Chapter 23 Return of Loki
Daybreak over Kolvir was a spectacular sight to see.
Any other morning and Ashlyn would have been appreciating it from the
comfort of her own balcony and a hot cup of Java, but today she was watching it
from the back of Moon Dancing as they made their way back into Arden again.
“So Pandora, tell me again.
We’re meeting Dalt there and he’s taking care of the backup?”
Sorsha asked.
“Yes.
Said he had it all under control,” Pandora replied and pulled her cloak
about her shoulders a little better.
“It’s all too quiet around here,” Ashlyn said in a voice that was
near a whisper.
“I don’t even hear birds singing.”
“Good point,” Vincent said a little nervously.
“Look off to the left there!
Did you see it?” Blake pointed excitedly.
“What was it?” Pandora asked.
“I could have sworn that was a Weir,” he said and began to head off
in its direction.
“Weir here in Arden?” Sorsha seemed a little confused.
“Great.
More trouble,” Ashlyn muttered darkly as a birdcall could be heard.
It sounded human and was coming in the direction Blake had seen the Weir.
An instant later Dalt stepped out into view.
“Dalt!
I could have sworn I had just seen a Weir go through there,” Blake
said.
“Yes.
I have recruited my Weir to help us.
There’s an army of about nine hundred of them,” Dalt said with a
little pride.
Ashlyn could feel the pit of her stomach plummet as the helpless feeling
took over again.
She purposely hid her face in her hood to hide her true reaction she was
sure was readable on her face.
Moon Dancing began to shift a little nervously and Ashlyn fought to keep
him standing still.
Get a grip, Ashlyn.
He’s supposed to be on our side.
God help us all if he betrays us and turns us over to nine hundred Weir!
“If you’re all ready, let’s go!” Dalt lead the way.
On either side of them, Ashlyn was distinctly aware of the hundreds of
shadowy figures that flanked them.
“Tell me that Weir don’t make you nervous,” Ashlyn said just low
enough for Pandora to hear as she pulled up along side of her.
“So far we’re safe.
Let’s just see what happens,” she replied and kept her eyes ahead of
her.
Both knew what the other was thinking.
Nine hundred Weir would make quick work of them in no time if Dalt chose.
In
a matter of minutes they had reached the same clearing as before.
This time, the Guard was still there to meet them, their campfires still
burning, nothing packed up yet they were all armed to the teeth.
They weren’t about to give up their home without a fight.
“This is your last chance,” Dalt declared as he rode up.
“Leave now or else suffer the dire consequences of your very
inaction!”
“And for the last time, we’re not leaving!
You and your fuzzy army of what’s-it’s will have to drag our bloodied
carcasses out of here!” one stepped forward as the leader.
“Very well, then!” Dalt sighed heavily and simply gave a wave of his
hand and the Weir rushed forward with a sickening sound of growling and howling.
The Guard wasn’t so easily swayed.
They stood their ground and began a charge of their own.
It was then that Ashlyn had leapt down from Moon Dancing and aided the
charge on foot with sword drawn.
Blake, Pandora, Vincent and Sorsha followed suit and took on the closest
of the Guard in hand to hand.
There was no contest.
Every Guard the Amberites came in contact with fell easily beneath their
blades.
The Guard was standing far better chances taking on the Weir and wasn’t
doing too bad a job of holding them back.
The former Arden Guard proved to be worthy adversaries and Dalt was
surprised that he had slightly underestimated them.
They had split off into groups and were attacking Weir from all different
angles like using guerrilla-like tactics and his Weir were taking heavy losses
from it.
Fires had begun to spread all over.
For a while, it looked as if the Arden Guard just might hold their
ground, despite the carnage that was starting to pile up on both sides.
Just as Ashlyn was about to engage another opponent she could feel the
tingling onset of a Trump call.
“Whoever this is, you’re calling at a bad time!” she yelled as she
just let the call happen and she clashed swords with her opponent.
“Hey, Sis!
It’s just me.
Thought you guys could use some help,” a familiar face said.
