Chapter 92: The Heart of Dusk

Chapter 92: The Heart of Dusk

Marek waded through the swarm of enemies, flourishing his spear in swift strokes. Nokuti covered his back, entangling enemies in shadow tendrils before slicing them in two with her axe. The enemy warriors began to panic as Crow and the Cairn Tribes army flanked their rear.

The Bronze Eagles chief attempted rallying his men and women, but it was too late. The army closing in on them, coupled with the storm of magic the twin archmagi unleashed, broke their courage. The enemy lines fell into disarray as they tried to escape death. The ensuing chaos opened a path for Marek to draw closer to their leader.

The chiefs eyes met Mareks, You sly bastard!

He thrust his hand forward and showered Marek with a stream of fire. Marek closed his eyes and covered his face with his arms. He groaned as the yellow light of his scales began to crack under the intense heat.

Nokuti flung her axe low at the chiefs legs. The chief cursed as he jumped out of the way, forcefully releasing his flame spell. Nokuti yelled a war cry as she charged at him, her yellow scales flaring brightly. He shot another stream of fire at her, but Nokuti did not slow. His eyes widened as she rammed into him, knocking him to the ground.

Within an instant she was on top of him and pummeling his face with her magically hardened fists. The chiefs men rushed in to save him. Marek jumped in between, blasting the warriors away with his own stream of flames.

Nokuti stood up and dragged the chief by his top knot. His face was bloodied to a pulp, his nose smashed beyond repair. Bits of flesh hung from his cheeks, bone was protruding from his forehead. Most of his teeth had either been punched out or cracked.

Nokuti threw him at the feet of Marek.

My lord, she made a quick bow, grabbed her axe and went to keep the rest of the warriors at bay.

I didnt want this to happen, believe me, Marek looked down at the battered chief. You can still surrender. Your men respect you. They will follow your command.

I pray Caligo curses my tribe and soul before letting a treacherous scoundrel like you lead the Bronze Eagles. Well fight you to the last woman and child, the chief spat.

Marek beat his own chest, I am not your enemy. Dont you understand? He pointed off to the horizon, The true enemy lies behind the wall of shades! Neither our sister tribes nor us will ever know true peace as long as the lords and ladies of Hollow Shade rule Dusk Valley.

Dont you dare talk about the tribes. You broke tradition and attacked us in the middle of the night. You have no honor. You spit on all our ancestral ways, the chief coughed up blood.

Hollow Shade hunts us like dogs and all you can think of is tradition! Open your eyes, old man. The Valley people will not survive if we continue squabbling amongst each other. Join me and help free our people once and for all, Marek held out his hand.

I would rather die a dogs death than ride side-by-side with a dire imbecile who breaks away from all we hold dear, the chief smacked his hand away.

Nokuti spun around and sliced the chiefs head off.

What was that for!? Marek yelled.

Negotiations have failed. We must end this before there is nothing left to save of their tribe, she said with a steely voice.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

Damn it, Marek sighed.

He grabbed the chiefs head and held it up high, his dire size making it easy for all to see. The battle is over!

The chiefs face had been beaten past the point of recognition, but the golden band wrapped around his top knot was clear to all. Many of the enemy warriors cried out in shock at the sight of the golden band, the symbol of tribe chieftain. They rushed in to avenge their leader.

Do not die here in vain! Marek bellowed.

As if to reiterate the point, a titanic wave of wind surged forth from archmage Dawn, practically knocking everyone in a hundred feet, to the ground. Marek was suddenly very glad he was wrapped in a durability spell, increasing his weight, otherwise he would be flat on his ass like the rest.

Your chief is dead and I believe you do not wish to join him, Marek shouted.

Fuck you! A Bronze Eagle warrior shot to his feet and charged him.

An ice javelin impaled the warriors chest. The man sucked in a short breath as he dropped to his knees. A powerful beam of light seared his face. Grim narrowed his eyes at Kyriil.

What? Now hes definitely dead, the elf shrugged.

Idiot, Nokuti muttered.

Lysaila giggled off in the distance amidst a pile of bodies.

