Aphrodite's Acolyte (15 page)

She looked at Fidel's amulet. “The amulet you carry around your neck symbolizes the strength of the barrier.” She reached over and held the amulet around Fidel's neck, running her fingers along the center star. “The barrier of the gods dissolves when this amulet fills with color, meaning any god can return to the land of Maserun. You mortals believe the amulet will give the opener of the gate massive amounts of power."

Aphrodite let go of the amulet and watched it drop to Fidel's chest, clanging lightly on his armor as it landed. “That simply is not true. What will happen when the amulet fills, is that the gods would be permitted to return to Maserun and do as they please. You do not want that to happen. Ares, the God of War and quite a chaotic being, will be the first to show up and start destroying all we have built.” She sighed heavily at the thought.

Fidel further questioned, looking down at his amulet. “But do you not miss being among your creations? Wouldn't the opening of the barrier also permit the other gods to freely engage their respective people?”

Aphrodite nodded. “I do miss being on the planet and directly helping. But this is why we bring the humans, dwarves, and elves to us in such meetings as we are having now. The leaders of the lands are often selected to meet with the gods on a regular basis. We know our direct involvement is too dangerous and the best thing we could have ever done is create the barrier as we did.”

Aphrodite looked through a small sphere on the table and noticed the darkness of night was diminishing on the camp of Fidel's allies. “The sun is rising and our meeting must conclude. Do you have any further questions?”

Fidel thought for a moment. “Just one more. You said none of the gods could be on the planet. What of Hades? I hear tale after tale of adventurers visiting the land of the dead and returning with trinkets of the after life.”

Aphrodite smiled. “Hades is the only god permitted within Maserun, but he is not permitted within several leagues of the surface. The barrier extends below the surface and above the mountains, preventing his interference as well.” The goddess thought for a moment and offered some advice. “If you ever find yourself in Hades' realm, know that the barrier is marked by a solid black ring on the very rock formations of the land. If you ever find a need to escape from Hades or his minions for whatever reason, getting to the other side of the barrier will keep you safe.”

Aphrodite looked into the small sphere once again. “You must be going now Fidel. Take this.” Aphrodite tossed a silver ring with no markings to Fidel. “If you ever wish a meeting with me again, either place this ring at one of my several altars or draw a circle on the ground with an “A” in the middle, much like the star on your amulet. Place the ring in the center. I will answer your call.” She waved her hand toward Fidel and he saw the room fade out, the materialized form of the goddess growing more and more faint as he felt himself being pulled quickly, like he was falling fast.

As he hit the bottom of what appeared a bottomless pit, he half rose from his bed and looked around. He stared down at his lap and found a small silver band. He glanced up at the sky, still dark but brightening by the sun. He smiled. As he placed the ring on his finger, a star in the sky brightened and faded to black. He gazed at the vast sky for several minutes, smiling and holding his multiple ringed hand upwards, toward the fading celestial heaven above.

Fidel put his hand down as a sick feeling came over him, starting in his gut and spreading rapidly throughout his body. He felt his heart beat quickly in his chest, like it would explode. He turned toward the trees behind him as he heard a faint whizzing sound, the scene moving in slow motion as he turned. He reflexively dropped to the ground as an arrow flew over the space his chest once occupied.

The forest came alive quickly. Gray skinned elves, dwarves, and humans charged in from every direction with loud battle shrieks echoing off the dense trees. Abby and Cap instinctively jumped to the ready with their weapons drawn.

Fidel jumped up to his feet, placing both arms out in front of him and chanting. Fidel could hear the strumming sounds of Cap's bow, followed by small explosions and agonizing cries from the victims. He saw Abby reach into her satchel and pull potion after potion, launching each vial as rapidly as she could. Fidel saw several different colored mists growing from the broken vials, apparently harmful if inhaled. Each attacker that came in contact with the harmful mists grabbed their chests and fell to the ground. The trio fought the attackers with each others backs touching and turning slightly in a counter-clockwise direction.