“Loki!
I sure could, little brother!” Ashlyn paused to defend herself.
“Good.
You’re gonna love this!” he said with a laugh of delight and cut the contact.
As soon as that happened Ashlyn had to step black and take a glance up
into the sky to see four figures flying through it.
One looked like a fireball, one looked like a huge boulder, one looked
like bat-girl and the third was a Bedouin-looking fellow dressed in gold.
They alighted in the midst of the battle and began rounding up the Guard.
“Keep your eyes on the battle, Sissy!” Loki had instantly appeared
beside Ashlyn and gave his assistance with his sword, taking out Ashlyn’s
opponent.
“I could have done that, but thanks,” she said.
“It looks like your friends have it well in hand.”
“Yes.
Just wait ‘til you meet them!
They are so cool!” Loki said proudly as they watched the four
mercenaries round up the remaining Guard.
“Oh, Loki!” Ashlyn startled him by throwing her arms around her neck.
“I’ve missed you!
I thought you’ve been missing this whole time!”
“What made you think that?
I found these guys and have been hanging out with them.
It’s real cool.
We go around doing these merc-jobs and all we ask in payment is a favor
or two—nothing serious,” Loki explained with a smile as he returned her
embrace.
“C’mon over and meet the guys!”
Ashlyn let her brother take her by the hand and lead her over to where
his new friends were waiting.
“We’ve done well.
I still have over six hundred Weir left, and what’s left of the guard
here will be exiled like their former leader.
Loki, we are greatly thankful for your assistance,” Dalt spoke up.
“We were glad to help,” Loki returned with a bow.
He could feel Ashlyn’s hand grip his tighter.
He could register the sudden fear that she was so desperately trying to
hide behind her eyes.
He smiled back in confidence.
“So who are your friends?” Blake asked.
“Ah, yes!
This team is a bunch of mercenaries I had hooked up with during my
travels.
They’re great!
We don’t work for money, we just work for favors,” Loki began with
pride.
“The big rock over there is Lord Amberose, a Chaos Lord.
The bat-girl is Druna, the guy in the gold turban is <> and the guy
in the flames is the leader known as Rohan.”
Each mercenary bowed in turn and as Rohan doused his flames and had
regained his human form the crowd was taken aback at his appearance—especially
Ashlyn who had gone white and was simply staring agape with no sounds coming
from her.
Rohan shifted a bit uncomfortably.
“Is there something wrong, my Lady?” he asked.
Ashlyn could feel a flood of emotions rush to her eyes.
“I-I’m sorry,” she managed to stammer.
“Forgive me for staring, but you have the most strongest resemblance to
someone whom I have lost years ago.
You look and sound exactly like him!”
“No problem,” Rohan seemed to blush as he backed away to rejoin his
group.
“Sis?
You okay?” Loki asked as he searched her face.
“You never met him but your friend Rohan looks exactly like our older
brother Luke,” she said quietly, keeping the emotional flood in check.
“I was wondering why the heck he looked so familiar to me!
You still keep his Trump, don’t you?” Loki said quietly.
Ashlyn only nodded.
“One of these days I’ll tell you all about him if Mom doesn’t beat
me to the punch,” she smiled and turned to rejoin the others.
“It’s been a heck of a morning.
Rohan and his friends here have agreed to see these remaining men out
Amber.
I’ll just leave the Weir posted here until the King decides what to do
next.
Other than that, I’m starved!
I hope that lunch is hot and ready!” Dalt spurred his horse and
prepared to Trump back to the Castle.
Once he was out of sight the others had begun to follow.
“Pandora, you don’t look so good,” Vincent commented.
“We just had a victory.
Now correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s a good thing, right?”
“I think so,” Pandora replied slowly.
“Something just doesn’t feel right.
Let’s all make it a point to go and see the King when we get back.”
“I’m with you there,” Blake replied.
“I think we all are,” Ashlyn muttered.
“We’ll just skip lunch and go see Martin.”
“I think beer is now in order,” Vincent made light as they made their way back to the Castle.