Legacy
Chapter 12

When Jameshad been deemed healthy enough for travel, the group continued ontheir journey. There were no lingering physical effects from theillness bothering James, but the emotional toll the apocalypticvision had left with him would remain always.

“Are wedoing the right thing?” Aiko whispered to Archer. There wasdistance between the two and James and Jaycee, making it possible forsuch a touchy subject to be discussed without offending James.

“What doyou mean?” asked Archer.

“ShadowKahn wants James, not us. So aren’t we just putting ourselves indanger for nothing? You know someone like that won’t stop until hegets what he wants. Who knows what’ll happen to us if we get inhis way again.”

“Putyourself in James’ position. How would you feel if everyone youwere depending on just abandoned you?” After giving Aiko time toponder what he had said, Archer brought up a very sensitive subject. “Is this because of what Sage told you?”

“What didSage tell you?” asked Jaycee.

It wasunclear if Jaycee had heard everything Aiko and Archer had beendiscussing, but it was evident that she had heard about Sage. Butwhat was a much larger concern to Aiko was if James had heard theconversation.

“Uh,well,” said Aiko, who felt an immediate pain in the pit of herstomach. “He said we shouldn’t waste our time trying to save thethird Nova.”

“What?”gasped Archer. “You didn’t tell me that.”

“Youdidn’t ask,” replied Aiko.

“Yes, Idid.”

“Is thatso?” asked James. When he came to a stop, everyone did the same. “What did Sage really tell you?”

“What areyou talking about?”

“It’sobvious just by the tone of your voice that you’re hidingsomething,” replied James. “So what did Sage tell you?”

With somany eyes on her, Aiko was unable to stay silent for very long. “Hesaid we shouldn’t try to save the third Nova because that one wasbeing saved for Shadow Kahn, which means we’ll only end up gettingkilled, too. So we shouldn’t even bother wasting our time. Whoknows what that maniac has in store for us.” Aiko actually feltrelieved to have been given that piece of information, so that shewould have something to tell the others that wasn't the secret sheand Sage now shared.

“Is thatall?” asked James.

“Yes, Iswear.”

“Thenthat gives us even more reason to try to save her,” said Archer.

“Her?”asked Jaycee. “The third Nova’s a woman?”

“It’sjust a rumor,” said Archer. “Because no one other than the otherNovas have actually seen the Nova of the north, no one really knowswho he or she is. And there’s another rumor. It’s been saidthat there’s something different about her.”

“How so?”asked James.

“Peoplethink she isn’t from this world.”

“Likefrom another planet?” asked Aiko.

“Howwould that even be possible?” barked Archer. “Some people seemto think there’s something divine about her, not otherworldly. I’ve always just passed it off as nonsense. But after what’sbeen happening recently, nothing seems impossible now.”

“If therewas a chance these rumors were true, why didn’t we seek the Nova ofthe north’s counsel first?” asked Jaycee.

“Iconsidered it,” said Archer. “But from where we began, the firsttwo Novas were much closer in proximity, and time was crucial.” When he was finished, Archer turned his attention to Aiko. “Areyou sure you didn’t forget to tell us anything else?”

“What?”gasped Aiko. “No.”

“Thenlet’s be on our way. Time still isn’t on our side.”

As hard asshe tried, Aiko was unable to quell the guilt she was now feelingfrom keeping her secret from the others. But she knew deep down thatit had been the right thing to do. Had she revealed what Sage hadreally told her, relationships would forever be changed.

With an airof tension now enveloping them, nothing was said amongst thetravelers for the next few hours. The fact that secrets were beingkept at such a dire time left the others less than pleased with Aiko.

The awkwardsilence was eventually broken hours later when the group arrived at aplace that was well known for past atrocities.

“TheValley of Death,” said James, gazing at the vast stretch of land.

Jaycee andArcher had the same solemn demeanor about them as they gazed at theplain that had seen more than its share of misery.

“What isthis place?” asked Aiko.

“TheValley of Death is a place where a very bloody battle took place,”replied Archer. “Many men lost their lives here. They died fornothing, as far as I’m concerned. No amount of power is worth theshedding of human blood.”

Hearingsuch things, James couldn’t help but think back to what Shadow Kahnhad told him about the evil in men’s hearts. But James refused toentertain the same beliefs as a man whose heart was filled with farmore evil than anyone against whom he had preached.

Before thegroup ventured into the valley, the sound of an approaching horsekept them from advancing.

“Andrew,”said Archer as the rider approached.

