Legends of Amacia Heart of Darkness
Chapter 31: The Invasion of Arionath

Back at Kaal Bek, Nicodemus, Joshua, and Nathanael had gathered everyone into the city near and in the fortress. People and supplies crowded the fortress’ courtyard square. Nathanael stood in the square with the scepter, operating the portal. People flowed in and out of the portal carrying all manner of supplies at a good clip. Nicodemus stood near Nathanael, issuing orders and directing the flow of people and material through the portal like a traffic cop. Just then, three men pushed through the crowds toward Nicodemus and Nathanael. They ran up and cried, “They’ve breached the gateway ridge! The Zarukar are crossing over the ridge en-mass. We have to get the people away now! They’re slaughtering everything in their path!”

“How much time do we have?” Nathanael asked grimly.

“No more than three hours. Their war machines have reopened the gateway and drained the lake,” the scout reported urgently.

Turning to Nicodemus, Nathanael asked, “How many are left? Are we going to get them away in time?”

Nicodemus looked over the crowd that was moving through the portal with good speed and sighed heavily, saying, “It’s going to be close, but I believe we’ll get away in time.”

As he was speaking, Harry and his demolition crew walked up. Upon seeing the looks on both Nicodemus’ and Nathanael’s faces, Harry asked, “What’s wrong?”

Nathanael turned to Harry, asking, “Finished with the bombs?”

“Yes, sir,” Harry replied, “All except for the three that we were going to set around the portal machinery out here.” Nicodemus began to hurry the people on through the portal, urging them on with new vigor.

“Plant the bombs now, Harry,” Nathanael ordered severely. “The Emperor’s forces have breached the valley.”

Harry’s face fell. “Oh, shit,” he replied, “Are we going to get everyone way in time?”

Nicodemus heard the question and answered, “Not if we keep talking about it.”

Harry turned to his team and ordered, “Go help Nicodemus hurry the people along. I’ll take care of the last three bombs.” The team moved out into the crowds and Harry quickly placed the bombs around the machine, setting the detonators. Once he finished, he approached Nathanael and showed him the remote detonator, saying, “Press this button, and this place will be a smoking hole in two minutes. I would advise that you be a good distance away when you do so because this explosive is almost nuclear in its yield. I’ve never handled something that packs so much of a punch.”

Nathanael nodded wearily, saying, “Good man...I’ll try to remember that.”

Harry noticed Nathanael’s fatigue and asked, “You want me to hold on to that while you take a break and gather yours, Selina’s and Hannibal’s things?”

Nathanael looked at Harry’s hands and saw he had no gloves. “Yes. That would be good, but you’re going to need gloves to handle this thing,” Nathanael said, a bit relieved to be rid of the scepter for a few moments. Jacob, who happened to be bringing his family and things to the portal at that moment, overheard what Nathanael told Harry, so he stepped aside briefly and offered Harry his gloves before going on to Acheron with his family. Harry thanked him and put the gloves on after pocketing the remote detonator.

“Okay, what do you want me to do?” Harry asked.

“Just hold on to the staff and keep it on the ground,” Nathanael said. “Whatever you do, don’t touch it with your bare hands, or pick it up. If you pick it up, the portal will close and if you touch it with your bare hands, it’ll sap the energy right out of you; all right?”

Harry nodded and said, “Got it.” He took hold of the Scepter and Nathanael let go. Harry could feel the power flowing through the scepter even through the glove. It made his hand and arm tingle slightly.

“You got it?” Nathanael queried.

“Go. I’ll manage,” Harry insisted.

Just as he spoke, a shadow fell over them and they looked up to see Argus coming in for a landing just behind Harry and Nathanael where the square was vacant. Nathanael went to Argus after he landed and asked, “What’s up, Argus?”

Argus snorted and said grimly, “The leading edge of the 5th Division has reached Draken Pass. They’ll be here in a matter of three hours. The 8th Division has crossed both Khmer Shek and Bone Pass. They’re sweeping down from Sharindar, killing all in their path. They’ll be here about the same time the 5th shows up.”

Nathanael looked down and swore under his breath. “I should have figured that,” he said grimly. “We just found out that the Zarukar army has breached the gateway with their machines and are in the valley now.”

“I know,” Argus replied. “I saw it when I reconned Sharindar. Have the explosives been set to destroy the keep?”

Nathanael nodded and said, “Yes. Harry just finished just a few minutes ago. He’s relieved me of the machine so I can gather our things and take a short break. Unfortunately, the break is going to have to wait.”

Argus nodded, saying, “Yes, it will. Who’s going to set off the bombs?”

Nathanael sighed and said, “I guess I will. What I’ll do is once I get our things packed and moved down here, I’ll send them through with Harry and Nicodemus. After everyone is through the portal, I’ll close it and leave.”

Argus smiled wryly and asked, “How do you expect to get through the enemy lines?”

Nathanael looked Argus right in the eye and said, “As if you need to ask that question, my friend? You know very well how.”

Argus chuckled a little and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll be ready. But until then, I’ll try to slow their progress with an aerial assault.”

Nathanael touched Argus on his shoulder and said, “Watch your back. We don’t know what kind of surprises they have in store for us or you for that matter.”

“That’s so true, my Lynxian friend. Watch your back as well,” Argus replied. Nathanael backed away and Argus leapt into the air, flying off to run interference with the Zarukar army. Nathanael went back to Harry and Nicodemus, telling them of the news, and then rushed off into the keep.