brave Albions” the king started to speak. Some people in the group kneeled before him. Dennizon and Albertus just nodded but kept standing. The king seemed displeased by this but continued to speak. “You have done well in our ongoing battle against the demons and their lord Azazel. This victory will be an inspiration to all fighting this war.” “Excuse me king Constantine, the war is won, look, I cut of the head of the enemy lord myself.” Foxdom interrupted the king. King Constantine looked with anger at the large mercenary. Moved his right hand a little and two guards rushed towards Foxdom each grabbing one of his massive arms. This happened so fast the group was nailed to the ground totally shocked. The king arose from his thrown, stepped down a little and then hit Foxdom in the face. “Do not speak when your king is speaking!” Constantine said as he looked at the others. “You have done your part but the war is far from over. You have killed a demon that’s for sure, as the head proves but that is in no way Azazel.” “But, but my king I assure you it is Az…” Sinsmerc could not finish his sentence as the king slapped him in the face as well. “Scum, when I say this is not the demon lord, it is not.” I have ordered new and fresh regiments of Albions to enter those caves to kill him. And I order you to go with them.” Albertus and Dennizon looked at each other and the king. “So I expect loyalty to your king, go and prepare. Tomorrow you all go back to the Brimstone caverns to continue to seek my enemies.” Behind the throne stood the chamberlain. Albertus could not help to notice the smile on his face. He instinctively looked around him to see if there was a way out of here but then suddenly his friend Dennizon spoke. “You speak of loyalty while its you who betrays everything your predecessor stood for, you speak of loyalty while its clear you are working together with the very same enemy you send us out to fight. Today, I break my bond with you. You are no king but a dictator.” The face of the king turned red in anger. The chamberlain stopped to smile and started to yell commands. “Get that traitor, guard guards.” The few guards holding Foxdom now rushed towards Dennizon. Dennizon evaded the first attack, grabbed the spear of one of the guards and gave it such a strong pull the guard fell on the ground, releasing the spear. With the spear in his hand Dennizon attacked the other guard, evaded his joust bringing the backside of the spear in the neck of the guard. The guard fell on the ground. This happened so fast all in the throne room fell silent. The king rose and with half closed eyes hissed at Dennizon “Your clan betrayed my cause, and me, and so does its leaders apparently. Be aware you scum! My army already have killed all you know and burned down your city we will,.,,” “Stop” Albertus interrupted, “Do you really think we are afraid of you “king” Constantine. Before Azazel died he revealed there was more to this then we thought. The Republic of Immortality breaks any ties with you hence forth” “Fool, there is no clan left for you, its destroyed and soon I will have your head.” The king screamed at Albertus. “But not now, or we all die here!”. Albertus replied. “While we knew we could not take any weapons with us in here, we knew you would want this head of Azazel before you so we have filled it with incendiary materials. Make one step to harm us and none of us here will survive.” The king looked around him then suddenly stepped backwards. “You told me I would not be in danger, you told me.” He screamed to the chamberlain. The chamberlain looked at the little group, then back at the king cowering behind his throne. Sinsmerc suddenly threw himself at the head of Azazel in his hands two firestones. “Run my friends I cover your escape, nobody slaps me in the face.” Albertus looked at Sinsmerc with a sad face. “You will most certainly die noble one” “So be it” Sinsmerc interrupted. Dennizon and Albertus looked at the chamberlain. “Well, well, you win this round today. But know that the King decided to exile you and your clan from this Kingdom from this day on, on reasons of treachery.” “We will go demon” Dennizon replied “But everyone knows who the real traitor is and who betrayed who. Looking at the cowering King trying to take cover behind his throne he continued ”Our clan wants nothing to do with you anymore King Constantine, you disgust me. You have made your worst enemy today.” Albertus and Dennizon walked backwards keeping an eye to the King and his guards but they made no effort to stop them with Sinsmerc close to the head. At the entrance to the throne room they looked back seeing more guards entering the throne room. “Long live king Arthur!” Sinsmerc yelled and the last thing they saw was the small mercenary being hit with several arrows. “We will remember his sacrifice.” Albertus said to Dennizon as they started to run. They quickly entered the empty anteroom and most of the castle was empty as well. Outside many Albions, some as young as eleven springs prepared to venture to the Brimstone caverns. Because of this it took the little band of Immortals no effort to slip out of the city towards Dalton.

back to index page