“Good tosee you’re still with us,” said Andrew. The newcomer was one ofKing Lionel’s most accomplished knights and had been on the fasttrack to becoming general of his highness’ army before recentevents threw everyone’s plans to the wayside. “Many of ourcomrades have not been nearly as fortunate as us.”

“What areyou doing in these parts?”

“I assumewe’re headed in the same destination.”

“You’realso seeking the Nova of the north?”

“That’sright,” replied Andrew. “We dispatched scouts to the Novas ofthe east and the west, but I’m afraid we sent them too late. Nowwe have no choice but to seek the help of the Nova of the north. I’ma bit wary of that one, with all the unusual stories that I’veheard. But we have no one else to turn to at a time like this. Isent a group of my best soldiers to the north. I just pray I didn’tsend them too late as well.”

“But ifthe rumors about her are true,” said Archer. “Then she might bethe only one who can bring an end to all of this.”

A lonehorseman appeared in the distance. He brought his horse to the apexof the opposite slope and began watching the group. From thatdistance it was impossible to see just who the rider was. But whenhe traversed the slope and took his horse to the center of thevalley, it became evident who it was.

“Raspheet,”said Archer.

“A friendof yours?” asked Andrew.

“Hardly.”

The group’scollective attention was then captured by the sound of marching. From the woods emerged hundreds of soldiers. Some were dresseddifferently, showing that they were made from different armies.

“Wecalled up every available man,” said Andrew. “We even promotedthe instructors from the academy. And the king was well respected byhis neighbors, so allies have lent some of their men to our cause. If we don’t replace the Nova of the north’s advice to our liking,then we always have plan B. Overwhelm the enemy with numbers andsheer brute force. In times like these, it’s been known to workquite well.”

With such alarge gathering now to contend with, it came as no surprise whenRaspheet directed his horse out of the valley.

“Well, atleast your friend had sense enough to turn tail and run.”

It wasshortly thereafter when the army began making its way across thevalley. The sky, which had been a pristine blue, had becomesaturated with black clouds. And the once fresh air had become thickand stale, producing a most unpleasant aroma.

“I don’tlike how this place feels,” said Aiko.

“Youdon’t have anything to worry about,” said Jaycee.

“We havean entire army on our side,” said Archer. “If that isn’tenough to keep the enemy away, then I don’t know what will.”

It wasfaint but James was sure he had seen something ahead. A slightmovement of dirt was enough to stop him in his tracks, prompting hisfriends to do the same.

“What isit?” asked Jaycee.

To theircollective dismay, the group watched as a hand covered in rottedflesh thrust from the ground. This brought the entire army to animmediate halt. Had the thought of retreat crossed their minds, itwould have quickly been quelled when similar arms began thrusting outof the ground in every direction. Before long, the army wassurrounded on all sides by dozens of undead soldiers pulling theirdecimated bodies from the earth. Their faces were twisted with looksof extreme rage, making them look as if they had never been human. But the tattered clothing that they wore and the weapons that theywielded left no doubt that these were the bodies of soldiers who hadperished in bloody combat.

James wasabout to draw his sword but Archer kept him from doing so. “Letthem take care of this,” he said.

With a merenod of his head, Andrew had given the order to a number of hissoldiers to attack the gruesome creatures. The soldiers broke fromtheir ranks and cut down the enemy with no more effort than whatwould have been used against wild dogs.

“Arethose things dead?” asked Aiko.

Before theattacks could be deemed a success or not, more of the undead beganemerging from the earth. Where there had only been dozens before,there was now well over a hundred of the enemy.

Andrew drewhis sword. “You four, stay close to me.”

A harrowingbattle then took place. The soldiers of the Deerborne kingdom andtheir allies used exemplary skill to vanquish horde after horde ofundead soldiers. But their skills wouldn’t be enough to overcomethe staggering numbers of the enemy. Despite their best effort, theywere quickly overrun by an enemy that seemed to have no end. Allover the valley more of them began emerging from the earth.

“Is thereno end to these monsters?” asked Andrew.

As thebattle raged on, the undead soldiers that had fallen began gettingback to their feet, eager to finish what they had started.

“Impossible,”gasped Andrew.

Not onlywere the undead now overwhelming the enemy with their numbers, butmany of them began feeding on the flesh of the fallen. The morecasualties there were the closer the battle got to James and theothers.

“You fourneed to get out of here now,” said Andrew.

“I won’tabandon my comrades,” said Archer.

“That’san order! I am acting as the king’s general, and you will do as Isay! Now leave while you still have the opportunity!”

