Chapter XXXVIII: Shadows (Cont. VII)
Adelia smashed one of the shadows across the side of the face with the flat of her blade, turned, and raced across the bridge, nearing the end without problem. It was at this point that the boards underneath her gave away, which was something that both West and Laura had already been expecting. Laura, being faster, flew out, catching Adelia’s hands and crashing down on the few planks still left near the end of the bridge. They gave away and Laura slipped over the edge as well. The two women’s fall was stopped by West, who had caught her by the ankle as they dangled over the abyss.
“Geez….you girls weigh more than I thought,” he grunted after a moment. Gobudo marched over with Blackheart and the three reached down and began to haul the two women up, the shadows giving up on them and turning back to the remaining Jaigons. Finally, the two were hauled back over the edge and were sitting, catching their breath.
Adelia glanced over at Laura, “Thanks.” It wasn’t all that heart felt, but Laura wasn’t expecting miracles. She rose quickly, wiping herself off and glancing over at Thyrus, usually the man with the directions. “Where to now?”
Adelia’s eyes flickered and she was speaking before Thyrus could, “That way. A few miles.” Her sword pointed out towards a rising flame of reddish orange near what seemed like walls of a city. “Come on.” She slid her sword into her sheath with a click and then ran off in the direction of the flame. The others glanced at each other and then over at Thyrus.
He glanced at them after a moment, wondering why they were staring. “What? She’s right.” Thyrus shrugged and took off after her, the others following after a moment.
Behind them, the Jaigons continued to battle the shadows until all stopped in mid-swing. They were frozen as all their eyes slowly turned them towards a figure marching in clanking metal towards them. It waved it’s large bladed weapon at them and they parted, the figure marching through. As it passed them, their eyes began to sparkle with a strange flame and, after the figure crossed the bridge with ease, the figures clashed again, this time with a renewed frenzy. Anyone who was listening could hear both sides screaming the same war cry, “For Rah!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shaw dragged himself up to his knees, rubbing the back of his head. “Damn it,” he sighed. It was then that he felt the ripple of the gateway behind him, sliding into the shadows and peering out to listen as the figures who had just arrived marched into the center of the temple.
“Where are we?” The voice was strong but exhausted, it sounded the way Shaw felt.
“Zeo, Mr. Burore.” It was an unmistakeable voice.
“Shit,” Shaw said, loading his crossbow quickly. He knew what this meant. If Forte was here, then someone had screwed up and that wasn’t a good sign at all. He peered out into the room to see another figure in armor standing and talking in a mechanical and undiscernable language.
“No, Grail. It seems that Shaw wasn’t quite on the right track either. But we can’t expect him to know what we now do. It was only by visitting Al-Khara that I was able to see, though I had my hunches.” Forte turned and glanced towards the room Shaw was in. “You may come out, Shaw.”
Shaw cursed under his breath and stepped out, crossbow lowered but ready to be snapped up and fired at any moment. He glanced among the three. “Who are they?”
“Associates,” Forte said with a flicker in his eyes. “Mercenaries. The kind that no one would miss.” Donovan shifted on his feet uneasily.
“I wouldn’t say that,” he said after a moment.
“Really? And who would miss you?” Grail laughed. “Sorry to point this out, but no one would miss you either.” She stopped. Forte paced over and around Shaw, “Planning on killing one of us, I don’t think it would be a good idea, especially since if you play your cards right, you might just survive.”
“Oh? And when have you been one to let someone who screwed up live?”
“I don’t let those who screw up live, but you haven’t ruined things just yet, so I wouldn’t count that as screwing things up. Rather, I have a better job for you, now. You’ve done your part very well, but I need you to give me it. Not only do I want it, I also want you to handle the one last thorn that could get in the way of keeping everything fine.”
Shaw reached into his pocket and drew out the scroll, handing it over to Forte. Forte unrolled it and read it over thoroughly. “You’re sure that this is right?”
“I found it in here, which means that has to be where it is,” Shaw said matter-of-factly.
“Good.” Everyone felt the blink and the flash of red, and the scroll was gone from Forte’s hand. All looked surprised, save Forte. He looked down with interest and glanced out the door. “Well then, that was interesting to see.”
“What the hell just happened?” Shaw stepped forward only to hear the click of the bow and to look over to see Ermine Quoral emerge from the shadows with his bow aimed and ready. Shaw noted this for a moment, “Ah. That’s what you meant by bad idea.”
“Was there really any doubt?” Forte smiled and glanced out into the wastes. “Now Shaw, you’ll leave us be. We have to go and stop him now.”
“Are you insane!? You can’t stop him! Besides he doesn’t know…..” Shaw stopped. “Where did that scroll go?” Shaw and Forte exchanged a glance, “You’re kidding me!”