Fidel's whirlwind formed and pushed back against the wall of gray aggressors. The wind pulled the soldiers from their feet, tossing them without mercy against the tall spruces and firs, breaking their bones immediately upon impact. The trio of defenders started to gain confidence as their defense was holding.

The trees above them exploded with movement, gray skinned bodies dropped down from ropes and joined in the fray. “We need to go!” Cap shouted frantically. “There's too many of them!” Abby and Fidel didn't disagree. The trio searched desperately for an opening. There was none.

The attackers surrounded the group in all directions, including up. Fidel dropped his hands, severing his whirlwind, and reached into his sack pulling forth his trusty staff. With a few chants, a transparent mist surrounded the trio, a spell Methvas recently taught Fidel, providing a defense against martial missiles and blades alike. As the unwilling conscripts closed in on the group, missile weapons no longer being effective, Cap pulled his sword and Abby pulled her quick daggers. The champions of Harlow's Hovel stood to face the onslaught of the evil before them.

The first of the trios martial challengers was a very large and gray human, standing at least a full foot taller and wider than Fidel. The muscular man raised his two-handed broadsword high over his head, starting a downward chop designed to cleave a man in two. Fidel brought up his staff, keeping it angled to divert the blow. The sword and false wooden staff connected with a resounding clang, the human's eyes widening in surprise. Fidel led with his left arm, slapping the human warrior in the face with the staff. The warrior stood up straight and rubbed his cheek, looking slightly offended by Fidel's girly smack to his face. He swung his sword wide, intending to chop Fidel in half horizontally, again meeting to the defense of Fidel's vertically placed walking stick.

Fidel launched the bottom of his staff upwards fast and hard, slamming into the human's groin, forcing him back a few inches. Then came the fury. Fidel engaged fast and hard, slamming the other end of his staff into the human's head, drawing a line of blood. He dropped down to a crouch as the human swung again with this sword, the swooshing sound of the blade barely inches from Fidel's head could be heard.

Fidel jabbed his staff into the barbarian's kneecap, convincing the human to let out a yelp and bringing him down to one knee. Fidel's staff then twirled and knocked into the human's wrist, forcing him to drop his sword. With a flick of his wrist, the staff made contact with the side of the warrior's face and another twist slammed the wood-grained steel staff directly into the warrior's nose, obviously breaking it as blood spilled forth. The human looked up at Fidel with a defeated look and fell face first into the dirt. Fidel glanced to the next opponent. He turned to his left and saw his opportunity. He dropped low.

The second victim came from Cap's side of the triangle, this time a dwarf with the same idea as the human. The dwarf pressed in and Cap parried the overhead chop, offering up a sidelong slash as a counter. The dwarf put his axe up to block the blond-haired elf's sidelong slash. Fidel pushed with all his might while coming back to his feet, aiming his staff at the dwarf's chin and connecting so violently the dwarf's head looked like it would be torn from his shoulders. Cap finished the dwarf with a stab to the gut, spilling his life force before him.

As Fidel and Cap continued to parry the blows of their attackers, they glanced back in Abby's direction to see if she needed help. Abby appeared right at home in the chaotic scene, her face was cold and her dance was enchanting. Her daggers moved fast and precise, quickly cutting down any who got close. In fact, the enemies in front of Abby were visibly moving away, toward Cap and Fidel instead, apparently thinking their chances were better with the men.

Cap shouted into the legion of foes, blocking an incoming stab by the human rival before him. “Seriously? You guys are afraid of a girl?!”

Abby, having more time due to the lack of competition, tossed more vials over her head. The vials landed dozens of feet in front of the men. The vials broke, releasing a green mist which made the foes appear to stop and fall to the ground, apparently paralyzing them.

Abby called out, a little sarcastically, “Fidel, call upon your powers to make a path you mighty wizard you!” Within a heartbeat, Abby spun around Fidel and placed herself in front of him, taking his place against the oncoming victims of her twin bladed fury.