A pair ofarrows were then fired into Andrew’s back.

“Andrew,”exclaimed Archer.

Though theman was in obvious pain, Andrew turned his horse toward the fiercestpart of the battle. “Don’t let my final request be denied,” hesaid.

“Youcan’t,” said Archer.

“For theking!” shouted Andrew before riding into the battle.

It was easyto tell just by looking at him that Archer wanted to follow Andrewinto the battle. To prevent him from doing so, Aiko grabbed him bythe arm. “I know you want to help them,” she said, “butthere’s nothing you can do.”

Thesoldiers who had survived the first wave of attacks soon foundthemselves being taken not by weapons, but by their enemies’ barehands and teeth. The scene unfolding was far worse than anythingthat could be conjured in even the worst of nightmares. Dyingscreams could be heard only faintly through the roars of theinsatiable victors.

“We haveto go!” exclaimed Aiko.

But thegroup wouldn’t be escaping so easily. Their way had become blockedby a horde of the undead. And it wasn’t long before more hadcompletely surrounded them.

“There’snowhere for us to go,” said Jaycee.

James wasready to attack at the first sign of advancement from the enemy,though he knew any attack would be futile against such a foe.

To theutter shock of the group, the undead began to separate, making a pathfor them through which to escape. It was clear by the growls comingfrom them that though they were giving them safe passage, the undeadwere doing so against their will.

“Let’sgo,” said James. And with that, the four sprinted through theopening.

Archer tookone last look back while escaping. The scene was more of what he hadalready seen. Fleeing soldiers were being chased down and eatenalive.

James andthe others ran for all they were worth from the carnage. And oncethey believed themselves to be out of danger, they stopped to catchtheir breath.

Beforeanyone could consider themselves grateful for still having theirlives, Raspheet rode in and became yet another obstacle.

“Youdidn’t think you’d be getting away that easily, did you?” askedRaspheet. After dismounting, Raspheet let the group in on a piece ofinformation they had been curious to know. “Do you know why thosethings let you go, when every instinct of theirs tells them toslaughter everything in sight? It’s because the master told themto.”

“Why haveyou aligned yourself with that man?” asked Archer.

“Youshould already know why. It’s the same reason why you alignedyourself with that king of yours. Choose the strongest side and gofrom there. It isn’t that hard to figure out. I was even put incharge of this so called army. It’s not quite like when I was incharge of my men, but I suppose this was the next best thing. Anarmy of undying monsters, what more could a man possibly ask for?”

Archer drewan arrow and took aim.

“When themaster creates his new world, he promised me a front row seat for thefestivities. And there’s no way any of you are going to stopthat.”

“Many ofthe men who died back there were my friends!” exclaimed Archer.

“Do youreally think I care?”

Letting hisrage take control of him, Archer fired an arrow into his foe’schest. Raspheet lurched over and feebly grasped at the arrow. Butshortly thereafter, he began laughing.

“Impossible,”gasped Archer.

WhenRaspheet straightened himself, the look on his face sent a chill downeveryone’s spine. The grin on his face showed that not only didthe arrow have no effect, but he had actually enjoyed the actperpetrated against him.

“Did youreally think that man would put someone in charge of an army of theundead if they themselves weren’t undead?” asked Raspheet. “Aman who can grant everlasting life, who wouldn’t follow someonelike that?”

Rather thangiving Raspheet’s grim proclamation a reply, Archer fired anotherarrow into his chest. This time, though, there was no feigning ofpain to mock his opponent. Raspheet merely pulled both arrows fromhis chest and tossed them to the ground.

“You justdon’t get it, do you?” asked Raspheet, drawing his sword. “MaybeI need to show you what I mean rather than tell you.”

Showing nofear, Archer drew another arrow and again took aim.

“Youreally are a stubborn one.”

“What areyou doing?” asked Aiko. “That’s not gonna work.”

Having madesure his shot would be precise, Archer let arrow fly. Rather thanstriking his foe in the chest again, Archer had fired his arrow intoRaspheet’s remaining good eye. The roar that burst from Raspheetwas so horrendous that it was clear to the others that, unlikebefore, this show of pain was no mere act.

“You maystill be around when your master creates his new world,” saidArcher. “But you won’t be seeing any of it.”

Withoutsaying another word or even looking at the others, Archer began hisdeparture. James and the girls followed Archer’s lead, treadingcarefully around Raspheet, who was writhing on the ground inagonizing pain and howling like a dying animal.