The Summoned
The Light Plane: Darren's Keep
"Asa, are you ready for this?" Paul was looking into his friend's eyes, trying to find any hint of fear. Asa merely nodded.
"Good." Paul said, turning from the young summoner and looking to the rest of the group. Elayna, Leo, Rachel, and Seeker looked back at him calmly.
"As you all are no doubt aware, Norax was able to bring his troops here at a much faster rate than we had initially believed. Despite all of our best fighting efforts, they've built another fortress outside the keep, and have formed a blockade around us. Today, we're going to break that blockade."
This announcement was not met with a great deal of surprise - most of the citizenry of Darren's keep had already been evacuated, with only the military and a few others staying behind. Darren himself, a few of his advisors, and Asa's group had stayed as well, doing their best to stave off the attacks of Norax's growing force.
Paul continued. "That's not news to any of you, as you probably guessed that we would be leaving soon. Well, Darren has an announcement that is news to us, myself included. He told me just today, that it will be only us running the blockade."
This announcement was greeted by surprised silence. Clearly, none of them had expected that particular bit of news. Leo was the first to speak up.
"But why?" the knight asked. "I was under the impression that we would take escort at least His Majesty and some of the knights!"
Paul nodded. "That's what I had believed would be the case as well. However, king Darren believes that such a group would be too large to get through Norax's forces. He considers us the best hope that the Light Plane has-" Paul looked slightly embarrassed to say this, but continued nonetheless. "- and if we were to be captured here then it would be all over. King LePaige has long known of the threat to this world, and has trained his troops for some time. King Darren has ordered us to go to LePaige's kingdom and make our stand there."
Paul could tell that Leo wasn't happy with this news, but the knight didn't dare speak out - he had been given an order from a king, after all, and his honour didn't allow him to turn it down. So instead of an argument, there was an akward moment of silence.
"The escape" - Paul began, breaking the silence with a bit more force than necessary - "is to be in four hours. I plan to be gathering what little I am taking with me and resting for that time. We are to meet back here, and then leave the castle through an underground passage."
The rest of the group nodded their understanding, and slowly left the room. Paul sighed, and sat down, looking up briefly to aknowledge Seeker's presense. The old mage hadn't left with the others, Paul surmised. "Master Seeker, I do not understand why you had me tell them the information. They trust you more than they do me."
Seeker smiled understandingly. "It is you that they have been travelling longer with. They believe that I have sufficient power to protect them, true, but none of them save Asa have actually seen it in use." This much was true - Seeker hadn't taken part in the battles to defend the keep, instead conserving his energy for what he said was 'a very important undertaking'. Paul and Asa had taken his word, but the rest of the group seemed somewhat put off by what they thought was simply an excuse. Elayna had come right out and complained, while Leo and Rachel had simply seemed a little more reserved on the subject. "There is one more thing of importance." Seeker added, bringing Paul back to the present conversation. "I had you speak to them so that they could see you as their leader. You are the one who will have to detect ambushes for them on your way to our neighboring kingdom. You are the one that will have to erect defenses for the night. So it is you that they must have faith in."
"What are you saying? Aren't you coming?" Paul said, already knowing the answer and not liking it one bit.
Seeker shook his head. "No... Norax has sent some of his fastest riders out past the perimeter and through the forest toward LePaige's kingdom. At their rate of speed, they will overtake the last group of civilians that left from here. Norax is a ruthless man who will not hesitate to have those who are defenseless killed. I intend to make the citizens of this keep a little less defenseless."
Paul nodded. "Very well.... I will lead our group. But what if Asa should decide something contrary to what I think? Asa is the reason we're here, after all, and the others will defer to him. Even I would tend to value his thought over my own intuition."
Seeker nodded. "Of course. But remember, you have already accomplished the goal that you set out to do: Save Asa from Norax. Asa is safe with us and has an artifact that protects him from Norax. Asa values your advice, even though you may not know it. Lead them to LePaige's safely."
"As you wish." Paul sighed and got up. "I have to go to my quarters now, and prepare for our journey."
Seeker nodded his understanding, and watched his apprentice go.
The Light Plane: Outskirts of Heroes' Forest
"Run!" the commander yelled, straining to be heard over the cacaphony. Not looking back to see if any of his underlings had obeyed him, he fled manicly toward his army's fortification.
Two earth elementals and a pillar of fire were tearing through Norax's ranks. It was early morning, and the troops hadn't expected an attack until later in the day. In a few more minutes, Norax's wizards would be roused and dispatch of the meanaces. Until then, however, the troops couldn't hope to hold their own against the elementals, and were falling back into a more defensive position, leaving the blockade in tatters.
Paul darted out across the darkened field, trailing Leo and Elayna behind him. Asa and Rachel, leaning on each other for support, brought up the rear. Soldiers of the enemy surrounded them, but none of the fighters recognized their adversaries in the confusion.
The air surrounding Paul suddenly felt charged with energy, and he reflexively dropped to the ground. His group followed suit, just in time to avoid a bolt of energy. The bolt, too bright to look directly at, careened into one of the earth elementals and shattered it into dust. Norax's wizards had awakened, it seemed, and earlier than Paul had feared. Climbing to his feet and helping Elayna up, Paul motioned for the group to follow him. The Heroes' forest, a large but relatively young jungle, was near them. As soon as they entered it, Paul could set up false trails and obscure their actual position, should they be followed. But here out in the open, his magic would do little good.
Leo was up and ahead of Paul before the wizard even saw the soldier. One of Norax's men - an archer - had spotted them, and was about to shout an alarm when Leo's sword struck him. The archer vanished as Leo moved through where the man had originally been. Asa and Rachel moved by the stunned Paul, shouting back at him.
"We've been spotted!" Rachel yelled. "Hurry!"
Paul started moving again. A siren sounded somewhere, and shouts of alarm resounded throughout the blockade. Paul heard an arrow move by him once, but was moving too fast to pay it any attention. He was struck in the arm with another quarrel as he turned to check on the others. Pain swelled within him, but he forced himself to ignore it as he took hold of Elayna, who had fallen in her running. He saw a company of knights running toward them, but they were quite a distance away. The forest began directly in front of him. Motioning for Leo to enter first, the knight darted into the inky woods. Asa and Rachel followed, and Paul carried Elayna in with him.
They were not more than ten feet into the forest before the cries and shouts of their pursuers seemed muffled. Paul turned around then and began concentrating on the spells that would obscure their presense, and lead their enemies away.
For the time being, they were safe.
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