Dawn and Vaughn raised their hands, magic swirling around them. The threat of ignoring Mareks words was not just real, but quite obvious.

Marek cleared his throat, I do not ask for you to end this fighting lightly. Nor do I ask for you to forget the lives lost tonight.

Marek dropped the chiefs head, Instead I ask you to remember the deaths within your tribe throughout the years. Your brothers, sisters, parents, spouses, and children! Those are the ones we have all lost! And it was not because of tribal battles, but because of Hollow Shade! That cursed city has taken everything from us, our land, our homes... our people.

Marek held up a clenched fist, Still, we survive! For we are strong. We are of the Valley and we have been here since the dawn of the Dusk.

Marek looked all around him. The eyes of the Bronze Eagle tribe were on him, pride and pain mixed within their faces of mistrust.

Yet, even with the Ebon Lords gone, the monsters of the walls still exist. They still come out in droves into our Valley and kill our loved ones. Or worse, they enslave them! And then they hide behind the safety of their walls, while we face the deadly winters, stripped of all we have.

Why am I not surprised? Nokuti took a seat on the grass next to them.

Drink up darling, you deserve it, Lysaila handed her an unopened bottle.

Thanks, Nokuti cracked the bottle open and took a long swig.

As I was saying, you should have seen the way Kyriil jumped into the fray. He was like some kind of idiot white knight. It was hilarious, even more so when he got riddled with arrows, Lysaila laughed.

Oh come on, everyone was getting shot at. Its not my fault my centaur couldnt dodge. Gods, I wish I just had a regular horse. Its weird having a steed talk back to you, Kyriil groaned.

Beastkin shouldnt be ridden in the first place, Lysaila stretched.

Honestly, Im surprised youre still this coherent, Kyriil, Nokuti noticed the two empty bottles next to the elf.

Maybe with his words. He says it is thanks to his healing magic, but between you and me I do not think he has ever been too coherent, Grim whispered.

Nokuti laughed.

Lysaila grabbed another fresh bottle from the crate and handed it towards the twins, No one deserves this more than our two magical geniuses.

Here, here! Nokuti held up her bottle. Grim and Kyriil cheered.

No, Vaughn slightly shook his head.

Thanks, Dawn gently pushed the bottle aside.

Lysialas smile cracked for a brief moment before she smoothed it away, If either of you change your mind theres more wine in the crate.

The twins nodded silently. Dawn laid her head on her brothers shoulder and closed her eyes to rest. Vuahgn simply stared into the fire. Lysaila glanced around at the looks on everyone elses faces. They all thought the twins were a bit strange, but no one dared voice their opinion against the archmagi.

Crow, what could you possibly be doing thats more important than sharing a bottle of spirits with your companions? Lysaila held up a bottle.

Crow sat on the other side of fire, reading an old book. At least she thought he was reading, it was hard to tell with the skull mask covering his head.

He glanced up for a moment, Im looking for the answer.

That sounds oddly suspicious, Lysaila slithered behind him, looked over his head and at the book. Huh, interesting, I still cant read, she laughed.

Oh, come on, Crow. Why dont you just take off that creepy mask and have a drink with us, Kyriil dangled a bottle in front of him.

You all know Crow drinks alone. He doesnt wish to show us his face. Nor does he seem to wish to share his readings. So, just let it go you two, Grim admonished.

Thats right, let the old man keep his secrets, Nokuti agreed.

Im not old, Crow grumbled.

Besides, I dont think any of us care to read about erotic literature, Nokuti added.

Kyriil and Lysaila burst into laughter.

Im surrounded by idiots, Crow sighed.

Relax, were just having a little fun, Nokuti smiled.

And while you all drink and be merry, I am looking for the answer to our little wall problem, Crow turned a page of his book.

How is that going? Nokuti leaned in with interest.

More difficult than finding the chrome gate.

That bad, huh? Nokuti winced.

Yes, but I seem to be making some progress, albeit slowly.

And once you find this fabled answer, then what? Lysaila asked.

Then we will finally have a weapon capable of destroying the City of Shades.



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