Shadow of the Dark One

Chapter Eight - The Horde

A horde of skeletal men ran straight into the dimming shadow. Some carried silver blades, some carried the limbs of others. A few crawled along the road pulling themselves on blackened, brittle fingers, though it seemed very few had permanently fallen. The shadow backed further up the hill, its tri-luminary fading and a shining rod in hand. It lashed its rod across the distance.

'I must use my environment.' he thought.

A huge tree on one side of the road splintered and fell, pulled over the trail by the same strange force that had blistered and broken its one leg. Another fell beside it, toppling over the first to form a slight cross in the trail. The trees caught fire, slowly burning, but startling the horde.

The shadow became a face beneath the raging fire, one belonging to a dark figure with a slanted jawline and pointed ears. It wore no clothes, yet made itself known to be a man, albeit short. It worried, sweating rolling down its forehead in the heat of the fire and seeing the skeletal horde coming round the toppled tree roots. Some crawled over the top of the slower ones, all trying to make their way to him.

"Goddess Gaina, hear my words," it spoke. "A wondering soul compels you to show compassion this night."

He fired bolt after bolt of blue energy from the glass wand, striking bones, tearing and ripping them apart. He worked the wand up and down. Using the hordes own bodies against them, he knocked dead soldiers down by pushing those in front into the air or against those a few feet behind. They still drew closer and increasing in numbers. His fading nerves caused him to frantically pull back, seeing so many beasts rushing. The threat became too large to comprehend.

A voice called out, lifting his spirits as he perked and look into the air. "Look what you have become." said a woman's voice.

"I'm in trouble," he said. "I'm afraid of death. It's not my time."

He continued to guide his wand up and down, side to side as he pulled and tossed the inhuman beasts and slow their momentum. After a moment, it answered. "Do not fear it, child." said the female voice. "Let death save you from what you have done."

He frowned, looking skyward as he closed eyes and let the wand actually pull dirt from the road and form a small hill between him and the horde. He strained, beginning to sweat immensely. He continued to pull and the road grew higher, leaving a hole behind it. The skeletal horde ran into the hole, being pushed by the ones behind them. Suddenly, the dirt mound fell, rolling back into place and lashing out a cloud of dust to cover the rest.

"What have I done?" he asked.

The army halted, fearing what had become of their buried soldiers. They ceased running, bunching up while those in the rear still rushed forward. Several raised swords into the air and began advancing again. The dark one waived the wand, picking up and throwing those in front. In a few seconds, he was surrounded. The fear shown in his eyes for the first time, dark eyes glinting with a stream of moisture running down his cheek.

A glowing light lit him from above, covering the dark one and forcing him to the ground. Any skeleton daring to enter the light turned to dust, falling apart and disappearing above the humbled form. His body began to glow, each muscle could be seen as he knelt on the ground, unable to move. Tears dripped to the soil beneath, turning the red clay where he knelt into a pool of blood where it touched the dead armies ashes. Unable to speak or move, he soon disappeared as well.


Back in the empty town, Jed and Ricardo huddled inside an old house. The room was dark. Ricardo fumbled, knocking over a dish and breaking it. "Shhhhh," said Jed.

"I'm trying to find something," said Ricardo. He continued searching, random dishes fell and shattered in the dark. "Finally," he shouted. A light filled the room, spilling from a wine goblet in Ricardo's hand onto the floor.

"Where'd you learn to do that?" asked Jed.

The light kept pouring from the glass, splattering about on the floor. Random images formed where it landed, taking Jed's eyes away from searching the well-lit room. "Long story," said Ricardo. "I did this as a child." A woman formed on the floor, a moving, happy figure wearing a white, flowered dress and dancing on her toes. "That's my Mother."

"I know," said Jed. "I knew her, and your Father. How long has it been, five years since he passed?"

The image on the floor changed to a man. It stood to the height of the glass goblet and placed hands upon its hips. The room illuminated more brightly, revealing a row of burnt candles on a table in the center. Ricardo walked to it and passed the glass over the candles, lighting them faintly until he closed eyes and squinted. The candles puffed, sparkled and lit in real flames. "It's been four years, nine months and twenty-one days."

A sound of thunder rocked the home, dust fell from the rafters and their eyes locked on the door propped shut with a chair. The chair moved of its own accord and the door creaked open. A dark-skinned elf fell into the doorway and landed at their feet.

"What in the heck is..." yelled Jed.

"I know him," said Ricardo. "Help him up."

The two soldiers picked up the elf and sat him on the table. He looked to them and grunted. "Do you see me?"

Ricardo smiled. "I see you. Everything is gonna be alright."

"How do you know him?" asked Jed. "I've never seen anyone like him."

The elf pointed to the glass goblet. Ricardo grinned and handed it to him. He raised the glass over his head and a glowing aura poured out, spilled over his head and he transformed into a fully-clothed Prince Sano.

Jed rolled eyes and let go of the boy. "I'll be a monkey's uncle. Goldie's back." He pulled a knife from his sheath. "Let's kill him."

"What?" screamed Ricardo, reaching for Jed's arm as he raised it above Sano's head.

"He's an evil creature, like every other evil thing out there." He grunted and stumbled when Ricardo pushed him away.

Prince Sano placed both feet on the floor, still shaking like a leaf in the wind. "I am the Prince heir to his lordship, King Jacove of Chiato. You will do no such thing."

"They stole you away," screamed Ricardo. "It's me, Riko. Remember playing, when we were kids?"

The Prince turned and smiled. "I remember lots of things, and you were the first person I'd ever met, from any of my memories."

"Glad to see you know me."

"The king had me brought before them. When I showed them basal magic, from pouring through glass, they made me who I am today. He gave me a home and a purpose."

"Did all the magic come from you?" asked Riko.

Sano sneered. "I hope not, but probably."

"You made the Kingdom of Chaito rich, and the magic our wizards control has made the world a better place," said Riko.

"I don't know if it's a better place."

Jed's good eye wandered to the door, the other looking to the ceiling. A pounding of footsteps ran across the roof and the door kicked open revealing a skeleton wielding a sword. It swung the sword high over its head and plunged forward.