Fidel grinned widely and worked his magic. Fireballs started erupting from his palms, being thrown in every possible direction. Silvery dwarves, elves, and humans flew from their feet from the impact. Those who were not thrown started to run away as their gear erupted in biting flames ready to consume them.

The trio started to run through the emblazoned path of fire to retreat, several score of the gray perpetrators following suit. The companions reached the edge of the trees to a clearing. They quickly realized the clearing was a road and headed north as fast as their feet could carry them. The silvery minions continued to pursue keeping pace. Arrows soared over their heads, the whizzing sounds indicating the small spears were barely missing.

A few arrows hit Fidel, clanking harmlessly off the magical protections. In the distance, they saw a flag hoisted high on a pole. The trio looked at one another and pushed harder, hoping a salvation was ahead of them.

Arrows soared in more fiercely, the first rounds striking home but bouncing harmlessly off the trio as Fidel's protections were still in place. The transparent mist surrounding Cap's form finally gave way and an arrow slammed hard into his right shoulder, toppling him to the ground. Abby and Fidel stopped, immediately taking up arms to defend their felled companion. Fidel launched lightning bolts into the thick silver mass of pursuers as Abby tossed vial after vial on the road before them.

Cap called out, “Fidel, fire in the air!”

Fidel reflexively complied, sending a ball of fire into the air, seemingly without a target to strike. Fidel and Abby both looked to Cap, a look of confusion on their faces. Cap looked to the road behind Abby and Fidel and then turned back to the duo, nodding his head in approval.

Fidel turned around, still launching bolts of electricity at the gray army, glancing over his shoulder. He noticed the flag in the distance was bouncing rapidly and growing closer. He recognized the flag. It was a coat of arms. Blue and red in color, with a depiction of a man slamming his fist into the ground. Fidel nodded back at Cap, a large smile growing on his face.

The mounted regiment of Harlow's Hovel made quick work of the foot bound gray army. Horses whinnied and sneered as blades came down from up high, slicing the adversaries down. As the mounted saviors of Harlow's Hovel chopped down the regiments of Pravas Medeis' army, Fidel pulled the arrow from Cap's shoulder and applied a vial of Abby's salve. Once the slaughter was over with, the Captain of the guard presented himself before the trio.

The black-skinned captain dropped down from his horse and extended his hand. “Captain Sizod at your service. Fidel Austempes, I presume?”

Fidel took the captain's hand. “Well met Captain! You presume correctly." Fidel pointed out his allies as he said their names. "Capi Advor and Abigail Lapillus at your service as well. Thank you for saving our hides! We surely would have been doomed if not for your timely arrival.”

Captain Sizod nodded his head in affirmation at the claim. He smiled, “It's always a pleasure to battle for the greater good of the land.”

Fidel and the captain stood in the road, discussing the events of the morning and the implications of the ambush. The captain and his guard escorted the group back to their camp to collect their belongings. They collected a few prisoners to interrogate along the way. Captain Sizod explained to Fidel how Lord Ias sent him and this regiment to aid Fidel any way they could. He further informed that a legion from Lord Fineal was also en route to take up arms with the wicked sorceress.

Fidel explained that the trio was going to head to Marisali before meeting up against the necromancer. Sizod said his group will be heading northeast and will camp out, awaiting the arrival of the trio. Sizod shook hands with the trio and commanded his group to depart. Fidel, Abby, and Cap jumped on their mounts and headed to the east, slightly due south, to the town of Marisali.

After a few days of uneventful and fast riding through the remainder of Aphrodite's Woodlands, the trio broke through the forest canopy and rode hard into the eastern plains. A few hours later, they saw the four spires which marked the large city of Marisali.

As they approached the city barrier, walls standing at least four tall humans high, Fidel thought of the single spire of Harlow's Hovel. He couldn't help but think how small Harlow's Hovel was when compared to this vast city. The city's fortifications were larger than he could ever imagine, seeming to stretch miles on all sides. The stronghold sat on the eastern plains of Mirater with its eastern border hugging the immense and deep blue ocean.